'All the world’s a stage,
And all the mares and stallions merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one pony in her time plays many parts,
Her acts being seven ages.' ~ William Shakespony
In the aftermath of banishing her corrupted sister, Celestia is left to tend to a land ravaged by fear of their own rulers, political discontent, racial tensions between the three tribes and her own crushing loneliness. A thousand years is a long time to wait for the return of the pony she was closer to than anyone else in the world; long enough that she needs to make other connections with other ponies to prevent herself from going mad and following her sister into corruption. The question is, can one pony ever be strong enough to rule a land for a thousand years and be both a good ruler and a good pony?
Written as a Patreon reward for Echo Located, who asked for a first person story about Celestia during the period of Luna's absence based on the poem 'The Seven Ages of Man' by William Shakespeare.
Good start!
Damn, that's a great look into Celestia's mind and the aftermath of the battle.
I’d find that hard to believe too if I was in that guards position.
Great start!
That was a cute scene with those two foals.
She does. Another great chapter, here. Wish I could say more, but you've got Celestia's internal voice pitch-perfect.
Amazing start!
Looking forward to the rest of the story!
Beautifully written and very atmospheric.
Great work!
So, I take it this is going to be written in seven chapters? I always like it when a story is thematic.
This is a very good start. I never thought the show did justice to the toll banishing Luna would take on her sister, so I always appreciate it when authors delve into the subject. I'd be very interested to see what kind of stories you'll be able to tell in such a short narrative structure, and where the Romance tag fits into it.
Or maybe this is the life of Ginger Root as told by Celestia?
In any case, I'll certainly be watching. I hope it all turns out well.
This shall be an interesting story.
That is true, unfortunately....
It's good... although a meddling council is not something I've liked before. Sorry, old memories of otherwise good fics that are ruined by playing up the worst fanon stereotypes of Canterlot. For this fic, it's not so bad.
That is... disturbingly realistic. Although I must wonder what became of this addendum to the proposal.
A bit of unwarranted editing advice; recognise and avoid redundant words.
"Who had already spoken" is unnecessary if you've already mentioned the speaker is the same person.
Sorry.
Good chapter, by the way, and I'm not sad to see that I was wrong about the Ginger Root storyline.
Wow, what an origin story for Celestia's school.
Of course she will Celly...it just takes time.
ah, canon is overrated when it comes to fanfic. I vastly prefer Starswirl here than what we've seen of the old coot in the show.
Oh, I do like this. And I agree, canon is overrated, in particular when the fanfic is this good.
Immortality seems great for a while, but then I remember that there was this awkward social encounter in Disneyland four years ago that I'm still beating myself up over. I'm only in my 40s and already sometimes I think I have too much baggage to bear--and this from a relatively uneventful life. I don't know how immortals would even manage it.
There's just so much sadness one can take, I guess.
What is canon? Seriously? In the new Star Trek movies Vulcan was destroyed. That didn't happen in TOS and it was okay in Next Generation. So now what is canon? Apparently even waiting until the series is over might not work. To me EVERYTHING is canon and NOTHING is canon. Somewhere/somewhen anything goes. Stories are stories. Canon is an ephemeral dream to chase. If I like a story, to me, it's canon. If I don't it isn't. It doesn't matter what anybody else says and my opinion on it shouldn't matter to anyone else, either. If I like the story and I don't like a particular twist, I say to myself, "Alternate Universe" and presto it's now okay.
Oh, wow. This is just great, Scribbler.
Luna doing what Celestia cannot....
Oh crap....
Celestia, you better return that bear cub back pronto!
Hopefully she won't....
Amazing job as always Scribber. I eagerly await for more!
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Well as far as the recent Star Trek movies go they are officially set in an alternate timeline (Spock says so in the first movie at one point), but I also get what you are getting at and I agree.
I came here because I recognized the Shakespeare quote.
Well you know what they say Purple, nothing lasts forever, and destinies can change. Who knows...maybe yours will change as well.
Spark...wait, you mean...!
One small typo I noticed...
Should be 'some'.
And... okay, I'm sorry, but Celestia came off as pretty damned... petty and immature at the beginning, How dare ponies admire her and paint her portrait! You'd think they like her or something! Also, Purple Pumpkin comes off more a thug with preferring to knock the other guy down.
Oh Celestia....
