(Takes place prior to any of the events in "Nightmare Knights". Proofread by Smity91 on Fanfiction.net)

Having been freed from limbo, Stygian has spent his days as a reclusive author publishing his auto-biography. But now he's decided the time has finally come for him to do what he should've done a long time ago, tell Somnambula that he loves her.

Somnambula, meanwhile, is still struggling with the death of Prince Hisan and the fact that she wasn't there to say goodbye to him. So when Stygian shows up in her village, she is simply glad to see a friendly face.

But even if Stygian confesses, does Somnambula love him back? And if so, is it possible for them to make a relationship work despite the obstacles and the hardships?

The Six Pillars have returned to a modern Equestria, and managed to find a place to settle while they rebuilt their lives a thousand years in the future. Well, most of them; while most of the Pillars have made peace with Stygian, for some reason Rockhoof opens each day by commanding Stygian to fight him! Stygian is running out of excuses, and running out of patience! Will these two be able to work out their differences, or will the tiny Stygian have to battle the burly Rockhoof for dominance?!

Rockhoof x Stygian romance, written for the Rare Pairings Pillars Shipping Contest! https://www.fimfiction.net/group/215872/rare-pairings/thread/472953/pillars-shipping-contest

Displaced from time and no longer the villainous Pony of Shadows, many in Modern Equestria know Stygian as a thrice renowned author. This, however, is a partial truth.

After a chance encounter with Stygian at a local antique shop, Sunburst comes to learn that his publications aren’t all that he expected. Feeling Stygian has not been truly represented by his books, Sunburst offers to aid in translating his revised autobiography — a task that just might liberate Stygian from an oppressive past and show him a kind future is possible.

However, the rewards of acceptance can only come at the risk of being known.

A story about stories, self-authorship, and the endurance of love.

Now retired from being a princess, Luna is free to pursue her interests: Chief among them reading. So imagine her surprise when she stumbles across a book written by none other than Stygian, a book specifically recounting the story of his past as The Pony of Shadows.

Naturally, Luna is quite intrigued by such a story and feels that she has a connection with the former scholar. So she decides to pay him a visit and have a little chat.

Stygian, for his part, is always thrilled to talk with fans of his work. But little does he suspect that Luna and him will share in some very personal feelings, feelings about the past and how it can shape one's present and future. As well as what it truly means to have once been "evil".

My entry to the Pillars Shipping Contest.

Stygian sought to improve his own magic, to help and protect others. But in doing so, he created the Pony of Shadows, and for a thousand years, he was trapped within his own madness. Now released, along with his friends, he must face up to his past mistakes. Fortunately, he will soon learn that he is not the only one to fall to darkness, and in doing so, discover the path to a mutual redemption.

Stygian, still haunted by his past, looks deep inside himself to find out exactly what led him to become the Pony of Shadows. If friendship really is magic, how is it that his friends couldn't have saved him without Twilight and her friends intervening? How did his inner darkness convince him to turn evil? Was he really so wrong in what he did if there is no light without darkness? This origin story provides all these questions with an answer.

Cover art is an edit of P2P: The Pillars by SambaNeko.

https://www.deviantart.com/sambaneko/art/P2P-The-Pillars-796228634

Gustave le Grand will cater anywhere.

Anywhere.

Entry into the Season 9 Bingo Contest! Thanks to Overkenzie for proofreading, and the title.

Stygian returns home to the love of his life.

An entry into the Quills and Sofas Speedwriting G is for Gay contest.

An entry into The Pillars Shipping Contest.

Unsettling tales tell of a gilded pastry box that holds more than mere sweets. Legends whisper that it is, instead, a gateway to unnameable vistas of culinary experience—and that it wishes to be opened by a pony of comparable desire. What will become of Equestria’s blood sugar when a pony of means and passion comes to possess it?

Created for: The Season 10 Bingo Writing Contest

Special Thanks to CoffeeMinion for his editing prowess.

The Cover Art is a compilation created by CoffeeMinion.

Original images are from:
https://www.deviantart.com/sol-r/art/Sad-Pony-Emoji-676492582
And
https://www.deviantart.com/artist064/art/Lament-Configuration-06-129832435

Stygian's side of the story was never told. He was never called Stygian. He was called a monster.

It's getting harder to escape his shadow.

Written for this contest: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/214288/folder/70810/write-off-entries-nightmare-night-in-april-2020