Amidst the roiling terrors of the night - one horror stands alone. The mind of a pony can scarcely fathom the true vengeance that the Princess of the Night could have visited upon the world as Nightmare Moon. Twilight will now endure that experience.
My presence hath been doubled! Glory to Nightmare Moon!
Do you think Nightmare Moon will be able to extract enough suffering from Twilight? Or is her fate to be only a sliver of the pain that must be suffered to bring justice?
I don't think this is the right question, considering how twisted her idea of justice is and how mentally unstable she acts for now. I think the question is: Would Nightmare Moon break out of her raging and vengeful streak before she destroys Twilight or after?
And it's hard to guess for now. She does look punishment drunk, she's wasting perfectly good and I assume professional ponies of every position to enact no-win 'tests' that result in death that she calls justice. Yet, she does seem just as quick to punish her own soldiers if they displeasure her or disobey her orders, and from thestrals actions she always was like that with them - they are absolutely terrified of her.
I lean to the possibility that NMM will push and punish, drunk of victory and sure of the rightness of her choice, untill Twilight either breaks that confidence and somehow makes NMM confront her actions, or simply breaks just when NMM starts to actually connect and like her as an interesting change from sniveling ponies and thestral servants. Just as Twilight shapes to possible student, her will and mind give up, leaving NMM to new pain and loss of entirely her own making. Irony will be rich.
Of course, there is a possibility of student succeeding her master, as per Sith code. Twilight is brilliant, in canon she already is more powerful than Celestia, and if that brilliant mind of her throws away shackles of morality, oh, both light and darkness will tremble!
What did you think of Celestia's decision? Was it her? Was it Daybreaker? Was it a lie from Nightmare Moon?
Well, if head Twilight seen is indeed Daybreaker looking, then at least that part is true. To break it down in bite-sized points:
Called her out to one on one and won? Possible, as Celestia would be trying to reach her sister and hold herself, while Nightmare has no such qualms. Maybe seeing and understanding that there's no chance to reach out to her is what brought Daybreaker out.
Daybreaker breaking out, running and calling her armies? Huge doubt here. Daybreaker is controlling and prideful freak, from what we had seen of her. She would call her armies, but she would also absolutely lead the charge. And if it's some kind of double personality, at least both Celestia and Daybreaker would agree that trusting ruthless and revenge-crazy Nightmare word that should she accept her defeat her ponies would be spared is absolutely stupid.
Not to mention, NMM keeps contradicting herself. She is talking about having plans for the next thousand years with Celestia, and next talks about her baring neck for killing blow (and it would be killing, as we see decapitated head didn't come alive per magical immortality mentioned earlier ). She is talking that Celestia 'killed herself with that transformation' next mentions that defeated, she managed to transform, and get out from battle with Nightmare long enough to get her army into the battle.
Liar, liar, stars on fire.
And just what is in store for the Sparkles?
That "Twilight Sparkle shall continue your family’s descent" line pretty much ensures her father's castration or something like that. Mother... maybe just will be made into breeder for thestral progeny. Still, Sparkles have high possibility of keeping on living due to Nightmare having interest in them, and them being Twilight's family.
Shining almost certainly gets delegated to someone lower than Nightmare for breaking and remaking into soldier and symbol of regime's power.
Twilight, as I stated before, has one of the three roads. And I still find it funny that Nightmare herself admitted that Luna broke from the exile and pain, and Nightmare, more powerful, dangerous and resilient, rose from her ashes. And now she is planning to break Twilight. It looks like some self-destructive behavior, because Twilight broken and remade into something stronger would be the one to have motive, power and position to absolutely destroy her.
There's also Elements, Discord and Tirek to consider, but I have no idea if they'll even be introduced in this story. Very interested in seeing how Nightmare is as an actual ruler or would it be some kind of Arthas-like destruction of the country that ultimately breaks it into pieces and leads to her death.
Now she was just a severed head, hanging from a gate. She seemed strange, hanging there - her face different, more evil-looking - her mane a fiery blaze instead of it’s usual rainbow-turquoise flow.
Unless NM put an illusion spell of some kind on the head, it seems like Celestia did become Daybreaker. It matches up with the description that when she returned, her mane was on fire, but sputtering.
>Do you think Nightmare Moon will be able to extract enough suffering from Twilight? Or is her fate to be only a sliver of the pain that must be suffered to bring justice? Well that's the thing about revenge; it can never change the past, so it can't address the root cause. If one is too fixated to forgive and move on, they will never move past it. That's why the middle east has been at war for 1400 years, if you consider the sunni-shia conflict to be a war. Violence never brings true peace, and its ends never justify the means. So no amount of suffering will satisfy NMM. Despite anything she might say to the contrary.
>What did you think of Celestia's decision? Was it her? Was it Daybreaker? Was it a lie from Nightmare Moon? Well if it were a lie that would be less dark, So I bet it was Celestia's decision. Maybe I'm weird - well definitely - but I'm so jaded these days that I expect nothing from idols, or perhaps don't Idolize people anymore. So there's no shock when a character doesn't act up to their station. The way I see it, shattered innocence isn't dark, it's inevitable. If you build expectations up more for the characters and the reader, then it will be more impactful when you rip them away. Gotta change things up once in a while; keep people on their toes.
>And just what is in store for the Sparkles? Seeing as Nightmare Moon just implied Twilight Velvet was going to have grandfoals, pretty obvious how this will play out for Twilight Sparkle. Maybe she'll get the love poison, maybe NMM has another plan... As for the parents, they are not necessary for that, though Shining might be of use. Whatever NMM's whims are, there will likely be plenty of suffering to go around.
10117490 True. It may just be nightmare moons madness, but I do like the idea that the thaumic nature of the world demands karmic retribution, and since celestia didn't stick around to bear that suffering, others must accept it in her place.
This doesn't pertain to the questions, but I thought it was a cool idea: What if Twilight tried to summon Celestia's soul, but because she was Daybreaker for a time, it got corrupted? So when Twilight tries to talk to Celestia, she blames Twilight for her and everyone's deaths, destroying her world. It would be really crushing on Twilight's psyche, and would be a nice way to add some depth and complexity to the grimdark tone.
the thaumic nature of the world demands karmic retribution
That's kind of terrible though. It removes the agency of the antagonists and limits the directions the story can take, forcing it down narrow path with few opportunities for interesting twists or surprises. It feels like a cop-out, my man.
I don't mean that it restricts nightmare moons choices in any way.
Doesn't it though? It's not like NMM can decide not to cause suffering anymore. Without karma, she's doing the things she does out of a personal want for revenge. With karma her wants no longer matter, even if the results line up with her current desires. The things in the story no longer happen because of NMM, but because of an outside force and she is just the current mechanism through which those events are being carried out. That doesn't sound like having much of a choice in anything.
Maybe I'm not portraying it quite right, but I see the force as just that... a force. It can be resisted or overcome. Celestia managed to sustain an out of balance state for a millenium.
