Rainbow in the Night
& & &
Blissfully unaware of what had transpired in the library, the party continued on. Rainbow Dash returned to finish her story to the foals albeit with much less enthusiasm and energy than she had when she started it. Afterwards she just sort of floated through the party, not staying still long enough for anypony to approach her.
She watched all the smiling, happy faces as they laughed and played. Pinkie Pie was whooping it up with a white unicorn with an electric blue mane (who looked a lot like Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash mused) wearing giant purple glasses as she operated the record player, blasting loud party music all over town. She had been elated when a party was thrown for the two royals.
“So we have TWO princesses now?” Pinkie had said, delight in her eyes. “That means two—TWO—times the fun! The fun has been doubled!”
Shining Armor was holding a cup of punch and trying desperately hard not to laugh as he watched Twilight trying to get into the spirit of things by dancing. And by dancing, Rainbow Dash meant spastically jerking this way and that, shaking her rump with her tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth that more closely resembled a seizure than anything recognizable as dancing.
Applejack was with her family serving up piping hot apple delicacies like pies and fritters. The extended Apple Family was milling about and playing fiddles and performing hoe-downs alongside techno-beat pony musicians. Rarity, dressed to perfection, floated through the crowd like the social butterfly that she was. Fluttershy was content to keep to herself, away from the thronging crowds and quietly sip at her punch.
Dash wanted to go over and talk to one of them, or all of them…but held back. As badly as she wanted to offload her worries, she didn’t want to ruin the great time they were having. It wouldn’t be fair. Instead, she sighed and slowly flew off to be by herself. But her departure wasn’t entirely unnoticed as she was tracked by a pair of golden, somewhat off-kilter, eyes.
It was late afternoon and the shadows were stretching themselves out when Rainbow Dash was discovered. She had spent the last few hours sitting on a hill overlooking Ponyville, hugging her legs close to her chest.
So focused on nothing, she failed to notice when company arrived behind her. A soft throat clearing alerted her to their presence. “Rainbow Dash?” The soft voice made Dash’s ear twitch in acknowledgement.
“Eh?” Rainbow twisted her head around. “What do—YOU?!” Her voice became a shout of anger as she saw who was standing behind her. It was Princess Luna. Once known as Nightmare Moon. The young pegasus snorted, pawing at the ground and readying herself for an attack.
The princess of the night lowered her head, flinching away like a frightened foal. “Rainbow Miriam Dash!” Where the presence of an alicorn princess and the one-time Nightmare Moon failed to intimidate Rainbow Dash, the sound of her full name, with THAT inflection, by THAT voice made her tremble.
“Ditzy Doo!” Rainbow couldn’t keep a whine from her voice. “Enough with the middle name already. And what’re you doing here? With HER?” She jerked her head at Luna.
Ditzy gave Rainbow a certified look, that seemed all the more magnified for being focused out of only one eye. “I thought that you two should sit down and talk. From the looks of it, I think you need some company.”
“But Ditzy…” She lowered her voice. “She was Nightmare Moon! She’s the one who took you away from Dinky and turned you into a Shadowbolt! How can you even trust her?”
“I know.” The gray pegasus said gently. “But you said it yourself: she WAS Nightmare Moon. She’s not that pony anymore.” She rested her hoof across Dash’s back. “She was so sad and lonely during the party…Dinky went up to her and gave her a hug.” Ditzy beamed. “Dinky is a great judge of character. If she likes Princess Luna, then she must be a nice pony!” She smiled a touch goofily, her argument foolproof. “And she apologized for the whole night lasting forever thing and she even gave me a muffin! So I forgave her!”
Rainbow Dash bonked her head with her hoof. “Ooof course you did.”
Ditzy nudged her. “Come on, give her a chance. I can tell you need to talk to somepony.”
“A huh. And how do you know I need to talk to HER if you don’t know what’s bothering me?” The younger mare rolled her eyes as Ditzy just grinned at her. “Wait, don’t tell me: because you’re a mom.”
“That’s right!” Ditzy grinned. “Now go on…be nice.” She nudged her towards Luna. “Do it!”
Rainbow Dash grumbled as she let herself be pushed towards the reticent princess. “So…hi.” She grunted, keeping an eye on Ditzy Doo as she backed away, leaving the two of them be.
“W-well met, Rainbow Dash.” Luna stammered, half turning her head away in a very Fluttershy-like gesture. “We cannot thank thee enough for saving us from our wicked half…and apologize for all the trouble we caused.”
“We?” Rainbow looked at her funnily. “What, do you have a tapeworm or something?”
