//------------------------------// // Luna's Lesson // Story: Spike's Turnabout // by PonyJoel //------------------------------// The Royal Guards fly Princess Luna and Twilight Sparkle to Ponyville. For Twilight, it feels like a deja vu except, for one thing, Spike isn't with her. Twilight's heart pounds fast. She is unsure about learning the full meaning of Luna's lesson for today. Princess Luna meditates on the subject for today and hopes it'll give Twilight a better insight for becoming the next ruler of Equestria. The Royal Guards land in Ponyville. Princess Luna and Twilight thank them as they fly off. Everypony in Ponyville is happy to see Twilight once more. Princess Luna commands everypony to distance themselves from them. She told everyone that their visit is of utmost importance and she doesn't want to be disturbed. Everyone groans and goes their separate ways. Princess Luna walks to the remains of the Golden Oak Library. Twilight follows Luna while having butterflies in her stomach. "What do you see here, Twilight Sparkle?" Princess Luna question. "My home...destroyed..." Twilight said. She shed a few tears as she gazes at the structure. "Look deeper, Twilight. Not with your eyes. Tell me what you see." "I see..." Twilight pounders on what to say. All she sees is her home torn apart. "All I see is my home torn apart, Princess Luna," Twilight lowers her head in sadness. "What I see is a powerful, wretched creature creating havoc off of selfish desires. This building is a remnant of what selfish desires can cause. Selfish desires lead to certain doom." Twilight sighs heavily. She allowed her selfish desire to ruin someone she loves dearly. Now she will never see him again. She knows it deep down in her heart. "Why are you telling me this, Princess Luna?" "Reflecting on the past can open many doors, Twilight. Holding onto the past, however, disables you from moving forward. Learning this lesson takes time, understanding it will help you make better decisions as a Princess," Luna said, calmly. "How would it help me make better decisions, Luna?" "Instead of thinking out of stress and pressure, humble yourself," Luna looks at the skies. "The realism of daunting tasks and current events will get the better of everyone," Luna looks down at Twilight. "It is up to you for how you cope with it. If you choose to worry, you'll miss something as you'll be clouding your mind with misjudgment. If you humble yourself, the answer to any problem will come clear." "Are you humble enough when you face the daunting task of handling Daybreaker?" "My decision on Daybreaker will not be an easy one once she is defeated. The answer is clear for what I must do for all of Equestria," Princess Luna said. She gazes at the ponies going along with their day. "Do you see my worried when I confronted you at your room?" Twilight looks at Luna. Princess Luna is calm and steady. "But, you told me that your mind is at disarray back at the Castle. How can you not be worried when Daybreaker is on the loose?" "I did. I told you that my mind is at war with the decision to make towards my sister. However, I didn't tell you this; When I'm alone, the war in my mind clouds my concentration. When I'm with my fellow ponies, I see their eyes. I see how happy they are. My mind is at peace for what I have to do. It will still be an uneasy feeling when the time does come. I put all of Equestria first before myself. It's about the safety of my fellow ponies and not selfish desire. Also, I can't afford to be worried at any time. Anything can happen at any given point. That is why I have to be ready. I have to be strong. If I worry then everything will fall apart, all of Equestria will be doomed to suffer from all evil tyranny." Twilight looks down. She thought of herself when it came to Spike. Never seeing him happy or thinking of him more. She put herself first then friends. Twilight slaps herself in the face for her foolish desires and decisions. Tears stream down on her face in the realization of Luna's teachings already. She starts questioning herself mentally. Will she be ready? Will she be strong for others? How can she when she is struggling already? More questions cloud her mind. She envisions all of Equestria destroyed by Daybreaker, her friends scorched, Spike, burning alive. Twilight quickly shakes her head and wants to stop envisioning the possibility if she were to fail as a Princess. "Twilight?" Luna asks. She is worried that Twilight may be getting the wrong message. "Twilight?" Twilight is in a trance. Princess Luna sees a bucket of water nearby. She uses her magic to levitate the bucket of water to splash Twilight. Twilight shakes her head now that she's out of the trance state she created. "Twilight, are you alright?" "I am now, Luna. Sorry, I imagined what Equestria would have looked like if I were to fail as a Princess. I made myself see the horrors of what Daybreaker can do if I wasn't ready." "I understand. The level and concepts of being a Princess are never easy. Princess Celestia failed you in that department. She allowed you to learn on your own. Something in which I was totally against." "So," Twilight wipes her eyes from the tears. "What's next on your lesson?" "A trip to the Castle of the Two Sisters." "Why there?" "Not only for you to see the Tree of Harmony to reflect but for me to show you more on today's subject." "Alright. Can I see my friends today, Princess Luna?" Princess Luna looks at Twilight Sparkle and shakes her head. Twilight wanted