A Lot to Think About
* * *
A Lot to Think About
Jeffrey C. Wells
www.scrivnarium.net
* * *
I approach the boudoir just as the remaining Bearers are leaving it, speaking amongst themselves in hushed tones. Even the irrepressible Pinkie Pie has lowered her voice to something approximating the level of normal conversation, and she bounces only half as high. They bow before me in deference as I approach, parting before me like so much water.
They need not do such a thing, I think to myself, as guilt claws afresh at my stomach. They are at their hearts a baker, a fashionista, an orchardmare, a weatherpony and a custodian of helpless animals; but they have saved our land, my land, the object of my fiercest love, over and over again. If anything, I should abase myself at their hooves, weeping in gratitude at their having pulled my nation away from the fire time after time after time.
But... that would not be seemly, or wise. Over my many years of life I have tried so many different approaches, when dealing with my subjects. There was a time in the three hundreds where I declared myself "The Commoners' Princess," if you will believe such a thing. Canterlot had lost touch with the ponies it ruled over, I decided, and so I cast off my regalia and really got my hooves in the dirt, working the harvest side-by-side with the earth ponies of the Heartland in the fertile lands abutting the Canter.
This lasted for two decades. As it turns out, I am a terrible farmer. Who could have guessed? My alicorn status ostensibly gives me the land-magic of the earth ponies on top of my unicorn horn and my pegasus wings, but while it manifests quite clearly in my legendary stamina (and, I will admit, in the broadness of my rear), the actual raising of living things quite escapes me. I do not, in short, have a green hoof. Atop my raw incompetence, I hindered the work of others more expert than myself by the simple act of putting myself at their level. Any job attempted by H.R.H. Celestia in her ridiculous dungarees and her ridiculous straw hat was absolutely guaranteed to be a botched one, not only because I myself would be right there doing the botching, but also because nopony would dare step in to correct my work. When I finally came to my senses and left them all alone to do their jobs, you could hear the collective sigh of relief all the way up the Mountain.
No, this is my position, for better or for worse. To be enormous, and wise, and well above everypony else. To orchestrate great events and conflicts from atop my all-seeing Throne.
Today has proven it, yet again. I should never be put personally in charge of any living thing.
"Good day, my little ponies," I say, addressing them as I might a class of schoolfillies. It is all I can do to keep from choking on the tone of voice I am forced to use. I use it anyway, because I see in these girls the forms of many other ponies now long dust, and I know in my heart that the alternative would eventually prove far too upsetting for everypony. Even if they do not know it, they need me to be this way.
"Afternoon, Yer Highness," says Applejack, she of Honesty, her hat in her hoof. The others chime in as well.
"How fares my niece?"
"As well as can be expected," says Rarity. "She's been an absolute darling in these trying times. Honestly, I have no idea what's come over poor Twilight."
"Another mental breakdown," answers Rainbow Dash. "Duh," she adds.
"Spike went back to look for her in the wedding chapel," volunteers Fluttershy, timidly. "But she was already gone. I can't imagine how scared she must be. I hope she and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza can make friends again before the wedding."
"Twilight Sparkle will be all right," I say, trying to hit just the right note of easy confidence in my student while simultaneously attempting to not seem dismissive of Fluttershy's concern. Even the act of speaking a simple sentence is like walking a high-wire in my position. "I've known your friend since she was very young, and sometimes she needs to take a little time for herself in stressful situations." I have, but do not voice, recollections of an endless series of book-forts with signs crudely emblazoned with the words "Twilight Sparkle Is Not Here Right Now So Please Come Back Another Time" hung out front. It would be counterproductive to mention them at this point, I judge.
"I hope so," says Pinkie Pie. "My Pinkie Sense is really acting up today. It's like I've got twitches in my nose and flutters in my knee and I can't remember anything like this ever happening before! I've even got the tonsil-shakes! I didn't even know it was possible to get tonsil-shakes!" Pinkie opens her mouth as wide as possible—very wide indeed, given the pony in question—to demonstrate the problematic areas of her body.