Blah. Good chapter, but I'm missing something to be insightful tonight. I appreciate all the creativity in all the executions Nightmare Moon was carrying out, that kind of thing is much harder to write well then it's often given credit for, I think.
Nightmare Moon is wonderfully petty, I really like that. Not to say her suffering was small or forgiveable or anything, but she's manically addicted to just rubbing it in. The idea of universal karma is definitely an interesting one, and I like it as a framework and justification, but I also think it's just something that the Nightmare Queen's shattered psyche is using as an excuse because she's mad she didn't get her way. She wanted to kill Celestia so much, and now she's just throwing a huge temper tantrum over the entire thing.
Actual Questions:
Twilight can't possibly suffer enough. A thousand years of misery and pain is a lot, and Twi is just one pony. She's going to break far before Nightmare gets her fill – I'd expect Twilight to start accepting her situation, to really rationalize how she deserves it, and this is the way things should be. In a way that Luna obviously never got to, to stayed in.
I really like Celestia turning to Daybreaker as she starts to lose, losing faith in everything and attempting to flee as her kingdom of cards, apparently karmically powered by the misery of an alicorn begins to collapse. I can buy that she had pride and offed herself to deny Nightmare Moon the opportunity, or to avoid confronting her own true defeat; but personally my headcanon of her characterization would chalk it up more to raw fear. I'm sure Nightmare Moon was very explicit about what she suffered through, and what she was capable of inflicting on her dear sister. Even if all she claimed and intended was a just execution, as she says, I don't think a Celestia who's used to thinking of herself as a singular invincible goddess would believe that. As she has to confront a force that can compete with her, that is stronger than her, for the first time in a very long time, I can absolutely see her being terrorized at how vulnerable she can truly be.
What's in store for the Sparkles, now this is hard. I'm guessing at mind control for Velvet. Twilight's gotta stay cognizant and herself, that's important for Nightmare's little play. She seems to solely care about the student her, and the rest of her family are just tools to torment her with.
Nightmare Moon's going to get a massive futa cock, as the tags suggest, and breed the hell out of Twilight's mom, who eagerly accepts it, cucking the hell out of Night Light. Twilight just gets to watch as her family is torn apart and they suffer, twisted so far from the loving idyllic life she should have. She'll get lightly bullied for the first major scene, but not really be a sexual participant just yet – if we were going to get a big Shining breeding scene immediately, don't think you'd have changed gears from it here, so that'll probably be day after next.
Oh man, I almost forgot about the poor batty who was molesting Shiny! That was great too, I'm glad at least some of the 'corner stallions are getting used for something fun. And just watching her spine snap, and imagining her life trying to recover from that... Everything in this fic is really great. Thank you again for writing!
10117759 I definitely get what you mean, and it's – at least partly – the impresssion I got from the chapter itself. It's just an uncanny feeling, not one that can compel you to do something, just get to think you're right when you do it.
As a vague, abstract magical force, I assume it would be empirically measureable, but I also don't think it would really... do anything. At worst you've got a gauge somewhere that says 'Hey the world is too good', and I feel like any rational pony would be able to retort 'well that's just your opinion, man(a)'. The fact that Nightmare brings it up is just faux-moralizing to shield herself from criticism, which is an effective strategy in demoralizing your opponents in itself. Especially when they're insecure teenage girls!
Do you think Nightmare Moon will be able to extract enough suffering from Twilight? Or is her fate to be only a sliver of the pain that must be suffered to bring justice?
I don't understand the question. At this point, Nightmare Moon is just a psychopath who's got a hard-on for original sin. Let's say she could make Twilight immortal and force her to sit on the moon for 1000 years. Truly an eye for an eye payback, right? What would it matter to Nightmare Moon? How would she get justice out of that if she was never wronged by Twilight? So an ultra accelerated hell isn't any more valid.
Beyond this, she comes up with two additional story threads. First, that she created the Thestral race over 1000 years through selective breeding. These bats now follow Nightmare Moon because they had a tradition of worshiping her as a god, and she's fucking crazy and fucking crazy powerful. However, they must have been horrible rapists before Nightmare Moon returned, since they presumably would have needed to be trained for battle and have all the gear long before Nightmare moon came back, including love poison. That's just how they roll. There's a hint in an earlier chapter that the Thestrals were slaves in a mine. If that's the case, shouldn't the unicorns have had a canary in that mine, so to speak?
The Thestrals were a barbarian horde before Nightmare moon returned. The horde wants to kill unicorns in general. Nightmare Moon wants to torture Celestia, then Twilight. But then why does Nightmare moon also want to destroy Canterlot and the populace? She doesn't seem to care about Thestrals except for their ability to be useful tools. The second story thread is about how unicorns were magic capitalists hoarding all of the magical resources, and this is the justification for this genocide? The villains are just a pack of moral-free, horny assholes who now think (or know) they can beat Canterlot because their psychopath super saijin regolith snorter can't think straight.
Anyway, I guess my point is that nightmare moon doesn't have a point, she's just an insane sadist. And the Thestrals are as well, since they're also genetically sadists. Whatever story they come up with will never measure up to a proper justification.
Ultimately though, it's a rape fetish story, so justifying the rape fetish is going to be difficult and nonessential.
What did you think of Celestia's decision? Was it her? Was it Daybreaker? Was it a lie from Nightmare Moon?
I think this detail is more interesting unanswered. I'm guessing it will not come up in the story again. Whether it's Celestia being a coward or Daybreaker being crazy doesn't change Nightmare Moon's behavior at this point. In chapter 1, we see it's Daybreaker returning to Canterlot castle. Therefore, I think it was 'her' in charge. Whether she killed herself or choked on a pretzel doesn't matter.
And just what is in store for the Sparkles?
Nightmare moon will sire some progeny with Twilight, the rest will be toys before death. There's still an incest tag, so there will also be some brotherly fucking. Maybe a forced blowjob since Nightmare Moon won't want anyone else touching Twilight's baby maker. Earlier I thought that Twilight would get the magical cock and be corrupted, but now I don't think either will happen.
10117605 Well sure if you want to think of Karma as some esoteric thing, but I assure you it is real: It stems from psychology and sociology of large, highly interconnected societies. If almost everyone knows a guy who knows tom brady, the president, etc, then anything bad you put out into the world come back at you just due to people's response to it. It goes beyond just the reputation you develop in a society: if you do harm to someone, they may consider you an enemy to compete against in the future. The more interconnected society becomes, the more real Karma is.
But whatevs, go with esoteric magic hand-waving if it makes you happy.
As for Nightmare Moon's mental state, and you don't have to believe me on this one - probably safer if you don't - but it reminds me of the 33rd degree freemasons that rule our country: They want to do good, but they have been too damaged by life to know how anymore. I pray they break through one day.
