Smile
"Peace begins with a smile"
-Mother Theresa
“You are certain?”
Luna nodded her head, eyes cast to the ground. She was at war with herself and her mind was a battlefield with many opposing armies. She had told her sister everything, knowing the danger that now hung over Twilight Sparkle’s head; if they did not do something the mare would become the new embodiment of doubt and be forced to care out the tasks such a position held.
And yet another part of her raged that she was betraying her lost friend yet again by going to Celestia. She had stumbled upon the news and it was not hers to share. The others wouldn’t understand… they would see this as only a chance to save Twilight and nothing more. But for Luna, she could not help but wonder what would happen when Doubt left the world. Even if he could not remember his true self he was one of the Elements of Harmony. Would the other five fail without the 6th? Would they save Twilight for a terrible curse… only for her to die the moment Doubt did, her soul bound to his?
Still… by telling her sister did she not better ensure that Doubt would live? With the aid not one but two alicorns, a solution to Doubt’s potential death and, more importantly his faded memories, could be found.
It left her skull throbbing and her stomach pitching with grief.
“This is… troubling,” Celestia said. She did her best to appear dignified but was failing if only because it was hard to appear noble when one held court in a barn. Sweet Apple Acres was not Canterlot but it was the best the Princess could hope for… she did not feel up to the pomp and celebration that would come if she announced herself in Ponyville.
Cadence shook her head sadly, stepping away from Shining Armor, who was guarding the door, and addressing those in attendance. “It is a great shame.”
“A shame?” Twilight Velvet asked. “I assume you mean what he is trying to do to my daughter and not the death of that mirrored monster.” Cadence averted her eyes and Velvet’s brow creased. “How can you say that? Doubt has caused so much pain and misery in his long existence!”
"And felt even more," Cadence stated.
“Do you blame the fire for the sins of an arsonist?” Luna challenged.
“Do not deceive yourself,” Night Light said firmly. “Doubt is not a fire or a sword. He is not a tool. He is thinks and breaths and schemes like any other creature.” The stallion began to pace. “If you want to apply an analogy… he is a dog. A dangerous one at that. A dog can be blamed for attacking a pony… and Doubt can be blamed for his actions as well.”
“Am I to be blamed too, then?” Luna asked.
“Of course not!” Celestia exclaimed.
“I tried to kill you… Doubt wanted me to stop. He never wanted your death, my dear sister, but I did.”
“And you paid the price and are now pardoned.”
“Doubt was also punished for a 1000 years… and he has received nothing but us welcoming his death. He saved the world four times: He aided both you and Twilight in my and Discord's twin defeats. And what is his reward? To be forgotten, dismissed and his death treated as a paltry thing!”
Velvet shook her head, unable to comprehend what she was hearing. “Just over 12 hours ago you wanted to see him dead!”
“Rage is a funny thing… it burns quick and when it is gone the hard cold truth is revealed.” Luna sighed, wings tucked tight against her body. It was rare for her to feel her age but at this moment she realized just how much older she was than her little ponies. They could not afford to spend much time looking at the different sides of all matters because they would be dead soon enough.
“And what if he cannot help himself?” Cadence challenged. “Doubt is doubt. To ask him not to spread his influence as he does is to ask the sun not to shine.”
“The same could be said of Discord and he is trapped in stone,” Night offered. “Can the same not be done for Doubt?”
“DO NOT COMPARE HIM TO THAT BEAST!” Luna roared in fury. Her mind raced, memories of her sobbing in her chambers, feeling utterly alone until Doubt came and offered her...
'What... what had he offered me?' Luna wondered. 'Not doubt... but something else...'
Celestia looked at her sister, sadness radiating off of her much like warmth did from her sun. “Luna… I do not know what caused this change of heart and… and I am happy you feel mercy for Doubt. But we cannot waste time upon him when Twilight is in danger.”
Luna stared at her sister, her lips curling in disgust. “I’ve seen this play out before.”
“Excuse me?” Celestia said.
“1000 years ago I was the one proclaiming that the death of some was ok if the ends were worth it, just as you all are. And once again, sister, you refuse to pick a side until it is too late. You ignore the warning signs and then try to cover up your errors and let history forget that, despite what many may believe, the sun doesn’t set solely on your flank!”
“Luna!” Celestia snapped, frustration causing her to be much more harsh than she’d normally be.
“It is Nightmare Moon all over again!” Luna shouted. "Your blindness and stupidity are going to doom us again! Twilight was right: You did this to them! All of their lives... all of MY LIFE!" Luna stepped forward and Celestia was horrified to see her sister's eyes... weren't black. No corruption. No influence... this was all Luna. "YOU made us! Nightmare Moon, Doubt, Twilight... our sins lay squarely on your shoulders!"
