A certain baby princess doesn't want to go to bed, even though it's past her bedtime and she's super sleepy. With Cadance already ready to just hit the sack, it's Shining Armour's turn to put Flurry Heart to bed. He should have picked a bedtime story first....

A quick and cute one-shot, coming from a dad who learned this one the hard way.

Edited by Harmony Pie.
Cover image is Proud Parents by dm29 on D.A. Used with written permission.

He hides in the shadows, he causes nightmares and pain.
He is always just out of sight, yet he leaves no one unscathed.
And today... just like every other day we search. And no matter what, we will find it.
And he shall be brought to justice.

Authors note~ A friend asked me to write something and it turned into well... this. Even i don't know what to think sooo... enjoy. Oh and thank google for the cover art.

"Like two peas in a pod we did everything together!" sang Twilight in the season finale. But what if she was letting on more than everyone else knew? What if Twilight really was a pea?

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.

Chrysalis was blasted from Canterlot by Shining’s and Cadance’s love for each other, but she hasn’t lost yet, she still has a secret weapon against them.

A weapon that only an ancient love-sucking being with a keen mind and an army of spies can wield; a deep understanding of the pony’s laws.

So, she arms herself with a business suit, glasses, and a briefcase full of documents, and marches on towards Canterlot.

Featured 4/20/2020, this time was intentional!

Narrated by StraightToThePointStudio: Narration

Reviewed by Javarod: Review

Now translated to russian! by GrandCat

A young Cadance walks into foal sit for her favorite charge only to find that Shining Armor has allowed Twilight to have coffee and now she's in for a rough day.

Princess Cadance is rudely awakened by a crying child.

It's not who you think it is.

"This is an excellent comedy."
—Posh

"I think it's the character work that really makes this one shine."
—Not_A_Hat

"This story [...] Good job!"
—GaPJaxie

Cover Art by Blues LeSharpe

Audio version!

Shining Armor is an eager young officer in the Royal Guard, fresh out of the West Hoof Military Academy. When his mother asks him to help family friend Vinyl Scratch deal with an overenthusiastic admirer, he jumps at the chance to aid a damsel in distress. Perhaps he'd have second thought if he knew just how much of a mess he would be getting himself into...

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and in Canterlot, that means it's time for the biggest Hearth's Warming parties in the nation. Going by the Gala, enough formal splendor is sure to attract Princess Celestia's attention.

Isn't it?

My gift to Petrichord in The Incredible Amazeballs Jinglemas Secret Santa Compilation, now with corrected typos that I really should've caught the first time around.

What was supposed to be a day of laughter and joy for Spike ended in screams and terror.

After receiving a tear-stained scroll from Twilight, Princess Luna and a Royal Guard relief force race towards Ponyville. While the Guard sets to rendering aid to the shaken town, Luna heads for the Golden Oak Public Library to render aid to the one she knows all too well needs it the most.

Takes place directly after Secret of My Excess.

Pre-readers: Georg, Tek, and Pascoite

Cover art by Mysticalpha on Deviant Art, used with permission. Show him some love.

Featured on Equestria Daily.