//------------------------------//
// Cold Meals 
// Story: Taismo: The Equestria Games 
// by RockStarMLP 
//------------------------------//

All of the castle's guests had gathered in the dining hall to share their dinner together. The Royal Four, who were there the earliest, greeted each guest as the royal announcement made their arrival known. As Shining Armor and Skyla joined Cadance before anyone else arrived, Twilight was joined by Nyx, who was insisted to be there by her mother and aunt so that all of the present family could greet together. Now the large group of forty-two sat around all sides of the giant U-shaped table in their formal gala, saving perhaps a couple hedgehogs and an echidna who wouldn't even compromise with a collar or neck-tie spared from ponies.

Cadance used her magic to lift one of the utensils and a half-filled dinner glass, using the former to tap the latter gently and gain everyone's attention. When all were silent, she said "Good evening, everyone. My husband and I are very happy that you joined us for dinner. As we are about to enjoy the Equestria Games tomorrow, it is an honor to be graced with the presence of many representatives from faraway lands. Let us enjoy this evening and our meal together."

"Cheers!" everyone said together, raising up their own glasses by each of their own means. Cadance took a drink and sat back down, which caused a stream of conversations to begin all around the table. Each group, be it friends or dignitaries or the band, had themselves spread out diversely, an unintended maneuver that would surely help support any conversation.

Any reserved seating that was made was the table that stretched between the two tables standing parallel to each other. Across the back, facing the entire party and from left to right, was Cosmo, Nyx, Twilight, Cadance and Shining Armor with Skyla in between them, Celestia, and Luna. Tails sat right at the corner of Cosmo, allowing himself to stay next to his beloved and face both rows of the table. Sitting right were the two pairs of dignitaries and Jason of the Master Four, the latter having sat down towards the Royal Sisters when finding an available seat.

Celestia, after taking a drink from her glass, opened conversation with "It is good to see you again, Jason, and a pleasure to have you and all our guests join us for the Games."

The warrior of darkness grinned and replied "You are too kind, Princess. The pleasure is all ours. I will admit that we have been quite excited ever since we got the invitation from Princess Twilight through one of her interdimensional letters with Tails and Cosmo."

"I'm glad you enjoy being here," added the white alicorn. "We always try to make Equestria as welcoming as can be. With that, allow me to formally introduce you to the Duke and Duchess of Maretonia."

Jason turned to meet them, only to be stared back at almost disgustingly. He lent his hand out to shake hand and hoof, but was not shown the courtesy as the Duke said "Hello," in a less than appealing tone.

Withdrawing his hand, Jason tried to ignore that and start friendly conversation, as force as it seemed. "I haven't heard of places outside of Equestria's territory. How far away is Maretonia from here?"

The two didn't reply immediately, just both glaring at him for a moment. The sense of cold filled the atmosphere before the Duchess shot her eyes down the table. "Not too far away, but far enough from any 'situations' Equestria has had to face."

Luna's eyes stared at the Duchess for a moment before she shifted her own in the same direction. Her sight caught Nyx within vision, and it left her unsettled in thought. Clearly there was going to be difficulty to the Princesses' mission regarding Nyx's image, but not compared to the ideas of how to make Blueblood face her judgment for his stupid actions.

"I see," replied the dark warrior. He, too, noticed where the glare was being put, and another who noticed down at the receiving end.

"And what of you and your friends? Princess Celestia has said you are from Team JAG, correct?" asked the Duke.

"Yes, but Team JAG isn't specifically a place," Jason explained. "It is an organization, a coalition of beings from all different worlds, mostly those who serve as warriors, guardians, heroes, anyone who fights to protect the places they call home. The Team acts as a hub for interdimensional communications and allegiance so that we can all work together and stand against forces that threaten the peace and prosperity of any world. I guess the best summary is that we are all different places that act united for good."

"I see," the Duke said. "That does partially explain, if I may be openly descriptive, that you are... well, a difference species. Not many creatures that I've seen are bipeds like yourself."

"I believe that, as he said, the coalition consists of those of different worlds. I would imagine that there are many other beings than those here we have come to know that exist elsewhere," Luna stated.

Jason nodded and said "Indeed, and humans, as my species are called, are the majority of known beings we work with." He redirected to the Duke to add "So your open description is accurate. If I may admit, with no disrespectful intention, we never thought that we'd come across a world such as Equestria. Such extraordinary equines like yourselves and all who we've come across have really intrigued us. It is a truly amazing world you have here."

