In the wake of the events of "Infernal Machines" and the Nightmare's most pathetic assault on Ponyville yet, Applejack is thrown into an existential crisis, despite her not knowing what the word "existential" means. So when a stranger named Stranger arrives in town, teaching a new way of coupling talent to power using complex machinery, she is quickly suckered in, along with everypony else. Now, it falls to the Most Dependable of Ponies to bring the resulting ruckus down to earth, but can even Applejack's legendary pragmatism stand up to the brain-fizzing horror that is... CONTRAPTIONOLOGY?

Now with a Spanish translation by Spaniard Kiwi!

When humanity is on the brink of destruction, they shine brightest. When men have nothing left to lose, they put everything on the line. When the children of Adam have everything taken from them, they return the favor. With interest.

I've read a few TCB fics with humans winning, but I don't think I've seen it done this way. Enjoy the ride. First serious fic, will still have a few jokes though. I can't take anything too seriously. Hope you like it.

Edit: Popular stories bar on the same day it was posted? wow o.O

Some ponies are shy creatures, and try to get through life without getting noticed too much. Other ponies are massive, hulking brutes that make as much noise as possible.

The two are seldom related.

Youtube reading by CaptainBron3y here

NOTE - this is the sequel to my other story, The Braggart and The Bug. This won't make much sense if you haven't read that first (sorry about that!).

Leech the Changeling is enjoying his new life as The Great and Powerful Trixie's assistant. Exiled from Pony civilization, they travel across the non-pony lands of Equestria, astounding and sometimes annoying the natives as they go. Leech certainly wouldn't ever want to go back to life in a Changeling hive now, even if his swarm wanted him to.

Of course, they'd probably never want him back anyway... would they?

Art once again supplied by ackdari.deviantart.com/ and butchered by me.

This story is a sequel to Stardust

When Equestria’s newest member of royalty asks for aid to be offered to her friends from abroad, the best and the brightest volunteer to serve. Captain Steel Song of the Dusk Guard are immediately mobilized to help XCOM defend their world from the enemies that besiege them. However, their first joint operation with the humans takes a turn for the worse and they quickly find themselves fighting for their lives against the full force of the monsters that threaten Earth.

(Stardust/Dusk Guard crossover)
(Coverart provided by a friend of Viking ZX!)
(While familiarity with both stories isn’t required, it is recommended)
(Many thanks to Arzoo for pre-reading!)
(All screenshots can be found at XCOM.wikia.com)
(Featured on 3/13/2013. Thanks everyone!)
(Now has it's own section on TVTropes as part of the Stardust series!)

Marenberg is under siege. Every day, ponies go out to battle, and every night they come back in, gaining nothing. Captain Jade Thorn finally decides to try a risky strategy in the hopes of a quick payoff.

This story is a sequel to The Way to a Unicorn's Heart

After working yourselves to the bone, you and Twilight head off to a weekend retreat at a ritzy resort. However, there may be another reason why this vacation is necessary....

*With thanks to Eights and N3uro for editing*

The Cutie Mark Crusaders have gotten pretty good at helping ponies find and understand their cutie marks. They could even be considered experts on the subject.

A cutie mark that's vanished might prove a bit trickier.

Apple Bloom knows of a few things that could remove a cutie mark, but she'll have to dig deep to find the cause of this strange phenomenon, and help a poor filly get her destiny back.

Everyday, dozens of ponies fall in the wasteland. For one pony, each death is the start of a new life. This is the tale of Gardener and his efforts to rebuild the wasteland, one tree at a time.

Art courtesy of Jetwave

This story is a sequel to The Adventures of Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude, long known for his mischievous and generally dickish ways, has long been a thorn in the side of many a castle attendant.

Yet he has nowhere near as much experience in the field as a certain Spirit of Chaos.

And they are known to cross paths from time to time. Which, like any good friendship, had to start somewhere.

(New cover art by the fantastic TodayIWriteFanfics!)