Princess Celestia sees a news article that brings about a choice that will change her life forever.
While sitting in on parliament with fellow princesses Cadance and Twilight. Luna burst in with a news article that brings to light some rather sordid parts of Celestia's past while bringing her actions into a new light.
After looking into it, as well as some introspection. Celestia makes a choice that will change her life, and the lives around her forever. Will it lead to an end, or a new beginning?
I have this entire fic written, and 6 buffer chapters of this stories sequel. Until I catch up to the buffer chapter, I'll be posting two chapters a week ^_^.
I sat with Cadance and Twilight on the latest meeting of Parliament high in our box seats. It’s not the most enjoyable of duties but occasionally it's something, that as one of the three rulers of our nations is necessary. If only to ensure that they don’t try pulling a fast one, or slip something into a bill that I’ve given a go ahead for. It rarely happens nowadays but it's still good to remain on top of things as they were.
The reason for us being here was three fold: One, Twilight needed to learn the more soul crushingly boring aspects of rule, and second, Cadance wanted to know how our nation did things so that she could bring her nation to the modern era even more than the poor dear already has been. That and I’d never send a fellow ruler here on their own, no, this was a punishment that I would not wish to bring on anyone. Not even Discord… although thinking about it I might bring him along just to see how he’d liven things up, but that’s a matter for next time.
I tried to keep the grin off my face, I truly did. But the thought of Discord shaking things up while myself looking blameless was truly too much. If I couldn’t prank ponies anymore since … the event, then at least I could bring Discord in to do it for me. That is if seeing this didn’t make him change his mind that friendship with ponies was worth it.
“Um … Princess?” Twilight asked, her wings fidgeting.
“Yes Princess?” I snarked.
Twilight rose an eyebrow before remembering the talk we’ve had about a hundred times now before I simply started ribbing her till she remembered, “Sorry Celestia?”
“Yes I do believe that is my name.” what’s gotten into me today?
Twilight let lose a cough that one has when they don’t know whether to choke on laughter, or nervously cough and it comes out as both, “I was wondering what you were thinking about? Is politics really all that great?”
“What ever do you mean Twilight?”
“Well you have this… devious smile? But I don’t get what would be funny about a bill to increase agricultural taxes?”
“Oh was that showing? No this tax isn’t funny, I was just thinking about how much Discord has changed. It really is quite something isn’t it?” I replied serenely.
“Yes it is,” Twilight answered, clearly wondering what the meaning behind the question was.
I turned to Cadance who had a glazed look in her eyes, “Cadance dear, how are you holding up?”
Cadance whose head had been nodding gently jumped after being addressed looking around nervously, Ha! I know that feeling well dearest niece. I should probably introduce her to some tips to staying awake through the monotony. Maybe hook her up with Pinkie’s newest creation, Red Minotaur. It does wonders.
“Oh Aunty! Um sorry, what was the question?”
“I was asking how were you holding up?”
“Honestly?” She asked demurely.
“Of course we’re all princesses here.”
“I was wondering how something so horrible came to be? And how can you look so serene through all of this, plus Day Court when its open, and everything else … this is just … horrible.”
“Ah! As to your first question. There’s quite a bit of history to that. I’ll tell you some day, as for serenity. Lots and lots of practice, and a mane longer than physically necessary.”
Cadance gave a look of understanding and preceded to try listening back to the proceedings, and Twilight. Adorakable, inquisitive, smarter than anypony should be, Twilight. Gave me a look as if she were trying to put together a puzzle. Giving her a sly wink that would have her mind whirring for hours I looked back at the parliament and let my mind wander a bit. I might have to sit through these things but the discussion on this latest bill was taking quite a while.
I get that question asked quite often. Not how come I let parliament and the House of Nobles become so horrible. But how could I look so serene. Ponies recognize emotions from three things, ear placement and position, the eyebrows (eyes were important, but eyebrows held a library of expressions that changed everything with but a twitch), and most importantly one’s muzzle.
My wonderful tiara has the most magnificent duty of resting over my ears, keeping them upright and attentive. If the ears are held backwards they show fear, uncertainty, nervousness. If they droop, worry or disappointment. But upright and perky gave the illusion of confidence, attentiveness, and most importantly composure. Upright ears made a more reliable leader.
Even more important, are the eyebrows and muzzle.. Relaxed eyebrows and slight upturn of the lips. Gave the illusion of calmness and serenity. Any deviation and it belayed a whole slew of other emotions. But the ears, all made them look positive at best, or serious at the worst.
But that beautiful tiara held it all together. The mane of course allowed me to hide expressions, or even act as a booster to highlight what I wished to convey. Mare I loved my animated mane. I can’t wait for Twilight to grow into hers. She’d look absolutely stunning.
But these two young mares didn’t know how to play the game. Neither did Luna. Which made playing poker with them so much fun. So many tells, and they never caught on … my only true competition was Fluttershy and Rarity. Rarity as a fashionista and with a keen eye for detail I could understand. But Fluttershy whom from reports I had received on her when looking for potential bearers to throw into Twilight’s way was a recluse, on top of being a pegasus, a race not known for guile or subterfuge. Yet she flew loops around me in card games. It was quite frustrating.
I coughed to get my companions attentions when Luna burst through the door, lightning dramatically cracking behind her. I leaned to the side and sure enough a tiny storm cloud was behind her, I’m at least glad she’s hasn’t stopped her need for dramatic entrances when she needs somepony’s attention. She’s kept that part of her old self at least.
Before I could gather my wits, Luna shoved a somewhat soggy newspaper at my face.
“Hmmhmm, Luna. You know I love you, but perhaps it might be better to show me the newspaper at a distance further than ‘in my face’?”
“Oh sorry sister dearest. But look at the slander posted on us!”
I gave a titer at that, what could it be this time that got Luna in a tizzy of indignant rage and frantic fury? One look at the title, and I could feel a millenia of control almost break at the urge to facehoof.
Princesses are Tribalist?
Recent information brings startling facts to life. Is Celestia raising the other Princesses to further downtrodden the non-unicorn population?
My mouth opened and closed several times as I tried to comprehend the level of stupidity that was before me. I knew I was going to regret it, but I had to read the rest of the article. While trying to ignore the indignant squawks of my fellow princesses reading over my shoulder.
Recent information brings startling facts to life. Is Celestia raising the other Princesses to further repress the non-unicorn population?
It will be as of no surprise to any non unicorn the recent unfair laws and actions perpetrated by Princess Celestia this last year. From ‘toll booths and transport fees’ which charge earth ponies an exorbitantly higher rate than air cargo and even more so than teleportation array shipping or dragon express mail.
To the increased weather costs from her actions with the Weather Factory in Cloudsdale. When asked about her recently accepted laws she stated on multiple occasions, “I overlook only those laws that are truly detrimental to Equestria as a nation. For I care about all my little ponies, but I trust the lawmakers and parliament to pass reasonable laws for the betterment of our nation.”
When asked why the burden fell on pegasi and earth ponies more than unicorns, her reply was, “While some laws might seem to affect one tribe over another. I assure you that the laws are fair to all individuals.” As you may recall when Canterlot Times and the Manehatten Tribune both did stories on the increased costs that were affecting the nation as a whole. More on Celestia’s response on page A-2 about inflation being natural.
