Dash finds herself once more in the nurse's office after being injured at practise. However, Nurse Redheart is more distant than her usual self.

A framed insignia patch and picture sitting on the nurse's desk hints towards the reason, but worries that broaching the question would be asking something too personal.

The story she hears will change her view on the nurse for the rest of her life...

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Cover art modified from totallynotabrony, and used with permission.

Note: Featured within 24 hours of being published? All of you guys rock, seriously! Never expected a story like this to reach the featured box. Thank you all!

The Barrier: a naturally-occurring wave of magic that formed soon after the portal to Equestria appeared somewhere in the South Pacific, enveloping Earth with an inevitable tide that has destroyed all life on the planet, all despite the best efforts of man and pony alike. Now, the ponies are left to pick up the pieces and try to preserve what's left, while averting the vacant gazes of the mindless Newfoals left from one of their failed attempts to save what they could.

But there's one thing that all seem to have forgotten, from the ponies of Equestria to the strange multitudes of species in the universe with their sights set on Earth: and it's that you can't keep a good apex predator down. You can only hold them up a little while...

Special thanks to The Footsoldier for the OC, Elisa!

And you're not gonna believe what happens next!

While in the Ponyville Psychiatric Ward, Lockheart receives a visit from a friend.

Full Cast Dramatic Reading can be found here.

Beta Reader: Obabscribbler

Cover art for this story was provided by PurpleRoselyn

Very special thanks goes to Magpiepony for helping with character concepts and development.

Roseluck is a pony who believes in Facts, and what she believes about them is that everypony saying something is true can only be the product of mass brainwashing. The free mind recognizes that Evidence is just a hoax with props. So if the government has asked ponies to temporarily wear masks in order to avoid spreading an illness? That can't be the real reason. Something is going on, and only the forces of Independent Thinking stand any chance of saving Ponyville from itself.

Of course, when it comes to the Flower Trio, Independent Thinking is also known as Fear-Addicted Paranoia. Everypony's been trying to tell them that for years...

Which proves the Conspiracy is just that widespread! To the soapboxes!

(Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.)

Anyone seeking MLP-styled masks like the one in the cover image may want to start through Etsy.

Appearance is everything, especially when you're a Wonderbolt. When you live your life in the spotlight, showing vulnerability will not do. There can be no cracks in your foundation, at least that's how it feels. But learning to bring those walls down can lead to surprising, wonderful revelations—even in the intensive care ward.

For some ponies, like Captain Spitfire, something needs to shake the foundations to bring the walls tumbling down. Then, with some help from the right pony, you can be led from the rubble.

Even if you fall head-over-hooves along the way.

Preread by Carabutt and Jondor.

Cover art by Rossby Waves.

An ongoing gift for auramane. Send him some love!

A nurse has seen it all. A combat medic has seen even more.

Princess Celestia sends her elite Household Battalion—"Celestia's Own"—south, far beyond the borders of Equestria, to break the slave trade and to free the oppressed. Medic Redheart, a young rookie among the Guard's hardened veterans, is with her Battalion every step of the way.

She's never told anypony her story. Until now.

A side story/prequel to my The Ponies in the Caves and A Story to Relate To, but reads independently.

This story is fantastic. There wasn't a single chapter that didn't give me chills or bring a tear to my eye. The way you describe the selflessness of the soldiers, and Redheart's unrelenting drive to save them, no matter the personal cost, was exemplary. I look forward to more of your work.

-SGTBRONY

Has a Black Company feel to it with the medic POV. Great story so far!

-Lerris

Cover art by Pabbles, by commission. Thanks!

With massive thanks to the folks in the Discord for comments and advice, and Totallynotabrony, Raleigh, Sledge115, and ChudoJogurt for detailed pre-reading, in whole or in part. Any remaining errors are fully my own.

Author's notes and commentary blog, with big spoilers.

Four days after the invasion three changelings strive to survive in the sewers of Canterlot. Their kind is gone, and they have no idea how, or whether there are any changelings left from their army. With the likely possibility that their hive now tries to select its new leader in a vicious battle, the trio of drones decide to stay away from home for a while. They plan to return when they have a higher chance of survival in their own home, than in Equestria, where they are surrounded by enemies. But for now the changelings’ chance to stay alive lies in a quiet little village near the great city of Canterlot.

Cover art by the Great and Powerful Fantos
Some of the chapters were pre-read byBeerforce, goddamnAnimalPlanet and Zenith042.

Everyone in Ponyville is well aware of a certain purple earth pony's "interest" in drinking the night, day, or really any time away that she can. Thinking her antics have gone on for too long, her friend decides to give her a push into sobriety.

Can the town drunk sober up? ...Maybe?

Editing done by Rhino and Bronystories.

There are two very important things to remember when you cross realities:

1) Every living thing that sets foot in Equestria gets magic if it doesn't have it already.
2) There are three pounds of bacteria living on and in the human body.

Everything goes exactly as expected when two alien cultures meet.