Oh, Nelly

Whoa Nelly was often seen as a simple mare who lived a simple life. Despite this simplicity, anyone who met her was usually blown away by her positive outlook on life and overall bubbly nature. There was little that could upset the larger than life mare and there were many who had never seen a frown on her face.

To the public, Whoa Nelly was a central figure for anti bullying campaigns, as well as the author of many self help books that focused on aiding ponies in seeing the best about themselves. She was also known for her incredible presentations at various schools, Nelly’s easy personality and almost childlike sense of wonder capturing her audiences and connecting to many young souls.

There was no one alive who knew of a different side to the mare, who could have possibly imagined a time where Whoa Nelly was regarded negatively, seen as a cold blooded monster who was devoid of heart or soul.

No one, that is, but the Princesses.

~Years Ago~

Celestia sipped serenely from her mug, eyes closing at the warm and rich hot chocolate that flooded her senses. Across from her, she could hear the soft scribble of a quill on paper, the sharp smell of wet ink just barely overpowering the sweet cocoa. She didn’t mind it though, having lost count of the times those sensations had mixed. She allowed herself to bask in memories of long nights of policies and declarations made bearable only by the comfort of a hot mug laden with chocolate and whipped cream.

She opened her eyes once the quill stopped and smiled at Twilight, once her most faithful student, and now, her successor. They had spent the past few days combing over everything Twilight would need to know and keep up on, passing the torch of certain responsibilities that none save the crown knew about.

Celestia supposed she should have been surprised how quickly and smoothly the process had gone, at one time she might have been, but this was Twilight Sparkle. She knew Equestria would be in good hooves under her rulership. Now, there was only one more manner to attend to.

Her smile nearly faltered, the weight of the task and knowledge almost enough to topple centuries of a practiced, public smile that decorum demanded she keep. Not quite enough though. Twilight returned the smile and for a moment Celestia felt guilty that it would soon be wiped away, that Twilight might not feel able to smile at her like that ever again.

She steeled herself and set her mug on the table. “Twilight, I have but one task left for me to pass onto you.”

Twilight perked up, lifting her quill to the paper once more. “I’m ready.”

Celestia chuckled and gently plucked the scroll and quill from Twilight with her magic and set them to the side. “You won’t be needing those for this. Come, let’s stretch our legs and take a walk.”

Twilight followed her out of the room, brimming with curiosity at this final task to be transferred into her responsibility. “Um, Pri- Celestia, far be it for me to question you, but why shouldn’t I write this down too? What if I forget something and need a reference?”

Celestia smiled thinly. “I appreciate the dedication, but this is not something I wish to be transcribed in any capacity. Rest assured that, for better or worse, it is not something that can be easily forgotten.” She sighed as she continued to lead Twilight through the halls of the castle. “I can only hope you forgive me.”

Twilight furrowed her brows, her steps slowing slightly at the cryptic and worrying words of her mentor. Despite the growing dread twisting her stomach, she followed. Equestria had been a peaceful land of late, that was true, but she had faced countless secret evils. It only made sense that there would be more she never knew about, things that Celestia had taken care of.

Things she was now responsible for.

They continued on, a slightly awkward silence descending over them as they ventured to a part of the castle that Twilight was sure she had never been before, but felt vaguely familiar. Long gone were the large windows, many decorated with stained glass, that let in light and gave an almost ethereal glow against the marble flooring and ceilings.

Now, they were surrounded by gray. Gray walls, gray floors, and a gray ceiling that was just tall enough for Celestia to walk under. They were somewhere beneath the castle, having gone down quite a few flights of stairs, but there was no sign of the crystal caves Twilight had once been trapped in.

They only stopped as a wall blocked the passageway. Twilight rubbed her foreleg, an increasing sense of déjà vu making her fur itch. She looked to Celestia, but any question died on her tongue at the look on the elder alicorn’s face. Minutes crawled by like hours as Celestia stared at the wall.

Twilight felt like she might suffocate on the tension, each soft inhale of the stale air weighing heavily in her chest. She swallowed thickly and finally broke the oppressive silence with a soft, “Celestia?”

Celestia let out a sigh, the deep exhalation carrying the weight of years. “Tell me, what do you know of the mare Whoa Nelly?”

Twilight blinked. “What do I know of Whoa Nelly? I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Exactly that. Don’t think about it, just tell me what comes to mind.”

Twilight hummed in thought, ingrained decades of being a student, Celestia’s student, demanding she wrack her brain to find the right answer. “Whoa Nelly, the name is familiar but I can’t really remem- Oh! She’s the one who wrote ‘Love Yourself, You Deserve It’ right?”

Celestia nodded. “That is one of her published books, yes. She also is the spokesmare for many anti-bullying campaigns and headlines presentations at schools across Equestria.”

Twilight tilted her head, feeling as though she was still missing something, that she hadn’t given the right, or very least, complete answer. “...Right, her agent reached out to Starlight not too long ago to have her appear at the School of Friendship. She seems like a nice mare, why do you ask about her?”

Celestia didn’t answer, instead charging her horn with magic. Twilight watched in fascination as symbols began to glow on the wall, mentally translating them into what read as a complicated binding spell.

It was the kind that encapsulated an area, usually to contain or ‘bind’ something or someone to the inside of it while allowing specific creatures or things through the transparent barrier. Somewhere in her mind, a little voice wondered why it felt so familiar. Twilight was a smart mare of course, and translating magic runes was foal's play, but this felt a little too easy, like she was re-reading one of her own spells.

She brushed off the strangeness as Celestia leaned forward and touched the brightly glowing tip of her horn to the center of the circle. The spell didn’t seem to flow from her horn so much as drain from it, evidenced by the alicorn’s lips twisting into a grimace.

The entire wall was glowing now, the symbols unreadable as each flared with golden light. Twilight covered her eyes with a wing as the brightness became unbearable. Eventually, the passageway darkened and Twilight lowered her wing to find the wall had disappeared. Whatever was bound beyond, it required a great amount of power if the spell was written into stone.

Celestia cleared her throat and shook herself. “Do you believe that ponies can be born evil?”

Twilight froze, the sudden change in topic and the nature of the question itself shaking her core as Celestia continued, seeming to speak aloud more than directly to her once-pupil. “I didn’t use to. I didn’t want to. The thought that one of my little ponies could be born…wrong was so appalling to me I never entertained it. Ponies could do evil things, surely, and sometimes they may never see the error of their way. But I never thought I would come face to face to someone who seemed predestined to commit great misdeeds.”

Celestia drew herself up. “You have accomplished many great feats and conquered many a great foe, but this will surpass any challenge you have faced before. Come, Twilight, and I will tell you of the mare Whoa Nelly.”

~~

Whoa Nelly was once seen as a quiet mare who lived a quiet life. Despite her apparent quiet nature, anyone who met her would tell you something was…off about her. There was little that seemed to bring her joy or peace, and there were many who had never seen a smile on her face.

To the citizens of Canterlot, Whoa Nelly was someone you crossed the street to avoid walking by, the subject of many side eyes and quiet but quick ushering of foals from her presence. Unicorn she appeared, it was hard to say if she was truly equine and there was only so much social pressure of generic kindness that could make ponies give her more than a quick, passing nod or small smile.

There was no one alive who knew of a different side to the mare, who could have possibly imagined a time where Whoa Nelly was regarded positively, seen as a role model and pillar of the community.

No one but the Princess.