I stopped my patting and stared at my own hooves like they were the most interesting thing in the world.
Yes it is.
What???
Oh...I see now.
...it's not there anymore...and all you feel now is the warmth of the Sun.
Love leaves a memory, no one can heal...but it leaves a memory, no one can steal....
Oh he is SO not!
Just like Twilight...all that anti-socialness.
Jealousy rearing its ugly head, huh Celestia?
He will eventually fade form your memory Celestia...but until then, you have all of the memories you and Purple shared together.
As would many.
Yet...you didnt want her to, did you?
It is a heavy burden indeed...one that Twilight will soon carry.
Again, a heavy burden with an equally heavy cost.
Indeed we do.
Ineed there does..only then....
You say that now, but you will eventually.
Farewell Purple Pumpkin...may you find eternal rest in Paradise.
Purple has no idea how right he is.
Wow. I honestly don't think Celestia has ever been portrayed so well in a first-person perspective as in this fic.
Good words.
In this situation Luna and Twilight are best companions for Celestia
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I know one.
Try "Wayward Sun",
Very good fic with similiar Celestia
Yeah... I'm sorry, but I don't really feel sorry for Celestia during the party. At all. Or having to do necessary duties.
As for that thrice-damned spell? I still don't get how one earns anything by solving it, especially the way Twilight bungled it.
Well this was sad. Immortality. It always is a two edged sword. Who Wants To Live Forever? I liked the stone in the river part. The older she gets the faster the river seems to flow, too, I bet. I can't imagine what a relief it was to finally have Luna back, even though Cadance finally came along. Good stories make you think, so this is a very good story.
Wow. So Starswirl hid her in the sun to keep her safe from Nightmare Moon. Now it's up to the Elements to restore Luna. I look forward to the reunion, but mourn the coming ending of this wonderful tale.
Nicely done.
An interesting take on the behind-the-scenes of the pilot that I've never quite seen fine before.
So much to do, so little time.
If you hold onto them, and keep holding onto hope, you will.
.
Starswirl!!!
You've been a wonderful mentor and friend Starswirl...we'll never forget you!!!
Luna will return soon, and reclaim her title as the Queen of the Night once again.
Of the essence?
Oh Celestia...Starswirl!!!
You get away from her Nightmare!!!
Yes, because you are not Luna, Nightmare!!!
Also, probably should've added 'Nightmare screeched in the darkness'.
Goodbye Starswirl...may you rest in peace in Paradise.
Damned fine ending, Scribbler. You're as fine a writer as you are a voice-actress, and that's a lot of talent.
Finally!
It wasn't your fault, Celestia.
This is really nice. I liked the little glimpses of Celestia as Luna sees her. How strange Celestia must seem to her...
I don't usually point out mistakes, but I think you should replace "hence" with "agone." Hence implies 'future' while 'agone' implies past.
I am loving this story. Seriously.
So! Another moment I wish we'd have seen in canon. Lovely work with this and with the story as a whole. Glad to see it completed!
Well, I thought it was great! With the remark about it was out of your comfort zone, I hate to chant sequel, but I will anyhow because I liked it that much. Seeing more interaction between Luna and Cadance would be cool.
“That’s in the past, Luna. I have forgiven you.”
We all have.
You were fit to rule Luna, and you still are...you just had unfortunate circumstances happen to you.
Very well said Celestia.
All of it will happen in time.
Only time will tell.
Well, go for it Luna.
.
You both need each other.
!!!
That she does.
That it does.
Who wouldn't be like by Luna except those who are able to get her to like them.
Told you so Cadence.
Don't get too ahead of yourself Cadence...this is just the beginning.
A great read, Scribbler. Well-done. :)
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hey don't underestimate yourself, at least you finished a story, I have dabbled in fan-fic writing, and aside from a re-make of "the night before christmas" and a handful of chapters from several different fandoms, I have yet to actually complete a story at all.
When Cadence first meets Luna I was reminded of a scene from a bugs bunny cartoon: "I like him, he's silly"
also, I hope that you or someone does a reading of this most excellent story.
I wouldn't say that you broke with canon here. Starswirl has the ability to time travel. The fact that he spent, from his perspective, a thousand years detained in Limbo doesn't interfere with his ability to talk to Celestia again earlier/later, and live out the rest of his life in modern Equestria.
Huh. I loved this. Thank you for writing it 🙂
That was a good story.