…
…
PREVIOUSLY ON "MY LITTLE PONY"
…
…
Megatron: "When Grogar declared himself leader of the Predacons, I vowed to myself to seek revenge. So we will take this land of Equestria for ourselves! Yes!"
Quickstrike: "That…that belongs to the goat with the bell!"
Twilight Sparkle: "According to the intelligence we've received, Grogar or Megatron are planning to make a move. If they continue to remain defiant…then they must be done away with."
Spike: "You mean, you're planning on doing what Celestia did with Instant Justice?"
Optimus Primal: "Megatron is planning on making his move soon. I recommend that the Maximals fortify both Ponyville and Canterlot to protect against any possible Predacon strike."
Grogar: "You are to find Megatron and bring him to me dead or alive!"
Spike: "I choose a lockdown."
Megatron: "I shall come at sunrise tomorrow, so be warned!"
Twilight Sparkle: "May the maker protect us all."
…
…
In the Canterlot dungeons, Terrorsaur and Laserbeak were placed on two separate racks, their wings and legs stretched out and unable to transform. Both Predacons were exhausted and unable to escape, but their spirits were still willing.
"Never give in…" Terrorsaur gasped, his voice screeching briefly. "Never give in…"
Laserbeak said nothing, but he was also determined to not give into the pressures of being imprisoned.
A few moments later, the doors to the torture chamber opened and in stepped Rodiums Primal, glancing at the two Predacons that were weakened from their captivity. "Well, well, look at this," He chuckled as Mudflap and Skids followed suit. "Two Predacons bound up with no way to escape. Do you both know why you're here?"
"Yes, you want to question us…" Terrorsaur replied. "About our involvement in that attack. I can assure you that we had nothing to do with it. You're barking up the wrong tree."
Snarling, Rodimus grabbed Terrorsaur by the throat. "You lie! Of course you had something to do with it, beak brain!" The lion Maximal growled. "And I am going to get every single bit of information out of your thick skull if it's the last thing I do!"
A few moments later, a pair of pony guards came into the torture chamber and stood on one each side of Terrorsaur. Stepping back, Rodimus motioned for the guards to begin stretching Terrorsaur out.
"Ooh, this is gonna hurt, brother!' Skids cried while recoiling slightly.
"You…you won't get away with this!" Terrorsaur shouted as the rack stretched him out further. "Killing me won't…"
"Then answer this!" Rodimus demanded as Terrorsaur yelped further and further in pain. "What is Megatron planning to do? Is he planning to attack Ponyville? Canterlot, perhaps?"
Remaining defiant, Terrorsaur didn't answer and the rack was stretched further.
"Well, are you going to answer?" Rodimus remarked with his arms folded. "Or do I have to keep stretching the rack further?"
"I…I won't give into you! I've suffered worse!" Terrorsaur screeched as he began to feel his beast mode be torn away from him.
"Youse very brave for a Predacon!" Mudflap remarked. "Isn't he, Skids?"
"Yeah! Too bad he can't escape as fast!" Skids replied, causing the two Maximals to share a laugh.
Rodimus took notice of their laughter quickly. "Silence!" He ordered with a glare. "Prepare Laserbeak for interrogation!"
"Right boss." The two Maximal brothers saluted and prepared Laserbeak for interrogation. Meanwhile, Terrorsaur was being stretched beyond his limits and was now begging for mercy.
"Do you realize that some ponies in Rainbow Falls are dead because of you Predacon scum?!" Rodimus Primal asked. "Do you have any remorse…any shame of your actions?!"
Terrorsaur said nothing as he felt his left wing beginning to rip, exposing the wiring underneath him.
"All right, that's enough! We can't risk losing him before we've extracted a confession," Rodimus ordered to the Pony Guards. "Take him down! This isn't working, but perhaps there is another way to get him to open up."
…
Meanwhile, Twilight and her friends emerged from the throne room at the Castle of Friendship, still shaking from the encounter with Megatron.
"I'm all for guests," Pinkie Pie shivered. "But he freaks me out!"
