My Little Pony 2F: Ponibooru, We Hardly Knew Ye...

[Maxtronaut]

*hugs maxtronaut's head*
*licks*
there, there. you'll be ready soon, and when you are, you can escape this melancholy ponies melon. then you'll be all mine

*Eyes Thubby suspiciously. Points LeMane barrel at said Thubby.*

I'm not so sure I should be letting Thubby do this to me. Ponythread, what do you think? Should I shoot him?

[Balmas]

*Eyes Thubby suspiciously. Points LeMane barrel at said Thubby.*

I'm not so sure I should be letting Thubby do this to me. Ponythread, what do you think? Should I shoot him?

No. You don't want to do that. At least, not with that. Use a minigun, at least.

Either way, I call dibs on popcorn.

[Deadly]

If Trixie did make an appearance, probably as a cameo, I'd like it to be clear she hasn't changed a bit since her last appearance ^_^.

After all, she is a performare, and alot of the arrogance she got in trouble with could just be explained as stage ponysona. Maybe some lesson about taking anything you hear on stage with a grain of salt?

I agree, Trixie is so lovable exactly because she's such a loudmouth. I think I speak for most Trixie fans when I say we love her exactly the way she is. If she came back all meek and repentant, it'd ruin her. If there's one thing I regret most about my Trixie stories, it's not making her more arrogant and dramatic. It's fine to play with the idea of Trixie changing and learning her lesson, I think it can make a great story, but it requires care and time, and I don't think it'd work as a single episode at all or even a two-parter. It works in fanfics, it makes a great story, but it doesn't work in the show, I suspect.

Of course, there's always the chance of the writers totally surprising us, but I think if Trixie returns (and I would love that) she should be even more of a loudmouth if anything, trying to wow everypony into loving her again with something totally dramatic and way over the top. And of course it should come crashing down upon her in the end because it was just going way too far, but that's Trixie, she never learns

I think it looked like this. (Should be a large pic. It's DA so I can't be sure it linked correctly while at work here since that darn site is blocked )

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That's an awesome piece of art... only, I can't help but notice it's Luna who's caught and in need of help and Celestia who's the big, awesome, kick-flank hero with fire and massive armor (at least I assume that's Celestia in some form). That really ruins it for me.

Why should it be the older sister who's the biggest, best, most powerful? She's already the most beloved one, why can't Luna be the bad-flank but forgotten one?

If they ever do the princesses vs. Discord or NMM in the show, or anything else showing Luna in action, I hope Luna will kick so much flank! Otherwise, what's the point?

This one is better, IMO:

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Hmm... Well if it HAD to go in the "evil force possesses her" route by the end, I'd rather the bad thing (I'm just going to call it NMM) was presented as more of a temptress than something that aggressively took control. Egging her on about how much ponies hated her and her night until she finally agrees to accept it of her own free will, even though she clearly knows better and recognizes that NMM doesn't mean well.

That way she's at least an active participant and thus morally culpable. Your way still casts her as a victim.

But I'd still rather she just snapped on her own.

I like your idea, and agree with it totally. A tempting influence, but ultimately it was Luna's own choice, that's really powerful and I think can give me some good ideas for my next major fic.

And perhaps once she had made the choice the influence gained more and more power over her with time until she lost total control and the ability to change her mind, to choose to become good again. Because we need some way to explain what the Elements did, and I think giving her the choice to be good is much better than forcing her to be good. I'd love to see what went on in Luna's mind/soul the exact moment when she was hit by the Elements. Seeing her finally able to make the choice and say NO, that'd be so powerful.


Anyway, I'm of two minds... on one hoof I'd love to see what happened with NMM, and if Discord is to return (which I think is very likely from what little we've heard) I'd much prefer it to be a flashback (because I'm not a fan of Discord and think him returning would be utterly boring and ... frustrating). On the other hoof I'm afraid any such episode has so much potential for ruining things, I'd be very nervous about it.

[DigoDragon]

I'm not so sure I should be letting Thubby do this to me. Ponythread, what do you think? Should I shoot him?

I think he's trying to be friendly...
(But you might want to wash your face just in case)

I agree, Trixie is so lovable exactly because she's such a loudmouth. I think I speak for most Trixie fans when I say we love her exactly the way she is.

