Think of this as a partial RP. A history buff arrives in Equestria and, upon learning that Celestia's been ruling the nation single-hoofed for a thousand years and alongside Luna for more years besides, offers to challenge Their leadership skills in accordance with his/her dubious attitude to the idea of absolute monarchy. These challenges consist of presenting the Princesses with a series of historical events where They are in the roles of significant figures of these times and asks Them how They'd handle each scenario.

Does anyone find this sufficiently interesting to suggest one or more such scenarios and/or have an appropriate idea how the Princesses respond?

3840558

Depends very much on execution.

If it's a reasoned discourse using canon Celestia and Luna, with questions and answers being traded freely, and done with true respect to the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, even that means the human's assumptions aren't necessarily founded, then it should be a very interesting story for all.

If this is in any way supporting the history buff's views on representative government over the efficacy of the Equestrian benevolent diarchy, whether by making the sisters into non-canonical autocrats or by just forcibly showing that they're doing it wrong despite 1000+ years of successful rulership, then you will likely receive a much less positive response. At least not without some very good storytelling.

3840652 Well, I suppose I'm looking for something in-between. I can offer one example of the sort of scenario offered.

The outbreak of World War One: When the Princesses are presented with the known facts about European politics in the lead-up to Franz Ferdinand's assassination and are assigned the decision-making for Britain and Germany respectively, how do They react to the information, actions and opinions delivered by other countries involved and Their own cabinets?

3840661
Given the strong dynastic links between the royal houses of the two nations, if they were absolute monarchies they would surely be on the same side? Crushing the Third Republic between the two would allow them to plant a third family member on the vacant throne of France or at least restore Jacques I.

Note that there have been longstanding traditions of antipathy towards France in both Germany and Britain as well as sharing common root languages and racial ties. These could be tapped into if the Sisters need further legitimization of their aims and alliance.

3840720 Your argument would make sense if that happened early on, but this is meant to be Their receiving the reins (no offense) of power in the two countries practically at the moment the assassination takes place. As such this means They'd have to contend with Austro-Hungary's response to the attack (if it stays close to the historical result), Russia's reaction to this, the official alliance between Germany and Austro-Hungary, the alliance between Russia and France, Britain's Entente Cordiale with France and the German Chief of Staff's aggressive expansionism. After all They'd still have to account for the international expectations meted out by the various other nations.

3840736
Ah, but then you are no longer testing absolute monarchy, but Celestia and Luna as individuals. Saying that whoever plays Germany has to work around the General Staff means that they are not playing an absolute monarch.

You are also putting them into a situation they wouldn't have gotten into themselves had they truly been these characters. Kaiser Wilhelm had ruler Germany for nearly thirty years prior to World War II. You saying to the one playing them, "You've made this decision and this decision and that other decision and now the world is on the brink of catastrophe, thus disproving monarchy." is a bit disingenuous when she hasn't even made any decisions yet.

You've also set them up some rather dubious test conditions. Say that they blunder into a global conflict within their test. That would mean that they passed, right? Because the leading minds of humanity at the time could do no better. Though this would work if the Princesses were assuming that they could easily do better and needed some perspective.

The idea sounds a little contrived to me. Tossing them into situations like that seems more like an opportunity to thump out a passive-aggressive commentary on their leadership than an actual story. How simplified will the scenarios be, given that you're presumably not going to give them years upon years to study events beforehand and understand human and/or regional cultures at the time?

3840916 The idea is that, when presented with a single diplomatic incident that occurred in human history, how would They have handled it differently so as to ensure the best outcome of the available options.