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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
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I got to thinking about why the Elements of Harmony would have even worked on Luna in this AU. So I reread chapter 1, and was reminded that they didn't, not quite. The moment the spell touched Luna, she was able to convince the Elements that Celestia was misusing their power, and they responded by rebounding on Celestia, who tanked it in order to banish Luna instead.
There are a couple of implications there. First, Celestia was not, as I previously assumed, convinced by Luna that she wasn't possessed. She sincerely believed that Luna's actions could not possibly be of her own will, and thus considered the Elements of Harmony a valid method of "saving" her.
Second is that the Elements did backlash against Celestia, if too late to save Luna. Which means within seconds of casting Luna out, Celestia had to have realized that nothing she just did was justified in any way, and Luna's fury was valid and not influenced by outside forces.
Celestia has spent the last 1000 years knowing that she's the villain of the story. The question is, which does she want more; a redemption arc, or her sister? Does she want to bring Luna home so she can tell herself she's redeemable, or will she seek redemption in order to get Luna back?
Based on their most recent encounter, it looks like it might be the former.
EDIT: Also, I really want to see what she did to the nobles who talked her into distrusting Luna in the first place. I'd like to think she had them all imprisoned for treason, but we know she lied about what happened. Hmm...
11792973
Fair enough. I'll admit, I'm not well educated in autism.
11793032
Thing is, does Celestia even know herself what she wants? Perhaps Luna's part in history is rather understated because Celestia had lost hope in Luna's return. I mean, maybe she had some sort of prophecy still, but we know that all Celestia got one random day was Luna's magic, distant and far away. So either she had been searching for years or it randomly came, and she immediately put together a force to go investigate.
Given how quickly everything went, it's possible Celestia is just as lost and disorientated as... well, actually no, not as much as Luna but to a degree. But still, I'm not sure if Celestia even knows what she wants beyond Luna.
11793175
Yeah, but is that because she wants Luna herself back, or because Celestia wants to stop seeing a monster when she looks in the mirror? Is she trying to repair their relationship, or her own self image?
She definitely isn't aware of this question itself, nor its answer. Otherwise she'd have had the awareness to have offered restitution when they last met. Still, the question matters because the answer determines whether she's actually learned anything in the last 1000 years.
If she wants Luna back because she can't stand thinking of herself as a kinslayer and traitor, then she's learned nothing. She still thinks of Luna as her responsibility, rather than her sister. Her motivation is ultimately self-centered.
If she wants Luna back because she misses Luna and can't stand knowing she's suffering, then maybe she can earn one more chance.
11793193
Fair enough, but I don't believe we quite have enough to answer such a question. And even if Celestia knew herself, what could she even begin to offer in restitution? With what she has done? Even if she knew that she had practically taken everything away from Luna and that nothing she could offer would ever be enough, what would she even offer? Abdication? Judgment via Elements? Her life?
Ultimately, unless Celestia has some way that truly shows her genuine regret or MacGuffin(please no) happens, at the absolute most Celestia could ever hope for is a sliver of a second chance even if we assume her reason stems from her being unable to stand Luna suffering. And even still this is being optimistic.
Tbh Celestia is just kind of a bad pony, a villain as you say. Has she been able to change over these 1,000 years? Can she offer anything meaningful at all in operations? If she hasn't changed or hasn't changed enough, and/or can't even offer anything meaningful, then what can she do at all? What possible resolution can there be to this story, her story with Luna if anything at all?
This really does loop back to the question of whether Celestia can even do anything to make up at all and whether Luna can even accept anything at all. Imo, even in the absolute most optimistic scenarios, I simply see a resulting to conflict as a very far-off possibility between the two. At least, not as a possibility for many, many years of de-escalation.
Them being immortal, I don't see this conflict as something that would quite last all eternity, but definitely, something that can't be resolved with a single chance meeting or encounter but more so something over years or decades, foregoing, of course, any MacGuffin or anything of meaning Celestia has to offer.
Unless Celestia literally gave her life in exchange for Luna's in a way that demonstrates her sincerity, say taking a bullet on literally nothing but instinct, as much as a sad and bitter ending that would've been... And that such an action isn't undone by MacGuffin such as revival, I'm sitting firmly in camp Don't forgive Celestia. There's nothing more Celestia could take away from Luna. She already took it all.
Oh geez this is starting to look like the comment section from Ponies shouldn't have enslaved humanity... Chapter-length comment discussion on story politics, morals, etc.
11793209
I mean, it would take a whooole lot to vilify herself after 1000 years of benevolent rule, and would probably be a long-term effort. But yeah I see your point. However, I'd prefer a punishment that wasn't as destructive as completely ruining Celestia in Equestria as it would make future relations and chances for forgiveness/returning back to the idyllic family they once were a lot harder. I may not like Tia here, but I'm a sucker for good redemption stories done well.
Though having the nightmare transfer to Celestia may have some merit... While it may not be perfect, it'd be like forcing Celestia to walk in Luna's hoofshoes, even if it's only a single, half-perfect, faulty imitation of what Luna truly had to endure. Almost like Celestia's version of Luna's Tantabus. Though, in this case, the end condition of ending the nightmares is a whole lot more capable than simply "forgiving herself" from the actual episode.
11790490
Well if the second memory phase is going to be that long, I certainly hope it's completion doesn't mark the near ending of the story. Even though I feel like the answer is a yes, I'm going to hope that you continue to keep feeding us these horse words you write.
I do love myself a long, succulently delicious story.
11793032
You in particular I'd like to see your reaction if and or when you reread the fic after it's all done.
I wanna see if you spot everything.
11793133
Neither am I to be honest. I'm just putting down my personal experiences.
11793175
11793193
You have no idea how much I love reading these speculations. It's interesting to see where your thoughts are at.
11793273
I do plan on two sequels, but they're not going to be started until I finish this fic. So it's probably going to be a while before I start posting them.
Huh.
A marked improvement in your storytelling.
It's kinda weird that this is the SAME fic but I'm REALLY enjoying this segment.
Good work! I really like this!