Behind Celestia's graceful smile and kind eyes, secrets are hidden with a thousand years of practice. The whispered legends of her depravity hide a dark grain of truth, hidden in the mists of time: the clash with Nightmare Moon left her with scars that will never heal.
This was written before Season 4: it's in a Season 3 universe.
An eighth chapter, by Icebox Froggie, is on its way, and will be added to the story at some point.
Wonderful Cover Art By: PonySlayer, aka JonnySalami
Pre-Readers:
Mailbox Bomber (From Bronyville Forums)
Proofreaders:
Ininsaki (From Bronyville Forums)
Editors:
Craine
Sorren
The 11th Wonder
Chapters (7)
Please sir, may I have moar?
Good job
When I saw the title, I was expecting a Pink Floyd-themed fic.
Yup. MOAR.
4178417
You may.
Tomorrow.
4178462
Thanks!
4178501
Heh, reusing titles, yay!
4178513
PASHINSE!
4178518
Yaaaay!
4178541
A dark tragedy that hints at Celestia's evil side being added to "Protect Celestia?" I'll be keeping an eye on this. "Protect Celestia" is about quality stories that promote Celestia and her show-canon personality.
If your story will be doing that, then great! But I don't see many dark tragedies that do.
4178520
okay.
4178568
Oh yes.
(Believe me, I'm a big fan of Celestia. She's best pony.)
To spoil it, but justify it being in that group: In my interpretation of Celestia's canon personality, she has done terrible, unforgivable things. (That's what gives rise to the lingering rumors about 'trollestia' and 'molestia'.) She overcame it, though, and lives with the scars. She's constantly holding back that part of herself, with a thousand years of practice making the mask nearly perfect. That's why the Celestia we see in the show is so very restrained and kind... because she's terrified of allowing herself to be otherwise. Perhaps now that Luna's back, she can finally begin to truly heal.
4178594 does that mean this story is gun be supr sexy and I should fave?
4178594 kinda an idea I had, though less becomes evil and more loses hope at some point.
4178601
Observe ye first, the 'teen' rating.
Sexiness is not the focus of this story, no. Sorry.
Though... if that's what you're after, you might want to take a look at my alt account: Dirty Little Secret.
4178666
I'd still enjoy seeing other interpretations.
4178675 That wasn't sexy at all. But I'll give a like and a star for your honesty
4178861
If this doesn't get featured, I'm going to be mad.
4178889
And I'll be sad.
4178932
I'll promote it in my blog if that helps?
4178594
And that, right there, is not what Protect Celestia wants. Any amount of callousness is non-canon until the show shows us otherwise. Celestia is reserved and matronly to date because that's who she is, not because of a dark past.
I will check with Celestia's Paladin, but I think that the synopsis so far precludes your story from being admitted to Protect Celestia. I am sorry.
4178937
It might!
4178939
I've presented Celestia in a very positive light. Hopefully that's enough... and the darkness isn't her fault..
I know it skirts the edges, but I really see this as my version of protecting Celestia... and I hope you'll let it stay in the group. I like to see her as kind despite her past, not because of it. That she was able to make it through with kindness because of the incredible strength of her character.
4178982 I'm not sure about the group thing but the whole concept of the banishment story is a bit two dimensional and black&white for my tastes. I mean seriously Luna , who is a thousand by this point, almost destroys the world while babbling nonsense because of the opinion of strangers! and celestia is like a super saint who keeps trying to save her even at her own expense. I don't hate celestia but please give a more valid/serious reason for why luna would try to kill her sister and commit genocide than <she was sad ponies slept at night> like spread the blame to something else like neglect, demonic possession <nightmare moon> due to celestia's neglect or something! This whole black and white story, while cannon, is more suited for a child's mind <hint, hint>. I want to see more realistic stories of how celestias absolute power and even greater fame could cause her to be even a little corrupt and neglectful toward family members who try and usurp her. and if you say she's just a good person at heart and would never fall to corruption, might i add a bit of realism by stating that a lot of famous pacifists like nelson Mandela refused absolute power for they feared its corrupting influences and a lot of dictators started out as revolutionaries that were trying to free the oppressed. AND GOD! MOST OF THESE KIND OF FICS ARE JUST LUNA BASHING RANTS, AND THIS ONE IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE THAT, although you ALMOST redeemed yourself with that last bit, it still looked to me like you were just trying to make luna look weak.
