This story is a sequel to Changeling Space Program

Twilight Sparkle's experimental interplanetary drive has malfunctioned, stranding Starlight Glimmer, Spitfire, Cherry Berry, a changeling and a dragon on a hostile planet in another universe. With limited food supplies, very little magic, no communications with home, and no way to leave the planet, they must survive until somepony rescues them.

Fortunately they crashed right next door to another creature with the exact same problem- a creature named Mark Watney.

They're going to science the buck out of everything- and do whatever it takes to survive Mars and get everybody home.

TVTropes page here! Thanks to GymQuirk for making it!

Commissioned art and fan works from the readers! Thanks, everybody!

This experiment in an updates-daily story was made possible by a generous grant from Canary in the Coal Mine and viewers like you.

(Sex tag for crude talk about sex, but no actual sex in the story.)

Humanity is dead.
It's members have been converted and brainwashed. Its homeworld has been absorbed, and its culture has been eradicated.
Princess Celestia couldnt' be happier.

Unfortunately for Celestia, there are beings out there who don't look too kindly on xenocide. Beings much more powerful than her...

Inspired by Rush's "The Conversion Bureau: Celestia's Silly Plan"

Author's note: For the record, I don't hate all TCB fics. My problem is with the ones that depict humans as irredeemable bastards whose only hope for salvation is to convert themselves into talking horses. They piss me off. They really piss me off.

When your life is as dull a gray as the world that surrounds you, the mundanities can make it all seem meaningless. Sometimes all we need is a little color -- or six -- to reintroduce us to what truly makes life worth living.

*6-16-2017 Edit, added Rainbow Dash tag because it triggered knighty.*

Equestria is suffering.
Princess Luna feels alone, powerless and utterly depressed. In her weakness, she accepts an deceitful Ex-Guard back into her service, one who only wishes to manipulate her for his own gain.

Feelings of loneliness and pain couldn't have come at a worst time though. As things seem bad enough , war is on the horizon, Ponies go missing daily and Celestia invites a strange new race of beings into Equestria. A strange bipedal species from a dying world, who command little trust and carry possibly dangerous motives and desires.

As Equestria witnesses their Princesses fight over lies made and secrets kept, and civil war becomes ever more likely, in a place far away, Rainbow Dash has to survive in a world without friendship, and one bathed in fire and constant death. Her loyalties will be tested, and soon she discovers teaching loyalty and friendship to others is a task far harder than she expected.

Friends will be pit against friends, but will it even matter, when the portals of hell open, and darkness floods the land?

Cover art by the amazing Little Tigress