This story follows Biography of a Tyrant, but it can also stand alone nicely.
Nightmare Moon is banished, imprisoned in the moon which she once controlled. It is the first great battle that Celestia has ever lost.
But only as the smoke clears does she fully realize what has just transpired.
Now, she also stands upon the precipice.
The choice is hers.
(Chronology note: this tale takes place before the series begins, and before Cadence and Celestia meet.)
(Chronology note: this timeline continues with Cadence of the Crystal Empire.)
Part of the Elsequestria Continuity and the Sunset Rising Continuity.
Chapters (2)
Yes. Good. I especially loved Celestia's battle with herself and how close it sounded to fighting whatever Nightmare lived inside of her.
9030436
Thank you. I tend to think they both had the same basic battle against their own hearts' shadows.
In Luna's case, it was to become a demonic scapegoat; in Celestia's case, it was to become a golden calf.
In my head canon, it was Luna's depression and feelings of abandonment by the only family she had, plus her own despair, that led her to ultimately giving in and trying to become what what she had been labeled. As the Monster in Young Frankenstein said, "In my loneliness I decided that if I could not inspire love, which is my deepest hope, I would instead cause fear."
Celestia, in turn, could have become the self-affirmed light-god her subjects so desperately wanted her to be: cold, removed, and self-righteously benevolent. (Or at least, a surface counterfeit of it, just as Nightmare Moon was a surface counterfeit of the devil goddess her subjects wanted her to be.)
But to me, both transformations offered the same false promise: "Become this, embrace this identity, fulfill the role society wants you to have, cause the emotions people want you to cause... and the hurting will stop."
But that trick never works. Not really. The inner shadow is an infamous liar.
I think that most to all people must face such crucibles multiple times... in some cases, even daily. Both Luna and Celestia had been facing the pressures to become something they did not want to be, and having to fight against that current on a regular basis, for a long, long time.
So, no idea if this was what anyone else got from the Luna / Celestia arc of MLP... but this was part of what I got from it. And that led us here.
As always, so very glad you enjoyed it.
9032225
Huh. I guess you’re not using Daybreaker then, because she struck me as a sort of “FUCK DA POLICE!” sorta girl. Chaotic Evil to Nightmare Moon’s Lawful Evil. Not the sort who would give a shit about what society wants of her; society exists to serve HER ends, not the other way around.
9074944
Not as things stand currently. But I won’t say never.
As for the LE vs. CE, yes. I hadn’t thought of it in that way, but I agree: while Nightmare Moon sought conquest, Daybreaker (as depicted in nightmares, at least) seemed to me more likely to watch the world burn in her power, then dance in its ashes.
And a few hours later...
"Okay. That happened. Change of plans. Also, I need a new dragon egg."
A very powerful presentation of one of the defining moments of the series. Great work.
9097303
Hee! Yes, I suspect that between Twilight and Cadence, Celestia had her hooves full, relearning the definition of “improvisation.”
...and thank you.
Wow.
Wow. Man, you have a knack for creating so much in so few words. This was an excellent look at two very important events.
9497161
Thank you. That means a great deal to me.
The first paragraph of the description is a better story than most on this site! Doing a lot with only a few words is rare and refreshing.
I demand all three of these stories, now.
10005174
At least one of them I will as soon as I can; I am being mugged by so many stories and there is so little non-work time, alas. But I am delighted you liked this tale, and also thank you for the review.
In the meantime, um... if it helps any, the Crimson Queen and the Knight of Mirrors do return in another story later on...
10007674
I noticed, and was pleased! :D
can anyone write me a list of the stories of this universe in chronological order?
for i'm confused
10258497
You can find it here, as well as I have been able to upkeep it.
The two main timelines split after Cadence of the Crystal Empire, so there are two neighboring universes. Scroll down from the first timeline (Elsequestria), and you will see the chronology of the second universe (Sunset Rising) as well.
If there is anything else I can do to help you navigate, please let me know.
10258510
thank
10259192
My pleasure.
9098176
I can't exactly remember which pony writer said it, but I've adopted the head canon that the egg test was intentionally designed to see how the prospective students dealt with failure. Twilight was dissapointed sure, but would have taken it with some level of grace and perhaps internally striving to do better. on the opposite end of the spectrum you have some ponies like Jet Set and Spoiled Rich who would have a huge fit and try to fight/blame the world for the percieved wrongs.
there's a term for this sort of test but it escapes me at the moment.
11539770
I have always known it as the Kobayashi Maru, but there's probably another, more proper term.
11544489
That was actually the term I was looking for