Eldritch abominations from outer space abduct an orange yokel. The country bumpkin is fine. The aliens are not.

Trigger Warning! This story contains:
- Applejack just telling the truth when asked.
- Space.
- A nutshot.
- Looting.
- Attempts to be funny.
- Celestia sneezing hard.

*Reached the top of the Feature Box! Nowhere else to go now but down!*

"Thanks, Mom." Two simple words said by a simple guard.

Not so simple when those words are accidentally addressed to Princess Celestia.

This story is a sequel to The Man With Two Names

For the past year, Jeremiah Walker has wandered Equestria in the company of Trixie Lulamoon, seeking atonement and passage back to his own world, unsure if he will ever find it.

For the past year, Loose Leaf has investigated the events surrounding the human’s disappearance. He releases a full report of that night’s riot, a story Ponyville isn’t quite ready to hear.

For the past year, Spike has built a fledgling movement in Ponyville, fighting for non-ponies’ rights to citizenship. The tales of prejudice in Loose Leaf’s report invigorates the campaign, but draws opposition to the growing cause.

Now that the report is circulating across Equestria and their cover blown, Walker and Trixie march onward to the newly emerged Crystal Empire, following the only lead he has back home. There he runs into the frantic Twilight Sparkle, the pony who urged along his departure from Ponyville, and now needs his help to save this kingdom. Alongside her is Spike, who recognizes the human is just the figure his movement needs.

It's usually boring work, maintaining an Equestrian border crossing. Doubly so if you're stationed at the Badlands crossing, with no incoming and a general populace still too busy licking its wounds to try anything funny. But it pays well, so guards tend not to complain.

But then you get the occasional day where everything goes wrong. Where an errant changeling with an attitude and an extremely punchable face tries to waltz past the station with a cart full of contraband, and sticky gross contraband at that.

If the border guard can get out of this one with all of their brain cells, they're definitely applying for a transfer to Ponyville.

Written as a birthday present for Carapace

Department Memo:

Starting on Monday the 26th, our office company will be offering an optional "Pony Break" available daily to all employees for stress-related purposes. If interested, please leave your availability with new company employee Fluttershy at your earliest convenience.

Twenty-two to forty-four minute meetings available upon request.

...The Continuum feels this species may be a real threat to the Q. However, they also show a unique ability to contain their power. They do not appear to use their abilities for power, greed, or war. We need to see if the species as a people are a threat to the Continuum and not just their abilities.”

“And locking me away in a statue, to rot away in a garden, doesn’t show that?” The face on the statue squirmed and struggled to free the rest of its body.

“No. It doesn’t,” said Q. “But it would seem an opportunity has presented itself. The Enterprise is heading for this region of space. Perhaps you could utilize their presence to…provoke…a situation?”

Both Q started grinning together. “Oh you know me too well, Q. I always enjoy seeing my favorite starship captain.”

The blond Q reanimated the rest of the statue. Discord stepped off the pedestal onto the soft grass. “This is going to be so much fun,” said Discord as his shape began to contort and transform. Within moments a familiar figure in a Starfleet uniform was standing where Discord had been a moment before. As the pair started walking away the blond Q said, “Just remember, Q. This isn’t just some random species to be toyed with. Any species RELATED to the Q, can KILL the Q!”...

(Season 2 Discord)

Never Seen Star Trek: The Next Generation? Here's a brief introduction to Q: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBwoEXlTph0

Credit to Suddenly-Steinberg for the cover art:
http://suddenly-steinberg.deviantart.com/art/Discord-x-Q-312694442
MLP Season 2

When a race of powerful ancient beings return to Equestria after an absence of thousands of years, it isn't to the sort of world they expected. Twilight Sparkle is now the first and last line of defense in a conflict that will decide the future of her planet.

Yes, there is life on other planets. This would be fascinating news to Twilight, had they come under more peaceful circumstances. Unfortunately, Thanks to Equestria's princesses, that life is angry and has come for its due.

Art by the fantastic Zutcha, as usual. Editing by Two Bit and Sparktail.

This story was written based on a simple idea from the HiE group forums. I haven't followed the idea exactly, but there's still a spoiler warning for those who want to check it out.

Twilight gets a visit from a familiar stranger. Except it's not a stranger. It's Twilight, from the future. As future Twilight hangs out with past Twilight, past Twilight comes to a startling realisation... Her future self is kind of a jerk!

Quite obviously blatantly copied from based and expanded from this comic by 1trickpone.

Preread by Chicago Ted, thanks!

Unparalleled flying skills. Limitless charm. A go-getter attitude. Despite claiming to possess such coveted traits and more, Lightning Dust was still unable to achieve her lifelong dream. Years of self-discipline and fine tuning down the drain due to one fatal error, with nothing to show for it but a single nagging question: what was she lacking? With the help of some old friends and the observation of new ones, the confounded pegasus hopes to polish her few flaws and achieve heights most ponies could only dream of.

Breaking the limits of perfection isn't easy, but Lightning Dust obeys no limits.

Something's wrong with Twilight's new student, the redeemed villain Starlight Glimmer

Even though Starlight been forgiven for everything she's done and been made a member of Twilight's distinguished circle of friends, something's obviously troubling her. Even a Pinkie Party thrown in her honor isn't enough to cheer her up.

Troubled, Twilight has a little mare-to-mare chat with her new friend/student, only to be bushwhacked by a simple question: "Why?"

Special thanks to Winston for proofreading and editing!