“Enough!” Cadence shouted, startling all of them. “Please! This… This is getting us nowhere. We bicker and fight when we should be working to mend our relationship with Twilight.” The love goddess glared at all of them and each of the unicorns and alicorns looked with shame to the ground. “Have you all forgotten that?” Cadence, not caring for royal standing or proper decorum, lowered herself to the straw-strewn floor, laying her head down to rest. Though she did well to hide it, she was still weak from her captivity and much of her energy had been wasted that morning journeying to Twilight’s. “All of this started because ponies couldn’t remember what was important. Doubt’s name, Twilight’s record of honesty and trust… did we not agree not to play the blame game? And yet here we are, blaming Doubt. But doing so we forget about Twilight! Isn’t that right Shining?”
But Shining didn’t say a word… because Shining was long gone.
~MC~MC~MC~
“This doesn’t change anything,” Twilight said softly. “I don’t want to lead you on and make you think that things are going to go back to the way they were.”
Applejack nodded, trotting beside Twilight, feeling like a foal. Her friend towered over her, her great dark wings tucked against her sides and her shadow stretching out far behind her. It was a bittersweet moment for her: she had cleared the air with Twilight and gotten through the first wall the dark alicorn had built around her heart… but now Applejack found that there were still many more of them and any hopes of a speedy recovery were foolish.
“Everything has changed,” Twilight said simply, trotting down the street, Spike on her back going through their checklist. "Nothing will ever be the same."
“I can see that, Twi,” Applejack joked, glancing at Twilight's back.
Twilight smirked slightly. “Yeah… if any of you girls think for a moment I am giving up my wings, you’re nuts.”
Applejack nodded. “Don’t have the right to ask ya too.”
“You’re right… you don’t.” Twilight opened her mouth to say more, only to furrow her brow in confusion. “What the?”
Applejack blinked, just as surprised as Twilight at the sight before her: a massive banner hung over Sugarcube Corner proclaiming it closed for a ‘Private Party’.
“…I am just going to continue shopping,” Twilight muttered, not in the mood to deal with Pinkie Pie and her insanity.
However, the words had barely left her mouth before Twilight found herself snared by ropes, which tugged her into the bakery, leaving Spike and Applejack staring in shock.
Twilight’s horn glowed with white magic as she tried to figure out what was going on. She was surprised to find that the bakery was empty; not just of ponies but of tables, chairs… everything. If she hadn’t been able to see the walls Twilight would have thought that she had slipped into some strange void.
Twilight shook off the ropes that had snared her, unsure how they had managed to do that. Looking about the room in annoyance, Twilight turned only escape only to find the door was gone, replaced by unending wall.
Any other creature would have been terrified.
Twilight… was no longer any other creature.
“Please don’t use your secret dark chocolatey magic!” Pinkie Pie cried out from somewhere in the darkness.
“How about no?” Twilight complained, readying to blast a hole in the wall.
“But I have a whole thing planned to show you how much you much you mean to me!” Pinkie exclaimed from the darkness. “Please… just give me 5 minutes!”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No!”
“Please stay?”
“No!”
“Stay?”
“NO! NO! NO!”
“Please go?”
“NO!”
“So you’ll stay and let me do my presentation!”
“Yes!” Twilight shouted. “Wait… how did you…”
Pinkie giggled and Twilight could hear her bouncing around in the darkness. “That always works! Now then… Twilight Sparkle, this is my life!”
“You mean “This is Your Life”.”
“That’s what I said!”
“No… you are saying you are doing it about Pinkie Pie’s life… you are suppose to do it about my life.”
“Why would I do that? I mean, you already know about your life, right?”
Twilight grimaced, feeling a headache coming on. “Just… do your thing so I can leave, ok?”
“Okie Dokie!” Pinkie said happily. “This is my life, right now.” Twilight heard a whoosh and was confronted by something smacking her in the face. On pure reflect she jabbed her horn forward and, thankfully, found it wasn’t Pinkie’s skull that took the brunt of the attack but a simple balloon, which hung from the tip of her horn. She fired up her magic a bit brighter, the latex bubbling and melting under the heat as Twilight looked about.
She could see that the empty room was now filled with the makings of a party: balloons, streamers, a cake in the corner...
“Your life is a surprise party?” Twilight asked.
“No,” Pinkie said, startling the alicorn with just how quiet her voice was. “No. My life is a party without any lights.”
“I don’t understand,” Twilight said.
“I got my cutie mark when I saw Dashie’s rainbow! It made me smile and I wanted to smile forever and ever and ever!” For a second Pinkie’s voice returned to its bubbly self, but then within moments it was back to being sullen and quiet. “But I didn’t. I only smiled for… a few minutes. And I realized that it wasn’t fun to smile by yourself. When you are smiling by yourself it just isn’t fun. What is fun is sharing your smile with everyone else!”