Even more damning are the problems was the Weather Factory. She claimed that “due to the Cloudsdale Charter of 362 CE, which our sources showed she had a hoof in drafting, the Weather Factory was a private business ran by the Cloudsdale government and the Equestrian Weather Bureau. The matter was out of her hooves, since it was a factory-related problem, as opposed to a natural one.
While we at Canterlot have enough EWB certified unicorns to create weather via magic. Thus stymying the costs of weather, other places in our nation don’t have it as easy, where weather based unicorns are less common, and the EWB, along with weather production companies crack down on illegal weather production.
Sources at the EWB claim said fines are to ensure the hard working ponies who are trained for their service can earn a living, rather than chaotic weather running about all willy nilly.
“What!” Twilight yelled drawing the attention of the parliament ponies on the ground below. Giving an apologetic smile she said in a harsh whisper, “What!? Of course you couldn’t do anything Celestia! The laws are almost draconian, and when you gave legal responsibility to Pegasi cities to make the weather like they petitioned, you made the EWB to ensure that the workers were taken care of, but let them be private businesses. Equestria’s first private businesses that weren’t family related. It was the biggest historical moment in the history of Equestrian Law!”
I was not grinding or gnashing my teeth. No a princess isn’t allowed to do those things. No, I was simply chewing on my thoughts before continuing to read this assault on my character. Ever since I’ve granted the right of my ponies to have Freedom of Speech, journalists have pushed what is acceptable, and for the most part, I part let them express themselves.
But that they printed such horrendous garbage against me … it had been centuries since I was dragged through the dirt; being accused that I didn’t care for all my little ponies. Even if some didn’t have horns, it doesn’t make them any less special. Although marrying and knocking up a few Earth Ponies, and a pegasi or two wasn’t necessary to prove my point at the moment. I could always make a marem if I needed to … but that always opened up a new can of worms every time. The last thing I wanted to do was give the wrong impression to Twilight and Luna.
I felt a migraine coming. I believe this is what Pinkie Pie would call, a “doozy”.. Remember Celestia eyebrows relaxed, lips slightly up … no that’s almost a grimace, you don’t want to look like you’re snarling. Remember … you have to be the perfect princess, the sea of tranquility. Negative emotions scare your little ponies to thinking you’re going to go the route of Nightmare Moon … and reminds you that you can no longer afford to show unnecessary things.
It was hard, you know? Being all smiles, and serenity. The rock this nation was built on. But alas, there was more, but my fellow princesses, just like the nation had expectations of me. I had to be strong for them. I wrapped Twilight and Cadance who were looking quite angry in my wings and gave them both assuring nuzzles. I felt them calm under my wings as I rested on my barrel, I don’t know if they had a nostalgic rush like I was, but the calming effect was noticeable.
“Why don’t you sit with us, Luna? It won’t do good for you to stand around all day.” I said all smiles.
“I don’t know how you can look so calm, Tia,” Luna replied.
Practice,”They’re just words Luna. They can only hurt you as much as you allow them to.” What was that look Luna? Pain? Regret? “What’s on your mind Luna?”
“Nothing sister. As you said. They’re just words,” Luna replied. I knew she was lying of course, she had always been a terrible liar. I thinks that’s why Honesty loved her as much as he did. Although I’m quite sad to see that Laughter has left her since her return … if only I knew how to fix it.
Nonetheless, I can’t be sad. Not in public, and not to my sister. She’s been so down these past few years. Hesitant, lost, broken … no I would not cry. I was a rock … always a rock at least into Twilight came into my life.
…
…
Sometimes I really wish my brain would shut up. Especially at times like these. But as I told Luna. Words can’t hurt you if you don’t let them. More importantly I needed to see why my ponies would be hurting to the point they wrote such a thing. Even in conjecture, and opinions. There was some truth, or at least the seed of reasoning that caused such thoughts in the first place.
Of course we Canterlotians had to look into things. After all even as hard as it has been for others, and those hardships increasing costs across the nation. A journalist must follow their leads no matter where they go. Which is why finding out our beloved ruler is a tribalist is truly shocking.
As everypony knows Canterlot was built as a unicorn city with few pegasi before the Canterhorn Pass was built a few decades after the cities construction. Not only due to the presence from the nobility who traced their lines from the unicorn royal families and aristocracy, but also from the unicorns who were flewn up to assist in the construction of the city itself.
Not long after the cities construction the most prestigious and oldest school in the world, Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns was build and the unicorn population only grew. Not only does Canterlot, our nation's capital, have the largest concentration of unicorns in Equestria of any Equestrian nation. But the school itself is the only school to be overseen, funded, and bearing Celestia’s name itself.
It also is the only school that has been hosted by her guest lectures, and all of her protege’s have been from her school. Hoof picked and raised by her to become the greatest minds of our time. History has shown that these ponies were either Flares, ponies with magical reserves far beyond normal as well as their ability to control safely. As well as unicorns of extraordinary talent, who paved the way as prodigies in their field. The only one who’s ever failed her was somepony called Sunbutt Glitter, a unicorn filly who a decade ago simply disappeared from the face of the world, and whom Celestia has repeatedly told both her family and the nation at large that she didn’t have an idea where Sunbutt had disappeared too.
Something quite unbelieveable when considering Celestia’s contribution to scrying and tracking spells. Among her many other contributions to magic.
There has been historical accounts that every era of sexual revolution followed a time where public outcry against the treatment of the other tribes happened and Celestia took a marem of earth ponies and pegasi whom she paraded around, from historical accounts in quite a flashy manner. But it's this journalist's opinion as well as noted historians this was more of a ploy to distract from the issue, mostly since the few noted unicorn relationships she had before and after were quite tame and normal for herds of the time.
Although it should also be noted that her marems during sexual revolutions were treated quite well. So even as a tribalist, she at least does respect the bodies of those she takes as lovers. Which is to be expected for gentle giant we all know and love. Which makes this piece even harder to write.
Nonetheless, we also tried speaking to the other two princesses of Equestria. Best Princesses, Princess Luna stated that “[she] isn’t ready for governance and stands by any decision her sister makes in the running of Equestria. After all Equestria hasn’t devolved into anarchy and ruin over these last thousand years so she must be doing something right.”
As for our newest princess. Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship replied, “I haven’t had time to learn politics yet. I’m new to this ‘princessing’ thing, and I know that Celestia has the best interest at heart for Equestria.”
This brings to light an important question. We have three rulers, yet two of them follow Celestia’s lead, and have no hoof in our running. Are we to believe that Celestia’s tribalist views are shared by all the princesses? And if so, what does that say to those without a horn?
More on Page 2-A, B, and F]
I placed the newspaper down. Twilight and Cadance blushing furiously. If for finding out what I would rather they not, or if out of anger at what was written and the insinuations against them I didn’t know. But I had to leave … personally between the article, the memories they dragged up, and the gall to call my dearest little Sunset, Sunbutt Glitter, was more than I could stand. At least more than I could stand and retain my many masks.
