What's it like to live in Canterlot, home of the princesses, assorted renowned celebrities and sophisticated ponies?

Well, it all comes down to who you are, really - and if you happen to be a fairly ordinary earth pony, you can get on with life quite easily with few distractions.

But what happens when life plays you an interesting hand, and suddenly you're thrown into the spotlight?

This is a tale of the everyday, and how it can turn from ordinary to extraordinary with a twist of chance.

This is a tale of friends, of laughter, of love and of life.

This is a tale of who we are, and how we got here.

This... is Sketchy Salad Symphony.

This is a new story about new things. I wrote it in under an hour. I new I could do it. UPDATE: I only wrote the first two chapters in under an hour. The rest I wrote today. Now you new. Jesus shows up but you can't tag the Bible as a series.

It's the week before Hearth's Warming. Scootaloo is curled up in front of the fireplace, drinking hot cocoa and reading a Daring Do novel.

And then the fireplace starts speaking to her.

A spiritual successor to my (formerly cancelled) six star rated story, It's Not a Cold Dark Place.

Not all unicorns are princesses of friendship, and this newcomer unicorn is certainly not. Still, Celestia feels it is her duty to be welcoming, patient, and gracious to Equestria's most recent guest.
...it doesn't last long.

Warning: Contrains swearing and ooc Celestia. Crossover with a character from Gravity Falls.

[Now with a parody version!]
Sunset Shimmer: Ex-Queen bee of CHS. Ex-She-deamon. Ex-villain. Overall bad-ass.

However, as the hair 5 are learning, Sunset isn't all she may seem to be. This confident girl may just have a secret or two that she doesn't want out.

((Edited and altered 5/8/15))

Berry Punch likes to be the first one at the punch bowl. However, this time, someone beat her to it.

Special thanks to ChappedPenguinLips for editing.

Fluttershy always told Angel not to get involved with strangers. One weekend, when she was away, he decided not to listen. But if he had never talked with that nice young stallion behind the bowling alley when he went out for a stroll, he would have never ended up receiving that big, fat check in the mail! Well, that and a few copies of the bizarre underground publication he starred in that will surely scar ponies for life – and he knows just who to share them with.

Do you know what it's like to be trapped in stone, not fun. Especially if you're someone like Discord and have to deal with your own twisted mind. Let's take a look into Discords mind while he's trapped in stone and see how enjoys other company. Of course, this would all be easier if he wasn't insane.

"From all of us together, together we’re friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, the journey is without end!"

With those words, Twilight Sparkle accidentally teleported herself, Spike, the rest of her friends, and the elements of Harmony into another world. Trapped as they were for a thousand years, they made do; mingling with the natives, accepting their new-found longevity, and coping with the separation from their home world.

It's been a long ride, not without its bumps. But now, at last, the spell is winding down. The seven of them have gathered in their mansion to say farewell to their new friends and family. And even as the tears are shed and goodbyes made, some part of them is looking forward to returning to Equestria. It's true that everypony they knew is probably long dead (aside from the princesses,) but it's still their home.

There have probably been a number of changes, of course. But it can't be that bad... right?

Cover by fleebites.

Crime was easy before Princess Twilight and the First Five ushered in a golden age of Harmony. Back then, any idiot could plan a robbery, just like any rat could sneak through the cracks in wooden granary walls. But now that everything is cloudstone and clearsteel, with magical countermeasures over the few remaining holes, it takes a different breed of rat to survive.

"Slippery" Jimmy the Grey is one of the rare few ponies who can still slip through the cracks — even with the legendary Rainbow Corps on his tail. Now he's got a billion-bit heist planned in the gleaming skyscrapers of Cloudsdale. If only he hadn't made the mistake of stealing from a dragon …

Now with a reading by Illya Leonov and Scribbler!

* * *

This is a crossover with Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat novels, but it assumes no knowledge of the series.

Winner of February's Writeoff Association competition! * Featured by Equestria Daily! * Featured by Seattle's Angels!

REVIEWS: "Highly Recommended" by Titanium Dragon; "Recommended" by Present Perfect; rated "Why Haven't You Read This Yet?" by PaulAsaran

WORD OF MOUTH:
"The Iridescent Iron Rat was not only my favorite story from the most recent writeoff... it's my favorite story of anything I've read in months." —Sharp Spark

"What a ride it is. This story is made of awesome moments." —Casca, Seattle's Angels

"[A]stounding on so many levels. … If there’s one story from this round you have to pick, make it this one." —Corejo, Seattle's Angels

"Absolutely beautifully done. It fits the style and feel of the books to a perfect T." —Themaskedferret