“Pinkie…” Twilight said with a sigh.
But the pink mare wasn’t done. “So, I threw a party for my family and when they began smiling I was SOOOOOO happy! I mean, they were happy and I was happy and it was just so wonderful because we kept feeding off of each other, making each other happy!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Is that your excuse for abandoning me to plan a wedding? You wanted to make other ponies happy?”
“No!” Pinkie said in shock. “I’m not even talking about the wedding!”
Twilight glowered. “Then what… you think I need to have a party and it will make everything better?”
“No!” Pinkie said, clearly getting frustrated that Twilight wasn’t following what was, to the pink mare, flawless logic. “Twilight, this is what my life is like right now: a party with no light. And do you know why?”
“Because I am mad at you and refusing to play by your games.”
“…no, Twilight.” The dark alicorn jumped a bit when she realized Pinkie had moved to stand beside her. The earth pony’s mane and tail were flat and her eyes stared at the ground, tears glistening in the corners. “My world is dark because you aren’t happy.”
“Huh?” Twilight said, unable to understand her former friend’s logic.
“What good is a party, even if it makes me happy, if somepony I care about isn’t happy? What good are balloons or cake or anything like that if you are sad?”
“Pinkie…”
“I… I am sorry I made you sad, Twilight. I am sorry I took away your smile and you don’t laugh anymore. But you know what… I don’t care if you are some dark alicorn… I just want to know that you’re happy.”
“Even if that means I never talk to you again?” Twilight challenged. She took a step forward, lowering her head so she could look Pinkie directly in the eye. “What if I told you I was happy like this? That I have never been happier in my entire life and nothing you say will convince me otherwise?”
“I’ll be happy for you!” Pinkie said without a second thought.
“And if I told you that I want to stay in Ponyville but never talk to you again… never have a conversation with you or go to one of your parties? What then? What if you could see me every day and remember how we were… would you smile then?”
“Would you be happy?” Pinkie asked simply. “If that happened… would you be happy?” She smiled, placing her hoof over Twilight’s mouth before she could answer. “I just want to see ponies smile, Twilight. If talking to me hurts as bad as a skinned knee or a tummy ache, then don’t do it. I don’t ever want to hurt my friends!” Pinkie nodded her head, her mane poofing back up. “And if that means being by yourself, than that’s ok! You taught me that, Twilight.”
“So you’d be ok with that?” Twilight asked.
“Well… no. I’d miss you and I’d be sad for a while, but I’d be happy you were happy.” Pinkie grinned. “And I would wait for you to finally decide you could be my friend again… you think Mr. Doubt could make me a big alicorn pony too? That way, I can have plenty of time to plan a “Twilight Wants to Talk To Me Again” Party!”
Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle about that. However, one thing still bugged her. “Pinkie… why did you leave me after the rehearsal?”
Pinkie shrugged innocently. “Well, I saw Cadence was upset… well, not the real Cadence but the buggy Cadence who wasn’t really Cadence… you know, the one that was sucking your brother’s love like it was a yummy popsicle and then you went all ‘grrr’ on and she went ‘aaaaa!’ when you went ‘grrrr!’ and then-“
“I remember, Pinkie.” Twilight’s winged flexed slightly in annoyance. “But why did you go comfort her instead of me?”
“Well, I could tell that Cadence… the fake one… she wasn’t that strong emotionally. I mean, she was freaking out about things and getting all mad, which wasn’t how you described her so I figured she was getting stressed and letting things get to her. And I know you, Twilight... you’re strong! You’re the strongest pony I know! Not just in magic but emotionally too. Yeah, you get frazzled and upset but you always get your head back in the game and make things right. So, I had to pick between Cadence and you and I went with who I thought needed me more.” Pinkie lowered her head, scuffing the floor with her hoof. “I guess I screwed up though, huh? I wish I could be in two places at once, that way when I saw two ponies hurt I could be with both of them… could you use your magic and do that?” Pinkie looked up and was startled to see Twilight had tears in her eyes. “Twilight?”
“You… you went with Cadence... because you think I’m strong?”
“Of course! You’re strong and brave and smart and… and amazing! And that’s why I thought you’d be ok! And yeah, I was upset you hurt Cadence’s feelings so that’s why I didn’t smile or anything and that was wrong but if I knew you were really super duper upset and thought I hated you I would have stayed because I could never hate you and-Twilight?”
Twilight managed a flash a big smile before turning tail and running from the pink mare as fast as she could.
“She… she smiled,” Pinkie whispered. “I made her smile! I MADE HER SMILE!”