I wouldn't mind a little character development for her, but otherwise the boasting is a fun part of who Trixie is.
I wonder if the Mare Do Well should have featured Trixie instead of Rainbow Dash?

We shall have to see how it compares, now that I realize it's a distinctly different thing. VI was always my least favorite SNES-era Final Fantasy.

Anything in particular that set VI low on the chart for you?
I liked the characters of VI at least. The game had a good sizable cast of people who were for the most part different any interesting.

[BlasTech]

That's an awesome piece of art... only, I can't help but notice it's Luna who's caught and in need of help and Celestia who's the big, awesome, kick-flank hero with fire and massive armor (at least I assume that's Celestia in some form). That really ruins it for me.

Why should it be the older sister who's the biggest, best, most powerful? She's already the most beloved one, why can't Luna be the bad-flank but forgotten one?

If they ever do the princesses vs. Discord or NMM in the show, or anything else showing Luna in action, I hope Luna will kick so much flank! Otherwise, what's the point?

This one is better, IMO:

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Well, Luna learned from her mistakes. Thats why she went and hunted down Chrysalis.

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Then went for round two against the Changeling King.

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Then went flying with Dinobot.

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Because she is Just. That. Badass!!!

[DigoDragon]

My question is this: when Celestia and Luna used the Elements the first time, they petrified Discord. When Celestia used the elements the second time, they sent Nightmare Moon TO THE MOOOOOOON. The third time they were used, this time by the mane six, they purified Luna.
What are these things?

I'm guessing they're whatever you need them to be. In the season 2 finale Celestia asked the girls to go get the elements to defeat the changlings. If the Mane 6 had succeeded in activating the elements, I have no idea how it would have worked.

Well, Luna learned from her mistakes.
**Images of Luna**
Because she is Just. That. Badass!!!

Seems legit.

[Deadly]

Well, Luna learned from her mistakes. Thats why she went and hunted down Chrysalis.

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Then went for round two against the Changeling King.

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Then went flying with Dinobot.

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Because she is Just. That. Badass!!!

NOW you're talkin'!

And then she was...

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BATMARE!

Also, she's diabolically cute

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[thubby]

also

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she's batman

[Balmas]

Also,

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Aaaand a'now! Combining cute and bad!

[BlasTech]

Not to mention how she enforces curfew at night

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And her other little party surprises

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[Merellis]

And that my friends is why Luna is best pony.

Any and all arguments against Luna being best pony will be met with Missles, Magic, Lightning, Loud Voices, Mecha, Bat-mare, and just general Bad-assery.

[Tiki Snakes]

That's an awesome piece of art... only, I can't help but notice it's Luna who's caught and in need of help and Celestia who's the big, awesome, kick-flank hero with fire and massive armor (at least I assume that's Celestia in some form). That really ruins it for me.

Why should it be the older sister who's the biggest, best, most powerful? She's already the most beloved one, why can't Luna be the bad-flank but forgotten one?

As I understand from the image title and source, some salient points;
The image does depict the sisters and Discord, but particularly it depicts luna and "Lightmare Sun". also the artist specifically says that this isn't a depiction of the final battle between good and evil.

I don't think we are looking at Celestia Rescuing Luna, as such. I think this depicts a rage-fueled and out of control Celestia fighting Discord, with Luna more caught in the crossfire than anything. I wouldn't say that Celestia is the hero of the piece as much as she is the other villain.

Or something like that.

[Thanqol]

"Lightmare Sun".

This is the dumbest name for Celestia I have ever heard.

[thubby]

That's an awesome piece of art... only, I can't help but notice it's Luna who's caught and in need of help and Celestia who's the big, awesome, kick-flank hero with fire and massive armor (at least I assume that's Celestia in some form). That really ruins it for me.

Why should it be the older sister who's the biggest, best, most powerful? She's already the most beloved one, why can't Luna be the bad-flank but forgotten one?

If they ever do the princesses vs. Discord or NMM in the show, or anything else showing Luna in action, I hope Luna will kick so much flank! Otherwise, what's the point?

This one is better, IMO:

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it's social convention that has a lot to do with basic biology. the older brother usually is bigger, stronger, and better at most things by nature of just being older. it naturally puts them in a position to be protective, too.

[Tiki Snakes]

This is the dumbest name for Celestia I have ever heard.

Yes.

