"... at the forefront of our fandom’s writing scene ... Masterpiece." —PCaRG
"... really enjoyable ..." —City of Doors
"...worthy of high praise." —PaulAsaran
"Lots of wonderful world-building, great action, well-developed characters and an engaging story." —Hoopy McGee

Steel Song is a lot of things. Earth pony. Uncle. Professional bodyguard.

Retired.

So when he receives a mysterious package from Princess Luna a few weeks after the changeling invasion, he's understandably apprehensive. More-so when he presents himself before the Royal Diarchs to find that not only do they desire him to come out of retirement, but to take command of a most unusual position...

A position that may have more significance than any of them suspect. Because strange thefts are occurring on the Equestrian Railway, thefts that nopony can explain. Thefts that may have far more sinister intentions than their seemingly innocent nature may convey.

Intentions sinister enough to shift the balance of power in Equestria forever.

Book I of The Dusk Guard Saga.
Epic Fantasy
Has a collection of Side Stories as well, the first of which is here.
Now with a TV Tropes page!
"This is 100% Approved by Twilight's Library!"
Added to Twilight's Library 11/26/2013
Added to Canterlot's Finest 12/01/2013

This story is a sequel to Daughter of Discord

The long-awaited sequel to "Bride of Discord" and "Daughter of Discord."

Now that Prince Mothball has gotten used to living with the Discord family, he thinks he is ready to take the next step with Screwball. However, their plans are put on hold when the changelings return and want Mothball to be their king.

Cover Image by Inkheart7

Ponyville is one of the largest cities in Equestria, a center for trade and finance, a melting pot of many races, tribes, and cultures. It is also a place where corruption is a way of life. Here, the cops that aren't on the take are forever chasing their own tails, citizens live in fear, and gangs battle for control of the streets.

Daring Do has just been released from prison after a year-long sentence for thievery, and no one is about to let her forget her place. Phillip Finder is a local private detective and the bane of the Ponyville Police Department. The new partners quickly find themselves at ground zero of a city-wide gang war; surrounded by dirty cops, mobsters, assassins, and bizarre crimes, they can only rely on each other and a few honest ponies for aid.

They're hardly heroes. Which means they may be exactly what Ponyville needs.

Updates every Wednesday. Proofread by Eagle—Paladin of Shadows

The first story of the Noireverse.

Sex and Gore tags for suggestive content and graphic descriptions.

Check out the theme music by The L-Train by clicking here!

Featured on 1/29/18! Thank you all so much! <3

A bit of background...

Three years ago, I introduced Phillip Finder in my first fanfiction, "The Pony in the Gray Trilby." Over the next many months, I kept writing and eventually turned my first work into a twenty-story series. I learned much and enjoyed the stories' moderate success, but unfortunately, I became dissatisfied with them over time. I realize that it's perhaps a bit of a cliche that many artists end up hating their own work, but for both Tchaikovsky and myself, it is the truth.

I initially planned to write this story as a prequel to the series, focusing on Phillip Finder and Daring Do. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I wanted to improve upon my work, but felt as though I was being held back by the original series. While I am proud of my first stories for what I learned and gained through them, I decided that the best course of action for me, what would make me the happiest, would be to wipe the slate clean and start again from the basic foundations.

That's where this story comes in. A semi-reboot of the original series, the adventures contained herein, set in a vastly different alternate universe and replete with a mixture of reinterpreted and original characters, are the culmination of all the experience that I gained writing the original series. This is Phillip Finder and company as I meant them to be.

I hope that you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoy writing it!

A series of one-shots set in an alternate world where the Mane 6 are the Power Ponies. Follow the adventures of six superheroes and their dragon sidekick as they defend Maretropolis from dastardly evil-doers, including the Mane-iac, the Equalizer, the Phoenix, and the God of Chaos himself.