A tiny victory... but a victory none the less.
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From some comments, i get the sense a lot of you have never felt pure, overpowering rage. I have... it's in my blood. I have several members of my family that went to their graves never talking to a brother or sister because of an explosive fight and then the pride that comes after it that makes you not want to talk things out.
This is what Twilight is going through and the struggle her friends have: Twilight, in one moment of darkness denounced her friendship with all of them and cut them from their lives. And now, be it fear or pride or something else, she doesn't want to go back... to admit maybe she was wrong or to appear weak.
And thus, the chaos that is her mind when forced to confront truths... like maybe her friends really are her friends and she is also in the wrong.
Twilight opened her MOVE to say more? what?
still getting interesting
*sigh* Its getting more emotional by the chapter and for that I present you with the holy mustache
Oh god not this kind of bullcrap again.
Luna, shut your bucking trap. YOU were the jealous one. YOU gave in to petty jealousy and darkness. YOU tried to kill every living thing on the planet. Don't you dare blame it on your sister, you immature foal. Celestia never wanted you to do any of what you did. Celestia loves you, and you spat in her face. You abandoned her for a thousand years, you forced her to fight and banish you, her own flesh and blood, leaving her to deal with Equestria on her own, and YOUR duties on top of her own, never once complaining and always keeping on a brave face. Even when you came back and showed that you learned NOTHING and just tried right away to kill everything again, she still found a way to heal you, and forgave you instantly, and even gave you back your title and role as co-ruler, even though you showed again and again how very much NOT worthy of it you are. So before you start blaming Celestia for all the misfortune in Equestria, calling her "the evil tyrant who manipulates everypony's life" and all that kind of pure horse manure, just remember oh righteous Luna, that SHE loved and cared for her nation and her subjects all by herself, while YOU tried to kill them all because you couldn't take how everypony slept through your "pwecious wittle night, boo hoo".
Hnng! So adorable!
*Quirks an eyebrow* Rage is...an interesting thing to experience. Like fire in your mind that burns away all rationality and leaving you with only the most basic of impulses. Rage can turn to fear in a heart-beat or it can consume you in the blink of an eye.
Keep this up!
Cheers
GM
Did Twilight show genuine smile or just a fake one to get away?
Also... Celestia, yeah... you ignore the signs and everything, you suck
1462062
It was a real, honest smile.
1462068
That's a relief...
1461985
I don't think that I've commented on this story yet, but I feel I should now.
It is a great read, and what you've done here is very unique. I am very much enjoying how much this is playing out.
Now, like you, I am someone that has felt the same things that you've felt and that Twilight is feeling, which is probably why I really love this work. The decisions and thoughts that Twilight experienced early in the story are very much real and similar to trains of thought that I myself have experienced. I'd probably make the same choices had I been presented with this situation. It actually kind of hurts me a little to think about it, but it's true.
Twilight managed to flash
Where in Equestria did she run to?
No door.
1462072
but, that smile doesn't confirm anything. i don't think any decision has been made there, we're still in suspense and Luna's and Celestia's quarrel just upped the stakes...
i guess Shining is next?
How can Anypony possibly stay mad at Pinky Pie its a violation of the laws of the universe or something.
1462062 She is an almighty god, taken down Discord, her own sister, and has ruled a kingdom with peace for a thousand years. Do you think in any of that time, somepony just poked her and said 'you were wrong'?
1462098 Pinkie Pie is a violation of the universe's most fundamental laws. Ergo, since all laws break down around her, so does this one. Allowing anypony to stay mad at her.
/logic'd
The first thing about rage which is so addictive is the freedom you feel. All that anger raging to get out makes you feel so powerful, so...limitless. No morals or ethics cloud your mind.
1461985
I think I know exactly what you're talking about. Stupid humans and their psychology. Wait a minute, I'm a human. DAMN.
I like what you've done with the story so far. I think that was kinda cool/interesting/funny that pinkie decided to set up a party with no lights for her....presentation....to twilight.
next chapter can we please see more of ponyville reaction to the dark alicorn twilight?
I would lov eto see the little fillys reaction
Can it really be Luna's fault? Instead of comforting her, Doubt gave her power. It's like giving the child who has been bullied by everyone at school so badly that he/she is at their lowest point, and then you give them a gun to defend themselves expecting them to use it responsibly. Instead of trusting in her sister and the ponies, Doubt turned it all upside down. The result, plain to see by everyone.
I'm really enjoying the points you bring up and the way everyone has been reacting to the stress of the situation. One little thing really got to me, and it's totally nit-picking, so ignore it if you so choose:
I don't think Princess Luna would use 'ok' in a sentence. Especially when she's mad and confused, she would be more likely to slip into stilted, formal language - not thees and thous, but something less casual, like acceptable or permissible, for examples of replacement words.
heh, just an observation: Celestia and Co are assuming the worst again. hilarity will ensue..