Luna shifted. “It is tradition to use the royal we when speaking to our subjects.” She paused. “Has Celestia never spoken to you thusly?”
“No. She doesn’t use any thees, thys or thous either.” Of all the things Rainbow Dash expected to happen, having a grammar lesson with the former Nightmare Moon was not one of them…especially since she was the one GIVING the lesson.
Luna shrank in on herself. “Oh. We, um I, suppose that much has changed in the last millennium.”
“Guess so.” Rainbow said guardedly.
“I—suppose the Royal Canterlot Voice is no longer considered proper?” Luna asked.
Rainbow looked at her. “The what now?”
“THE ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE!” Luna bellowed. Rainbow Dash felt her hair shift to one side. “IT IS THE TRADITIONAL VOICE USED IN ORDER TO…” She stopped when she saw Dash’s lips being pulled back from the sheer force of her voice. “…too much?”
Nodding numbly Rainbow had a strange moment in which she imagined one of the Princesses in the old days shouting for more toilet paper in the royal Canterlot voice. Then she imagined using it in the bedroom when…she forced her brain into shutdown mid-thought, pushing that thought to the back of her mind, digging a hole, burying it, constructing a house to hide the hole and then throwing the loudest party imaginable in the house in order to obscure any possibility of said thought resurfacing.
Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash decided to back the conversation up a bit. “So, you’re sorry?” Luna nodded quickly, almost pathetically eager to express her apology. It just made the pegasus’ face harden. “Sorry for what exactly? Threatening to plunge Equestria into everlasting night, toying with my emotions, turning my friends into your puppets, attempting to kill my other friends or just sorry in general?”
Luna swallowed, dipping her head. “For everything, though I know words can never mend what I have done. If it is of any consolation, I will be carrying the guilt and scars of my actions far longer than you will. Even so, you have every right to be angry with me.”
“No argument here.” Dash grumbled. “You and Celestia really are sisters: you even apologize the same way.”
The alicorn blinked. “Celestia…apologized to you? What for?”
“What for?!” Dash looked at her like she was crazy. “For tossing all this junk on my back, for not telling me ANYTHING about this earlier…hay, you said it yourself—sorry, NIGHTMARE MOON said it—she used me like a weapon because she didn’t have the guts to.”
Luna gaped at her. “You are aware that everything she said—I said—was meant to hurt you? What I said was an amalgamation of half-truths, innuendos, suppositions and bald-faced lies about my sister designed to keep you off balance. How could you take any of it seriously?”
“Because Celestia confirmed it herself!” Rainbow’s wings flared up. “She told me so! She knew from the moment she met me that I would be the one to stop Nightmare Moon and never said a word! Hay, she even said she didn't want to tell me because she thought I'd freak out or snap under the pressure and abandon her. I would never!” She huffed angrily.
A sad sigh was Luna’s response. “Oh Celly…” She shook her head. “Always thinking she knows what’s best for everypony.”
“I know right?” Rainbow Dash was so desirous of somepony to understand and agree with her that she forgot that a scant few hours before she was prepared to beat the alicorn next to her to a pulp.
“You want to know the worst part?” Luna asked in a hushed voice. Rainbow nodded eagerly. Slowly, the dark alicorn leaned over and whispered in her companion’s ear. “The worst part is…she’s usually right.”
Rainbow’s jaw dropped. “B-but, you—I—BWAH?”
A small rueful smile crossed Luna’s face. “I see that even after a thousand years Celestia is still Celestia. It’s hard to remember that she’s lived a long time, has a lot of experience, seen things no other pony has. It gives her a perspective few ponies can match. It has also given her time to mask what she’s thinking and feeling most of the time, giving her the appearance that nothing phases her; making everything she does look so effortless, so perfect.” Luna sighed. “It may be of considerable comfort to most ponies who look to her for strength and stability, but it can be really irritating when exposed to on a daily basis.”
That prompted a chuckle from Rainbow Dash before she could stop herself. “Heh, amen.”
Luna smiled. “While Nightmare Moon was just trying to ensnare you and lure you to her side, I think there was some truth when she said you and I had much in common.” She waited to ensure she had Rainbow’s full attention. “We both deeply love my sister, but we also feel the need to establish ourselves out from under her shadow.”
Dash nodded. “Celestia’s so graceful and elegant and smart…and I have to work so hard to get better. She makes everything seem so effortless and easy, it’s almost as if she’s taunting how hard we work to improve ourselves, knowing we can never catch her.” She sighed. “But she isn’t. It’s all in our heads.”