"It is," said the Duchess, but in a lighter tone rather than before. "That is why we are here, to know more about Equestria and build a bridge not built before between our homes. Maretonia, however, has never seen... certain instances that Equestria has seen."

Celestia gave an understanding look and nod, replying with "It is true we have seen multiple events that brought disharmony and conflict to our home, but we have always managed to persevere and overcome them. My former student, Princess Twilight Sparkle, has had a leading hoof in making sure in that, with the help of her studies and her friends." A gentle smile crossed her face as her eyes looked out at Twilight, her family, and her friends.

Both Luna and Jason nodded in agreement to that, but the Duke and Duchess were less than agreeable about the land's newest princess. In passive aggression, the Duke said "Yes, your student has had her roles when it comes to some things that can give ponies nightmares," and left his sentence at that.


/)∞(\


Twilight was enjoying a conversation with her friends and daughter, and the two dignitaries of Saddle Arabia as well. The topic was about magic and how it connects and disconnects with what an alicorn's cutie mark represents, using the run-in with the Diamond Dogs a few years ago as an example. The conversation had good length to it, especially with the dignitaries and two Mobians asking a variety of questions about the topic, receiving answers from both alicorns. The younger's intelligence started a shift in topics, as done so by Arabian Night.

"I must say," he said intriguingly, "you have quite the knowledge of magic, young one. Not many unicorns from our land even know some things you have mentioned. You must have quite a quench for knowledge like the mare that was once Celestia's pupil."

"Well, maybe not just like Twilight's, but a lot for her at least," Tails added, emphasizing humor in his tone in reference to all he told her and the Crusaders earlier.

Nyx could only grin happily, but she enjoyed that feeling so much. Instead of pointing out the topic of Nightmare Moon right off the bat, the conversation went straight into a different territory that wouldn't make her feel down or awkward as in numerous previous chats. Besides, that was a topic that she knew was best left for later.

Her mother told her how they would explain to Tails and Cosmo, and all their friends and came with them to the Crystal Empire, the entire story of past sins.

Continuing the conversation, Twilight went on to say "Yes, Nyx always has a desire to learn something new if given the opportunity. Give her a novel and she'll try to read it in a day. But restarting where we left off, I'd love to learn how your country has govern-"

"I'm sure the knowledge she has had helped her in many ways, including being the short-term 'Queen of Equestria.'" Arabian Night's wife, Desert Oasis, cut off the purple alicorn without warning, her tone and words shot out like a sword through sand. Twilight tried to keep herself posed and collected like Celestia, but her eyes furrowed crossly. Tails and Cosmo became tense and tried better to hide a surprised reaction. Nyx took the sting, having just thought positively of not discussion about what her history, her ears drooped down and eyes saddened as her head bowed a little.

Arabian Night cleared his throat after a moment, trying to break from the sudden awkwardness, while maintaining himself calm when he spoke. "Yes, that is something we were... 'informed' of before. I'm sorry that Desert didn't say that in such an out of term approach, but that mention does intrigue me of another topic of your friends from, well, farther away than us, Princess." He turned his head towards the couple he referred to. "Like how this little filly is here, I learned that you two have come here under, well, 'interesting circumstances.'"

Twilight didn't know what to say. She knew he was trying to be kinder with his speaking, but given what she knew, she took that as disrespectful and passive-aggressive. Even with how Nyx became who she is and how Tails and Cosmo became involved with Equestria, the topics could have been addressed in a politer manner; a much, much politer manner. Then again, this was exactly what to expect those foreign to the events Equestria had endured throughout all the passing years, yet she always hoped for ponies to be better when it came to approaching such topics.

"I... I can't say that is true," she responded. "What took place during that time had no negative impact on Equestria through Nyx's love for learning before then. In fact, it was the cult who assisted her that used their knowledge to cause the majority of what happened."

"Ah yes, the Children of Nightmare. Forgive my correcting, but I don't think they were responsible for brainwashing everypony, having the moon raised for so long, and infiltrating Canterlot to attack and banish Celestia and Luna to the sun and moon, respectively," Desert Oasis said.