1462175
Yeah... I hate the Royal Canterlot thing. It was a one episode joke and as turned into her whole personality. Thus, I try to avoid it at all costs. If it makes you feel better, imagine that Luna got a speech coach like "The King's Speech" (wait...did I just come up with a new fan fic... Princess Luna hires Fluttershy to be her speech coach... hmmm)
1462173
It's everyone's fault. Doubt misread Luna and gave an emotionally unstable creature power in the name of gaining a friend and getting back at Celestia. Luna betrayed Doubt and tossed aside his friendship because of her ego and rage. Celestia ignored her sister and instead of talking calmly too her continued to treat her like one of her subjects while also ignoring and forgetting about Doubt.
No one is blameless.
To be honest I think that an ending where Twilight stays an alicorn would be disappointing. I don't know, though, you could probably make it work.
1462044
This is probably the most lucid, thought out comment I've read here in a long time. It's awesome to hear someone who doesn't feel sympathy for Luna in the "Nightmare Moon banishment moon bad bad Celestia" situation. I guess until that one season 3 episode that was mentioned that reveals more about that night.
Solar Empire 4 eva
Why the hay did this make me cry when all the other chapters didn't?
1462044
YOU DARE INSULT LUNA?!
THIS ANGERS ME GREATLY!!! RELEASE THE SCARABS!!!!!
1462213
Hm, doesn't matter who caused the ship to sink because in the end everyone ends up wet. The blame game, no one ever wins
1462133
Human? You? Pics or it didn't happen.
That's right, EVERYONE is a pony until proven otherwise!
1462274
Well, I physically appeared in "The Many Secret Origins of Scootaloo" next to Deadpool and Discord... that proves I'm human (well, humanish, since it was established that I'm Discord's father).
1462265
Exactly
1462274
Oh yea, forgot about rule 32. Sorry.
Unfortunately, I also like to adhere to rule 3.....so sorry, you will not be receiving that pic.
1462279
There were no pics. For all we know you could be an illusionist or a particularly talented changeling.
1462282
Sorry? About what? Why would I want to see a picture of a person when you could Post Ponies?
Hmm, new internet rule. "Thou shalt Post Ponies. If forbidden, mods being asleep is an acceptable reason to do it anyway."
1462044
Do you know what it's like to feel unloved? To be unwanted? Forgotten and overlooked, despite your achievements? No, of course not. You wouldn't have posted the comment if you had. When we are at our weakest, when there is no light, when we need someone to comfort us the most, where were they? Where was Celestia when Luna was suffering? Where was Celestia as Luna remained alone during the night with no one there for her? Celestia could have done something, put the barest minimal effort, to get the ponies to see the wonders of the night for what it truly is but she did nothing. She sat upon her throne and continued to smile, ignoring what was happening.
You stand there on your pedestal pointing your accusing finger, shouting for the world to hear. You ignore the obvious for in your stupid ignorance you find bliss. You fear the truth for the pain it holds. Think before you post, stand in our shoes and know what it is like to walk the mile with no one there for you.
1462233 What, how do you people keep finding out about these things?
Also I think Pinkie Pie could have gone about this a little better, Twilight just barely avoided killing her and a party was certainly NOT the right way to go about things.
And lastly it seems Twilight's new dark form makes it harder for her to swallow her pride and admit that she might be wrong, I just hope that Doubt won't leave her as an allicorn if she decides she doesn't want to be his sucessor.
1462097 If Shining is up next... he better have a very good apology planned for Twilight... cause he is the one that truly hurt her badly
1462119 Even deities make mistakes... only those that do not admit their flaws and simply pass it onto others fall in to oblivion
1462333
Oh cut the crap. You don't even know the barest of details of what happened a thousand years ago beyond what the show told us. For all we know, Celestia did a lot to help her sister, to be kind to her, and whatever. We just don't know. So don't go blaming Celestia for things you don't even know she's guilty of or not. Given her personality, I find it highly unlikely that she didn't try to help her sister. Far more likely Luna refused to listen, or didn't even take her problem to Celestia in the first place (out of pride, or some such). Regardless, no matter what Celestia did or didn't, NOTHING justifies Luna trying to commit a planet-wide genocide, and to deny this is not only ridiculous, but quite frankly appalling. You stand there pointing your finger at others, unwilling to take the blame for your own sins, putting the weight of them on others. Really mature, bravo. It shows that, just like Luna did in this chapter, you have learned nothing.
