Luna discovers a lone member of the Royal Night Guard stationed beneath her private balcony. As a question becomes a conversation, as an evening becomes a week, and as an annoyance becomes a friendship, an unfortunate truth looms large in her mind: nothing is ever as it seems, neither in dreams nor reality.

Comments contain spoilers
Edited by PresentPerfect and Grand Moff Pony

Oriole has a problem. She can't stop eating stallions.

Rarity has a problem. Her new friend can't stop eating stallions.

Twilight Sparkle has a problem. A stallion-eating monster has moved into her town.

Spike's just glad he's not a stallion.

I mean, I could ask Twilight out. I know she would say yes, and we would both be oh so happy, but...it's scary. I think we're in a good place right now, right? We both know our feelings and there isn't a reason to rush on them. Right? Oh, Fluttershy, get it together. It can't be that hard.

Right?

When Big McIntosh comes by Carousel Boutique acting strangely, Rarity doesn't understand why he's acting even shyer than usual. But when he asks her to fix an old, ragged doll for him, it becomes clear that there's more going on than Mac will admit. Even if he were more talkative than usual.

Big Mac has always been hard to read. But it'll be even worse when he puts effort into it and makes sure no one finds out about his little stuffed friend—or the real reasons why he feels the need to hide her.

Artwork by SpainFischer/SophieCabra on DeviantArt.

When Applejack starts dating an old pegasus friend, she thought the worst part would be making time in her busy schedule for romance. She didn't expect a whole truckload of unusual complications.

Complications like splinters. A hostile home environment. Being confused for an egg. A book that contains the secrets of the universe, and a theory about a rubber band.

Some ponies just have to worry about their jobs and who did the laundry. Applejack has to worry about her species tearing her love life apart. Pegasi are weirder than she thought, and the universe isn't making it any easier.

Preread/proofread/nonsense-checked by Tchernobog and Timaeus.

Ponyville's weather is never quite the same without Rainbow Dash at the helm.

When a week of bad weather frays the nerves of Ponyville's farmers, they'll go to dubious lengths to stop one of their own from winning the heart of Rainbow Dash, and hogging all the good weather in the process.

Tcherno's Honorable Mention in the second AppleDash contest: Applejack, the Chaser!; Featured on Equestria Daily Aug 13th, 2013; Live reading by TheHollowSpectrum

Prereading by First_Down and Jackie

A ton of vectors in the cover art:
Applejack
Rainbow Dash
Berry Punch
Carrot Top
Daisy, Rose, and Lily

And, as usual, scene change markers from here.

Princess Rarity had everything planned for her beloved bodyguard's birthday. It would start with a lovely trip to Trottingham, continue into an entire day in Equestria's oldest library, and culminate into a wonderfully romantic moment in the Ethereal Gardens. It would be Twilight's best birthday yet!

...If only things actually went according to plan.

Part of the Bodyguard!AU Series, based on Earthsong9405's AU where Twilight is the bodyguard to a "Princess/Queen Rarity". Prior knowledge of the AU is not necessary to read the story.

Sweetie Belle burst into the Carousel Boutique in tears because one of her best friends is moving to a foster home in Baltimare. Surely there has to be a pony in Ponyville who can be her foster parent, right?

I'm lucky to have two of my favorite, (and also way underrated authors) on this site pre-reading for me, HMXTaylorLee and DemonBrightSpirit. Their work is seriously excellent and unappreciated so go check them out.

My super awesome cover art was done by hugsforpenguin and commissioned by the aforementioned HMXTaylorLee, so another thanks to him.

This story takes place in an Alternate Universe where Quills and Sofas sells more than two things.

Crossing Guard works in Equestria's Immigration Department: among other things, he serves as the final check on whether a non-pony can take up residence in Canterlot. It's not a simple job, especially given the follow-ups when a new resident or citizen-in-waiting inevitably gets into trouble. But Gerald Gristle is an exceptionally calm applicant, Crossing's tired from a long day, and so he allows the griffon to begin the five-year process, with the announced food supply business set to open two weeks in.

Which is when Crossing finds out just what kind of food the griffon is supplying.

After all, carnivores and omnivores have to eat too...

(Part of the Triptych Continuum, which has its own TVTropes page and FIMFiction group -- but can be read as a stand-alone, and no knowledge of the other stories is required. New members and trope edits are welcome.)

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

A massage is just a massage, isn’t it? Apparently not when Spike is involved. Somehow finding a book on pony massage specifically for handed creatures like himself is fated to end the way that most of his adventures do: with the untimely destruction of Ponyville.
Unless Rarity can help, of course.

Featured on Equestria Daily
Winner of second place in Present Perfect’s writing contest, Soft Hands.