“I wish I had realized that.” Luna sighed. “It might have saved me a thousand years of loneliness.” She sat back, getting comfortable. “It doesn’t help that she isn’t used to explaining herself to other ponies, giving the impression that she is aloof and distant. She tends to keep her own counsel. The only pony she ever really confided in was…” Luna hesitated for a second. “…me.”
Curious and intrigued, Rainbow Dash found herself looking at Luna in a new light. “I do not know everything that transpired between the two of you, but I can offer some of my perspectives on Celestia, should you care to listen.”
“Um, okay.” Rainbow was still mad at Celestia and part of her *wanted* to stay mad. But another part of her wanted to hear more about her mentor and what made her tick. “It’s, uh, a little weird you saying that Celestia is usually right. I mean what with…” She gestured awkwardly.
“You would be referring to my thousand year banishment or do you mean her inability to prevent my…fall, in the first place?” Luna queried.
Dash shrugged. “Little of column A, little of column B…”
“Fair enough.” She conceded. “Celestia is two of the most terrible things in the world: a ruler and a big sister.” Luna shivered demonstratively and it wasn’t entirely forced. “Either one of which can give a pony the notion that they are a goddess, all-knowing and infallible. It is to Celestia’s considerable credit that she has not let those two positions go to her head. Otherwise she would be completely unbearable.” She rolled her eyes and mumbled something under her breath. Rainbow Dash shook her head…Luna couldn’t have just uttered the words “alfalfa monster” right? She must’ve misheard her. Clearly.
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. “Okay, so anyway...about Celestia?”
“Hm? Oh yes, right.” Luna shook her head, bringing herself back to the here and now. “You have to remember that as much as Celestia cares for you or I, at the end of the day she is responsible for the well being of all of Equestria. She is often called upon to make tough choices, ones that often pain her far more than you would expect.” Luna closed her eyes. “My…descent into anger and madness hurt her deeply, just as her actions hurt you. A wise pony once said that there can be no great pain without great love. And Celestia was hurt twice: first by my fall and secondly by her decision to banish me.” She looked at Rainbow Dash. “With the presence of Nightmare Moon gone I can say that Celestia made the right decision…however much it hurt me.”
Dash was surprised. “How can you say that?”
“Because the fate of Equestria was at stake.” Luna replied. “No matter how much it hurt her, she had to put Equestria ahead of her own wants and ahead of our sisterhood. Blood may be thicker than water, but right and wrong is thicker than blood.” She shifted, getting comfortable. “Celestia was in an impossible position, one that I think you can relate to: her loyalties threatened to divide her in twain. Her loyalty to me on one hoof…and to Equestria on the other. Being put in that decision, being made to make that sort of choice…it would destroy a lesser pony.” Luna shut her eyes. “Which is why Nightmare Moon attempted to put you in just such a place, back at the castle.”
Rainbow Dash flinched, giving the princess the old stinkeye. “I noticed.” She bit off sharply.
Luna opened her eyes and winced slightly before hurrying on. “I am merely attempting to illustrate the depths of my sister’s dilemma. Or rather, dilemmas, past and present. She had to choose between the fate of a single pony, one she cared deeply for, and the fate of all of Equestria.”
“You—Nightmare Moon, I mean—did put me in a position to choose between my wants and Equestria and then again between which of my friends to save.” She narrowed her eyes. “You’ll notice that I didn’t choose to sacrifice any of them.”
“Then you were fortunate.” Luna rumbled. “Sometimes, making sacrifices is unavoidable.”
Rainbow Dash set her face. “I will NEVER sacrifice my friends!”
“Even if Equestria hung in the balance?”
The pegasus stomped her hoof. “I’d find a way to save them both!”
Luna sighed, half-weary and half-heartened by the pegasus’ fervor. “You are young. You don’t understand. Sometimes the needs of the few must be sacrificed to safeguard the needs of the many.”
“Don’t go bringing my age into this.” Rainbow tossed her head. “If you’re trying to say that just because I’m young that I don’t know what I’m talking about, what does it say about you—the second oldest pony in Equestria—and you made the worst mistake anypony could ever make?” She snorted. “So much for wisdom equaling age.”
Luna was a bit taken aback at that, both her fervor and her free tongue. “Watch yourself.” The princess warned. “You are not MY student and as grateful as I am to you, I will not tolerate your rudeness as easily as my sister.”