"He's no different than any of the enemies we have encountered already," Spike replied. "But anyone who impersonates a dragon like that is bad news."
"Yes and we can't take any chances," Twilight firmly declared as she made her way to the front door of her castle and activated her horn. "We're locking down now! If Megatron thinks he can just waltz in and destroy Ponyville, he's got another thing coming!"
Stepping in front of her castle, Twilight aimed her horn into the sky and shot a beam of her alicorn magic, which began to rain down magical particles over Ponyville.
The sight of the magic beam caught the attention of the School of Friendship's students and staff. Watching from their dormitory window, Luster Dawn and several of her fellow classmates were amazed by what they were seeing.
"What's going on?!" Gallus gasped, amazed by what he was seeing. "What's with Princess Twilight's magic?"
"Something must be happening, guys," Smolder cried, beginning to get a sense of what was going on. "And I think I know who's coming. It's got to be that Megawhat'shisface."
And no sooner did Smolder say those words than did Luster Dawn feel a summons from her horn.
"Luster, what is it?" Ocellus questioned as Luster read off a scroll quietly. "What does the scroll say?"
"Twilight and her fellow princesses are locking down the school and all of Ponyville," Luster answered. "All students are to remain where they are until further notice and lock the doors."
"Says who?" Silverstream asked as she immediately embraced Gallus in a tight hug. "What's happening?"
"It's from Headmare Starlight," Luster Dawn explained, throwing the scroll aside and immediately locking the door. "Apparently, all she's saying is that it's coming from an outside threat."
Confused, Yona looked out at the window as the magical barrier Twilight was placing continued to envelop the school grounds. "Yona not know what outside threat is!" The young yak cried, looking over to her friends with a worried glance.
But Gallus had a hunch that what was about to happen was something that he had been hoping to get involved in for some time.
"What are we going to do?" Ocellus asked in a terrified voice. "Is it Grogar? Is he on his way? Is the final battle here already?"
"I don't know," Luster Dawn answered while ensuring that the door in front of her was locked tight. "But we need to wait and see. Even if it isn't Grogar there's very little we can do, much as it pains me to say it."
…
Stepping outside the school, Starlight, Sunburst, Trixie and the ex-royal sisters also aided Twilight in producing a barrier around Ponyville and Canterlot.
"Do you think this will hold, Starlight?" Sunburst groaned as his horn spakred.
"It has to hold, Sunburst!" Starlight urged while slightly groaning from the pain of the magic that was draining from her body.
"Trixie has her doubts!" Trixie whimpered
"Well, keep those doubts to yourself!" Starlight ordered in a sharp voice. "Our students' safety is at stake!"
Meanwhile, in the skies over Canterlot, Celestia and Luna were producing the barrier over their former home.
As she covered Canterlot, Celestia couldn't help but shed a small tear. "Look at this," She whispered to herself. "This is what it all comes down to, doesn't it?"
"Sister!" Luna called out, catching her sister's attention. "That should hold Canterlot from the Predacons!"
Looking towards her younger sister, Celestia couldn't help but produce a guilty look on her face.
"I can understand your pain, sister," Luna sympathized, wiping a tear away from her sister's eye. "But we don't have a choice! This was a decision made by our successor, and for better or for worse we must respect it. It won't do good to go against it and risk making it seem like we question her authority."
"Luna, if we ever live through this…" Celestia cried as she watched her former subjects close the doors and windows of their homes and businesses. "Remind me to ensure that Equestria is never threatened this way again! We've been sidelined one time too many!"
Feeling even more guilty for her older sister, Luna silently agreed. Then, as the moment faded, the two sisters caught sight of several airborne Predacons out in the distance coming towards the shared capitals!
"We'd better get back and warn Twilight that they are coming," Luna suggested. "Come on, sister!"
…
From out in the distance, Megatron and his army of Predacons drew near the limits of Ponyville while also keeping a close watch on Canterlot. Seeing the magic barriers erected to undoubtedly thwart entrance, Megatron felt amused. When he then saw Optimus and several other Maximals heading towards the Castle of Friendship, he got even more amused. "They never learn," he remarked, looking through a telescope. "Such a pity. Oh yesss…."
