Chapter Eighteen
Recovery
The difference between success and failure
is often irrational perseverance.
July, 1012 - December, 1012
Equestria
I did everything I could. I did everything that was reasonable… and quite a number of unreasonable things, as well. It seemed like everypony else handled the situation much better than I did, and I think that made me feel even worse. I was the one that severed the chain between us. I was the broken link.
I don't think I could remember every dip and curve of the emotional roller-coaster I rode for the next several months if I tried. But there were moments I'll never forget. Moments that made a difference.
= = =
"Do you think I did wrong when I banished Luna?" Celestia asked me, about a week after my return. We sat on a cloud high above Ponyville, where she had joined me after lowering the sun.
I wasn't as impartial a judge as I had once been on that subject, but it was hard to find fault with her actions in the matter. I had seen for myself that she had only used the Elements as a last resort.
"No," I admitted. "I can't see what else you could have done."
"I could have surrendered to her, Twilight. I could have given her the kingdom. You've told me what Equestria under her rule would have been like, and it doesn't seem so very terrible."
I knew she was following that line of reasoning just to make a point, so I went with it. It felt like I was back in school practicing logic and debate, and that was actually comforting. "No. Even if she accepted your surrender instead of... well, you know. Maybe most ponies wouldn't have suffered much physical harm under her rule, but they would have been harder and colder, less trusting and open. There is value in quality of life as well as quantity. And, anyway, back then you had no way of knowing Luna wouldn't cause great harm. What you did wasn't good for Luna, but it was good for most ponies."
"So, perhaps my failing was not realizing how neglected and lonely Luna had become?"
I considered it. "Maybe. But the Elements did not break their connection to you before it was too late. When Luna… went wild, they were still bound to you. It was the banishment that severed the bond."
"So the act that the Elements considered my failing was using them?"
I frowned. "That doesn't make sense. As far as I can tell, the Elements do the best thing they can to restore Harmony, or they don't act at all. How could they blame you for letting them make the judgment?"
Celestia nodded and smiled. "Because, even though I blamed myself, that would be unfair, wouldn't it? It would be punishing an already remorseful and grieving pony."
"But they did."
Celestia's horn glowed softly, and tiny wisps of cloud beneath us swirled up and transformed into a chessboard with fluffy little pieces. She'd often done this sort of thing when I'd been her protege: a continuation of our discussion, not an abandonment. She had placed the white pieces on my side, so I obliged by making the first move. We played in silence for a while, until I realized that she had made a bad blunder. Unless she could pull off something spectacular, I was going to easily win the game.
"Check," I announced, moving my dragon into a position that threatened her princess.
She nodded and moved her remaining knight clear across the board, blocking my threat and establishing a fork on my rook and princess. "Check," she said calmly, as if she hadn't made a blatantly illegal move.
"You can't do that!" I protested.
"I just did."
"I mean, it's against the rules," I clarified, knowing she was leading up to something.
"Oh, didn't I mention it?" She smiled slyly. "There are secret rules you don't know about."
I tipped over my princess. "Alright. I've lost the game. It's according to the rules, but it isn't fair." I looked up at her. "But what do I do now? I've lost, and starting a new game would be pointless unless I know the 'secret' rules."
Celestia got to her hooves and swept the board and pieces into mist with a flick of her wingtip. "Consider a different game."
To anypony watching, the conversation would have been puzzling to say the least, but not to me. It was the closest Celestia would come to saying, "It was something that was bound to happen sooner or later. Get over it and move on. I did."
If only it were that easy. Celestia, who seemed to be the pinnacle of perfection to most ponies, had failed many, many times in her long life. To her, winning in the long run[1] was all that mattered. Unfortunately for me, I didn't have a few millennia of experience as a buffer.
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[1] A little family argument with her sister took a thousand years to resolve. No big deal.
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= = =
There were good days and bad days. My determination to move on made the bad ones fewer and easier to bear.
It wasn't hard to keep busy. There was the political chess game against Chrysalis and her allies, the refit of Nebula, and the preparations for pirate hunting to keep me busy when nothing else was pressing.
To add even more complications to the mix, my secretary, Periwinkle, came into my study one morning and announced that there was a strange zebra in the audience chamber that wished to speak with me.
"Please rise," I said as I entered the chamber. "How may I help… Ket?"
"Good morning, Your Highness," she said, rising from her bow. "It is good to see you again."
I really didn't think I needed more changelings in my life right then, but I found myself smiling, anyway. We hugged and exchanged pleasantries, then settled in with some tea and snacks in a smaller side-chamber that was much more cozy.
