//------------------------------//
// The Story of Past Sins 
// Story: Taismo: The Equestria Games 
// by RockStarMLP 
//------------------------------//

"Twilight, I'm so sorry for what happened with Tails. I hope we didn't cross the line there," said Cosmo.

"Are you kidding? I wish I could have said that myself," replied Twilight. "If anything, I thank you for standing up for Nyx. It meant so much to see him take that stance for not just yourselves, but for her, too. "

The dinner had finished a while ago, and after changing out of their formal attire, all the friends met together in the castle's grand living room. Dinner went smoother than how it started, for the most part. Conversations lasted and improved as histories and stories were shared between Equestrians and their guests, a delicious meal of vegetarian cuisine, with an exception for Spike with a bowl of turquoise gems, and a special treat Pinkie Pie helped to provide: a three song performance by the Team JAG Band.

When Pinkie had the idea of the band performing for everypony, she raced off and found the Master Four to share her idea and convince them to play. The four agreed and offered to take some of their equipment to the dining hall, but once she got their confirmation, the pink party pony packed a pile of playable instruments in her front hooves and raced back to set it up, and having the instruments sitting in the once empty corner since.

For the party, the band decided to play three songs that would not be included in the upcoming set for closing the Equestria Games, but also including one from their upcoming anniversary show. The first they played was a song they played in Ponyville a few months ago, a long instrumental that was found appealing, especially to a hoof-tapping Luna. Following that was a song they had rehearsed earlier, but this time allowing other members of the band to join at a specific point. Lastly, and after a warning of explicit contents, the entire band played a brand new song from one of their most frequently-played bands, and only having first heard it a week prior to their Equestria vacation.

It was a song they were just barely able to finish entirely.

Abruptly making his way into the dining hall was Prince Blueblood, the stallion whose title was without any worth. He had stormed in, expressing his dislike of being so rudely treated as to not be invited to the dinner, but it was a short rant. The moment his eyes caught glance of Nyx, Tails, Cosmo and all the other guests of Twilight's, it brewed an absolute storm of displeasure and disrespect as he insulted them all with whatever words came to his (arguably existent) mind first. Hours that passed during the dinner to strengthen positive and peaceful bonds with all those present had been deteriorated in less than five minutes.

Then again, it gave way to the wonderful opportunities for Twilight to lash out for a moment by backing him into a corner with a tongue-lashing, promising to zap him in the middle of a javelin competition if he spoke anything of her daughter and friends again. Before he could say anything back, Cosmo spoke up herself and called him an insulting prince to Equestria, only for him to spit in her direction and promised to be rid of the invading monsters and nightmare. Twilight had had enough and used her magic to grab some of Pinkie Pie's flag banner to wrap around and tie tightly on his muzzle to prevent another word to escape his mouth, and used a locking spell only she or another alicorn could undo to keep the knot tied. At that point, Twilight considered the dinner over and escorted her family and friends out, but not before giving Blueblood one more taste of his medicine:

Rarity having a small turn to yell at him as well, and then whipping her tail right across the side of his face. To her misfortune, she kept herself collected enough to not do more, but it was to not fully lose her temper in front of her little sister and the CMC. 

That, however, didn’t stop a certain fox glaring eye to eye with the unicorn snob and snarling at the now cowardly prince. He decided that, against his better judgment, wait until Cadance had distracted the dignitaries long enough for him to untie the banner just enough to wrap one of the ends in a bowline knot, hold it in Blueblood’s face and gave one cold warning: “If you even lay a hit on Cosmo, Nyx or any of my friends, I’ll swing you around and make you the fastest flying unicorn in Equestria.”

He dropped his noose, and then backhanded the side of the prince’s head so hard that he hit the crystalline wall and fell unconscious where he sat tied up. Tails walked out of the room fuming, his eyes narrowed and arms crossed as he just walked his way back to his and Cosmo’s suite to unwind, and walking passed everybody that watched him make his threat. 

Following the time to dress down and some stress relief, the friends got together in the living room, and apologies were given amongst each other for the apologizing ones' actions. They were more than understanding for each other, and the apologies were accepted if not dismissed for being unnecessary. With Celestia and Luna attending to their guests and Cadance and Shining Armor focusing on their own family, the Mane 6, the CMC, the Band, and Team Sonic were all the ones together, and a solemn Spike keeping to himself by the room's hearth as he lit the logs with a green-glowing fire.

"So are we done saying we're sorry to each other? I thought we were going to have a story time!" Pinkie Pie said.

