From one barren wasteland to another, less barren wasteland, an Australian Information Technology worker finds himself stuck in the snow with nowhere to go. Armed with nothing but a cheap tool set and a three metre Ethernet cable, he must find a way to survive his new location. At least it can't get any worse... right?

Oh of course it can, it's a HIE.

Warning: Contains Australian, Changelings (of course), snow, occasional IT speak, less-than-stellar HIE satire, and shoddy humour not fit for a backyard comedy club.

My name is [NAME CLASSIFIED]. I belong to a powerful organization that effectively controls Equestria and to a further extent, the entire globe, albeit unofficially. My life has always been a constant learning experience. I accomplished many things, and now I live happily with a stallion I married and had children with.

Then I was approached by a journalist, a conspiracy theorist of sorts. He had heard rumors of my past and requested an interview with me. What does he want, I wonder? Only one way to finds out.

EDIT: This was originally the first story in a now cancelled series, so some details end up not leading anywhere. Just a disclaimer, I apologies for any confusion.

EDIT: Please note, the original story will not be continued, please refer to this blog post for updates on the future of the project.

Twilight Sparkle has never felt so lonely. After what happened at her brother’s wedding rehearsal she can’t but question her friends’ worth, and once she starts doubting one part of her life, second thoughts about the rest soon follow.

Some dilemmas can’t be solved alone, but luckily for her they don’t have to be as she meets an unusual new friend who encourages her to "go another route" and help her purge the very sin that Twilight experienced from this world.

Now, she works towards a new goal. Pretending nothing had changed she goes on with her everyday life, but secretly gathers new allies for her cause. Finding them is however just the beginning.

This is an alternate storyline that takes place during season 3, starting from the season 2 finale. This story assumes you are caught up with the show at these points. If you have not watched the season 2 finale or season 3, I suggest you watch those or at least read a summery before reading this story. This project ignores season 4 and Rainbow Rocks.

Special thanks to Corwin Freiss, former co-author of the original story.

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.

This story is a sequel to Wanderings of a Non-Brony

After the six year journey around the planet in Wanderings of a Non-Brony, The human TD Harrison Powell finds himself in Equestria for good. He sees no choice but to settle down in Ponyville, ready to live the rest of his life as best as he can.

This is his life.

Edited by Marioland1 and Strike89