"Very interesting," I say, to the Bearer of Laughter, wishing that I had any kind of precedent to judge her by. "Do you think Princess Cadance might be willing to receive me? I would like to have a word with her."
"She's recoverin' well," says Applejack. "She sent Cap'n Armor off to do his thing a while back, so I think she'll be all right." She chuckles, a bit ruefully. "Real honest-to-gosh Royal Wedding Drama. Who'da thunk?"
"Little hitches are bound to come up in matters of this scale, Applejack," says Rarity. "If this is the worst thing that happens today, we should count ourselves lucky."
The others murmur their agreement and continue on their way. They've all got jobs to do in preparation for this momentous occasion. Jobs that I assigned them. Jobs that they did willingly, and absolutely without question, as pawns in Celestia's great game of What's Best For The Land.
And here in the room before me, yet another of my game-pieces. I take a deep breath, ignite my horn, and push open the door to my adoptive niece's impromptu boudoir.
The room beyond is pink, cluttered and baroque. Stylized hearts dominate the décor. Resting easily on a fainting-couch of violet satin and rosewood, framed by lamps of colorful Symphony glass, is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, lost heir to an unknown empire that senior members of the castle guard had come to jokingly refer to simply as "It," back when there was some hope that It would someday return and give my ever-questing niece a place to call home. Cadance's eyes are still a bit red from the tears, but I do not believe I have ever seen her so beautiful. Then again, it has been years since we've even spoken. There is still some bitterness remaining from my fumbling attempts to serve as her parent, to be sure. As noted, I should never be given such responsibility.
"Aunty," she says, rising to greet me.
I wave her off with one hoof. "Please, sit," I say, and she returns to a position of repose. "I shan't take too much of your time."
"How's Twilight doing?" she asks.
I shake my head. "I've not seen her."
Cadance frowns. "I was so sure she'd have gone to you," she says. "Given the very special relationship you two have. I'm really concerned about her, Aunty."
"This wedding represents some big changes for young Miss Sparkle. I'm certain she'll be fine." I can barely form the lie. I had once thought that Twilight was my one success, finally. Her role in the absolution of my sister Luna had seemed to prove this, beyond any shadow of doubt. The road ahead had seemed so clear...
...And then, my faithful student proceeded to ensorcell her entire town with a "Want It, Need It" spell in some sort of neurotic fit based around the simple matter of a missed homework assignment. My faith in the future was, again, shattered. If Twilight Sparkle was not able to brook the simple fact of her brother's marriage (to a foalhood friend, no less!) how could she possibly be expected to endure the other... changes planned for her? Had I guessed wrong? Yet again?
"Aunty?" says Cadance, sensing my drift into reverie.
"Yes," I say, reining myself back to the present. "Yes, I apologize, Mi Amore. Lately, I've had... a lot to think about."
Cadance scoots slightly over on the fainting-couch and pats the spot next to her. She smiles gently at me. For a moment I hesitate; but if I cannot relate as an equal at least to Cadance, the third Alicorn Princess of Equestria, whom can I hope to relate to? The couch would hardly be big enough for my own personal bulk were I seated on it alone, but we make do with a bit of twisting and folding of limbs.
She looks at me expectantly, and I quail. I have stood at the head of armies and faced down walls of gryphon soldiers extending in either direction literally as far as the eye could see, yet I have never felt this sort of fear.
"Cadance," I say, my voice threatening to crack. "I wanted to tell you that I'm so very proud of you."
She smiles, her eyes glowing. "Thank you, Aunty!" she says, lightly, and it's not how I want her to take it. I shake my head.
"No," I say. "Please. This isn't a facile little compliment for you to accept with a smile on your face. I've wronged you. I've done you damage. I sent you into a political situation in Cloudsdale that I knew was unstable, and I told myself it was because you asked me to. But... in reality, I knew you would be there when we finally brought Cloudsdale into the Hegemony. When we finally nationalized the weather industry. These things needed to happen for the good of the land, and I knew you were the one who could do them for me. But I also want you to know that I do realize that I hurt you deeply in doing so, deeply enough that you felt you had to run from me and from the world back to your fillyhood home. It's been so long, Mi Amore. I look at you, and I feel like I hardly know you."
