Two years after Nyx was stripped of the Nightmare's power, Twilight Sparkle is attempting to raise Nyx as a normal filly. But as Nyx's magical abilities begin to grow out of her control, the pair quickly earn the attention and ire of some powerful ponies who do not have Nyx's best interests in-mind.
During the night, the Elements of Harmony mysteriously vanish, and Princess Celestia enlists the aid of their bearers to find them. Twilight is forced to choose between her duties to her princess and her duties to her daughter. In the process, she discovers a web of conspiracy surrounding her daughter that reaches back a thousand years into Equestrian history. Will Twilight be prepared to face the things she learns along her journey's path: about Nyx, about Celestia, about Equestria, about the Elements...
...about herself?
Based on Past Sins by Pen Stroke Pony.
Alternate universe, because Twilight never became an alicorn or princess in this story.
i haven't actually read this yet ( ill add another comment when i do0 but your first attempt at a fanfic is a sequel to my all time favorite fanfic ( of any fandom) and you are tracking "eternal" ( the best ponyfic that is still currently being written. ) suffice to say you have my attention and i will definitely track this
Okay... I'm interested to see where this goes. But I really hope your story continues to be this well written. I am extremely fond of past sins and I'm not to happy about some of the sequels(that shall not be named) that popped up. Here's hoping you'll be the one to finally pull it off.
the amount of "not so good" Past sins sequels makes me a little skeptical about reading this.. but i'll give it a try and see if it's worth following.
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Hmm, I am definitely interested, but I have a question.
If I recall correctly, Twilight and Nyx were supposed to be back in ponyville by sundown, but Twilight spent the night at her parents' house it seems.
So maybe I'm missing something, but what happened to Nyx in this time-frame?
Tracking because interest, I think this is the 70th story I am tracking.
I concur with SoulWinds. You have a lot to live up to with this fic, mate--best of luck.
looks interesting.
You got my track.
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Nyx went home to Ponyville.
Some of you mention other sequels to Past Sins. I searched here on FIMF for sequels before I started writing this, but I couldn't find any. Even the original novel (which I found via a friend on deviantART) isn't on here. Can someone point me in the direction of a few?
Also, I'm going to be regularly checking my blog on FIMF for comments and suggestions. As onlyanorthernsong pointed out, this is my first attempt at writing a fanfiction (my usual fare is papers for scientific journals). Indeed, this is my first attempt at writing any fiction. That said, I read Past Sins, loved it, and had to write the continuation that formed in my mind. Ergo, Absent.
Constructive criticism is always welcome!
I'm doing this for the enjoyment of everyone here, after all.
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The only sequel I know of on this site is Point of No Return.
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I don't think they were on this site. I probably found them on some blog etc. I can't really remember
Well, you've definitely peaked my interest. I shall track this for the time being.
Now that I have read through it a few times, it is time to point out one thing I feel should be addressed at some point if you were not planning on it.
Celestia seems, at least from the perspective we have been given, to have taken a less forgiving view of Nyx than was presented at the end of Past Sins. So either showing that her disposition has not infact worsed or explaining why it has at some point would be a good idea.
EDIT:
And props for including Twilight's parents. Many fics tend to ignore their existance (likely due to a lack of appearances in the show).
There's another fic somewhere that I've seen as somewhat of a sequel but I cannot remember wtf it's called. If I come across it any time I'll be sure to link it as well. Back to the topic matter though, I'll read this as soon as I get the chance. I'll agree that Past Sins is definitely one of my all time faves so I hope this will be amazing as well.
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Hrm... Good point.
I'll make an effort to remedy this in one of the following chapters. In my story outline, I actually have one "chapter" (you'll understand the quotes when it's written and uploaded) narrated from the viewpoint of Celestia. I think this would be a good place for some explanation.
Although the end of Past Sins is up to individual interpretation, by Pen Stroke's own admission, my hope is that people will notice a significant difference between Celestia's attitude at the end of that and the beginning of this (so, kudos for pointing this out). I'm hesitant to explain why Celestia seems a bit colder toward Nyx right now, because that may (or may not, no spoilers, ha ha ha!) give away an integral part of the plot. Trust me, you'll understand everything in-time... I hope.
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Glad to hear there are plans to make the reason known to readers when it is appropriate.
Edited for spelling corrections and formatting issues. It should look much better now than it did before when downloaded as an EPUB file.
For those of you who haven't kept up with this story's blog, Chapter 2 should be up within a few days, five tops. It's taking longer than I thought to get it up to my standard. Sorry for the wait!
MMMOOOAAARRR!!!!
pls?
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LOL Don't worry, more is certainly on the way! Actually, I plan to upload Chapter 2 either later today or tomorrow morning. I have a working draft ready now, but I really don't like how one of the interior scenes is coming out. Much facehoofing and headdesking has ensued...
"I’m not going anywhere,” Rarity quipped curtly. Twilight flinched. I should have been expecting Rarity to be overly dramatic about having to stay behind. It’s Rarity.
Thoughts should be in italics.
---------------------------------------------
Poor Twilight, she is having a very bad week. And
is scary angry. Looking forward to the next part.
really nice read. Celestia must be really badly caught between her jobs as Equestria's ruler and her student's life.
uhm three ponies who don’t fear or malign her? three Ponies who like her?
Luna, Cherilee, Twilight, Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell, Apple Bloom, Twist, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie makes 12.
Luna, Cherilee and Twilight are most likely the ones you mean since they where confirmed for this in this Story.
Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell, Apple Bloom and Twist where her best friends in Past Sins and there where no signs that that changed.
Fluttershy reassured Nyx in the battle of Ponyville and is Twilights friend. Hay she stared down some Lupus Minors to save Nyx.
Rarity was with Twilight in this chapter and didn't hesitate a second to help.