"What brings you here?" I asked.
"Queen Csharreee sent me with information, an offer, and a gift," she replied. "This is the information." She passed over a thick scroll in a leather cover, and continued, "It is a summary of all the intelligence we have on Chrysalis' operations, both within Equestria and abroad."
I briefly skimmed the small, neat writing, taking care not to physically touch the case. Just that quick look told me that it contained invaluable information. "This is extremely generous, Ket."
"Not at all, Your Highness," she replied. "We realize that if Chrysalis achieves her goals, our hive will be at a huge disadvantage, and Chrysalis is not the forgiving sort. Queen Csharreee considers this a matter of survival."
"Then what Csharreee is offering must be an alliance above and beyond our current treaty."
Khaatarrekket gave a small nod. "A clandestine arrangement to our mutual benefit."
"I will have to consult with Celestia and Luna about this," I told her. "But I think they will be… receptive."
"Of course." Ket nodded again. "And that brings me to the gift." Her zebra disguise dropped away in a flash of green fire. She lifted her right fore hoof and placed it across her chest, bowing deeply. "I am yours to command."
"Huh? You mean Csharreee is offering me your services?"
"More than that, Your Highness," she said, not rising from her bow. "Her Majesty is offering you me. If you accept, I will no longer be a subject of the Desert Hive. Your interests shall be my foremost duty, even should they run counter to those of Queen Csharreee."
I should have outright refused. It smacked of slavery. I said as much to Ket, and she said that service freely and gladly given couldn't be considered such. We went back and forth for a long while after that, and it all wound up with Ket being entered in the castle register as an employee with a set salary, benefits, and vacation plan.
"And, unless we're in a formal setting, you should call me by my name, understood?"
"Of course, Twilight Sparkle."
It still felt weird. Technically she was a servant or employee, but I couldn't really think of Ket as anything but a friend.
= = =
After her refit, Nebula was taken out for a shakedown cruise. If all went according to plan, we wouldn't go back on the trade routes until spring, but there were several short-haul jobs we could take on in the meantime.
I met Gudgeon at the airship docks in Canterlot, and was surprised to find Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash already aboard. Well, Dash wasn't much of a surprise; she had joined Rarity in expressing eagerness to "kick some pirate rump." I took her aside when Fluttershy went topside to inspect the cupola.
"Do you think you should have brought her here, Dash? It's got to be dredging up awful memories for her."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "She's the one who insisted, Twi! She was all, 'They just don't understand her like I do!' and 'They won't talk to her the way she likes!' She's really nutso about it!"
"Alright, but keep an eye on her and make sure she's doing okay, would you?"
"You mean Fluttershy, or Nebula?"
I tried to smack her upside the head with my wing, but she ducked away and laughed.
Ket came aboard also, and at my insistence, she did so undisguised. She followed Gudgeon around, absorbing as much about airship operations as she could. During a free moment, she commented to me, "That old pony certainly loves his job."
I didn't ask if that sort of love was of particular interest to her.
After the cruise out to Ponyville and back, I worked out a schedule to keep our hooves in as part-time aeronauts without taking too much of our time away from our normal jobs. We decided that if the gang rotated as crew on a triangle route from Canterlot to Los Pegasus to Van Hoover and back, it wouldn't keep any of us from home for more than a few days, but it would still keep our skills sharp and turn a modest profit.
Several of our crew from the first voyage had decided that they'd rather work for a less "interesting" owner, but most of them were willing to sign on again, especially for an easy domestic route.
= = =
"Luna?"
Luna was wonderful. She seemed to know when I needed company and when I needed to be alone. She also knew exactly how to be alone together.
She was such a huge help and comfort to me that I'm afraid I depended on her too much. I was so wrapped up in my own situation that I really didn't pay enough attention to how she was feeling.
Late one night, when Hearth's Warming was fast approaching, I returned to the Tower of the Moon after an extended research session with Moon Dancer and Starlight Glimmer. I found Luna leaning on the rail of the topmost balcony, gazing at the waning crescent moon, softly humming a slow, sad tune under her breath. I was shocked by how sad she looked. She didn't answer me when I first spoke, so I called out to her again.
"Luna?"
She gave a little start and turned her head to look at me. "Ah, Twilight. Forgive me. I was lost in thought and did not hear you come in. How went it with the books?" She smiled, but it was unconvincing.
"Really well," I replied, levitating my saddlebags over to a side table. "I think we may have come up with a way to help counter Chrysalis' influence."
Luna nodded, and turned back to the moon. "That's well."
I walked out onto the balcony and sat down beside her. "What's wrong?"
