Lady Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of Magic, Purger of the Nightmare
H.R.H. Princess Luna, Alicorn of the Night, The Everlasting Shadow, Conqueror of Richtas Run, et. al.
Dear Lady Twilight,
It is good to hear from one of the heroines that helped banish the hatred from my heart. I am doing well, relatively speaking. My lessons on modern Ponish dialect are coming along, though I often slip back into the old words, most often with the traditional royal ‘we.’ Celestia often has to remind me that the Royal Canterlot Voice is to be reserved for restoring order or speaking in outdoor conditions.
I am sorry to say that I will not be attending the Grand Galloping Gala this year. I am still acquainting myself with this era, and don’t wish to risk embarrassing my sister with another faux pas. Shortly after I recovered my magic, she had to restrain me from finishing an honor duel the old way when one of the nobles snubbed me. I did not yet know that honor duels no longer ended in vassalage or execution.
In regards to your question, I’m rather hesitant to speak of this matter, especially considering my past as Nightmare Moon, but I would rather relive the pain than do nothing while another nightmare forms.
Yes, Celestia has been known to ‘play chess’ as it were. It is something that all leaders have to do to some extent. They must weigh the benefits of each political decision and move the pieces such that the nation is affected in the most positive manner possible.
It was this detached style of rule, along with her indifference to my concerns, that contributed to my fall. Make no mistake, the choice was ultimately my own, but she did not act against my transformation until it was too late. She believed my feelings to be a lesser matter. She was wrong, of course, and we both paid for it dearly.
Could she be subtly leading you to some unfortunate end? Absolutely not. It is not in her nature. Do I believe that she is quietly leading you towards some ultimate realization or position? I have no evidence, so I can not give you a definite answer. However she has done it before. She speaks highly of you, and I can see the love she has for you when we speak privately. However, again, she expressed her love for me a thousand years ago as well, yet turned her back to my requests for help. I remember seeing the betrayal in her eyes when I confronted her. She truly had no idea what she was doing had affected me so, so my answer is thus:
It is possible, and if she is doing so, it appears that she hasn’t learned from her mistakes.
I will respect your wishes and not mention your concerns to her. So far she hasn’t included me in any plans regarding you, but I will “keep an ear out” as the saying goes these days. Regardless of what I hear, heed my advice. If you feel like you are being used, do not hold it to yourself. Speak to your friends. Speak to me. I will gladly listen to your concerns, and I am sure your friends will as well. Take it from somepony who has been down that path.
The only place staying silent leads to is destruction.
Regards,
H.R.H. Princess Luna
===
Twilight wasn’t sure what happened after the letter. Celestia seemed to have calmed down with her requests of Twilight and her friends. Did Luna go back on her word? Or perhaps she was subtle and inserted herself in Celestia’s plans before politely disagreeing? Twilight sent a letter to Luna about this, but received a response that she had done nothing deliberate.
As far as her friends...she didn’t want to involve them in this. Like Luna, she had no real evidence, and didn’t want to slander the Princess needlessly. As well, such words could break apart their friendship. She decided to maintain this issue with Princess Luna for the most part. From time to time, she would drop hints and gently try to steer conversations towards getting her friends’ opinions, but they always inevitably support the Princess.
Every time her concerns came up, she wondered if she wasn’t simply seeing things where there were none.
===
“Good luck, my little ponies. The fate of Equestria is in your hooves.”
The rest of the girls turned to leave, but Twilight stayed put. A few more minutes of chaos wasn’t going to destroy Equestria, and Discord seemed like a creature that wanted to play with them anyway. Twilight’s scrutinization of everything Celestia said over the past year had developed into a sense of doubt when it came to figures in power, and she used it on Discord’s rather pathetic riddle.
“Twists and turns are my master plan. Then find the Elements back where you began.”
The Elements were back in Ponyville. Probably in the library, as that was where the six of them met together the first time. How Discord knew this, she didn’t know, but she didn’t really care.
“Is there something else, Twilight?” Princess Celestia asked. The other five mares stopped and turned.
“Yes, uh...I don’t suppose we could get some help? I mean you know Discord better than all of us, so you know his tricks, right? Plus, he uses chaos magic, so there’s very little he can’t do. If he decides to just attack us, there’s nothing we can do about it until we retrieve the Elements.”
Behind her, her friends looked at each other uneasily.
“I’m afraid I’m needed here, Twilight,” Celestia said. “Somepony needs to maintain order, or as close to it as possible. If I abandon my post now, even to help save Equestria, it will only incite a panic.”
“Fair enough,” Twilight admitted. “What about Princess Luna?”
“I’ve sent my sister to explain things in the major cities and calm the populace. I’m sure that Discord is intercepting communications, and she’s the only other pony that can get by him.”
“Okay. How about some guards? I know it wouldn’t do much, but safety in numbers?”
Celestia sighed, and smiled serenely. “You are correct. At best they could distract Discord for a few moments. However they are needed here in Canterlot and the cities to keep the peace and prevent riots. I’m sorry, Twilight, but it’s up to you six. Have faith in yourself, and your friendship. I know you can do it.”
I knew you could do it.