Anyway, I guess my point is that nightmare moon doesn't have a point, she's just an insane sadist. And the Thestrals are as well, since they're also genetically sadists. Whatever story they come up with will never measure up to a proper justification.
Ultimately though, it's a rape fetish story, so justifying the rape fetish is going to be difficult and nonessential.
I do have a hope she's just drunk on victory and Celestia's death and temporarily acts like an unhinged amoral monster instead of (hopefully) more sane and rational monster. Because if she's actually like that, and it's not just 'clopfic logic' story then Equestria will dissolve and shatter in a few months. Workers and citizens that are needed for its functioning are being killed and raped, governing body as of now completely killed, new ruler has no idea how to actually rule and is a massive temper tantrum child with god powers, and her barbarian bred army most probably can't do anything but fight, and their discipline is abysmal. Seriously! One disobeyed direct order from NMM while being next room just because she was thinking with her cunt! Another idiot colonel deliberately threatened to delay her order to blackmail fellow officer of military grade potions! This doesn't look as disciplined army, nor it shows NMM as a competent ruler.
I may be ranting a bit, but I've read some dark "Nightmare wins" stories that had similar revenge subplots and morally unrestrained NMM, yet she was very precise with separating personal whims and crown business. She wanted an intact and prospering Equestria to rule, and subjects that were showing initiative along with being fully obedient to her will.
Current NMM still has a possibility of being something bigger than sex-and-revenge driven tantrum child with alicorn powers and edgy thestral entourage.
Well for the first question I’d say straight up no. Nightmare moon is a creature created from obsession and jealousy, a combo that when put together will mean it will never end. She was killing random nobles to simple pass the time, when she could have just dealt with them and moved on. She’s doing these things because she can, not to be efficient in creating a new government. Maybe if she did get Celestia she would have felt a little release but me thinks that they way she has allowed her troops to torment the citizens of canterlot, she would have allowed them to do the exact same. She has no goal outside of causing this pain to celestia. And to tie this into the second question, think that might be why Celestia killed herself, after failing to defeat her sister and the release of daybreaker, Celestia felt there was no stopping nightmare and sent her army’s to fight, knowing that they’ll probably fail but also knowing that if they don’t fight the same fate awaits them.
I think she new that daybreaker could maybe defeat nightmare (as seen in the show) but would have been nothing but destruction after that, like a super Nova destroying everything in its path. Celestia may have just been a coward and didn’t want to face her sister’s raph, become too comfortable to Princess life that anything remotely dark would break her, but I don’t think so. I think anyone who had to watch thousands die over a lifetime like hers had to be a very strong resolve and spirit, one not easily broken.
And finally I think Nightmare is probably gunna breed Twilight, and turn her into her own little student of evil. Shining is probably gunna be make to live and suffer, if his line about wanting to die is any indication. Night Light judging by how he just gets blasted whenever he speaks is probably just gunna be killed, how I dunno. Or maybe she’ll take a liking to him simple because he first names Night lol. Velvet is the wildcard for me, there been no foreshadowing as I can tell and atm she’s just kinda been dragged along. Which in a horrible way makes me most interested in her, as I truly have no idea.
On a random note, is Cadence gunna be anywhere in this fic. Be interesting if she wants to try corrupt Cadence as she does Twilight or is she seen as a waste of time.
I like the comments about how Nightmare's way too nuts to make her reign last, and I totally agree with that. I'm sure this story won't go into it, but I'd like to see a thestral coup once the scales of karma are finally rebalanced, and it's only the Queen that has to answer for her new crimes. I'm sure it would take several long years, and no country ever like Equestria would be reborn, but I can see several political upheavals happening between more moderate factions that want their infrastructure to actually function, and power hungry bat barbarians. It would be a interesting time!
Time for round two of trying my hand at answering things! Let's get on too it.
1: “Do you think Nightmare Moon will be able to extract enough suffering from Twilight? Or is her fate to be only a sliver of the pain that must be suffered to bring justice?”
This has much more going on than just Twilight. NMM believes that all things must be paid in equals well speaking as if there is some cosmic force that judges this. So if this can ‘bring justice’ lies in fogy lines as all things like this can be. For this is an act in faith. And religions can be hard monsters juge. How can they know if she did make all things equal? Like a priest slaying a cow to please the gods for a good year. What happens if that promised good does not come? Twilight can suffer and scream as much as NMM wanted but if what she believes the outcome must be fails to happen than such an act was pointless. What will her army think? Fear alone can not keep them all in line so faith must be held. What leads to the outcome. If they think Twilight can not pay the price alone more will have to pay it until the ‘justice’ was delivered and the world was fixed. If it ever can be.
2: “What did you think of Celestia's decision? Was it her? Was it Daybreaker? Was it a lie from Nightmare Moon?”
First I must make it known I LOVE Daybreaker, may the empire of the sun live on forever. Now let's break down what we know… and that is jack and his shit. All we know is that NMM was willing to tell a broken, hopeless family. And can tie in to the first thing in a way. What if the death of Celestia/Daybreaker failed to deliver what was hoped? Such a thing can lead to full on chaos and a crisis of faith so an easy way out is to blame her more. She cheated them out of the promised outcome not NMM. She is leading them with the truth and the oh so greedy Celestia cheated them in her death. How and why she cheated them is so… odd. It feels like a lie to make NMM and her army feel like they are doing everything just and was her that cheated them again. An easy scapegoat and allowing NMM the power to place the blame on Twilight as the one too carry all the sins now. And ties in nicely with the first part. If Twilight fails to deliver whatever they hope for it will just move on to others.
3: And just what is in store for the Sparkles?
Well from the sound of it she doesn't want Twilight to die. This may be due to the death Celestia not delivering what was wanted. So the plans changed for a more long term path that can be played in slower time. Replacing instantaneous payoff with the hope of long term vectery in the torment of Twilight and a family line to hold the burden of flat. Then mix in the hope that somehow if she changes views to fall in line with whatever faith they hold this will fix the world. If not? Then odds are more shall die. If they don’t keep on killing in the interim that is.
So a more clear cut take, she’s going to be the scapegoat and key to fixing everything well giveing NMM time to work out what went wrong with her first plan and how to keep the faith of her army in her and what they are doing. Something much more easy to do with you can trail about something for them all to blame for past sins. Rather she lives or dies matters not. All that can matter is the masses believe the price was paid.
[PS: Remember kids there are only war crimes if you lose!]
10118564 Hey, as I said, it's okay as long as this is temporary and we get some actual ruling and stuff when she's done. I'm just ranting a bit as an connoisseur of the NMM-wins fanfics.
Lord knows I'm a slut for exposition. And finally, the big bad moonass has shown herself. Nice chapter.
Do you think Nightmare Moon will be able to extract enough suffering from Twilight? Or is her fate to be only a sliver of the pain that must be suffered to bring justice?