Rainbow Dash gave a glare to the pink pony. "Seriously, Pinkie? After what just happened, you want to just forget about it and go into sharing stories?"

"I'm actually with her on that," Sonic stated, getting everyone's attention. "That dinner was too stiff for my liking, and I'm not going to let one guy ruin my evening with paranoia. I say forget about it and change topics."

"Of course you'd feel that way," Knuckles commented without surprise.

"Well where I may not fully agree with how he meant that, I'll have to agree with him and Pinkie myself. I'd rather forget about that... 'Prince' and talk about far more important subjects," Rarity added, with a certain hiss at one point in her sentence.

Ash nodded and said "Same here."

"Agreed. I know you wanted to give us Nyx's backstory, Twilight," Gohan added, "mainly with what happened when 'Nightmare Moon' was here."

Twilight, having herself sat on a throw pillow with Nyx next to her, nodded in agreement. "I know. I did promise you that explanation earlier, and a good friend should never break a promise."

"Cross your heart and hope to fly," Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo said in unison, chanting the Pinkie Promise, "stick a cupcake in your eye." A round of chuckling came from the group, mostly the ponies who were more familiar with what that meant.

Tails, who was standing a short distance away from the alicorn princess, began to walk up to her and say "Applejack gave us, from what we took it as, the abridged version of the story. We were hoping that you could add some more details to this, seeing as nopony is closer to this story or to Nyx than you." He then took a seat near them on the floor and added "I do feel that I owe you for my outburst earlier, and if I- no, we ever need to defend Nyx, we want to know everything you want to tell us."

"Yes," agreed Cosmo, taking her own seat next to him. "Even if anything Blueblood said is true, we want to know her better ourselves and hear the truth."

Twilight looked around the room and saw everyone comfortable at their seats, saving an apathetic Shadow who only sat in his seat because of Maria's arm around his own and her head on his shoulder. She debated whether or not waiting to see if her brother and sister-in-law would be joining them after putting Skyla to sleep, but they heard the whole story through multiple parts, just not all in one continuity. Thinking of how long they would might take, she concluded it was no worth to wait: family did come first after all, something she understood a while before them thanks to Nyx. Her friends saw discomfort on her and decided to give her a little boost of morale.

"Come now, Twilight," Rarity said first, "they do deserve to know the story of Nyx like everypony else knows."

"Do you not want to tell the story?" Fluttershy asked.

"No, no, I don't mind," Twilight replied. "I just don't want to say it in a way to prove Blueblood was right in any way."

Applejack then said "Just stick what the heart wants to say, Sugarcube, and nothin' but the honest truth. There's no better way."

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash added. She then made herself sit down comfortably next to her alicorn friend and said "And if you need a hoof in explaining, we'll help out, too."

"Totally!" Pinkie yelled, jumping up from the seat she shared with Amy, Knuckles and Rouge.

Taking a deep breath, Twilight gently smiled and said "Alright," but the smile immediately faded away. "Perhaps I should start things from where it all began for me; the night I was ponynapped." Following a brief pause to recall the horrible memories, she collected enough to get her story started.

"It was a little while after the big wedding in Canterlot for Shining Armor and Cadance. I was just walking outside when I was ponynapped by a cult who were trying to resurrect Nightmare Moon in the Everfree Forest. I didn't see much of what they were doing other than just a few moments, but during the ritual spell to bring back Nightmare Moon, Princess Celestia and her guards intervened and stopped them; as far as they knew, that is. Celestia made sure I was alright before leaving for Canterlot, where she had a research team begin an investigation of what the cult was truly planning to do, as everypony didn't know for certain then. The next day I was trying to get my mind off of things by focusing on my studies when I realized that I had lost some very important books when I was ponynapped, so I went to the Everfree Forest and found them. That's when I discovered a sight I couldn't believe at first sight: a little filly tangled in a thorn bush, fearing where she was and what was going on. I decided to take her back to the library with me, and out of a storm that began to downpour on us.

"I invited her to stay, and I gave her the name Nyx, a name from one of my fillyhood storybooks. I wasn't fully sure Nyx was Nightmare Moon, because I had no proof other than being a filly reflection of the Mare in the Moon, so I took her to Rarity in order to get her a disguise and pass her off as a cousin who was visiting me for a while. It took a little convincing to get Rarity to help, but-"

"But a true friend should always help a friend in need," Rarity interjected. "Plus, I did visit her after the incident and promised her a favor for being so negligent and visiting her last."

