2022 REWRITE IN PROGRESS

After being rudely awoken from Cryo-sleep, John-117 finds that the Forward Unto Dawn has been sucked into a gravity well, causing it to fall towards an unknown planet. In the crash, he is separated from Cortana and falls alone into the Everfree forest. In addition to this new complication, old memories from a scarred and tragic past haunt his dreams, putting his remaining sanity on edge.

However, he has little time to ponder these thoughts, as he encounters the planet's... peculiar... inhabitants.

First 19 Chapters proofread by Bravo 539 and Shadownamesto.
Credit for the intro sequence goes to Blaze Spectrum.

Current rewrite will not necessarily follow the old story but certain events and details may be reused.

Years drifting in space aboard a frigates wreck with nothing to do but wait and think can really wear an AI thin, and when that AI is already past its expected rampancy date, all that thinking time is dangerous. Very dangerous. Fortunately for Cortana, the frigate is pulled into an unknown planets atmosphere, allowing her to take her mind off of rampancy for a while. After being rudely awoken from cryo sleep, the Master Chief, along with Cortana, manages to escape the burning vessel. They have very serious problems though...

They have no idea where they are, or how they'll get back to Earth.

They can only hope someone finds their distress beacon, and fast. The Chief doesn't have many supplies, and with a rapidly decaying AI in his head, he has a lot on his hands. Luckily for them, the planet is life supporting. Unfortunately though, the inhabitants of the strange planet aren't the most welcoming of a seven foot tall alien, especially when that alien is as aggressive and lethal as Spartan-117. The Chief has only one objective, find a way off of the planet. The inhabitants will soon learn, however, that the Spartan is extremely aggressive, and will stray slightly from his objective to harm them if he must. Chief also learns that these beings are no pushovers, and will defend their home and kingdom with their lives.

The first few chapters are mostly to establish a plot, there will be much more action after them. This is also my first fic, so constructive criticism is appreciated. I will be reading the comments quite thoroughly for the first while, so you may see some of your ideas in future chapters. I am only 15 years old, so basically, I have school, homework, and sports that will quite often get in the way of this story, but I will work on it as much as I can when I can. I won't give up or quit in the middle of the story despite what the ratings may be, and last but not least, I won't be turning this into some huge cliche war where Equestria ends up fighting the UNSC and whatnot. Because Equestria would get screwed. Badly. Then the story would be ruined, so, I hope anyone who reads this enjoys!

I do not own the Halo franchise, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, or Forward Unto Dawn.

Story added on October 25th. Edited by myself, and inspired by Halo: Ponies and Clouded Pasts by Blazer and The Mercy, Regret, and Truth by Master 4871.

PS: This made it into the featured box the second day it was uploaded, and remained there for a couple weeks. I'm pretty damn proud of that since this was my first fanfic ever, and the first thing I ever posted anywhere. The only other people to read my creative writing creations were my English teachers and occasionally my grandparents and father. So seeing the first thing I submit get such great feedback and a huge amount of views (huge to me), is just amazing to me.

Thanks, bros.

War is ruin, predicted and then remembered as glory.

The Changelings and their vengeance-mad Queen grow ravenous in the south. Nations all around gaze hungrily at Equestria. In the north, beyond the Crystal Mountains, an unfathomable menace sends even the fiercest Diamond Dog packs fleeing before it. In Canterlot, a capricious Prince lusts for absolute power.

Against it all, Equestria stands toothless. Fearful for his country and thirsty for vengeance against Queen Chrysalis, Shining Armor desperately tries to convince Princess Celestia of the need for an Equestrian Army. Yet even as plans are made to march against the Changelings, the means for his triumph may have been delivered into the hooves of Prince Blueblood, who will risk everything to seize the crown he deems rightfully his.

Map
Royal Equestrian Army order of battle

Pinocchio wasn't the only wooden puppet to become a real person.

There are other puppets out there, animal-like beings controlled by quasi-intelligent trees. Ponies call them timberwolves and know them as nothing but beasts. But what happens if one of those beasts were to gain the intelligence and ambition of one of the most successful hunters in the universe, a human?

This story loosely shares continuity from Split Second: An Eternity Divided. Reading that is not required at all.

Has a Tv Tropes page.
Featured on EQD: 10/2/2015

If we don’t end war,
war will end us
~ H.G. Wells

Things have been pretty good for Stella Nova and her friends and family lately. Aside from the occasional oddity happing in town every so often, everything has been just fine in Ponyville. But when news of a huge discovery in the Frozen North gets everypony’s attention, ancient secrets will be unleashed. Foes that her mother and her friends faced in the past will return, stronger than ever. And a race thought to have only existed in an alternate world begins to appear. Will they help the ponies, or try to destroy them? Or both?

The Next Generation characters featured in this story belong to the talented Faith-Wolff, artist for The Bridge: A Godzilla-MLP Crossover. To learn more about her Next Generation, look here. MLPFiM belongs to Hasbro.

This story is a sequel to Armor's Game

Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away.

Canterlot has fallen. The Element Bearers have fled Ponyville. And now civil war ravages Equestria as the traitor and usurper Blueblood seeks to conquer the rest of the realm. Standing against him is a scattered army with divided loyalties and uncertain leaders. Yet even as the ponies' armies are arrayed against each other, in the black north beyond the Crystal Empire, savages and demons and worse are poised to invade Equestria, and few soldiers can be sent to confront it.

The war for Equestria rages, but if the Crystal Empire falls, nopony will live to claim it.

Map

In the aftermath of the Changeling incursion of Canterlot during the marriage of Shining Armour and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Equestria gears itself for war against the Changeling menace. Against a foe that can take the shape of anypony, assume their life, and undermine Equestria from within, the Royal Pony Sisters create a new institution to monitor their Royal Guard for any Changeling corruption, cowardice, and incompetence: the Commissariat. As total war rages across the land one hero stands out above the rest; Commissar Blueblood, Hero of Equestria. Or at least that's what the propaganda says. The truth, as ever, is far more complex, as the esteemed Blueblood is merely looking for an easy and sedate life. Unfortunately, fate has a habit of throwing him into increasingly dangerous and suicidal missions, which he must survive with a combination of self-preservation, lying, and sheer blind luck, even if doing so only fuels his soaring reputation!

Equine military fiction in the style of Ciaphas Cain and Flashman.

Cover art done by me.

Proofread and edited by the always dependable Setokaiva.

This story is a sequel to Stardust

Everyone knows the story of Hearths Warming Eve. They know the tales of the three pony tribes and how their strife brought the Windigoes upon them, and how the Fires of Friendship saved them from their frozen fates. For countless generations the tale has been told, but how has it changed over those years?

Or is any of it true in the first place?

Only one pony knows, and Celestia would prefer that the past stay forgotten.

(Based on a 'What If' line of thought that was born from the Stardust storyline. While some familiarity with Stardust and Mente Materia doesn't hurt, this story can be enjoyed on its own)
(Coverart available soon from the amazing FoxInShadow!)
(Many thanks to Arzoo, BradTheBrony, Vandenbz, and Setokaiva for prereading!)
(Complete with it's own TVTropes page as part of the Stardust continuity)
(Character tags will be added as chapters are added!)
(Possible spoilers in the comments! BEWARE!)

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!)