In the Eyes of the Gods

Foreword, by Celestia

Since my reunion with my dearest sister, I have felt the world around us shift and change. For the first time in millennia new alicorns have ascended; old foes long since forgotten have re-emerged from their dark and terrible prisons; and ancient magics have reawakened. Although I have long foreseen its coming and have done everything in my power to ensure a smooth transition, even I cannot know whether the eventualities of current events will lead to another golden age or a far darker one. There is still so much that is uncertain and there are many defining choices to be made in the near future. All I can do is hope for the best and be the guiding light to my people I have always pushed myself to be. But even amidst my uncertainty, however, I am sure of one thing: the ponies who will truly shape the fate of Equestria are not us immortals of old. My sister, Discord, me, and the other powerful beings who once walked this planet and shaped it like gods have found our power to control fate ever decreasing. Instead, the greatest magics of all have fallen onto the withers of mortals. My ever faithful student Twilight Sparkle and her friends have proven themselves to be some of the greatest heroines our world has ever seen. Much to my satisfaction, they are also proving themselves to be capable leaders. Perhaps one day they will even take the place of Luna and me as rulers of Equestria and we will be free to explore this vast universe and all its wonders and complexities.

But flights of fancy are not the purpose of this anthology.

I have always struggled with maintaining an air of approachability with my subjects. Even after centuries of exploring every avenue available I am often found as the object of worship by many. It is understandable why we are compared to gods. But that is all that it must remain, as a comparison. We are not gods. We are not omnipotent nor infallible. Certainly, we are powerful and centuries of leadership have granted us great wisdom but one must only look at the terrible work of the nightmare forces and their corruption of Luna to see how easily we can fall.

It was Luna who first suggested writing this composition and I immediately took to the idea. I welcomed a new way to reach out to the ponies of our kingdom and simultaneously reflect on both my and my sister’s interesting and often complex lives. The exploits encompassed within are largely biographical in nature. We have left interpretations open for reasons of privacy, security, and to allow freedom of thought to flourish. Yet, nowhere within have we attempted to preserve our images nor omitted facts no matter how compromising to ourselves. Matters of national security are another issue however. The struggle to balance the secrets we hold with our desire to be seen as “just a pony” is a matter of some contention between Luna and myself as you most likely soon learn. When you have lived as long as we have, keeping a secret comes in the same breath as delivering a heartfelt whisper to your closest friend. While that may imply that these works are all deeply sentimental and emotional in nature the case is that not all pieces within are serious. In fact some are quite comedic, or at least in our minds. Centuries to develop affectations can leave one with a sense of humour somewhat distanced from most ponies, although I do make an effort to at least be aware of popular trends.

Simply put, this is an attempt at complete and unadulterated honesty from both Luna and me. opportunities for self-reflection have not come often in my ever increasingly hectic life, nor, surprisingly, in Luna’s long banishment. It was curious for me to see how much both Luna and I have grown since we first took the throne some one and a quarter millennia ago. I should have known better. But then again, the evolution of character is slow and I am never one to dwell on my past. I have always had my eyes fixed firmly to the future. Whether that is eminent from my gift of prophecy or is the result of my many regrets is a matter I am still deciding upon. I learnt long ago that even the most difficult questions of our existence succumb to the slow march of time. Still, far better to learn my nature now rather to see myself fail in years to come. To know yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. I was foalish indeed to think I could truly be wise without affording myself the luxury of introspection. A luxury I have since decided is far more of a necessity.

Both Luna and I have grown from this experience, and I hope that you too, dear reader, can benefit from this rare insight into our deepest thoughts. Even if public opinion of us falters and faith is shattered in our reign I strongly believe it will be for the better. No ruler can build their kingdom on a foundation of lies, especially an immortal one. I have been fortunate that my centuries have seen few true tests of my authority. My ponies have been far too enamoured with my splendour to see how often this kingdom is held together merely by the skin of my teeth. Whether that makes me a good leader or a poor one I leave up to you. But this idolisation of my sister and I must stop. One day, I am going to fail and I am not be able to reconstruct the delicate façade which I have so long toiled under. Better to cast aside that façade on my own terms before such a time, I think.

One might consider the title to be inappropriate in that light. Herein lies the twisted humour I warned about. Both Luna and I agreed on the title. I personally quite enjoy the irony. With any luck, it will remind you, the reader, of the expectations placed on us and perhaps even help you to realise how unbefitting the title of "goddess" is for either my sister or me. An understanding of the nuances of psychology is one thing I can say does increase with age. Perhaps too much, in some circumstances. Manipulating others is such a horrid thing and yet I find myself doing so all too often.

I know I have given you a lot to ponder and that you must by now have many questions. I hope that most, if not all, can be answered in the following. Without further digression on the part of my ever-wandering thoughts, I present to you In the Eyes of the Gods.