"And I thank you again for that, Rarity. She began to see the innocence of Nyx, even going so far as teaching her proper etiquette every now and again. With Nyx having a disguise, I then enrolled her at school to take classes with the other fillies and colts, especially after discovering her never-ending thirst for knowledge. I think that was something I unintentionally rubbed off onto her." Twilight paused to chuckle before could continue.

"Then there was a day when a couple fillies in her class tricked her into going into the Everfree Forest, making her way to the Castle of the Royal Sisters, and having memories of Nightmare Moon, as she described to me. When I found out she was missing, I was afraid, more afraid than I've ever been in my life, and after confronting the two fillies who tricked her, raced into the forest and to the castle. I found Nyx sad and crying, but her mane and tail very different than what she has now: they were flowing with the exact kind of mane and tail that belonged to Nightmare Moon.

"I didn't tell Nyx about the truth, not then at least. It wasn't until after the school put on a play for a spring festival in Ponyville that told the story of the Royal Sisters reuniting, a story based on Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and myself were a part of. Nyx played the role of Nightmare Moon, and after the play, she mentioned how everypony called her an exact doppelganger to Nightmare Moon. That was when I told her the truth, at least all the truth that I knew then, but also that she was not the evil pony that Nightmare Moon was. She was born from Nightmare Moon's remains, but she lacked the spirit and attitude that was Nightmare Moon, and that's what mattered the most.

"It was after Nyx doubted having her own family when I thought of who I was to Nyx, and who Nyx was to me. I called myself her mother, and she loved to be my daughter." She paused at the feeling of Nyx leaning her head against her and wearing a happy smile. Twilight, who wore a big smile from her previous sentence, nuzzled the little filly and opened up her wing to wrap around her. Her smile faded when she continued her story again.

"After that, things kept going as normal as possible, including a Learn & Play Day at the school where Nyx demonstrated greater levels of her magical power. I still had my doubts she was Nightmare Moon, but what happened that confirmed it for me, and I had a hard time accepting it. It took a good talk with Rarity to help me see that, even if my theories were proven true, Nyx was exactly who she was: Nyx. Things went by smoothly since then...

"But then came the last day of school." Twilight had to pause as she could feel her whole body cringe and her heart ache. "It was the worst day of my life." Nyx's expression showed the same as Twilight's, and she leaned herself against her mother harder. Everyone in the room kept their attention even closer than since the story started at this sight, and most unaware of two ponies that were standing outside the door.

"Princess Celestia saw through my lie and visited the library, planning to take Nyx to Canterlot to make sure she was truly Nightmare Moon or not. Spell Nexus, the headmaster of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, was not only the one in charge of operating a spell to make the test, but also the mastermind behind the cult I mentioned earlier, the Children of Nightmare. I was broken: I didn't want Celestia to take Nyx away, but I did, and I fell apart where I sat. I heard Nyx crying as Celestia took her out the front door, lost in my own thoughts until I heard a word that snapped me back into reality-"

"Mommy." Nyx had cut her off that time, having of the saddest and depressing tones one could hear. Then again, Twilight's tone was no better as she sounded depressed, ashamed, and trying her hardest not to cry.

"It was a trap," the alicorn continued. "Spell Nexus betrayed Celestia and managed to use the full power of the resurrection spell to his advantage. He and the Children of Nightmare had accomplished what they worked for, transforming Nyx into the Mare in the Moon: Nightmare Moon."

Twilight had to pause for a couple moments. She had reached the point of the memories where some of the worst heartaches and greatest pains would surface within her again. She would need to keep herself collected, if not herself altogether, for her friends learning of this story and her friends who were there to experience it. Before continuing, she was surprised to feel a wing lay across her back. It wasn't Nyx's, as the filly's wings were too small to cast across an entire mare's back. She turned to see that it was Rainbow Dash who extended out the laying wing.

"It's ok, Twi," said the pegasus. "You've told this story before. Just keep going, unless you want to stop and let somepony else take over."

Twilight was touched by the offer, but it was the gesture that helped keep herself collected and continue on. Following a deep breath, she went on speaking again. "Nightmare Moon succeeded in her original plans. She casted eternal night across Equestria, and banished both Celestia and Luna to the sun and the moon. She proclaimed herself Queen of Equestria, but... I... I refused to believe Nightmare Moon was Nightmare Moon. I still believed she was the little filly I called my daughter. I still believed she was Nyx, and I infiltrated her palace, Night Stone Castle, to confront Nyx and convince her to stop everything. But my efforts weren't exactly successful-"

"I put her in a dungeon," Nyx interrupted, expressing her sadness over the pass strongly in her tone. "I was doing everything I was told to do. I was doing everything I thought, I believed I had to do. I banished the princesses, I conquered Equestria and stole the Elements of Harmony, and I locked up Twilight and my friends in the dungeon. I was a monster: a horrible, evil monster..."

