The Monster in the Twilight
Fear
Pinkie Pie circled around their gathering spot at the riverbank, ending with a sniff and a wail. “No more jellybeans! We’ve lost their trail!”
“I bet that’s what you was following back when we first come into this here forest, weren’t it, Trixie?” Applejack gave her best angry glare at the blue unicorn, still being fussed over by Rarity who had produced needle and thread to make a quick patch on the torn hat.
“Yes,” said Trixie in a dull tone, devoid of hope. “I’ve got a short-range tracking spell stuck on their wagon, but that was just so they didn’t run me over anymore. We’re lost in this carnivorous forest, with no idea where the kids are.”
“What about your loyal guard, whom I met briefly in the yard?”
“Huh? Where did you come from?” Trixie looked up at the pink ‘alicorn’ before scowling off into the night. “He’s not a Royal Guard. He’s a changeling who’s been posing as an earth pony masseur in the spa. He’s probably been eaten by now.”
“Do you mean Tallgrass, dear?” Rarity paused in her sewing with a far-off look. “He has the most magnificent hooves. I always wondered just how he knew where to rub to get the knots out.” Blushing furiously, she returned to her sewing with a secret smile and a shy, “Not in that way, of course.”
Trixie picked herself up and pointed downstream. “Let’s at least go blundering around in the dark before we get eaten. Maybe we can bump into them by accident.”
“Why do you think in darkness you should blindly roam, when I have lived here many years, in my forest home?” The disguised zebra did not look angry when Trixie turned around to look, but more concerned. It was probably the pink disguise.
“Look, if you have a better idea of where Twilight Sparkle is, tell us.”
“My Flower flees to where she first was placed, before her presence there I traced. She was broken, dying, cold and frightened. To my destiny there I was there enlightened.”
Trixie rolled her eyes and sighed. “Where is there?”
Zecora matched Trixie’s sigh with one of her own. “The castle deep within the Everfree, by where we live, in our hollow tree.”
“Wonderful. The Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters in the Everfree Forest, like I said before. Why didn’t you just say so?”
“I did say so, you saucy lass. Try not to be a donkey’s—”
“Whoa up there, gals.” Applejack interposed herself between the two ponies, who had begun to approach one another with a certain look in their eyes that promised violence.
“You know your way around these woods, ma’am? And you can guide us to this castle place where you say the kids are headed?” Zecora responded to each question with a sharp nod, not taking her eyes away from Trixie.
“Let’s just get a goin’, then. Them little fillies are getting farther away the longer you two sit here jawing at each other.”
Zecora gave another brisk nod before turning to begin their trip. “True.” With a sharp sideways glare at Trixie, she added, “Shrew.”
* * *
The throne room of the castle ruins trembled to the thunderous magic of Nightmare Moon as five stone spheres flew into the walls with deafening cracks. Back and forth across the ancient room they crashed, smashing into wall, ceiling and floor with the same result.
“Open up, you infernal rocks! I am Nightmare Moon, and I command you!”
Raising a hoof, she smashed down at the five stone spheres, sending them ricocheting around the room, one of which rebounded off a knee.
“*!”
Light peals of joyous laughter echoed through her mind as the Nightmare fell to the cold stone floor, clutching a knee which felt as if it were made entirely out of shattered bone and raw nerves.
My Element doth express its distaste for my body’s current inhabitant.
“I don’t need these five useless rocks,” raged Nightmare, picking them up in her magic. “I need the sixth one! The one you lost. The one that made the others USELESS!”
Magic coiled around the five smooth stones as Nightmare used all her might to fling them through the castle window, shattering the last fragments of glass that time had not yet claimed.
My sister did find no impediment to their use. It was your actions that made Magic slip from our grasp, and your foolish pride that made you cast Laughter and Generosity away then, just as you have done now.
“I only need Magic to free myself from your rotting flesh! Where is it? Where did your infernal sister hide it?!”
The infuriating chuckle echoed around inside Nightmare’s head when she looked at her nearly unscathed knee, with only a small lump showing where the stone sphere had bounced off bone. The agony faded while she watched, with Luna’s laughter only getting louder once Nightmare realized the deception she had just fallen for.
Magic is only found with its friends.
“Then I shall follow the Elements to their ‘friend,’ and seize it!” Nightmare Moon flung the broken fragments of the window away, only to be thrown backwards when the stone spheres came plummeting out of the inky night, rebounding off her immortal alicorn coat with horrible thuds. Laughter was the last Element to return, making a special rebound off the furious alicorn’s helmet before settling down on the stone platform with its four other friends, just as they had been for the last thousand years.