"What do you think, boss?" Quickstrike asked, his body covered with slight burns after being burned by Megatron earlier. "Do we attack?"
"Not yet, Quickstrike," Megatron replied while passing the telescope onto him. "We wait until our enemies are ready for battle, then we make our move!"
"How long will that take?" Rampage asked while ensuring his gun was fully loaded. "I'm itching to kill me some four legged creatures!"
"When I say it's ready!" Megatron roared back in a defiant voice. "Let's give them a false sense of security, shall we? Those magic barriers can't hold forever!"
So the Predacons waited at the borders of Ponyville. But little did they realize that at that moment, Inferno was hiding from behind a bush along with Lavan and Arabus. Inferno looked at his former royalty…his "queen" in lament, knowing he would have to betray him to Grogar.
….
….
Back in Ponyville, Twilight and her friends continued to oversee the magic barriers being placed just as Optimus and the Maximals arrived on the scene.
"Princess Twilight!" Optimus called, catching her attention as he landed in front of her. "We came as soon as we heard the news!"
"Thank you, Optimus," Twilight replied with a smile. "Can you have some of your Maximals spread out around the Ponyville borders? We'll need their help if we're going to stand any chance of driving Megatron and his forces away."
"Affirmative," Optimus nodded, motioning for Rattrap and Dinobot to come over to him. "Rattrap! Dinobot!"
"What's up, Fearless Leader?" Rattrap said as he got off Tigerhawk's back while he transformed to robot mode.
"Rattrap, I need you and Dinobot to cover the borders of Ponyville," Optimus ordered. "We can't let Megatron pass through without a fight."
"If that's what you want, boss, consider it done." Rattrap acknowledged in a reluctant tone and much to Dinobot's chagrin.
"Silverbolt, Blackarachnia and Cheetor will accompany you," Optimus continued, before turning over to Rhinox. "Rhinox, you're with me and Tigerhawk in defending the castle and the School of Friendship!"
Just then, the Maximals were welcomed by another of their kind as Depth Charge landed in front of them with his gun ready. "And what about me?" He asked, much to Optimus and especially Twilight's surprise.
"Depth Charge, what are you doing here?! You were sent to Mount Aris." Twilight asked in a surprised voice and much to Optimus' annoyance.
"Got fired," Depth Charge replied in a matter of fact tone of voice. "Queen Novo sent me packing. Didn't like what I had to say."
But Optimus had reason to believe that Depth Charge had gone back to his old ways, it wasn't like the bounty hunter Maximal to just be "fired" from something over a disagreement. "We will discuss whatever got you fired from your post later," He reluctantly replied in a low tone of voice. Then he called out "Cheetor!"
Hearing Optimus' voice, the young Maximal raced over to him. "What's up, big bot?"
"You will stay here and defend the castle with Rhinox and Tigerhawk," He declared while looking over to Depth Charge with a firm glance. "Depth Charge shall go with the others to aid in defending the Ponyville borders."
But Depth Charge saw otherwise. "Trying to get me slagged huh, Optimus?" He guessed. "Well it won't work. I'm not afraid to play by my own rules!"
"Just go do as you are told, hardhead! And try to keep the body count low if you don't mind." Optimus sighed.
Depth Charge reluctantly nodded to indicate his agreement, transforming into his manta ray beast mode and following Silverbolt to the borders.
"Yeah, I can't help but wonder either, big bot," Cheetor remarked. "Border duty doesn't seem suited to him, I'm much a faster fighter than he is."
"He needs to be taught a lesson," Optimus firmly replied. "A lesson on the proper way to fight in war, and that even in war are there some lines you don't cross."
"It makes little difference to me what he does," Twilight declared. "Right now we need to defend from the Predacons and whoever else is coming! If his methods get results at the expense of the Predacons, so be it!"