Dash flinched, but rallied. “Then don’t be rude to me and try to brush off what I’m saying as just the words of a little filly who doesn't know any better.” She huffed before taking a breath to cool off a bit. “You think I never heard that whole, ‘the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few’ thing before? Yeah, I have.” She flexed her wings. “One of the things Celestia taught me was about ethics and morality and stuff. Had me read a lot…most of it was just plain confusing.” Luna nodded, showing that she was listening. “But here’s my take: the thing about sacrificing the few for the sake of the many is that if you keep it up for too long, the many become the few, then the one…and then none.” She looked up firmly at the ancient alicorn sitting next to her. “I’m not saying that sacrifices aren’t necessary sometimes and if my friends or Equestria need me, I’ll be right there in front ready to sign up for anything. But making sacrifices of ponies without their consent? Without their knowledge? That’s where I draw the line.”
The princess gave a soft smile. “It’s been a long time since somepony sat down to argue ethics with a princess.”
“Hey, I’m no philosopher!” Rainbow stuck out her tongue. “Way too lame. It’s just, I dunno, common sense? I mean, if you want somepony to do something, shouldn’t you tell them? If Celestia had come up to me and said: ‘There’s this freaky evil mare trapped in the moon and I need you to stop her’ I would’ve said yes!”
Luna looked at her sideways. “Would you?”
Rainbow Dash had the presence of mind to look sheepish. “Well, I might suggest that she lay off the hard cider first, but I would’ve said yes! I would do anything Celestia wanted me to—so long as it didn’t involve boring parties or frilly dresses. But if it was important, I’d always be there for her.” She amended. “I owe her so much…” Dash sighed, furling her wings back to her sides again. “I trusted her and she…she didn’t trust me. She had to go behind my back because she didn’t think she could count on me.” The raw hurt in her voice was enough to make even the normally reserved Princess Luna want to simply wrap the young mare up in a hug.
“If it is of any consolation, I think you can blame me for my sister keeping things to herself.” She said, giving Rainbow Dash an encouraging smile. “Celestia and I were always very close, as you might expect. Perhaps it was that closeness that kept her from seeing what I was becoming.” A frown crossed her face. “My anger and bitterness became like an addiction: I enjoyed the sensation of being angry. You don’t know how alluring it is to be mad. It is invigorating, to be so sure that you are right and everypony else is wrong. It makes you feel big, like you can let all your inner restrictions and inhibitions go and do whatever you wish. I was literally drunk on my anger.” She shook her head. “But Celestia’s trust in me was so absolute that she refused to see what I was becoming, right under her very nose, until it was too late.”
Rainbow Dash didn’t follow and said as much. “So…” she prodded. “What’s that got to do with her and me?”
“This is just guess work, but I believe that my—turn—made it hard for Celestia to trust as fully and completely as she once did.” Luna explained. “I think that she felt that she could not take a risk in telling you what was in store for you, even if she was totally convinced in your readiness to serve. Celestia might have known that Rainbow Dash would never let her or Equestria down, but PRINCESS Celestia, ruler of Equestria, could not take a chance that you might say no or be resentful of the task laid down for you—not with all of Equestria hanging in the balance. After all,” she mused wryly, with a small trace of bitterness. “If her sister could become a creature of nightmares, then how could she take a chance, however slim, that you might be up to task of stopping Nightmare Moon?”
“So, you’re saying Celestia didn’t trust me enough because she trusted you too much a thousand years ago?” Dash raised her eyebrow skeptically.
“That’s a touch simplistic…but yes.” Luna confirmed.
Rainbow sighed. “Basically, you’re telling me I should forgive her, right?”
But the princess surprised her. “No.” The pegasus spun her head around so fast that she almost gave herself whiplash. “I am not saying that I agree or disagree with what my sister did regarding you nor can I determine whether or not your anger with Celestia is justified. I do not know enough to render such a judgment.” She added. “It is, in any event, not my place. I merely offered to give you some insight into what might have been behind some of Celestia’s actions. The only thing I know for certain is that my sister cares for you very deeply and that my return will not change that. I am not your replacement, nor your rival.”
“Okay.” Shifting slightly, Rainbow Dash bit her lip. “C-can we talk about something else now?” Her voice cracked slightly.
“Alright.” Luna agreed. She paused for a moment in thought. “Does Tia—sorry, Celestia—still enjoy her practical jokes?”
Dash snorted. “Are you kidding? She’s like the Queen of Pranks!”
Luna pouted. “I’ll have you know that used to be my title—not for a want of trying on my sister’s part. What’s she done?”
“Well, this one time at the reception for a griffon ambassador…” As the stars came out, the two ponies swapped stories of Celestia and her idiosyncrasies, giggling to themselves as they found out things about Celestia that neither had known before tonight as well as retelling a few of their own favorite stories about her.