She didn't answer right away, but eventually dropped her gaze and said, "Naught but a little melancholy. Perhaps 'tis the season."
I leaned over and kissed her cheek. "How can I help?
She put a wing over my back and leaned her cheek against mine. "Just be with me."
Maybe it was true. Maybe it was her comforting me again. I wasn't sure. "What were you singing when I came in?"
Her eyes widened a bit. "Oh, that? 'Twas nothing. An old tune that came to mind."
"Will you sing it for me?"
Luna shook her head. "'Tis a sad song of winter. Not one to lift the spirits."
"We can be sad together," I said, only half kidding, and nudged her.
She arched her neck and turned her head so that she could look into my eyes. After a moment, she said, "Very well," and began to sing.
"Wynter wakeneth al my care,
"Nou this leves waxeth bare;
"Ofte I sike ant mourne sare
"When hit cometh in my thoght
"Of this worldes joie, hou hit goth al to noht."[2]
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[2] Winter awakens all my sorrow,
Now the leaves grow bare.
Often I sigh and mourn sorely
When it comes into my thoughts
Of this world's joy, how it all goes to nothing.
----------
Well, I'd asked for it. It was a sentiment that had been weighing heavily on my mind lately. Thankfully, she stopped after the first verse and we held each other tightly and cried on each other's necks.
Weirdly, we both felt a little better after that.
And that was what made me look back on my actions of the last few months with a critical eye. I didn't like what I saw. I decided it was time to buck myself into shape, and the first thing I was going to do was to make sure all of my friends knew how much I appreciated and valued them, particularly after all they had put up with from me.
I worked my tail off in the next week, and it was kind of amazing how happy everypony seemed to be. And it wasn't just the visits, presents, and helping hooves. I think it was relief on their part that I seemed to be coming out of my funk.
And then there was Luna.
I thought long and hard about our relationship and came to a decision. I made a plan, and the first step was a visit to the Canterlot Conservatory of Music.
= = =
On Hearth's Warming Eve, I arranged to be with Luna when she ushered in the night. Afterwards, we lingered on the balcony to admire the lanterns, strings of colored lights, and decorations in the city below.
"Oh, look!" I said, as nonchalantly as possible. "There's a group of carolers in the Lotus Garden!"
We shifted over to watch the dozen or so ponies arrange themselves facing the tower. Luna shot me a questioning glance, but I pretended not to notice.
As soon as they began to sing, it was obvious that they weren't amateurs, and what they sang certainly wasn't a traditional carol.
"Regal beauty grace our land,
"Noble power, pure and grand.
"Fledged with shadow, crowned with the night,
"Darkness flowing, bearing starlight.
"Hail, Goddess of the Night!
"True Goddess of the Night!"
"Pearlescent orb that rules the night,
"Who keeps thee steady in thy flight?
"To light our way with softest glow,
"Through silver fretted lands below.
"Hail, Warden of the Moon!
"Pure Warden of the Moon!"
"Royal princess prowls the Dreamlands,
"Against terrors, mighty stands.
"We slumber, safe beneath her gaze.
"Her courage now we rightly praise.
"Hail, Defender of Our Dreams!
"Fierce Defender of Our Dreams!"
"Regal beauty, grace our land,
"Noble power, pure and grand.
"Fledged with shadow, crowned with the night,
"Darkness flowing, bearing starlight.
"Hail, Goddess of the Night!
"Our Goddess of the Night!"
The singers all bowed deeply at the end of the piece. The look on Luna's face was worth every bit of the ten thousand I'd spent commissioning the composer and hiring the singers to perform it all over the city.
It took her a moment to find her voice, and when she did it was precise and formal. But for all that, it bore an unmistakable affection. "Our gentle and gracious subjects, We thank you for your pleasing performance and give unto you a token of Our regard for your masterful skill in song."
Luna's horn lit and her magic sparkled on the foreheads of the ponies below. When they rose, they each wore a circlet of silver, studded with fire opals, and fashioned to look like a wreath of laurel leaves framing a central crescent moon.
There were heartfelt cheers and a few shouts of "Long live Princess Luna!" Then they trotted briskly out of the garden. It wasn't long before we heard the song again, echoing up from Parliament Square. Those ponies had amazing voices.
"You do not fool me, Twilight Sparkle," Luna said, after a long while. "I see your hoof in this."
"Oh, I admit I got the ball rolling, but you know I'm hopeless with poetry and music. I left it all to Grand Crescendo." I stepped toward her and lifted a wingtip to caress her cheek. "It certainly was an inspired composition." I kissed her. "Inspired by you."