“Know this … I am not mad at any of you, and we will all talk later. But I need to be alone for a bit. If you could Twilight … Luna. Get the Element Bearers, I think a nice game night like I was going to ask Twilight and Cadance before you entered is something we all could use. As well as some outside perspective.”
I didn’t even hear a reply as I left. I don’t think I could hear anything past the pounding pulse in my ears like waves breaking across the shore, and like waves eroded the shore they struck so to did that persistent pulse threaten to erode myself control. A princess can’t lose control. A princess can’t show weakness. A princess must be strong for her nation and for those relying on her. I Celestia, am a princess.
Discreetly teleporting isn’t an easy feat when one has power of magnitudes beyond mortal ken. Thankfully my room is one of the few places I can teleport to without raising a fuss. Charging up the wards that kept ponies out, and a flick of the locks, mundane and otherwise, I was alone. No ponies to judge me, no prying eyes, no need for masks other than the few I keep for myself. Just me and my thoughts, and father did I need them.
It was rare that I thought all the back to my childhood, nor did I come across thoughts that would necessitate remembering them, but it was sad. I couldn’t really remember our parents faces. I know my sister and I swear on our parents from time to time, yet their faces are fuzzy. They have been for the longest time.
I don’t know why I’m trying to wax melancholy. I guess it’s where things began for me though, but isn’t it all? The foundations of youth building up to the landscapes of our present … I remember father’s last words, “Excubat parum luna. Et est soror tua, non indiget. Sed qualecumque Marcum Principium alter a Regnorum nunquam. Quem profert, nihil quam tristitiam..” Watch over our little moon. She is your sister, and needs you. Also no matter what, never get a Cutie Mark for the Other Realms. It brings nothing but sadness.
I asked what he meant and he told me that the Rainbow Web, and Other Realms were much more delicate and dangerous than the physical realms. That there came times when those of us who hadn’t perished in the Nihil Cor, which he never told me much about, nor of our races homeland. Other than somewhere in the world, or slightly out of phase with it. But when the time came those of them were called to join the higher planes and become one with them. To ensure that the lesser planes would remain safe.
I didn’t want them to leave. Luna was still a little filly, and I was only a few centuries older. I tried using the excuse that I was a Flare to keep them from leaving, but he put a hoof on my cheek and told me that he would always be in our hearts. Mother nuzzled us one last time and asked me to promise them. I did … then they were no more … at least as I was aware of things.
I felt tears roll down my face as I feel their love and the sensation of their last acts of physical contact with me, but I can’t remember their faces. Or even if the faces I vaguely remember are them at all. I never really felt it till now, but it feels as if I lost something important that I didn’t know I lost till now.
I think about taking a break, I truly do, but I just don’t have it in me. It’s the blessing and curse of being an immortal introvert. Once your mind starts going it doesn’t stop. It never stops.
I had watched over Luna for a century before the founding of Equestria. At first we simply watched the ponies of the different races, but we rarely interacted. They were too different than us, and we always had an appendage that bred mistrust with one tribe or the others to one degree or another.
Luna got along with the Pegasi the most. Being extroverted, even as a young filly at the time, and highly competitive. She won their respect if for not else but her sure tenacity and the speed at which she learned pegasi magic. Something I was never able to teach her all that well.
For them a lot of their acts are instinctual, and worked by feel. Something Luna as an artist and well Luna was very good at. I think that’s alway why she became the more militant of us. But me, I felt more at ease with the unicorns … well not the race persay at first. But their libraries. I wonder if any still exist up in the Frozen Wastes.
Still I would sneak in and raid their libraries for knowledge. Spell books, books on history, maths, theories. I consumed it with vigor, always making sure I brought them back when I was finished and hopefully nopony the wiser.
That’s when I think I fell in love with magic. Before then, and even up to now I guess. I was a thinker and a tinkerer. I would build marvelous mindscapes and go over all that I learned. Seeing how things merged together, and play thought exercises with magic. Then after I got it down pat. I would work on making it real.
I honestly don’t think any of my original spell books survived all these millennia. I might have to go to our first home since our parents moved away to see if they are still there. I think Twilight might enjoy reading on the things I made in my youth.
But even with our contact with others beyond ourselves. I always looked after Luna one way or the other. It’s what got me into being the planner I am nowadays. I couldn’t afford not to. I made a promise.
I try shaking my head to toss away the tears rolling down my face in rivulets now. I don’t even remember why I’m crying. I’m not supposed to cry, not over the happiest days of Luna’s life. Days I worked hard to make sure she was happy. Deflecting the cruelty and remarks tossed at us, bringing a smile to her face. I still don’t know if she knew what I did for her back then, but it would be cruel to take away that smile of hers.
The tears come even stronger I stole that smile from her. I’m the reason she … she left. I promised to protect her and I failed. I thought if I healed her with the Elements she’d be alright. I’d get her back … but I didn’t want her to be broken.
I stood up and started pacing. Calming my nerves. I don’t even know why I was foolish enough to dredge up those memories. Yes I do. I need to show myself that I don’t put unicorns above the other races. Sure I fell in love with their knowledge, and I loved magic more than almost anything. That doesn’t mean anything … as for Luna. I … I need to be better. I still can’t believe that I’m still messing up after all this time. Tantabus … how can she create such a thing? Why can’t she trust in me?
Even as that question rises to the surface I know why. I failed her, and she can’t trust me to be her mother-sissy. Her big sister. Her protector. I probably wouldn’t trust me either if I was her, but I still have to try.
The pacing helps. If anypony tells you pacing doesn’t help you, they don’t know what they are talking about. Sometime moving while thinking helps a lot more than sitting around doing nothing. Sometimes the best way to calm the body is to get up and move it.
A small smile graces my lips as a random thought of Twilight dancing flitters through my mind. Such abandon, such joy, such cringe worthy antics. It’s one of the many things that makes her adorakable.
Where was I oh yes. Celestia the Chess Master. I can’t help but sigh at that. But yes, ever since our parents moved I couldn’t help but do everything I could to protect my little sister. So I planned, working on the worst case scenario, and moving up to the best. Using what I knew of others, and the situation at hoof. As well as lots of trial and error.
But I must’ve done something right since it worked all the way until the Windigoes came.
My sister and I followed the ponies to Equestria, when we saw the true Fire of Friendship. Not the romanticised tale written one thousand years and some change later … at least I think it was that long. Discord’s arrival made things crazy for however long he was in power. Days and nights didn’t make much sense then.
By now I calmed down enough now that the worst of the memories were over … for now. But Equestria when it first started. Looked as if it was going to be a repeat of the Frozen Wastes. So my sister and I made a plan that we would step in, and lead them. It had been a few generations from our first encounter with them till now.
We told the unicorn royal family that we were going to take control of the Celestial Bodies, as alicorns it was our duty to do so. But they refused, stating that even though we had horns on our heads, they didn’t acknowledge our power nor our rule over them. The pegasi joined in and told us in no uncertain terms that if we were to side with the unicorns they’d see us as worse than blood traitors. While the earth ponies simply sat back and watched wearily. Seeing us as another in a line of petty tyrants that would place them under hoof.