Cover art by fluttercord45

Origins: The head of a multibillion-bit company, an orphaned farm girl in the big city, an underappreciated archaeologist's assistant, an up-and-coming fashion designer searching for inspiration, a veterinarian taking anger management therapy, and a bored girl from a rock farm. A notorious act of evil will bring these unlikely allies together.

The Mane-Raising Joke: Dee Tangler takes her role as the owner of a multi-million-bit haircare product company way too far, resulting in a tragic accident at her shampoo factory that will change her life, as well as the Power Ponies', forever.

The Shadow King: A scientist strives to help a pony he loves with his research in shadow magic. Meanwhile, Fili-Second and Zapp question their worth as heroes.

The Sirens' Song: When three beautiful, singing mares become an overnight sensation, the Power Ponies team is divided, and it's up to those unimpressed with the singers' talent to save Maretropolis from their evil scheme.

Heart of Stone: Saddle Rager is experiencing strange dreams involving the statue of Discord at the Maretropolis Museum. Meanwhile, Zapp has noticed the statue has been cracking, and it gets worse and worse every single day...

Don't Cry After Sunset: Some pony from Twilight's past re-emerges, at the same time mysterious robberies are occurring by a master thief who leaves no evidence behind.

Longhorn's Journey Into Night: At long last, Mistress Mare-velous gets a lead in finding her parents' murderer and insists on pursuing him alone, but Humdrum won't allow it.

The Pharaoh's Curse: A new mummy arrives at the Maretropolis Museum of a said to be cursed pharaoh.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?: Parallel chapter to "The Pharaoh's Curse," in which we see what Twilight and Applejack are up to while on vacation.

This is the story of Sour Grapes, a literate, snarky, anti-social unicorn who lives on a Vineyard close to Sweet Apple Acres. Her life, times, interactions with various cast members, and eventually falling head-over-hooves for someone.

Alternate Universe, because this was started well before the whole: "All three seasons happened in one year" thing. Honestly I don't believe that all of that could have happened in the course of a single year, anyway. Though it would explain how the ponies be crazy, sometimes.

This story is a sequel to Bride of Discord

Discord and Fluttershy are blessed with a daughter named Screwball, who is gifted with incredible power that attracts the attention of the Queen of the Changelings...as well as her son.
When disaster strikes that tears Screwball's family apart, it is up to her to bring it together again.

New cover art by floppy-fluttercord

When Daring Do's latest adventure goes south, the adventurer finds herself stuck with a regressed Rainbow Dash. Can Twilight fix the curse, or will Rainbow Dash have to grow up all over again? And will Daring find she likes being a mother?
Takes place during season four

Collab between me and Reverse Scratch
Cover art used with permission from Cuddlelamb
Proof read help by SuperPinkBrony12
Not sure if Teen rating needed but never know. .

This story is a sequel to Ponyville Noire: Tails of Two Private Eyes

When reformed thief Daring Do and private detective Phillip Finder took down Silvertongue, the reigning king of Ponyville's underworld, they hoped that things would get better for their city, and for each other. And with the dawn of a new year, and the honest if harsh Cold Case as the new chief of the Ponyville Police Department, that hope seems fruitful.

But nature abhors a vacuum. The throne that Silvertongue vacated has been taken by his former associate: Zugzwang, a cold, bloodthirsty sociopath who harbors a chilling obsession with Phillip Finder. But not all meet his rule willingly: the griffon Whitestone declares war on Zugzwang and his allies, and Phillip and Daring are caught in the center. Amidst the chaos, the mysterious Scarlet Letter manipulates all three sides as part of an unknown plan.

Ponyville is burning all around them. With a few friends at their side, Phillip Finder and Daring Do fight to restore order, but they and the city might not survive without a few scars.

Updates weekly. Proofread by Eagle—Paladin of Shadows

The second major story of the Noireverse.

Sex and Gore tags for suggestive content and graphic description.

Click here to check out the theme music by the L-Train!

This story is a sequel to Daughter of Discord

A series of one-shots detailing the adventures of five fillies on a quest to find what makes them special and earn their cutie marks.