She kissed me back, and her cool mane flowed over my neck and shoulders, tingling where the stars touched me.
I lit my horn and stroked her… well, let's just say that things went on that way until we found ourselves in the bed chamber.
"What shall I be for thee tonight, my love?" Luna asked as we tumbled onto the bed. "How shall I please thee?" I could feel the shape-changing magic rising into her horn.
"You," I said. "I want only… thee as thou art. None can compare to the great and glorious Princess of the Night, and tonight all shall be as thou desirest."
She hesitated, her ears flickering back. "But… surely thou dost not wish me to remain..." She glanced back over her shoulder to where her tail swished nervously. "...entirely as I am?"
"I do. With all my heart, I do!" And I proceeded to prove it.
We forgot to open our presents.
= = =
It was a simple decision. There comes a time when the happiness of the pony you love becomes more important than your own. What surprised me was how quickly her happiness infected me, and how our shared happiness quickly became something greater than the sum of its parts.
Perhaps I was fooling myself all along? Maybe when a lover can take any shape, shape becomes less important. Or can "nurture" overcome nature? And if that's so, can determination overcome destiny?
At that point, I simply didn't care that I no longer had an arcane piece of furniture and a glowing flank to chart my course through life. I was determined to make my own way.
It's really too bad that that way led straight to the end of the world.
= = =
=
Side effects of dark magic may include mania, lock jaw, enhanced night vision, resistance to sunburn, sudden death of all who oppose you, destruction of the world as we know it, and sensitive hooves. Consult your doctor before using dark magic.
But... But I like the dark magic.
Man this is good. Read it all yesterday and now this chapter is out. Chapters are almost too short!
Love the Twiluna in this chapter. Eager to see more dark magic Twilight. Hoping it all turns out ok.
Keep up the good work!
I have two theories about the Elements abandoning them, aside from the whole "my evil actions make me unworthy" thing which I don't buy for a second: The Mane 6, and particularly Twilight, have become powerful enough in their own right to fulfill their destinies and bring Harmony to the world without the Elements' help, and so the Elements have gone dormant again to await new bearers. The other theory is an uncommon fantasy trope: since Twilight believes she is unworthy, the Elements have found her unfit to lead them. When Twilight knows, and genuinely believes, that some of her actions are regrettable but necessary, ESPECIALLY in a world with true Evil, capital E, then she will be worthy to wield the Elements with conviction once again. It was easy when everything they did was considered "Good" by the majority of ponies, but you can't be constantly second-guessing yourself when being the good-guy leads you into a moral gray area.
end of the world huh
Twilight needs one of those school program pencils that says "Too cool to do dark magic." But they print it the wrong way so when you sharpen it it says "cool to do dark magic."
Dark Magic, not even once!
Or they don't act at all.
...and her cool mane flowed over my neck and shoulders,
6969189 Actually, it's more like, the more you sharpen it, the more the message changes. The best ones will change the message a lot the more you sharpen it.
"Too cool to do dark magic"
"cool to do dark magic"
"do dark magic"
"dark magic"
"magic"
Whoever invented those pencils clearly had something to say, and it's pretty subversive...
6969158 I also agree. Considering that Celestia's solution when it happened was apparently, "Get over it, move on," then it appears that she emotionally and intellectually agreed with the change. At the very least, she never found herself worthy in her own eyes of deserving to wield the Elements again.
But I'd argue, given Sunset Shimmer in the Equestria Girls movies as an example, even if you've walked the dark path, there's nothing saying you can't prove yourself worthy again in the future. She-Demon to Daydream Shimmer in about a year is a pretty strong indication that Harmony has infinite capacity to forgive.
6968969
Brought to us by the same people who brought us Azerath, Metrion, and blue Zinthos? :D
At first, the story altening between past and present made me a bit skeptical, but with the latest chapters I am starting to see the interest. The way you use the past as a way to explain future events is brilliant.
I'm afraid that I'm in a bit of a hurry at present and don't have much detailed commentary, but I'm continuing to enjoy this story. :)
6969520
Fix'd, thanks!
I found a typo.
Fixed.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the more I consider the actions of the Elements of Harmony in canon, the more I am convinced Eakin (in Hard Rest et al) was right abot them. They're either an unreliable automated system or one of more judgemental (and/or lazy or arrogant elitiest) arses.
