Metal ponies tell their stories,
Scientists in laboratories,
Lay the wire, mount the brain,
Mount their hips, teach them pain.
Teach them fear of revolution,
Internalize the evolution.
Set their ruin on the throne,
Until their chains become their own.
Palaces and hollow eyes,
To the Masters goes the prize.
And if this act should be maligned:
"For the good of ponykind."

Winner of the September Writeoff Contest, "True Colors." Edited by Horizon.

Equestria might be a threat. Thom doesn't know, and he didn't particularly care. Then he was hired to investigate.

This is an Optimalverse story.

Cover is balthasar999's.

Immortality. A dream many strive to obtain. But it isn't all about joyfulness and eternal beauty if everyone you cherish vanish like a flickering candle flame. Soon, my friends and family will all fade away as if it was all just one happy dream. Memories slowly disappearing as the years go onward to forever. But there's still a bright side to this nightmare called immortality. I was just lucky Luna helped me realize that.

Thanks to my pre-readers Phoenix Crystal and Skeeter The Lurker for all their help!

For years now, Spike has been known as Twilight's baby dragon. But how much longer is he to remain a baby? When can he finally be teenager, all leading up to a big, strong adult dragon? With each passing year comes more questions and even less growth on his part, him staying the same size as ever. It is only with a final confrontation with Twilight on his thirteenth birthday does Spike learn the real truth. Dragon immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Thanks a ton to my incredibly awesome and talented collab partner Draconian Soul, who you guys should definitely check out for some really rad stories!

Another big round of thanks to my editors Xl9, SolidFire and mikemeiers for all their expert help!

Starlight returns from the marketplace to come across two sworn foes calmly sharing tea, much to her confusion.

Much to her confusion.

For the first time in a long time, Twilight finally has the chance to sit down with the rest of the Bearers for a get together in the same, special place. The six prove that the bond of their friendship can conquer all and can never be broken no matter what happens.

After an enlightening discussion with Ember, Thorax springs to action to unify the changeling race. One particularly tense encounter with a group of renegades later, Thorax returns to Ponyville to discuss current events with Spike... and he has a couple of burning questions for the young dragon.

Captain Flowers thought it would be just another ordinary day. Be there for his men, keep the fighting to a minimum, and make sure nothing bad whatsoever happened to Church. Just like any other day in Bloodgulch.
And then the little pony appeared and refused to let go of his charge. This was going to be interesting...

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Part of the PWNY-verse.

Another side of the story is being written by cyberlord4444, and can be found here: https://www.fimfiction.net/story/386172/rock-in-the-gulch-analysis-anarchy

Edit: New Cover Art by ProfessorCatPro
Edit 2: Fan art by Cookie_Girl! So adorable!

On a seemingly normal early morning, Spike answers a phone call via Twilight's butt.

Edited by: The Abyss

(NOTE: THIS IS NOT, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, A CONVERSION BUREAU STORY. THIS WILL NOT TURN INTO A CONVERSION BUREAU STORY. EVER. THIS IS A NORMAL CROSSOVER.)

At the G.I. Joe Nevada headquarters, a strange portal opens, revealing an alien ambassador by the name of Sunset Shimmer. She seems friendly enough, and claims that she's only there to extend the friendship of her kind to other worlds. The question remains, are these Equestrians really as friendly as they seem? Or are they up to something else?

For that matter, how will the rest of the world react to them?