The Elements of Harmony had returned home to await their last member.
* * *
Monster flattened her ears as she ran, drawing on her magic to maintain her breakneck pace through the forest with bursts of teleportation and frantic scrambles every time the spell threw her out into a new section of pathway. The all-encompassing fear which had wrapped her in a frigid embrace began to thaw while the familiar forest flowed around her, the soil thudding under her hooves and the humid, night-scented air filling her lungs. Even in the dark night, the whispers and feelings that permeated her being gave a sense of belonging, a dangerous monster in a dangerous wood, a creature in her own habitat. She could feel the urgent worry of her friends, falling behind when she teleported, but catching back up whenever Monster had to double back in the dark forest due to another landmark having been swallowed up by the darkness.
Not lost.
Never lost.
Just not in the right place.
The changeling pursuing in her hoofsteps no longer filled her heart with terror, but a strange feeling of kinship, because the love she sensed within him was a part of the energy she had stolen from his hive and used to kill his queen. Farther back, she could feel the hooves of mom and other ponies, led by the strange blue one who commanded the changeling.
Trixie.
She knew that name.
A small face, screwed up into a scowl, demanding attention. A shrill voice. A blow that knocked her book to one side. A loud shout that made her cry. Monster remembered seeing a frightened pony on the inside of that fragile shell. But not a bad pony.
The bad pony lurked far ahead, screaming and cursing in the scary stones that lay next to home.
She made the white pony go away into the sun.
She wanted to hurt mom and her friends.
She was a threat.
* * *
Tallgrass had long since stopped cursing while he galloped in pursuit of the little fillies. He needed his air too much for mere words. Fire seemed to fill his throat, cover his coat, and armor his hooves as he galloped. A mindless rhythm filled his head, of chanting and hammering hooves, as if the entire ground beneath him pulsed to the beat of far-off drummers while he ran—
raiti
—turning right to duck between two trees into a narrow forest path, over a fallen log and splashing through a narrow brook. A coiling vine narrowly missed him, brushing over his back as if repelled by his sweat while the changeling scrambled up the creek bank, hitting his full stride on the narrow path—
kushoto
—and turning left to leap across a low log which snapped at him, far too late to even get a bite from the delicious creature who galloped so fast. Deeper into the forest he ran, getting farther away from his little charges with every step.
* * *
Monster’s hooves slowed in their gallop as the suddenly cold forest air began to compress around her, holding her in a grip that sucked the air from her lungs and made her gasp for every breath. The suffocating fear had returned. The fear stood between Monster and the bad sister. Tall dead trees around Monster loomed inwards, towering over the frightened unicorn, reaching to embrace her with skeletal branches. Gaping mouths on the dead trees snapped at her perceptions while more fear rolled in like tar.
In the woods around her, dry branches rustled as Timber Wolves sensed her weakness and were drawn near. Monster cantered to a walk, then a halt, frozen in the glare of the surrounding trees as they held her in their power.
Power
Monster needed It. If she had It, she would not be afraid. She would be able face the bad sister and make her not hurt mom and her friends. brother did not need It anymore. It was her It. There was too much fear here to face by herself.
The changelings had used love for power. This place used fear.
Monster could use fear too.
With a blaze of violet light, Monster began her spell.
* * *
“Holy Celestia’s Terrible Teats,” gasped Trixie as the horizon blazed with sheets of purple light, with a sudden wind whipping the trees around them into a frenzy and driving the seven ponies together for protection from the storm.
“W-what’s happening?” gasped Fluttershy, holding onto Pinkie Pie’s neck with a vice-like grip.
“It’s a spell,” shouted Rarity to be heard above the sudden roar of wind.
“Really?” Trixie bellowed in response. “I never would have guessed!”
The purple glow flared into eye-burning brilliance, illuminating the entire forest with a shriek and flash, stopping just as abruptly as it had started.
Spitting out a fragment from the falling leaves all around them, Zecora let out a low chuckle.
“Unless my old eyes have been deceived, an item my Flower has retrieved.”
“A retrieval spell?” Trixie looked uneasily at the horizon where the purple glow had nearly been like a second sun. “They take power in a logarithmic progression. Whatever she retrieved, it must have been critically important, like a spellbook or a weapon.”
Or the Elements of Harmony, she silently prayed.
