What Might Have Been: Celestia and Luna's Role Reversal

by Mystic Sunrise

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Princess Luna
Length: 5323

A what if exploring what Equestria might be like if Celestia and Luna had changed in different ways.

In many versions of Equestria, Princess Celestia is the princess of the sun, and Princess Luna is princess of the moon, and always have been.

But what if that were not the case? What if their celestial roles had been different? What would Equesria look like where Nightmare Moon was never even a possibility?

Published 2019-01-13 03:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2020-01-15 22:44:48 UTC

Luna, Solar Goddess

In many versions of the world of Equus, the story of the sun and moon and the two immortals who have shepherded them for millennia is well known. This is not one such world.

Though some things have changed in the telling, and history has been changed as a result, some things have remained a constant. Such is the way of the multiverse sometimes.

Of course, there are as many variations on even this as there are worlds and universes with the same characteristics of Equus Prime. Some things of the Heart World will always be the same no matter what.

But that's getting ahead of the story now. Let us return to the story at hoof. We know the story of one world.

Now, let us see a world of what might have been.

***

Something tickling her nose was what woke Luna that morning. Half asleep as she was, she groaned irritably. Some days she wondered if it was worth just sleeping in five more minutes, to put her duties aside if just for a little bit.

Unfortunately for her, her constant companion had her own ways of making sure her mistress got up on time. Even on the days when she would rather not, and buck what anypony told her otherwise.

Luna felt a strand of her mane fall down into her face, and begin to tickle her nose. Just barely managing to keep her giggles in check, she blew the offending strand out of the way.

"Some days I hate it when you do that." She grumbled. All she heard in response was a distant giggle.

Grumbling some more she finally sat up in bed and stretched. Looking outside, she noticed it was still dark, and her clock told her she had just enough time to get ready before she and Celestia traded off duties for the day.

It was a simple enough job to be ready. There was a perk to being a goddess as she climbed out of bed. Her coat was a perfect sheen as she looked it, more out of a hope that it might one day be messy. It was never was.

Luna did not wear a crown, just a torc and hoof boots. It was also a result of who she was and her celestial duties. Her mane was a constant reminder of that as she looked at it.

It was a solid flame, that danced and waived with a life of its own. Despite that, however, Luna herself was never harmed by it. In fact, it had come to her defense several times in the past and discouraged those who were not immune to it to not get to close to her.

Of course, that had caused problems of its own in the past. Her rooms over the years had burst into flame more often than not, and she had never meant to. Her current room was now covered in so many wards to keep it safe that it drove some unicorns crazy when the looked at them.

Walking over to her balcony, she took in the crisp morning air and let her mind settle as she felt the moon settle beneath the far horizon. As it did, a part of her soul detached itself and flew out and, in effect, merged with the sun.

It had always been like this. For some reason, it always made their bond stronger.

As she felt the connection drive home, her horn ignited and the sun began to slowly rise. Despite what some had theorized, it was not just a simple Levitation spell, but far more.

Luna though had never been able to properly explain to those who had asked how she did it every morning and evening. It just came naturally to her.

Unicorns had done it once, many centuries ago now. But as far as she knew, it had never been as easy for them as it was for her. Not even Starswirl or Mage Meadowbrook had been able to explain it. And Starswirl himself knew them as well as many did.

Of course, when Luna had first raised the sun, it had thrown everypony for a loop, Luna herself included. Many at the time, their parents including, had believed that Celestia herself would one day have a connection of some kind with the sun, and Luna the same with the moon.

Even the two of them had thought the same. Their names reflected this as well. But with the changes that had occurred, neither she nor Celestia had ever truly been bothered by what they had now. They had each other, and that was all that mattered to them.

Some days though, Luna wondered what it might have been like had her and Tia's destinies been reversed. Of course, she loved the sun and the bond they shared. But sometimes she wondered what Equestria might have been like had things been different all those years ago.

