When Words are Not Enough
No Good Deed, Idina Menzel, from the hit Broadway musical Wicked.
Well, this could have gone better. Luna thought she was doing a good thing, helping him like that. I mean, when a pony gets stuck with a debilitating disorder like he had, royal intervention seemed appropriate. How many doctors could cure an unknown illness that made unicorn magic chaotic and unpredictable? And she really cared about him, too. It would've been a simple cure-all spell, never anything dangerous. How was she supposed to know it would have gone so wrong? Now, on the moon, she could only try to make it right, or at least keep him safe from her sister's wrath. Thankfully, she kept a magically shrunken spellbook with her; it was essentially her only trace of home on the barren lunar landscape. And by the looks of it, she had all the time in the world to practice. Let's see, a protection spell, where would it be? She had an idea of the incantation, the best she could do was try it.
Eleka namen namen
Atum atum, eleka namen
Eleka namen namen
Atum atum, eleka namen
Let his flesh not be torn, let his blood leave no stain
Thought they beat him, let him feel no pain
Let his bones never break, and however they try
To destroy him, let him never die,
Let him never die!
She could see him now. His twisted body, a sick hybrid of every creature under the sun. He was being beaten by guards, completely helpless. He wasn't always so grotesque; he was once a normal unicorn, like any other. But because of his condition, his magic came out uncontrollably, causing chaos wherever he went. Was it so wrong to try and help him? Maybe she could succeed this time. She was magically strengthening his body, making him tougher. They would've killed him, but not if she could help it. But the connection was fading. His image was growing cloudier in her mind, and her magic was becoming weaker. Whatever strength she had endowed him with in those few moments would have to be enough.
Eleka namen namen
Atum atum, eleka namen
Eleka namen namen
Atum atum, eleka, eleka,
Ugh, what good is this chanting?
I don't even know what I'm reading!
I don't even know what trick I ought to try.
Discord, where are you? Already dead or bleeding.
One more disaster I can add to my generous supply!
All she had wanted to do was help. Was that so much to ask? Apparently, to her sister, it was. She didn't want him healed. She wanted him gone. But was it because of his condition? If she had helped, the healing spell might have worked. Alone, Luna's magic wasn't strong enough, so Discord's chaotic nature corrupted it. The result transformed him into the nightmarish creature she had last seen him as. Celestia could've done something, but she didn't. She chose not to. Luna would've loved more than anything to lash out at her for that. But just saving him would've been enough.
No good deed goes unpunished
No act of charity goes unresented
No good deed goes unpunished, that's my new creed
My road of good intentions led where such roads always lead
No good deed goes unpunished!
Now she was seeing things clearly. All alone, nopony else to cloud her view with foolish opinions. She had figured her sister out; it wasn't about him, it was about them. Celestia couldn't fathom the love they shared, and her ever-regal self also couldn't fathom a princess loving a common unicorn. So she got rid of him. To protect her, of course, from such a vile and evil creature. That was another thing she figured out about Celestia: she was never her equal. Celestia was always the infallible, benevolent ruler of Equestria, and Luna was always the poor, helpless baby sister. She was always living in her sister's shadow, and this was what happened when she tried to leave.
She had never wanted to fight her sister. No, she couldn't call her that anymore. Sisters don't banish each other from the face of Equestria for a millennium. She was only Celestia now. Only a tyrant, only an oppressor, only an enemy. She figured that out when Celestia imprisoned Discord. Luna's angelic image of her had been steadily crumbling, and this was the final crack in the stained-glass window. So she struck back. After some careful studying, she realized she had access to as much power as Celestia did. All she had to do was use her emotions. She summoned her anger, her vengefulness, her hatred, everything she could conjure up against Celestia's injustice. And with those emotions fueling her, she became Nightmare Moon.
One question haunts and hurts, too much, too much to mention
Was I really seeking good, or just seeking attention?
Is that all good deeds are when looked at with an ice-cold eye?
If that's all good deeds are, maybe that's the reason why
In hindsight, she realized, her quixotic opposition was a foolhardy move. She lacked control of her newfound power, and once again, it was corrupted. Becoming Nightmare Moon unleashed the darkest parts of her, and with them in control, she quickly lost sight of reality. Her mind had been twisted by dark power, and she became more ambitious. It became less about restoring balance to the throne, and more about taking over for herself. She would've become that which she sought to destroy, if not for the Elements. In the end, that's what it boiled down to. She could've fought Celestia to a stalemate with raw power, had it not been for the nigh-infinite power of the Elements of Harmony. Wielding them was Celestia's final edge, and the cause of her defeat and banishment. But now, she decided, the Elements had been more of a blessing than she thought. Here on the moon, who would be concerned about her? What would stop her from scheming, planning, preparing herself to return, stronger than ever? Nothing. Luna would be completely forgotten about. She had no way to return until a thousand years in the future, and by then, all who had witnessed the battle would be dead and gone. Except Celestia, or course. But her end was coming, soon enough.
No good deed goes unpunished
All helpful urges should be circumvented
No good deed goes unpunished
Sure, I meant well, well look at what well-meant did!
Alright, enough! So be it! So be it, then
Of course, it wouldn't be easy. Celestia still looked like the perfect princess, despite Luna's efforts. All of Equestria was deluded by her charms. They considered her a benevolent goddess, and Luna the evil twin whose name could be used to scare bad little foals. By striking out at Celestia, she might have to wage war on the entire population. But that would hopefully not be necessary. With any luck, she could have the chance to free the Equestrians from Celestia's beautiful deception, and show them the wolf in sheep's clothing. But that would be after a thousand years' wait. For now, she would take solace in her isolation. After all, she was still the devil incarnate, according to current opinion. Equestria was no home for her now.
Let all Equestria be agreed, I'm wicked through and through
Since I cannot succeed, oh Discord, saving you
I promise no good deed will I attempt to do again, ever again.
This was it. She wasn't after redemption. She would never ask forgiveness. She was beyond repent, in the eyes of Equestria. She was wicked now. And she was going to embrace it. She held no more love for Celestia, only hatred. And it didn't matter if she was never adored like Celestia was, hailed as a great ruler. No, right now, and for the next millennium, her only concern was revenge. And by Faust, she was going to have it.
No good deed will I do again!