* * *
Monster stood in the center of the ring of burning trees and laughed. It was a strange sensation, unlike anything she had felt since she was very small. Her eyes watered, her ribs hurt, and she could barely breathe, but she could not stop laughing.
Resting on the ground in front of her was It. And a little something extra.
* * *
”Shiny!” The room shifted in her perception as Twilight trotted across the kitchen floor to put both hooves up on the table where Shining Armor was engaged in a very NOT bedtime story related activity. He held a needle in his magical grip, with a long black thread trailing after it. On the table was his junior cadet’s uniform, with one sleeve laying flat and a loose fabric chevron being ever so carefully sewn into place. A look of fierce concentration occupied Shining Armor’s entire face, with the tip of his tongue sticking out of one corner of his mouth and every single stitch that tacked his newly-won rank insignia resulted in a tiny little grunt of effort.
“What’cha doing, big brother?” The stubborn brother did not even acknowledge his adorable sister’s presence, but continued to place one stitch after another into his stupid jacket and that stupid little piece of cloth. Bedtime was five whole minutes ago, and he had promised to read her a bedtime story tonight. She had picked out her favorite, Clover the Clever’s Third Treatise on Particle Transformation Through Quantum Tunneling (Foal’s Version), and been waiting patiently in bed for three whole minutes. After giving him sufficient time⁽*⁾ to properly respond to her question, she dragged a chair over to the table and positioned herself in the proper place to be heard, about four inches from his left ear.
“SHINY!”
* * *
Monster finally managed to slow her laughing long enough to pick up It. It was difficult to see through the joyful tears streaming from her eyes, but It seemed to have several small rips and tears sewn up in neat stitches, just as precise and well-spaced as brother’s uniform, in addition to a new pair of mismatched buttons sewn on for eyes. And just like his uniform so many years and a whole lifetime ago, the tablecloth he had been sewing on was just as precisely stitched onto the back of It, giving the impression It had a long, flowing white dress with a floral pattern.
(*) By counting to 100 by primes.
Aaand about to get her eyes gouged out and skullfucked
OOh
There's nothing to fear, but fear itself. And Monster.
The "Laughter" scene is being broken into two parts, to keep it from growing huge. Huger. Hugest. Really big.
Twilight has determined that Nightmare Moon is a threat. Run, Nightmare Moon. Run.
... Soooooo...
By cosmic coincidence the Smarty pants doll is the new form of the element of magic?
(Either that or we just got trolled...)
I'd like to know why accessing her personal pocket dimension required that much power and flash when it didn't require it back with Big Mac...
...
Nightmare feels the sudden burst of power and rushes to reclaim her ultimate prize... a hoofmade raggedy doll... yanked from its owners hooves...
...
And that's how Equestria was unmade!
An ass' ass
I fear we are nearing the end of the fic :(
2555608 you made me piss myself laughing... but i am (or was) drunk, so whatever.
Hmm, all I can to this is:
heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/mr-burns-excellent.jpg
But seriously, an awesome new chapter, my good sir Georg. I eagerly await the next chapter (and any/all other stories you have in store for us!)
2555608
Twilight's at that part of the forest with the terrifying trees. She's scared.
Pinkie's not with her to sing that song, so she needs something else to boost her spirits. So what does she do?
She reaches all the way out to her parents' home in Canterlot and snatches the original Smarty Pants.
She wasn't expecting to drag along the tablecloth that Shining accidentally stitched onto It.
I LIKE IT!
ANOTHER!
So we are wrapping up, Luna is trolling NMM, Zecora is ready to murderise Trixie and Twilight just made massive spells to call back It.
Please more
Hey, you filthy zigger! That's racist!
Zecora is definitely best zebra. And in her current getup, best princess as well.
Making Monster's list of threats has never been good for one's ongoing health.
*quick Google search* Hmn, so directions in Swahili. Interesting.
I love it. Never change, Twilight.
Smarty Pants!
Now I wonder what Shining and Cadence are going to do when they see Smarty Pants vanish.
2555608
I think the blast of power was from how far away it was- I don't think it was the original, I think it was the one she left b the crater. Meaning it was even farther away. (Also, Cadance got one hell of a surprise)
Great story. I love seeing Twilight as she seems to slowly recover herself. She will never ever be an innocent filly or anywhere near what she once was but she is healing. I can't wait to see how this story will go next.
I don't think the elements like you very much Nighty.
well, Nightmare Moon is fucked
Huh. Most headcanons I've seen (Including mine) give Laughter to Celestia.
2555577 The Biggerest
2555577
Ginormous? Gargantuhuge? Brodignagilong? I could keep going.