Twilight nuzzled Nyx again to help calm her down, but it wouldn't be so effective, not until the story was fully told. "But I didn't believe that," she continued, "not one bit." The nuzzling stopped as Twilight refocused her vision towards everyone.

"I believed in Nyx every moment I was in that dungeon. She thought I just gave up on her, but there wasn't a single moment when I did. As the weeks passed, she proved me right. She didn't cause harm to anypony, she began to raise the sun and brought back the day, and she even let her once captured friends go so that they could go to their friend's birthday party. My faith was right the whole time: Nyx was Nightmare Moon in body, but not in heart, mind or spirit. Deep down, she was always the little filly I took in and began to raise, and I was very proud of her for making the turn for the better.

"Spell Nexus, on the other hoof, wasn't as pleased with it. He was infuriated, confronting me in the dungeon and aimed the blame and his anger onto me. He decided to put Nightmare Moon back in line, and have me be the one to do it with the help of the Blessing..."

"The Blessing?" Tails asked.

"The Blessin' was used to make ponies follow and obey Nightmare Moon," Applejack explained. "It's like mind control, right Twilight?"

"Yes," the purple mare confirmed. "The Blessing, which was a physical manifestation of Nightmare Moon, was used to take complete control of me for Spell Nexus's using. He used me to have Nyx come see me..." She paused to cringe again, this time with great regret. "...and I- I attacked her. He gave me a knife to attack her with, and I ended up cutting her. I still hate myself today for doing that, even if I didn't have control of myself at that moment, or later on... when I was nearly hung by a hangmare's noose."

There was a pause as several took in the last bit of information, a few taking their hand or hoof and putting them at their own necks, including Twilight. Nyx took over talking for a minute and said "I saw her fall. I saw her from my balcony as she stood on the platform on top of a tower, and then started to fall down. When I saw what was happening, I managed to save her just before the rope would have snapped, cutting her free and taking her to the castle in the Everfree Forest. Twilight was still Blessed, and the proof was how her eyes were like mine, just like everypony else who was Blessed.” She raised a hoof to point to her turquoise, dragonesque eyes. “I used my magic to find the Blessing, extract it and destroy it, setting her free."

"And that's when I first saw you regretting what you've done," Twilight said, speaking to her little filly. "I was so proud of you, even if I was scared of what might have happened." She returned her focus to the others and continued the story again.

"After Nyx saved me, I went to Zecora's to stay out of sight from Spell Nexus and the cult. I didn't need to see how unhappy his Blessed form was when he didn't see me left for head on the noose. From what I learned from Nyx, she talked to Nexus privately and extracted the Blessing, the true negativity that was Nightmare Moon, and destroyed it. The rest of the cult followed, all of them set free from being Blessed and returning to their homes and lives. She even dethroned herself as Equestria's queen, but remained isolated inside Night Stone Castle. Day after day, I went in to try and find her, to talk to her and see her again, but she remained hidden from me, from everypony.

"That is, until the creatures of Everfree invaded Ponyville."

"Creatures of Everfree? What are those?" Amy asked.

Tails recalled back to his first visit to Equestria, and his first trip through the said forest to visit Zecora with Twilight. He had learned about this subject a little during that trek. "Ursas, lupises, timberwolves," he said, listing them out as he thought of their names. "They're animals of the more... well, supernatural, I guess you could call it."

"Not exactly," Nyx said. "They are mystical creatures who originated from before the Princesses' rule and the founding of Equestria, named after constellations that none see to exist today. Archaeologists have discovered that they used to live all across the land until ponies began to migrate here, but they took refuge in the Everfree Forest to avoid contact with ponies after Celestia and Luna began their rule. The invasion... I was the cause of it. Since I banished the princesses, the creatures no longer felt threatened to stay in the forest and-"

"It was not your fault," Twilight interrupted, pulling the filly in as close as possible with her wing. Another moment of silence fell as the many guests became speechless at Nyx's intelligent explanation. They would have imagined an explanation to come from Twilight, as they knew her as the most intellectual of facts and histories compared to the other ponies, but never in the short time they knew of Equestria did they come across such a young intellectual. If anything, that could be one of the biggest signs that adoption didn't have to make Nyx the purple mare's daughter.

