The Sparkle Letters

Dear Princess,

Today I found Barack and Chrysalis on the floor of the kitchen, holding each other. I didn't think she would make her move so soon! I shoved her away, demanding answers, but Barack stepped between us. I was ready to deal with both of them if I had to, but Barack spoke the code phrase, and I knew he wasn't under Chrysalis's control.

I asked him how he could defend someone so terrible as Chrysalis, and he told me of a rule that his people have had for two thousand years: That which is good to you, do to others. That which is bad to you, do not do to others.

I looked past him, and saw that Chrysalis had begun to cry again; and I wondered how I would feel, if she were to throw me out of bed and start making demands. If she were to start calling me a monster. Have I really been so terrible to her?

Twilight Sparkle

She stared at me, her eyes wide and innocent. Somehow, it had never occurred to her that she might have been unfair in her treatment of me. It had never occurred to me, either. This 'golden rule' of which Barack spoke--nobody in Equestria had ever had such an idea. Nobody needed to. Celestia was the ultimate force of goodness, and creatures such as I were the ultimate evil; there were no questions to be had. You could tell in a moment who would hurt you, in Equestria; you could feel it. They'd wear on you, instead of building you up. You would feel weaker around them.

Here, there is no magic to tell you who your friends are, and any human could turn out to be a monster. They needed something to use in place of Celestia, a rule that they could follow to avoid hurting each other. It's brilliant, in a way.

Unfortunately, I don't think everyone follows it.