One changeling is sent far from the swarm, hurt and stranded; forced to listen and unable to act as terrible events take place that will change her future forever.

When everything she knows is lost, she'll have to find her own path. She will confront the demons of her past, the harsh realities of the present, and the uncertainty of her future.

Season 2 based story.

Follows the prequel "In the Shadow of a Special Day", which is not required to understand the story.

Rated T for mild to moderate violence and minor obscenities. Dark, but not a shock fic.

Cover art is "Changeling Angst" by the-ghostcat-pir8nin at Deviantart.

A good Queen's job is never easy; if the world doesn't challenge them, they'll challenge themselves. Luckily, they have others that they can rely on to aid them.

But that can be hard to do, especially in times like these. The Cultural Exchange Treaty has thrown Changeling Hive Chrysalis into a radical state of change, and no one is sure how things will turn out.

But I am sure of this: I care, and I'll do whatever it takes to help her.

(This story is part of a larger continuity; for a full explanation of how it fits into the larger narrative, click here.)

Queen Chrysalis is a very busy monarch.

Not only is she going to expand her Hive's possibilities by signing a Cultural Exchange Treaty with Equestria, but she's also working on a duplicating spell that will allow her to create a perfect assistant for herself - which is, by the way, strictly forbidden and frowned upon by the Equestrians and in several other, supposedly civilized nations. So it's for the best that they wouldn't find out, right?

And just when you thought that Twilight Sparkle is the only magic user capable of casting a spell which 'accidentally' turns your world upside down... Chrysalis is there to prove that she is no worse.

Warning: please refrain yourself from reading the comments before the story, because spoilers!

After her plans were ruined her hive now in destruction all shes has left are two young changeling. When she is saved by one of the ponies responsible for destroying her plans the great Changeling queen is forced to make certain choices. Will the choices she make now be for the better of her last remaining children or will she lose them for good?

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 An Alternate Path

Much has changed in a few short months in Equestria. Changelings, once feared and hated, are now starting to become full citizens, and some are choosing to live amongst ponies. A particular nymph, Gel, first sparked the movement and is now living happily with her unicorn husband. However, there are always new challenges on the horizon, and the most obvious to this couple is their first child.

Watch as this young couple take on the challenges of being new parents to the first recorded case of a pony-changeling hybrid. What will this child be like? How will they act? Only time will tell. Friends are always there to help, family as well, but there are some ponies who weren't so accepting of changelings, and one can only imagine how they might react to a literal symbol of their integration.

Sequel to An Alternate Path

Side Story: The Start of Something New: Private Moments (NFSW)

Co-written by myself and EnigmaMystere

Cover art by Ember Bell

A young changeling gets thrown out of his hive for not following orders. Where will this new independent lifestyle bring him? Well apparently Ponyville.

I finally got some cover art for this and I made it myself! Yeah, I know it sucks, but it's better than nothing.

Camo is second in command of the entire swarm everyone looks up to him, but after the invasion he gets swept off to Ponyville where he struggles with his loyalties. His new friends or his queen.

Featured on December 1st 2013.

When Sgt Castle drops into strange new land, he has to cope with both his nightmarish past that had followed him to this peaceful land, and his uncertain future as he finds himself developing new friendships. All he truly wants is to return home, but is that the best option, or is it not even an option at all?

This story is a sequel to Without a Hive

It is a time of change for Equestria. A small but slowly growing number of changelings have made the kingdom their home, living openly with ponies. Many ponies welcome them in friendship. Others are concerned by the strange and unusual creatures that disrupt the traditional life of Equestria. Yet others worry that such open acceptance leaves Equestria vulnerable to less well-intentioned changelings. And some still fear the insectoid creatures, memories of invasions--and more personal attacks--still strong in their minds.

Sky, Nictis, and all the other changelings of Equestria would love nothing more than to live in peace, but such changes rarely come easily. But in proper changeling fashion, they are determined to endure, and this time they are not alone. Instead of the shelter of disguises and lies, they are strengthened by the friendship of the ponies that accept them, ready to stand tall in the face of an uncertain future.

For nobody, from the new Equestrian changelings to the Princesses themselves, knows how Queen Chrysalis is going to respond...

Book cover art by viwrastupr