"What happened when these creatures invaded?" Sonic asked.

"Ponyville was sent into chaos, but nowhere as chaotic as Discord pulled off. Everypony ran for their lives and tried to find shelter, and my friends and I tried to do our part. It wasn't until Nyx arrived, using one of her powers to separate herself into dozens of forms of herself to combat the creatures all at once. She advised us to get out of Ponyville and go to her castle for safety, as it was far enough away to shelter us. I formulated a plan to make sure everypony could get there, but I couldn't have pulled it off without my friends."

"Don't be modest there, Sugarcube," Applejack said. "We all had our parts to play, and you were more important, if not the same."

"Absolutely," Rarity agreed.

"And if it wasn't for the many many many Nyxies, we would have been doomed. Doomed I tell you! DOOOOOOOOOMED!" Pinkie Pie added.

Twilight couldn't help but smile thankfully, and Nyx managed to put on a weak smile and blush at Pinkie's compliment. When her smile faded away after a few seconds, Twilight began to speak again.

"It took a while, but we managed to get the entire town to Night Stone Castle, some better than others. When it seemed the coast was clear, Nyx gathered all her duplicates in one place and merged back into one, and taking all the energies each individual duplicate had all at once. Then... It came; a Lupus Major, at full charge. It was blood-thirsty and ready to attack, but Nyx promised to take care of it and told the remainder of us to get to the castle. Even though I was against it, I found myself away from where I left Nyx, when I saw something that still makes me shake to this day. Out of the sky shot a magical lightning bolt that Nyx charged to not only strike the Lupus Major, but herself as well." She paused for a second to let out a shake of her spine.

"I waited to see what would happen next, but nothing did, not immediately. After a little time, I saw Nyx limp her way into the castle courtyard, and so did everypony else. She saved us all from the attacking creatures, and she saved Ponyville from being completely destroyed. But then... Nyx collapsed, falling unconscious and too weak to do anything for herself. I tried to wake her up with no luck, and then I- I lost it. I cried and yelled and begged for somepony to help, but nopony would do anything. They didn't want to help, not after what Nightmare Moon did to them for all those weeks. At that moment, I didn't care what anypony thought of her; she saved us and wouldn't do anything to help. They stood there not sure whether to help her live or watch her die, and I couldn't stand it.

"I didn't want to lose Nyx. I didn't want to lose my daughter. And I... And I thought I was about to..." Twilight stopped herself again, her voice cracking through her sad emotions and trying her best not to cry at the horrible memories. Nyx felt the same, but was more open of letting her own eyes cry tears. She put her head in her mother's crook, and the mare rested her head on her daughter's. Rainbow Dash tried to help by clenching her wing tighter, just a little tighter, across Twilight's back.

Then, the Cutie Mark Crusaders got up from where they sat and walked over to their friend. They each found their own place around Nyx- Apple Bloom to the side, Sweetie Belle by the front, and Scootaloo popping up on top. They hugged or nuzzled their alicorn friend, while each giving their own say on the whole story itself.

"It didn't matter to us Nyx did some bad things back then," Scootaloo said.

"Yeah," followed Apple Bloom. "She saved us from those monsters, and we always knew she cared for us."

"Besides, she's our friend, and we never leave a fellow Cutie Mark Crusader behind," added Sweetie Belle.

To most, it sounded as cheesy as it comes, but it was still a heartfelt moment. Several grinned, others tried to turn their heads away to hide their emotions, and the rest just shed a tear or two and swiped them away with a finger. The other ponies, the Mane 6 according to the adopted nickname, each reacted accordingly to their own fashion from hiding under hats to trying to mask the 'sappy' feelings that surfaced. Or you could be Pinkie Pie and start flooding the room with tears.

"Anyway," Twilight said, having recollected herself once more, "I was fortunate enough to have my friends step forward to help Nyx, and then a doctor and a nurse did as well. We got Nyx to the throne room and the nurse and Fluttershy bandaged her up while I waited outside and everypony else tried to recover from what had happened. Rainbow Dash and a team of pegasi went around to inform Equestria that things were turning for the better, regardless of that the sun and moon were not revolving as a result of Nyx being incapable of doing anything at the time. When I was allowed to see her again, I didn't leave her side, and when she awoke, convinced her to help me free Celestia and Luna from their respective prisons, but not before doing a few things we enjoyed doing together when she was still a filly.