Cadance puts her hoof on my shoulder, comfortingly. I give her a wan smile. "Would you believe that I didn't even properly remember the color of your aura?" I say. "I could have sworn it was teal, like your Mark, not green. You've become a stranger to me, Cadance. And I've deserved every inch of that estrangement."
"Oh, Aunty!" she says, laughing. "Don't be that way!"
I shake my head. It has taken me too long to come to this confession and I will not be so easily dissuaded. "No," I say. "Please, Cadance. Let me say this. After realizing I had completely misread your destiny, I took on a student in the hopes that she would take over your part in the coming absolution of Luna. She was a beautiful, special creature with a mind like a diamond. There were no filial bonds to complicate our relationship. I vowed that I would do everything better than I had done with you, that I would put aside the role of chessmistress, that I would be open and honest and forthright about every topic at my disposal. I told Sunset Shimmer everything: that she was a child of prophecy, a special unicorn among special unicorns, that she would stand at my side at the most important event of my life."
I swallow, hard. "My truthfulness earned me a student so sure of her own self-importance that she would not hear any ideas of reason or temperance. When I opposed her unchecked ambition, she literally built another world out of whole cloth to rule over and closed the door behind herself, and she was lost to me as well.
"So I returned to my enigmatic role, disguising my intentions and nudging in secret. I took on another student, the most promising one yet. Finally, I had found a young mare who was possessed of both power and heart, and who needed just a few little touches to guide her along her path to greatness. It turns out that in doing so I have changed that special young filly into an eccentric wreck of a mare who would rather lay waste to a town than risk displeasing me, and who would ruin your wedding just because she could not bear a disruption of her status quo."
I clench the muscles of my jaw to keep it from shaking. "I have failed each and every one of you," I say. "Completely. Sunset Shimmer is gone, and I'm not sure I can summon the nerve to apologize to Twilight; I'm not certain it would be good for Equestria, even if I could. But to you, at least, I feel I can say that... I'm sorry."
I breathe an easier breath, the tension in my breast finally dissipating. "Everything you have done is because of you, and in spite of me. Me and all my silly errors in judgment."
"Oh, Aunty," says Cadance. "I can't think of a single error in judgment you've made."
"Thank you," I say. "Probably more kindness than I deserve, but still, it means much to hear you say that."
I give her a warm smile. "I know today is a special day for you, Mi Amore. But with the shadows of unknown threat to the city and martial law hanging over all our heads, it hardly seems like a fit wedding day for a young princess I hold close to my heart. And now this business with my faithful student... well, I can only assure you she means well. I am certain this storm will pass soon, and that you two will become the best of friends, in the fullness of time. I just wanted you to know that any hurt she may have caused you comes more from the failings of the silly old mare who styles herself as Twilight's teacher than from Twilight herself."
"Apology accepted," says Cadance.
We share a breath. It feels good.
"Don't worry, Aunty," she continues. "I'm sure today is going to be perfect."
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Mmm, now that's good irony!
So, Sunset Shimmer is the reason Celestia´s perceived mistreatment to Twilight. And Canterlot High is nothing more than a pocket dimension created by Sunset to fill her ego? Well, that would explain a lot... except the "human" part, or the fact the students includes several of Twilight´s friends and acquaitances.
2787088
Headcanon says that Sunset is analogous to Gehn from the Myst universe. Create fantasy world, immediately exploit indigenous peoples.
DUN DUN DUN!
But really, nice little snippet.
Awk-ward! Poor Chryssy.
It's nice to peer inside the head of Celestia in this one, as she always has such a mystique about her in your stories. I very much want to see some fanart of H.R.H. Celestia in her ridiculous dungarees and her ridiculous straw hat.
Also, I'm now looking forward to a story about the invasion of the mirror universe by changelings, and their disappointment to learn that their powers are useless because high school kids are already just a pack of clones.
That dramatic irony.