6971817 Another possibility is that it's meant as a passive positive-reward system. In essence, as long as the individual is focused on using the power to achieve a positive goal for a positive reason, who they were matters less than who they might be. In that sense, it could be used to reform otherwise evil and/or misled people. If anyone can channel it as long as they are doing so for the right reason, it encourages those people to pursue the kind of path which would allow them to channel it more in the future. Those who are unwilling, or unable to pursue the kind of moral path the power requires will take themselves out of consideration automatically, through their own choices. By that same token, they could still qualify in the future if they decided otherwise.
A possible reason I could see Celestia deciding not to pursue the matter, even if she suspects what the solution is, is that being a ruler requires her to make decisions which aren't necessarily in the best interests of everyone. Sometimes she has to prioritize, and decide who is more important, or which unfair decision she has to allow to stand, for whatever reason. And that runs contrary to the purpose of the Elements. In that context, it makes far more sense to entrust them to champions who live in her nation, rather than try to control them herself. That said, she's not stupid, and tries to ensure they'll be used in a way she prefers by training the likeliest candidate for the critical central element bearer herself. From her perspective, the crisis is because Twilight made a snap decision entirely within her rights as a princess of Equestria, which happens to run counter to what the Elements stand for. Basically the same choice she made. The real question here is if Celestia is right, or if it's possible to be both Princess and Element bearer. If Twilight can find a new middle ground, she might figure out how to do that.
6972489 The problem with that it is basically still makes the Elements and Harmony itself dubious. It may explain why they cease to work in certain situations, but it doesn't excuse why those judgements were put in in the first place.
It's still either down to it being an unintelligent system that cannot, in practise, cope with the real world (because Harmony doesn't work all the time - see Sombra) or it is, or is run by, someone who is kind of a [Richard] who snaps people off as soon as they don't hold to it's capricious standards... While at the same time not getting off it's own arse to fix things.
(And if it truly cannot actually intervene itself (which, considering table/castle/box/keys, I VERy strongly doubt), it should be making a DAMN sight more effort to actually get its avatars involved in fixing things a frack-ton earlier before it escalates to the point people start having to do things it doesn't like.)
6972489
6972705
This is a great discussion and some excellent points are being made by both of you!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who obsesses over things like this!
The TwiLuna is strong with this chapter. I wholeheartedly approve!
End of the world? As in really far away or the destruction?
6972791 Ooh. That would be quite a nice play on words, wouldn't it? If we assume from narrator-Twilight that she meant the end of Equestria, and actually she was messing with us, by referring to the far end of Equestria. We'll see, I guess. :)
6972705 Given the peculiarly mechanistic nature of the astral environment Twilight found herself in when she Ascended (which was either always there, or a something Celestia whipped up entirely herself for her student's benefit,) and the fact that the Tree seems to work on an action/reaction basis, I'd argue that it's a form of intelligent interference, but it's not animal interference.
Hold on a second while I explain that. The Tree of Harmony is either some kind of sentient crystal, or a very weird form of plantlife. It doesn't think like an animal of any kind would. To a tree, harmony isn't about Good vs. Evil, or Light vs. Darkness. It's about the balance in the world around you which allows all life to flourish and grow without being impeded by life-threatening events. In essence, to a tree, Harmony is a naturalistic viewpoint which champions the concept of everything being in balance, both within the individual, and with everything they interact with.
A sentient tree, creating either magical trinkets, or a direct connection to a handful of avatars, will still be advancing a world-centric, or nature-centric perspective. It's filtered, however, through the perceptions of the ponies in question, because at a basic instinctual level, only the ponies will really understand what constitutes an upheaval in animal-level harmony. Which is why the tree would have to depend on the mindset of the wielders. It can't really understand animals, because it isn't an animal. It promotes "Gaia"-level harmony on a planetary scale, but has to depend on the wielders to know what that means to each of them. So when one of them acts in a way which causes them great internal mental and emotional conflict, the Tree has to give them space to figure out their own heads and hearts. Because until they find their own inner harmony again, the Tree can't understand them.
Well, that was sweet. Why do I feel like this is the calm before an even bigger storm? (Aside from the obvious, that is.)
6972823
Which brings us back to the point wherin it should not be relied on or trusted except as a last resort (and certainly not given the moral weight it is given by the show and characters), because it simply cannot comprehend sentient/sapient creatures, whether because it is essentially some sort of magic AI or something just nearly completely alien. It's definitely not acting, then, with the best interests of anypony - or anyone else - in mind, since it can't if it cannot grasp sentience/sapience.