Starswirl himself had wondered the same. Luna and Celestia often thought of their old teacher. They never had discovered what had happened to him or any of the other Pillars. Neither of them thought for a moment they had been killed for they were all too good for that. Maybe one day the answer would be found. Luna hoped so.

She and Tia had overdue assignments they had never turned in!

Chuckling at the thought, she let her mind wander a bit. Her earlier musings had dragged up another old annoyance of hers and Tia. At the time when both had made their connections to the sun and moon, many had thought they should change their names to reflect their new duties.

Their cutie marks certainly didn't match their names anymore.

Neither one of them had of course. Yes, they no longer fit, but their names had been given by their parents, and it was all they had of them now besides their foalhood memories. So no, they would not change them no matter how many said they should.

As she felt her soul be complete again, Luna let her mind go over what was to come today. It was the time for the Entrance Exams at the School for Gifted Ponies and she would need to be there for that.

Though it was mainly for show, there was always the chance that somepony could catch her eye, and she would make him or her personal student. Tia had her own in Sunset Shimmer, and it had been some time since Luna herself had one.

Maybe this year would be different. She could always hope. Her niece Cadance seemed interested in one, Twilight Sparkle if she remembered right. A filly she had sat for some time now. The filly was now old enough to take the exam.

Luna would look out for her for sure.

As she turned to leave her room, nodding to the two guard mares posted outside, her mind returned to that day so long ago when everything had changed for her.

It had begun so well as well.

***

Luna was shocked. Seriously, this made her top ten list of the strangest things she could ever remember seeing in her life, and she had seen some strange and crazy things.

She and Celestia had awoken that morning to almost complete darkness covering Equestria. Only the moon provided what light there was. The sun was nowhere to be found. Just as the two of them had been wondering what had caused this, they had heard the familiar jingling of bells approaching the castle.

Teleporting to the front gates, they had found their mentor and their second shock. While Star Swirl looked physically as young as ever, his beard on the other hoof.

"Master Star Swirl. Your beard. It's so. So." Celestia couldn't bring herself to finish the thought, but Luna was more than happy to.

"It's so grey!" She exclaimed as she poked it.

Celestia shot her a glare. "Luna!"

Luna was unapologetic as she stuck her tongue out at her. "What? It is."

Celestia sighed as she looked back at their teacher. "Where could you have gone to cause this Star Swirl? Was it your Time Travel spell?"

Star Swirl shook his head. "I wish I could say it was Celestia, but the spell had nothing to do with this. It happened when I tried to raise the sun."

Celestia and Luna shared a look. Both knew that six unicorns were needed every day and night to raise and set the sun and moon. Star Swirl was always one who did both.

He saw the questions they had and continued. "But it takes a powerful amount of magic, and unicorns who volunteer can only do it for a short time before their magic is depleted. Forever."

He looked at the night sky. "I've been the only one with magic strong enough to withstand the process day in and day out, night after night."

He looked back at them. "Ten other unicorns are constantly needed to offer up their magic as a sacrifice for all of Equestria. This morning we ran out of full-grown unicorns with magical abilities and were able to perform the task."

Star Swirl snorted. "When I tried to do it myself, my magic was depleted and my beard turned grey."

Luna and Celestia shared a mortified look. Why hadn't anypony told them sooner that this was happening to the unicorns, to their teacher? And what could they do to help?

Star Swirl's eyes brightened after a moment as a thought came to him. As they all knew, alicorns possessed a level of magic far beyond anything a unicorn could ever imagine. Raising the sun and moon wouldn't harm them. In fact, if the myths were true, it would actually rejuvenate them and make them that much more powerful.

"Celestia, Luna. As princesses of Equestria, would the two of you be willing to be the new guardians of the sun and moon?" He asked.

Luna and Celestia shared a nervous look. Star Swirl had never taught them how to do that! Now that he had no magic, he couldn't either.

He just smiled, guessing their thoughts. "I don't need to teach you how. You both already know."

That was all they needed to hear. Giving each other an encouraging smile, Celestia and Luna spread their wings and took to the skies. Not knowing how or why, Luna reached out with her magic, looking for the sun. To her surprise, she felt the sun reach out for her, looking for her magic.