That's gonna be a solid no. Nightmare Moon has herself deadset on torturing Celestia until the end of time. I can't see her being willing to accept any substitutes, no matter what she says about the karmic balance of the universe and the likes. She already killed the entire royal court, and before Twilight and her family got there, she was obviously enjoying what she was doing beyond some sense of karmic duty as evident by how viciously creative she was with the executions. Twilight is a consolation prize at best and another plaything at worst. If you want to go strictly from a point of view of equivalent exchange, there is no way she, a normal unicorn child, can experience the suffering of an immortal alicorn trapped in a hellscape that was trying to destroy her body for a thousand years.
In addition, I don't believe for a second that the thestral army wouldn't have raped and pillaged Canterlot had Celestia not turned into Daybreaker. Think about it. What better way to torture Celestia then to destroy what she's built right in front of her and butcher her ponies while she's powerless to stop it.
What did you think of Celestia's decision? Was it her? Was it Daybreaker? Was it a lie from Nightmare Moon?
Well, we know for a fact that Celestia returned to Canterlot as Daybreaker, mane aflame like a candle in a rainstorm, so Nightmare Moon can't be lying entirely. Everything about that encounter as Nightmare Moon described it is believable right up until it mentions Daybreaker retreating. You have to remember what Daybreaker is. Daybreaker is Celestia's equivalent of Nightmare Moon. What they are could be argued about endlessly, but really, that doesn't matter to answer the question. Can you imagine Nightmare Moon retreating in any situation and not fighting to the last man, herself included? I certainly can't, and on the basis of what Moony and Daybreaker represent, I can't see Daybreaker running from that fight either. Who knows what actually happened that caused her to flee.
As for who actually initiated the transformation, I'm not sure that can actually be answered. I believe that it was Celestia's choice. A last-ditch effort after seeing her sister would not back down and that her own armies were terribly outmatched.
And just what is in store for the Sparkles?
Well, I think that question has a fairly simple answer. Only Twilight is going to continue her family line, meaning Shining Armour is either a dead stallion or about have his family jewels reduced to gravel. From there...I'm pretty sure we all know that the Thestrals got their massive cocks from their 'mother'.
Good points. I read this as an extermination. I.e, Nightmare moon isn't going to live in Canterlot, she's just ruining everything her sister created. The Thestrals follow her around because she spoke to them in their dreams so she's literally a diety come to earthquestria... and they're going to follow her orders because otherwise it means death.
I had one last thought; if the revenge is supposed to be a karmic comeuppance for being leeches, I think there's a scene missing where we're shown that. It's really hard to throw unicorns under the bus as a reader right now.
Gotta say I was half expecting Shining to be flayed and still alive cause magic and have the rest of the family break mentally upon seeing him. This was a nice alternative to that Glad we got to see more than just rape in this chapter! This felt more in line with what I mentioned expecting to see in a conquered city in my last comment. Was also hoping to see an interaction with Blueblood but I'm assuming he either fled early on or is at the bottom of that pile of nobles. To answer the questions, I feel its a bit ooc for Celestia to supposedly (and I say that since it's NM's objective to break the Sparkle family, she'll say anything to achieve that goal) act so cowardly as to sacrifice her army, city then finally take her own life, me thinks she's a sore loser on that last point. Daybreaker on the other hand I can see doing all of that and more (especially if she had won) and this was about her, but it's not. I'm willing to bet she lost the duel on the field then got beheaded and NM marched into Canterlot with her sisters head kinda like the Persians in 300 did with the skulls of fallen kings riding to Sparta. What's in store for the Sparkles? A lot of misery and rape I'm sure! I can see Night light being killed off first since He's been pushing NM several times now and she is most assuredly NOT amused by it. Same can be said for Velvet but I'm willing to bet NM forces Twilight to watch her mother and brother fuck before it's her turn. I can see NM acting a lot like Ramsay in GoT if she wants nothing more than to torture them but if she happened to want to sway them to her side (seems like she might, more so with Twilight than the rest tho), she could at benevolent and promise the pain will stop if they submit to her, but that would take the fun out of this story wouldn't it? I imagine NM will try her best to turn both of the children to her side but probably knows Shining is to 'loyal' to Celestia to ever break thus forcing her to kill him. Either that or she succeeds and he turns becoming a *ahem* SHINING example of her new rule. Speaking of Shining can't help wonder where Cadance is in all this, think it's safe to say they were dating at this time. Is she dead? Ran away? Being ferociously gang banged by a bunch of well endowed Thestrals that forced her to drink that poison and is currently getting knocked up by bat pony spunk? Why yes I have been on this site for too long...why do you you ask?
“Satanic bitch.” The lieutenant growled up at the gruesome, softly-swinging body part as she walked under the head, before spitting into the pool of blood.
I researched the freemason, their history, their connection with the world bank and all their quote/unquote "fellows". I studied their histories: reaching waaay back to the papal bills of Justinian, the Vatican and their TRUST-LAW and DOG-LATIN grammatical deception, the templars etc etc to finally reaching the end of the rabbit hole to King Solomon at 930BC.
Suffice to say... their sins, their wars and deceptions, I know it all. I don't think I can forgive them, because of them I and everyone else were borne into bondage (the worst form of bondage)... but to see that there are people that pray for their souls... it humbled me. I had a "wow" moment there, when I read you comment. To know what they did and still hoping for their redemption? Your a good man buddy, maybe better than me.
Nightmare Moon? If she is as damaged as they are, then the Author written interpretation is arguably SPOT ON.
Bull and the one on one fight nightmare Moon is being sweet.
“I called her out, for one on one combat.” Nightmare Moon deadpanned. “And just when I had won, when I had struck her down… she transformed into the evil solar tyrant I knew her to be - Daybreaker… and instead of accepting her fate nobly, sparing this realm from war… she ran… she ran and signaled the charge of her armies, dooming her guardsmen to bleed in her place.”
Celestia is stronger than Luna and nightmare Moon. And I'm 100% sure a reckless daybreaker is stronger than both of them by 10x. Increased on the part where she said see attacked an innocent village after beating all the soldiers and what was supposed to be a landslide. And if I have to guess Celestia would not fight nightmare Moon because of Luna. Cuz even in their first fight Celestia hold back until she use the elements to banish her. But to my knowledge the elements chooses the punishment not the user.
Okay maybe I'm coming from a different understanding but we can all agree she is insane right. If this is a following the original history see either written in her mind or truly believes what happened happened and because of some weird cosmic comedy or tragedy she can take it out on people who weren't even alive at the same time as her or her sister. So she's playing the crazy tyrant pretty well. Excluding all the planning Celestia did this to somehow lose to someone that I think that cannot squeeze out a realistic plan then the night will last forever.
My presence hath been doubled! Glory to Nightmare Moon!
I don't think this is the right question, considering how twisted her idea of justice is and how mentally unstable she acts for now. I think the question is: Would Nightmare Moon break out of her raging and vengeful streak before she destroys Twilight or after?
