The Harmony Games: a competition of gladitorial combat meant to promote harmony and friendship between the clans of Equestria. The idea that combat can promote friendship is idiotic to Twilight, like friendship itself. She doesn't have time to be playing children's games; there's a serious threat predicted and she has to find it before something catastrophic happens. How can 'friendship' possibly be of any use?

Alternate look at the beginning of FIM, combat tournament with humanified ponies No major part OC (none at all if avoidable)

It's been five years since Spike last saw Twilight Sparkle, or any of his old friends for that matter. He's since joined the Royal Guard, and was placed into the Investigation Bureau, and moved on from his childhood. Or so he thought. He picks up a lead one day to a string of recent murders linked to a new and upcoming gang, comprised of people he long thought gone. Spike finds an unexpected ally, one that he used to be quite close to. With their help, perhaps they can stop this gang once and for all.

120% Co-written with We'll_Never_Know. I take only half the credit for the story, as for we both worked together, and put in an equal amount of effort to write this.

Image made by Junker-kun.

Growing up in the ruins of Fillydelphia, the orphan Spike is abducted by a group of six of the most dangerous mercenaries, bounty hunters, assassins, and roundabout crazy people in Badworld. The six have little interest in working with eachother, but a blackmailing Celesticorp and rival Luna Industries can make the life of any Badworld survivor tenuous at best.
Spike is stuck relying on his would-be captors if he wants to avoid Luna Industrie's subversive grasp.
Fortunately, Gilda always has an ace up her sleeves, or in this case a horse in her dreams.
A ragtag bunch of 'friends' is more than many have in the Badworld, but it's not always enough.

Image graciously provided by Fembot13 on deviant art.
Pre read by a variety of people including:
-AlicornPriest
-OrphiusOlyandra
-Timefather64
-PiquoPie