Your tendency towards assumptions is also off-putting. How do you know I don't understand how Luna might feel, hmm? I quite understand the feeling of loneliness, given that I am, for all intents and purposes, lonely and without a single friend in my life. So yeah, I quite understand how Luna must have felt. But understanding and approving of one's actions are two different things. I understand what led Luna to do the things she did, but don't approve of them, and in the end only she bears the blame for them. She wasn't mind-controlled, tricked or hypnotized into doing what she did. She made the fully conscious choice to kill off everything on the planet, and that was her own decision, for which only SHE bears the responsibility and the blame. She could have said no. She could have stopped and undo her misdeeds. She did not. To then shove the blame on Celestia, who has been nothing but kind and forgiven towards her from what we've seen, is not only immature but also ungrateful.
1462219
Ah, bravo, my good sir! Such a wonderful, well-thought out response! Truly I am now enlightened as to why my persona must be infected with the stupid, given the excellent arguments you've shown that led you to judge me as such. Oh, wait, you did no such thing! Just a baseless, petty insult, probably from a butt-hurt Luna fan who can't take it whenever someone dares to suggest Luna actually bears blame and responsibility for what she did, instead of that horrible Celestia person who dared to send the one who was trying to kill everything to the moon! Such evil!
Please, I must bid thee, trouble me no further with responses such as these, for indeed, I shall be dumber after reading them. Not unless you actually have some good arguments as to why I am an "oblivious idiot". Frankly, I doubt it.
1462263
It's not an insult to point out to someone when he/she is spouting a bunch of nonsense, like Luna did in this chapter. That people are so quick to act as if Luna didn't do anything wrong, made no mistakes and in no way bears any blame or sin, opting instead to make Celestia the target of their accusations and name-calling, well, that makes me angry.
1462233
Well, someone had to prove he has a brain and can think further than "OMG mah favorite character banished to da moon omg Celestia is da ebulz!1!". I'm not without sympathy for Luna, as I can understand what drove her to do what she did. But as I said above, understanding and approving of one's actions are two different things. To see Luna attempt to brush off her responsibilities and place the blame of her sins on someone else, followed by people then actually having the gal to say that she's right to do so, well, it makes me quite upset and dissapointed with the fanbase. Again , I might add. I know the fandom is biased towards Luna, but the lengths people will go to make her seem good and Celestia bad never fail to astonish and deeply sadden me.
Ya know what I find strange? How can people get such arguments like Keeper of Jericho's(edit: after reading Jericho's response, Everyone's arguments) when Luna only appears in two episodes(in depth), neither of which states the full back story of Nightmare Moon. For God/gods sake, it's a damn fanfic. You don't need to make such a big deal out of it. It is read for fun and enjoyment with the occasional hit to your feels. No need to make it into a real life example saying, "Oh why you spilling this bullcrap again!" when it is just a written dialouge from one of many writers with differing views. If you want to make it into a real argument then I'm going start blurting out random facts with no point or end. Kind of like how the sun itself is a star so by technicality there is no day and there is only night and "daytime" is just night with an extremely close star shining brightness onto the earth(take that Celestia! and pony logic). Hell, if you want to move to thought and philosophy then you can say "Oh, day and night are relative. They are only objects that we create in our mind to give us a sense of time but there is no time" and that stuff. But ya know, don't take this post seriously because seriously I'm just bored and thought I post something ridiculous to pass the time. Hell, I have no idea why I bother posting this.
1462643
well, we really won't know until we see that rumored Season 3 episode, will we? whether the writers of the show reveal what happened 1002 years ago, we'll see...dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Luna_apple.png
until then, the only basis will be fics like these where people more talented than us readers can speculate and imagine the scenarios that could have happened. in this scenario, while all parties involved have some blame, some have it more than others. right now, no one in Celestia's group at the barn is currently not considering that if Doubt does die he may take Twilight with him. Luna is rightfully upset that Celestia and co. may be overlooking somethings and repeating a previous mistake, even if her bringing up the past is uncalled for...
i've seen people consistently bring up all the past negatives, when they're upset and in an argument, no matter how irrelevant...
"She smiled. She smiled-!!!!!!!" moaned Pinkie, curving backwards in delight.
... Meanwhile, Cranky felt a chill travel up his spine.
1462717 why argue when you can mind bend?dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Twilight_Sparkle_lolface.png
1462289
Go read the Discord chapter. There is a photo.
To everyone else... this is merely view of what happened within the confines of the this universe. In this story, everyone is at fault for Nightmare Moon: Celestia, trying to appear as a noble leader, went too far and treated her sister too coldly and ignored her till it was too late. Luna allowed herself to sink into depression and then, when given the power to correct things (Doubt was not doubt till AFTER this... so he wasn't fe,eding Luna pure doubt but something else) she decided to commit genocide (just as Keeper pointed out). And Doubt, in his rush to try and get revenge, gave power to his friend that she should never have had.