And it's hard to guess for now. She does look punishment drunk, she's wasting perfectly good and I assume professional ponies of every position to enact no-win 'tests' that result in death that she calls justice. Yet, she does seem just as quick to punish her own soldiers if they displeasure her or disobey her orders, and from thestrals actions she always was like that with them - they are absolutely terrified of her.
I lean to the possibility that NMM will push and punish, drunk of victory and sure of the rightness of her choice, untill Twilight either breaks that confidence and somehow makes NMM confront her actions, or simply breaks just when NMM starts to actually connect and like her as an interesting change from sniveling ponies and thestral servants. Just as Twilight shapes to possible student, her will and mind give up, leaving NMM to new pain and loss of entirely her own making. Irony will be rich.
Of course, there is a possibility of student succeeding her master, as per Sith code. Twilight is brilliant, in canon she already is more powerful than Celestia, and if that brilliant mind of her throws away shackles of morality, oh, both light and darkness will tremble!
Well, if head Twilight seen is indeed Daybreaker looking, then at least that part is true. To break it down in bite-sized points:
Called her out to one on one and won?
Possible, as Celestia would be trying to reach her sister and hold herself, while Nightmare has no such qualms. Maybe seeing and understanding that there's no chance to reach out to her is what brought Daybreaker out.
Daybreaker breaking out, running and calling her armies?
Huge doubt here. Daybreaker is controlling and prideful freak, from what we had seen of her. She would call her armies, but she would also absolutely lead the charge. And if it's some kind of double personality, at least both Celestia and Daybreaker would agree that trusting ruthless and revenge-crazy Nightmare word that should she accept her defeat her ponies would be spared is absolutely stupid.
Not to mention, NMM keeps contradicting herself. She is talking about having plans for the next thousand years with Celestia, and next talks about her baring neck for killing blow (and it would be killing, as we see decapitated head didn't come alive per magical immortality mentioned earlier ). She is talking that Celestia 'killed herself with that transformation' next mentions that defeated, she managed to transform, and get out from battle with Nightmare long enough to get her army into the battle.
Liar, liar, stars on fire.
That "Twilight Sparkle shall continue your family’s descent" line pretty much ensures her father's castration or something like that. Mother... maybe just will be made into breeder for thestral progeny. Still, Sparkles have high possibility of keeping on living due to Nightmare having interest in them, and them being Twilight's family.
Shining almost certainly gets delegated to someone lower than Nightmare for breaking and remaking into soldier and symbol of regime's power.
Twilight, as I stated before, has one of the three roads. And I still find it funny that Nightmare herself admitted that Luna broke from the exile and pain, and Nightmare, more powerful, dangerous and resilient, rose from her ashes. And now she is planning to break Twilight. It looks like some self-destructive behavior, because Twilight broken and remade into something stronger would be the one to have motive, power and position to absolutely destroy her.
There's also Elements, Discord and Tirek to consider, but I have no idea if they'll even be introduced in this story. Very interested in seeing how Nightmare is as an actual ruler or would it be some kind of Arthas-like destruction of the country that ultimately breaks it into pieces and leads to her death.
10117443
I would like to bring this up:
Unless NM put an illusion spell of some kind on the head, it seems like Celestia did become Daybreaker. It matches up with the description that when she returned, her mane was on fire, but sputtering.
10117469
That's a fair point!
>Do you think Nightmare Moon will be able to extract enough suffering from Twilight? Or is her fate to be only a sliver of the pain that must be suffered to bring justice?
Well that's the thing about revenge; it can never change the past, so it can't address the root cause. If one is too fixated to forgive and move on, they will never move past it. That's why the middle east has been at war for 1400 years, if you consider the sunni-shia conflict to be a war. Violence never brings true peace, and its ends never justify the means. So no amount of suffering will satisfy NMM. Despite anything she might say to the contrary.
>What did you think of Celestia's decision? Was it her? Was it Daybreaker? Was it a lie from Nightmare Moon?
Well if it were a lie that would be less dark, So I bet it was Celestia's decision. Maybe I'm weird - well definitely - but I'm so jaded these days that I expect nothing from idols, or perhaps don't Idolize people anymore. So there's no shock when a character doesn't act up to their station. The way I see it, shattered innocence isn't dark, it's inevitable. If you build expectations up more for the characters and the reader, then it will be more impactful when you rip them away. Gotta change things up once in a while; keep people on their toes.
>And just what is in store for the Sparkles?
Seeing as Nightmare Moon just implied Twilight Velvet was going to have grandfoals, pretty obvious how this will play out for Twilight Sparkle. Maybe she'll get the love poison, maybe NMM has another plan... As for the parents, they are not necessary for that, though Shining might be of use. Whatever NMM's whims are, there will likely be plenty of suffering to go around.
10117443
Ah! Good catch, didn't mean to double count you, you're at 5. Fixing that now.
Great comment again, really fun to see how you are studying the work.
10117469
I absolutely meant to imply that the head is Celestia in daybreaker form.
My question was about whether Daybreaker had driven Celestia to suicide in a final fit of prideful rage.
10117470
A fiery mane that burns even in death.
10117490
True. It may just be nightmare moons madness, but I do like the idea that the thaumic nature of the world demands karmic retribution, and since celestia didn't stick around to bear that suffering, others must accept it in her place.
This doesn't pertain to the questions, but I thought it was a cool idea:
What if Twilight tried to summon Celestia's soul, but because she was Daybreaker for a time, it got corrupted? So when Twilight tries to talk to Celestia, she blames Twilight for her and everyone's deaths, destroying her world. It would be really crushing on Twilight's psyche, and would be a nice way to add some depth and complexity to the grimdark tone.
10117605
That's kind of terrible though. It removes the agency of the antagonists and limits the directions the story can take, forcing it down narrow path with few opportunities for interesting twists or surprises. It feels like a cop-out, my man.
10117668
Ehh... I don't see it as a cop out? It's a motivating force for Nightmare Moon?
I actually like the idea of trying to measure 1000 years of suffering for one against the distributed suffering of many.
I don't mean that it restricts nightmare moons choices in any way.
10117655
Interesting, but Twilight is a fairly Junior have at this point. Necromancy is out if her scope... And she is still wearing an inhibitor now.
10117701
Doesn't it though? It's not like NMM can decide not to cause suffering anymore. Without karma, she's doing the things she does out of a personal want for revenge. With karma her wants no longer matter, even if the results line up with her current desires. The things in the story no longer happen because of NMM, but because of an outside force and she is just the current mechanism through which those events are being carried out. That doesn't sound like having much of a choice in anything.
10117743
Hmm.
Maybe I'm not portraying it quite right, but I see the force as just that... a force. It can be resisted or overcome. Celestia managed to sustain an out of balance state for a millenium.
NMM could resist.
But she won't.
Blah. Good chapter, but I'm missing something to be insightful tonight. I appreciate all the creativity in all the executions Nightmare Moon was carrying out, that kind of thing is much harder to write well then it's often given credit for, I think.