Seeing our original plan slip through our hooves. I called upon my power and spoke over the growing mob around us. I think that’s what originally started the traditional use of the Royal Voice with Luna and I. I said that unicorn law allowed for me to challenge to rule, and pegasi culture allowed for a trial by combat.
Thinking of it now I never knew what earth ponies had back then. They were highly xenophobic folks, and being close knit as they were didn’t trust outsiders enough for us to know their laws.
In the first instance of ponies working as one since the Fires of Friendship. The three tribes asked to convene before answering. In the end it took a week before they came back, with a quest. If we could complete the three quests, one for each race. They would acknowledge us as rulers.
I can’t help but smile thinking of that adventure. It was truly glorious, and I wish it never ended, but all good things come to pass eventually. And leave you forever.
That was a way to kill the mood brain. Thank you, it was just what I needed. Here let me lay down so you can drive more stakes through me. Who knows I may secretly be a day walking vampony and you can slay me properly? I think it would save the world on needing more sunscreen.
I waited for my brain to dredge up another barb. Yet once again snarking and sarcasm have saved the day. Twilight would be proud. I turn around so I could give a true headdesk to the marble floor. It may not be a desk in the modern sense, but back in the day, if it held paper and you could write on it, and could hide things in it. It counted as a desk. Which reminded me I needed to check my hidden slabs to ensure Luna didn’t sneak off with my … relaxation enhancers again. *Snerk* Relaxation enhancers indeed.
Where was I in my thoughts? I wondered to myself as I somehow ended up on my bed, my tiara escue and my six limbs out in different directions. Oh yes! I was thinking about the Pre-Discordian era. Those were fun times, it was shortly after our rule, when we got the celestial bodies, and started bringing peace to what became “our little ponies” that we received our Cutie Marks.
When deciding who would get what, I let Luna choose first. After all she was the youngest, and only a few centuries old. Barely a teenager, and my little sister. Why wouldn’t I want to see what she’d choose. She chose the night. When I asked her why, not because I wanted it necessarily, even though I’m not a morning pony, I was simply curious about her choice.
She spent what felt like ages going into detail about the artistic potential of the night sky. How stellar clouds, and star placement could weave a more beautiful sky than the rigid, and unfeeling, structured set up unicorns did. I admit to feeling a bit miffed at calling the mathematically structured, and “orderly assembly” (it wasn’t rigid) set up of stars to be rigid and unfeeling.
But my sister was always the artist between us. The raw emotions she let herself feel, and the passion at which she approached everything made her artwork truly beautiful. If she thought she could make something even more beautiful than what the unicorns were creating, then I knew it would be so. Even if I wasn’t completely in agreement in how she phrased her points.
… I can never forget the first night she painted. There is no painting, no experience, nothing that can compare to what I felt when I saw what Luna crafted. Although it took some time to tell Luna that the tears were ones of joy, not sorrow. Another reason a princess isn’t allowed to cry. But Luna was so happy when she learned I was crying tears of happiness that her little Cutie Mark appeared right on her adorable haunches. I was so happy for her, although back then there weren’t Cuteceneras, I kind of wished there were though, it would’ve been fun to throw her a party celebrating that achievement.
As for myself, even after making the day, and for many days afterwards I didn’t get mine. It was hard at first for us. What with having to magically correct our wards when unicorns tried to alter it, it wasn’t till I decided to alter the spell used to move the sun, and taught it to Luna that the celestial bodies were fully under our control. It didn’t hurt that by using them as a psionic as well as mana power source our incredible powers were given a well deserved boost as well.
A generation later, when the ponies got over their grudge with us becoming their defacto rulers, did they thank me for the consistant days did I get my Cutie Mark. Not for the sun itself, but with knowing that my sun and my work was making a positive difference in their lives. And things went pretty well for a while, me and my sister played just as much as we ruled. But they were happier times.
Then he came. At first there were reports of a mischievous spirit that caused minor annoyances to ponies, but if you threw rotten fruit or stones at it, it would go away. So we thought nothing of it, other than strange folk superstitions that ponies form from time to time. But it wasn’t long till that mischievous spirit became a serious threat. The Spirit of Chaos, Discord. I feel ashamed that I was unable to best him, my sister wasn’t able to either. I think in some part of his mind it was a rather funny game to him.
We would cast our strongest magics, summon the mightiest of natural forces. Even resorting to attacking like an earth pony. Yet, nothing. Worse than nothing, he would toy with us. Sometimes he would just ignore the damage, or spell effects, and lob pies, ponies, or even *shudders* bad puns at us.
Othertimes he would let us think we were finally winning, that we had some effect on him. Then he would restore himself with some random movement, a snap of a paw, a wiggle of the nose, even a salacious wink. Other times he would turn to ash, or break to pieces. Only for it to be a set up to a punchline.
At others, we found we were simply fighting a construct that looked like Discord, that would eventually blow up in our faces. Quite literally, while the real Discord watched from afar with a bag of popped corn.
Eventually during one of the times were we were looking for where he went off to next in our twisted game of tag. We came across the Tree of Harmony. It was if the tree sensed Discord’s harm of the universe, and our inability to fight and drew us to it.
I never told anypony about this, even if Luna knows the Elements are sentient, and have form, I doubt that she figured this out. But I suspect that the Elements manipulate Destiny to ensure some greater plan of theirs come to be. After all, how else would the tree pick ponies to gather its ‘fruit’ yet have our Cutie Marks upon it.
Even Twilight’s Cutie Mark was upon that tree now that I think about it, and it was her that was needed to be one of the six ponies to return what we borrowed. There are too many coincidences around them, and while one event might be an accident, two might be a coincidence, the hundreds of little coincidences that have shaped me and my sister’s fate can’t be a coincidence. Even that little box it created, I’m sure my compulsion to free Discord for reformation was from them. Otherwise the keys they chose to open that box would never have been found out.
After all who could have guessed that a flower, a spool of thread, a rubber chicken, a bit, and a badge would be keys. Not the Bearer’s, not even myself. It was Discord who figured it out and pointed it out. Bah! Thinking about the manipulations of the Elements is confusing, I should have Twilight research them. Hopefully get the voices and feelings of the Elements to manifest so we could talk. Face to face.
… I’m going on a tangent aren’t I? Yes, yes I am. But the rest of what happened is history. The Elements chose us, I received Generosity, Kindness, and Magic. My sister received Loyalty, Honesty, and Laughter. We defeated Discord, and the nation as a whole loved us.
But after all of that. After things settled down my sister and I gravitated to our positions. I dealt with the nobility mostly, since they needed my guidance, planning, and knowledge. My sister was the blade of our nation though. She fought the battles, and fought off monsters. While also guarding our subjects in their sleep. But the soldiers in those days were mostly thestrals and pegasi. Few earth ponies felt the need for battle when they were needed to grow enough food to survive from year to year on subsistence living, while the unicorns for the most part felt they were better off in government and supervisory positions. Those who weren’t usually working as a servant for some higher ranking unicorn. But like a slow stream that became a raging river. The more Luna fought for our safety, the more ponies avoided her. The more she kept to herself and focused on their well being, the more they ignored her. Old prejudices and superstitions taking over common sense and fealty towards one’s sovereign slowly crushing her spirits.