I also don't think that the design really feels like a "Nightmare Moon Mode" style Celestia, to be quite honest and the image works much better to my mind as being Discord, Luna and some other probably infamous creature, but that's not what the Artist had in mind.

[Deadly]

As I understand from the image title and source, some salient points;
The image does depict the sisters and Discord, but particularly it depicts luna and "Lightmare Sun". also the artist specifically says that this isn't a depiction of the final battle between good and evil.

I don't think we are looking at Celestia Rescuing Luna, as such. I think this depicts a rage-fueled and out of control Celestia fighting Discord, with Luna more caught in the crossfire than anything. I wouldn't say that Celestia is the hero of the piece as much as she is the other villain.

Or something like that.

Still, I don't think there's any doubt who looks awesome and badflank in this picture, it isn't Luna. In fact I'd say she looks a little "weak", in distress and in need of saving.

The art is great, I just used it as an excuse to rant a little about the greater trend of Luna being somehow less powerful or even weak. I think there's good reason to believe that she's at the very least as powerful as Celestia, and quite possibly more powerful (without the Elements, the Elements obviously tip the balance).

it's social convention that has a lot to do with basic biology. the older brother usually is bigger, stronger, and better at most things by nature of just being older. it naturally puts them in a position to be protective, too.

Yes, but that doesn't make it right all the time ;) I don't mind convention or clichés, but sometimes they should be broken, and I think Luna is an excellent character for breaking this particular one. And the way she's been portrayed in S2, while not definitive, I can't help but feel that maybe, just maybe the writers see her perhaps a little in the same way.

[Kd7sov]

That's an awesome piece of art... only, I can't help but notice it's Luna who's caught and in need of help and Celestia who's the big, awesome, kick-flank hero with fire and massive armor (at least I assume that's Celestia in some form). That really ruins it for me.

Why should it be the older sister who's the biggest, best, most powerful? She's already the most beloved one, why can't Luna be the bad-flank but forgotten one?

If they ever do the princesses vs. Discord or NMM in the show, or anything else showing Luna in action, I hope Luna will kick so much flank! Otherwise, what's the point?

For what it's worth: we have seen what appears to be Luna doing magic without any kind of hornglow (the batcloak, and possibly also the weather stuff). By contrast, I'm pretty sure Celestia's horn always lights up when she does stuff. Implications of significantly greater power? I'd think so.

Anything in particular that set VI low on the chart for you?
I liked the characters of VI at least. The game had a good sizable cast of people who were for the most part different any interesting.

Partly it was the... lack of direction, I suppose you might say. Not so much in terms of the plot (though I'm told the WoR has that, I only ever got to the beginning of the Floating Continent) as the characters themselves. I'd find myself with ten or twelve or whatever characters, and a max party size of four, and occasionally one or two would need to be specific people, but other than that it was "whoever you want". And I didn't know who I wanted.

The magicite was easier, because I could set that up like the jobs in FFV: each character rotates through all of them (or vice versa in this case). But picking a party is not something I felt suited to do.

[Deadly]

For what it's worth: we have seen what appears to be Luna doing magic without any kind of hornglow (the batcloak, and possibly also the weather stuff). By contrast, I'm pretty sure Celestia's horn always lights up when she does stuff. Implications of significantly greater power? I'd think so.

I think it's way more telling that Luna apparently has the power to prevent Celestia from raising the sun. But yes, Luna has been shown doing more dramatic displays of magic than Celestia. I'm not convinced that says much about her power, though.

[Strife Warzeal]

I'm going to be starting a Let's Play of that sometime in the coming week. I'm not 100% sure I can keep up that energy level through 30 gameplay hours in an entertaining manner, but the more I hear about the game the more it makes me look forward to trying.

I can offer my advice of the game(and original) if you need it. This mod is a lot harder at some points than the original, especially the boss fights.

This is the dumbest name for Celestia I have ever heard.

I've heard some bad ones, I'd say the worst was when the kept the word "nightmare" in it. I'm not sure how I feel about "daymare" but it seems a bit meh. I've seen plenty of people using those. My favorite I've seen was in a fic I read a while ago, it involved Twi and Celestia exploring some ruins and rocks fall Twi nearly dies. So Celestia goes super mode(explained as alicorns have a primal force inside them, that must be kept in control but is stronger physically/magically then the alicorn itself) becoming, I think the name was, Solar Flare.

Luna Stuff

Luna gets the most awesome art.

