Season 3 Finale - Reaction and Info Regarding Past Sins · 7:42pm Feb 16th, 2013
First off, I enjoyed the finale. It suffered from some of the same rushing as other big episodes in the season , but I attribute that to the fact the show writers were trying to give us the bigger plots they had planned for twenty six episodes in the thirteen episodes they had. Beyond that, your not going to get much analysis from me. I sit back and enjoy the pony when it's on and don't try to dissect it to much unless I'm chatting about it on Skype.
Now, some of you have been asking, what am I going to do regarding Past Sins. You've asked whether or not I'm going to try and re-write it like I did for Season 2.
Well, let me answer the latter question first. There will be no rewriting. I'm done chasing that particular magical dragon. You can consider the version of Past Sins that's up on this site the final version. And it's not just because of Twilight's transformation in the finale. That, in my opinion, would have been a much smaller adjustment then trying to account for the fact that our favorite ponies reformed Discord. After successfully making the spirit of chaos good, most if not all the mane 6 and the princesses would have had far less reservations about giving a reborn Nightmare Moon a second chance.
So where does that leave Past Sins? Well, I already added AU tags to Past Sins and its side stories back after the Discord episode aired. Beyond that, the view I've chosen to take is that of a sandwich. Past Sins and its side stories happens between certain episodes. After all, nothing established in Season 3 changes MLP mythology to such a degree that it breaks assumptions made in Past Sins. The only issue is a matter of individual events and the order they came in.
Thus, for everyone's benefit, I've made this visual aid.
To put the timeline into words, in case the picture is confusing, we start at the Summer Sun Celebration for Season 1. That is the beginning of the show, after all. From there the events of Season 1, Season 2, and the Crystal Empire Arc from the start of Season 3 occur. Then comes the events of Past Sins and two of its side stories, "Trinkets" and "Nightmare or Nyx". After that we get the middle of Season 3 which is then followed by Winter Bells. After that, in the spring, we see Season 3's final few episodes, including the finale where Twilight has her coronation.
Now, some of you may ask the same question Batty Gloom asked me. "But what about the episodes of Season 3 that come after Past Sins? Wouldn't things have gone differently if Nyx had been there?" Well, that's why all the stories related to Past Sins got marked as AU after the Discord episode. Nyx's presence would have likely changed some of the events that occurred in the later half of the season. How things would have been changed is up to speculation, but I'm sure all of you can use your imaginations to figure out your own personal head canon of how Nyx reacted to meeting Babs Seed and whether or not she went on the camping trip to Winsome Falls.
So, in the end, this is a little glimpse of how I'll be regarding the events of Season 3 in regards to Past Sins. For the rest of my stories, most of them are largely self-contained and can all fall under the umbrella of "it happened before Twilight's coronation", which is an umbrella many, many, many stories here on Fimfiction now fall under.
So, beyond that, let the wait for Season 4 begin!
THANK GOD
TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY
Seriously, there's a reason you have the Alternate Universe tag. It's your universe now, you ain't gotta do shit you don't want too.
Also, the episode was fantastic.
i can agree with Reg's comment here(Below or Over this one)
But, i need to share this to all of you!
Odd... I would have places Past Sins before Season 2... but hey it's your universe.
834241 Actually, so was I.
834237 Ponychan pls go
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And it was 1/3 of a three parter... continuing in season 4
834259
Why...?
The should already know this, since some one did it for me ~.o
834273 I did hear about that.
834276 Well, you're spamming EVERYWHERE
arent all fanfictions technically alternate universes? well anyway aside from the rushing and some major flaws, i liked it. i cant wait to see what happens in season 4
i know one thing for sure, not everyone is going to like this episode...in fact i think i heard the sounds of 1000 bronies scream in despair this morning
834273 just heard that on skype from a friend as well. ^^ can't wait for season 4 now.
834327
Yes, technically, all fan-fictions could be considered AU, but there are some that are much more AU than others. That's what the AU tag really is meant to be, when a story occurs in a universe where a fundamental thing is changed or in a universe that has lasting affects that would interfere with current or future canon events
Actually you could spin it that Past Sins diverges right before Keep calm and Flutter on in that Celestia decided to hold back on releasing Discord until after she was sure that Twilight wouldn't get ponynapped again by the cult, so once things had settled down after the whole Queen NIghtmare Moon incident Celestia might give it another try.
I also enjoyed that finale and I'm eager to see what will be the 2 following parts of this three-parter. Not rewriting your stories if you don't want to is perfectly fine for me, they're already awesome.