I wonder how she'll take the aftermath of the wedding.
2787127
All things considered, it would have been fortunate if she had looked at the character tags.
Wow, I don't think I've ever felt this much pity for the "Sun Nag". She really can't seem to get anything right, even her confessions.
Hummm... more hints that Cadence will, at some point, go to Cloudsdale in the Cadence of Cloudsdale cycle.
2787127>>2787111
Can you make a sequel Chapter with Celestia calling in Cadance and Twilight and she apologizes (tearfully for doubting them)?
2787150
You would think such a thing would happen at some point!
2787119
Have you read "Heretical Fictions" and "Beloved"? Those are probably your best look inside Skywriter's Celestia's head.
Congratulations, Celestia. You're an idiot.
2787088
Pocket Dimensions can be...unstable, at times. especially when spawned from an unstable mind.
2787159
Ah, but where would the irony be?
Well, Celestia hasn't failed ALL of her protégés. After all, Prince Solis is responsible for bringing everlasting harmony to Equestria. That's got to account for a lot, right?
2787088
That's because magic's, well... magic is weird.
It's a wonderful story with a powerful dose of heartbreak in it. I only have one complaint, and it's not even the story's fault but mine: It references EqG which profoundly disquiets me.
I really don't want to watch that, but I need to know what happens in it if I'm going to write anything ever again. Bit of a conundrum threatening to writer's block me pretty much permanently.
But that's no fault of the story which is, in fact, brilliant.
2787111
I just can't buy that Shimmer would be content with being queen bitch of a high school when she set out to make an entire universe. I mean, Gehn typically made sure he was an object of worship.
Completely disregard possibility that world existed beforehand?
Eh, it's your story, so you load the headcanons. It certainly explains why she knows what happens to an Element of Harmony when taken to a parallel universe even though she fled Equestria before the Elements were reactivated.
In any case, a fantastic story. I always love your take Celestia. More than anything, you convey the incredible burden she carries, of duty, responsibility, regret, and simple equine needs.
I'm honestly surprised that this wasn't a discussion built around the Immortality Blues. Way to defy my expectations there.
Finally, it is to my everlasting regret that I can't art good. Otherwise, I would so draw H.R.H. Celestia in her ridiculous dungarees and her ridiculous straw hat.
Ah hah.. heh. I seeee. I can't say that I'm terribly okay with the idea of incorporating EQG into the canon you've been building. I feel like while it sort of fits, it's just twisting a story that's been laid out so well already, though I can't deny that you made it work pretty darn well. It's simultaneously hilarious and sad that Celestia should finally apologize to somepony, and then surprise, it was Queen Chrysalis. Oops. It's funny you should post this now, since I was just thinking about the main problem I had with A Canterlot Wedding. It's also funny, in a dark sort of way, to hear her talk about not having the nerve to apologize to Twilight. Gosh, if she felt she had to apologize then, she sure as heck has to apologize after the wedding. But noooo, she's all like, "learning to do exactly what you did is a valuable lesson". Uh huh. 'kay.
"Spike went back to look at her in the wedding chapel"
Now that's a bit of an obscure show reference. I like it.
I for one liked the EqG reference.
2787521
Yeah, this isn't going into the cycle proper. I'm just playing.
Thanks for catching my rassafrassin' mixed-up preposition. Fixed.
2787088
I'm not sure I get the reference, and I've got to be missing something there. Still, I'll speculate that this other magical dimension was meant to satisfy some desire of its creator. Perhaps it cannot distinguish its creator and other "real" beings and simply tries to satisfy their desires as well?
It's kind of sad that Celestia is so brainless here. Different Aura, huh? Shouldn't that put her on guard and tell her something is up? I get that she's emotionally vulnerable at the moment, but I don't buy that she's so incredibly stupid with so many thousand years of experience.
2787252
Ghost, I am more than happy to give you the Cliff's Notes version of the entire film. PM me if you'd like it.
I think EQG is still officially non-canon, so you don't need to worry about that; but you'll see more and more dorks like me making reference to it, I expect, as time goes on.