Where was I as my sister fell one might ask. I threw myself into my work to ensure our little ponies were happy. Trying to fix a world that even a thousand years later still had Discord’s little surprises popping up to cause havok. If I didn’t know any better I would assume that he had planned such events just to cause me headaches. Luna swears that her fall isn’t my fault. Even now, but what sister would let her little sister fall into the madness that was Nightmare Moon?
But she left for the moon, and for the first time in two and a half thousand years I was truly alone. I poured over the book of prophesies that Luna had talked me into creating when our castle was formed, and I saw the one that both shattered my heart and gave me hope. A prophecy that Nightmare Moon would return after a thousand years, and with that time frame, I knew I had to do everything I could to make the world Luna came back to a happy one. One that would appreciate the night she shaped.
I’ll admit when I formed Canterlot shortly after my sister fell. I wanted to get as far away from the leeches that were ‘the nobility’, as well as plenty of my subjects. So something hard to get to was a must. Then it needed to be strong and able to survive millennia, while at the same time easily defendable. I wasn’t the militant my sister was, so I needed something that others would have a hard time penetrating. Thus my choice for Mt. Canterhorn.
I’ll admit that at first I wanted to do it alone, but I knew that I would need all the help I could get if I were to build a new capital far away for the memories of our old castle. So, why yes, I can see that I might not have mingled with earth ponies all that much prior to Canterlot’s creation, I did when it was formed … didn’t I?
I know that I brought unicorns to do the heavy lifting, mason work, and construction, and pegasi to cart ponies up and down the mountain. As well as bring up materials … no. No earth ponies then, although I did hire that tribe for quarry work to get marble, and precious ores. Even a few petriculturalists for the gems used in enchanting. It was a good decade for unicorns and pegasi though. Until the unicorns built a lift system that went up the mountain. Then it just meant more unicorn jobs.
I believe it was one of my advisors that suggested rock sculpting Canterhorn Pass. Allowing the easier transport of earth pony goods, and travel of the citizenry. Rather than the labor intensive lift … I wonder if I could repair it. It would be an amazing experience for the little ones who visit to see what it was like back in the days.
*sigh* So no. Even when it first formed Canterlot was mostly unicorns. Especially when the leeches found out how to get here. Of course I couldn’t just toss them off the mountain. I had to be the good, loving princess, who was happy to sacrifice my happiness for the happiness of the many.
But after the pass, we did get earth ponies, and with them came agriculture which cheapened the cost of food somewhat. Which meant that we needed weather which I was happy to create, and let our … my little ponies use what they needed.
But with Luna … gone. I felt a great sense of melancholy. I missed raising and watching over her. I missed the fun that I was no longer able to enjoy now that our nation needed me to be serious and dedicated to the nation. So I built my school. Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns.
It’s not tribalist to have made it. I was the Element of Magic. I loved magic. I had a horn. So thus any other potential Element of Magic needed to have those things also in a thousand years. That and I never connected with the other races, now that I think about it. I was just a retiring, introvert, with a love of knowledge and magic. A very … what’s the term nowadays … cerebral. Yes, I was a very cerebral pony. Which unicorns as a whole are. There are no magics the other races can do that a unicorn can’t do also. They can do more, and make more than the others with nothing more than their will imposed upon the tapestries of creation.
Earth Ponies … can do alchemy I guess. But anyone can do that if they can follow directions. Their communication with animals, ability to grow things, and their magics that enhance themselves are useful. But slow, and takes ages to do.
Pegasi, can do weather magic, and that’s all. I believe. I’m sure Twilight is exaggerating about Fluttershy’s stare and Pinkie’s Pinkieness.
But nonetheless, when I made my school it was for ponies that I knew I could teach and nurture. Sure there were a few ponies of the other tribes that tried joining, but I had to turn them away. I feel a bit bad, but can you imagine an earth pony coming up to you and saying there Cutie Mark is a magic one? I know that everypony feels a magical bond with their Cutie Marks but that doesn’t make it magic.
I let out a groan. Hearing that thought after thinking of my past till then, I can see how ponies could think I was a tribalist. I mean I didn’t even check to see if the ponies who came who weren’t unicorns could do magic. Even thinking about my sister’s saviors, looking back at my previous thoughts. I judged them by the stereotypes of their race. I meant no offense, they are beautiful mares, but still I can’t believe that a pony such as myself would have let such a problem grow to such levels. Even now my sister suffers because of my blindness. I can fix that later, now I just need to see how bad things have gotten.
Still the school was a good thing. With the school being funded and taught by myself, and future graduates in the earlier years. It ensured a good, well paying job. With a solid future, regardless of a ponies station at birth. It was my first step to stripping power from the nobility and giving it to commoners.
Then of course with good jobs meant the need for more businesses to keep them working, which meant that more unicorns were being registered, which only grew the unicorn population in Canterlot as more unicorns gave birth here, and more moved in, in hopes of getting a better life. If not at the school then at the castle where magic could always be a helpful service.
Although unlike my school. I never turned away the other races who entered Canterlot, and tried to ensure that there were jobs open for any race. But the other races had their own little cites, and I don’t hear anyone complaining that Manehatten is mostly earth ponies, or Appleoosa is almost all earth pony. I never understood why I get sniped at for this being the only major unicorn city. Things happen.
I think my first marem of non-unicorns was shortly after I made the school to be honest. Me turning away non-unicorns created quite a stink. But I couldn’t build a school just for the other races. Pegasi had Cloudsdale, and the Academy. This was when they were still a more militaristic race of course. As for earth ponies, they were busy with subsistence farming and taking over family businesses. So making anything for them would’ve been redundant, and I wouldn’t have been able to help them like I could unicorns. Great, just add more nails to the coffin.
I can’t remember the logic at the time. I think it was something along the lines of, ‘if it makes my ponies happy to show them that I care about all the races. I’ll just get a few mares that I think are attractive. Have a few foals, and show them I can be a loving as well as attentive alpha for my herd. Then when they grow old and die. Mourn their loss so others know I do care, and those losses were hard. Especially when they left for the great beyond. Leaving me alone again. But best of all, have some foals and grand foals to dote on.
Of course unlike the few times I had a unicorn herd, I did parade them. Make flashy and showy gestures. Show off that I wasn’t bothered by their lack of a horn, and I did learn that pegasi wings were rather fun during sex, and earth ponies could do things that most unicorns could never dream of with their bodies. Sometimes I wondered if they were as magical as a unicorn in their own way. And yet another accidentally tribalist thought. Congratulations me. I wonder if I can get a trophy?
You know what, I think I’m going to skip the next few hundred years. I really don’t want to go over the next few fiascos, although the Cloudsdale Weather Charter was a stroke a brilliance. It was the first corner stone to allowing not only non-unicorns into governance, allowed commoners to own their own land and businesses, but by creating “private businesses” I put less burden on the crown while increasing the nation's economy.