I look forward for Winter Bells' next chapter.
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Speading the plague is what I do.
834327 No kidding about the screams, knew a few brony groups at school, passed by them and they all had just got done watching it, they admitted it was a good episode but horriably rushed, and that if the alicorns of equestria could turn Twilight into one, what about everypony else? Hm, gotta go see this haha.
Oh well Wonder if the other seasons are going to end with other ponies getting "transformed" so to speak 
The episode has been close to epic, but (in my humble opinion) only because of the astounding work of Daniel and M.A. With a slight help from the animation team, of course.
As for the story, well, alicornification of the protagonist is not the thing that should be squeezed into 22 minutes. It deserves more time if it's going to be tackled. Though I have to commend the writers here, they did a commendable job, even if the episode did feel rushed.
I cannot, however, for the love of Celestia imagine how the writers are going to roll season 4 with the same cast. Because let's be honest - such an episode (well, a two-parter would have been even better
) would be a fitting grand ending for an entertaining story. Also, as Celestia said, other ponies will learn from Twilight from now on. I would hate to see Twilight go, but damn if I didn't feel that way when the credits rolled. 
One thing's for certain: having Twilight stay in Ponyville (le new capital for yet another kingdom?
) and learn friendship lesson is sorta out of the question now.
Thus, I hereby propose season 4 to employ a new cast and be called "Cutie Mark Chronicles Extended".
Well that takes care of that. Good on ya. Nice visual by the way. Can't wait for season four either!
I think that this is the best way to handle it. I, for one, am now waiting for the first 'Royal Mother and Daughter' fanart of Alicorn Twilight with Nyx.
best part of finale: DERPY APPEARED 4 TIMES!!!
WOOHOO!!!
-shame they aren't keeping her
You reacted better than this whelp writing this comment did.
Good. No reason to rewrite stories. That work would never end, and wouldn't make them better. Write a new story instead.
834493
it was actually done before the episode :P
fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/029/e/b/after_the_ceremony_by_russiankolz-d5t6ti6.png
I don't think Past Sins as being an alternative universe. I think of it as taking place before season 3 and ignoring the events in season 3, which I think practically all fics will have to do, especially now.
This is my reaction when I saw episode 13
this was me when I first heard the news
While I completely agree with you not going to revise Past Sins or any of the other side stories yet again, I'll admit I was kinda-sorta hoping for a side story along the lines of the first three where Twi becomes an alicorn in your universe.
Rewrites are for punks.
Heh, suddenly I'd be willing to write Season 3 the Nyxverse, but I am truly, truly, TRULY in doubt I could do it well. I'm a reader, not a writer. *raises a glass of hard cider* Well, here's to our new lavender overlord, and her AU adoptive/biological (dependent on whether one considers your Word of God canon or not) *drinks*
No more revisions?
YES. FUCKING YES.
Thank you so much. You have no idea how long I was waiting to hear you say those words.
For me the thing with discord seems to fit perfectly. After seeing Nightmare Moon redeemed, Celestia decides to give the other supposedly hopeless case a try.
I'm happy you enjoyed the episode! I agree that it was great!
Also I'm glad Past Sins wont get re-edited.(Not that I have a problem with it)
I do however am curious how will Nyx feel that her mom is now an Alicorn princess? Wouldn't it make Lil Nyx royalty?
Excellent i like that you are just like take it and love it.
Considering that Alicorn Twilight would destroy the fact of 'Past Sins' being after the show, I understand why you have come to this decision. Season three would require so many changes, including certain key points, to be canonically possible. I actually wish there was a rewrite, but that would change the story so much that it would be like saying it isn't one of the first stories I ever read in this fandom. I have some ideas for a possible post-Season 3 'Past Sins', but I think a little Season Four history would be required anyway.
I still believe Nyx herself can be canonically possible, but her current background just isn't possible.
I knew someone like you would appreciate the finale as much as I did. Just one of the many reasons you're my favorite writer
Pardon me for my ignorance, but I am confused as to why you would have re-written it in the first place. . . I was under the assumption that all fan-fics took place in an alternate arc that takes place between X episode to X episode. Am I just totally wrong?
is Twilight 's coronation going to make it in later story or not
1 question, do you plan to make any stories about how Nyx change or is part of those new episodes, I mean, you put your last Nyx episode after Discord reform, and would not it make ponies in Canterlot far more afraid of a rampaging God of chaos on the lose then a little filly who is probably Nightmare Moon who was pardoned,
ANd also do you will make story how Nyx take Twilight change to Alicorn, or any other episode between 3-10 where Nyx take place and affect small changes ?
