This story is a sequel to The Ultimate Alicorn

For thirty years, Twilight Sparkle has ruled Equestria single-hoofedly. For thirty years, she has managed the sun, the moon, the weather and the production of food all over Equestria. For thirty years, she has barely aged, with the combined might and extended lifespans of the deposed former triarchy, and the power of the Alicorn Amulet in her possession.

While the self-appointed Queen of Equestria continues to hold the population in a vicegrip of fear, and the land and seas begin to deteriorate, a secret uprising will form. Unbeknownst to Her Absolute Majesty, new foals are growing and developing their natural magic in secret. After a vision of the future by their mentor, and aided by an elderly recluse, a small band of young fillies and colts will scour the land of Equestria and beyond in search of the one remaining method to restore the world's magic.

Equestria has had enough. The reign of the ultimate alicorn must end.

Winner (long-runners category) of the Twyrant's Kingdom Competition.

Pre-read by JustAnotherTimeLord, The Albinocorn, NightWolf289, PaulAsaran, Comet Burst, MissingLink, Dash The Stampede, and FamousLastWords. Edited by NightWolf289, JustAnotherTimeLord, and Dash The Stampede.

Now featured on:
Fimfiction.net Feature Box (08/01/14)
Equestria Daily!

Rated teen for violence and dark themes.

This story is 100% approved by Twilight's Library!

This story is a sequel to Stardust

Times are changing for Equestria as Twilight’s return brings with it news of people and cultures from beyond the peaceful world everypony knows. Aid and volunteers are freely offered to help the besieged humans of Earth because every Equestrian knows that’s what good friends do. Unfortunately, making friends can also have the unintended consequence of making enemies.

When the monsters besieging the humans strike at Equestria with a level of brutality not seen in over a thousand years, the cry for help is sent to all the kingdoms of the world. Honored allies step forth to fulfill ancient treaties and oaths. Enemies, old and new, bury their grievances. An alliance never before seen in Equestria will be created to combat the monsters from the void.

And because of these events, a grim but welcome sibling to the XCOM project is born.

(XCOM/FiM Crossover)
(Sequel to Stardust, which I recommend reading before starting this. Fortitude Amicitia and Broken aren't required reading but are supplemental to the storyline)
(Gore tag for blood and violence)
(Alternate Universe tag because of the divergence from canon that Stardust has caused)
(Uses elements of Season 4)
(Coverart produced by the amazing Carnelian!)
(Many thanks to Arzoo, BradTheBrony, Vandenbz and Setokaiva for prereading!)
(As of 03/07/2016, the prereading team consists of Arzoo, BradTheBrony, Noble Cause and Metallusionsismagic!)
(Complete with it's own TVTropes page as part of the Stardust continuity. Could use some updating!)
(Character tags will be added as chapters are added!)
(Featured 5/12/2014! Thanks folks!)
(Possible spoilers in the comments! BEWARE!)

Rarity's exploits in "Sweet and Elite" set in motion a chain of events that will find the unicorn dressmaker taking part in the greatest airship race in the world, the Alicorn's Cup. Excitement will give way to terror, as Rarity soon finds herself the victim of a plot against Equestria, and shipwrecked far from home with her least favorite stallion, the boorish Prince Blueblood. Rarity will learn of treachery in Canterlot and abroad, and will have search for something of substance beneath the prince's obnoxious veneer as she struggles to not only save herself, but her entire nation.

Part One of Three
The Adamant Triskelion - Book One: The Flight of the Alicorn
The Adamant Triskelion - Book Two: The Abyssal Forge
The Adamant Triskelion - Book Three: ???

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It teaches so many life lessons. In this one, Twilight and her friends learn a difficult lesson about partying too hard, and the price that comes with it.

Stay thirsty, my Bronies.

(Set prior to the Season 3 finale)

Cover image by Toodles3702 ( http://toodles3702.deviantart.com/ ).