"I agree with Twilight," Rainbow Dash added. "No reason to keep fighting amongst ourselves! The Predacons came here looking for a fight, and we'll give 'em a fight they'll never forget!"
Doing as they were told, Rattrap and Dinobot accompanied Depth Charge to the edge of Ponyville where all of the citizens had been forced into lockdown. Not a single soul except for the Maximals and the pony guards were out and about.
"Oh great, since when did they show up?" Rattrap groaned as he ran alongside Dinobot, soon spotting Depth Charge. "Hey, you ain't getting in here, Megadip!"
"He will find a way, vermin!" Dinobot replied while readying his swirling sword. "Or perhaps your crash landing in this world scrambled your circuits."
"Eh, there's a part of me that wishes you were still dead," Rattrap remarked while taking out his gun and cocking it. "Telling it like it is, Chopperface. You have no idea how much of a pain in the diodes Depth Charge was."
…
On the other side of the barrier, Megatron could only groan in disgust at the arrival of Rattrap and Dinobot. "Blast that traitorous Dinobot!" He groaned. "Again he defies me," Megatron then realized that there was a way to get into Ponyville and turned his attention over to Dinobot II. "But at least I have some…inspiration. Dinobot II, prepare to start digging!"
Laughing evilly, Dinobot's clone transformed into his beast mode and began to dig into the ground.
"As for the rest of you," Megatron ordered. "Prepare your weapons! We're gonna start cracking at that barrier! It will fall! Yessss!"
Meanwhile, Inferno led Lavan and Arabus as quietly as he could. "I can't believe I'm attacking the royalty," Inferno said as he and his comrades hid in a ditch. "I feel like a traitor."
"He is an enemy," Lavan cautioned flexing his flaming muscles. "And anyone who is an enemy of Grogar's is an enemy of mine."
"I second the motion," Arabus added while the green gem on his forehead gleamed brightly. "I outta blow them right out of here right now, all of them! We could eliminate both our enemies at the same time."
But Inferno was beginning to have second thoughts about carrying out his mission. This caught the attention of Grogar back up in his palace on the moon, who was beginning to sense Inferno was trying to back out.
"I can read your mind, Inferno," Grogar whispered while tapping into his bell's powers. "And I will not allow you to think another thought on it! I will not have another servant betray me!"
Going into Inferno's mind via his viewing globe, Grogar updated Inferno's processor to make him an obedient soldier. "Good, my loyal warrior," Grogar laughed. "Now obey me and do as you are told. Capture that traitorous Megatron dead or alive!"
Much to the shock of Lavan and Arabus, Inferno cocked his weapon despite having just displayed hesitancy at what was in front of him. "Yes, my emperor," Inferno declared in a monotone voice, causing both Lavan and Arabus to be taken slightly aback. "I shall obey you and carry out the mission assigned to me!"
"Excellent," Grogar laughed. "You are going to complete your mission and be successful. Failure will not be an option."
To Lavan and Arabus' further shock, Inferno began to make his way out of his hiding spot and cocking his weapon again, aimed it at several Predacons in the back of the army! Aiming his weapon, Grogar ordered Inferno to strike at the army. "Now, my servant, fire!" Grogar commanded and the mind controlled Inferno aimed his weapon and fired his weapon several times, the blasts hitting several Predacons and catching Megatron by surprise!
"What was that?!" Megatron demanded, taking to the air with his gold dragon wings. The Predacon leader was shocked and outraged by what he was seeing. "Inferno?! You traitor! Pirhanacons, deal with him at once!"
Several of the Pirhanacons heard Megatron's cries and proceeded to take down Inferno. Still weakened from being rescued from the sea, however, the Pirhanacons were sent back flying from the mind controlled Inferno's blasts.
"The rest of you, focus on breaking that barrier!" Megatron further ordered as he and Shockwave proceeded to go after Inferno. "Shockwave, deal with the traitor!"
