An answer to the people who ask "Can I use Nyx in my own story?" · 10:03pm Mar 1st, 2013
This is a question I get usually once every week or so, and I've decided to just make a blog post about it. This is to inform everyone who cares about such things, and also give me something to link to when someone asks the question again so I'm not writing the same thing over and over again.
And this policy really applies to all of the OC's I've developed for my stories. I'm just focusing on Nyx cause she's the one people ask for the most.
So, here's where I stand where it comes to using any of the characters I've developed in your stories.
1) Please give me credit. If you use Nyx, Sweet Tooth, Mogul Magnete, Third Eye, or any characters I've developed, then please link back to both the story the character originated from and my own author profile here on Fimfiction.
-- Example: "Nyx is from Past Sins by Pen Stroke"
-- Example: "Sweet Tooth is from Little Sugar Shop of Horrors by Pen Stroke"
2) Please respect the character. I know this one may be a little vague. I'm not saying you can't put the characters through the ringer. Characters facing trials and tribulations is usually part of the reason a story is good. What I'm talking about is hurting, demeaning, or otherwise defacing the characters just to deface the characters, then I would respectfully ask you not to write that story.
-- Example of respect: RealityCheck has wrote a story where Nyx was, arguably, killed in one of the last chapters, but it was a major plot point and was the climax of his story "Nightmare Night and Nyx"
-- Example of disrespect: A short, one-shot story someone wrote way back where the entire story was Twilight, the princesses, and everypony else cooking Nyx and then eating her barbecued flesh for lunch.
3) Please avoid clop and foalacon. Now, this isn't a rule against shipping. While I don't write it myself, I know that a lot of authors find a lot of joy in writing about the blossoming romance between characters. Still, if it goes into the bedroom, please skip the naughty details. And if the characters are physically/mentally young, like Nyx, then a school age crush is fine. Just please avoid the hanky panky.
Those are really the only three rules I have. It is the internet and fan-fiction after all. If I said overtly no, then people would use my characters anyway and there really isn't much I can do about it. (This may be especially true on fim-fiction. Last I heard, claims of stolen OC's basically get disregarded by admins. Anyone, however, is free to correct me if I'm wrong.)
So, since I can't really stop folks even if I wanted to, I'd rather establish guidelines and ask that people abide by them out of respect of me and the stories.
But, let me say this before anyone goes galavanting off. I am honored that some people want to include Nyx and a few of my other characters in their own stories. At the same time, I don't want other authors to limit themselves. Just because you like Nyx doesn't mean she has to have a place in your story. The same rule applies to canon characters as well. If your story is about Rarity and Hoity Toity having a contest to see who can design a better dress, then you may not even need to include Sweetie Belle, Spike or even characters like Pinkie Pie and Applejack. You should only ever include characters that make sense.
The other thing is that including another person's fan character can carry a lot of baggage. You usually have to take into considerations the events of that character's story. You also have to deal with opinions other people have of that character. While including Nyx in your story may draw some people in, you may get slammed by others who genuinely dislike Nyx.
And, above all, I would encourage you all to be creative. If you are including someone else's character to fill a hole in your story, then consider dreaming up your own character. After all, the famous OCs like Little Pip, Nyx, Blackjack, and wouldn't have come into existence if their original authors hadn't tried to be creative. After all, if you write a great story and get lucky, that OC you created will become your own little star like Nyx is for me.
Links or it never happened.
THANK YOU!!!! But what about Nyx's reaction to changelings?
Awww. I can't has Nyx for dinner?
You know this actually resonates with thoughts I've had recently. Imagine if your OC is shown on the show (highly, highly 99.99999 unlikely), anypony will think it's there's to write about.
Derpibooru. Crotchboobs. All the crotchboobs. trololololo
A bit late for your second point my friend, seen a picture of Nyx getting mauled by Gilda. Still you have good points and to be honest this should hold true borrowing any OC from any writer.
878400 You and me both, man
I bet she tastes like chicken
That or old socks
What type of barbecue are we talking about, because wet vs dry could be a deal breaker.
On a side note, I just saw your PMV you made to the song In Color. Excellent video!
We need MORE PMVs like that!
878417 Yeah, seriously. Also, was she alive or dead at the time of cooking? If she was alive and faced her death with pride like that one dude who's a saint, then it'd be a better fic then if she was spit-roasted and glazed without having a moment of life prior to it.