Rainbow dash went ALONE into the castle to search for Nyx, that doesn't sound like fear or malign to me ...
Pinkie Pie ... is Pinkie Pie.
AppleJack is a friend of Twilight and the sister of Applebloom i highly doubt that she has anything against Nyx, but ... with her that’s the most uncertain because i can see that she afraid that Nyx accidentally hurts Apple Bloom, but then i think Scootaloo is bigger danger in that area with her ideas for Cutie Marks.
I usually turn up my nose at first sight of fan-fanfiction. Usually it's full of self-insertion and wishful thinking, stuff I didn't see here.
Doesn't seem to be the case with Absent. Great job on the first chapter, I'll be tracking!
Twilight SOOOOOOOOOOOO should have rage-shifted again after Celestia told her to forget Nyx.
And she doesn't call her on it at all? I don't think so, sorry... but you broke from the character you set up earlier in this chapter.
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If you pay attention, you will notice it is Twilight thinking (needs to be italized). She is having a bad week, and is shown on multiple occations to not thinking straight.
EDIT
I see, there are two places that specify there being only three. The first is Twilight thinking to herself, the next time it is stated directly. But the point is that is what Twilight is thinking and not necessarily fact.
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What purpose would calling Celestia out serve except to waste more time that could be spent searching for Nyx?
It seems, at least to me, like Celestia knows Something! Currently Twilight doesn't have much in the way of leads, so anything would be more than what she currently has.
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Twilight did ask and seems to suspect, but it is just as obvious from Celestia's response that she is unwilling to tell.
I'll pity the poor poor pony that tries to stop Twilight.
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I used normal typeface intentionally for Twilight's thoughts there. It's the currently accepted convention for omniscient, third-person fiction that italics be used for a character's thoughts only when the thought spans more than one paragraph. Otherwise, the point-of-view of the paragraph (in this case, third-person POV through Twilight's perspective) should already be apparent when it shifts to a character's thoughts. Other narrative styles might do it differently.
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To help somepony isn't evidence that the pony isn't feared. Several of Twilight's friends and other residents of Ponyville eventually helped Nyx at the end of Past Sins, but there is no evidence that they don't fear Nyx. Also keep in-mind that this story takes place two years after Past Sins. A lot can change in that amount of time, especially when it comes to emotions.
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Twilight did call the princess out on it. Re-read the final scene. Pay especially close attention to how Twilight's reactions and emotions change as she attempts to get answers from Celestia. As for rage-shifting a second time, I thought it was pretty obvious that Twilight was in no condition to do that again (remember that this shift is a subconscious one; she has no control over it, even in canon). Celestia used some sort of magical overload spell to force Twilight's magic (and, hence, rage-mode) to collapse, knocking her out in the process, I might add...
I'm scared of Twilight now, and she doesn't even exist in this universe.
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Yes, she was in good scary form. All that is missing is her saying something properly creepy like the Twilight in Backwards Through the Mirror does to a pair of muggers that attack Rarity. Of course that would require some level of self control...
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LOL
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Unfortunately, regardless of intellect, pony with emotions + missing offspring + possible peril =
To everypony: For future reference, I'll be posting chapter update info to the blog instead of the story comments.
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"Past Sins" is my favorite My Little Pony Fanfic, as well. I have not read "Eternal" but will look into it. Thanks!
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Yep, it is a shame. But maybe someday she will the trick to being flame-maned and coherent. Then the target(s) of her wrath will be really terrified.
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I dunno... I think I might be a bit more terrified if she wasn't in control of her faculties. When she's thinking straight, she had a conscience.
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Though if she has the REALLY angry look then it would appear that she is very close to loosing control and acting upon any threats she makes. If she has lost all control then would the subject of her ire be around long enough to be properly afraid?
Kind of the difference between an errupting volcano and one that is showing every sign of going off at any moment. You do not want to be around either of them.
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True, true. Although, I'd prefer to avoid the wrath of Twilight under any circumstances. Peeing oneself in terror isn't the most socially acceptable behaviour.
So don't go telling her about how I was staring at her flank at Pinkie Pie's last party... Kay?
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Depends on the interpertation of Twilight whether or not she would take that baddly.
Twilight does seem very dangerous when she loses control of her temper.
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Coming up next: 101 ways to make a royal guard soil their armour using only a Twilight Sparkle!
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For how many of those is she just a unicorn and not something... else?
Like an alicorn?
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Alicorn Twilight Sparkle? No! Shh! That is legend...
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*in conspiratorial wisper*
One that makes guards soil their armour at the mere mention of it I take it?
Or is it a plot
to keep her from learning the truth? 
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The truth? You can't handle the truth!
Naw, the "legend" bit was a quote by Billy Witchdoctor from Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
I know way too many movie/tv quotes.
Aaaaaand Chapter 3 is now up!
This one took much longer to write than I predicted. Some of that was due to health issues last week. The rest was because the chapter turned out to be way longer than I planned. I think it came out all right, though.
The plot thickens...
plot thickens indeed. story pacing really good so far. really want next chapter to come sooner
Poor Twilight. Things just keep getting worse for her.
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Sorry it takes so long between updates, but I'd really rather spend more time writing something you'll enjoy instead of slapping together a pile of horseapples in a hurry. My hope (that's the key word here) is that I'll update twice per month, or roughly once every two weeks. Beware the Ides of March! 
I'm glad you're enjoying it.
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Don't worry, though. It gets better for her... and worse... kinda... 
Yeah, I started feeling pretty awful for her, too, while writing this chapter.
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But if better means she has some reason to believe Nyx is alive, then at least she will be enough better to have a reason to live.
Is this (kind of) the poster Pinkie had?
fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/078/f/5/pinkie_pie_is_watching_you____by_kefkafloyd-d3by3pd.png