2787572
Not to mention the singing part
Guard 1: Hey, is it normal for the bride to sing a villain song before the wedding?
Guard 2: Oh, boy! If I told you about mine...
2787252 2787578
This is also how I feel and if it's not too much trouble, I would also like Cliff's Notes please.
2787111 That... I like that. Would that make Celestia Atrus?
.. and the element of magic Catherine? 
Now that I think of it, a Myst/FiM crossover would kinda work, seeing as it's all about alternate universes and such.
So one of the original Garternay factions ends up writing their way into FiM universe and lives underground for a thousand years, and somepony from the surface discovers their civilization. Their society is split by the revelation that there are sentient ponies up there on the surface, and some lunatic murders everyone. Years later, a stranger happens upon a book that fell out of the sky...
(yes, that's just the origin story of D'ni set in Equestria instead of Earth, and it hits a few snags when you realize that Atrus is born to Anna, from the surface..
)
I'm becoming more and more curious about EqG now (my curiosity is going to be satisfied this Sunday when the local herd of bronies invades the one theater in the Seattle area which is actually showing the film). Specifically, if there's enough substance to the writing of that movie that you'd make a reference to it in an (admittedly non-canon) short related to your Cadance of Cloudsdale cycle, perhaps it won't be terrible. (In any case, I've heard the music is good-- so there's that at least). Also, good on you for not doing the "usual" thing and having Trixie fill the role as Celestia's first failure in raising an apprentice / heir.
And yes, the dramatic irony in this short is delicious. :) And oddly, given how Celestia is so racked with guilt over what she believes to be her failure in meddling with Twilight, it actually makes sense that she'd distance herself somewhat from Twilight after the events of the royal wedding. That is to say, of course there would be a riot of mixed emotions going on within Celestia after the victory of Cadance, but I have to think that in light of the above confession and apology, among the strongest would be something to the effect of: "Yes! I didn't screw up Twilight! She's succeeded in spite of me!" and "But... the training wheels have just come off-- the worst thing I could do now would be to intervene again in a meaningful way. Celestia, do not screw this up."
Anyway, thanks for sharing!
Hmmm.... maybe I should work on a short to break my own blocks as well... Hmmm....
2787578
I'm actually in the midst of trying to make my own version of the entire film in all honesty. Still lots of world-building I want to do, but there are a lot of twists and good ideas I think can serve as an "alternative".
2787851 there is a crossover like that out there with Dash and Twilight, but I'll be darned if I can remember what it is called.
2787915 Actually, you can just watch it on YouTube- I found a pretty good one of the FULL movie! But seriously- you have to watch it. Have to. The music is awesome, by the way.
2787221 Well, between the end of this chapter and the start of that one (if it's after Twilight's ascension), each of the junior princesses would have spectacularly failed a Celestia-given mission- Twilight against Chrysalis and Cadance against Sombra. You could write it from the point of view of one of them instead of Celestia, and have them smile and nod and accept her apology for doubting them while inwardly wondering whether she was right all along. Just a thought.
2788134
Aitran, Sohndar, and Naborale, by CTVulpin?
Ouch. That was painful.
...in the way that implies good writing, that is. Poor Celestia. I'm kind of afraid to find out whether or not she manages to find it in her to say all this again to the actual Cadance.
The little hints here already have me building up in my mind a vision of the rest of the cycle, and I'm quite curious how poorly it is going to match up. :)
2788248
Heh! Thanks for the recommendation. I'll keep that in mind if my plans for Sunday fall through for some reason. (Since I've already got it scheduled, I've been holding off and avoiding spoilers as much as possible so I can get the full theater experience of the movie, eh.)
2788406 You're welcome.
A new story by Skywriter!
Y'know, I'm tired of writing, "I'm conflicted about this." It's becoming rather cliche for me when I say it. Unfortunately, it's frequently true—and truer when you're in the habit of reading the works of good writers who tend to produce things that cannot be called mediocre, and thus that always disappoint in unique and interesting ways. Which, by the by, is not meant as a serious knock on this piece. I definitely like it, but I also feel like it could be better. There are a lot of nice bits in it, but it doesn't feel all that consistent to me. And I'm aware it's a block-breaker, so I'm probably being a bit unfair, but ve must hold all ze writinks to a higher standard, ja?