4179267
I have read your complaints, and let me assure you, they'll be addressed in later chapters.
If you must know now, though, I'll give you some massive spoilers.
(seriously, people, don't read these; it'll ruin much of the fic)
It was more than simple jealousy that caused Luna's fall, though that's what was used as a seed to corrupt her. For centuries, ponies had been giving all their attention and love to Celestia, neglecting Luna. Add to that, Celestia herself was willfully ignorant of her sister's problems and apathetic toward her sister when she needed help. Luna was going completely unloved for decades, centuries... it's enough to drive anypony mad. And then came the real problem: after the sisters used the elements of harmony to defeat discord, each of them was left holding three. The elements were meant to have one owner each... with too many elements in one pony, they corrupt that pony. Celestia will come to realize this when all six elements begin to corrupt her.
Don't worry. This fic isn't meant to bash anypony. I hope you'll see that by the end of it.
(Oh, and that downvote on your comment isn't mine. I welcome criticism.)
Dang it man, you stole my story's title!
Seriously though, I ain't even mad. Nice work with that first chapter. If the rest are like it, it'll be a great piece of fiction.
The last time I felt this eager to read the next part of a story was when I was reading Harry Potter!
Keep up the great work!
God...the feels!
4181027
Oh yes, the rest of the fic is on the same note.
This one's pretty intense.
4182518
Thanks!
4182551
More where that came from.
...Really?
Aww, 'Tia, you're not all that bad.
Overall, strong chapter, neat characterization of Celestia, but you're gonna have to give us more words than that if you don't want us barking MOAR! up your leg every day.
4182606
A little metaphor and hyperbole is all.
And, yeah, more is coming!
Well... I didn't have to wait long...
I used to think I could spin a decent yarn but this is in a whole other scale, a mighty bravo from me!
And now to resume the wait for more awesome-ness
4182677
Sorry, it set off my reference-o-meter as a veiled callback to My Little Dashie ("my heart exploded...twice"), which took me out of the scene momentarily. I'm sure it was not intended that way, and I'm probably the only one who had that experience.
My mind makes funny connections sometimes. That said, there was a story (I can't remember the name right now) that I was reading where a whole chapter was based vaguely around the following plot points:
1. Pinkie was making cupcakes
2. Dash was missing
Regardless of appearances, it turned out that the author had never read, nor had an interest in reading, Cupcakes, and the coincidence was completely unintentional.
Bad headcanon, bad!
Anyway, sorry for the off-topic. I'll crawl back to my cave now.
4182694
Glad you're enjoying it!
4183591
Heh, yeah, no references intended there.
...
It's gonna get old quick if I keep commenting on every chapter isn't it?
4187019
No, no. I love chapter-by-chapter comments!
And I'm glad the feels are getting through!
Oh don't mind me, I'm just grinning in the shadows while Tapping my claws together quietly.
4187054
Well in that case we'll probably be chatting quite a bit!
And as for the feels, I say keep them coming! There aren't many books/stories that have made me cry (in a good way) but if you keep this up I have no doubt you'll make the list!
4187019
You and me both. But I'll keep doing it too. And yes, the feels are strong with this one. I especially liked:
A lot of character-building for both of them in those few short sentences.
Oh, god! The feels!
4187164
... Waiting until the fic is complete before you start reading?
4187178
We'll see. ^.^ I do think it becomes less sad in upcoming chapters, though you might get a relapse or two.
4187487
Thanks!
I had a lot of fun with this one, going for very strong narration.
4188527
Ah, I love it when I can give people feels.
4190568 Oh no I've read, I'm just getting a very distinct and somewhat humerous vibe from the story.
4191103
That wasn't what I was going for! 
Humorous?
You truly are a master of your craft
4192051 Well I just have a dark sense of humor when it comes to these types of story's but still it's going pretty well.
heh, insanity is fun.
4187487
I completely agree with you, not only do I feel upset because it's a sad story but also because I'm connecting to Celestia and starting to feel for her
btw; huge Star Wars vibe
And once again you pierce my heart. For a brief moment I thought Celestia might be starting to brighten up (no pun intended) only to have my optimism crushed in the cold claws of depression and mourning
Wow, I got a tad theatrical there didn't I? Anyway, another superb job! You're pushing me closer to the tissues
4192086
Thanks!
I'm practicing to be a novelist.
4192253
That it is.
4192494
Nice to know it's getting through!