to see her friends but understood the motives for today. She's here to learn, not to be distracted. "I'll allow you to visit your friends for another day. Right now, you are here to learn. I am here to teach. It's a school day for you, Twilight." Princess Luna and Twilight Sparkle trot into the Everfree Forest. On the way there, Twilight couldn't help but see Fluttershy's cottage. She can hear Discord and Fluttershy laughing while they are having a tea party. She wishes to join them. Twilight continues to follow Luna to the Castle of the Two Sisters. She starts having flashbacks of revealing the truth to everyone about her agreement with Discord, a mistake she'll never make again. Then the two arrive at the Castle of the Two Sisters. They walk down the stairs and enter the cave where the Tree of Harmony is. "Twilight," Luna asks, calmly. "Y-Y-Yes, Luna?" Twilight feels uncomfortable being in the presence of the Tree of Harmony. "What do you see?" Twilight starts shaking, sweating, and panting uncontrollably. Luna can see Twilight struggling with her answer. Luna walks up to Twilight. "Calm down, Twilight." "C-C-Calm down! H-How can I calm down?! I'm standing at Ground Zero! My friends finding the truth about my soul-binding agreement, Princess Celestia turning into Daybreaker cause of me, and the Elements of Harmony seeing my friends and I, unworthy. I corrupted a friendship, Luna. I'm supposed to be the Princess of Friendship. Might as well call me the Princess of Fiendship," Twilight said, angrily. She pants heavily out of frustration. Princess Luna looks down on Twilight. "I understand your frustrations. Princess Celestia made her mistake when her anger got the better of her. Anger is a weapon that'll put us in difficult situations when it's uncontrolled. Anger is fuel. We as Princesses cannot allow anger to get the better of us, Twilight. Anger leads to vengeance. Vengeance does not succeed. When I was corrupt with anger, I wanted vengeance and, I did not succeed. It was you who and your friends that defeated me as Nightmare Moon. Discord wanted vengeance. He was defeated. Sombra wanted vengeance. He was defeated." "I understand, Luna. I see the pattern of those who are fueled by anger." "Daybreaker wants vengeance, soon enough, she'll face defeat. Justice prevails every time." "I was angry because I wanted Spike back. Princess Celestia forbade me from seeing and writing to Spike. Originally, she allowed me to have a second chance to have Spike back. After I lost control of myself, I wanted Spike back no matter what it took. Fueled by anger and grief, I ought to make an agreement with Discord. I lied to everyone, then the truth was revealed at this very place. I allowed my anger, frustrations, and sorrow to get the better of me," Twilight said. She starts to calm down. "Good Twilight. You are taking the first steps of healing yourself." "Princess Luna," Twilight looks at Luna. She stares at her eyes. "I vow, to never allow anger to fuel me no matter how hard it will be." "Thank you, Twilight," Luna said, smiling at her student. "Princess Luna." "Yes, Twilight?" "I see change, here in the presence of the Tree of Harmony. Change, in the sense of power, friendships, and healing. I was afraid of coming here knowing about my regrets; instead, I came here to conquer my past and heal." Princess Luna smiles. She does see a change in Twilight's perspective. Luna sees Twilight going deep within herself to find the answers she needs to understand better. "Come, Twilight. Time to enter the castle." Princess Luna and Twilight fly out of the cave and into the castle. Princess Luna trots to the throne of the Two Sisters. Twilight remembers this place from Zecora's potion. Twilight now predicts what Luna may say. "This is my Ground Zero, Twilight Sparkle. I turned into Nightmare Moon due to my anger. Jealousy can become a weapon for those who feel unlucky." "The anger was from Princess Celestia, Luna. It isn't yours, though." "You're right. It wasn't mine. However, if I humbled myself when I was younger during that time, things would have been different. I wasn't humble in the slightest, Twilight. During my time, I was more arrogant than humble. Other emotions can blindside anger and take control. I allowed it to happen. Then I was banished to the moon for a thousand years. Do not be blinded by other emotions to fuel the anger. My lesson for you, Twilight, is to humble yourself. Take as much time as you need. Do not fret, don't succumb to anger, reflect with your memories; do not neglect." "I will, Princess Luna. Will it be okay if I were to stay in Ponyville for a while?" Princess Luna looks at Twilight and shakes her head once more. "Not today, Twilight Sparkle. My lesson of the day is over. Your homework is to reflect everything in your life and humble it. Your next lesson will start soon. I'll let you know ahead of time," Princess Luna said calmly. "I understand, Princess Luna." "Good. Let's go back to Canterlot." Princess Luna and Twilight leave the Castle of the Two Sisters. They trot out of the Everfree Forest and fly to Canterlot. On the way to Canterlot, Twilight couldn't help but gaze on Ponyville. Hoping to see her friends as she flies. She sees Pinkie Pie waving at her. She waves back at Pinkie. Twilight feels a little sad knowing she is unable to see her friends but is for the right reason. She's learning to become a better Princess. Not to play games. Twilight hopes to see her friends soon whether it be in Canterlot or Ponyville.