You are... Well, you're not a narcoleptic, but you are constantly fatigued and a very heavy sleeper. Especially when you eat. Your best friend is so energetic, you can hardly keep up with her before you pass out from exhaustion. She's your next door neighbor, unfortunately, so you'd have to put up with her antics.

However, you have had a crush on her (or rather, the way she acts), but never really took the time to confess to her. That is until one night, when a visit to your crush's house turned into a sleepover.

The image (and a line in the story) came from Figgot's artwork. I absolutely had to write one out of this.

During the celebrations for her birthday, the princess decides to pay a short visit to the ruins of the castle she had once called her home. When her student comes to look for her, waking her from her remembrance, the alicorn decides to open up to the younger pony about her insecurities, leading Twilight and Celestia to a conversation about how to deal with the consequences that come from their lifespan.

Princess Celestia always knew that Twilight Sparkle was destined for great things, but she never revealed the source of that knowledge, not even to those closest to her. When the day of Twilight's true destiny finally arrives, can Celestia fulfill an ancient promise to save Equestia's past, present, and future, even it means saying goodbye to Twilight forever? How can Celestia refuse her mother's last wish?

Art by the inimitable Harwick

Isolated from her friends and taken prisoner in the middle of a war, Twilight must deal with the very real dangers of being percieved as an enemy as well as the nightmares of her arrival on 'Earth'. Can she overcome her own fears and the fears of her captors? Will the wayward unicorn's assistance be a boon or a curse to the 'humans?' Most importantly, will she ever find her way home?

"In short, it's a story of friendship and plasma rifles, with the emphasis on the friendship. The characters are well written, the XCOM setting is fleshed out very well, and the story is compelling. If you love XCOM, you'll love the story, but even if you've never heard of it, it's more than worth giving the first 3 chapters a read.

There's excellent action later on, but the real strength lies in the collision between the friendly and naive world of Twilight Sparkle and the desperate world of humans fighting a losing war for survival and willing to do anything to turn the tide."

--Arzoo

(XCOM/FiM crossover)
(Cover art commissioned by a friend and created by the magnificent FoxInShadow!)
(Original cover art by the amazing Carnelian can be viewed here!)
(Gore tag for blood and some violence)
(Many thanks to the studius OminousTen, Arzoo, xXFluttershyForeverXx and finally Setokaiva for giving my rambles a once-over)
(Now with it's own TV Tropes page! Get to tropin' folks!)