Nyx's head dropped further in shame, unable to focus her vision upward. She was spared seeing Tails and Cosmo's shocked expressions, those that were greater than the shock of meeting the filly earlier. At that moment, she just tried to pluck up courage and engage in the conversation to speak for herself.

Twilight took no time to respond to the mare across the table from her, all the while struggling to maintain her collectiveness. "Nightmare Moon's actions were based on the cult's guidance, and anger and jealousy born from matters over a thousand years ago. If anything, what happened was all from a temper tantrum."

"I must admit that it was something quite beyond being just a tantrum, but I do understand the sources of it. We are vaguely familiar with Equestria's history, not expert historians," said Arabian Night. "Regardless of what we were told, we were intrigued how one little filly was the... well, the catalyst, as it were."

Little to the filly's knowledge, he looked down at her before speaking again. "Nyx, if I may ask, is this all true and you were indeed this land's most dangerous enemy, Nightmare Moon?"

"Y-yes," Nyx replied, braving herself just enough to raise her head to just barely make eye contact with the stallion. "I used to be Nightmare Moon, but that's not who I am anymore."

"I see," said the stallion. "Then I guess there was some truth from that blubbering fool Blueblood."

Both Twilight and Nyx were taken aback by what he just said, so much that they were trying to stifle laughter at what the so called prince was described as.

"What kind of things did he say about Nyx?" Cosmo asked.

"Well," Desert Oasis answered, "in short he said she was a diabolical monster disguised as a filly, plotting to take control of us all and enslave ponies of all lands under her rule. He stressed quite a bit that she was that and nothing good." She paused to look down at the filly, who had just composed herself from laughing. "Normally I wouldn't dare say such thing about a foal, but as my husband has said, Equestria does have its... unique history, and such eyes and coat can make a pony stand out."

"No it doesn't." Tails spoke with a firm and disapproving tone of what the mare had said. "Looks do not determine that, not through that kind of viewpoint."

Desert Oasis turned her attention to the fox and replied "Perhaps you are correct, but forgive when I say that I don't see you being in a position to say that. Blueblood did have some things to say about you and your grou-"

"I'm aware he spoke of us as well," Tails said, cutting her off before she could finish and sounding even more displeased. "If I may speak from personal experience, it's not the image of a person that makes them stand out alone. It's who they are and what their actions are that determine who you see, not solely from what you may or may not hear about them. Prince Blueblood has never even met us, so what he told you about us has no credibility at all.

"As for what he has told you about Nyx, I cannot go against him fully. In fact, my friends and I have just met her this morning, so I doubt I can change your perspective with my current understanding of who she is. What I can say, however, is that I've spent nearly this entire day with her and her friends, getting to know her and who she is. Based on that, I can tell you she is a wonderful, smart, and kind filly, just like the mare you sit across who is raising her, who I also come to know very well in the last few months. With all due respect, if Nyx was indeed Nightmare Moon before, that isn't who we're sitting with right here and now, so get to know the pony you see here, rather than imagine her from the opinions of a fool who seems to not know better..."

Tails would have continued on, but he felt something on his knee. Cosmo reached her hand under the table to grab him, giving him a small squeeze in order to gain his attention and stop him from saying much more. He saw her give him a firm stare and a gentle shake of her head, and he got the message clearly. A part of him began to feel embarrassed for going on that small rant, and he would admit to himself regret. That is, if it wasn't for catching a stare from Twilight, but hers wasn't as stern as Cosmo's.

The purple mare would have been upset with what the fox had just said, if she didn't want to react that way herself. In fact, he beat her to the punch before she would begin defending her daughter from what the dignitaries were saying, and she was unsure of just how composed she would have kept herself if given the opportunity to speak then and there. She noticed all eyes were on him, so she took the opportunity to give him a small grin and use her lips to silently say 'Thank You' to him. Then, she took control of the conversation and spoke.

"I apologize for that, Arabian Night. In the time I've come to know Tails and his friends, he can be very defensive."

"It's alright," he replied. "Perhaps we did poke some buttons too hard. I apologize is we insulted your friends and your daughter, and yourself, Your Highness." The last two words he spoke carried heavy sarcasm in his tone.

Twilight, ignoring how he spoke, then said "Perhaps we may take this in a more positive direction." She then turned to her two interdimensional friends and asked "Tails, Cosmo, why don't you tell us more about where you and most of your friends are from? Your world is known as Mobius, correct?"