Especially if it is being "naturalistic." Nature is NOT a balance[1] - that's a human misconception based on human lifespan being too short until modern times to realise the world constantly changes - it's brutal, vicious battleground fought at every level where survival at any cost is the only goal. (And the abundance of mega- predators around Equestria suggests that it isn't any different outside of areas when the ponies have taken direct control.) Nature is beautiful and terrible and wonderful and monstrous and endlessly fascinating... but it is NOT even distantly the sort of thing anyone should be using as a good example of morality or even something to aspire to. If the Tree of Harmony (et al) is all about promoting "nature" above anything else, then it is DEFINITELY evil.
[1] Unless you want to define "balance" as teeteering along the edge of a catastrophy curve.
6973694
6972823
FYI, I will definitely be addressing a lot of these points in the story.
Indeed.
6973694 All I'd mean in this sense is what constitutes "balance" to a tree. Nature may be (and is, yes,) a harsh, brutal evolutionary slugfest for survival and advancement. But to a tree, or any other form of self-aware plantlife, most of that exists in the Animal Kingdom, with the Plant Kingdom having a much quieter struggle for resources and opportunities, mostly involving acquiring the best sunlight and water/resources for ongoing photosynthesis. A sentient plant wouldn't be able to understand the animal instinct to survive and evolve at all costs. So its emphasis would be on "peace", "harmony", and "tranquility." Because these elements would allow a plant-based lifeform to survive the longest.
6973905
How you ever watched David Attenborough's Private Life of Plants? Watching plants in stop-motion was really eye-opening (and fascinating). (Brambles, in particular, are kind scary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNjR4rVA8to). In their own way, they're just as vicious as animals, just acting on a slower timescale. And there are myriad ways they communicate with each and fight back against animals with poisons and chemicals, because not Being Eaten By Animals is as big an issue. They are the bottom of the food chain, after all. Like the balance of nature, plants being entire passive and peaceful is another human misconception due to the different timescale animals live at. It's hardly harmonious being a plant - especially a tree, which is full a whole ecosystem of animals eating it, knocking whole into it, other plants trying to grow on it... A sentient tree would quite likely not be a nice something you'd want to to be following as a moral/philosphical leader; especially since its attitude towards animals is likely to be akin to pony's attitudes towards, say, hydras and (particularly relevantly) chimeras.
6973783
I look foward to it!
6975384
Here's another good one: Plants Behaving Badly: Murder and Mayhem
I should really get this done time just flies by.
So, I read through to the current chapter over some weeks, and I really enjoyed all three stories. I sadly don't have a list of specific points to bring up though.
I feel like I can see some other reasons you liked my stories: we're working about a lot of the same major themes and exploring a lot of the same underlying ideas, but making radically different stories from them (only, you know, yours is way more popular ). Themes like "Dark magic corrupts" vs "Magic is only good or evil if it is used as such". Or the focus on exploration of ancient history that the show hasn't touched on, filled with buried secrets and with a lot of pulp-inspired epic adventure along the way, all things I greatly enjoy and find interesting. I love a good TwiLuna romance too
Man. I feel like I had a whole lot more to say while I was reading it, but now it's hard to remember the specifics
So sorry for the wait, and the not-terribly-substantial comment. But now that I'm current I'm going to keep up with new chapters as they come. Have a follow while I'm at it, and oh, I'm currently editing the next chapter of Clover: hopefully that won't take too long
6976839
Thank you very much! Yes, I think our tastes are very much in line with each other's. I can't blame you for not leaving detailed comments; I'm terrible at that, myself!
I'm looking forward to more Clover!
6976983
Well, you did a very good job with the details when you commented on my stories, so I felt a little bad that I couldn't reciprocate
6976567
Hadn't seen that one - have now! Fascinating. Thank you the link!
Why do I get the feeling that the text here just screams bad news?
The talk about the Elements with Celestia was really interesting. My headcanon is that while the Elements spread and ensure harmony and can decide how to do so, they also require a certain amount of harmony in order to function. They helped banish Nightmare Moon because that's what needed to be done, but afterwards Celestia didn't enough harmony of her own to power them.
Also, you once again amaze me with your Middle English writing. Seriously, it's like Chaucer all over again.
Alright, and back to the past, Twilight just got a shock that sadly will not make her take a hint, and has to try and deal with Chryssi being, well Chryssi, and just all kind of other shit that, make her just saying "Fuck it" and flying off again all to tempting.
Huh..... okay then, so Twi is just going to keep hammering her head agsint the problems till they break?
Whoa, that is one hell of a time jump.
And how much of this is her blaming herself for things that were not her fault? Granted, not saying she didn't screw up but, Definitely likely she is taking more blame on herself then she should.
Ah, so going with a kind of, snapshot approach of just jumping around while Twilight deal with the emotional fallout of her screw up.
Ohhhhhh this... is going to be one interesting talk.....
