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 Necromancy For Foals

Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash find themselves drawn by the call of the cutie map to a jungle in the middle of nowhere. Drawn further by the knowledge of an ancient temple, they are confronted with icy cold and a sense of dread.

A Necromancer was sealed away in this temple a thousand years ago.

Now, he is waking up...

((Sequel to Necromancy for Foals. Artwork by The-Minuscule-Task on Tumblr.))

A Changeling left behind when Queen Chrysalis attempted to take over Canterlot. She found herself with memory lost and stranded in the heart of the castle. Needing to find a way to survive in the kingdom, due to the shield around castle that would not let her pass though, she had to find a way to feed on love without drawing any attention to her. Slowly she found a way to do just that. Creating a persona that would fit in with the normal ponies and yet let her feed when she is hungry. Thus Melody Echo was born. She was always good at mimicking sounds and echopraxia. Using her sound ability, she listened to famous singers that would come to Canterlot to preform and the shops that offers musical training. After some time, the shield was eventually lifted and she was able to leave, but she choose to stay. Even if she did leave, where would she go? The last thing she can remember is attacking the ponies during the raid, then nothing. Making Canterlot home, even if it is in disguise, let her guard down one day, another pony changes everything.

Shout out to Rune for the custom cover art!