It was something that I’ll be forever proud of, to be brutally honest with myself. While the cornerstone I used to stave off “I’m not a tribalist” remarks. Although I should have used words more than sex to show that I cared about the non unicorn tribes. They might’ve fared better, but then I would never have gotten interested in the Smith family, now the Apple family when planning the village that became Ponyville.
To think Word Smith and mine’s descendants would be seed collectors. Still when they arrived and mentioned in passing that they were looking to settle down someday. I knew opportunity struck. I needed a town near where my sister was going to return to, and I needed a place where potential element bearer’s would gather. Who the bearer’s were I could calculate later, but I had a century till it was needed, that and they had the same fire in them that Word did. It was what made her so attractive, other than her literary prowess.
I think, it’s time for me to think about more recent times. After all the past is filled with ghosts, and I’ve pinpointed all that I need to do to start working on myself to be a better princess to our little ponies, although I need to make a few apologies in private later on.
I couldn’t believe the papers would assault Sunset Shimmer. To go so far as to entirely slaughtering her name. I could feel my rage boiling to the surface, it was something that very few got the displeasure of seeing, and who could blame them. I’m “Princess Celestia” I’m not allowed to get angry over ‘petty things’ like saying that I don’t care about those under my care.
But I knew where she had gone, I would have been a fool not to. But I couldn’t just up and leave the world behind to go after her. I had a nation to protect, and plans in the works to save my sister. Even if I loved Sunset like a daughter, I couldn’t risk getting trapped, and having the world die. What would Luna think if there was noone here to save her, or worse was saved through some contrivance, but only to be the sole princess of a dead world?
So I let Sunset have her space, with a book for her to contact me if she ever needed it. But she never did, it broke my heart, and for so long I wanted to go over there and apologize for failing her. For not seeing her fall, nor being there when she needed me the most. Just like with Luna.
You’d think I would run out of tears by now wouldn’t you? But no, my body still finds more the dredge up. I walk over to the bed and wonder just how much more my mind can torment me, before I let the waves of the past drag me back beneath their depths.
Twilight, sweet, adorable, infinitely loving Twilight. I remember being in a panic when I thought all my hopes and dreams of saving my sister were going down the drain. Thinking now in the present. If there were non-unicorns capable of magic I could have used them, even if I would have no idea on how to train them. What with my lack of study into spell casting with the different races abilities. Thinking on it, all a unicorn really does is take the raw magic that all races have the potential to tap into, and channels it through a condensed foci before sends it into the world. Rather than all the different magical expressions the other races use it for innately.
But back then, I had a horn, I loved magic, and was once the Element of Magic. So the next one must be a unicorn was all I really thought about. But I saw her, an adorable little filly looking at me with such awe and wonder.
When I rose the sun months prior, I could feel a connection with her, and I told myself she had to be the one. I kept an eye on her of course, the Aetheric Realm is perfect for viewing the life of a pony as long as you know what to look for. She had all the traits that were perfect, a Flare, whose power had yet breach her mental barrier. A love of books and magical knowledge. An endless enthusiasm that I wanted to bring to the surface.
So I made a choice. I told her instructors to give her a dragons egg, and to have her hatch it. The looks of shock on their face was priceless, although I would have loved them to speak their minds rather than stumble over themselves to make ‘the princess’s judgement so’.
I stood outside the examination tower. Two speeches in my head, in one I would tell her that she tried, and that I saw potential in her. Too not give up hope and that I was sure she would go on to do great things in the future. I would probably have left her to the tides of fate, but just enough of a nudge starting off as a way of apologising for ruining a promising start. The other speech was telling her I would take her on as a protege’. Then I would mold her and teach her all that I could so she would not only be able to wield the Element of Magic as I was sure she might be, but also could have a great and fulfilling life afterwards.
That was when it happened. A Sonic Rainboom, something so magically powerful and rare that it hadn’t been seen since Spectral Burst performed it two hundred years ago. It was then that I felt it. Something that I hadn’t felt since I … last saw my sister. The Elements of Harmony. Those crafty beings once again having their hoof in fate.
I learned later that it was Rainbow Dash who performed it, and I could have taken her in as well, after all they definitely chose her to propagate their will. But I had no idea how to train a pegasus, although I wonder sometimes what life would have been like if I did. But then I would have had to take Fluttershy in as well, and even though she reminds me of my past self before I was forced to become extroverted enough to help my nation. I would have had a harder time giving her the future she deserved.
But that’s all in the past, I can’t give them the life they could of had, and I took Twilight in. Knowing that at least the propagator of the Elements would be there for Twilight as one of the six needed to save Luna.
I felt a warmth flood through me, like a warm fire blasting away the regret within me for awhile. I can say that while I loved Sunset like a daughter. Twilight, she grew in my heart to something much more. Although I can’t say what, or when it started. It might have been when she saved Luna, or after beating Discord. Possibly even in the countless little moments between and afterwards when she would send me friendship reports … and for awhile I thought I too had a friend. But I do love her, even though I can never tell her. She has always deserved so much better than myself.
And with that the melancholy returns. Still she was an amazing filly, there were so many amazing foalish adventures we had together. She made and abused so many spells that entire wings had to be made to hold all the new rules for all the spells she crafted. So many new rules and ethics for things she did that I never thought of making rules or ethics for them.
It … it was a good time. Best of all, she was there for me. More so then I was ever there for her, although I did better to make sure I didn’t fail her like I did Sunset. I … already lost so much when she left, just like all the others who’ve left me over these many millenia. But Twilight, she never did. I think she saved me just as much as she saved my sister. For that I would be eternally grateful.
But that’s enough about my past. I needed to start working on myself to be a mare Twilight and Luna could be proud of. That I could be proud of, and I knew just where to start. Then tonight. I had a meeting with the eight most important ponies in my life. The one’s who’re still around at least.
I knew what I needed to do, but it was hard to make that first step. Everypony knew us princesses were Goddesses, but very few knew what that meant. True we were immortal, but that doesn’t mean we’re invulnerable both to emotional wounds, nor physically. Albeit we are much more durable than mere mortals, take Twilight learning to fly for instance. The craters and ditches she left took weeks to fix up, yet no damage to her was sustained.
We had ways of seeing things far beyond mortal comprehension. For instance I use the Aetheric Plane to scry upon the lives and actions of others. It has allowed me to make judgement calls as fair as possible while ensuring the innocent didn’t suffer. My sister has her ability to see the memories and past of all dreamers should she deem it necessary to do so. Cadance and Twilight are too young at the moment to utilize those gifts, although Twilight’s table has the Elements send her on missions to fulfil their end goals. For whatever goals those may be … again, I need Twilight to find away to summon them … they’ve been just as helpful in their manipulations as they’ve been hurtful.
Anyways, while we see much. We aren’t omniscient without our tools, or without knowing what we are looking for. As such we can be taken unawares.
Most taxing though, is while we have power that is greatly superior to normal ponies. The weakest of us, darling little Caddy, has the power of 9 Clovers. Twilight had 1.3 Swirls when she was a unicorn, and my sister and I hold the power of 2.5 Swirls. At least I did in my last physical a few hundred years ago, and my sister was evenly matched with me in terms of magical strength. So she should be about that much … if it wasn’t for the fact that I don’t want to deal with diets, I would take my sister and I to get a much needed physical.