When they finally met, the sun's magic and Luna's magic mingled before intertwining with each other. As she felt this, Luna felt her horn glow with the sun's power. It was warm, regal, loving. It made her feel loved in a way that made her giddy with excitement.

As the connection was forged, Luna looked to the east and coaxed the sun to rise. It was a magical feeling as she felt the heavenly body begin to rise. Luna suddenly felt complete, as if she'd always been meant to do this.

Opening her eyes as she landed, she saw that Tia now had a crescent moon cutie mark, the black splotches standing out against her white coat. She was also grinning at her.

When Luna looked at her flank, her face also split into a huge grin. On her flank was the sun in glory. It only solidified what she had done.

Best day ever! she thought.

Author's Note

And just to be sure I don't forget what Luna looks like in this universe, and for those who can't see it in their heads based on my description. Here she is. In all of her Sun Goddess glory.

Twilight and Starlight's Test

Twilight Sparkle wasn't nervous. Oh no. She wasn't nervous at all. She was perfectly fine. It wasn't like her entire future depended on this test. No. That would be silly!

Her tests so far to get into Luna's School for Gifted Ponies had been a breeze so far. In fact, they had been easy. From what she had heard, her marks were second only to Sunset Shimmer herself.

Twilight tried not to prance in place at the thought. It made feel all warm and fuzzy inside when she had heard that. But then had come a knockdown the lader.

Another filly, Starlight Glimmer, had begun to have the same scores as Twilight herself. In fact, they were currently tied on scores. Something that had never happened before in the history of the school.

With no other option, the proctors had decided to give them both the same test at the same time. So now here both of them were, with a dragon egg in between them. Their sole object was to move it in some way. Either together or by themselves.

Twilight looked over at Starlight. The light pink unicorn filly looked as nervous as Twilight felt. For a moment their eyes met, and something seemed to pass between them. Whatever it was, Twilight liked it and judging by Starlight's hesitant smile, so did she.

But that could wait for the moment as Twilight tried to concentrate on the egg before her. Dragons were known to be practically immune to the magic of any kind. In fact, nopony had ever been known to do much to a dragon. Let alone move it.

Whether that applied to their eggs as well, nopony knew that either. So this was more than just a test it seemed. It was an experiment to see what effect magic would have on a dragon's egg if any.

The thought alone made Twilight want to succeed. Not only to get into the school. But she would be helping advance magical knowledge at the same time. What could be better than that?

Plus it would give her something to horde over Shinny at the next Sibling Supreme. And with her run of bad luck in the challenge recently, Twilight needed all the help she could get.

Even with that said though, Twilight did wish her brother could be there for support today. But he had Royal Guard training to attend, and so he couldn't make it. Her parents though, Twilight Velvet and Night Light, were there and were giving her encouraging smiles.

Looking over again at Starlight, she could see that her dad, or so she thought, was doing the same to Starlight as well. And maybe it was her lack of sleep last night, but Twilight swore his smile bordered on the one you'd see on a comic book villain.

Not that she would ever say that of course. Judging by Starlight's eye roll, she saw it too and had become used to it by this point. Twilight did wonder where her mom was, but maybe she was just busy today?

No matter though. What she should be worrying about at this moment was the test before her. And as anypony who knew her could tell you, Twilight hated failing tests of any kind. Today was not going to be the day she flunked the biggest test of her life.

Lowering her horn, Twilight closed her eyes and concentrated on the egg before her.

***

Luna was bored. So far, none of the filly or colts she had met had stood out to her enough to possibly take on her student. None of them had anything wrong with them of course, but none of them had that spark she was looking for.

She sighed as she and her assistant left the room behind. "Who is next?" She asked.

Raven looked at her notes. "Only two are left. Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer. They are taking their final tests now. We had to have them take it together because their marks are exactly the same, and we had no time to come up with something for them."

Luna perked up at that at least. Twilight she knew of from Cadance, but Starlight Glimmer was new to her. She looked at the scores Raven was holding, and her eyes widened. "These marks..."