An un-muffled version of Gypsy Bard from the recent Friendship is Witchcraft, though I think it's just some audio-magic opposed to someone having an unaltered version. Still good though.

[SlyGuyMcFly]

Metroid: Other M: The Let's Play

Thanks for the link. I need to wash out the bad taste ME3 left in my mouth, and getting angry at a franchise I have little investment in will probably do the trick.

Yes, I know this isn't a healthy way to deal with it.

I honestly hope they DON'T show how Luna turned into Nightmare Moon, because it would probably involve her being corrupted or possessed by some malicious entity.

She's so much more interesting if she decided to go bad of her own free will, and Celestia is that much more impressive for forgiving her afterwards.

I totally, completely, and utterly agree with this. A real fall and redemption is so very, very much more interesting as a character arc than the ol' possession angle. Not only that, but I think it makes sense from an in-universe perspective. All ponies seem very prone to going off the deep end - Lesson Zero, Party of One, Putting Your Hoof Down... I find it easy to believe that Luna had a similar meltdown and, unlike the Mane 6's cases, nopony was able to snap her out of it.

I'm more than slightly tired of possession stories that exempt the guilty party of responsibility for their actions. In the case of temptation-type possession, the guilty are only responsible up to the possession actually happens. Oh sure, they were weak, got listening to untrustwrothy types. Whatever. They're still exempt of any actually nasty stuff they do, unless they enter the contract willingly and with knowledge of the consequences. But then it stops being possession and becomes more of a faustian deal. Saren in ME1 pulls off this latter type of quasi-possession very well.

But I'm much more interested in seeing someone go off, far, far into the deep end by their own agency until they are truly monstruous. And then comes that sudden moment of revelation, that instant of clarity when they realise just how badly they have ****ed up. And it is beautiful. For those who've watched the first season of Wakfu, Nox is possibly my favourite example of this.

http://browse.deviantart.com/?order=...et=24#/d55q9wh

Best fanfiction ever.

Nope. But it's a durn good'un.

I'm going to be starting a Let's Play of that sometime in the coming week. I'm not 100% sure I can keep up that energy level through 30 gameplay hours in an entertaining manner, but the more I hear about the game the more it makes me look forward to trying.

Doooo eeeeeeet.

Also, she's diabolically cute

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OhgodmypancreasIthoughtIhadfinallydeveloped... resist... ance... why... *HRK*

I agree, Trixie is so lovable exactly because she's such a loudmouth. I think I speak for most Trixie fans when I say we love her exactly the way she is.

Yes. Megalomaniac loudmouth Trixie is best Trixie. Secondly, meek repentant Trixie would be cramping Luna's style, and I'll have absolutely none of that. Leave the angsting to trained professionals, people.

This is the dumbest name for Celestia I have ever heard.

It really is.

[Merellis]

This is the dumbest name for Celestia I have ever heard.

Challenge!

Can Ponies in the Playground create a WORSE name for Lightmare Celestia?

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And totally relevant to Nightmare Moon and Celestia battles!

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[Thanqol]

I've heard some bad ones, I'd say the worst was when the kept the word "nightmare" in it. I'm not sure how I feel about "daymare" but it seems a bit meh. I've seen plenty of people using those. My favorite I've seen was in a fic I read a while ago, it involved Twi and Celestia exploring some ruins and rocks fall Twi nearly dies. So Celestia goes super mode(explained as alicorns have a primal force inside them, that must be kept in control but is stronger physically/magically then the alicorn itself) becoming, I think the name was, Solar Flare.

Umbrae Nova has the ring for me.

Thanks for the link. I need to wash out the bad taste ME3 left in my mouth, and getting angry at a franchise I have little investment in will probably do the trick.

Yes, I know this isn't a healthy way to deal with it.

Again, for unhealthy anger venting check out that Sonic 06 LP. It's an experience. I make a pilgrimage up it's heights every year as a way of calibrating all my further ranting and criticism.

I totally, completely, and utterly agree with this. A real fall and redemption is so very, very much more interesting as a character arc than the ol' possession angle. Not only that, but I think it makes sense from an in-universe perspective. All ponies seem very prone to going off the deep end - Lesson Zero, Party of One, Putting Your Hoof Down... I find it easy to believe that Luna had a similar meltdown and, unlike the Mane 6's cases, nopony was able to snap her out of it.

