Cloud Wander's Tonight I Shall Be Laughter

We resume our regularly-scheduled pony reading with our first Comedy entry - lighter fare for the end of the year. Keep an eye out for subtle allusions to both historical figures and one of the best comic fantasy authors of our day.

[Comedy] • 8,500 words
Luna decides to work on her Element of Laughter. The Commander of the Lunar Guard gives chase.

Hit the break for a few more well-turned words from Cloud Wander, and links to Tonight I Shall Be Laughter on the ponynet. Check out the Downloads page for an eBook that works for you!

Christmas Break

Hello,  dear readers!

I am still recovering from a Christmas weekend spent with my family and girlfriend - and the previous week wrapping up loose ends at my day job in preparation for the time off - and so have not had time to prepare a Vault post for today. Our regularly-scheduled service will resume this Friday with Cloud Wander's excellent Tonight I Shall Be Laughter.

I hope you all had a safe and happy holiday, and enjoy these last remaining days of 2011.

Ebon Mane's Ships & Notes

This is the third entry in a row featuring a romantic tragedy... if that's not your cup of tea, my apologies! I'll have to start mixing it up. For today, though, we have a two-parter that tugs at the ol' heartstrings.

[Shipping][Tragedy] • 4,500 words
Friendships don't always last, time isn't always well-spent, and not everyone gets a happy ending. Everypony has their regrets, paths not taken, failures and lost loves. Sometimes, it's too late for second chances.

Hit the break for a few words from the good Ebon Mane, and links to Ships That Pass in the Night and The Three Notes on your favorite pony sites; check out the Downloads page for an eBook compilation of the two.

Melionos' Black and White

Today's Vault entry is a sad, sweet story of love and loss that seems to connect and speak to its readers very well... possibly because, like our last entry, it draws a great deal from the author's own life.

[Shipping][Tragedy] • 7,400 words
Lyra receives a mysterious book from an old friend, confessing a depth of feelings she never knew existed.

As usual, hit the break for an interview with Melionos himself, and links to Black and White wherever fine pony literature can be found - and don't forget to get your copy from the Downloads page as well.

Twilight Snarkle's Two Ponies

Today we have a sorrowful but sweet look into the lives of some original characters. It may come as a surprise, but the Mane 6 and our favorite background characters aren't the only ponies in Ponyville...

[Shipping][Tragedy] • 11,900 words
Smudge loved well, and loved deeply. Too deeply, perhaps, for the pony left behind.

Hit the break for a fun yet insightful interview with Mr. Snarkle himself, and links to Two Ponies on your favorite pony sites - and don't forget to head over to the Downloads page to grab an eBook copy!

Blaze's The Conversion Bureau

Today's Vault entry is special in a number of ways. To begin with, it is currently incomplete, and most likely will never be finished (in general, only completed works will be added to the Vault). But more importantly, it can be thought of as the Helen of Troy of Friendship is Magic fanfiction - the fic that launched a thousand spinoffs, many of which are better-known, better-read, and arguably better-written than the original. However, this is the story that started it all, and it is therefore the first Classic included in the Vault.

[Adventure][Human Crossover] • 20,300 words
The ponies and the humans have lived together in harmony for centuries. Equestria is an island inhabited entirely by ponies, and some have branched off to live with humans. However, the humans, seeing their bleak world and accepting that they have made too many mistakes in their world to fix, have decided to open facilities to convert humans into ponies and live in peaceful Equestria.

Hit the break for an interview with Blaze - whose opinion of his own work may surprise you - and links to read it on your favorite pony sites. As always, there are eBook copies in various formats available on the Downloads page.

If you need more Conversion Bureau goodness, Midnight Shadow (a Vault alum and prereader for EqD) maintains a guide to the Conversion Bureau's various continuities, and a directory of all Conversion Bureau stories.

Thanqol's The Old Stories

Today we have some worldbuilding, a look into Equestria's deep past, and a reminder that history and myth is rarely truly accurate.

[Slice-of-Life] • 9,200 words
There are stories which define us. Stories that inspire us. And there are stories that damn us.

Hit the break for an interview with Thanqol and links to The Old Stories on your favorite pony sites, and check out the Downloads page for an eBook copy!

Vanner's Carousel

There seems to be something about Rarity that draws interest into her backstory... and for some reason, it's usually sad. Today's Vault entry is another character study of Ponyville's resident white unicorn, exploring her relationship with her father.

[Tragedy] • 8,400 words
When Fluttershy asks Rarity where she learned to sew, she learns that remembering where you came from isn't always easy.

Hit the break to get some insight into Vanner's thoughts and process, and read Carousel on your favorite pony sites. Don't forget to check out the Downloads page for an eBook copy!

Butterscotch Sundae's The Party Hasn't Ended

If you like good PinkieDash shipping story, look no further! This epic tale brings us along into their dreams and nightmares, as they come closer than they ever expected to be.

[Adventure][Shipping][Tragedy] • 54,300 words
Pinkie Pie's unrequited love for Rainbow Dash reaches a crisis point as she fears the party in her heart has at long last come to an end.

Hit the break for an interview with Butters herself and links to The Party Never Ended on your favorite pony sites, and check out the Downloads page to grab a copy in your preferred eBook format!

If you're interested in more Butterscotchy goodness and the idea of a mature discussion about sexuality and clopfiction doesn't upset you, check out another interview she did with Doctor Dapples, one of our previous Vault authors. (Fun fact: the good Doctor's interviews with Butterscotch and Coffeebean were part of the inspiration behind including author interviews here at the Vault!)