===
Lady Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of Magic, Purger of the Nightmare, Bane of Chaos
H.R.H. Princess Luna, Alicorn of the Night, The Serene Midnight, Guardian of Dreams, et. al.
Dear Twilight,
As always, it is good to hear from you. Your correspondence has helped me greatly this last year.
I am not able to properly express my gratitude for you and your friends’ defeat of Discord in mere script. That damned draconequus spent decades torturing sister and I with his antics. As such, I have seen it fit to commemorate his day of reimprisonment as a holiday. I wished to create new constellations for the six of you, appearing on that night, but sister believes you will be too embarrassed. Instead I will celebrate with a meteor shower.
Now, on to your concerns.
I am troubled by Celestia’s decisions. She did have valid points, but they are lacking. Her presence in Canterlot was stabilizing, but only barely. Discord’s chaos is all consuming. When he besieged Equestria before, there was little we could do aside from clean up his changes after he left an area and give somewhat false reassurances to the residents.
I believe that her going with you would have been the better option. Celestia and I are the only ponies left that can hold our own against him. Should she have accompanied you, she could have given you several necessary minutes to complete a critical task.
As for my own absence, Celestia 'sugar coated' it. That’s the saying, yes? I was out explaining the situation to the major cities, but the issue was a bit more personal than that. She believed that had I met Discord directly, I would have started a fight. I was always the more militant sibling, and had I unleashed my power upon Discord, the damage could have been catastrophic should it have taken place with bystanders. She may have been right, so I don’t blame her for sending me away.
She was right about the guards. At best they would have distracted him for mere seconds. At worst he would have turned them against you.
You have my sympathies, on that subject. I have felt Discord’s influence on my mind before, and I do not wish to again. It is just like him to send you all through a gauntlet, breaking your wills just before the prize, so you can’t even use it against him.
That being said, hearing of ‘Tom the Rock’ brings me no end of dark amusement.
But yes, back on topic. That sister gave you no assistance whatsoever disturbs me greatly. It appears that she is testing you for something. With your permission, I will begin trying to insert myself in whatever machinations she has for you. So far I detect nothing malicious. Perhaps she wishes to simply push you to your full potential. It wouldn’t be the first time she has done this.
I would also like to inform you that I will be attending Ponyville’s Nightmare Night festival this year. I plan to reshape the holiday from one of fear to one of celebration. Attached to this letter are my plans. Please advise me of what you think, as I still struggle with modern culture from time to time.
Your Friend,
Luna
===
Over the next year, things slowed down considerably when it came to what Twilight had begun to see as ‘Celestia’s Meddling.’ Requests were few and easy, much more suitable for six civilian mares.
Twilight slowly relaxed, settling in with her friendship lessons. They just seemed so much more benign than whatever grand plan Celestia had, and she had to admit that they were helping her in life. To think that a year ago, she was a complete and utter shut-in.
Shortly after the Discord issue, Twilight ran into a problem. She had a friendship report due, but nothing to satisfy it with. Part of her was screaming that letting this lapse would tarnish her perfect record, but another part wanted to let it go, just to see what would happen. To see if Celestia used this to try and influence her again.
After a considerable amount of stress, she decided to let it go. The day went by with no report. Nothing happened. There was no letter or visit by Celestia to express her disappointment. No assignment back to magic kindergarten. Utter silence until the response to her report on Luna’s visit to Ponyville a week later, expressing her thanks for helping her sister adjust. With Twilight’s help, it had more or less gone off without a hitch. Pinkie caused some trouble, but Twilight shut it down quite quickly.
Perhaps I've been overreacting? She would have surely done something if I tarnished my 'score' with a late report.
Her letters with Luna quickly grew more and more casual, especially after they set up a dragonfire connection directly to her. Luna did confirm that Celestia is up to something, albeit benevolent. Her tests were designed to push her, but the desired result still eluded her. Luna speculated that Celestia wanted Twilight to eventually serve on her advisory council, or some other similar position.
Of course, things couldn’t be so simple. That would be too easy.
Damn straight that why even when I like the story. I am wary of celestia because has a thousands years to entrench her power. Ensuring that she is believed. She raises the sun. Who could stop her?
And what better way to do evil then to do it so subtly that you do it yourself? And your fellows?
"At."
And also "to" in your note, "on what amount for suicide missions."
10536447
Fixed, thank you.
"In real life, soldiers desert when their commanders do that."
In real life we don't (usually) venerate our commanders as do-no-wrong messiahs. The fact that only one has suspicions is quite telling on the intelligence of the other five...
10536822
I'm not convinced it's a matter of intelligence so much as it is a matter of, "But she's the Princess!" People do dumb things when confronted with celebrity: They don't ask questions that they should, and overlook things that they shouldn't. How much more would you avoid asking and how much more would you overlook in the face of the celebrity?
The answer is simple: "A lot more than you normally would, which is already too much."
There's a lot more going on those episodes than you've alluded to, and there's substantial evidence that Discord was working on behalf of Celestia.