Raven nodded. "They're almost the same as Sunset's own when she applied. Individually they come a close second. In fact, they're tied as it is. But combined..."

Luna's brows shot up. "They leave Sunset Shimmer's behind them by a wide margin. I never thought that would be possible If I am being honest." She grinned goofily after a moment. "Oh, I can't wait to rub it in Tia's face when she wakes up."

Raven rolled her eyes as the two of them moved to the Exam Building. It was a well-known fact that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had a sibling rivalry going a mile wide, and it showed no end of ending any time soon.

Honestly, Raven spent as much time cleaning up the mess leftover from their constant prank wars as she did helping Luna keep track of everything and making sure Equestria ran like it was supposed to.

Some days, she wished for something new to happen, just to lighten the mood of Canterlot and the monotony of court life. It could be so boring.

At that exact moment, the sky exploded in a rainbow of colors that seemed to wash all over Equestria.

Luna let out a very unprincess like squeak of surprise as she jumped ten feet in the air in shock, a feeling that Raven was more than happy to return if she had wings that were. As it was, she nearly jumped out of her suit in fright, while her papers were sent flying in all directions.

Of course, as if that weren't enough, a dragon's head chose that exact moment to punch itself through the roof of the Exam Building. Despite its size and nature, the dragoness appeared as confused as everypony else was.

As if the universe had it out for Equestria, another dragoness soon pushed her way through what was left of the roof, her confusion showing as well as her sister.

Raven looked at them both in shock while also gathering up the scattered papers. "Since when did Canterlot have dragons? Let alone two of them?"

Luna was as confused as she was. Yet looking at the two before them, she saw something in their eyes that said there was more to it than she was seeing. "We don't. At least, we didn't. Unless the egg hatched."

Raven gave her a look. "How? That egg was dead. It's been dead for years. And even then, there was only one hatchling thought to be in it. Not two."

Luna rolled her eyes as she gestured at the two dragons before. "Do you want to go tell them that?" Raven shook her head. "I thought not. But I am going to find out what is going on around here."

***

By the time Luna arrived at the room where the test was being administered, she could feel the enormous amount of magic being thrown around at random. That it was coming from two different sources confirmed her fears.

Both Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer were flaring at the exact same time. It explained how the egg had hatched and why there were two dragons poking through the roof. Why there were two of them she didn't know, but that could wait.

As she looked through the door, she saw that both fillies were indeed in Magic Flares. To her shock though, it looked like both of their magics were harmonizing together. But that didn't make any sense.

Shaking her head, Luna ran into the room. To the side, she saw three potted plants lined up together. A quick pulse of magic confirmed that they were transfigured ponies, most likely the parents of Twilight and Starlight. They were fine for the moment. Off to the side, the exam proctors floated in a sphere of magic.

But Luna's first concern was the fillies. Neither could keep this up much longer before their bodies destroyed themselves from trying to handle too much magic too soon. And with the amount of magic being thrown around, it would destroy Canterlot and most of the mountain it was on if it wasn't stopped now.

With no other idea at hoof, Luna reached out and touched both fillies on the shoulder with a hoof, hoping to get their attention. It worked as both looked at her. She smiled gently, and it seemed to do the trick as the flare subsided and their eyes returned to normal.

As they did, the plants were returned to ponies, all of whom shook themselves vigorously. Celestia would be visiting them in the Dream Realm Luna thought with a chuckle as she looked at the dragons. With the magic gone, both soon shrunk down to hatchling size, both with a look of innocent curiosity as they nommed on their tails.

Looking back down to the fillies though, Twilight was the first to speak. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean too!"

Starlight nodded vigorously. "I don't know what happened. One minute, we're trying to hatch the egg, and then, boom! The whole world blows up."

Luna chuckled. "It's alright. I know neither of you meant to do that. The school needed a new roof anyway. And I am happy to say that both of you have passed the test."