878408
I saw this picture... and I don't remember having seen the authoriztion of Pen Stroke for it. There are haters everywhere...
Does your no-clop request still apply if an author was to depict an adult Nyx?
878397>>878415 Okay, Regidar. We get it. You dislike Nyx and everything Past Sins-related. Now, could you be a lil' more obnoxious about it? I don't think we clearly see your hate annoying everyone else yet.
878470
Well, in the first one, I have no issues with that. I, too, would like to see this story. Just so I can say, "Why"
878397>>878400>>878417>>878437
Dunno if trolling or bad humor attempts.
As far as I know Wildfire is the only OC that have ever been featured in the actual show, which as far as I can understand with how OC's are defined makes her no longer an OC but a background pony.
Second. I totally get that you don't like Nyx to be overly mistreated, she didn't deserve that. However I really want to mistreat and abuse Twilight, ending with her being swallowed by an effing worm. Do you think that is misuse of a character?
878477
Thought trolling was bad humor?
878477 Eh, Pen Stroke knows I jest. Also, it's sarcasm. Followed by a Rari-wink. Come on!
Alrighty. That seems reasonable enough. One quick question; What's the hanky panky?
878477
The second one.
No sex? Well, there goes my idea of shipping her with Skyla.
I can still use her in my crossover with my own series, though
878397>>878400>>878474
Since you folks semi-sort of asked, let this be the one time I've ever linked this particular bit of writing.
WARNING: Nyx does get barbecued. Read at your own risk.
Family Barbacue by LIttle Orphane Timmy
878520
Not even on FimFic? Oh mai
878520 I'll pass, thanks. I don't think I really want to read Nyx being bbq'd. She's a sweet filly.
878477 Nah, not trolling, nor is it bad humor. No, it's this simple thing called "Morbid Curiosity".
I can't remember the name of the Saint, but he traveled into the untamed lands of South... America, I think, and encountered a tribe of cannibals. Instead of begging for mercy or anything like that, he simply told them that it was fine for them to partake of his flesh, as the Lord would welcome them if they repented their sins. The cannibals cooked him up in a stew, and it was with his final words that he announced that he was finished, and that leaving him to cook any longer might cause him to spoil. With that act of heroic speechifying, the cannibals gathered around the cooking pot and wept, for they only then saw the folly of their ways, and they begged and pleaded the Lord his forgiveness.
I think I heard about it in the Ender's Game, series, or some similar series about a futuristic lifestyle. The one telling the story used it to prove that Martyrdom was stupid and did nothing. In the end, the man was given Sainthood, but what good is that if you're already dead?
I liked that story. [sarcasm]If I ever set foot on an alien planet, I want to get eaten by their population as a sign of my gratitude for being allowed to see their way of life.[/sarcasm]
878532
.... Must... not... make... Honey bbq... joke!
Hate to break it to you, but there's already loads of smut out there involving Nyx, adult or not. Peppy Greyskull wrote a particularly good one involving young Nyxe, Midnight, and a foal from his own story having a sleepover.
878515 Ever hear of Nyx: The Teenage Years over on Writing.Com? It's a pretty big fic, with a lot of different authors. I'm even one of them~!
My username there is Mac: The Editor. You should check out the fic:
Link to page one
And yes, it's a write/choose-your-own-adventure style fic.
878571
Yeah I did some stuff for that. Twas fun. NYX AND WOOOOOOONA!
I take it this story is against your guidelines then.
Well, it's good to know where you stand on the issue Pen Stroke, and I'm sure RealityCheck will enjoy you giving him and his stories a name drop, especially since they're currently dueling with your own Past Sins side stories on how to characterize her and her relationship with the rest of Twilight's family after the events of "Past Sins".
878408
I saw that picture too. I also saw a somewhat sequel to that picture where Twilight shows up with mane-a-blazing and then the next scene shows her and a bandaged up Nyx eating a bucket of KFC. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the second picture anymore.
878532
I completely agree with you. Besides, who'd want to eat horse meat to begin with anyways? It's notoriously stringy, tough, and veiny.
878617 I tried to ply my craft to it, but I hit a road block the size of Mount Everest, and as dense as a "Yo Mama Singularity". Which is a fancy way of saying a "Black Ho'."