"We freed Celestia and Luna to the castle, and then Nyx surrendered as Nightmare Moon, prepared to accept all the consequences for her actions, and make a small proclamation that instead of placing ponies in eternal night and constant fear, she wanted to dedicate herself to protect ponies and make sure nothing like Nightmare Moon would ever happen again..."

"That explains the cutie mark," Cosmo thought to herself as Twilight was speaking.

"After Nyx surrendered, Celestia made the decision that Luna would be the one to pass judgment and decide what Nyx's consequences would be. Luna accepted the responsibility, and to keep her judgment unbiased, she decided to go out to Ponyville and ask for their opinions and see what those viewpoints were. As she was off doing that, we waited in the throne room for Nyx to keep resting, and in case of the worst... To have our final moments together.

"Eventually, Luna returned, speaking to Celestia before stepping into the throne room again, and where I had to leave. Nyx told me that it was like a court, where Luna addressed the accusations against her, which she accepted. Unfortunately, I couldn't hear a thing, as the doors had a soundproof spell casted to keep the passing of judgment private. It was unbearable, and in no time I feared that the worst possible thing was happening, and Nyx was being banished to the moon forever. I began to beat on the door as hard as possible, wanting to stop the banishment before it was too late..." Twilight paused again and took a deep breath, allowing herself to calm down for the near end of the story.

"The moment the doors cracked open, I lost my temper, and entered an accelerated angry state called a rage shift. I began lashing out at Celestia before she eventually broke through to me and calmed me down, and then told me to take a better look. I stepped inside and saw two things: I saw Luna in a taller and grander form, the one you see today, and then, I saw somepony I thought I lost. I saw a little black filly, with a horn and wings, her purple mane and tail, and her little body still bandaged as she laid where she was resting. I saw Nyx: my little Nyx."

The latter sentence saw a smile break across Twilight's face, and her eyes beginning to cry again. This time, this was a crying of joy, as she told the most wonderful part of the story. "Luna's decision was to strip Nyx the magic and form that made her Nightmare Moon, transforming her back into the filly she was reborn as, but with all her memories intact. The magic was transferred to Luna, who in turn transformed into the form you've met her in, as the magic of Nightmare Moon was originally hers after all. She declared that Nyx would have to face the trials that other ponies would make towards her, and that would be done by living a life like everypony else would. To make sure this task would be seen through, Luna decided that since I discovered and took Nyx in that I would be the one to oversee this personally.

"To put it short and sweet: Nyx was given her original life back, and I had my daughter again. I took her back home and told her what the Princesses decided that night, and-"

"I had my family again!" Nyx said, cutting off Twilight mid-sentence. "I had my mom again, I had my brother and friends again! I got my life back!"

Unable to stifle her laughter, the purple mare let herself laugh at the outburst of happiness Nyx displayed. Once her laugh began to stop, she said "After that, we went on to celebrate both Nyx's return, and upon changing bandages, discovering her new cutie mark.

"Life went back to normal after that day... Or, as normal as you can try to call our lives. I never expected to become a mom so soon in my life, but I wouldn't trade what happened for anything. I've learned so much since I found Nyx, and still do to this day, and I love all the memories that we make together. There are ponies who don't like what Luna decided, and how Nyx is still amongst ponies, but we've faced those trials together, and we always will face them together. We have each other, and we have wonderful friends who have stuck by our sides to help keep our family together, and I couldn't be more blessed to have them in my life, friends old and new..."

Twilight felt herself getting squeezed a little harder from Rainbow Dash, who now had a leg and her wing around the alicorn for a more intimate hug. Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie got up from their seats and joined the two, surrounding them and the fillies for one big group hug. Following enjoying the hug for a couple moments, Twilight ended the story.

"Now you know how Nyx became my daughter and where she comes from. Before you say anything, I just need to say one more thing- thank you for listening. I hope you welcome Nyx as a friend as you have with the rest of us."

The groups of Team Sonic and the Band left little hesitation to respond to what they had just listened Twilight explain. A child born from magic, intended to be the greatest threat of an entire species, yet there she sat: a child, surrounding by friends and family, who they all come to know as just that and nothing more. Many began to give their responses to the story and past sins of Nyx, and what it all resulted to.

"Thank you, Twilight," Tails said. "I must admit, that is quite a story."

"But it was amazing. A little girl looking to find who she wanted to be, and going through all that she did, she came out with a wonderful outcome," added Amy.

"I've got to say, we've seen some people turn to the dark side and come back, but this is a story that really stands out," Gohan stated. "We don't always hear stuff like this happen to kids, even for most of us at that age."