Prism: the flightless pegasus overshadowed by her Wonderbolt parents and her talented older siblings, eager to prove herself to her family.

Gemstone: the spoiled yet slightly absent-minded unicorn hailing from Canterlot, seeking out friends who will accept her for who she is.

The Tri-Pies (Blueberry, Raspberry and Cherry): the energetic triplets, joined at the hip since birth (not literally), but cannot seem to handle themselves individually.

Artwork courtesy of Nstone53

Stories (no real spoilers, just brief synopses):

A New Beginning: Prism is tired of being picked on for not being able to fly and for being a blank flank, so with the help of her Aunt Scootaloo, she gets her best friends Blueberry, Raspberry and Cherry to form the new generation of The Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Odd One Out: Gemstone wants to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but Prism won't let her.

Trial and Error: The new Cutie Mark Crusaders spend the day trying new things and will hopefully discover their super special talents.

Words, Words, Words: Gemstone isn't doing so well in school and believes herself to be stupid. Will her friends discover her secret?

Three of a Kind: The Tri-Pies are very special fillies and are able to do all kinds of things, but for some reason can't seem to get their cutie marks. Even though they are triplets, are they truly as alike as they think?

The Secret Admirer: It's Hearts and Hooves Day and Prism gets a beautiful card from an anonymous pony. Who is her secret crush?

The Strange Case of Cheese Sandwich: Blueberry discovers that there was another stallion in her mother's life and is determined to find out what happened to him.

April Foals: Prism's prank on the Tri-Pies leads to unexpected results.

Weekend at Uncle Discord's: Days One and Two: While Scootaloo is away, the Dash siblings spend the weekend with Discord, Fluttershy, Screwball, Mothball (Screwball's changeling boyfriend) and baby Zany. During this weekend, Prism is determined to prove to her older brother and sister that she would be a better older sibling than them. Her wish comes true, but not in the way she had in mind.

Weekend at Uncle Discord's: Day Three (completely unrelated to the plot of Days One and Two): Gemstone and the Tri-Pies come visit Prism at Discord's castle for a play date. They decide to explore the many rooms there in hopes of earning their cutie marks, but there's no telling what lies behind each door in the Castle of Chaos.

Weddings: At their Aunt Twilight Sparkle's wedding, the CMC ask their parents about their weddings.

Until We Meet Again: Rainbow Dash and Soarin are going to Afghanisteed, and Prism is worried that they won't come back.

First Crush: The Tri-Pies have always been inseparable, but a cute new colt in class causes friction between them.

Baby Boo: Gemstone's new baby sister arrives, and Gem is determined to be the best big sister ever. However, with her family handling everything, she feels useless. When Nightmare Night comes around, she gets the chance to prove herself.

Politically Incorrect: Friction develops between the CMC when it is announced both Gemstone's and the Tri-Pies' fathers are running for Mayor of Ponyville.

Compromises: Lemon Drop gets into a fight with Raspberry. Is this the end of their relationship?

White Swan: Cherry and Gemstone work on a school project together and become closer friends than ever. When Gemstone wants to hang out with some pony else, Cherry starts feeling icky and she doesn't know why.

Rock Pies: The Tri-Pies receive a visit from their cousins from the rock farm.

Lonely Apples Club: Cherry gets crush advice from an unlikely source.

Whinny Land: On a day trip to the amusement park, Cherry and Blueberry seek to solve an urban legend, Gemstone and Raspberry play matchmaker, and Prism runs into an old friend.

Gift of the Raspberry Lemon: While making Hearth's Warming cards, Raspberry makes a startling discovery about her coltfriend.

Stories: For Hearts and Hooves Day, the class must write a report on how their parents met. Raspberry worries her report is going to sound exactly like her sisters'.

El Tango de Triángulos: At the Hearts and Hooves Day party, Raspberry decides to help a friend with a romantic dilemma while Blueberry helps Cherry with her own. Unbeknownst to them, another pony has their own little romantic scheme cooked up.