“She fell for the whoopee cushion on the throne trick?” Luna laughed. “Again?”
Rainbow hugged her sides. “Yeah! I didn’t even know you had whoopee cushions a thousand years ago!”
“We made do.” Luna said with a touch of pride. “I think she was just grateful that it WAS a whoopee cushion…that time. She never did know when to turn down a mushroom and bean salad.”
“You mean—?” Rainbow tried to bite down on a giggle. “Pfff-bwahaha!” She flopped on her back and kicked her legs. Luna joined her in lying down on the grass, looking up at the night.
When Dash’s giggles had finally subsided she turned her head to look at Luna. “Heh, you’re alright, you know that?”
Luna turned her head away, suddenly embarrassed. “Thank you. I must confess that I find your forgiveness of me to be very sudden. I am not sure I have done anything to warrant it.”
“You haven’t.” Dash pointed out with her typical bluntness, causing Luna to blink owlishly. “Ditzy and my friends…well, I guess they’re a bit more free with forgiveness and friendship than I am. As for me? I think that unless you work for it and prove you deserve it, forgiveness is meaningless. So, no, I haven’t completely forgiven you. Yet.” She added with a small wry face. “But keep doing what you’re doing and you know, NOT be Nightmare Moon for a bit and we’ll be cool.”
Nodding, Luna agreed. “Your terms sound most agreeable. I accept.”
“Cool.” Rainbow Dash looked back up at the night sky. There was another silence that fell between them. “Say Princess?”
“Yes Rainbow Dash?”
“I—I don’t know if anypony’s told you this lately but the sky at night, with the moon and stuff? It’s really cool.” The cyan pegasus mumbled awkwardly. “I like flying at night.”
Luna sniffled, hastily wiping a tear from her eye. “T-thank you Rainbow Dash. That was…most kind of you to say.” A smile spread across her face. “Please…call me Luna. And might I add that your flying was truly remarkable.” She added. “The best I’ve ever seen.”
“Heh. Thanks.” Rainbow smiled.
The two ponies, one ancient and withdrawn, the other young and brash turned back to watch the stars.
& & &
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The path to forgiveness is long and arderious, and for both Luna and Celestia it is even longer.
Those last few paragraphs... so many feels...
that chapter ending was beautiful
Wow...I loved the interaction between Luna and Rainbow, and that bit about Rainbow saying she loved flying at night? Perfect choice of words, Dashie.
I don't really think ether Princess needs Rainbow's forgiveness, they may want it, but they don't need it. She's served her purpose and if she wants to be stubborn, buck her. You're immortal, she'll be dead soon anyway.
Also, good on Luna not taking Rainbow's crap, she didn't just roll over like Celestia.
And Luna is right. Rainbow doesn't have ruling experience, sometimes there is good choice and you can't save or please everyone.
Goddammit. I had to stop reading so I could finish dieing of laughter.
this is so sweet.
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Yeah, totally! Discord wasn't that big of a problem anyway, right? Spike could fill in for her, it'll all work out just fine.
Awesome chapter! So many laughs and feels!
The tapeworm line nearly killed me.
THE FUN HAS BEEN DOUBLED
Rainbow got on my nerves at the beginning. I know it was justified tho
I loved the ending! Ill be sad to see this complete
"performing hoe-downs"
Ryan: I refuse, even in Equestria!
“What, do you have a tapeworm or something?dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Rainbow_Dash.png <:rainbowshrug:
So many feels.
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1243470 But Rainbow was also right in the fact that if you constantly sacrifeice the few for the many, a time comes when there is no one else left.
I would kill to keep my friends safe, and if it was asked, and I can assure you I woulb need to think hard on it and come to terms, but I would die for them too. On that note, I don't expect, nor would I be happy, if one of my friends set me up for something to save his ass, or the rest of my friends for that matter. Would I still do it? Yes, but I would be more appreciative if I was told.
Luna, Tia, and Dash were all wrong, but all right at the same time.
Hence my aversion to arguing ethics.
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W-wow. That comment. Just....wow.
How sweet. Luna and Rainbow Dash make amends, and it's quite touching. It's so cute to see Rainbow Dash unable to resist Derpy's logic. I mean, look at dat adorable face.
1243768 How did she know about the Truffles when _____ is sticking to _____ is too hard to figure out?
[youtube=BvxzitxQPag]
RD hits it on the nose. People who talk of "The needs of the many vs the needs of the few" always seem to make sure that they themselves are counted as being part of the majority.....
Great chapter, made me smile inside.