As for Luna's outburst... she just discovered someone she cared for is going to commit suicide (or has already begun to commit suicide... taking a physical form was the first step to killing himself) and is acting out of emotion instead of thought. As such, she is speaking with passion and, as Keeper pointed out, falling back into old patterns.
But Celestia and the rest are also mistaken by refusing to think that Doubt should be helped too and only focusing on Twilight.
By the way guys and girls... be respectful, please.
1462643
I really hate it when people like you hold prejudice against other people simply because they have a different favorite pony than you, or if they choose to voice, or type, their own opinions that just happen to be different from yours. Sure luna made a mistake, we all make mistakes, but there's no real need to go running around pointing it every chance you get saying: 'Oh you're all so fucking stupid and i'm better than all of you'. And you're dissapointed at the fanbase? You've been spouting hateful shit at the slightest show of love or sympathy to luna; which leads me to the conclusion that you are a hypocrite. And i'm not typing this just for me, but for all those who chose to gave their opinions, we are all entitled to our opinions, and so are you, i suppose, just try not to hinder others opinions in the future.
nonetheless, i shall try not to hold any hatred towards you.
But you are making it rather difficult to do so.
I think that should be reflex
Also, I think that Shining Armor will be the next one to 'apologize' just how is going to be weird though,..,
-Ambassador of the Changelings,
Dopple Ganger
1462951
I did no such thing. People are free to like whatever pony they want, and I have no problem with that whatsoever. All I did was point out that a character said something stupid, and what do I get? Being called stupid, and people being angry at me for "daring" to insult Luna. And this is not prejudice, how?
And where did I do this? Every chance I get? I'm sorry, but, are you blind? I made one, ONE comment, on one thing Luna said in this new chapter that I felt the need to comment on. One comment only. If that counts as "every chance you get", then I'm sorry to say: you need to get your definitions straight. I never said anyone was stupid, I said Luna was spouting nonsense, and that was a comment on the story only, not on any member. In fact, while I hate to say "he started it", it was other people who called ME stupid and idiotic first over a comment I made on the story. At no point did I say I'm better than you, you are making things up and I do not appreciate that.
I'm sorry, but what? I MADE ONE SINGLE COMMENT ON ONE SINGLE LINE THAT LUNA SAID IN THIS CHAPTER THAT I FELT WAS NONSENSE. That does NOT count as spouting hateful shit, nor did I attack ANYONE who showed love or sympathy for Luna. I can only conclude that you did not read anything I said. You just saw that I didn't praise luna as the best pony ever, and you immediatly attacked and insulted me for it. If you are referring to my second post, I was merely defending myself from people like you, who attack and hate me because of an observation I made. At no point did I hate anyone who loves or sympathises with Luna, I EVEN SAID I SYMPATHISE WITH HER MYSELF. To then claim I do so "at the slightest sign", WHEN I ONLY MADE ONE COMMENT ABOUT LUNA, is frankly, you lying through your teeth and I do NOT find that acceptable.
Says the one who attacks me for voicing my own opinion about Luna. And you call me a hypocrite?
You just made an entire post full of spiteful, unfounded hatred towards me, that completely misses the point of my original post, that totally exagerates everything I said, and that attacks me at every turn for daring to voice my opinion. And then you say that you hold no hatred towards me? Please, pardon me for not buying it.
UGH! Why do I read the comments to this story anymore?!
Just makes me want to grab a motherfucker and use him to beat another motherfucker to death.
1462643
Uh, this again, I think the whole reason with the debate with you happen because you like to be one sided.
You point out Doubt to be 100% villan guilty of everythink that happened.
You said that Twilight actions again her friends are inexcusible.
Now you are pointing that Luna wanted to murder entire planet.
This whole story is pointing out realy well that you can not put entire blame on one party, and it do it realy well.
Everyone influence one another, I do not say that Luna, Doubt and Twilight are blamess in this story, and I agree that Luna actions would end up in destroying entire planet.
But if Celestia and her subjects would treat Luna better, Luna would never want revange, if Celestia would be the one who is ignored by Luna and all subjects, meaby Celestia would want to burn entire world in endless day, if Luna would not fell sad and despair, Doubt would not need to come to her aid, if Celestia would not forget Doubt, he would not influence others, he would probably still be faint and stay by Celestia side, If Doubt would not let Luna have power to rivalize her sister, Luna would not turn into Nightmare Moon, but she would probably do somethink to send out all her pain from loneliness out, if Doubt did not left Nightmare Moon, Celestia would be unable to use elements and world would be destroyer, if Luna would do as Doubt said than meaby everythink would have happy ending and Doubt would finaly have friend.
