The Artiztrotzian border is well known for being difficult. People have called it glacial, asinine, and draconian, but to me it’s my job. I inspect paperwork, verify documents, and keep records of all visitors. The line is long and the process is slow, as we're understaffed and I only get paid if I don’t mess up.

For the longest time, my only interaction with ponies was to watch their ears droop and faces fall as I pointed them back out the exit. We don’t accept livestock, or didn’t. Today I got new orders, and suddenly everyone crossing the border must bring a pony or be turned away.

The sudden flip is perplexing, but it's not my job to question orders, only to follow them.

Welcome to Artiztrotzia, and show me your pony, please.

***

Loosely based on Papers, Please.

A guard from The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion spawns in Ponyville. He's a long way from home, but that won't keep him from stopping criminal scum and making them pay with their blood.

Today I did not wake up in a place I recognize. Not that I can remember how I got here. Where even is here? A castle of crystals in a magical world of pastel-colored talking horses. It's like a dream, only I'm also a wearied, mutant bug monster.

What in the world is a changeling? Oh, and what is that about a war we're apparently responsible for? This looks like it's shaping up to be a hell of a new day, at least, if I don't get squashed like a bug before it can even start.

Featured: 2/5/19

Edited and pre-read by: Emtu and Indigo_Celeste

Thanks to all the pre-readers that helped reorganize the first few chapters:
TheOneWithoutAName, TheClassyLeviathan and Mind Jack

Cover art by: KlaraPL

Until yesterday, my life was no different than anybody's. Go to work, pay the bills, sleep. Today, I woke up to a world without humans. The streets are empty, the power grid is running down, and not another soul is in sight. That might not be the worst thing, if I wasn't also a pony.

Where is everyone? Why is this happening to me?

Will l stay sane long enough to starve?

This story now has a hardcover! If you'd like one of your own, you can grab it here: https://starscribe.net/

Now with a TVTropes page! Для тех, кто предпочитает русский язык, перевод можно найти по ссылке.

Note To E-Reader users: This story contains illustrations in each chapter, which will be lost in the standard fimfiction chapter export. The generous Phoen1x took the time to produce an epub version with all the illustrations intact, which you can download here.

A huge thanks to Zutcha for all his hard work on the art of this story. Also a huge thanks to my editors Two Bit and Sparktail, for tolerating my half-written crap.

Dragons are not hot! Or at least Twilight keeps telling herself. Seriously, what's wrong with a little meddling in transmogrification magic from time to time? It's not like there can be any... 'unexpected' side effects, right? Tried and tested, completely safe! That is, of course, if there's not somepony with a secret crush also involved.

Featured: 12/4/18

Edited by: Emtu
Cover art created by: xWhiteDreamsx

Princess Celestia tires of constantly being surrounded by decorum, deference, and formality, and decides to take a day off from being Princess. But visiting Ponyville incognito is harder than she expects. Will she be able to fit in and make friends without blowing her cover?

Luna has been busy. Working hard on her 'pet' project to craft a new beverage, never before seen in Equestria. One that ponies throughout the land will hopefully soon come to enjoy! What adventure awaits?

It had been a simple, simple question. A natural one, even. One she was surprised she'd never asked before. So naturally, once she'd realised that she'd never asked it, Twilight Sparkle had to do the most logical thing and ask.

In her, relatively speaking, not too short life, she'd always thought that no question wasn't meant to be asked. No answer, no matter how life changing it could be, should have not been given. Truth was a principle above the needs of the individuals, and it was always the right thing to know more of it.

It was in those spirits that she went to Celestia and asked that questions. And once she received her answer she realised she'd been wrong. Very, very, very wrong.

Not since before her banishment to the moon has Princess Luna been in charge of a hearth's warming celebration. Safe to say, she's not over the moon at what's been done with it while she's been gone.

Audio adaptation

Featured: 12/28/18

Breaking news! Rent-A-Pony is proud to announce that it's slashing their prices yet again.

One dollar will now get you one whole day with a pony of your choice.

Sounds too cheap to be true? Stop asking questions and rent a pony anyways!

Seriously... just stop asking questions.