This story is a sequel to Princess Celestia: The Changeling Queen

This story is a direct sequel to Princess Celestia: The Changeling Queen. Reading that first is necessary to understand any part of this story.

Co-authored by vren55 and Zervziel

Alternia, sister to Chrysalis, ruled Equestria for a thousand years, disguised as Princess Celestia, while the alicorn slumbered in a healing sleep. Now revealed, Alternia prepares to become Equestria’s first changeling princess, and prove herself to the ponies she loves at the side of her co-rulers Luna and the newly-returned Celestia.

But even as the crown descends onto Alternia’s head, something is stirring in the depths of the Eastern Sea, something that will turn the surface world onto its head. Some power that could destroy Alternia, and all that she loves, before she can even regain the approval of her own ponies.

Will Alternia restore the trust her ponies once placed with her? Will she found a hive? Will she find love?

All that is certain is that Equestria, and the world, will never be the same again.

Now with a TV Tropes page.

Empress Tethys and the Kelpies Created by Zervziel

That Fantastic Cover art is by Plainoasis

Pre-read and edited by:
Blankscape,
FinalFan,
Courage Fire
Cosmic Cowboy

Twilight Sparkle is called upon to negotiate trade arrangements with the griffons. Of course, all her friends join her for what should be a casual pleasure cruise in the airship Canvas Streak. After all, this is her first REAL test as a princess, and why shouldn't they support her?

Late one night, though, Applejack feels restless and goes up on deck to watch the stars. She considers her life. She considers her family. She considers her friends. She considers the freak storm approaching from the south.

In retrospect, it might have been better to let the crew handle that and head back below deck.

Now alone on a small island, Applejack must survive and wait for her friends to come pick her up... even though the freak storm is blocking them off. Surviving's easy. Waiting's easy too! She can do this.

....she can do this....

Image by WhiteDiamondsLtd.

WARNING TO ANY NEW READERS: Sorry, I'm the least happy with this story even though it is my first. Think of it as my practice. I need some time before I can fix this story and make it worthy for reading. Thank you for your patience. Estimated time of fixing: 3 months ~1 year. Apologies for any inconvenience.

A new system is taking the modern human society by storm. Synch is a device that interfaces with your brainwaves to centralise your entire tech.

Smart phone? Internet? Computer? Heads Up Display?

All there in your personal world-view.

When Synchrony, a program compiled by a mysterious creator on the extranet, allowed people with Synch gear to live in a world built from their subconscious (or so it was postulated), it caused ripples like a pebble thrown into a pond.

Many used Synch as an escape from the real world, a break from reality.

Unfortunately for one human though he is about to have a never-ending vacation.

Set after Season 3 Episode 2

This story is also recently tagged dark due to the nature of the story progression (there is exploration into death and such).

This is also one of my first attempts at making a proper story and I'd definitely would welcome any feedback and improvements will definitely show up in future chapter releases. Please, please, please if you're thinking about down voting this story, give a reason in the comments so I can make adjustments if it is something I can fix.

It's also a bit of a slow start. Forgive me for that.

Also I have planned this story to be ~150k words that may change but that should give an idea of how fast this story will move.

Also as a side note to new viewers, there will be active editing of the story as I write it. Tags in stories with (rev1) (rev2) are meant to match up to the intended changes to the chapters, there may be discontinuities and I will strive to address them.

Also decided to put an Alternate Universe tag as this story may diverge from the main series. Also, if it was otherwise unclear this is a science fiction/fantasy match up.

My first 100 likes and faves, aww you guys are too sweet!

This story is a sequel to Stardust

When Equestria’s newest member of royalty asks for aid to be offered to her friends from abroad, the best and the brightest volunteer to serve. Captain Steel Song of the Dusk Guard are immediately mobilized to help XCOM defend their world from the enemies that besiege them. However, their first joint operation with the humans takes a turn for the worse and they quickly find themselves fighting for their lives against the full force of the monsters that threaten Earth.

(Stardust/Dusk Guard crossover)
(Coverart provided by a friend of Viking ZX!)
(While familiarity with both stories isn’t required, it is recommended)
(Many thanks to Arzoo for pre-reading!)
(All screenshots can be found at XCOM.wikia.com)
(Featured on 3/13/2013. Thanks everyone!)
(Now has it's own section on TVTropes as part of the Stardust series!)

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!)

A human in his mid thirties that makes his living off of online video games that he designed and by writing about ponies. When he gets his chance to go anywhere he wants, he opts to visit Equestria, despite more sane options being available.

Behold as our author-turned-protagonist deals with the dangers of Equestria as he attempts to make a new place for himself without looking too much like an ass. He will encounter faces he knows from before, and some that are not as they seem. Will he survive a convention traveling at the side of his new friends? Will he get his fill of Equestrian life and want to go home?

Additional Tags: Not chosen one, no super powers

After an existential journey goes wrong, a man finds himself in Equestria. With no way to return home he has no choice but to find a path in a new body. Will he discover a place to belong once again in this new land, or be forced to carve one out?

Currently rewriting first eight chapters and editing the rest of the story. Plot will be fundamentally the same, just the quality will significantly increase. There will be some story and character changes.

As of right now the story ramps in quality with some bumps due to edits.

A different take on alicorn ascension. Sixteen years after arriving in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle is excited to have invented a brand-new kind of spell, but it will come with consequences she cannot possibly anticipate. Meanwhile, threats in shadows around the world conspire to overthrow the Solar Throne. With her world turned upside down, she will have to come to terms with the role that fate has dealt her while straining to keep Celestia in power.

Now with a TVTropes page! Please show it some love! Also check out the official side stories, Designing Intrigue, and Love and Barriers! (With even more in my stories page!)

(Please Note: This story was started before any season three information was available. All episodes in season three and later are non-canon for this story, which also means there's no Crystal Empire in this one. In addition, the promotional map released close to the beginning of season three was also not available and is not compatible with this story. While the OC tag is active because there are OCs in the story, they're really just supporting characters. The focus is on Twilight.)

Also be sure to check out the Rites of Ascension Expanded Universe Group! We're working to develop the resources needed for other authors to try their hand at writing stories set in the Rites Universe!

The Book Two cover art was created by the amazing Silfoe! The original cover art can still be found at Violet Squiggle's deviantArt page.

Author's Notes, including proofreader's credits, can be found here!

"This is 100% Approved by Twilight's Library!"