Innocence and Instinct

~Celestia~

I can’t say I haven’t made mistakes.. In fact, I’d say that, in my thousands of years of life, I’ve made more mistakes than your average pony. But there is no mistake I regret more than not doing more to help Luna when she began to fall under the influence of Nightmare Moon. I could’ve done more, been there when she needed me, but the time for regret has passed long ago. Perhaps the blame isn’t all mine, but what matters to me is that I recognize where I went wrong and know now not to repeat it. I consider myself lucky in a sense that I truly have forever to live, so after a few million years, it might begin to feel like Luna was never gone at all. Maybe.

It’s not a big surprise when I think about it, though.. Time can wear away at the mind vehemently or gently, depending on where life takes you. It surprises me that Luna was the first to succumb, given that I’m older and had more responsibility on my shoulders, but even the most unlikely can have their own demons inside, the strength of which we may never know until they let their control slip.

Luna, if you ever read this, please know how deep my regret runs and know I am truly, deeply sorry. Please, sister, forgive me.

*Luna*

I can never truly forgive myself for the way I’ve wronged Equestria and, even worse, my sister. There was no real reason for acting the way I did, even if I wasn’t wholly aware of myself during a large portion of that time. I was the one who chose to let myself go. No matter what Celestia says, it really is my fault, but I’m coming away from this a stronger mare, a better princess, and a changed pony. That’s what life’s about, isn’t it? We all screw up, but it’s what you choose to do about it that defines you. You can let it tear you down with shame or you can learn from it and be built up into something new, somepony better. When they see me, they may see a monster, but I see a blank canvas that can be transformed into whatever I want it to be, and it’s my intention to create a masterpiece.

My subjects may never look at me the same--I doubt the tales of my horror will ever stop being passed from generation to generation, even if only as a caution against letting the monster inside loose--but I’ve come to accept that and move on. Even if I never moved the moon and another day never came, that would not stop the passing of time and the past isn’t something we can continue to live in. If we were intended to live in it, it wouldn’t have ever ended and faded into a memory, though some memories carry consequences.

-Nightmare Moon-

What, you think I have anything to confess in this sham of a story that you’re trying to enlighten the world with? No, unlike your precious monarchs, I have nothing to hide. There is no ulterior motive or secret behind me--everything you’ve seen is everything I am. As for what I truly am, that’s for you to decide. An evil spirit who possessed your Princess of the Night? A fragment of her mind that became an entity of its own?  A secret side of every alicorn that is only seen when they give in to their darkest innermost desires? Don’t look at me as if I have the answer. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. I live to serve one purpose and that purpose is to reign as the rightful Queen of Equestria.