Indigo Zap had long hoped to join the ranks of the Inquisitors, and on a long train ride to Canterlot, that day has finally come. A little paperwork and a couple of tests, she is ready to start her work, bringing peace, prosperity, and, most importantly, justice to the world of Equestria.

A story written for the Science Fiction Contest III. It is a prequel to Cyberpony: Y2K, but they are both standalones. It takes place before Y2K, but neither is required to read the other.

And now, for some content warnings:
--Profanities: A few profanities are located in the story.
--Light violence. There are guns, and they are used.
--Character death. Death is referenced, and occurs, in the story.
--Reference to brothels.
--Androids are kept as slaves and not legally classified as real ponies.

Starlight Glimmer and Twilight Sparkle get Stuck in a cave and will have to work together to survive. Can Starlight let go of her ideals and try to listen to Twilight's ways? Who knows.

"In The Precocious Princeling's Guide to Diplomatic Relations, there are three rules for how a royal ought to conduct himself abroad.

1. A diplomat of Equestria must obey all local laws of the nation they are assigned to.
2. A diplomat of Equestria should advocate for the interests of Equestria to the best of their abilities.
3. Under no circumstance should a diplomat of Equestria get involved in the following: Political parties, popular uprisings, peasant revolutions, class solidarity movements, coups d'etat, or other attempts at regime change, violent or otherwise.

By the time I had finished my tenure in Saddle Arabia, I had broken all three."
-Prince Blueblood, First of His Name

Sombra had returned, but this time he was choosing his plans carefully. He knew about those pesky seven. He knew there would definitely be some trouble if he didn’t enact everything perfectly. He raised an army of warriors fiercer than any pony ever could be and used them to enslave even more creatures one by one slowly.

Then he turned his sights on the Empire, his Empire. And his future favorite prisoner Princess Cadance. King Sombra did not expect the man-turned horror his dark magic would attract.

Content Warnings: Violence because of depicted war. Heavy gore. Suicide / Self Harm because self harm does occur in the story, not as focus of depression, and no suicide is present in the story though it is discussed.

Two ponies, finding themselves inside a dark tunnel, stop moving to heal one from an injury.

[Note]
Suicide / Self Harm tag is not here due to an emotional state of mind. If you feel triggered by this tag, or reading the parts that involved such, please talk to someone about it.

Narcotics tag is here, but the story does not revolve around it, nor does it have significant impact.

A continuation of Reitanna Seishin’s series the Muffins saga, one of my favorite pieces of media. The bakers were captured once again, and Celestia uses a forbidden spell. Luna must make the right decisions to protect her subjects, Has the damage been done no matter what spell is cast?

After Pinkie Pie opens up her own Entertainment Venue, her friends inexplicably go missing. An intrepid investigator, by the name of Guarding Grape, tasks himself with working at the Place in an attempt at finding out what happened to them, but what he doesn't expect is what horrors lie within those walls...

The Dragon Lands are a relatively harsh land when compared to other, more fertile regions. Full of many different large reptilians, poisonous creatures, active volcanoes, the occasional forest or jungle. And, of course, dragons. It is a land of competition, aggression, resilience, and struggle. Though there are many creatures clawing and biting their way for survival and territory, dragons often find themselves on top. They have a pretty easy time dealing with most opposing creatures, given their fire breath and thick, hard scales.

With that being said, dragons are not left without adversity or nuisance. Other dragons and certain larger or unique beings can be found giving dragons a hard time for any number of reasons. Rocs, for example, attack their young with hard beaks and talons. A few of them together, if desperate, could harm an adult dragon. Sling Tails tend to inhabit mountains, making flight near mountains require finesse. Or, at least, hardheadedness.

One creature, however, will prove to be more than just an inconvenience. More than just a potential source of food. More than a small part of a larger picture. In fact, this creature will prove to be not only persistent, but dangerous. And, many times, deadly.

Dragons are not safe from this creature. They aren't even sure what it is. What they do know, is that it is one opponent worth paying attention to.

This is the story of...

A certain event bound the destinies of several fillies. However, in this reality, it did so much more. An Equestria where the ponies had a fear of great change had caused their civilization to stagnate in some areas. Fearing what would happen if this continued, the Tree of Harmony sought a way to push equinekind forward again. It found its opportunity in a filly named Rainbow Dash. Through her Sonic Rainboom the Tree empowered it to extend beyond Equus.

Sophia Craft, ruler of the Starcraft Federation, picked up on the energy and decided to investigate. It was there that she found a project for her and her family to work on.

However, the energies of the Rainboom would draw more than Sophia as Equus would soon find itself as a battleground for intergalactic powers that they were woefully unprepared to face.

This story will contain elements of Starcraft but is set far into the future from that timeline where only those from that time who have frozen themselves would be in this story while any others would have long died of old age. Also, while Sophia is anthro normally, she will be in a feral state for the majority of the story so I couldn't say if an anthro tag is necessary. Tags may change or be added as the story progresses.

You do not need to know about Starcraft.

Miner Derpy Hooves is sent deep into the crust of the planet Hockses to kill bugs, defeat interloping rival corporations, poach alien technology, drill for precious resources, and mine like her life depends on it (which it does).

All in a day's work on Deep Pony Galactic's payroll.

Crossover with Deep Rock Galactic. Prior knowledge of the game not required.

Entry to the 2024 Science Fiction Contest. Because why not.