I think my biggest point of criticism with this piece is the passiveness of the narrative. There's a lot of Celestia introspection here, and introspection is usually dry reading. (Never mind that BB&C is probably as introspection-laden as anything; I still think it's a weakness, even if it's one to which I'm also prone) I do think there's some nice work here making that introspection livelier, by painting images of Celestia the Farmer and Twilight's book forts, among other things, but on balance I still find that the introspection drags a bit, at least for my taste.
I like your interpretation of Celestia here as very much a broken thing. I don't read enough princess fiction, but this is a take I like. I've always been a fan of characters with pathos. (I could go on for days about the mangaka circle CLAMP, who have made a storied career out of distilling pathos into a fine nectar) But in a way, that causes me a problem in this story, because the single moment that hits me most strongly is the moment between Celestia and the Mane Six at the opening. This may have to do with the fact that I haven't connected quite as strongly to Cadance and Chrysalis as characters yet, though. So the interplay between Celestia and take-your-pick just doesn't register as high on my interesting subject matter scale.
I really like Celestia's reflection on Cadance, Sunset, and Twilight together, too, but I find myself wanting more—and I think perhaps not in a good way. Again, I just find what Celestia has to say about Sunset and Twilight more interesting than what this story is actually about, especially because of Celestia's strong negative reaction to the "Lesson Zero" affair and how much that seems to be confirming her worst fears. Celestia really gives me a Plato's Cave vibe through this whole piece. We're seeing interesting bits of her, but we're only seeing the silhouette of them. The meat isn't being served here, but that's what I'm hungry for. I'm really interested to see Celestia talk to the real Cadance about these things, too, but having her talk to Chrysalis, on whom all of this is lost, kind of deadens the mood for me. I can't make myself feel too bad for our Sun Princess—Celly's a big girl, after all—so the emotional stakes just don't feel very high to me here, since nothing that gets said can matter much for more than a day past this point.
So those, I think, are my criticisms. First, that the introspection gives a bit of an uneven tone which pulls some of the punch out of Celestia's characterization; and second, that the interaction between Celestia and Chrysalis, for me, is less compelling than the interaction would be between Celestia and any of her three "students", since Celestia's insecurities strike me as more fundamentally compelling than Little Miss Cheesehooves and her plot to go all Harry Lime on Equestria.
Now, again, I really did enjoy this—and I was a little disappointed I gave this a thumbs up when I saw it get published, because now I'm denied the catharsis of actually clicking to reward a good story. But I really felt like this story offered more traction for criticism than most of the others I've read from you lately, and so I thought it was worth going that route to, one would hope, give you some ideas for making even better stories for us to read.
As much as I want to respect Princess Celestia as a wise and capable ruler of Equestria, all the way through 'A Canterlot Wedding' all I could hear in my mind at just about everyone, especially her, was this;
This is an interesting take on what was going on in her mind about the events though leading up to the first wedding. Hope to see a follow up with her reflecting on her actions afterward. :)
2788484
You know, perhaps half the problem here is that Skywriter's princess stories appear very out of order. Probably because he writes them as they come to him rather than giving us a coherent narrative as with Contraptionology! It makes for a interested reading experience, piecing together fragments the pony who I've started calling "The Sun Nag". It's no so good for endings or pathos, but, well, The Sun Nag is immortal. She kind of is without end.
As a long term Skywriter reading, I'm beginning to think there needs to be a reading guide to aid navigation through the many non-linear paths you can take through Skywriter's princess stories a la the Discworld series. You can probably take many routes through them and you'd get different experience depending on the route you choose. For what it's worth, the beginning of things, if there can be said to be one, happens on a clear night by the light of ten thousand stars on top of Observatory Hill, and the end, the pathos, occurs on an unremarkable evening among the bustling streets of Canterlot in Beloved. Will we get more pathos at the end of Candence of Cloudsdale and a more firm resolution for the Sun Nag? Only Skywriter knows.