"Unless you count King Grump over here," Rouge added, motioning a thumb pointing towards a certain red and black hedgehog. She then said towards Nyx "I have to hand it to you, kid, you've gone through hell and back to have a cushy life as a princess's daughter."

Catching quick that the bat said something potentially wrong, Jason tried to correct her and say "I don't think it's too cushy of a life, Rouge. Remember what Twilight said the conditions were for Nyx to have her current life..."

"She has to face lifelong trials."

Everyone turned to the doors that revealed Shining Armor and Cadance, the former of whom was the one who spoke the previous statement. "Nyx has had to face ponies who aren't as forgiving of her actions as most Equestrian citizens would be. That includes normal citizens, upper class citizens, and those of higher positions...

"Myself included."

Taken aback by that last comment, the group learning of Nyx's origins didn't take long to want to know what the prince meant by what he said. Kim was the one to ask the question: "Including yourself? You weren't pleased with Nyx's presence as other citizens would be?"

Shining Armor only nodded and replied "I did treat Nyx coldly when we first met, but that's another story. We were outside when Twily was telling you the story of Nightma- I mean, Nyx's first weeks. We didn't want to interrupt, and we almost didn't come in if your friend, Rouge if I'm correct, said what she did."

Cadance, deciding to add a little comfort to what her husband said, went on to add "Besides, our roles were minor to how Nyx became who she is, given that we first properly met during the following Hearth's Warming Eve."

"What's Hearth's Warming Eve?" Cream asked. Twilight gave a brief explanation of what the holiday was about, mainly how the three pony tribes became one and founded Equestria.

"That sounds like another holiday we celebrate during the winter," stated Ami.

"But getting back to Nyx," said Ash, "like what Tails said, that is quite the story of your family history. It actually makes me think of many others from Team JAG and how their own bonds with others have formed."

"Indeed," agreed Gohan. "At the same time, now it's easier to understand where the dignitaries' viewpoint comes from."

A moment of silence fell at the warrior's statement at that thought. Now the visitors knew of Nyx's dilemma of being with her mother in the Royal Suite, and it was easy to see the connection between the deeds of Nightmare Moon, and the fearful thought of strange, more powerful beings like Team Sonic and members of the Team JAG Band. More importantly, they now knew of how Nyx became a part of Twilight's life. Cosmo became the one who broke the silence.

"The dignitaries aren't us. They didn't take the time to listen and understand where Nyx came from, and more importantly, who Nyx is. I'm glad we did hear that story, because now we all know just how special Nyx actually is. It also confirms my thoughts about her after spending nearly the entire day with her." Cosmo reached down through the CMC and under Twilight's wing and brought the filly up to her hooves to look at her face to face.

"Regardless of her past, and what she will have to do in her future, she is a wonderful, kind, loveable little pony. She saw what she was doing wasn't right, and was willing to make things right for everyone she cares about. In fact, her life reminds me a lot about mine: I was born for a reason, and became close to wonderful friends who I came to call my family, and even though I did not willingly choose to cause anyone any trouble, those same people who cared about me fought for me. Like Nyx, I was given a second chance at life, and even though there are still rough times for us to fight through, I couldn't have asked for anything better, because I have that family to return home to.

"I guess what I'm getting at, to best word it, is that I see a kindred spirit with Nyx. But more importantly, above anything else, I see a little filly who I'm glad I met today; a little filly that is my new friend, and am willing to help her spend this trip with her family happily. Nyx, I am grateful - no, all of us are grateful - to have met you today. Thank you for helping share your story, and thank you, Twilight, for telling us..."

Nyx smiled ear to ear as Cosmo was speaking, but it wasn't until she finished that the filly began to feel truly accepted by Twilight's interdimensional friends. Unable to hold herself still, she leapt up and wrapped her front hooves around Cosmo's neck. Cosmo gladly returned the surprise hug, letting out a small chuckle to the surprise 'attack' as a few of her friends would describe.

"You're the wonderful and kind one, Cosmo," Nyx said joyfully. "You heard all about me and still want to be my friend."

"Now why wouldn't I? Like I said, you're an amazing little girl, and I'd love to be friends with you," replied the Seedrian.

"That goes for all of us," sounded the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog. Giving a classic thumbs-up, he went on to say "You're good in our book, Nyx. No snotty upper-class jerks will change that, because you are who you make yourself, and who you are now is cool to me."

Nyx's grin grew just so much wider that she couldn't grin anymore. "Thank you, Cosmo. Thank you, everyone," she said in a humble tone.

