The actual reason no one ever invades Equestria is that no one wants to deal with that nonsense, or worse, get infected with it.
Illuminating Invitation (MLP: FiM AU)
- Thread starter Alivaril
- Start date
- Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
LostArchivist
Sane, unfortunately.
- Location
- The State of Confusion
Apparently reloading the page after posting my previous comment has revealed two more chapters. Truly, I am blessed.
Also, this whole mess might encourage Celestia to relate to Twilight better. We don't need two young fillies with extreme neuroses in the world at the same time. I think the EqG series happened after Twily matured a bit; if they meet earlier there might be an angst singularity!
I wonder if that's because she now knows Sunset is going to ascend or else (because she has a Visitor that won't let her die before she manages it), because she's trying to be more positive (since saying she's not ready is an invitation for something worse to happen), or if she's actually confident that Sunset will make it?
I mean, strength in unity PLUS the Windigos being connected to the tribes' lack of unity...
What are we actually going for for ascension criteria? Twilight completed that spell, but where did the friends enter that equation? I mean, to me, it was more "experimental subjects." Or did Twilight also somehow manage to complete the requirements at different times? But she didn't have the advantage of Voice "fixing" the achievement, so it would have to be all at once.
I wonder if this story will go more like The Great Alicorn Hunt and have other ascendants at some point? Say what you will about the idea of adding multiple alicorns, now that they're there, I rather like the idea of the others getting a chance.
Yeah, about that...
It makes sense that she has a heart of gold - deep, deep, deep, deep, down - and it's nice to see it. She just needs a bit more practice.
I think - and this may have been someone else's headcanon - that Celestia was originally a unicorn, but I'm suspecting that this was one of her original personas if not her pre-ascension form. Given that I suspect she hasn't used it since NMM got banished, and that "Celestia" herself is probably a mask, I wonder what she's really feeling at using it again?
Also, this whole mess might encourage Celestia to relate to Twilight better. We don't need two young fillies with extreme neuroses in the world at the same time. I think the EqG series happened after Twily matured a bit; if they meet earlier there might be an angst singularity!
Probably because that is far more accurate than Sunset knows.
Huh...
I wonder if that's because she now knows Sunset is going to ascend or else (because she has a Visitor that won't let her die before she manages it), because she's trying to be more positive (since saying she's not ready is an invitation for something worse to happen), or if she's actually confident that Sunset will make it?
So, clearly, she can't tell Sunset how to ascend, but apparently hinting is okay.
I mean, strength in unity PLUS the Windigos being connected to the tribes' lack of unity...
What are we actually going for for ascension criteria? Twilight completed that spell, but where did the friends enter that equation? I mean, to me, it was more "experimental subjects." Or did Twilight also somehow manage to complete the requirements at different times? But she didn't have the advantage of Voice "fixing" the achievement, so it would have to be all at once.
I wonder if this story will go more like The Great Alicorn Hunt and have other ascendants at some point? Say what you will about the idea of adding multiple alicorns, now that they're there, I rather like the idea of the others getting a chance.
Kinda self-explanatory there.
Ahh, there we go with the misunderstandings. Tsunset?
Yeah, have fun. You live on a deathworld, and it's about to decide that the time of boredom will soon be over...
*attempts counting* *gives up*
Yeah, about that...
Awww...
This promises to be funny...
I get a worried feeling that Sunset and Cadance may be more like each other than first thought...
Isn't THAT an accurate description!
Well, it's not entirely wrong either.
SHARE ALL THAT TRAUMA!
SakSak
Unbound
- Location
- The Cold Wastes of the North
This has so far painted a picture of a Sunset who fully comprehends socialization and friendship on a deep academic level. Probably well enough to write a PhD dissertation.
She just disagrees with general pony-kind, and Celestia and Candance in particular, about the utility of it.