In any case, Monster has It. She is now unstoppable. Woe to the Nightmare and to anything else that stands in our heroine's way.
2555608
Interesting idea there.
I'm thinking Laughter took the form of Twilight's smarty pants doll, and that Twilight stole all of the fear and turned it into power for her use. I'm thinking that at the end of this fic Twi will be more powerful than either Celestia or Nightmare Moon.
2556624 Celestia's far too grim for laughter. Just ask Discord.
do you mean counting to 541 in primes (equivalent to counting to 100) or counting to 101 in primes (equivalent to counting to 26)
Great
2556894
considering that Celestia was looking for someone potentially stronger than her at a foal's age- not to mention Twilight ripped control of the sun from Celestia years ago- I'd say they were on even (or close enough) ground then and are pretty much screwed now after Twilight has been living in a magic dampening area for years. As long as Twilight considers them a threat anyways
2556899
Yeeeaaaahh, I think I'm going to go ahead and not trust Discord here. Or ever, really.
2557368 But he's nice now!
Really, though, I think it's obvious Luna has magic and generosity, and Celestia has Kindness and Loyalty, but Honesty and Laughter are kind of up for grabs.
...maybe they were Cadance's?
2557536
Well, Celestia shows she has a bit of a playful side in 'Bird in the Hoof', and that's enough for me to give her Laughter.
Why do you have Celestia for Loyalty?
2557656 But Luna's the one who's willing to make a total fool of herself as long as it makes ponies happy.
I peg Celestia for loyalty because she inspires it in everypony who works for her -- it's obviously something she values very highly. And in turn she's shown that she considers all her little ponies to be important and worthy of second chances and generally not being thrown to the side just because.
2557310 Yeah, I'm gonna have to agree.
also this is gonna be some serious stuff going down. I can't wait to see how badly Nightmare Moon gets slammed by Twi.
2557782
well, NMM survived a blowback blast from a killing spell and if I remember correctly, her body was blown apart and basically reformed (I could be thinking of another fic here) so Twilight can do whatever she wants.
well, considering that Twilight is the bearer of the Elemen of Magic, I'd like to know the kind of magic that she COULDN'T channel
hows that line go? "Flawless Victory"? considering it was a one shot KO! I think it fits
oh THAT is not a good thing, for Nighmare Moon
POOR Big Mac!! he'll NEVER live that down once his sisters find out
NICE CHAPTER! loved it, waiting for the next one
Wall-O-Text
Nice. I'm really enjoying seeing Luna drive Nightmare bonkers. It's something you rarely if ever seen in fics where Luna talks back to Nightmare Moon Nightmare's normaly not only in controll but she KNOWS it too. Got to say Having Luna work Nightmare into a froath like this is nice. Also do I see a Skyrim Reference in where she took one of two hits by and element? Oh and Can't forget Laughter getting a nice shot in too!
As always it's fun to see inside Twilight's head and the memory with her and Shining Armor really shows that as advanced as she was. Twilight was still a little kid. I also enjoyed the detail of her making reference to her smartypants doll as It once more. You really show how much the doll and it's connections to her past really means to Twilight. Through this, when she gave it to Big Mac , and when cadence had way back when. I'm loving the way this is turning out.
The aside with Tallgrass was nice and makes me wonder just how he'll factors into everything going on given as Twilight referred to him as kin and how the mention of the changeling power source also inspired her to use Everfree's own power against it in a way.
The b its with Trixie and the rest were great too! I especially liked Zecora telling them that once again she knew where Twilight was going and that she herself lived in the Everfree and knew her way around. Her dig at Trixie while not really needed fits given how the situation is. Plus she gave a clue about the item Twilight was going to grab. Add in the reactions to Twilight's spell and I think this was a good chapter.
Though I can only wonder how the crusaders reacted to Twilight's solar flare.
Wall-O-Text!
2555596 She's got a lock on! Eject! Eject! Eject!
2555751 Actually Cavillia, where Shining and Cadence were ordered to go by Celestia. It's farther than Canterlot.
2555714 Beg pardon for the slowdown. I just got a 10 day trial to Grammarly, and I'm trying to cover all of The Traveling Tutor and Monster (No, I'm not doing that crossover :) with edits and to put together a review.
