This story is a sequel to Parallels

The alliance between Equestria and Alemaneia continues to hold steadfast; Colonel Paul Werner and Generalfeldmarschall Aryanne Land's 'relationship' is at an all-time high... though that does not say much.

Things turn unprecedented, however, when Alemaneia becomes the victim. Actions against the state would never sit lightly with Aryanne, and she vows to unleash the entire military might of her nation against the offending foreign government... even at the threat of multi-state intervention in a to-be conflict. The world pleads with Equestria to rein in the fascist nation or risk a global conflict, and Paul is tasked with talking Aryanne's justified response down.

However, she'll only talk to him on one condition:

He must come to Alemaneia.

All the while, Paul must grapple with some of his biggest demons.

-Reading of 'Parallels' is not explicitly required, though highly encouraged if you want the surrounding details and lead-up.
-Awesome base Aryanne art done by Antamoanimisan-m, sourced to derpibooru. (Their tumblr is NSFW)

It was supposed to be a simple task: drop Cerberus off at the Gates of Tartarus, the prison doors for Equestria's greatest and most terrible monsters. Little did Twilight know it was host to an entirely different prison: the SCP Foundation.

Twilight is enthralled with the sheer amount of knowledge and power the Foundation contains. They are likewise willing to bring her on board. After all, who can stop a black ops facility that doesn't officially exist?

Celestia, if she has any say in the matter, and she promised there would be hell to pay if the Foundation harmed her student.

History is written by the victors and the Equestrians excel at winning. Far to the south of Equestria in the Badlands, the region that separates the Equestrian frontier and the unknown lands of the long forgotten Humans, lies an ancient citadel of knowledge. Generations of magic, both well versed and obscure, holy and ghastly. Its reinforced walls still stand though the tomes and coveted secrets were purged after years of warfare, degradation and abandonment. Despite the armies, bands and packs who tried to finish what the Equestrians started none were able to breach the gates of the Lost Archive. None aside from the few faithful to the old ruler and Lord Hierophant have ever entered. His reign was cut short because of the same people who gave it to him and his followers, though misguided and few in number, would see fit to restoring his former glory even if it's more myth then legend.

Current cover art by Echira Sorin.

Once upon a time, (if the term even applies) two young ladies, (if that adjective even applies) decided to visit a magical land of Equestria, selected seemingly at random from about a million.

• One of the two is a time traveler deprived of her time machine, the other is an eldritch abomination out of her element.
• One would prefer the world of pastel-colored ponies to stay as it is, and can’t help but alter it. The other one is anxious to see how it can change, and can’t help but maintain it.
• Both believe that this is not their story. But while they disturb the delicate world of ponies, they don’t even notice ponies doing the same to them.
• Sandwiches are involved somehow.

There are many things this story is and some things it isn’t.

It’s not a fix fic, no matter what some of the characters think. It’s written in multiple first person narration, which happened for a pointlessly clever reason, that will eventually become quite obvious. It’s not a crossover, it just comes with an unhealthy amount of backstory. It could be a rational-fic, but since idealistic philosophy is typically not seen as very rational, it’s only a philoso-fic instead. It’s quite meta, in the original definition of metafiction: fiction concerned with fiction as a concept. In any case, it’s either a small monument to overthinking things – I’m trying to reexamine many fanon ideas here – or a digital paperweight, I’m not sure which. It’s quite a bit more subtle than it could be, and everyone talks way too much when they should be having glorious adventures.
I know how it starts, I know how it ends, and most of what happens in between. Readers say it’s a slow burner, but we’ll get there eventually.

Acknowledgements

With special thanks to my editors, Thainen, Shrink Laureate, and MitchH.
Further special thanks to ScarletWeather and Themaskedferret for valuable input.
The artist who made the cover image stubbornly wishes to remain uncredited, but thanks to her anyway.

You learn more by listening than by talking.

And you learn a lot more by listening to ponies.

A familiar Captain of the Guard finds himself dredged out of the ocean and into the dubious company of totally-not-pirates.

He doesn't remember who he is, and he's not entirely sure he likes the looks the all-mare crew is giving him. Cadence is certainly not going to be happy about that when she catches up with him.

He might have been better off in the water after all.

NEW! Cover image from the awesome and talented Harwick
Seriously go look at Harwick's stuff it's Really Pretty!

My roommate's name is Octavia, or "Tavi" for short. She likes vintage red wine, soft pillows, and long walks on the beach. But, more than anything, she loves music. She loves it with a passion that radiates with every burning color of the spectrum.

Each day I spend with her... or without her, I learn a little bit more about life, about the sick beat to which we all dance, whether we know it or not. I hope you don't mind if I say a few things about her. Just a few things. One can learn a lot from Tavi.

After all, she saved my life.

Cover Art by Eztp

Playlist - Because Even Original Things Aren't Original