Falling in love presupposes that she ever finds her equal who isn't Celestia, who is a mentor/mother-figure. So she doesn't bother with love or fantasizing about love, because none of the ponies she's ever met are her equals in any manner (at least in her own estimation), nor show any signs they'd grow to be so. If it ever occured, she likely would revise her priorities at least somewhat , but until then---- why do things in vain based on a fools hope, when it is so much more productive to use her energies on things she knows are possible like alicornhood?
Similarly with friendships. A healthy friendship needs some basis of shared interests or outlook in life or something similar to form an initial bond around. Sunset has never found anypony who matches that. Everyone is either too immature, too lazy, or too incapable, so why should she bother if they don't either?
And everyone takes the above as Sunset being anti-social.
She's not. She's just looking at the world from a 90-degree angle compared to yours and coming to different conclusions.
Wondering why everyone else is so perfectly happy at being mediocre, doing nothing of meaning with their lives, but if no other pony is willing to put in the work to even attempt to rise to her level then that's hardly her problem. Why should she be the only one to put in all the work, bury her desires and reduce herself back to mundanity after she has worked so hard to rise above it, for the sake of ponies who - based on their active avoidance of the kind of work that would see them rise to meet her halfway - do not want her friendship to begin with?
She just disagrees with general pony-kind, and Celestia and Candance in particular, about the utility of it.
Falling in love presupposes that she ever finds her equal who isn't Celestia, who is a mentor/mother-figure. So she doesn't bother with love or fantasizing about love, because none of the ponies she's ever met are her equals in any manner (at least in her own estimation), nor show any signs they'd grow to be so. If it ever occured, she likely would revise her priorities at least somewhat , but until then---- why do things in vain based on a fools hope, when it is so much more productive to use her energies on things she knows are possible like alicornhood?
Similarly with friendships. A healthy friendship needs some basis of shared interests or outlook in life or something similar to form an initial bond around. Sunset has never found anypony who matches that. Everyone is either too immature, too lazy, or too incapable, so why should she bother if they don't either?
And everyone takes the above as Sunset being anti-social.
She's not. She's just looking at the world from a 90-degree angle compared to yours and coming to different conclusions.
Wondering why everyone else is so perfectly happy at being mediocre, doing nothing of meaning with their lives, but if no other pony is willing to put in the work to even attempt to rise to her level then that's hardly her problem. Why should she be the only one to put in all the work, bury her desires and reduce herself back to mundanity after she has worked so hard to rise above it, for the sake of ponies who - based on their active avoidance of the kind of work that would see them rise to meet her halfway - do not want her friendship to begin with?
Last edited:
- Location
- Elsewhere
Note to self, prioritize teaching Cadence telekinesis so she didn't accidentally drop a building on herself.
- Location
- Finland
Sunset assumes everyone is like her.
But never realises what it says about her that she hates everyone else.
OverReactionGuy
Verified Sanity
Honestly, Discord doesn't really have to change a thing for chaos to happen. They're doing it to themselves.
- Location
- Australia
She isn't complaining about not enough idle chit chat. She is complaining that the courtiers are overly entitled and that the courtiers have ulterior motives for interacting with her. If they have influence over her then they have influence over Celestia by proxy which they can use to settle political disputes in their favour. E.g Maybe one noble wants to convert a block of crown land into a theme park and another noble wants it to be a nature preserve or something.
It is still hypocritical since Sunset does act entitled and is not above manipulating Celestia herself.
To be honest, Sunset doesn't read hypocritical to me. Well, she does, but not that hypocritical.
Note that Sunset is eager to have actual responsibilities, note that Sunset regards Celestia as actual deity, note that she was ready and willing to perform ridiculously dangerous rituals in order to please Celestia. Yes, Sunset has problems with her mentor, sure, but to me it reads that Sunset considers herself as an asset of Celestia, at this point of time. Well, not in those terms, probably, but...