Spanish translation by SPANIARD KIWI - https://www.deviantart.com/spaniard-kiwi/art/Una-noche-para-intentar-recordar-970255692
Russian translation by zmeyk - https://ponyfiction.org/story/6209/
Reading by Promissa Fidel

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and its characters are owned by Lauren Faust and Hasbro.

In all honesty, Twilight Sparkle never had much plans for romance. Sure, she occasionally dreamed about finding that one special somepony, but she never had the chance nor the motivation to actively seek him. I mean, all good things come to those who wait, right?

However, when ‘that one special somepony’ is forcibly shoved right in Twilight’s face, it becomes a whole different ball game.

There are some things in this world I have never been able to explain. At what point does safety infringe upon basic trust? Why is it that I could be considered less than a pony with feelings like everyone else? Why do I even have to ask these questions?

It wasn't always like this. I once laughed and loved like everyone else. I once had a life I wanted to live.

Then it was taken from me.

Isolated from her friends and taken prisoner in the middle of a war, Twilight must deal with the very real dangers of being percieved as an enemy as well as the nightmares of her arrival on 'Earth'. Can she overcome her own fears and the fears of her captors? Will the wayward unicorn's assistance be a boon or a curse to the 'humans?' Most importantly, will she ever find her way home?

"In short, it's a story of friendship and plasma rifles, with the emphasis on the friendship. The characters are well written, the XCOM setting is fleshed out very well, and the story is compelling. If you love XCOM, you'll love the story, but even if you've never heard of it, it's more than worth giving the first 3 chapters a read.

There's excellent action later on, but the real strength lies in the collision between the friendly and naive world of Twilight Sparkle and the desperate world of humans fighting a losing war for survival and willing to do anything to turn the tide."

--Arzoo

(XCOM/FiM crossover)
(Cover art commissioned by a friend and created by the magnificent FoxInShadow!)
(Original cover art by the amazing Carnelian can be viewed here!)
(Gore tag for blood and some violence)
(Many thanks to the studius OminousTen, Arzoo, xXFluttershyForeverXx and finally Setokaiva for giving my rambles a once-over)
(Now with it's own TV Tropes page! Get to tropin' folks!)

==Originally written spring 2011== Equestria Daily Post==
GLaDOS is free of Chell, free to continue testing, when she discovers a portal gun Wheatley tried to repair with duct tape. When the portal gun catastrophically fails, the enrichment center, GLaDOS, and Chell are literally dropped in the middle of Equestria. The mute test subject soon finds the world of ponies far more welcoming than the human world. But GLaDOS sees possibilities. Let the testing begin... for science.

The 'verse is a weird place. One moment, you're being attacked by flesh-eating monstrosities, the next, you're sitting down to dine with a horse.

The crew of Serenity don't quite fit in with the law. They don't quite fit in outside of it, either. They make do by handling whatever jobs that come their way, and scavenging what they can from derelict ships when the opportunity arises. But one such scavenging operation goes horribly wrong.

Reavers are the stuff of legends and nightmares. Men who flew out to the edge of the galaxy, at the end of all human knowledge. When they came back, they weren't men anymore. Foul creatures who kill the lucky ones, and desecrate the bodies of the rest before ripping the corpses apart.

Serenity flees from a Reaver infested wreckage, but not before the Reavers follow. Catastrophically damaged, the ship descends on the surface of a planet which holds more than its fair share of mysteries.

Unfortunately, the Reavers are hot in pursuit.

Rated "Teen" for occasional mature themes, such as violence, profanity in both the English and Mandarin language, potential showing of blood, possible mild sexual themes, poorly executed penis jokes, and intense amounts of Jayne.

You have been warned.

Spartans never die, they're just missing in action. This has never been more true for Jorge-052 as, after activating the slipspace drive that was supposed to kill him, he is instead flung into a strange world where war is but a distant memory. Will the aging soldier be able to adapt to this new peaceful planet? Or will his only salvation be found in finding a way back to his own chaotic universe?

(It's my first time, so be gentle)
Now featuring a TVTropes page by Sabo88