It's Nyx's birthday and her parents and their friends want to throw the most special party for the little alicorn. Ben also goes looking for a gift for his daughter as well.

The cover art is a fanart courtesy of sgtgarand. http://sgtgarand.deviantart.com/art/Nyx-s-Birthday-257308809

It is the middle of winter, it was cold that day, but that night was even colder. Freezing in her bed at night, Nyx seeks out the warmth of one who has always been there to love and comfort her. Winter is a season of rest, as Nyx is about to learn, though cold and as harsh as a Windigo's call, it can be a beautiful, and wonderful time of year.

Cover art by the lovely and talented, TealessTea.
Nyx is a character created by Pen Stroke.
Short story, intended to show just a small moment in Nyx's life.

In Equestrian heraldry, the Kite Shield is a symbol of protection and strength, and those ponies with a kite shield cutie mark are usually honor bound to bravely protect any sapient being who may need their aid, often at great risk to their own lives.

This is the story of two ponies with such cutie marks, and what these cutie marks reveal to the other.

One pony is a gallant and brave career soldier, who has devoted his entire life to protecting Equestria from all enemies foreign and domestic.

The other is the reincarnated form of one of Equestria's greatest villains, given a second chance, now honor bound to use her power to protect the ponies she cares about.

It is a year since the events of Winter Bells and great changes are afoot this Hearth's Warming, as a newborn alicorn prince binds Twilight’s family closer than ever. And a conversation about the similar marks on their hides will give Uncle and Niece a new and better understanding of each other, and of each other's place in Equestria's emerging future.

A unofficial fan made sequel to Past Sins.

Thanks of course to Pen Stroke who created Nyx and her Universe.

Super special thanks to my tireless Editor and main(and rather heroic) proofreader Recon777 and to awesome prereading duties by Nightmare Nyx. This story is only readable thanks to their efforts . All Mistakes remain my own.

Cover image by yourstruly, Nyx's cutie mark was designed by Alexlayer.

This is the original version of the first story I've ever written, over the course of three months as a brand new writer in late 2014.

I'm including these chapters here as a record of how the story looked when it began. This was the prototype for what would, over many years, become Black Feather. The story has gone through multiple complete rewrites, but this was the initial version. Enjoy reading my clumsy first steps into the world of writing!

Note: I will make the chapters visible again after Black Feather is published to avoid spoilers.

Commissioned cover art by SilFoe
Special thanks to onlyanorthernsong for encouraging me to write this and helping to envision Pen Stroke's Nyx as an adult.
Extra thanks to Pen Stroke for permission to write the adult version of his character Nyx.

On a dark night filled with even darker magics, an insane cult attempts to give Nightmare Moon a body and life of her own, utterly separate from Princess Luna. But, when the spell is interrupted by Celestia, something unexpected is created.

Now, a little black alicorn filly named Nyx finds herself living under the care of Twilight Sparkle, only to be haunted by memories and emotions from her past. Is she Nightmare Moon reborn or is she simply a doppelganger with a soul and mind of her own? Can Twilight Sparkle protect Nyx from those who refuse to see past her dragon eyes and black coat?

Or, will Nyx be forced to inherit the sins that may not even be hers and become the greatest evil Equestria has ever known?

This story is a sequel to Past Sins

In the wake of the battle with Tirek, Twilight Sparkle becomes fixated on restoring Golden Oaks Library. After all, it was home for her little family of three. But as her attempts to repair the books and tree continuously fail, her friends must take matters into their own hooves. Discord, as the good friend he is, tosses Twilight and her extended family into an unexpected adventure while Twilight's other friends get to work on the new crystal palace.

All together, they'll do everything to ensure Twilight and her family have a place to call home when they reach the end of the road.