Once Upon a Time...
Equestria is at peace. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have ruled over their little ponies for generations without a serious threat like Discord, Sombra, or Tirek. Equestria has had a chance to live, breathe easily, and grow from coast to coast.
As time has passed and things have changed, the only thing that has remained constant in their lives for the last century has been each other. They've been family, comrades, rulers, saviors. Is it any surprise that they should be lovers?
The one thing they've never been is enemies.
Written for the "Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord" Contest.
Tags are for sexual situations involving dubious consent, pain, and the emotional trauma of losing the one person who mattered most. Do not attempt to replicate these stunts without a trained professional present.
Really good tense conspiracy, and shows the paranoia that comes with an enemy that can cause night terrors. And I liked how Celestial just being exhausted contributed to her slipping.
Wasn’t a big fan of equating the d/s bit with Nightmare Moon’s evil though.
I would hope Monde got some recognition for being brave enough to speak out against Luna once everything come out.
A great piece of tragic romance overall, one that paints the rise of Nightmare Moon in a whole new way, but the 'is she dreaming or isn't she' device just adds unnecessary confusion. I also couldn't help but wish you gave more glimpses into what Celestia was thinking. This is heavy stuff, but because of that, the emotional impact the events could have had was lessened. Still probably better than my entry, though.
I really liked the pacing, and the gradual encroachment of Luna into power. Very enjoyable :)
I liked this a lot. There was a very clear expression of "My best friend has become dangerously irrational for no reason I understand". And it was paced well. I don't think the portrayal of the psychology of such old beings was portrayed very believably, but that would have been extra credit, as it were; the absence did not particularly detract from my enjoyment of the piece.
The D/S bit, I felt, was a strong scene, in that Luna suddenly felt the urge to violate Celestia, contrasted with Celestia caring enough about Luna that she sort of went along with it. I felt very sad for each of them, for different reasons, reading that.
I was just scrolling by when something in the short description caught my eye...
I see what you did there!
Well, I’m definitely reading this once it isn’t midnight.
This was a really nice story, and I loved the different take on how Luna was slowly taking over everything right under Celestia’s nose cos she herself was so blinded. The lover angle was really well handled I thought, it made things intense when things started to leave the privacy of the bedroom with it clearly having an effect of luna’s psyche.
It might be the sinister bastard in me but I was kind hoping to see what would happen if Luna did win, and to see Celestia at her heel. Though I think the proper ending is great, Celestia truly being the top dog but hating it cos servitude is in her nature.