After sending its troops to the Nordanver front, the Canterlot Royal Palace finds itself understaffed and many new recruits have their training rushed to compensate. One guard, however, will turn out to be more trouble than they bargained for.

It was Belltoll's first night in the royal guard, and on the night of the Grand Galloping Gala no less. Stubborn determination had gotten him this far. It was unfortunate that same determination would also lead to mass chaos, catastrophe, and an early midlife crises.

PLEASE NOTE: This story takes place within the Quill & Blade alternate universe written by Anzel and Crystal Wishes.

2nd place winner of the Quill & Blade Super Summer Jam Writing Contest (2018).

Chapter One edited by Crystal Wishes. Chapter Two edited by Pearple Prose. Thank you to both of you.

Every year, Crystal Wishes and Silent Knight have a dream: their foals, friends, and family all gathered under one roof to celebrate Hearth’s Warming together.

Despite their best efforts, something always gets in the way. One year it was an outbreak of pegasus pox, but usually it’s just the fact that everypony has plans already in place, commitments to their own families, and other such unfortunate obligations.

This year, however, their dream is coming true. It just might not necessarily be how they imagined.

Welcome to the 2018 Quill & Blade Hearth's Warming story! This takes place well after the events of the main stories and includes some spoilers. Co-Written with Crystal Wishes.

This story is a sequel to Sunny's Days

Sunny Day is pretty happy with her life. She finally has the command she worked so hard for, and the view from atop her wall is amazing. It’s everything she wanted, but many ponies still view her as immature and wild. What more does she have to do to prove her worth and show them all she’s as serious as anypony else?

Elsewhere in Canterlot, Azurite used to be happy with her life. The tragedy that occurred during the recent Summer Sun Celebration changed everything, and now she’s struggling to get her hooves moving in the right direction again. All she wants to do is help other ponies like they’ve helped her, but her own fears keep getting in the way.

The paths before these two mares rarely touch, and yet wind closer together than either will ever know. Achieving their goals will ultimately rely on learning the same lesson: sometimes you just have to believe in yourself.

This story takes place between Sunny's Days and Three of Hearts. Knowledge of either is not required to enjoy the story but will add clarity.

Quill & Blade Universe

Crystal and Silent had several plans for spending Hearts and Hooves Day together:
1. Give, receive, and eat lots of chocolate
2. Find ways to keep the foals entertained and quiet
3. Enjoy a romantic home cooked meal on colorful placemats
4. Laugh at how the dining table was covered in crayons, toys, and applesauce
5. Find Dream Pop in the living room with an invitation to join her for Hearth's Warming

...

Wait, no, that last one was definitely not on the original list—and yet that was the only one that did happen.

Written by myself and Crystal. This story is set within the Quill & Blade Universe and takes place after the events of Trials of a Royal Guard.

This story is a sequel to Secrets of a Royal Guard

Duty, honor, and loyalty above all else. That was what Silent Knight had been told ever since he was a colt. They had guided him all his life and he was more than ready to follow in his father’s hoofsteps by dedicating himself to the Royal Guard. Then he discovered something else he had never expected: friendship and love. He learned that he owed these values not just to his job, but to his wife, his friends, and his family. Unfortunately, he learned that too late.

War has broken out between the gryphon kingdoms and Equestria is stuck in the thick of it trying to protect their ally, Nordanver. As Silent marches off to war, he must contend with the guilt that battles within him. He played right into the claws of Sudramoar's sovereign, and now he must leave his newlywed wife behind so that he can pay the price for his foolish actions.

Knowledge of the Quill & Blade AU is recommended to understand this story. It is a direct sequel to Secrets of a Royal Guard.

This story is a sequel to The Velveteen Mask

Nothing hurts more than a break-up... except, perhaps, that break-up following immediately after a marriage proposal. That's just the situation Silver Script finds himself in with his marefriend of five years: everything was perfect until he proposed and she rejected him.

With no desire to be near the source of his heartache, he hops a cloud going anywhere and winds up in Canterlot. A mare by the name of Velvet Step offers to let him move in with her so long as he follows one simple rule: "Don't fall in love with me."

This story is a side story to Crystal's Wishes

Being the pony everypony should know comes at a cost, but Au is willing to pay that price. She'll pay any price to stay in the spotlight.

If only the spotlight weren't so fickle.

This story is a side story to Crystal's Wishes

Sunridge Sweets is home to some of the best cupcakes in all of Canterlot. It's also where Red Velvet has spent the near entirety of his life—all eight months of it. Everypony calls him cute, adorable, and downright cavity-inducing, but how he feels about himself is a whole other story. And this is that story.

This story is a sequel to Crystal's Wishes

Love had finally happened to her. Crystal Wishes married the stallion of her dreams and couldn't be happier with her life... until she discovers why ponies treat military spouses with so much respect. Life after the happily ever after isn't as easy as she hoped it would be when married to a royal guard.

This story is a what if side story to Secret's of a Royal Guard. The reader is assumed to be familiar with the Quill & Blade universe. If you're not, Knight & Day will make little or no sense to you. It isn't meant to be a stand alone story.

Silent Knight and Sunny Day are both young officers in command of a House Guard. They're quite accustomed to working with each other and the princesses but are they ready for the crowns' curious request? Join them on their latest adventure in this what if story!

Not Quill & Blade canon