Comic: Gift

So, ordinarily when we get a single comic, we'd toss it up with something random or maybe thematically tied to it if both artists are lucky. I'd tell you what's going on, you'd laugh a little bit and move on. But this came to us with a big, fat "Part 1" sticker on the cover (see it up there?). So I'm just going to leave this here and wait for it to grow into a gigantic multiparter.

Do you hear that, KrekkA01? I'm counting on you! Deliver me more filly Lyra and Bon Bon in beautiful cinematic tones, or so help me you'll never see another golden banana sticker for as long as you live. And yes, I can be that cruel.

Gift: Part 1

Equestria Online Live Demo

For those that missed the demo earlier, the Equestria Online team did a livestream of some of the basic points in their game.  Right now it is in pre-alpha, but it's fully decked out with it's own online server and people running around.  Pretty neat! Check it out after the break.

Story: The Hourglass Society

[Normal] [Adventure]

Author: KupoMechanic

Description: We all know of the legendary exploits of Dr. Whooves, but what about the other ponies who happened to gain an hourglass cutie mark? This is The Hourglass Society, a government organization charged with guarding time itself. We join one young pegasus named Brown Sand, as he is recruited into the Society and quickly finds out the Risks, Rewards, and Responsibilities that naturally come with your special talent being the flow of time.

The Hourglass Society: Prologue
The Hourglass Society: Chapter I
The Hourglass Society: Epilogue

Additional Tags: Time, Was, Always, Decided

August Top Ten Pony Videos

The top 10 PMV's for August have been released.  Apparently I forgot to post this.  That mailbox is a straight up black hole sometimes! Check it out after the break.

Story: Equestria Noir - A Neo-Noire Tale (Update Story 3!)

[Grimdark][Adventure] "Hyperviolent and dark as hell... but It has that noir vibe to it in spades... Ready for primetime" - Pre-reader #3

Author: Garnot

Description: Set in an alternate Neo-Noir Equestria.

Ten years have passed since Celestia and Luna mysteriously vanished from the face of the planet, leaving their nation to slowly fall apart. Now, crime, corruption and a faceless evil threaten to destroy the slowly recovering nation.

In the middle of this chaos stands Bogart Maltese, an equine and member of the Regulators - an enclave dedicated to fighting crime, corruption and villainy - who is on a quest to find and punish the ones responsible for his partner's murder. Along the way, he will meet another soul, who just like him, longs to understand her own tragic past.

To find the answers they both seek, the two will have to travel to hell and back. What they discover may change the face of Equestria forever.

Trust no one and fear the dark places of the world.

All Links after the break! 

Story: Laughter is the Music of the Soul

[Normal] [Sad]

Author: The Mechanic

Description: Celestia, Luna, and Twilight are visited by a mare who knows a lot more about history than she should... and sometimes the best of outcomes can come from the very worst of beginnings.

Laughter is the Music of the Soul

Additional Tags: History, Loss, Hope, Old and New

Drawfriend Stuff #187

Rainbow Dash looks pretty good dressed up.

Have some art!

Source 1

Season Two Mare-A-Thons, Livestreams, and Events

Season two is right around the corner, and a whole bunch of marathons are going on to celebrate the final hours.

After the break, I'm making a list of places to hang out for the next 12 hours, so go be social!

Mare-A-Thon
Bronystate
Dizzystreams
Hax Mega
Midnight_Run (Starts at 9:00 PM EST)
Filly Synchtube Channels 1/2/3/
Scratch's Cure for the Itch (Music Mare-a-thon)

Season Two Episode One Livestreams
Bronystate
Dizzystreams
Midnight Run
Filly Synchtube Channels 1/2/3/

http://www.livestream.com/baconspirateponyplayer

http://www.twitch.tv/dizaster321http://www.justin.tv/basil34

Events
Equestria Online HUGE announcement and Demonstration stream (9:00 PM EST)
Marshmallow on Celestia Radio (8:00 PM EST)  
Equestria Rave Radio (Saturday 12:00 AM EST) 

PMV: Mareials / What a Wonderful World / Book of Ponies - Hello

PMV time! I'm surprised it took so long for #2 to pop up.

Also some Book of Ponies #3 for those following that series. 

1.) Mareials
2.) What a Wonderful World (PMV)
3.) Book of Ponies - Hello!

Story: Cantering Death (Update 11!)

[Grimdark] [Crossover]

Author: Scriber

Description: A mysterious viral outbreak grips Equestria, threatening the very life of the country. In an effort to stop the infection, Princess Celestia orders all individual settlements within Equestria to be quarantined. Can Twilight Sparkle, along with the other Elements of Harmony, figure out the cause of this horrific virus and put a stop to it? More importantly - can they survive?

Cantering Death (New Chapter 11!)

Additional Tags: Zombies, Grimdark, Infection, Virus, Survival

Comic: End of Harmony

Source / Click for Full

I heard you guys wanted some more epic Celestia and Luna comics to chew on, so here you go!

Story: Speak

[Sad] [Normal]

Author: TheVulpineHero1

Description: Rainbow Dash has left Ponyville to follow her dream of starting a flying team. However, when Fluttershy has an accident and needs help, Rainbow Dash's loyalty to her friends and to her team is tested.

Speak

Additional Tags: Gradual, Dramatic, Contemplative, Emotional, Illness

Facebook Page Teasers Continue

Nothing spoilery in there, I don't think.

The mane six are clearly going to be learning how to trim shrubberies to best create a labyrinth. Or something. If this were Minecraft I'd be very tempted to take a flint and tinder to this whole thing. 1.8 is out, by the way. Go play it, it's awesome.

Flash: Hop Skip and Jump / Need a Restraining Order

Ganton went from simple pony buttons to full short videos.  That's progress right there! Click the above image to check it out.

Also a bonus from Lamar The Human below! Poor Rainbow Dash...

Source / Click for Full

Poor Diamond Tiara... Truth is I just randomly grabbed the first obnoxious as hell filly I could find and tossed it up there. 

And below we have some Elements of Harmony.  Crazy ponies are terrible at responsibility. 

Source: Rush / Click for Full

Story: The Cutie Mark Clash (Update Part 9!)

[Normal][Crossover] Semi Street-fighter crossover time!


Author: Captain Gamer

Description: A fighting tournament comes to Ponyville! Can our favorite ponies go for broke, or will they have to go home and be family mares?

All Links After the Break! 

Nightly Roundup #99

SO HAPPY

Kind of OOC for Trixie though.

Have some news!

Music: Nightmare Symphony / Le corps de la force - An ode to Applejack / Thoughts of Twilight

Symphonic edition?

1.) Nightmare Symphony (No Embed)
2.) Le corps de la force - An ode to Applejack
3.) Thoughts of Twilight

Exclusive Season 1 Retrospective Interview with Lauren Faust

Above is a sketch by Lauren Faust - exclusively for Equestria Daily.

Below is an interview with Lauren Faust - exclusively for Equestria Daily.