Consider that Ponyville hadn't even existed yet when Discord was petrified. And his statue was in Canterlot. And yet, apparently despite both ponies who'd entrapped him being in canterlot with him...he decided to leave Canterlot completely alone and instead went to wreak chaos in Ponyville. Watch those scenes very carefully.
https://i.imgur.com/6l4Zm3V.png
Why?
Or consider that even though Twilight was the element of magic, the prime threat to him...and if we believe the official story then he would have known full well that they could be dangerous since he'd just escaped from having been trapped by them. And yet, Twilight is the only pony out of the main six that he doesn't mind control. Everypony else, he turned gray. Twilight? She did it to herself, and the moment she did, Discord immediately showed to try to cheer her up and snap her out of it.
Here's the scene of Twilight's Corruption.
Twilight turns herself gray, Discord shows up...pause at 1:06 at look at the worried look on his face. Watch as he pulls the cloud off so it's no longer raining on her and tries to get her to focus on more cheerful things? Then when she doesn't, what happens? He laughs maniacally for the camera, then goes rushing back to report to Celestia, who sends Twilight her friendship reports to snap her out of it.
Yes, Discord sabotages the others, but he goes out of his way to be helpful to Twilight. When she forgets the rules, he takes her back in time so she can see them again. And incidentally, watch Pinkie very closely when they go back in time. Pinkie sees them, she looks right at them, but says nothing. For that matter, consider the whole puzzle of finding the elements in the first place. Where did Discord hide them? In Twilight's house. He hid the elements from Twilight...in her own house. Why? As a failsafe, so that even if evernything went completely wrong and she failed at everything, she'd still find them anyway.
And then after it's all said and done and the elements have been gathered, what does Discord do?
He sits there and let's them turn him to stone. He knows what they can do, but he helps Twilight every step of the way to gather them back together and use them on him and let's it happen.
Why?
Because Discord was never a villain to begin with. Remember, Celestia and Discord are not opposing forces here. This is not "Order vs Chaos." Celestia embraces chaos as a valuable and neccesary force. When chaos is lacking, she creates it herself. And she's playful about it just like Discord. Consider her orchestration of the collapse of the Gala. Consider her "Gotcha!" moment with the teacup.
Season 1 Celestia is not the one-dimensional, helpless mentor figure that later season writers reimagined her to be, mindlessly sending her student off to deal with things while she munches on cake. There's a lot more nuance here.
10541237
My mind has been lost-
Send search party, lost in thought
I love the little details like how Twilight's titles grew as she saved the world time and time again.
10541237
When I first saw that I was interpreting it as Discord being show-aware; he knew he had the villain role, knew his initial appearance couldn't outlast a two-parter without breaking Equestria enough to extend things into a full season (and one grim enough to threaten the show's existence), and was going for the option of having as much fun as he could squeeze into the time frame while being hopefully entertaining enough to get brought back. I don't think Discord was working for Celestia, but also don't think he could risk seriously trying to win.
My initial interpretation of the show's pilot upon watching it has been pretty well paved over by canon, but I didn't at the time get the impression that Equestria was in any great danger. And that while Twilight did in fact play a critical role the way things actually went, Celestia's plans didn't require her to go looking for the Elements of Harmony, and didn't even depend on Twilight doing anything. (Wall of explanatory text deleted due to irrelevancy here.)
Seeing the whole Sonic Rainboom incident convinced me at the time that either Celestia had a centuries-old and ridiculously complex eugenics program going, or she simply had Harmony dump a clearly-Destined group on her to sort out in one of the more spectracular displays possible. That said, this fic represents a reasonable arrangement of pieces.
10542465
You're not alone. I'm lost with you.
That was mind-blowing. We have sailed into the sun.
I mean Luna never controlled the stats that’s not even canon. XD
10681631
Technically it was. In that she's responsible for putting up all of the stars and moon in the sky. Then you have the fact that the stars themselves aided in Luna escaping from the moon.
And it's not too out of character for a pony that can casually reach across the solar system / galaxy to grab meteors, and create a shower, for her to reach across the cosmos to manipulate the stars as well (That and if you think about it, the Sun is nothing more than a nearby star. So moving one is no harder than moving another, should the muse arise.)
10541237
I agree with a good amount of what you said. But if the comics are Canon, Discord was fine with being turned to stone both times actually because of the loss of his friend, Cosmos (issues 75-78). He always just wanted to have fun, he was more of a mischief-maker than a villain. His ex girlfriend was the real villain but he had her sent into the stars, took the blame for her evil doing, and let the sisters turn him to stone because ponies now hated him. So, I think that plays a role in why he secretly helped Twilight and even tried to cheer her up. Her cutie mark looks like the stars his friend turned into and she probably reminded him of her with how much magical ability she had.
10882034
It was confirmed by Hasbro that the comics aren't Canon. They are profitable fanfics.
Nowhere is that more blatantly obvious in the Sunset Shimmer comic.
In the movie Equestria Girls we see her previous Fall Formal Princess pictures in both Celestia's office and in My Past Is Not Today. Where the first pic has her at CMC age.
The fact that they made her a 16 year old for about 5 years right off the bat, and ignored the movie that the comic was a "tie in" too. Shows that the comics can't be trusted.