Luna's Not-So-Accurate Retelling of the Republic's Beginning (And More or Less Rubs it in Celestia's Face)
View Online
The New Lunar (Constitutional) Republic
Luna's Not-So-Accurate Retelling of the Republic's Beginning (And More or Less Rubs it in Celestia's Face)
The New Lunar (Constitutional) Republic
By: The Grey Pegasus
"So, really, Madam Luna, how was it like for you? Leaving your home? Your sister?"
"I look back at my experience and I still feel exhilarated. Breathtaken, and I feel the air of the era within me..."
:::::
I think of the air of Buckston Harbor. I remember breathing it in and thinking, 'this is the air of freedom!'.
Oh, surely, you did.
But of course. There I stood, right off of a Braytish transport ship. Buckston Harbor, under the control of the Brayts for months by that point, was a relief after weeks on the sea. A journey I had endured by thinking what I had to gain throigh the experience. Such as freedom from you. Well worth the unsteadiness I felt in my legs once on dry land.
"And now... I have absolutely no clue where to go."
Anywhere was better, actually. My wings had been cramped under clothing for the duration of the voyage. It was much easier to hide my wings rather than my horn. And a horn was of much more use than wings, so leaving it in plain sight was an easy decision.
My mane could also use some work. But my mane could wait until I could let it go ethreal again. As it was, I was stuck in a Braytish controlled city. I had managed to escape out of Canterlot, or London, whichever you prefer, and now I was in another.
But the Amareican colonists were making headway, and finding them was simply a matter of getting out of the city.
:::::
"... Simplicity was a rarity that I had to appreciate any time it presented itself," Luna said. "After all, hardly anything was simple during those times."
"Yes, I can only imagine what the reactions were to finding that you, Luna of Braytish royalty, was in their midst," Celestia said.
"Lots of celebrating?" Pinkie Pie suggested.
Luna shrugged. "Bluntly, yes."
:::::
"It's Luna!"
It was early April, 1776. I was attacked with cheers as I stood in the midst of the ponies of the Second Continental Congress in Fillydelphia.
"Surely you have words for us, Madam Luna!"
:::::
Luna paused in her story as she stared Celestia in the eye. "As they asked me for words, I responded in kind. I told them of the atrocities of Parliament, how I believed in their cause, and... spoke lowly of you."
"As I would expect," Celestia said. "I would only expect the same treatment as I gave your name when you left Equland."
"But of course, I held myself to more duties than just a figurehead—"
"And yet you didn't accept the presidency after the war?" Twilight Sparkle asked.
"I felt that doing so would be against the idea of rejecting the 'divine right of kings' that our Founding Fathers had consigned themselves to later on when we began discussing government," Luna answered. "Now, as I was saying—"
"How much did your speeches deflame the Queen?"
Luna's face fell flat. "Quite so. I believe I was telling a story?"
"Poor Braytish filly," Applejack shook her head, "Don't know how to just sit down and listen to a good Amareican tale."
Twilight was taken aback. "Apologies, I as a scholoar, am attempting to gather information from a primary source. I believe I'm entitled to asking questions when I feel it is necessary?"
"You produce students as obnoxious as yourself, Celestia," Luna said.
"So what did your speeches hold?"
"Oh, just great rousing speeches about now, becuase I was present, the great nation of Amareica was to become a great new lunar republic!" Luna said, rolling her eyes. "How we were eventually going to gain our freedom, and soon afterwards, rise up against the tyranny of the Equlish, of Celestia and her solar empire!"
Celestia just met the words with a raised eyebrow.
"Really?" Twilight asked, increasingly curious. "What other bold words did you have to say to your nation?"
"Would you really believe all that I said?" Luna asked blankly. She scoffed. "I said no such things. I'm sure ponies expected me to say such things, but they would be incredibly hopeful. By the gods, it took us the rest of the century to get our government off the ground..."
"And yet you believed Amareica to be greater than Braytain?"
"But of course. After we got past our Articles of Confederation period and got to our Constitution, it was much better! Protecting the commoner from injustices of those higher up." Luna glared at her sister.
"Although there is a point I'd like to revisit," Rarity said. "You turned down the presidency—for what?"
"To let someone more in tune with the commoners in the position," Luna shrugged. "What's a republic when led by someone previously hailed as a deity? Seemed pointless to me at the time, absorbed by the ideals of the ponies of the Congress. At the time, I thought, who better to represent a nation different from Equland than Mister Washingtalon?"