Or your eventual new story will be focused on events before Twilight coronation or after Twilight coronation with events of your own wish ?
836903
After Winter Bells is done, I don't know. The stories I pursue are all a matter of whether or not I have the inspiration.
Don't be overly concerned with remaining loyal to canon: that's a path toward madness whenever you write fics about an ongoing series. Writing in Shining Armour and Cadance should be considered a heroic effort from you, and you deserve respect for it.
I came all ready to tell you not to rewrite anything. But i see that wasn't necessary. Aliconr twilight would , in my opinion, ruin 2 of the most poignant moments in " Past Sins". The first is Twilight 's thoughts at the " learn and play" event, where she ruminates on her own mortalilty while raising a probably immortal alicorn with god powers. The second is the entire arc where Twilight ventures forth to find Nightmare Moon to beg for her forgiveness. Twilight is probably walking to her death, ... and she knows it. Yet all she wants to do is apologize to her daughter. If Twilight where an alicorn, then the whole thing changes, Twilight would be a legitimate threat to NM's rule, losing the whole self sacrificial edge to it, and furthermore, we might question whether Twilight's actions are truly based on a mother's remorse or instead are an attempt to get close to NM to do Twilight's "duty" as a princess.
On another note, in guess you are ever interested in writing more Nyx ( Reality Check is welcome to this idea as well if he reads this)
I really want to read about Nyx's relationship with Rarity. I get the feeling Nyx would be terribly fond of her, being the first adult outside of Twilight to accept her. I can only assume Nyx was blown away when she found out that Rarity suspected she was NM from the start and was still so courteous and kind towards her.. And i have always thought that, aside from Twilight, Rarity is the best written of the Mane 6 in " Past Sins". Not that the other characters are badly written mind, but the first time i read Past Sins, the moment Rarity showed up i went " wow the author can really write Rarity, I hear every line in her voice!".. this was before i was even sold on the story itself!
All my stories are AU now, I guess. But no way in hell am I going and changing them all to that.
834653 where did you get that picture????
randumbd though: i imagine nyx, SB and AB holding scootaloo from jumping at babs, and then babs teasing nyx making AB to hold nyx while SB holds scootaloo
i need to draw that....
FINALLY, SOMEPONY WHO DIDN'T FREAK OUT.
Pretty much ever other blog I've seen so far they were all saying how rushed and stupid it was.
Personally, I loved it. I can't wait for the new fanfics, and I ESPECIALLY can't wait for the music that's going to come from all of this.
836974
I see, in this case I wish you best of luck.
I personally would like to see Nyx to play hero again, after all her cute mark is to defend other ponies, but because of her small size and excuse that her magic is terrible weak because Luna drained to much of it make her kind of useless in that case, it is others who all time need too help Nyx and not the other way around.
But as many readers point out, Nyx character development and interactions with others characters is something what they and I really like, and even if my hopes to see Nyx protect her friends wont come true, reading how Nyx struggle to be accepted is still enjoyable for me.
So best of luck in finding inspiration.
Anyone notice Derpy in the background of the last episode?
Good idea, PastSins, if you had to rewrite it after every major change you'd never be done.
I think your timeline fits just fine. You've covered the major story arcs from Seasons 1 & 2 and the important Crystal Empire story arc which sets the stage for Past Sins. The other Season 3 episodes 3-10 could fit somewhere prior to the Winter Bells story since the series never said when they happened. My only question concerns the episodes covering Trixie and Discord. Whether you want to write short stories covering them is up to you. Personally, I hope a Discord episode based in the Past Sins-verse is written out.
Finally, I believe Twilight's coronation episode occurring after Past Sins and the other side stories would fit perfectly as the events in Past Sins and Twilight's devotion to her daughter is another reason for Twilight exhibiting important attributes of being a princess.
I still can't believe you spent time on making the timeline alone. I hope we have a good talk at some point about what Nyx would do at this point
Am I the only person who now wants to see a timeline like that which encompasses all fan fics that happen in the present? It would be brutal on the eyes
Can you explain to me why it isn't better to place the story between s3 Ep9 & s3 ep10
896524
Because I've made no mention of Pipsqueak in Winter Bells, so having that episode place Pipsqueak back with his family works just well for me.