This story is a sequel to Servant in the Dark

In the twilight hour between night and day, somepony has to be on guard. Taken from both the Night and Day Guard, these ponies are known, unofficially, as the 'Overlappers'. Tonight, two ponies are finding they have been put on this patrol for a reason, and neither know why or by whom.

This is a sequel to 'Servant in the Dark', but does not assume much or any knowledge of the previous story. The important sections are explained in the story.

Shining Armour has returned home, to Canterlot. But something has changed in him out on the front, and he has turned inwards. Before he is finished, Canterlot will be turned to ashes by his hooves.

The Royal Guard had never been the most prestigious of positions. When things were well, ponies complained that you were not needed. When things were not well, ponies complained that you were to blame.

For Lieutenant Eclipse, the singular remaining competent officer in the battered and depleted Lunar Guard, things are even worse. Fighting on the losing side of a civil war tends to reduce your popularity. Worse than that, the Nightmare War has physically transformed the fighters, and warped their form. Although they are not displeased, they cannot now return to 'proper' society. It would seem that there is nothing left for them.

Princess Celestia, mindful of all her little ponies, presents him with another choice: being sent on a mission to the frozen north, once home to the Crystal Empire. Success is unlikely, to say the least. Here, though, they will be able to live without fear or hate. Where will this segregation lead the ponies, wounded in heart and mind?

The Nox Panopticon. Few ponies know it even exists. Most of the ponies who do only know its name. Only a very privileged few know what it is: a secret off-shoot of the Royal Guard, set against the changelings in particular, and those who threaten Equestria in general.

The Regal Warden of the Nox Panopticon confronts the latest threat to come to Equestria: Shining Armor is a traitor and a murderer.

Like any job of the Panopticon's, though, treason is merely the cover.

A rewriting and new vision of a story I entered into the The Writeoff Association's 'Illusion of Choice' competition.

Following the disaster in Ponyville, where an Ursa Minor was released into the town, Trixie returned to Canterlot. Without anything else she could do, she prepares for a magic performance. As she is doing so, however, a visitor arrives, and it is somepony she never expected: Twilight Sparkle.

Why is she here? What does she want?

A revision of a story I entered into the The Writeoff Association's 'Illusion of Choice' competition.

All Bridle Whisper wanted was his position, keeping the bar at The Modest Flagon, to go smoothly. But he never did have much luck with that. Now a new patron has started yelling out the most inflammatory statement he's had on the premises, and nopony else wants to deal with the troublemaker.

So it's up to him. Again.

The Dark Lady commands that a feat must be done, and so it is. Now she has commanded that one of her stable of assassins must take Princess Celestia.

Mark, one of her dedicated shooters, has been disguised for almost half a year, and now his patience is about to pay off.

Prince Blueblood is accompanying his Aunt on the first trip out of his home in Canterlot. While he explores the outside world, he has to come to terms with the bad as well as the good, and do what seems right to him.

In doing so, he may find more reward than he ever intended to receive.

A story lightly inspired by Rudyard Kipling's famous poem.

Swordsong, a private in the Royal Guard, witnesses a dark start to her career, as one of her idols faces his doom, and questions her part in the guard.

A lonely pilgrim makes the Veteran's Walk, in the ruins of Canterlot.

Proof-read and edited by enti0 and CrusherKitty. Any errors or mistakes are mine, made against their advice.