When a character speaks across two paragraphs like this, the quote at the end of the first is dropped. Also, I would add an "again" at the end there
There is an "extraneous quote there
Thank Luna for Luna explaining things in a way Dash can understand, I don't like angry Dash and she needed a talking to.
Continue, we need ALL THE EPISODES!!!! Or at least the Twilight and Rainbow central ones.
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The flipside of that is this: If Rainbow dies without forgiving them, they have that much longer to angst over the issue due to lack of closure.
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The first bit was Rainbow Dash the in our heads line. Luna said the next part.
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Well if she doesn't forgive them it's no longer their problem. Let her be a stubborn mule.(no offense)
My point is:
If you screw up and honestly are sorry and say so and the person your apologizing to doesn't accept, then it's no longer your problem. You move on.
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No, I get where you're coming from. It's a very logical stance and, as a very logical person myself, I can respect that.
Unfortunately, issues of forgiveness tend to be far more emotional than logical in how they play out.
Nice "alfalfa monster" reference! I literally just saw that on /mlp/ today.
"Forgiveness is meaningless if you do nothing to earn it."
Amen, sister. At the same time, don't be too quick to judge. But, this chapter reconciled some things rather nicely.
they overlook the fact that the Elements of Harmony seem to rely on legitimate feelings and attitudes. Celestia wasn't part of that, but the bearers themselves plotting might hurt their effectiveness
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Of course she does. As soon as she comes even close to a "screw the mortals" sentiment, she needs to be deposed ASAP. That's pretty much Nightmare Moon attitude. Let the unicorns take over the whole sun and moon business again; that's still way preferable to an ageless tyrant who thinks herself too high to take her subject's lives into account.
This chapter has given us, I think, something the last one lacked: A proper reason for most of Celestia's actions.
However, in Celestia's defense, I'd like to note that she might've been right not to fully trust Rainbow's loyalty. Canon Rainbow Dash has been shown to be about ready to let other ponies drop to their deaths or drown because she was too busy chasing fame. So, at least the Wonderbolts manipulation makes more sense in light of this. And if Mare-Do-Well plays out as it did in the show, it might nudge Rainbow faster into forgiving the princess than she expects.
All my lols have them, and more
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Heh, yeah I noticed. There are a lot of ponies who have similar coat and/or manes. Makes for fun possibilities of pony families:
Vinyl Scratch and Shining Armor
Cheerilee and Berrypunch
Snails and Raindrops
Amethyst Star and Seaswirl
Silver Spoon and Caesar
Diamond Tiara and Screwball
Got any others?
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Actually there is a story floating around where Screwball is Diamond Tiara's elder sister.
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And some where she is DT's mother.
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*Hisses* Ah the "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" For the record, in my stories whether in the main universe or in 'Dashverse' I do not regard anything from that episode is cannon. Not the characterizations, not the plots...even the joke about Applejack naming her legs (stupid as it is). Honestly my opinion of that episode can be taken practically word for word from the Siskel and Ebert review of "North," seen below. My changes are in brackets.
"When Rainbow Dash becomes popular in Ponyville as a local superhero, she begins to be upstaged by a mysterious masked pony who constantly steals her spotlight."
-Description of "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well"
"That’s the set up for one of the most thoroughly hateful [episodes] of recent years. A[n episode] that makes me cringe even when I’m sitting here thinking about it.
I hated this [episode] as much as any [episode] we’ve ever reviewed in the nineteen years we’ve been doing this show.
I hated it because of the premise which seems shockingly cold-hearted and because this premise is being suggested to kids as children’s entertainment and because everybody in the [episode] was vulgar and stupid and because the jokes weren’t funny and because most of the characters were obnoxious and because of the phony attempt to add a little pseudo-hip philosophy…
…it's deplorable. I mean, there isn't a gag that works. You couldn't write worse jokes if I told you to write worse jokes…it's embarrassing, you feel unclean as you're sitting there; it's junk - first-class junk.
I hated this [episode]. Hated hated hated hated hated this [episode]. Hated it. Hated every simpering stupid vacant audience-insulting moment of it. Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it."
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Man its been a wile since a manly tear crossed my face and you have my thanks
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As also observed by others, Octavia looks like Inky Pie from Pinkie's cutie mark story, so it could be that they are the same pony.
Also, I think that Twilight and Vinyl are cousins.
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Ah yes, can't forget Inky! Bad me!
Also, I keep expecting a letter from the hospital saying that Vinyl is Shining's sister and got switched at birth with Twilight.
That was a very well-done chapter. Nicely played, sir.
Got this in my head from the title.
Princess Luna? Approaching Rainbow Dash? To apologize? And console? And make friends?
