A simple exchange of gifts between the Royal Sisters becomes not-so-simple as the fun gets doubled, then quadrupled, then very nearly octupled.

The original version of this story took 4th place in The Writeoff Association's December 2014 contest, "Behind Closed Doors."

Once upon a time, on the not-so-magical planet Earth, there was a US Marine who signed up to defend his country. He was assigned to a fire team, the fire team assigned to a squad and the squad assigned to a platoon. Together they defended the area surrounding a Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan from insurgents. If only it were that simple.

When lone Marine is transported to Equestria he finds a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With no orders, no resupply and seemingly no hope of return, he sets out to find what brought him here, and why.

Strong Language Warning: He swears like a Marine.
Disclaimer: I'm not a Marine

What do readers have to say about this story?

"[T]his has to be the dumbest sounding plot I've ever heard of. But my god do you take that and fuck it in its ass ... Its just so real and witty and genuine that the whole premise actually works!" ComprehensiveBrony

"Yes, it's human-in-Equestria, but it's good. ... the action scenes had me sitting on the edge of my seat" Tebee

Cover by me, background stock by DarkDragon774

"How could somepony as amazing as you not have a Special Somepony on Hearts and Hooves Day?"

With that single sentence, a thousand memories came flooding back to Cheerilee. A thousand memories of a thousand terrible dates...

Scootaloo discovers an empty cardboard box behind the post office.

This is where her day begins.

Minuette sits outside, sipping tea and waiting for something. This is about to become the best day of her life. She knows it, and yet she doesn't.

In the future, we'll colonize the solar system, cure cancer, clone the human genome, and build trans-dimensional hoodies that can summon tiny talking horses from an alternate universe.

It's pretty snazzy.

Cover art by xioade.

There is no beginning and no ending; only hoodies and the poni poni poni that fill them.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo swap bodies. What could possibly go wrong?

Lyra has talked Bon Bon into hosting a baking class.

Twilight, Spike and Pinkie Pie are the students.

Uh oh.

Takes place in that magic zone where everything's happened right up until Alicorn Twilight.

Note: This is a comedy, but there are some sharp edges hiding in there. A friendship lesson is learned that probably couldn't be done on the show. Think of it as whipped cream with knives. Be warned.

Additional note: Fimfic won't let me click the 'sad' tag. This is more comedy than drama, but is definitely a dramedy. Sorry if anyone felt misled.

Cover art: Bon Bon design by IamthegreatLyra, Obama Posterization by whatever website I found that does that, slogan by me.

An Entry for NaPoWriMo one shot July contest.

Entered into Twilight's Library 12/1/13.

Spike figures out that Cheerilee is making up reasons to visit Twilight at the library, and Rarity further figures out that it's because she must have a crush on Twilight.

When Ponyville's dedicated fashionista combines forces with Ponyville's only dragon to bring two adorably awkward book loving mares together, nothing can go wrong! Except perhaps, everything!

Oh yeah, and some pony ordered 20 trampolines and a bunch of other stuff that keeps getting delivered to one wrong address after another because of the world's worst delivery pony, Blue Bonnet.. More on that later.

Re-tagged to reflect that it's a Twi/Cheerilee, Mane 6, CMC and Blue Bonnet (Background pony) story.

Also, it's fair to say this is also a AppleDash and Fluttershy / Background pony shipping story. Also ScootaBelle? .
ARTWORK BY WACKEDOUTPET

Chapters 3-10 have been edited by the amazing TheLastBrunnenG

Chapter 9-10, attention must also be paid to pre-readers Guy Incognito, Cola Bubble Gum, and SpaceCommie

Chapters 9-10 also edited by SpaceCommie

Featured May 2013! ADDED TO TWILIGHT'S LIBRARY NOVEMBER 2013! FAN-ART ADDED MARCH 2014!

Fluttershy has tea with Jesus and absolutely nothing objectionable happens.