878624
Has to be an unofficial sequel made by a different person, the original's caption was pretty much into unyielding hatred territory.
Okay, i completely agree Pen Stroke, but about that no foalcon clop business. Peppy Grayskull made a really disturbing fic. it was about his OC Moonbeam, whoever's OC MIdnight, and your Nyx. i really don't like it, i like the author alot and idle him to a point, but i think his story takes it too far.
In my main story with my OC Eclipse, it takes place about six or seven years after the events on Past sins. They are sisters and, if it wasn't for Nyx's background, Eclipse would be an only child but Nyx's character works so well with foreshadowing and explaining stuff... plus i really Like Nyx, that if i took her out of the story, it wouldn't be the same.
Thank you for giving me permission to use Nyx and i will make sure to give credit where credit is due
do references regarding the name Nyx count? If so, I'll have to make note in regards to NMM's real name in 'From Nobody to Knightmare'
878674
In the end, these are all guidelines, not hard fast rules since I have no feasible way of enforcing them in any real way. If it's a reference, then I would appreciate the link, but it's not as necessary as a story where it literally involves Nyx.
878520 Ah, thank you!
It is a little funny that you post this... I posted a chapter just yesterday that had Nyx in it
Just a cameo though, nothing fancy.
Uhh, you might want to check one of Peppy's story out. Not trying to call him out, but that isn't what I'd imagine Nyx would be doing.
1) Thank you Pen Stroke, for raising the bar so far for us fic writers :)
2) Very good guidelines. I shall adhere to them as well as possible in my slow-to-write fic 'Nyx and the Accidental Assassin' (in which there is no BBQ other than veggies)
3) I understand a little bit of what you feel about Nyx, having actually (!) had somebody ask to borrow one of my OCs. It's a feeling much like sending your infant child off with a babysitter who owns a Harley and a sidecar with a car seat.
OK it seemed this question wasn't asked so I figured I might as well ask it. What about Nyx's that are not the Nyx from past sins? When I was first introduced to the name Nyx, it was a name for a cult who worshiped Nyx, I just assumed the were talking about some sort of dark alicorn or evil spirit (I think it was a LunaxTwilight Ship fic I found it in, but I cant recall which one). It was only after I had crafted my Nyx that I had found out about the Nyx from Past Sins, but because these two characters only shared a name, I didn't think anything of it at the time, but now I want your opinion on it. Do I still need to give you credit for creating Nyx, or will just leaving a message telling the readers that it is not the same character suffice.
878755
If it's just a coincidence of name, then the best thing you can do is tell your reader that it's not the same characters. I'm not trying to bogart the name Nyx. Wouldn't want to even if I could. No, these guidelines only pertain to the Nyx character as I have portrayed her.
878565 878733 Oh, you guys wouldn't happen to mean this: Moon Foal's Play Date, would you? How sweet of you to be thinking of me
In all seriousness though, I did it with the best intentions in mind. Adorable intentions, but still.
878764
K just wanted to double check, thanks for the quick reply.
878520
I have so much more respect for you knowing that you read that or are at least aware of its existence enough to know its content.
878776
Considering (and this is just my opinion as a pervert) that you did not write the story with the intention to defame the character, or to be malicious in any way, I'd say the only objection someone could have would be that it wasn't a 'clean' story.
Aside from three little H-bombs of adorableness, I got the impression that Nyx really loved her 'sisters', and ignoring the cloppyness, I found it all very sweety.
Of course, Pen Stroke himself may have a different opinion (if he dares to read it), but that's the shelves your story occupies in my mind.
Also, I still plan on stealing Moonbeam from you. Ain't no stopping it.
Huh, I never thought of using Nyx in one of my stories. Probably won't, but if I do it will follow these rules strictly. And I'm never going to write clop by the way, I just find it disgusting (Note this is just my opinion, and I am also 14. I'm fine with people who read and like clop, it's just I don't.)
Oh, sweet (probably won't use her though)
Boy am I GLAD I didn't finish Nightmare. I dislike death stories.
Thanks. I was planning on using Nyx as Terry McGinnis in Mare-Do-Well: The Animated Series and was planning on giving you credit anyway, so knowing you do approve makes me more excited than ever to get back to work on it.