That did little to ease Starlight and Twilight's fears as the two of them shared a look. "Are we in trouble Princess Luna?" Starlight asked.

Luna shook. "Of course not. You're not the first to do something like this, nor do I think you will be the last. But you both have powerful magic. More than I have seen in a long time. But you need to learn to control it."

Now Twilight and Starlight were really confused. "Huh?" Both asked.

Luna giggled. "I want to make you both my personal students here at the school. If you will have me that is?"

Now both fillies were really confused. Sharing a look, they looked over at their parents, who were nodding happily for them to accept. That was all they needed as they bounced as high as they could and shouted "Yes!"

Luna giggled at the adorable sight, but she also caught sight of something on both of their flanks. One that made her smile grow. "One other thing girls."

That brought Starlight and Twilight back to earth as they fell to the floor. "Huh?" Starlight asked.

Luna merely pointed at both of their flanks. When they looked, their eyes lit up in delight. A six-pointed starburst, surrounded by five smaller stars, now adorned Twilight's flanks, while Starlight's was more obscure, but it was magic for those who knew what to look for.

The two of them shared a happy grin. "Best," Starlight began.

"Day," Twilight added.

"EVER!" They finished together, ending with a hoof bump before both broke into happy giggles. One Luna was more than happy to join in a moment later.

Author's Note

Yes. Yes, I did just have Twilight and Starlight take the same test. At the same exact time. Why? Because why not? Don't think that's been done before in a story. Correct me if I'm wrong.

And yes. I just screwed big time with Spike. Again because I could. Now there's two of her. Plus I feel it works better with Twilight and Starlight both doing it.

Celestia, Lunar Goddess

As anypony who knew her well could tell you, Princess Celestia was not an evening pony. Nor did she like being woken up earlier than she needed to be to raise the moon.

Today though was an exception to the rule, and Celestia didn't mind in the end as she listened to Luna's story of all she missed. The two were taking a quick meal in the Royal Dining Hall before they handed off for the night.

Normally, Sunset Shimmer would be there with Princess Celestia. But Sunset had left with her family the day before for a week-long vacation in Baltimare, so now it was just the two of them.

"So somepony finally managed to hatch the egg?" Celestia asked, biting into a stack of pancakes.

Luna nodded. "I still don't know they did it. That egg was dead by all measures. How two hatchlings were birthed from it I don't understand either."

Celestia nodded. She too didn't get it, but there were many things about dragons they didn't know. "And where are the hatchlings now? You didn't send them home with Twilight and Starlight, did you?"

Luna rolled her eyes. "I didn't have a choice. The hatchlings wouldn't let go of them. I don't know if they see Twilight and Starlight as their mothers or not. But they would not be separated from them."

Celestia thought about this. It made sense, in a way. Since the fillies had hatched them, and they had been the first things they had seen, it would be no wonder the babies had imprinted on them.

But that raised another question. "Where are Twilight and Starlight now?"

Luna shook her head, embers from her mane and tail flying. "Twilight herself lives here in Canterlot. I sent her home with her family once we had worked out how she would be my student."

She looked out a nearby window. "Starlight on the other hoof lives in Sire's Hollow. And with it being so far away, I let her and her father stay in a guest room tonight. They didn't seem to mind."

She giggled. "From what I overheard, Firelight is over the moon about his daughter being the personal student of a princess. I believe Starlight was hoping I would send him home and let her stay here."

Celestia raised an eyebrow. She was used to overbearing parents, but nothing like what her sister was saying. That couldn't be right, could it? "That doesn't sound very nice of her."

Luna rolled her eyes. "You haven't met him yet. I understand fully where Starlight is coming from. He takes overbearing to a whole new level of awkwardness. And then some."

Celestia sighed as she took a sip of her coffee. Maybe it would make sense once she met the two of them. And she really did want to meet Starlight and Twilight. They sounded like fun ponies to be around.

Something else though was on her mind. "What was the explosion in the sky that triggered their Magic Flare? It wasn't what I think it was, was it?"