Word.

Yes. Megalomaniac loudmouth Trixie is best Trixie. Secondly, meek repentant Trixie would be cramping Luna's style, and I'll have absolutely none of that. Leave the angsting to trained professionals, people.

Tell it, brudda

[Deadly]

I saw this picture ...

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... and its title, and I had an idea. The only time we've seen Luna during the day was at the end of the nightmare moon episode, where she looked smaller and didn't have the magic mane. What if that is actually how she looks during the day? Maybe she loses some of her power during the day, maybe it even waxes and wanes with the moon?

Random thought, don't think I've seen this suggested before as an explanation for the change of looks.

[Sean Mirrsen]

I've heard some bad ones, I'd say the worst was when the kept the word "nightmare" in it. I'm not sure how I feel about "daymare" but it seems a bit meh. I've seen plenty of people using those. My favorite I've seen was in a fic I read a while ago, it involved Twi and Celestia exploring some ruins and rocks fall Twi nearly dies. So Celestia goes super mode(explained as alicorns have a primal force inside them, that must be kept in control but is stronger physically/magically then the alicorn itself) becoming, I think the name was, Solar Flare.

I'm not particularly sure it's a better name in principle, but I sort of like Sol Invicta.

[MCerberus]

I think it wouldn't be thematically appropriate for Luna to be the physically strong protector. That's really more of the publicity-seeking solar flare everywhere omnipresent Celestia. By comparison, Luna's traveling gear includes a cloak made of charmed bats, she controls lightning with her emotion, and can animate stuffed spiders into a swarm.

If the wedding were at night, instead of a giant solar-beam fight, Luna would have likely would have gone with a varied magic assault with weather effects, illusion, and another formal event with a stampede of the garden menagerie into a public space.

Not to say she wouldn't go protective last stand mode for anything, it just wouldn't look white knight.


edit - and I just realized this plays into Celestia -> Twilight is as Luna -> Trixie theory.

[Tectonic Robot]

Ahahahahahaha look at the all pages that have happened since my last post. What do you guys find to even talk about over here? @_@

Deadly, yeah, that sounds neat!

[Tvtyrant]

I saw this picture ...

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... and its title, and I had an idea. The only time we've seen Luna during the day was at the end of the nightmare moon episode, where she looked smaller and didn't have the magic mane. What if that is actually how she looks during the day? Maybe she loses some of her power during the day, maybe it even waxes and wanes with the moon?

Random thought, don't think I've seen this suggested before as an explanation for the change of looks.

I like it. Head cannoned. Also, have we ever actually seen Celestia at night?

As far as I know only for the summer sun celebration, so it could be the effect is on both of them.

[MCerberus]

Ahahahahahaha look at the all pages that have happened since my last post. What do you guys find to even talk about over here? @_@

Deadly, yeah, that sounds neat!

Madness infinite.

[Deadly]

I'm not particularly sure it's a better name in principle, but I sort of like Sol Invicta.

I always liked the potential in the story behind this picture

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and the name Mourning Star for the alternate evil Celestia that goes with it.

I think it wouldn't be thematically appropriate for Luna to be the physically strong protector. That's really more of the publicity-seeking solar flare everywhere omnipresent Celestia. By comparison, Luna's traveling gear includes a cloak made of charmed bats, she controls lightning with her emotion, and can animate stuffed spiders into a swarm.

If the wedding were at night, instead of a giant solar-beam fight, Luna would have likely would have gone with a varied magic assault with weather effects, illusion, and another formal event with a stampede of the garden menagerie into a public space.

Not to say she wouldn't go protective last stand mode for anything, it just wouldn't look white knight.


edit - and I just realized this plays into Celestia -> Twilight is as Luna -> Trixie theory.

I've always said I think Luna would be much more likely to throw the army at Chrysalis in that situation, backed up with her own magic, than go at her alone like Celestia did. Which is why I also think she'd have won.

I like to think she's more powerful, but that doesn't mean she has to do things the same way, and you're right that big flashy solar flares isn't really her style.

I like it. Head cannoned. Also, have we ever actually seen Celestia at night?

I think we have, at least at dusk and just after.

[Thanqol]

Mmmm, Do Not Serve These Ponies is delicious to write. Have a half finished draft of chapter 3.

I'd forgotten writing could be this much fun.