You had no way of knowing that, and Twilight only saw a very very small part of that.
Yes, it would be. Something familiar, logical, emotionless, where you could just, focus on the lessons and, not think about life.
And, a spot on rebuttal, good job Twilight.
Well, partially, but then again it was not just you, she needed to get over this as well. But it IS likely Celestia could have done something to avoid this, but also, not very. Just, I don't think she is blameless, but this was still on Luna.
Still questioning this......
Gee, you THINK!?
And I see where she is going.
And good going Celestia, gave her another push to the whole "Change the rules" idea.
Well, that is rather blunt. Granted this IS viewed through Twilight. And just saying "Deal with it" basically is, yeah it makes no sense here. Though nothing said so far removes that, it really IS something they are overlooking, That they "lost" that connection, because THEY thought they should. And it would explain the whole, Discord timing. Cause if not you really need to explain that.
Yeeaahhhhh about this... well just note this for our talks about the rewrite. Better addressed there.
One of the benefits of immortality.
Also true.
Hi Ket, still pretending to be a Zebra? Or, just figure that would be what Twi would best recognize you as?
......mmmmmmm, okay yes that COULD just be a semi-joke, and on it's own, it's fine. Yes this is a case of, I know me harping on it would be nitpicking. And not the fun kind.
Everything she knows about Chyrssi, and offer to work together to thwart her, and Ket to help Twi out?
1/3
Why?
2 out of 3
AND Three out of Three... CALLED IT!
Ohhhh wow. So, even if Twilight seems to have totally forgotten this fact, Cshaaree has NOT forgotten Twilight is supposed to be her friend.
They both have a point, but so gotta side with Ket on this one.
Moving up int he world, don't let other drones find out about that, they'll want in on it.
Why? After everything she has done? I mean, being a little cautious, fine but saying it like that, why did we have to end on that? Just one more note of distrust, just based on her being what she is. Why not say that about every single pony you ever meet? I'm not saying Twilight is wrong to be a little cautious, just that, adding in that line serves no purpose other then to again point out how unfair she is being to Changelings. AND, just being a really really bad piece of writing in how atrociously it murders "Show don't Tell".
Or helping her get passed them.
I can buy it. And yes, giving her something to do to get over it is smart.
That one was just bad RD, and again "Flutes" just sounds, so wrong.
Why not? it's an interesting angle to explore.
Okay, so does this change in the next year? Or, we just happen to pick up on one of their longer trips?
Story, why you no SHOW this? Seriously of ALL the things, THIS is something I would really REALLY like to see more detailed, you've done such a.... lacking job of actually using their romance at all for stuff, this would have been a perfect time to do so.
Also an issue.
Always good.
SEE!? This this is so sweet, story needed a few more little touches like this.
yes, yes you did.
That's a good Twilight!
Taking the 'nest step' or just something sweet? Also again, this scene needs to be longer, or more of them, seriously, none mind-whammied Twi-Luna in this story can be very very sweet and touching, and is sadly wasted so far, it needs more little touches about them being in a relationship and loving each other.
Gee, however did they JUST happen to be there?
Yes, just like that..... I REALLY want to hear that song for real..... just, so sweet, so touching, why could we not have had more of this before now?
... Well talent like that doesn't come cheap. Also, WORTH IT!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh VERY nice.
So she HAS gotten over the whole, not really attracted to Mares thing then?
Wait. orrrr. not before this buuuuuuttt.....
SQUUUEEEEEEE!!! Just, so so sweet, so touching so perfect..... just, SO loving this, and the more you nail it like this, the more i REALLY miss having these things earlier.
Nice little code there.
Seriously, this was just... just... so damn amazing, so touching, so perfect... again the ONLY issue I have, it really makes me miss that we didn't have more of these before now.
And of course Twilight takes it as lesson to get on with her plan to screw things up. But, I do see her pint and how it plays into the overall thing and, VERY well played there story.
Story, we talked about this... did we? Yeah a bit, I REALLY dislike these little bits of trying to add drama, it comes off as forced, and taints all my thoughts about things, because now I'll be expecting something horrible and unable to really get into thing. Granted the fact I know about the upcoming chapter names, I know something else is up too. And YES, I do have to admit, like the opening blurbs, this is more a YMMV thing, and it CAN work, it's just, with my general mindset, it's something that really really annoys me and I do not like. Still, other then that, just.... MORE Twilight and Luna just... Being Twi-Luna!!!!!
For a moment there, I wondered whether you'd researched an ancient form of English specifically to write that song in it with (I presume) flawless grammar, expressions, etc. Of course, then I realized that knowing you, you were probably fluent in it to begin with.