You just blew up my Awesomemeter, you fiend!
newsimg.ngfiles.com/97000/97703_He_is_THAT_awesome.jpg
...bless you.
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....that is an image of Dino-Riders. OMG. It's been so long!!! Thanks for the nostalgia trip and the kind words!
1245240 You're welcome, although I haven't the slightest clue what Dino-Riders is. This is just the image that comes up in Google when you search for "win and awesome".
1244616 Personally, I'm rather forgiving of "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" mostly due to the concept itself being solid inspite of its subpar execution. All of Rainbow's flaws displayed had been seen before though they feel exaggerated because its the focus of the episode, much like "Lesson Zero" was for Twilight (however, the latter was drop-to-the-floor hysterical unlike the former).
Take for example when Dash tosses the foal she rescued to it's mother: Seems thoughtlessly callous until you remember RD doesn't tend to think things through in her quest for glory. She didn't see anything wrong with it because she could make a perfect pass to the mother and the foal would still be alright. Same with letting the stallion drop to sign autographs til the last moment. All's well that ends well, etc. She's been seen using that kind of logic before when her plan for joining the Wonderbolt's involved upstaging them at their own airshow.
No matter how well performed, such an act wouldn't have been looked on favorably by the audience or the 'Bolts (Except for Soarin, perhaps. He seems like a pretty chill dude). But crashing their performance would have been ok because she would then join their ranks (Overrating her abilities being another persistent flaw that comes up in the episode).
Everyone has their own view of these things of course, however I wouldn't be so quick to decanonize something prevelant across episodes without official word of the Pony-Pope.
ethic and logic. Without one of them, we humans can't be whole. Ethic is what it feals right, logic have right. Pure logic will have right, but only if it feels right. Pure ethic feels right, but only if it have right. And so on.
That speech refuting the overuse of "the needs of the many" is brilliant, and so Rainbow Dash!
That was awesome once again. The heart to heart with Luna was great, and I am curious to see how things move forwards from here and how long you plan on continuing this story. After all, I cannot really see Rainbow getting into the friendship reports routine like Twilight, and there is a lot of ground to cover repairing the relationship between her and Celestia which makes me think it is likely Rainbow will settle into Ponyville at least for a while to create some space. The apparent lack of Spike will also change things, and I expect to see more content working towards forgiving Luna after this scene as well (assuming she does not get sent to Ponyville as well to get caught up with the times, something that would make Trixie's challenge hilarious). There are also a lot of other things that will go very differently like the Gala tickets which Rainbow will dump on Rarity ASAP because Rainbow knows just how awful it will be.
1239741 I don't use punctuation because I don't care enough to use punctuation at 12:30 in the evening.
So as to your first response what fanfic are you reading? Rainbow was annoyed at Celestia being brought back to life apparently you ignored this section completly She barked, huffing and out of breath.
“And what about your whole ‘death?’ Was that just an act—making sure I was properly motivated?”
“NEVER!” Celestia swore her eyes hardening as she swung her head to the smaller pony. “I swear to you, I merged myself with the sun fully prepared to give up my existence. I did not expect I would be able to return…I can only guess that your Sonic Rainboom or the power unleashed by the Elements of Harmony—or both—somehow created a bridge that allowed me to return to Equestria. It was never my intent to deceive you nor absent myself as a cynical trick.”
The pegasus snorted. “Kay, fine. I believe you….but why? I mean, Nightmare Moon almost convinced me that if I got rid of her and you were gone for good, then what would happen to the sun and moon? To Equestria?”
Celestia bit her lip. “…With Luna returned I feel Equestria would be fine.” She said finally.
Rainbow wasn’t having any of it. “Without you? With the pony responsible for your disappearance in charge? Sure, that would’ve gone over just FINE.” She rolled her eyes contemptuously. “Hay, how do you think Luna herself would’ve felt when she found out that you basically offed yourself?” Celestia flinched. “And while we’re on the subject WHY couldn't you stop Nightmare Moon yourself?” Dash demanded. “Something tells me it wasn’t simply to avoid collateral damage, was it?”
“There were…complications.” Celestia sighed, hanging her head. “Luna and I once wielded the Elements of Harmony. But with her…change, that was no longer the case. Something happened when I sought to use them against her. I don’t know exactly what. Perhaps that’s why the Elements banished Luna instead of freeing her, as they did when you and your friends used them. With me no longer connected to them, I had no idea if they would work at all or simply banish her again or even…” She bit her lip. “I…I couldn’t take that chance. I couldn’t do it again. She’s my SISTER.” She looked up, practically begging Rainbow Dash to understand. “I couldn’t risk losing her. Not again.”