2556163 I always was amazed how that tree library has every book Twilight ever needs. Must be Discworld L-Space. (I wouldn't put it past her)
2556169 Quick check to see if the sun came up.
2556218 More likely Shining is presently shouting, "Hey Hunny? You really didn't like that tablecloth, did you?"
2556450 The feeling is probably mutual.
2557017 Um. Yes.
2557656 See below. (and in an upcoming chapter)
2558505 She has problems channeling the power of chocolate. It goes straight to the flanks.
2558922 Note how the previous Wise One of the Sky treated Zecora (chapter 3) Zebras mock battle and posture for pecking order in their herd. Seems to be a bit of conflict for the Alpha here.
The Elements, and their place in Luna's Fall (according to Georg's headcanon.)
Generosity: She raised her beautiful moon and all the stars so they could be gazed upon in wonder. You can't gaze at the sun for more than a minute or two before you lose that 'gaze' ability. And how did the ponies treat her beautiful gift she gave out of her heart? They scorned it, ignoring it while they slept. This brought envy to her heart, which broke her friendship with Celestia.
Magic: Because it only exists with Friendship, once Luna began to hate her sister, Magic faded away. Celestia had to grab it by force to use against Nightmare Moon, which Magic didn't like very much, and hid away from Celestia.. It's still pouting and won't let an Alicorn touch it. Except Twilight now, because it trusts her. (Yes, I anthromorphize the Elements)
Laughter: Also Joy or Passion (and sex). The night is the time for love, when ponies gather away from the toils of day to enjoy themselves. The rejection of Luna's generous gift to her ponies caused Joy to turn into Hate and Resentment, dark emotions that fed Nightmare Moon and allowed her to overpower Luna.
2559094
... Yeah, that's possible too.
In my head, though, Shining stitched her to the table, called Cadance down to help fix it(because he knows damn well what he can and can't do), and then the tablecloth dissipated in front of them.
They then stood in silence for a moment, before, with great aplomb, Cadance says 'I blame you.'
and obviously scoots thought it was awesome, and the rest didn't notice because scootaloo had just thrown them haphazardly into a tree in her distraction.
I couldn't keep this out of my head as Tallgrass was running through the Everfree. On that note, good chapter- definitely can't wait for the final showdown between Nightmare and Twilight.
Edit: Oh, that's unfortunate, it would seem as though the original video I tried to use is disabled to embedding... perhaps this other one will be more cooperative.
Finally seems that we have important stuff going on instead on just running. Not that I have anything against build up but there is such a thing as to much build up. With all this build up, this battle should be epic. Good story though and I look forward to the next chapter.
NNM has found beaten both Neo Mane6 and Neo CMC to the elements.
NNM can't find the last one... whew
NNM attempts to retrieve the last element forcefully. It's not effective!
Luna's Spirit Trolls NMM. It's Super Effective!
Neo Mane 6 learn how to reach Twilight.
Twilight learns to control her fear, It's supper effective!
How Bucked are you now?
How Bucke are you now?
How Bucked are you Nightmare Moon?
Cause, you're surely Bucked now!
And I think this matches with the scenes where Twilight learning to control her fear and use it to her advantage.
2557536>>2557656>>2559094
The way I'd figured, Celestia had the elements of Magic, Generosity, and Kindness while Luna had the elements of Loyalty, Honesty and Laughter.
2559716
i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/275/389/469.jpg
Drunken whaler goes good with this chapter.
Buck, I love that song.
2559094 I mean one goes
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97, 101
or about 30 second and the other
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97, 101, 103, 107, 109, 113, 127, 131, 137, 139, 149, 151, 157, 163, 167, 173, 179, 181, 191, 193, 197, 199, 211, 223, 227, 229, 233, 239, 241, 251, 257, 263, 269, 271, 277, 281, 283, 293, 307, 311, 313, 317, 331, 337, 347, 349, 353, 359, 367, 373, 379, 383, 389, 397, 401, 409, 419, 421, 431, 433, 439, 443, 449, 457, 461, 463, 467, 479, 487, 491, 499, 503, 509, 521, 523, 541
or about 2 minutes
2573273 Well, the Rule of Funny applies, i.e. which one is funnier to the audience? In The Traveling Tutor and the Librarian I have a scene where Green Grass has her count to one hundred thousand by primes when she's drunk and needs distracted so he can make a getaway.
“You just lay right there, and count to — um — one hundred thousand by primes. I’ll go feed the projectionist and be right back.” He tucked the blanket over the bleary unicorn and eased his way towards the door. “Start counting.”