Oh, one other thing...
2787119, 2787402
Fanart of Celestia in her ridiculous dungarees and straw hat you say?
Gosh, Celestia's end goal of this Cloudsdale Cycle is to nationalise the weather, how outrageously socialist of her!
2790120
I'd say more royalist, given who's doing it. It should probably come as no surprise that HRH Celestia is a royalist.
Fantastic piece, I feel awful for Celestia (she's my favorite) but I have to admit you write her amazingly; knowing she was tlaking to Chrysalis that entire time, knowing her worries/fears regarding Twilight was an amazing scene, I hope she gets to have such a moment with the real Cadence at some stage. And I loved, loved the background behind EQG, pure genius!
The thing this story REALLY makes me want to see, to see by someone who really understands these characters and their minds and emotions, is what comes AFTER the wedding. I have really wanted to see a good Celestia piece regarding the wedding's aftermath, but this drives that desire home. And now, I don't think I can be satisfied with such a piece being outside your Cadance cycle, or at least it's canon. After Celestia bares herself like that, which is in and of itself unusual, and then seeing how absolutely wrong she had been...Twilight's vindication, Chrysalis revealed, the real Cadance having been imprisoned, etc, and how she reacts to it once everything has settled down.
Then I wonder what is wrong with me that I WANT to see this, and what effect it has on best princess.
This is truly the first story I've seen set in-between the two halves of the Canterlot Wedding finale (more or less), and it proves to be some very interesting ground to cover. I've seen quite a few try to deal with the aftermath, but I like this approach better, as it sets up Celestia's thinking and allows us to project that forward through what we know... Her faith in her Faithful Student was shaken more by the events of "Lesson Zero" than she let on, and thus was restored more than Twilight might suspect when said student was willing to"fail" a very clearly assigned test in the Crystal Kingdom for the greater good.
I think one of the great themes of Celestia stories is the warping effect she has on those around her, both intentional and not, and this went through a fun list of those brought up around her without even having to bring in Luna again. The inclusion of Sunset Shimmer was appreciated here as well. (Likely my major complaint about EQG is that such a fun plot thread as a resentful former student was wasted as a disposable backstory for such a random project.). I've always felt that Twilight's neurosis were fairly understandable for someone with her backstory... Obsessing about order to some degree would follow from the seemingly always in control Celestia, naturally, but also needing to schedule every aspect of her day so as to maximize the use of time that she has. She has a massive thirst to learn everything, and it's being fed by a being that has a lifespan long enough to possibly do so. Add that her #1 assistant is also going to outlive her by centuries, and it would seem hard to avoid a voice forming in the back of her head that would be saying "Clock is ticking, Twilight, clock is ticking."
And so my heart goes out to poor Celestia, always trying to do the most good while seeing her own direct influence as a kind of poison to those exposed to it (as illustrated humorously by the bit with the farmers.) It's no wonder she masks that self as much as she does, and ends up being a chess player struggling to find the path that offers the best return for the greater good.
This is definitely a nice character piece, and a good insight into Celestia whether it's canon for your stories or not.
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The Lyrical Free Expression Act of 574 established that information divulged during a musical number is not permissible as evidence of wrongdoing or proof of guilt.
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as to wondering what's wrong with you:
you're human. It's an interesting issue.
That's all :-P
bears can be caught with honey, but people are caught with curiosity :-D
...well, crap. I've been avoiding spoilers for Equestria Girls as best as I can until I get the chance to see it, and there you go and tell me all about it in a story that, at first glance, had absolutely nothing to do with it. Don't get me wrong, I liked the story, but could you give a little warning next time?
I would love see more stories from this Celestia's perspective. I love mining the drama of the immortal tightrope walker.
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Sorry. I hesitated, but It seemed minor enough, and I wasn't sure of the statute of limitations on a film that's been out for a time. What's a good rule of thumb for this sort of thing?