I would also like to point out that Celestia is not some wise all knowing chess grandmaster, she has her flaws as an example I didn't see her have some sort of plan for a Changling invasion she ignored Twilight and ultimately was a key role LEADING towards the invasion, she also didn't see her defeat coming or the six not get the elements it was Cadence and Shining who defeated the Changlings. So no she did not have to see this conclusion her belief was that she would die and like someone or somepony normally dead remain dead.
As to your second point Celestia isn't Dash's actual Mother is she it was that type of love yes but it was also a relationship based on the huge amount of trust and respect Rainbow had for Celestia, Celestia's willingness to potentially sacrifice Dash and her friends broke that trust. Also as far as relationships go we can't forget about the relationship between Shining and Rainbow which has been strong through this whole fic, this is another example of a strong relationship even if you don't accept the strong unbreakable bond from the six with the Sonic Rainboom, or the trusting there lives in each others whooves a relationship that didn't need to arise between Celestia and Rainbow because life and death situations don't happen that often in Canterlot. I just notice another point as to the no right to lash out deal. First off she just finished a stressful fate of the world quest she has every right to lash out at the end to let out the emotions. Also with Celestia and Rainbow's relationship I don't think Celestia would get that annoyed with Rainbow for it, she was fine after they had the original argument and that argument was at a time when a lashing out was really unnecessary, but that was the point in the story where Dash had a lack of maturity.
Onto the third matter do you really think that I meant no one has it out for Celestia in this whole big planet earth, I never hinted towards that I was on the other hand pointing towards the author whom in your original comment you basically said, had it out for Celestia, Yes I feel the same way that you were being forced to side with Rainbow but the author does not necessarily make you want to hate Celestia as I said in my original comment "we are meant to give that slight bit of support to Rainbow over Celestia because this is ultimately Rainbows story and her growth as a character." and complete lack of maturity? She had many a valid reason for being angry with Celestia and bringing up those points. She had no idea what the elements would do to Nightmare Moon so the fact that there was still a being there could cause suspicion. Especially with her not trusting Celestia, or the death, or the Wonderbolts, or any other point the author brought up.
Lastly I never said you were best friends, I said even if you were the best of friends you have that option, also I don't think this necessarily qualifies as a Flaw, its more of your opinion on how you don't agree with what the author did and that despite other people potentially enjoying the chapter you should change it because I said so (which unless the author wants to delete his or her longest chapter, or a chapter that he agrees is not his best work and he should get rid of it that's not going to happen for you or anyone)
I hope you don't think I'm judging you as a person or whatever I just disagree with your view on that chapter and I just wanted to point out some things you may not have noticed in the chapter. (Also debates are fun) also I enjoyed your pointing out the irony with the Comma trigger bomb and my username it was amusing.
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"slight bit of support to Rainbow over Celestia" <-- Did you actually just post this? Did you not read the last chapter? Hand-waving and saying 'emotions' doesn't cover that soul-crushing beatdown Celestia received, in which frankly Dash should not have been cognizant, insightful, or intelligent enough to make some of the points she did... let alone Celestia just sitting there and effectively taking it. Dash watched Celestia wilt in front of her and just crushed the woman who raised her.
There's no slight nothing. That entire chapter, viewed from a neutral standpoint, can be summed up in: "Rainbow Dash is angry, Rainbow Dash is right. Rainbow Dash is justified. Celestia is stupid. Celestia isn't a fit ruler. Celestia is untrustworthy. Celestia is insecure. Celestia deserves this." Either you've got some wicked bias going on, or you're skipping important points of what's happening.
That said, as much as I absolutely detest the last chapter, this chapter was better (most anything would be, really). But a far cry off of making up for the mistake the last chapter was. If we don't see some epic-level ass-kissing and apologizing going on from Dash, and the story comes to a close with Celestia basically saying "I deserved that and I learned a good lesson from you Dash.", then I'm going to be sick, because I loved the story right up until that last chapter was considered "okay" by the author, the readers with limited experience and insight, and the Dash-crazed fans.
Feels like another Of Mares and Magic all over again.
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Well said. I didn't like the concept of "Pinkie sense", but it's still there and I wouldn't deny it.
1244616
If that's your fanon, fine. However, it would make things more sensible than simply having Celestia be completely and nonsensically untrusting and cruel. You said before you didn't want to pick sides, but it appears that you are, since you shift everything on Celestia and deny the flaws canon Rainbow Dash does have.
Why do I suddenly have the urge to read a LunaDash story?
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