Nonetheless, while powerful. We aren’t perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist, if it did, there would be no room to grow. As corporeal, magical beings. We had feelings, needs, and desires. The major weakness to that is we made mistakes, and admitting we made them is incredibly hard to do.
So it was that I spent an hour staring at a strip of parchment that I needed to use to write my first of two letters. The first was the worst, since it would mean that I had to overturn a thousand years of tradition, and make amends to the futures I stole … if any were still alive. The second was something of a tickle of fancy to do something that would do much good for a few ponies.
I needed to get my Autobiography written. It would do much good to shatter my pedestal I was perched on, and hopefully, if I was lucky. Would let the two ponies I needed to let know how I felt about them know without a doubt how much they meant. Also I could do something for Twilight’s family, for all that they have given to Equestria.
*Sigh*, I think that’s going to become a problem later. Sighing so much, that is. After all my Cutie Mark was for the service and happiness of Equestria. Yet it seems that I’ve only been truly helping one third of the species as much as I should have. *Sigh*.
Dear Dean of CSFGU,
I hope you didn’t try to destroy records of non unicorn applicants after this most recent news article. I would be greatly interested myself in seeing how many non unicorns attempted to enter my school.
- HRH Princess Celestia
Philomena was an amazingly useful Pheonix, constantly regenerating feathers, faster than dragon mail, and cheaper too. I really hope the school didn’t try destroying those records. It would send all the wrong messages. I started on the second letter to Twilight Velvet, when the response arrived That was quicker than I expected. But why didn’t they send the records, I’m sure I gave them enough feathers of Philomena to send me a decent amount. Unless I’m lucky and … no. No trying to wiggle out of this.
Your Majesty,
While we didn’t destroy the records when the article came out. We do have a tradition of dumping them in the trash when we get them. After all it was yourself who said that this was a school for unicorns. So we never really saw the point in saving files for ponies that weren’t our race, after all it’s not like we could save them to see if they could retry later. Since they would have no reason to try again.
Although you’ll be glad to know that we tell them in no uncertain words that, as I’m sure you remember telling our founding members. ‘While a Cutie Mark is magical, and has a deep meaning to an individual. It doesn’t make the pony magical.’ and we let them know that, ‘only unicorns can cast spells. A non-unicorn just wouldn’t make it in our school.’ Although we no longer send a spell to carry our laughs at them. We make sure that we are civil enough to do it behind their backs.
So you won’t need to worry about those journalist finding anything. For there’s nothing to find.
Sincerely,
Dean Wizen Berry III
I headdesked for real this time. Not just shattering tile, but obliterating a desk. I really like that desk too. I let loose a scream backed by the primal force of the Royal Canterlot Voice, while tossing the broken desk out the window.
I could hear the guards trying to break the door down to get inside. Casting a quick illusion spell to look my best, I undid the locks so the poor guards wouldn’t break themselves trying to ‘save me’.
“Princess! We heard screaming, are you … “ Random Guard number one said, until he saw the shattered window.
The first rule in misdirection is to take advantage of somepony when they are off guard, “Oh I’m fine my little pony. I just saw a rat.”
“A rat?”
I fluffed my wings, “Yes, it was a big one. But it’s gone now.”
“I - A- Are you positive?”
I let loose a restoration spell returning the window to its former glory, “yes.”
“Well alight princess. I-we will just be outside. Just incase more rats show up,” he replied uncertainly. At least I think it was a he. Those concealment charms made to make them all look the same made it hard to tell sometimes.
“Thank you, I’m very proud to have such brave guards watch over me.” I reply in the most sincere tone I can give. After all it would be horrible for those doing their patriotic duty to feel as if I didn’t have use for them, or if I was insincere towards their sentiments.
I teleported the desk after resealing the locks. With a flick of my horn the desk was fixed, and another it was magically reinforced … hopefully well enough to avoid shattering. Making sure everything was in order, I tried headdesking with less destructive force this time. *Sigh*, it was Bright Pen who said that “Only two things are infinite. The universe and mortals stupidity, and I’m not so sure of the former.”
I don’t know what was worse. That my school had an old tradition to send the a scroll big enough to store a spell just to laugh at some unfortunate pony. Or that my own words, spoken many centuries ago were taken out of context and used to hurt my little ponies. Quite possibly the worst was that they tossed the applications out and laughed behind their backs and called that being civil … I think all my employees there need to take a few new ethics classes after I fix this mess.
After all I have, I looked at the grandfather clock Luna invented for one of our Hearth’s Warming Gifts in our old castle, two hours scheduled to be at parliament. More than enough time to try and fix this mess.
I let loose another sigh at the mountain of additional work that I would need to do. I point at a random stone at the wall, loosen it, and without looking in there I cast a dimensional pocket spell. The point of it was to ensure that I would be uncontaminated by what I was about to do to ensure a stable time loop. While the Star Swirl wing did have a one use time spell. There were a few others, but like me and Luna learned the hard way. Changing time isn’t easy, and it’s much simpler to simply alter events that have no impact on your past, but could be used to help your future. Although it would still need to be done carefully.
Even then, there were some events that one simply couldn’t change. Such as when Luna and I cast Star Swirl’s unfinished spell a few days before Luna fell. I still don’t know what it did, and honestly I’ve been scared to hear what Twilight would say. All that mattered is the finished product allowed a pony to affect their destiny, and Twilight’s destiny I had shaped for over a decade came to be. I just hope the Elements found away to give the other bearer’s the immortality they deserved as well. Since I couldn’t simply ascend them myself, although I hope they don’t look to deeply into the explanation I gave Twilight of creating new magic.
Going to the Aetheric plane is something that is disorientating, no matter how much practice I got, but I knew that since Luna was waiting for me to give me a shoulder to lean on. She’d be here in 3, 2, 1.
“Sister!” Luna’s voice echoed around me, before her body formed. Seeing her flail about before falling flat on her muzzle was chuckle worthy. She always had problems forming here, and it was adorable seeing her entry.
“Hello Lulu,” I said giving her a loving nuzzle while giving her a wing up.
“So are you done brooding?” Luna asked returning the nuzzle.
“I wasn’t brooding, I was looking at my past. Seeing myself through an unbiased lens.” I replied, “and I saw things which I was rather displeased by.”
“So you came to stalk somepony?”
“No sister. You remember how we used this place to manipulate small events?”
“Oh yes! Like how you stole cake that one time?”
*Sigh* “It wasn’t theft. That unicorn queen told the ponies that they should eat cake, so I thought it would be funny.”
“Then we learned that she meant a different kind of cake,” Luna giggled.
“Yes. Still I didn’t like her, she said I was fat and that you looked like you like bathing with … that one word.” Even if ponies thought I was a tribalist, and I was an accidental one didn’t mean I said certain words. I’m not as uncivilized as a mule … which now that I think about it the world had a million sayings about mules. From “Too mule for school”, to “stubborn as a mule”.