Before the crocodile Predacon could deal with Inferno however, Lavan and Arabus emerged from their hiding places! Lavan fired blasts of flame at Megatron and using his wind powers, Arabus sucked up Shockwave and fired through his arms of wind! Arabus sent Shockwave flying into the magic barrier, causing it to crack slightly.
"In the name of Emperor Grogar, you are under arrest, Megatron!" Lavan cried.
"Grogar can just kiss my tail!" Megatron thundered, aiming his dragon head at Arabus and firing a shot at him! "No one controls me! No one!"
"We shall see about that," Grogar declared. "Inferno, attack your fellow Predacons! Show no mercy!" He forced Inferno into the sky.
…
Not seeing what was going on behind them, the Predacon army was forced to scatter.
"What in the…?" Quickstrike cried as he got to his feet. "Since when did fire varmint decide to attack us?"
But Grogar was having the time of his life as he continued to pilot the hypnotized Inferno via his bewitching bell. Aiming his gun at Megatron, the mind controlled Inferno hit his former superior in the chest, sending him back into the barrier and further cracking it!
"That's it," Megatron thought, looking at the cracks in the barrier. "Maybe Inferno has some use after all!"
Tapping into his wind powers, Arabus transformed into a tornado and proceeded to throw several Predacons in different directions.
"Dinobot II!" Megatron called down from the sky, causing Dinobot II to stop digging. "New plan! I order you to start cracking at the barrier!"
"As you command, Megatron." Dinobot II declared as the barrier began to crack more and more! Soon the Predacons would break through and make their way into Ponyville!
…
…
Back in Canterlot, the badly injured Terrorsaur was placed in a dunking machine where the tank was filled with water, water that could seep in and ruin his inner circuits.
"Terrorsaur, this water is dangerous to you," Rodimus explained. "Tell me, why does it seem dangerous?"
"You intend to destroy my inner body," Terrorsaur gasped, weakly lifting his head up. "Well, you will never succeed, no matter how hard you try!"
"I beg to differ. We will find a way to preserve your spark. We will get a confession out of you one way or another." Rodimus declared and motioned for the dunking of Terrorsaur to begin.
Doing as they were told, the guardspony pushed down hard on the dunking machine, sending Terrorsaur into the pool of water. The water creeped into his system and upon being pulled out electricity could be seen circulating throughout his body.
"What does Megatron have planned for Equestria, Terrorsaur?" But after not getting an answer despite several minutes passing, Rodimus motioned for Terrorsaur to be dunked again.
"We can keep this up," Rodimus cautioned, walking over to a wall and leaning against it. "Or I can hear what you have to say."
Still, Terrorsaur remained defiant. Then he got himself an idea, turning his attention over to Laserbeak.
"Perhaps seeing your friend being dunked as well might make you see otherwise," Rodimus remarked. "Skids, Mudflap, place the condor in the dunking tank. Let's see if he'll talk!"
Doing as they were told, the two Maximal brothers placed Laserbeak in the dunking tank and Skids pushed him down hard into the tank, the water already corroding his metallic body.
"Laserbeak, what does Megatron have planned for Equestria next?" Rodimus demanded. "Tell me!"
Screeching, Laserbeak felt the cold, raw water course through his body, further impacting his ability to transform and escape.
"Don't suppose that rescue is coming for you both," Rodimus remarked while looking at each of the captured and tortured Predacons. "There is a barrier that is keeping the Predacons from rescuing you! unicorn and alicorn magic are what is keeping you our prisoners!"
"Megatron, please help us!" Laserbeak thought to himself, his electric circuits fusing out further.
…
Back at the Castle of Friendship, Twilight continued to stand in front of her castle with her friends and realized that something was wrong with the barrier.
"Optimus, look!" Rarity suddenly cried as she noticed something! "The dome! It's cracking!"
"Then that means the Predacons will get inside," Applejack cried in disbelief. "Twilight, we need to do something!"
Acting fast, Twilight fired her horn at the crack, trying to at least stop it from widening! "I don't know how long it will hold! Megatron must already be cracking at it somehow!"
Suddenly, Optimus heard his radio go off. "Optimus here, come in," He declared into his radio. "What is it, Rattrap?"
