Rising Effort - Chapter Four: Those That Serve
**_The previous week..._** "Thank you for coming, Sergeant Major Steel. Please, have a seat." Sergeant Steel dropped his salute and settled into the chair before the desk of the Captain of the Solar Guard, Colonel Dauntless Mountain....
Rising Effort - Prologue: Stars & Embers
**_Around 2000 years ago..._** "Sombra, I truly think you should wait." The group of four was standing beside the main doors of the Crystal Palace, saying their goodbyes. One of their number would soon depart and not return for some...
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Secrets We Hold
Twilight and I followed Celestia and Luna into their lab again not long after we had finished breakfast on this last day in Canterlot. Now that the Royal Summit had ended, we'd be heading back to Ponyville in the afternoon. The girls had a week to make...
Chapter Twenty-Four: Worries & Beginnings
As the last day of the Royal Summit got underway, I couldn't help but think about what a week this had been. So much had happened on the first day, and despite the contrast being a lot more sedate afterwards, things had carried on for the rest of it...
Chapter Twenty-Two: Oddball Evenings
On the second evening of the Royal Summit, Twilight and I were walking down one of the lavish hallways not long after having dinner with Shining and Cadence, on our way to join our friends for some hangout time and idle relaxing. It's almost funny how...
Not A Dog: The Helping Hoof Needed
Luna scowled as she approached the dreamer that had been eluding her for so long. Around her stretched the infinite Plane of Dreams, resembling the beauty of her night sky in every direction, without land to interfere. Unlike her night, each point of...
Not A Dog: Just Another Week
**_Sunday_** Waking up just a little after dawn like I preferred, I rubbed the bridge of my gray muzzle, then got up and gave myself a quick brush before getting dressed for my morning run. The laborious jobs I had today would suffice for working my...
Chapter Seven: Old Traditions, Trust Transitions (edit 5/2/2015)
A smile spread over me when I woke, the feel of Twilight nuzzling against my chest in her sleep like the previous morning made it so very tempting to drift away again, despite my now being well awake and alert. I felt a small amount of exasperation at...
Looking Back At Memories
Pinkie giggled and pushed Peter back down into the chair, pressing a hoof to his chest, "If you wanna do super special bedroom party 37 tonight, you have to give me at least one page! Anything you think of! It'll be good for you and everypony will...
Chapter Six: Poingant and Playful (edit 4/21/2015)
Beginning to return to the waking world, I noticed a warm, soft weight resting against me. After another moment longer, I noticed said weight was breathing in the slow rhythm of comfortable sleep. My mind next took notice of the substantial stiffness...
Chapter Five: Toughness and Bonding (edit 4/11/2015)
"No! You will _NOT_ take our Princess off to a private room! There is an additional magic condition to consider that requires these two patients be kept in close proximity, just like I put on their charts while we were on the way here! Have I made...
Chapter Four: Impactful Morning (edit 4/9/2015)
As I began to wake, the first thing I noticed was my bed felt different than I was used to and was somehow shorter than it should be. Taking a moment to have a lazy stretch, my eyes opened to a room I didn't recognize. For several very long, nervous...