Nightmare Moon is wonderfully petty, I really like that. Not to say her suffering was small or forgiveable or anything, but she's manically addicted to just rubbing it in. The idea of universal karma is definitely an interesting one, and I like it as a framework and justification, but I also think it's just something that the Nightmare Queen's shattered psyche is using as an excuse because she's mad she didn't get her way. She wanted to kill Celestia so much, and now she's just throwing a huge temper tantrum over the entire thing.
Actual Questions:
Twilight can't possibly suffer enough. A thousand years of misery and pain is a lot, and Twi is just one pony. She's going to break far before Nightmare gets her fill – I'd expect Twilight to start accepting her situation, to really rationalize how she deserves it, and this is the way things should be. In a way that Luna obviously never got to, to stayed in.
I really like Celestia turning to Daybreaker as she starts to lose, losing faith in everything and attempting to flee as her kingdom of cards, apparently karmically powered by the misery of an alicorn begins to collapse. I can buy that she had pride and offed herself to deny Nightmare Moon the opportunity, or to avoid confronting her own true defeat; but personally my headcanon of her characterization would chalk it up more to raw fear. I'm sure Nightmare Moon was very explicit about what she suffered through, and what she was capable of inflicting on her dear sister. Even if all she claimed and intended was a just execution, as she says, I don't think a Celestia who's used to thinking of herself as a singular invincible goddess would believe that. As she has to confront a force that can compete with her, that is stronger than her, for the first time in a very long time, I can absolutely see her being terrorized at how vulnerable she can truly be.
What's in store for the Sparkles, now this is hard. I'm guessing at mind control for Velvet. Twilight's gotta stay cognizant and herself, that's important for Nightmare's little play. She seems to solely care about the student her, and the rest of her family are just tools to torment her with.
Nightmare Moon's going to get a massive futa cock, as the tags suggest, and breed the hell out of Twilight's mom, who eagerly accepts it, cucking the hell out of Night Light. Twilight just gets to watch as her family is torn apart and they suffer, twisted so far from the loving idyllic life she should have. She'll get lightly bullied for the first major scene, but not really be a sexual participant just yet – if we were going to get a big Shining breeding scene immediately, don't think you'd have changed gears from it here, so that'll probably be day after next.
Oh man, I almost forgot about the poor batty who was molesting Shiny! That was great too, I'm glad at least some of the 'corner stallions are getting used for something fun. And just watching her spine snap, and imagining her life trying to recover from that... Everything in this fic is really great. Thank you again for writing!
10117759
I definitely get what you mean, and it's – at least partly – the impresssion I got from the chapter itself. It's just an uncanny feeling, not one that can compel you to do something, just get to think you're right when you do it.
As a vague, abstract magical force, I assume it would be empirically measureable, but I also don't think it would really... do anything. At worst you've got a gauge somewhere that says 'Hey the world is too good', and I feel like any rational pony would be able to retort 'well that's just your opinion, man(a)'. The fact that Nightmare brings it up is just faux-moralizing to shield herself from criticism, which is an effective strategy in demoralizing your opponents in itself. Especially when they're insecure teenage girls!
10117767
A lovely response, seemed quite good and not uninsightful tbh!
You're catching the feel I wanted to portray for NMM, unhinged, petty... But perhaps a cold sense of justice underneath.
I like your hypothesis that Daybreaker was also cowardly. Not only was she too proud to suffer her just dessert, she was too scared as well.
10117786
Exactly.
I wanted it to be a haze between an actual thaumjc force, driving fate... And a compelling self-rationalization from a monster.
10117759
10117794
Fair enough.
I don't understand the question. At this point, Nightmare Moon is just a psychopath who's got a hard-on for original sin. Let's say she could make Twilight immortal and force her to sit on the moon for 1000 years. Truly an eye for an eye payback, right? What would it matter to Nightmare Moon? How would she get justice out of that if she was never wronged by Twilight? So an ultra accelerated hell isn't any more valid.
Beyond this, she comes up with two additional story threads. First, that she created the Thestral race over 1000 years through selective breeding. These bats now follow Nightmare Moon because they had a tradition of worshiping her as a god, and she's fucking crazy and fucking crazy powerful. However, they must have been horrible rapists before Nightmare Moon returned, since they presumably would have needed to be trained for battle and have all the gear long before Nightmare moon came back, including love poison. That's just how they roll. There's a hint in an earlier chapter that the Thestrals were slaves in a mine. If that's the case, shouldn't the unicorns have had a canary in that mine, so to speak?
The Thestrals were a barbarian horde before Nightmare moon returned. The horde wants to kill unicorns in general. Nightmare Moon wants to torture Celestia, then Twilight. But then why does Nightmare moon also want to destroy Canterlot and the populace? She doesn't seem to care about Thestrals except for their ability to be useful tools. The second story thread is about how unicorns were magic capitalists hoarding all of the magical resources, and this is the justification for this genocide? The villains are just a pack of moral-free, horny assholes who now think (or know) they can beat Canterlot because their psychopath super saijin regolith snorter can't think straight.
Anyway, I guess my point is that nightmare moon doesn't have a point, she's just an insane sadist. And the Thestrals are as well, since they're also genetically sadists. Whatever story they come up with will never measure up to a proper justification.
Ultimately though, it's a rape fetish story, so justifying the rape fetish is going to be difficult and nonessential.
I think this detail is more interesting unanswered. I'm guessing it will not come up in the story again. Whether it's Celestia being a coward or Daybreaker being crazy doesn't change Nightmare Moon's behavior at this point. In chapter 1, we see it's Daybreaker returning to Canterlot castle. Therefore, I think it was 'her' in charge. Whether she killed herself or choked on a pretzel doesn't matter.
Nightmare moon will sire some progeny with Twilight, the rest will be toys before death. There's still an incest tag, so there will also be some brotherly fucking. Maybe a forced blowjob since Nightmare Moon won't want anyone else touching Twilight's baby maker. Earlier I thought that Twilight would get the magical cock and be corrupted, but now I don't think either will happen.
10117605
Well sure if you want to think of Karma as some esoteric thing, but I assure you it is real: It stems from psychology and sociology of large, highly interconnected societies. If almost everyone knows a guy who knows tom brady, the president, etc, then anything bad you put out into the world come back at you just due to people's response to it. It goes beyond just the reputation you develop in a society: if you do harm to someone, they may consider you an enemy to compete against in the future. The more interconnected society becomes, the more real Karma is.
But whatevs, go with esoteric magic hand-waving if it makes you happy.
As for Nightmare Moon's mental state, and you don't have to believe me on this one - probably safer if you don't - but it reminds me of the 33rd degree freemasons that rule our country: They want to do good, but they have been too damaged by life to know how anymore. I pray they break through one day.