"A griffon?" Twilight asked.
"So? He was an Amareican from Virgineighia. A good leader. Charismatic. Why not?"
"Have you never strove for the presidency since?"
Luna shrugged again. "I hold a permanent seat in our government and serve as an ambassador every now and then. I find it humbling."
"And yet you felt bitterness against Queen Celestia because she gained more attention than you, yet you didn't take the opportunity for the highest seat of the new nation?"
"After spending time here, it just... didn't feel right."
"But why have you not reconciled with your sister until... now?"
"I'm not sure you understand my frustrations when I left, Miss Sparkle. And after our victory, I was caught in the processes of making a new nation that would not make the mistakes of Equland. Compared to debating our great Constitution, speaking with my sister was the least of my concern. May I return to my story? I do quite like telling it."
"By all means, Miss Luna," Fluttershy said.
:::::
I resigned myself to the politics—
Can we just skip the boring politics?
—Uh... I suppose so, Miss Dash? I suppose the next notable thing to happen was the day we celebrate today. Once the Declaration was presented to Congress, they let me read it!
... Really, there's not much story after this.
:::::
"And that is why, to this day, a good public speaking voice no longer called the Royal Canterlot Voice in our vocabulary!"
"You're the head of the Amareican Historical Society, correct?" Twilight asked. "Can you tell me more about the early years of your... republic?"
"Perhaps later, I can. When's the fireworks?"
"10 o'clock!" Pinkie exclaimed happily.
"But-but what about the aftermath of the war? How much did you take part in the struggle to better the country? Your whole 'Articles of Confederation' thing? What about the story of the Constitution? The different ponies and griffons that you met?"
Luna waved a hoof. "Yes, yes, I personally knew them all. The president, the drafters of the Declaration, even Mister Poor Rich, quite charming a fellow. I knew a lot. You are a student of my sister. Surely you've read all this already."
"But to hear it from yourself! A pony that has lived through it! Uh, uh, what about 1812? What about..."
"Your student is very inquistive, Celestia."
"She is. Don't you admire her efforts to further her knowledge?"
"I do. I sincerely commend you on finding such a pony to take under your tutelage."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"... How do you feel about the evolution of ideals in your country?" Twilight continued rambling, seemingly unaware that Luna had stopped paying attention. "What are your thoughts about socialism and communism? Actually, what are your thoughts about the Great War? Queen Celestia told me she asked for help, yet you never even responded personally. Is that true? It's been eight years since the War ended; I'm sure that you could bear to tell if this is true."
"All I care is that it's been six years since the passage of the 18th Amendment," Applejack complained.
"Hooray for the Constitution," Rainbow said.
"But Luna said it's the greatest thing she knew ever written."
"Oh, Twilight Sparkle, it's the Fourth of July! Away with the petty nonsense of history and historical accuracy!" Luna took out a large parchment of rolled paper, unraveled it, and levitated it in front of Celestia's face. "Look, sister, read it! Our Declaration of Independence!"
Celestia was surprised with her vision suddenly blocked. "Um, Luna, how old is this document?"
"It's a personal copy I've kept since 1776!" Luna began rubbing it over Celestia's muzzle as if smoothening out creases. "Preserved in perfect condition by use of spells! Can you smell it, Celestia? The smell of freedom! So much freedom! I also have a copy of the Constitution with me! Shall I rub that in your face as well?"
"Uh, no, not really, I'd prefer not to..."
Twilight looked on but decided not to speak against the antics of the two siblings. After all, she had a brother and knew well that sometimes, things like this just had to happen.
"You can almost taste it! Taste it, Celly—"
"I, um, would prefer not to—"
"Taste it!"
"Uh... Hm. 18th century. So many memories—"
"So many memories indeed!" Luna quit scrubbing the Declaration of Independence on Celestia's face and just waved it in the air. "That on this great day, a century and a half ago—"
"I lost my sister?"
"To the greater cause that was the independence of the United States of Amareica!"
Author's Note
Even more ridiculously patriotic than last year's. Also even more nonsensical. Really, if I thought last year's was stupid, this ... even more.
But PATRIOTISM.
Also, Founding Father names were too difficult to use interestingly, so I scrapped that idea.
To any Brit reading this, don't worry, you're still awesome, we're just better 