“One, two, three, five, seven, nine...”(3)
Of course when he gets back, she's "done"
“Eighty-six thousand, two hundred and forty three... um... You made me lose count.” An aggressive wall of purple seemed to lunge out of the darkened interior of his wagon and wrap around his neck affectionately. “Where were we?”
(3) This footnote, as well as 9 are prime because of the Odd Prime Number Theorem
Wow, what a story! I kinda had my doubts in the beginning, but you've really made this work! I can't wait for the next update. Have a plot. //dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Octavia_plot.png
2573273
Well, counting to 97 by primes would make for a nice round-ish 25 numbers without actually going over 100. Also, could you see a small child waiting 2 minutes for anyone's attention? //dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Octavia2.png
2579685 you do have a point I rewatched a Disney movie I liked alot as a kid and tought "hey I remember it being longer" before the movie was about a BIG one hour and eight now only about 72 minutes because now I do care to watch the credits I Watch more but feel like it lasted less
I don't know why I clicked on the first chapter of this. I don't like 90% of fics with the 'Sad' tag, the description didn't intrigue me, and I'm not fond of 'broken' characters. Even more damning, the first chapter was marked read. Sometime in the past I had tried this story, and left it, though I don't remember doing so.
Despite all that I started reading. Three hours later, I had consumed the entire story. I don't think I could have stopped if you paid me. Is the story perfect? Of course not, no story is, but it was compelling. I cared about the characters, the heart-achingly familiar, yet unquestionably damaged Twilight, the innocent and adorable crusaders, the weary and worn Celestia, and the kind, caring Zecora. I even found myself caught up in the cares and concerns of the secondary characters as well. And I very nearly shed some liquid pride when Twilight gave Big Mac her Smartypants.
Congrats my friend, you have made something truly beautiful.
Wonderfully written, fantastically engaging, and a very interesting concept. Love it!
2556624 Ahh, but see, here's the thing... What 'laughter' we've seen from Celes involves trolling. Now, is that REALLY the same kind of laughter that Pinkie Pie brings, for example? No, it is not. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who gives Luna Laughter, to be honest, as it makes sense.
Allow me to explain. See, the thing you need to realise about those of us who are like Pinkie Pie, is that we're very... Shall I say, emotional people. Very empathetic. We get energy from those around us. Now, does that sound like Celestia? Not really. But think about it from Luna's perspective. She made the night beautiful for other ponies' enjoyment, not for personal pleasure. That's what it hurt so much after so very long of ponies just ignoring it. Not only were they ignoring her generosity in trying to make the night sky every night, but they were not getting enjoyment from the night sky either. They were not happy because of it, from what Luna felt/was hearing/what have you, and could therefore be argued that they might have even thought BADLY of the night, that they feared it instead of loved it.
As a (heavily) Pinkie Pie personality, that would CRUSH me. So at least for me, it makes complete and utter sense to have Luna be the Elements of Generosity and Laughter, as the two go hand in hand, so to speak, in the night sky situation.
Celestia, on the other hoof, just doesn't really seem to match it, in my opinion, because of the trolling. She is likely trying to imitate her sister's love of laughter, but doesn't quite understand it like Luna does/did, which is why her sense of humor is slightly twisted. It isn't the laughter that makes everypony laugh. It's the kind of laughter with makes herself laugh, and that's a twisted element.
Again, that's just my two bits about my opinion, but maybe it makes a little more sense now.
3440949
Well, there aren't any right answers here, of course; at least, not until we get a full explanation of what exactly the Elements of Harmony represent, which I very doubt is going to happen.
With that in mind, though, I would argue that 'making others happy' is pure Generosity, with no Laughter involved. Yeah, Pinkie likes to throw parties and make ponies happy, but that's because she's Pinkie, the Element of Laughter has nothing to do with it. Laughter is more about being cheerful and optimistic and not letting the bad times get you down; it's about looking on the bright side of the situation instead of the dark side.
Also, it's only in the fandom that Celestia really 'trolls' as such; in canon, she's pulled one or two light-hearted pranklets, intended to lighten the mood, which don't come at anypony's expense. That's hardly 'twisted'.
Finally, c'mon, Luna was unclear on the concept of 'fun' during Nightmare Night, that kind of rules out Laughter for her right there.
You must now explain how pony technology has not surpassed ours.
3442032
The thing is about technology is that we use it to surpass limitations and such. For the ponies it's different because their limitations are different. One third of them can already fly and manipulate weather on a scale I'm not sure we'll ever be able too, another third would probably put any green farm to shame and the last third simply have magic.
Simply put, they don't need that kind of level of technology.