On Luna · 7:09pm Jan 31st, 2013
Bit of a quickie, but there’s something that has been bothering me about Luna, and that’s her appearance. It’s something that struck me as odd the first time I saw her and it’s been really nagging me this season. Let me walk you through it why it has been bugging me.
We all remember of course how Luna looked when she was freed from the Nightmare:
The size difference completely got me off guard, why was Celestia’s sister so small compared to her? As far as I can tell Luna is the same size as any other ordinary pony, at the most just a tad taller.
Although I didn’t really dwell on it after that, as we didn’t see Luna again during season 1. Until she appeared in the Luna Eclipsed episode of season 2. Well here’s a wake up call:
My Luna certainly has grown, quite the different look from season 2. We now have a taller, more impressive alicorn with an ethereal mane like Celestia has. But here’s the part where my nagging begins. Remember this little scene?:
Luna transforms herself into Nightmare Moon (although she uses some fake teeth). Isn’t that a bit odd that she can do that? I’ll let you ponder that for a moment, lets carry on.
This season I was wondering if Luna might be bigger again. But no, she still looks the same as in season 2. The reason I was wondering this is how she’s depicted during the introduction in the pilot:
She’s just as big as Celestia is. Granted this could just be artistic license, and it’s been 1,000 years after all. Also Celestia’s mane doesn’t really match her current one, but neither does Luna’s mane. Could be me over analyzing a kids show, but this is what I noticed. :P
This lead my brain to create the following headcanon. Luna was so small because the Elements stripped her of most of her power. We saw her bigger and more powerful during season 2 as she was regaining this power. Basically growing back into her magical powers.
And here’s where the shape shifting becomes important. What if she grew more than we’ve seen so far? What if Nightmare Moon is closer to how she actually looks at full power? I’m not the only one who has been thinking this (excerpt from the story Rites Of Ascension, spoiler warning):
Luna brightened considerably, standing and pointing at her. “Yes! Exactly! By the heavens, I might be able to teach you yet.” She cleared away some of the books around her, but her demeanor quickly shifted back to somber. “There is, however, one more thing I need to be clear with you about. In order to guide your magic and teach you, I have to be able to have access to more of my magic.”
This just made her confused again, and such a back and forth was proving frustrating. “Am I blocking you somehow?”
Luna looked over to something that wasn’t there for a moment. “In a way, yes. Well, sister is right, I should just show you. Please, promise not to be scared or run away.”
Twilight nodded, confident but no less confused.
In a moment, Luna’s body was enveloped in light and grew. Seconds later, a familiar and terrifying figure stood before her: Nightmare Moon. For many moments, neither pony moved nor spoke; they merely stared at each other. After all, this was Nightmare Moon, the self-proclaimed Queen of Darkness, at one time the greatest threat to all of Equestria. A being whose very sight always instilled fear in her, even in pictures or when Luna temporarily took the form as a “disguise”.
A possibility occurred to her, and she began to reason it out. Alicorns are supposed to grow larger as they ascend. Luna was much smaller than Celestia right after we first defeated her. She was barely any bigger than a normal stallion! Then, she was larger on her return to Ponyville, and then grew even taller later.
Her head jolted up as the connection was made. Her mouth moved and spoke even though her brain demanded it to be silent, but the only concession it would make was to shout at a whisper.
“Luna is the disguise!”
“I see you have figured it out.” Even her voice was that of Nightmare Moon’s, although somehow a little less intimidating. In fact, it sounded as if it was Nightmare that was scared. Even her exact look was a little different. For instance, her colors had changed; she was a very dark shade of blue or even indigo rather than black. Her wing shape had changed, too, and the fangs were normal teeth. Still, if anypony on the street had seen her, they’d most certainly have identified this as the Nightmare herself. “Yes, this is the real me. It’s Luna here, not the insanity. I have to seal about two-thirds of my power to keep my, well, more approachable form.”
Yep, I have this headcanon that Luna is just as big as Celestia, about as powerful, and looks more like a softer version of Nightmare Moon (the teeth and eyes coming from the corruption, although that is also up for debate judging from her guards).
So, what do you think? Interesting take but am I over analyzing a kids show? Or did I stumble on something?
Doesn’t matter what you think though. Luna is still best pony.
PS - This ties in with my idea that Alicorns aren’t born but ‘ascend’. Either because they reach a certain magical power level or something inherent to the nature of magic causes this. The story Sharing the Night comes the closest to how I see this working. Ah well, lets see how much of this survives with the season 3 finale.
I can never decide who I like more, Twilight or Luna. So torn.
Well since we have so little to go on with Luna this is a pretty decent bit of headcanon. I'm a bit surprised that you consider Luna being able to transform into Nightmare Moon a 'thing' at all. Given how much symbolism the moon has in culture about changing, I'd be more shocked if she couldn't pretty much tweak her form as she pleased.
778143 Why not have both as best pony? Twilight is best pony from the mane six. Luna is best pony overal.
Her changing her shape easily is something I don't have an issue with. Just feels right for Luna, this was mostly about what put this idea in my head and why. Celestia I don't see doing this easily (plus if she could, she would be all "lets party!" with what we've seen so far from her).
I really hate myself that I didn't write down my little bit of headcanon that Luna could visit dreams. It would have been so nice to be able to say "called it!". Feel a bit like Rokas now...
Reason why I did it this time for this thing, lets see how close I actually am. Or if I'm going to crash and burn.
Do you mind if I use this theory for my own story?
3062857 Sure, but don't forget to send me the link of what you're written. Curious to see what you create with that idea. And if possible a mention is always appreciated.
3078087 Affirmative! Oh, and many thanks!
3078617 Oh, and the story, it's here.