Idol Hooves holds a special place in Equestria. He's probably the only exiled changeling to serve in the Royal Guard, or at least, that's what he expects, as exiles don't really broadcast that fact. However, it's well known that Princess Celestia loves all of her little ponies, and her guards perhaps more so, and that makes it one of the best ways for a changeling to discreetly feed.

But how does a changeling even get there, let alone get exiled in the first place? For that matter, why would it ever go to Canterlot? Set a number of years before the series proper, before Luna’s redemption, Idol details how he was exiled, the ponies he’s met, and the series of misadventures that led him to joining the Royal Guard, and should continue a good ways into the series, as something of an alternate perspective.

Soon, he’ll have to deal with a boisterous new princess to serve and a royal wedding in the works bringing a third to power. Will his old instincts bring this new life crashing down around him? What precipitates Chrysalis’s ill-fated assault on Canterlot? Is it really so wrong for a changeling to enjoy good craftsmanship to an obsessive degree?

New cover art provided by the fantastic Carnifex

And a TVTropes page here.

And an Ask Blog of questionable canonity!
Out of Idol Curiosity

Fanart by Norad2! Major thanks! Short For a Royal Guard

Art by Egophiliac of Idol and his Daring Duckie Please don't tell him what that brush is meant for.

Rating updated to (T), it's a bit darker than (E)
Comedy Tag added as well
And changed the character tags a bit.

Beyond Equestria, the lands to the north are hostile and unforgiving. Ponies eke out a subsistence in uncontrollable weather, separated by mile after frigid mile of snow and mountains. A land where only the hardiest survive is no place for civilization.

Yet civilization encroaches from time to time. When a colossal bounty is placed on the head of a unicorn deep in the arts of necromancy, a motley crew of bounty hunters assembles and gives chase. It’s too good a chance to pass up. They’ll bring her to justice, no matter what stands in their way. Not her dark magic. Not the inhospitable environment.

And certainly not each other.

Other entries in this series:

• Hinterlands
• Urban Wilds
• Death Valley

Celestia loves her little sis - but family has a way of making it difficult sometimes when very bizarre secrets are unveiled.

Tonight is one of those nights.

There's not much to say about this stupid little thing. I was searching the archives for another greentext I wrote and stumbled back upon this one that I had forgotten about. It purely came about as a result of seeing the cover pic for the first time.

Said cover pic is by Tomatocoup

This story is a sequel to Guardian Angel

It was expertly planned. Nopony saw it coming. Who would dare attack Equestria with her two princesses? Not to mention the Elements of Harmony!
Equestria had grown fat, and lazy. It was little surprise to the other nations of Equus when she was attacked. Now they watch with eager eyes, Zebrica. The Empire of Griffonia. The Draconian Enclave. All watch the unfolding war between Equestria and Hive Mantis of the Changelings.
Equestria's future has never been more uncertain...

This story is a sequel to Interview with a Batpony

Many months have passed since Twilight Sparkle, now crowned Princess of Equestria, managed to conduct an interview with Midnight Wind, an amiable batpony that came to stay in Ponyville. She gained incredible answers, yet emerged with a lot of questions still. Now, as another meeting is set, she desires to know even more about his species.

But some tapes are never meant to be shared with the public...

This story is a sequel to Thomas and Friends: Christmas Adventures

The long distance adventures of Sunny and her friends are only a part of their activities. They also get up to many smaller scale hi-jinks in Falmouth itself. Join the crew for a new series of journeys, living their lives and doing their best to plan and manage life in the brave new world produced by magic. Safe to say, life is certainly never dull!

This anthology contains a mixture of adaptations of Thomas and Friends episodes, stories from the 4th Chapter of Make your Mark, and original stories, as well as some Tell your Tale adaptations.

In an infinitely improbable set of events, Twilight Sparkle, Sunny Starscout, and other ponies of all generations meet at the Restaurant at the end of the Universe, make friends, and get thoroughly confused about the nature of the multiverse.

A quantum superposition of all pony generations with the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. If you are not familiar with that, this will not make much sense.

If you are familiar with it, don’t expect it to make much more sense.

Twilight sparkle found a new spell and needed a friend to help her with it so she got her best friend anonymous who was also a human. She promised him that she would be careful but after a mistake she accidentally turned anon I to a pony and a mare leading to the creation of the pony Scarlett Ray.

The Rainbooms are heroes. They always do the right thing.

Sometimes, doing the right thing is horrible.

You can help support me and my stories on Ko-fi, if you want

Cream Heart is determined to purchase the latest new game for her son, Button Mash, for Hearth's Warming Eve. She was a gamer once, how hard can it be?

Part of Serina's Hearth's Warming Eve Collection for 2023.