Listening, Optimus took in what was being said. "Megatron is under attack…by Inferno?!" hH remarked in a confused tone. "What?! No, keep holding your ground unless I tell you otherwise! We'll deal with them! Maybe them being distracted will be a good thing!"
Hastily turning off his radio, Optimus took to the air once more. "Princess Twilight, wait here. I'll be back! Something unexpected's come up." He declared before powering his prime jets to the position that needed his attention.
But no sooner did Optimus leave than did more cracks in the barrier begin to appear, and Twilight became worried as pieces of the barrier began to fall on the castle.
"What was that?" Fluttershy shouted in a panicked voice as another piece of the barrier almost fell on top of her. "The dome…we've got to save it!"
"Anypony have some super glue?" Pinkie cried as she saw more and more cracks form throughout the barrier. "Cause I think we are going to need some!"
"Twilight!" Starlight frantically called as she ran over with Sunburst and Trixie. "The barrier! It's…"
"I know," Twilight interrupted in a calm and scared voice. "It's breaking! I'm afraid it's only a matter of time until things really start to take place! The real battle is about to begin!"
Looking up, the barrier which had been intended to better protect Equestria's soon to be announced shared capitals was now falling apart. Now, Twilight and her friends were left with the possibility of being confronted by the Predacons again…on their own home field!
…
…
Wow??!! How long does this take to FINALLY BEAT/KILL Grogar, Megatron, and their Evil Army ALREADY???!!!
Oi!!!!!!!!!
No Offense, Author.
I really hope this doesn't mean Luna and Celestia are actually sidelined here. Its bad enough they got taken out by Megatron in the season 11 finale, but the fact they are forcibly sidelined takes steps back even further for the sisters.
I was hoping they would have a proper rematch against Megatron to win against for the humiliating lost the sisters suffered due to Megatron, not being forced by Twilight to stay behind at Canterlot pretty much and sidelined from fighting Megatron. Twilight needs to be harshly called out on this since the sisters have been screwed and/or sidelined too much.
The sisters should be there with her, not being forced to stay behind like that.
Even if other Predacons are attacking Canterlot, the sisters could have gotten to go to Ponyville to fight Megatron instead of being sidelined like that.
Speaking of the sidelined thing, I feel like Luna should be more upset about it than Celestia. Celestia managed to protect Equestria on her own for a 1000 years, Luna didn't. Since Luna came back from the moon, its either she FAILS or is forcibly sidelined too much(mostly due to Celestia not letting her fight the threats, all for the sake of "teaching" Twilight there).
In fact it bugs me that Luna is less bothered about having to follow Twilight's order like that than Celestia, Luna really shouldn't be fine about retiring. The fact she barely ruled and now has to follow Twilight is kind of a problem, but the fact Twilight sidelined them like that I feel like should cause issues for Luna deep down. The show writers really screwed Luna over due to the whole retirement stuff..
Those are the thoughts I have so far.
I hope it wasn't really bothersome..
Meanwhile, the Crusaders?
Again, the exchanges, characterizations, action and future chapter set-up in all the right places. Really understood the efforts to keep the force field around Ponyville up, even if the Predacons are already making headway on it. Also appreciated the concerns at the Friendship School. At least Grogar's forces are providing some distraction for Megatron. Yeah, Celestia and Luna needing to stay in Canterlot right now might be rough, but at least they've got a decent chance against the mook Predacons that are going to be attacking Canterlot (definitely a much better chance than the royal guards), so they might NOT be complaining about getting sidelined for long. Protecting the innocent is MUCH more important than revenge.
Certainly looking forward to more of this.
10764149
I am actually not liking that the sisters are forced to be sidelined by having to stay at Canterlot and dealing with only the mooks instead of getting to have a proper rematch against Megatron. This felt like things are taking steps backwards for the sisters due to they are essentially sidelined again.
10763653
I kind of agree, I was expecting this to end at season 12. I think this has gone on long enough. I'm ready for the war with Grogar to end. Hope that's gonna happen this time.
