There are many ponies who can cook a batch of cupcakes. As long as you know how to follow a recipe you can get fairly decent results. But if you want to create some baked goods that are truly exceptional, you have to know how to motivate your delectable treats – and no one can do that better than Pinkie Pie.

Have you met Shutterfly?

No, not Fluttershy. One's a pegasus mare with a yellow coat and pink mane whose talent is communication with animals, and the other is a pegasus mare with a pink coat and yellow mane who can print pictures on pretty much any solid surface. There's no way any reasonable pony would get the two confused, not when Shutterfly just opened up her print shop today, introducing herself to the town through a group of Special Limited-Time Offers!

That's right. She just got into town today. And she'll be leaving tonight.

Because Shutterfly's skill is for printing pictures on things. But her talent is for being really, really annoying...

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

Rated MC for MetaCrack

Prince Blueblood. Last of his Noble line. Canterlot's most eligible bachelor. Aristocratic, affluent, and arrogant. But, surprisingly enough, a stallion who knows what is truly important in life: Family.

Placed fourth in the January 2016 Write-Off Event: Look, I Can Explain.

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.

One morning, just before work, Copperquick finds a basket, a blanket, and a bundle of bills.

A foal, the aftermath of his wing fetish and a one night stand with an exotic dancer in the employ of Sapphire Shores, has arrived just outside his door. In thirty minutes, he needs to be at work. At night, he needs to be in class. Overwhelmed, Copperquick goes to find help, only to find that there is very little to be had.

Twilight Velvet, a champion of reform, sees a way that she can make a difference, but only if she can get Copperquick to do the right thing. As with every other major event of social reform, somepony has to be brave enough to go first.

An entry in the Weedverse.

Flitter doesn't like most ponies. There's hardly anything in the world Flitter likes, very few which she can even remotely tolerate, and only a couple which she truly loves. Fluttershy is not in the last two categories. Flitter sees Fluttershy as weak, and weakness disgusts her.

But when you're trying to help someone you love, you'll look for help in a lot of places -- including the cottage of the weakest pony in the world.

And for those willing to listen past their pain, it might be the place where they start to learn what true strength is.

(This story takes place about five moons before Triptych and well after On The Application...)

Part of the Triptych Continuum, which has its own TVTropes page and FIMFiction group. New members and trope edits welcome.

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

Audiobook production by ObabScribbler.

There are things which are not crimes -- things which others are determined to see as crimes in spite of all evidence, truth, and reality, as long as their false perception gets them what they want. After a visit to Barneigh's Exclusive Garments And Saddlebags, Rarity has found herself on the receiving end of that self-enforced delusion, facing anger, accusations, and abuse of power for the smallest reason of all --

-- one created by the smallest minds.

(Cover art taken from a vector scan by TheSharp0ne at DeviantArt, under open permission.)

Part of the Triptych Continuum, which has its own TVTropes page and FIMFiction group. New members and trope edits welcome.

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

Equestria finds itself caught in the cold war between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. Can friendship prevail, or will this cold war turn hot, despite their best efforts?

This is a crossover with Star Trek, taking place in late 2269 of the Prime timeline, during the fourth year of the five-year mission of the original television series. It's not a crossover with the movies made by J.J. Abrams. It is mid-season five or so for Friendship is Magic. it is my humble offering for the fiftieth anniversary of Star Trek, which debuted September 8, 1966.

Thanks to FoalsHalf for being essentially my co-writer/sounding board, and to all those who have helped with proofreading and editing.

Space Battles thread.

Trope page... some day?

In an alternate universe, a young colt lives on the ruined streets of Canterlot. He lost his family and his home after the Princesses' war with the creature Discord, but never lost hope as he searches for them. Story based upon the OC and haunting video "Children of the Night" created by Duo Cartoonist and used by their gracious permission.

One uneventful day in Ponyville, TD comes across a single issue of a comic with the title MAN COMICS. Curious, he picks it up to read it.

Punching ensues. So. Much. Punching.

A Non-Bronyverse story

Full credit for Man Comics goes to one Mr. Seanbaby.