Luna sighed as she got a faraway look in her eyes. "Yes, Tia. It was a Sonic Rainboom. I saw the explosion myself. It had all the hallmarks of the legend."

Celestia didn't fully understand it. "But how? And who could have done it? Only a Pegasus could."

Luna nodded. "Indeed. There was talk of something big going on in Cloudsdale earlier today, but I haven't heard the full story yet. From what I do know, most of Equestria saw it happen in some form."

Celestia nodded. It made sense. "And Twilight and Starlight got their cutie marks at the same time as the Rainboom?"

Luna rolled her eyes. "Oh, like it's the weirdest cutie mark story we know Tia. Look at us. Nopony expected us to get the marks we did, and how we got them. Least of all Starswirl."

Celestia stuck her tongue out at her younger sister. "I remember it, fine Lulu. I certainly never expected to become what I have. I doubt you did either."

Luna shook her head, a sly grin coming to her face. "I remember how much fun you had trying to get the moon to work with you. Oh, the stories I could tell."

Celestia glared at her. "Need I remind you how much trouble you had with the sun? I had it rather easy."

The two of them shared a glare for a moment before both breaking into giggles. It was a common thing for them to bring this up every now and then. Neither really held any malice in it.

And it was true. Both had trouble in the beginning moving their respective celestial bodies. That first time might have been easy. But it was a hard task once that first time ended.

Even now though, Celestia remembered that night well.

***

Celestia and Luna shared a horrified look. Why hadn't Starswirl told them sooner this was happening to unicorns, to their teacher? And what could they do to help?

Starswirl's eyes brightened after a moment. As they all knew, alicorns possessed a level of magic far beyond anything a unicorn could ever hope to reach. Raising the sun and moon wouldn't hurt them. In fact, if myths were true, it would actually make them that much more powerful.

"Celestia, Luna. As princesses of Equestria, would the two of you be willing to be the new custodians of the sun and moon?" He asked.

Luna and Celestia shared a nervous look. He had never taught them how to do that! Now that he had no magic, he couldn't either.

Starswirl just smiled, guessing their thoughts. "I don't need to teach you how. You already know how."

That was all the two of them needed to hear. Giving each other an encouraging smile, Celestia and Luna spread their wings and took to the skies.

Not knowing how or why she knew, Celestia reached out with her magic, searching for the moon. To her surprise, and relief, she felt it reach out for her as well, looking for her magic.

Celestia admitted to herself that she was nervous. All her life, she had been more of a day pony, and Luna more of a night pony. Their names even suggested that, and they even looked like it when ponies thought about it.

No more, she thought. If it meant saving Equestria and her ponies, then she would sacrifice that part of herself. It was the right thing to do in the end.

As if feeling her thoughts, the moon's magic soon touched Celestias' own, mingling with her own, before interlocking with it so much it could not be undone. As she felt this, Celestia felt her horn glow with the moon's power.

As her horn ignited, Celestia turned and coaxed the moon back into its proper orbit around Equus. It was a magical feeling as she felt the heavenly body move into its proper orbit before it began to move again.

Celestia had never felt more amazing in her entire life like she had always been meant to do this. Opening her eyes as she landed, she saw that Luna now had the sun in glory as a cutie mark. She was grinning at her too. When Celestia looked at her flank, her eyes lit up.

On them was a crescent moon cutie mark, the black splotches around it standing out next to her white coat. It only confirmed what she had just done.

"Best. Day. Ever!" She thought with a huge grin.

Author's Note

And that, ladies and germs, is that. The story is now done, and I'm happy with it. I took much longer to write this than I had hoped it would. But I'm happy.

Just to be clear, that is Princess Celestia in the new cover art. I actually like her canon look more than I do the one she has here, but this still works.

Now though, I have begun thinking of expanding this universe. There is just so much left unsaid after all of this. Much of the history we know still happened. Discord, Tirek, and the Crystal Empire.

But what about everything else? Plenty of things have changed that would change the history of Friendship is Magic as we know it.

Cover art for both Celestia and Luna was done by Orin331.