Yes, she needs some training and resources to perform her best, yes, it would be nice if she would communicate more clearly, and so on. Yet, if tomorrow Celestia will go to her and say "there's a problem X, I need you to deal with it", Sunset will do her damn best to fulfill such an order. See the whole "trespassers" thing.
Likewise, Sunset loathes Cadance (as Cadance herself evaluates), but because Celestia would be devastated should Cadance die, she will stick her neck and try to bargain with Voice to extend the offer of immortality to her, too. Note that Voice explicitly says not to worry about "further services", i.e. it's something that is expected for such a boon, not to mention possible offence. And Sunset has been established to understand Trespasser etiquette.
Initial summoning was, in part, selfish interest in alicornhood. That request wasn't.
So yeah, "but those nobles aren't as dedicated to Celestia!" isn't just a hypocritical excuse on Sunset's part, because it isn't exactly wrong, most likely.
Not to say that Sunset isn't hypocritical, but not here, not exactly.
Note that Sunset is eager to have actual responsibilities, note that Sunset regards Celestia as actual deity, note that she was ready and willing to perform ridiculously dangerous rituals in order to please Celestia. Yes, Sunset has problems with her mentor, sure, but to me it reads that Sunset considers herself as an asset of Celestia, at this point of time. Well, not in those terms, probably, but...
Yes, she needs some training and resources to perform her best, yes, it would be nice if she would communicate more clearly, and so on. Yet, if tomorrow Celestia will go to her and say "there's a problem X, I need you to deal with it", Sunset will do her damn best to fulfill such an order. See the whole "trespassers" thing.
Likewise, Sunset loathes Cadance (as Cadance herself evaluates), but because Celestia would be devastated should Cadance die, she will stick her neck and try to bargain with Voice to extend the offer of immortality to her, too. Note that Voice explicitly says not to worry about "further services", i.e. it's something that is expected for such a boon, not to mention possible offence. And Sunset has been established to understand Trespasser etiquette.
Initial summoning was, in part, selfish interest in alicornhood. That request wasn't.
So yeah, "but those nobles aren't as dedicated to Celestia!" isn't just a hypocritical excuse on Sunset's part, because it isn't exactly wrong, most likely.
Not to say that Sunset isn't hypocritical, but not here, not exactly.
Pethrai Darkos
Murder Ensued
Sunset, sweetie, you were just thinking about ways for an Alicorn to die. I get that it's normal not to question cultural norms, that's part of what makes them cultural norms, but you live in a Diarchy with only one Diarch, and have commented on how it's significant harder for Celestia to move the moon than the sun. You really should be connecting the dots sooner rather than later, though it's another question if you manage to connect said dots correctly.
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"Diarchy is what they call a polity ruled by a goddess or some other kind of deity, right? That's why it called diarchy, from the ancient word «deus», meaning «god»".
- Location
- Gainful Employment
- Pronouns
- He/They
So it would take someone pointing out that Celestia wouldn't want to be called that if that was the reason for the term for Sunset to figure it out.
This is great
I kinda want twilight to meet the outsider
And see what happens
Almost as much as I want to see her meet sunset
I kinda want twilight to meet the outsider
And see what happens
Almost as much as I want to see her meet sunset
Pretty sure that it means two rulers, such as two equal kings or in this case princesses.
So it's probably a little oversight by Alivaril unless either cadence has taken up some kind of rulership position or celestia has created an authority independant of herself.
Definition of DIARCHY
a government in which power is vested in two rulers or authorities… See the full definition
www.merriam-webster.com
- Pronouns
- He/Him
…the joke is that it's obviously called diarchy because it's supposed to be co-ruled with Nightmare Moon, but Sunset is both oblivious of her existence and has just the right mindset to overestimate her own cleverness and jump to conclusions based on faulty assumptions.Pretty sure that it means two rulers, such as two equal kings or in this case princesses.
So it's probably a little oversight by Alivaril unless either cadence has taken up some kind of rulership position or celestia has created an authority independant of herself.