10117901
I do have a hope she's just drunk on victory and Celestia's death and temporarily acts like an unhinged amoral monster instead of (hopefully) more sane and rational monster. Because if she's actually like that, and it's not just 'clopfic logic' story then Equestria will dissolve and shatter in a few months. Workers and citizens that are needed for its functioning are being killed and raped, governing body as of now completely killed, new ruler has no idea how to actually rule and is a massive temper tantrum child with god powers, and her barbarian bred army most probably can't do anything but fight, and their discipline is abysmal. Seriously! One disobeyed direct order from NMM while being next room just because she was thinking with her cunt! Another idiot colonel deliberately threatened to delay her order to blackmail fellow officer of military grade potions! This doesn't look as disciplined army, nor it shows NMM as a competent ruler.
I may be ranting a bit, but I've read some dark "Nightmare wins" stories that had similar revenge subplots and morally unrestrained NMM, yet she was very precise with separating personal whims and crown business. She wanted an intact and prospering Equestria to rule, and subjects that were showing initiative along with being fully obedient to her will.
Current NMM still has a possibility of being something bigger than sex-and-revenge driven tantrum child with alicorn powers and edgy thestral entourage.
Clops, this is a story I never expected from you. It's quite the interesting piece, and I'm checking for updates on the daily.
I have a feeling the male sparkles are about to castrated.
Well for the first question I’d say straight up no. Nightmare moon is a creature created from obsession and jealousy, a combo that when put together will mean it will never end. She was killing random nobles to simple pass the time, when she could have just dealt with them and moved on. She’s doing these things because she can, not to be efficient in creating a new government. Maybe if she did get Celestia she would have felt a little release but me thinks that they way she has allowed her troops to torment the citizens of canterlot, she would have allowed them to do the exact same. She has no goal outside of causing this pain to celestia. And to tie this into the second question, think that might be why Celestia killed herself, after failing to defeat her sister and the release of daybreaker, Celestia felt there was no stopping nightmare and sent her army’s to fight, knowing that they’ll probably fail but also knowing that if they don’t fight the same fate awaits them.
I think she new that daybreaker could maybe defeat nightmare (as seen in the show) but would have been nothing but destruction after that, like a super Nova destroying everything in its path. Celestia may have just been a coward and didn’t want to face her sister’s raph, become too comfortable to Princess life that anything remotely dark would break her, but I don’t think so. I think anyone who had to watch thousands die over a lifetime like hers had to be a very strong resolve and spirit, one not easily broken.
And finally I think Nightmare is probably gunna breed Twilight, and turn her into her own little student of evil. Shining is probably gunna be make to live and suffer, if his line about wanting to die is any indication. Night Light judging by how he just gets blasted whenever he speaks is probably just gunna be killed, how I dunno. Or maybe she’ll take a liking to him simple because he first names Night lol.
Velvet is the wildcard for me, there been no foreshadowing as I can tell and atm she’s just kinda been dragged along. Which in a horrible way makes me most interested in her, as I truly have no idea.
On a random note, is Cadence gunna be anywhere in this fic. Be interesting if she wants to try corrupt Cadence as she does Twilight or is she seen as a waste of time.
10117901
Great comment.
I kind of imagine that NMM's influence would be hidden and difficult to detect by it's very nature...
Celestia's metaphysical gaze was too focused on the moon to notice the sudden growth of a powerful underclass nation in the barren North.
10118143
Haha, there's definetly different beliefs about karma, we obviously feel differently.
I do think in Equestria it's more tangible than in our world.
10118188
Hey, she just won the victory that she'd planned for hundreds of years, she gets a couple of weeks to party, right?
And if her stern control isn't being exerted over her warriors, things might get a bit.... Sticky.
10118467
That's an interesting take to see Daybreaker as a noble martyr, trying to save as many of her people from torment as possible.
You might make a good propagandist for the Pony underground.
I think she was just a coward, long love NMM!
I like the comments about how Nightmare's way too nuts to make her reign last, and I totally agree with that. I'm sure this story won't go into it, but I'd like to see a thestral coup once the scales of karma are finally rebalanced, and it's only the Queen that has to answer for her new crimes. I'm sure it would take several long years, and no country ever like Equestria would be reborn, but I can see several political upheavals happening between more moderate factions that want their infrastructure to actually function, and power hungry bat barbarians. It would be a interesting time!
Time for round two of trying my hand at answering things! Let's get on too it.
1: “Do you think Nightmare Moon will be able to extract enough suffering from Twilight? Or is her fate to be only a sliver of the pain that must be suffered to bring justice?”
This has much more going on than just Twilight. NMM believes that all things must be paid in equals well speaking as if there is some cosmic force that judges this. So if this can ‘bring justice’ lies in fogy lines as all things like this can be. For this is an act in faith. And religions can be hard monsters juge. How can they know if she did make all things equal? Like a priest slaying a cow to please the gods for a good year. What happens if that promised good does not come? Twilight can suffer and scream as much as NMM wanted but if what she believes the outcome must be fails to happen than such an act was pointless. What will her army think? Fear alone can not keep them all in line so faith must be held. What leads to the outcome. If they think Twilight can not pay the price alone more will have to pay it until the ‘justice’ was delivered and the world was fixed. If it ever can be.
2: “What did you think of Celestia's decision? Was it her? Was it Daybreaker? Was it a lie from Nightmare Moon?”
First I must make it known I LOVE Daybreaker, may the empire of the sun live on forever. Now let's break down what we know… and that is jack and his shit. All we know is that NMM was willing to tell a broken, hopeless family. And can tie in to the first thing in a way. What if the death of Celestia/Daybreaker failed to deliver what was hoped? Such a thing can lead to full on chaos and a crisis of faith so an easy way out is to blame her more. She cheated them out of the promised outcome not NMM. She is leading them with the truth and the oh so greedy Celestia cheated them in her death. How and why she cheated them is so… odd. It feels like a lie to make NMM and her army feel like they are doing everything just and was her that cheated them again. An easy scapegoat and allowing NMM the power to place the blame on Twilight as the one too carry all the sins now. And ties in nicely with the first part. If Twilight fails to deliver whatever they hope for it will just move on to others.
3: And just what is in store for the Sparkles?
Well from the sound of it she doesn't want Twilight to die. This may be due to the death Celestia not delivering what was wanted. So the plans changed for a more long term path that can be played in slower time. Replacing instantaneous payoff with the hope of long term vectery in the torment of Twilight and a family line to hold the burden of flat. Then mix in the hope that somehow if she changes views to fall in line with whatever faith they hold this will fix the world. If not? Then odds are more shall die. If they don’t keep on killing in the interim that is.
So a more clear cut take, she’s going to be the scapegoat and key to fixing everything well giveing NMM time to work out what went wrong with her first plan and how to keep the faith of her army in her and what they are doing. Something much more easy to do with you can trail about something for them all to blame for past sins. Rather she lives or dies matters not. All that can matter is the masses believe the price was paid.
[PS: Remember kids there are only war crimes if you lose!]