There is even more chain of actions what I would mention but you should get the picture I m trying to show you, everythink is conected, and so your one sided opinions make other readers to debate with you that you are wrong.
I personaly was alwais again whole trollestia stuff, though I sometime agree with theory that meaby Celestia was not so nice and understanding pony in the pass and after she banished her sister, she started to change her ways and mature overtime.
And I think Luna is far more to blame, since she wanted to put all her sins into Doubt when she meet him, and now she do the same with Celestia, but on the other side, in this story Celestia is doing mistakes one after another, and she never had to ansfer to her mistakes before, so I do not trust her judgement at all ( first she betrayed Doubt, than she failed to see Luna fellings, on the wedding she failed to have faith and trust for Twilight who proved herself alot, she got folled by changeling Queen, she though that Twilight was corupted and wanted to help her again her will, she did not appologice to Twilight, and now she not see that Doubt play major role and should not be ignored, Celestia weakpoint is probably judgement of the character, no one is perfect after all ).
But in the show and many other fanfics,I do not blame Luna or Nightmare Moon for what she did, if Nightmare Moon wanted to destroy entire world, why she not crushed element users before they got to elements in the show, one or six ponies death in the process in killing entire planet not realy make much diference, so meaby Nightmare Moon had no idea that she was going to kill everypony or was to blind to admit it, why was not even Nightmare Moon mad with revange after 1000 years in the moon, anyone who would be traped again his will in a very lonely place would want to burn, kill and destroy those responsible, well, nvm, I digress.
Anyway I perfear to watch everythink from all sides, and so I dissagree with your comments to put all blame on one party, and if I have to choice, I think that Celestia and Luna are far more to blame than Twilight and Doubt, I hope you understand.
1463026
I never said that the entire blame falls on one party, well, at least not in the sense that they're the only one to bear responsibility. Certainly, there are many events that influence characters and lead them to do the things they do, but in the end, they are still the ones who decide what they do (unless they are mind-controlled). To then say the blame is not theirs, is ridiculous. And in this chapter, Luna claimed that everything was Celestia's fault, as if she herself carried no blame for her actions. This is, of course, bullshit. And that is what I was saying in my original comment. Yes, there are softening circumstances and understandable motives for Luna's behaviour, but in the end, it was still SHE who committed the atrocities, and not Celestia, and so to claim that it is Celestia's fault and Celestia's fault only is wrong. That was the only thing I was trying to say.
And what do I get? People screaming at me how I "dare to insult Luna", when I just called her out on her nonsense, people calling me an oblivious idiot, without even telling me why, and people telling me I'm stupid and ignorant and pointing accusing fingers "on top of my pedestal". That's what I'm mad about. I'm not mad people sympathise with Luna, or think other ponies bear responsibility for her actions (because they do even if the final blame still falls on her). I'm mad that people insult me because I have the gal to say that what Luna said was wrong.
1462494 True, but think of it this way. She had been doing an 'ok' job ruling, and no one is complaining, so she keeps doing it. She doesn't know there is a 'good' or 'great' way of ruling, cause the subjects couldn't tell her, and no other gods around to talk with and teach her. Sometimes the only way to know that what your doing is wrong, is being told so, and for 1000+ years, there has been no one to tell her.
1463002
I... ah screw it, you sir, are beyond all love and tolerance.
You can't be saved.
You, are a bitch.
1463026
You sir, are full of win. And have gained my respect.
1463066
You just don't get it, do you? You just don't know when to quit.
Luna hater.
1463066
I thought your post was pretty spot-on (though... maybe not said in the right way... I can see where people would get confused and see you as bashing.. it did come off pretty negative.). My whole point was to show that Luna was becoming overly emotional and that issues were still there... it has only been a day since Doubt appeared, so to think all of them would be ok is silly. They are going to waiver and slide back and forth.
This is a potentially MAJOR spoiler, so be warned...
Who said Doubt was the only abstract around? Who said he was the only one whispering in ears?
1463112
Cause of fear most likely
1463124
Will you stop it already? I don't hate Luna. I just don't agree with ONE SINGLE LINE she said in this chapter. That does not count as hate. The only person who is being a hater here is you. You attack me, put words in my mouth, and condemn me for things I've never said. You ignore every point I made in favour of continuing your mindless bashing and hatred for things I've never done. Your behaviour is despicable. You would do well to read this post (1463131). See that? Even the author himself said I had a valid point (though, I agree, perhaps a bit harshly worded).
1463133 Indeed, or just not knowing. It isn't written in history anywhere about doubt, and most likely the only thing they know about Nightmare Moon is that she was jealous, not how or why.
1462643
Neat.