10764154
That's how it is ALL THE TIME. I agree with you that they deserve more chances to save Equestria though. Wish Celestia and Luna did have a chance to shine in that regard rather than just being the past protectors that are pretty much useless in this day and age now. I don't believe in Alicorns being all powerful, maybe just a bit of an increase in their magic power, along with the addition of wings or something. Just because they are alicorns doesn't make them invincible or whatever, the elements of harmony (or just the magic of friendship) is what really keeps the balance. Though Twilight said they didn't the Elements anymore and they were just symbols, the real magic was about her and her friends. If that's true why didn't Celestia and Luna ever get the chance to do the same? Wow they really get the short end of the stick in protecting Equestria. I would have liked to see them get a chance to actually do something useful in that regard.
10764423
The fact its been happening all the time doesn't make it ok for it to keep happening honestly.
Alicorns were regarded as among the most powerful magic in Equestria(especially natural alicorns). Tirek went through so much trouble to get it(hell, the combined magic of 4 alicorns was able to stand up enough to stalemate against the equivalent raw strength of all of the magic of all other beings in Equestria including Discord's raw magic added to the mix that is Tirek). So its not just a "maybe a bit increase in power", alicorns(especially natural-born such as Luna and Celestia) are treated as a serious deal in the show.
If it was just sort of above average powerlevel of a pony, then characters like Tirek are in for massive disappointments if they finally taken said magic from the Royal Sisters.
And yet the show writers made the Royal Sisters look pathetic by being unable to stop any threats at all in the show, either being sidelined(due to apparently powerless or choose to not go) or get taken out if they do get involved. Apparently Luna and Celestia must get worf-effected or sidelined due to no longer being allowed to fire a rainbow laser of doom at baddies anymore.
Its like Celestia and (especially) Luna must be failures now no matter how hard they try to prop up the "chosen one"(Twilight Sparkle, the "real" ruler and hero of Equestria)
They had so much potential in terms of power and just what they can do but instead the show writers squandered it and made them not live up to how powerful alicorns(especially natural-born) are viewed to be.
And Luna suffers worse due to she returned from the moon only to fail and FAIL again or be sidelined. Celestia at least managed to maintain Equestria on her own for a 1000 years and most likely stopped some threats, but Luna has none of that.
Speaking of the rainbow laser, it was surely more salt added to the wound when Luna and Celestia weren't included in the final rainbow laser. Even though they are no longer connected to the Elements, Twilight should have included the sisters anyway.
They used the Elements before and their Cutie Marks were on the damn tree of harmony. And yet apparently losing the Elements mean all of that is nothing.
Discord's plan just added insult to injury by showing Luna and Celestia that no longer being connected to the Elements means that's it for them, they're NOTHING. Just placeholders tossed aside due to the "real heroes" have arrived.
..I really want to vent that out a bunch..
I wished the show had the sisters(or at least Luna due to Celestia did managed to handle on her own for a 1000 years) actually stop some bad guys much more often. Not some mooks but the actual main bad guy of what current crisis is happening right now.
10764448
I can't argue with any of that stuff on alicorns as you are right when you talk about Twilight having the powers of the other three being equal to a large percentage of the magic of ponies and Discord in Equestria. I forgot about that. So yeah, its more than just slightly more powerful, probably a lot more powerful. If alicorns are that powerful they should have been able to do something during all those times rather than looking useless. The same thing can apply to the Royal Guard in this universe. So yeah, the writers can be a bit (or even really) dumb sometimes if not very often, like with the Discord is Grogar twist, I heard Shining Armor was said to have been planned for a while yet he didn't appear till the Season 2 finale, the Cutie Mark Crusaders hugging each frightfully in the first appearance of Nightmare Moon yet not knowing each other in their main debut episode, Twilight's Canterlot friends being older than her the time she first saw Celestia raise the moon. So yeah the writers look like idiots the more you think about it.