Is that speciesist? I don’t think so, it’s not like mules are ponies. “Lulu? Is thinking derogatory things about Mules speciesist?”
“I don’t think so, even when we were foals those sayings were popular. But at least ponies now apologize for saying them.”
“Yes. Apologize.” How long did it take before ponies apologized for all the sayings about them? I haven't the slightest.
“Sister, are you worried about the article?”
“It’s true. Not quite as malicious as they made it appear, although from what my school has told me it does seem that a bit of maliciousness does exist for those that represent myself.”
“How so?”
“Well we’re about to find out. After this we’ll need to get ready for our little get together.”
“They are bucking morons!” Luna screamed after I had finished transferring the tossed files, and we had finished watching almost a millennia of insult and abuse towards non-unicorn applicants. The insults and jeers towards those who would enter.
“Now you see that the article wasn’t so far off. To think that my words, and offhooved treatment would grow to what you’ve seen,” I sniffled.
“Oh Tia … yes it was stupid, but all ponies have those they connect with the most. But you weren’t as malicious as that. You were just … acting ignorantly. We all make mistakes Tia. some more than others,” Luna said.
“Lulu, there’s a difference between ignorance and negligence little sister. My histories marked with that. Even with all of my plans and my foresight, there are massive errs in my actions. It doesn’t help that the nation hides their darker secrets under the rug, giving the illusion that everything is perfect. It makes things harder for helping the nation when everypony acts as if everything is fine until things fall apart around us.
“That’s not counting my own oversight to those close to me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I failed you, our parents, Sunset, even my own Cutie Mark I’ve failed.”
“No -”
“Yes Luna, I have. If I have you and Sunset wouldn’t have … left. And I would have been able to truly fulfil my Cutie Mark if I didn’t overlook the non-unicorns. Simply because I never was able to connect with them as I did unicorns.”
“Tia,” Luna whispered, “None of that -”
“Luna, I love you, but it was,” I interrupted.
Luna harumphed, “We’ll talk later.”
“Alright you need to get the girls together, we have a card game to start after all.”
***
Those eight ponies came in to see me buried quite literally in a mountain of paperwork. I had been sorting out applicants from the very first to the most recent decade when they fell over and weighed me down. I was just about to lift them myself when,
“Princess!” A muffled yell said as a purple glow lifted the colossal amount of work off my withers.
“Yes, I’m quite alright,” I replied to Twilight’s unasked paperwork.
“What is all of this?”
“Well. This is the sign of my neglect to the other tribes. At least where my school is concerned.”
“But … It’s Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns, it should be obvious that it's only for unicorns.”
“Yes Twilight, but think about it on a different perspective. What is taught at that school?”
“Magic of course. So what’s the problem?”
“Twilight. Is magic limited to only unicorns?” I asked.
I could see her mouth open to answer immediately, but then she closed it. Looking deep in thought. You can do it Twilight. You’ve lived with the other races for a while now. You’ve got to see them as I have never had the chance to. Put it together.
“I don’t know,” Twilight answered with a frown adorning her muzzle. It looked as if she had more to say, but for some reason didn’t.
“These here are ponies who claimed to have magical abilities, or Cutie Marks that were magic or magic knowledge related. Who wanted to learn how to use those gifts. But were cast aside by others, including myself, who thought only unicorns could do magic.
“I believe I may be in the wrong, and worse of all. Those who represent me have turned them not just aside but have done so cruelly. I want to at least see those who tried and to make amends.” I commented. I still felt as if I’d done a horrible wrong to the ponies under my wing. Yet, I knew I had to at least start on making progress to help them.
“Alright … I’ll try to help where I can,” Twilight replied. I gave a nod of thanks, and moved the mountain of files.
“When I was about to suggest this little get together before Luna showed up, but it’s still good to see you all here. I could use some help in becoming a better mare for my nation. Especially since it seems that I haven’t been fair to two of the tribes under my protection.”
“Um … princess, what do ya mean, be a better mare?” Applejack asked.
“It’s no secret that I connect more with unicorns, heck until recently I didn’t think that the Element of Magic, or magic could be done by anything other than a unicorn. Nor did I work on looking after pegasi or earth ponies as much as I could. Other than working on ensuring they weren’t crushed under the frogs of the nobility.
“I … I need to be their for my little ponies. All of them, and I need to work on that.”
“Well Ah guess Ah can get behind that, how’re we supposed to help?” AJ asked nervously shuffling her forehooves.
“I was hoping you all would be able to tell me. Maybe learn more thoroughly how unfairly the other races have been treated. After all, the nations of Equestria work on hiding things that make their communities look blemished, sweeping the imperfections under the rug. It seems I have to make quite a few changes. Although it won’t be easy.”
“Are you thinking of pulling a Twilight?” Pinkie asked, “Because that’d be rather cool. Then maybe Luna could join, and all the princesses could see what it’d be like a field trip, but for princesses! It’d be so awesome!”
I felt her eye twitch as confetti and streamers shot out of Pinkie’s mane. Remember the Pies aren’t descendants of Discord. Luna and I proved this .... sort of. At the very least we prevented prosecution of them after the Discordian Era. “That sounds like it would be good if it weren’t for how ponies act when we arrive in a nation.”
“Well duh! That’s why you’d go in disguise. Then nopony would know who you were. It’d be perfect!” Pinkie gushed.
“That … could work, but who’d rule the nation?” I asked.
“Well we could always do that double illusion we use when we don’t want to go somewhere but need to pretend like we’re making an appearance,” Luna mentioned offhoovedly.
“What!?” Twilight shouted right next to my ears. When she saw me cringe she offered an apologetic squeak.
“It’s alright, but yes. Occasionally we are needed to be at many places, so we simply send an illusionary double, linked to a portion of our mind. Then it goes about acting as us, and when it’s needed we simply undo the spell and have the stored memories within it go back into us. It was in the page of things you needed to learn to be a successful princess.”
“But … But that’s cheating,” Twilight said incredulously. I smiled at how adorable she looked being all flustered.
“No it’s efficient dearest Twilight,” Luna replied for me, “after all we can’t be everywhere, and scheduling errors do occur.”
“A-Alright I guess. So you cast the doubles, but going as yourselves would just draw attention, and should you really be doing this?”
“Well probably not, but it must be done. If we are to truly connect with our little ponies. That and I’ve worked non-stop for a thousand years, it's about time I get a vacation. As for being noticed, changelings aren't the only race that can use shapeshifting magics.”
“If we’re going to do this. We need a plan!”
***
So it was that my sister and I decided to go into Ponyville, my sister going as a pegasus, and I going as an earth pony. Since neither of us connected well with them. Hopefully I can connect with them properly this time, not as a ruler, but as a fellow pony. Although I don’t think Twilight appreciated the second part of our plan.
To go not as grown mares, but with a liberal application of age magic as fillies. After all, we gave up our childhood to a war and reality torn species, then further sacrificed ourselves to the crown. This would be a great chance to start anew, even if it was for a short time.
Then we’d approach my school, and fix things from within. Albeit with our two chosen fillies to join with us, if they were able to get in.
