One thousand years have passed. One thousand years since Princess Celestia banished her sister to the moon. Now, after one thousand years, Princess Luna has returned. But even after all this time, Celestia is troubled by what she did to Luna. Celestia accepted Luna's forgiveness, but can she return the gesture after what she did?
**Author's Note: Originally inspired by the song "Lullaby for a Princess" by ponyphonic. If you haven't heard it, go listen to it right now! Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4tyvJJzSDk
Seriously, you won't regret it.**
***EDIT: sorry, the cover art doesn't seem to be working. Here's the link to the picture if you want to see it. Yup, i drew it myself. http://caelusstorm.deviantart.com/art/After-All-These-Years-381461365 ***
These kind of fics always melt my heart. No matter how many times it's done there's always a new way to potray Celestia's guilt over the banishment of Nightmare Moon. And yet so many fans still believe she's a troll or a tyrant. Would kind of heartless ruler would do what Celestia did? If Celestia truly didn't care about anypony else she would not feel so sad over Luna's banishment, nor would she be so wrought with guilt over it.
Main and very often problem with those one-shot stories, based on LfaP or simillar to it, is a good long buildup of Celestia's feelings, thoughts and regrets, rising of significant philosophical and psychological questions - and then we have very rushed and simple culmination with happily ever after. It's unbelievable and spoils all the work.
For example, your story. Celestia sees that the whole country is asleep, Luna sees that too, that pony's attitude to her night remained unchanged against her wishes even after 1000 years, sister's bonds still need a restoration, etc, etc.
And all of this solved by simple redecoration of the room?
If you rise up such conflicts, you must tend them accordingly. Maybe culmination with bittersweet scene of sisters bringing all their inner turmoils to the surface (they are girls, after all), and it will be the point of the beginning of sister's bonding. I can't believe in "One hug - and all 1000-year-old problems are nothing, all better then ever".
Or you must bring up lesser problem in the beginning, then redecoration maybe real and believable solution.
Sisters tragedy is a very deep and has very big potential for a fanfiction.
So awesome! Wish I could write Celestia this well.
Or anyone not an OC, for that matter...
But hey, this is about you, not me! I liked the flashback scene, and the little comedy with Pony Pie.
Have a moustache!
4915501
omigosh thank you thank you thank you.
sorry, that sounded way to over enthusiastic, but I don't get a lot of comments or feedback. Every comment is another smile on my face and another reason to keep writing for others to enjoy.
So thank you.
-C.Storm
4916125 That's a sweet sentiment! And you weren't over-enthusiastic at all (at least by my standards); I flip out every time I get a like.
3631278
You're right.
The only reason Celestia doesn't act is because she trusts the ponies and her students to take over.
And she also knows how much pain it is to lose someone you love.