(especially natural-born such as Luna and Celestia) are treated as a serious deal in the show. How so? They are royalty and have both horns and wings as well as major amounts of magic power above other ponies. Also how do you know that they themselves are natural born alicorns? I've heard the Journal of the Two Sisters (which I used as a way of forming my own headcanon on the true reason for the immortality of the sisters) established that, though that could go in the same vote as the comics or pretty close since some parts of it were contradicted by later seasons.
So you're right about the sisters being passed over all the time and them being more than just a bit more powerful than a standard pony. I kind feel similar to you in that regard and feel they should have had a chance to do something but I'm not anywhere near as strong about it. I accept the way things are even if I might not like them. However, I do not and never will see immortality as a gift like you apparently do. The chance to experience a great deal of what life has to offer means nothing to me. While I do feel sorry for Luna spending a thousand years imprisoned on the moon, and for her and Celestia not getting a chance to really do anything while the real heroes do everything. I don't want her to suffer through a curse like being forced to watch people/ponies she cares about age and die. Celestia no doubt watched that during the time Luna was on the moon, generations of students and other ponies passing away while she remained trapped in time. But we don't know her opinion on immortality as a gift or curse as she has never talked about it. Her smile could easily be an act just like mine is and she is suffering inside from all the loss she faced. I know how deeply loss can effect a person, I lost my biological mother and that is a wound that has affected me deeply.
The writers handled both the sisters and their royal guard in a rather (not even rather, very) poor way, along with Grogar, and probably a lot of other things. They're not very smart I can probably say for sure now. But I think you really need to move on here, you've been complaining about this for a long time. My headcanon story that solves my issue for Twilight outliving her friends is done, I've done what I can to cheer up those who feel the same way as I do. I'm just glad it was left open ended. So you can just imagine Luna doing something heroic, retaking her throne after a few years or whatever and living for a happy thousand years. But you really need to LET IT GO.
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They are treated like serious deals due to how powerful they were supposed to be. Everyone kept looking up to them and such(heck, apparently they kept saying stuff like "Oh my Celestia!" or stuff like that). And the fact the sisters lived over a 1000 years too shows they got something under their belts there.
As for the Royal Guards, they just not equipped to handle super-villains rather than average criminals but the writers should have them be more better at when dealing against armies such as changelings and Storm Guards but sadly they were overwhelmed badly with the former and were just absent for some reason during the latter.
The sisters should be handling the serious threats like major villains such as Tirek while the guards should handle the mooks(such as nameless changeling soldiers or Storm Guards) and do crowd control and provide numbers.
The Journal Of the Two Sisters had some bits used in the show such as the whole play referencing the unicorns losing their magic when moving the sun and moon. Said journal stated the sisters are natural alicorns(as for Flurry Heart, the sisters are referring to how after the two showed up and Equestria formed, no other natural alicorn popped up or was born after Equestria was formed, till now).
And also stated the natural alicorns aged differently, most likely it takes longer for them to grow to full-size and then stay that way(maybe even another transformation happens for them if they are still alive, as in not killed by trauma. They really need to explain alicorn biology given how Twilight turned Celestia-size after 20 years but it being unknown if Luna did or not. Heck I remember Faust mentioning Luna hasn't "fully grown" yet, maybe she could be growing into Celestia-size too but not at the moment due to the NMM fisaco halting said growth till after she got off of the moon.)
It would have been more better if the sisters lived for a 1000 more years to make up for lost time before apparently "giving up" immortality. Luna barely enjoyed life off of the moon(without death by aging looming over her) compared to how many years she lost due to the NMM fiasco. At least the two have each other now.
If its even possible to dump immortality to someone else.
I freaking can't let it go ever. I just freaking can't.
Its not some damn switch that can be flipped and even if years past by, it will just ache whenever I remember how Luna got poorly handled like that deep down. Reading fics can at least sooth that ache but sadly there really isn't enough fics that addresses those specific issues(especially like if Luna comes back out of retirement), it aches more whenever I see really good fics ending up not addressing/fixing those certain issues though or just makes them worse..
Sorry for being so bothersome..