"You're very welcome," Cosmo replied, and the two continued their hug a little longer. When it broke, Tails seized an opportunity to land a kiss on his beloved's cheek, and his eyes met hers for a few seconds. Without warning, Nyx's muzzle was a few inches away from watching the two share a public display of passion with a lip-meeting kiss.

The filly couldn't help herself from letting out an "Awwww" right in earshot of the couple, where most of her friends acting the same, saving a little pegasus filly. When the couple broke apart, both Tails and Cosmo grinned and looked down at the fillies, with the former scrunching his hand in Nyx's mane. She stood back on all four hooves and looked up at the couple to say something, but she didn't right away. She noticed her mother get up from her huddle with her friends, and from under Rainbow Dash's wing, and step next to the Mobian couple.

"It means the world to me to hear you say what you just said," Twilight told them. "I knew you were open-minded, and open-hearted, but to know that Nyx has your trust and friendship after hearing of her past transcends that meaning for me. Thank you all for treating her like this; for treating her like family."

Both Tails and Cosmo gave a small nod with the former saying "You gave us a chance and helped us. It's only fair we do it for you as well."

"That's mighty appreciated," said Applejack. "Now I think it's time we all hit the hay for tonight. We got a big day tomorrow, and it's just about bedtime for these fillies."

All four fillies sighed - or more so groaned - and Apple Bloom said "Can we stay up longer, Applejack? We're not tired y..." A long yawn then came from the yellow filly's mouth, making her argument fruitless.

"Sorry, little sis, but it's time for shuteye for y'all," the orange mare said, more firmness in her tone.

Nyx bowed her head, feeling a little disappointed. "But we didn't get to hear about Tails and Cosmo's past. I thought they would tell their story after mine."

"I think that's a long story that can wait another day, Nyx. A lady must be patient when she wishes for something," Rarity said. Since she occasionally gave the alicorn filly lessons in being a proper mare, she wanted to apply one of her past teachings that a child would, of course, not often remember. But in a selfish manner she would refuse admitting, she didn't want to revisit two tragic stories in one night, having recalled the visions she and the Mane 6 shared when Tails and Cosmo opened themselves up to their past a few months back.

"I agree," Twilight said. "We should all get some rest for the Games tomorrow. I'm sorry you came in so late to join us, Shining Armor and Cadance. I guess we could've waited longer before talking-"

"Don't worry about it, Twilight. You know that Skyla comes first for us now, so we'll just have to try and join you again tomorrow," said Cadance.

Jason, stretching out his back for a moment, followed that with "I think some sleep sounds good right now. Today has been quite eventful, and we all should get rested up to watch what kind of competition ponies have."

"Or you want to get to sleep early and wake up earlier to practice," Yumi stated.

"Actually, we have more than enough time to practice for our concert. I just want to check out Celestia and Luna trade off the sun and moon. We didn't get to see that happen last time we were here," he replied in full admittance.

"Then I guess it's settled," Shining Armor said. "I'll get the guards to escort you to your rooms."

Yugi put his hand up in a motion to stop the stallion from carrying through his offer. He then said "Thanks, but you don't need to waste their time with that. We remember where our rooms are at."

"Thank you for the kind offer," Cream said sweetly, with Cheese adding "Chao-chao!"

"Of course," Cadance replied.

"Alright, let's get going. I want to check on Spike anyway," said Twilight, who said the latter sentence with remorse from the events that took place earlier. She didn't like how he kept himself isolated from everyone since dinner and wanted to see if he was feeling any better, and hopefully not worse. 

The group exchanged their goodnights with each other and left the living room to their own suites. The massive group divided in half after exiting the living room, each group dispersing after each door they passed. One of the groups consisted as the Mane 6, minus Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, and half of Team Sonic, including Tails and Cosmo, with the Mobian couple and Sparkle family the last to separate. The four exchanged their goodnights again, the two ponies being very grateful again, and then went into their respective rooms. Twilight and Nyx found Spike in his bed, already fast asleep in a curled ball on his bed, so the purple mare couldn't check on him until morning, and just tucked her daughter in bed before going to sleep herself.

As she began to drift off into sleep, she thought back on how her best friends from beyond her own dimension being so kind to Nyx, and how lucky she was to have such wonderful friends in both them and all of their friends that heard Nyx's history. But another thought began to surface, a thought from when they all were in that room to talk, and who was right next to her during her telling of the story. The last thing on Twilight's mind as she drifted into sleep was the loyal support of Rainbow Dash.