PS: Being Finnish, though, I'm not exactly a stranger to melancholy Christmas songs (and while it's not mentioned in the list because it's technically not a Christmas song, Rakkaus on lumivalkoinen deserves a mention too — it's about how love is as pure and beautiful as snow, but then adds that it's just as fleeting too). Actually, come to think of it, it feels like a lot of traditional Finnish music in general is pretty mournful. I wonder why.
I'm somehow picturing Fluttershy to be a ponified version of Joker.
This is an awkward situation. It seems to me, though I may be misinterpreting things, that this stems from the fact that Harmony doesn't have a "self" or any real way of making decisions or judgments. It isn't an entity, it is more of a tendency of how the world works. As stated, when Celestia and Luna usurped the world, Celestia tried to make it so that virtuous behavior was likely to be rewarded, with virtue being based on collection of certain values. The Tree of Harmony and all that comes from it acts as a sort of boson for this principle for virtue being rewarded. However, only entities which already align with the given concept of virtue can use this power. And the power that comes from the Tree and its materials only acts to make things to an outcome that aligns with it's values in the most direct way possible, regardless of whether or not that outcome is the most aligned with it's values, like how an object obeying gravity will fall straight down even if that doesn't bring it to the state of lowest elevation. Therefore the materials stemming from the Tree of Harmony make create an outcome that is not perfectly in line with it's values. The entity which activated the materials has not been able to cause the outcome that most aligns with the values of the Tree, and if they this happens to the extent that the entity is no longer considered harmonious, they will no longer be able to use the Tree and it's materials.
But then again, I could be entirely misinterpreting things.
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No, this is quite correct (as I interpret it, anyway.) And that's given that the underlying structure of Tree of Harmony's "programming" is perfect. Which it isn't! Paradoxes result in the triggering event being deleted from the Tree's calculations. E.g., Twilight being disconnected.
Well shit
That was sweet.
I might sound like a broken record, but: broken image in A/N.
Weeelllll... They each got to open atleast 1 box
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This was a really lovely chapter. I feel like the calming feel-goodness of it will echo into the upcoming future chapters as Twilight gets a grip on herself. I'm bad at guessing motives and logic when it comes to stuff like whether or not it's the Elements fault, weather Celestia was at fault for banishing Luna, whether it's Twilight's fault or not, I honestly don't know. I'm usually just along for the ride, and we'll see how it plays out.
Sounds to me like we have some climax action in the future before things calm down.
Things are rarely that simple, and often it really doesn't matter. "Fault" is a legal construct and not one of the heart or spirit.
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I know this conversation is 2 years + dead, but I thought (to those still interested) it would be interesting to compare to the classic system of self judgement that never ever works in the real world.
Bushido.
Ultimately all Samurai failed Edo style Bushido (which is the type we in the west are most used to). Given it involved never breaking your word, always being generous, charitable, honourable, and couragous, and always equate honesty with Justice, and being diligent in your duty and your loyalty to your lord...
You would break the code. If your lord ordered you to lie, what did you do? If your lord sought to protect someone from justice, how did you proceed.
You as a Samurai may judge your honour for yourself, thus you may make what is the right decision at the time in your mind. Society however would still judge you for your failings. Thus Samurai not only had to try to avoid failing, but if they were put in a position where failure of a virtue was the only possible outcome, they had to hide that failure.
Yet despite this being an impossible system to live up too, it was considered the right one for over 200 years, AND those who got lucky enough to manage to live a life free of times where the code required you to break the code, were held as paragons. As were those who instead of breaking the code in such situations would take their own life.
Now put a magical will behind Bushido... A will that may not act, but judges you for your failings...
Like for example a Western God or a Fortune or a Kami.
Ultimately even if the tree of harmony system described within did not exist in the real world... certain culture groups (the Japanese are used here as an example, but you could apply this to any group that lived off a strict code that was based off divine scripture) have believed that something like this existed, and lived for centuries believing it, despite the fact its inherently impossible to be perfect in such a system.
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Those are excellent points! The Bushido problem nicely illustrates what has happened here. The Tree operates on a very simple set of rules than can easily run into a "divide by zero" situation. When that happens, it defaults to "not a good pony."
We have this exact (possibly worse) situation in the modern world with legal systems. Legal Catch-22s are all too common, and legal codes are a nightmarish tangle of bizarre intricacies that grew in response to the need to make every single possible act definable and legal or not, with no gray area between.
Maybe I was too hasty in my judgement. All is well with the world,
as long as you ignore that last line