Definition of DIARCHY
a government in which power is vested in two rulers or authorities… See the full definition
- Pronouns
- It/Its
While there are a few ways to read it, my personal interpretation was more along the lines that her problem is that the various courtiers don't just want something from her, but rather they want to get something from her without remuneration beyond some meaningless platitudes.
Basically, they want her to do things for their benefit without providing practical benefits in turn. Something that may be difficult for most ponies as Sunset is in a position where she can see to most things she might desire on her own (between her magic power, her political clout as Celestia's student, and her likely notable funds). Thus the majority of ponies have little to nothing to actually offer her that she might find useful (since she doesn't currently value friendship and the like, and has displayed a general lack of recognition for the usefulness of having people like her or feel indebted to her for potential future benefits), yet they still want to try getting something from her.
owrtho
Last edited:
- Location
- Russia
Celestia tlking about not being s deity give me TTS flashbacks
I feel for Sunset, I am also somewhat socially handicapped
I would wish to be a Voice here and watch this "calamities" interact from up close, while being absolutely physically safe
This story have so much potential with our beloved characters
Also, appearance of the Voice)) it is Sunset but alicorn - can lead to so many wondrrful scenes and misunderstandings))
I feel for Sunset, I am also somewhat socially handicapped
I would wish to be a Voice here and watch this "calamities" interact from up close, while being absolutely physically safe
This story have so much potential with our beloved characters
Also, appearance of the Voice)) it is Sunset but alicorn - can lead to so many wondrrful scenes and misunderstandings))
Voice is the Alicorn of Observation.
- Location
- Down Under
I never got around into watching MLP (heard good things but got scared of all the bright colours).
I'm really enjoying the sun-spike pony, suprised they used her she as an MC since I wouldn't have thought she would appeal to the target demographic.
I'm really enjoying the sun-spike pony, suprised they used her she as an MC since I wouldn't have thought she would appeal to the target demographic.
- Location
- Seattle, Washington
Sunset shimmer wasn't the main character of MLP. A different pony was, but they haven't appeared in this story yet
dragonx99
Actually Satan
Ok so I went back to make sure I was remembering right, and I think you might be forgetting how things went down.
Firstly re the experimental subjects: Twilight didn't intentionally affect her friends with the spell. She had a wizard moment and decided the proper response to finding a spell she couldn't tell the purpose of was 'cast it in a mostly empty room and see what happens.' Then it turned out that the range on that one was much bigger than she thought.
Second, while she did complete the spell, that was something she just accidentally did while she was working to undo the results of it. Prior to that her entire concern was that she had to help her friends, and her means of doing so was to help one friend and then team up with her to help the others in a growing group until they were all back to normal. She didn't even use magic for all of it, since an important part was getting her friends to rediscover their own Talents through helping one another.
Mgunh1
Not an AI, honest!
- Location
- Northern Luna Base, Module 5, Sublevel 15
It is something of a headcanon of mine that Twilight and friends was something of a back-up plan for Harmony. The proper outcome was for Sunset and Twilight to be the new Celestia and Luna - they have the same day/night (or rather dawn/dusk) theme and the same meaning of their marks, magic.
The original plan thus would have been for Twilight and Sunset to become friends in their pursuit of magical studies; Sunset finding a future peer in helping tutor Twilight. In this way it would also mirror Celestia and Luna's elder/younger sister dynamic.
Unfortunately, Celestia dropped the ball and Harmony had to go with its emergency rainboom plan.
I was going to say you're almost right, and that the 'Di' part in diurnal has the same meaning, the other coming from some root meaning sky, like Uranus. But that doesn't seem to actually be the case, and it comes from dies, which has it's root in the proto-indo-european word for sky.
But there's still a pretty easy explanation. Monarchy means rule by one, Mono meaning one or single. Diarchy means rule by two, Dia meaning two. Same thing as a Monologue vs a Dialogue, with logos meaning something like word.
Fun fact: Diarchies were a thing. The spartans had one.