10118564
Hey, as I said, it's okay as long as this is temporary and we get some actual ruling and stuff when she's done. I'm just ranting a bit as an connoisseur of the NMM-wins fanfics.
10118143
10117605
Ok I think I see what you're going for: Nightmare Moon will take Twilight Sparkle and bend her to her cause. That's my prediction.
Lord knows I'm a slut for exposition. And finally, the big bad moonass has shown herself. Nice chapter.
That's gonna be a solid no. Nightmare Moon has herself deadset on torturing Celestia until the end of time. I can't see her being willing to accept any substitutes, no matter what she says about the karmic balance of the universe and the likes. She already killed the entire royal court, and before Twilight and her family got there, she was obviously enjoying what she was doing beyond some sense of karmic duty as evident by how viciously creative she was with the executions. Twilight is a consolation prize at best and another plaything at worst. If you want to go strictly from a point of view of equivalent exchange, there is no way she, a normal unicorn child, can experience the suffering of an immortal alicorn trapped in a hellscape that was trying to destroy her body for a thousand years.
In addition, I don't believe for a second that the thestral army wouldn't have raped and pillaged Canterlot had Celestia not turned into Daybreaker. Think about it. What better way to torture Celestia then to destroy what she's built right in front of her and butcher her ponies while she's powerless to stop it.
Well, we know for a fact that Celestia returned to Canterlot as Daybreaker, mane aflame like a candle in a rainstorm, so Nightmare Moon can't be lying entirely. Everything about that encounter as Nightmare Moon described it is believable right up until it mentions Daybreaker retreating. You have to remember what Daybreaker is. Daybreaker is Celestia's equivalent of Nightmare Moon. What they are could be argued about endlessly, but really, that doesn't matter to answer the question. Can you imagine Nightmare Moon retreating in any situation and not fighting to the last man, herself included? I certainly can't, and on the basis of what Moony and Daybreaker represent, I can't see Daybreaker running from that fight either. Who knows what actually happened that caused her to flee.
As for who actually initiated the transformation, I'm not sure that can actually be answered. I believe that it was Celestia's choice. A last-ditch effort after seeing her sister would not back down and that her own armies were terribly outmatched.
Well, I think that question has a fairly simple answer. Only Twilight is going to continue her family line, meaning Shining Armour is either a dead stallion or about have his family jewels reduced to gravel. From there...I'm pretty sure we all know that the Thestrals got their massive cocks from their 'mother'.
10118188
Good points. I read this as an extermination. I.e, Nightmare moon isn't going to live in Canterlot, she's just ruining everything her sister created. The Thestrals follow her around because she spoke to them in their dreams so she's literally a diety come to ea
rthquestria... and they're going to follow her orders because otherwise it means death.10118559
I had one last thought; if the revenge is supposed to be a karmic comeuppance for being leeches, I think there's a scene missing where we're shown that. It's really hard to throw unicorns under the bus as a reader right now.
Gotta say I was half expecting Shining to be flayed and still alive cause magic and have the rest of the family break mentally upon seeing him. This was a nice alternative to that
Glad we got to see more than just rape in this chapter! This felt more in line with what I mentioned expecting to see in a conquered city in my last comment.
Was also hoping to see an interaction with Blueblood but I'm assuming he either fled early on or is at the bottom of that pile of nobles.
To answer the questions,
I feel its a bit ooc for Celestia to supposedly (and I say that since it's NM's objective to break the Sparkle family, she'll say anything to achieve that goal) act so cowardly as to sacrifice her army, city then finally take her own life, me thinks she's a sore loser on that last point. Daybreaker on the other hand I can see doing all of that and more (especially if she had won) and this was about her, but it's not. I'm willing to bet she lost the duel on the field then got beheaded and NM marched into Canterlot with her sisters head kinda like the Persians in 300 did with the skulls of fallen kings riding to Sparta.
What's in store for the Sparkles? A lot of misery and rape I'm sure! I can see Night light being killed off first since He's been pushing NM several times now and she is most assuredly NOT amused by it. Same can be said for Velvet but I'm willing to bet NM forces Twilight to watch her mother and brother fuck before it's her turn. I can see NM acting a lot like Ramsay in GoT if she wants nothing more than to torture them but if she happened to want to sway them to her side (seems like she might, more so with Twilight than the rest tho), she could at benevolent and promise the pain will stop if they submit to her, but that would take the fun out of this story wouldn't it?
I imagine NM will try her best to turn both of the children to her side but probably knows Shining is to 'loyal' to Celestia to ever break thus forcing her to kill him. Either that or she succeeds and he turns becoming a *ahem* SHINING example of her new rule. Speaking of Shining can't help wonder where Cadance is in all this, think it's safe to say they were dating at this time. Is she dead? Ran away? Being ferociously gang banged by a bunch of well endowed Thestrals that forced her to drink that poison and is currently getting knocked up by bat pony spunk?
Why yes I have been on this site for too long...why do you you ask?
10119991
Not sure where Cadence is, Blue bloods definitely at the bottom of that our of nobles.
Or maybe he was a collaborator and opened the gates, and is now getting his choice of pony slaves.
In
no
[This would just kill anything, but let's assume NM is using her magic to JUST break the spine and do it in this way for fun]
https://youtu.be/ScyTKNuyVsw
10118143
You sir are one good man, I mean it.
I researched the freemason, their history, their connection with the world bank and all their quote/unquote "fellows". I studied their histories: reaching waaay back to the papal bills of Justinian, the Vatican and their TRUST-LAW and DOG-LATIN grammatical deception, the templars etc etc to finally reaching the end of the rabbit hole to King Solomon at 930BC.
Suffice to say... their sins, their wars and deceptions, I know it all. I don't think I can forgive them, because of them I and everyone else were borne into bondage (the worst form of bondage)... but to see that there are people that pray for their souls... it humbled me. I had a "wow" moment there, when I read you comment. To know what they did and still hoping for their redemption? Your a good man buddy, maybe better than me.
Nightmare Moon? If she is as damaged as they are, then the Author written interpretation is arguably SPOT ON.
Bull and the one on one fight nightmare Moon is being sweet.
Celestia is stronger than Luna and nightmare Moon. And I'm 100% sure a reckless daybreaker is stronger than both of them by 10x. Increased on the part where she said see attacked an innocent village after beating all the soldiers and what was supposed to be a landslide. And if I have to guess Celestia would not fight nightmare Moon because of Luna. Cuz even in their first fight Celestia hold back until she use the elements to banish her. But to my knowledge the elements chooses the punishment not the user.
Okay maybe I'm coming from a different understanding but we can all agree she is insane right. If this is a following the original history see either written in her mind or truly believes what happened happened and because of some weird cosmic comedy or tragedy she can take it out on people who weren't even alive at the same time as her or her sister. So she's playing the crazy tyrant pretty well. Excluding all the planning Celestia did this to somehow lose to someone that I think that cannot squeeze out a realistic plan then the night will last forever.