What Twilight really needed

[Justin_Case001 4,940]

I honestly like both sides of the argument, here.  A lot of good points have been made.  I agree that opposition would have made the princess arc better and more believable.  But I do not think the opposition should have come from her friends.  I agree with Admiral Regulus on that one.  But I could totally see some form of opposition from Luna, as the OP suggested.  I'm not saying Luna would tell Twilight that she shouldn't be a princess.  Not at all.  But I could definitely see Luna challenging her a bit, asking her if she is truly ready for this, and understands the responsibilities that come with it.  It is the job of friends to support.  It is the job of masters and mentors to push and challenge.  I think that could have worked.  But I definitely think that opposition coming from a villain would have worked.  A villain that told her she's not fit to be a princess, then having her prove him wrong, would have done wonders for this whole story.

[VitalSpark 1,830]

 

 

There are just SO many ways it could have been played out that it seems absolutely ridiculous to me that not one character called the concept of Twilight being a princess into doubt!

 

Trixie hasn't been in the show since pre-MMC.

[Dark Horse 12,976]

I really think that Twilight's ascension could have been used as an almost brand new story arc for her, since she's already mostly dealt with having learned everything about friendship, now she needs to learn the responsibilities of running a kingdom and having its weight on your shoulders. It did seem like an awful lot of new pressure for her friends to just go: "No, your perfect for the job, it'll be grand sure, there's nothing you can't do!" I'd have given them a pass right after Twi transforms first as them not wanting to immediately throw her into a tizzy (They know how much she likes to over think things and panic) but you'd think they'd even ask each other what they all think of her being a princess now, if not ask her directly, or even ask the ruling princess standing right there if she really has all the qualities of a true alicorn.

 

I personally don't think they'd ever outright attack her new position, on the contrary they should show nothing but support for her as her best friends, but I feel it would've made more sense or at least made a better point for them to be slightly critical of her new duties at first until she can prove to them that, yes, she does have a handle on everything.

 

Yes, Luna of all ponies should certainly have been someone who voiced concerns, because she ended up falling to isolationism, jealousy and bitterness and basically ruining most of her life due to her duties as a princess. It stands to reason she would definitely not want to see the same fate befall Twilight, and Twilight as far as she's concerned has even less experience as royalty then anyone else, since she wasn't really born into it unlike her. I'd always felt as though Luna thinks that Twilight still has more to prove, like in The Crystal Empire when she walks by her in the throne room and gives her a notable quick glance of concern as if to say: "I don't know why my sister always has such faith in you.." It just seems to show that Luna has her doubts that Twilight really is as ready as other ponies say she is.

 

Now true, Twilight has already given her plenty of reason to have faith in her ability to deal with problems that seem way above her level of skill, but as the OP stated I'd imagine her saying there's more to it then just being a good student and hard worker. I think Luna would want to be sure Twilight has the right mindset for the job and won't let her personal feelings affect her better judgement if and when it ever came down to it, as it did with her becoming Nightmare Moon. Twilight was already showing concern about becoming distanced from her friends as a member of royalty and that I think would be something Luna would take note of from her own experiences.

 

Overall, I think Twilight needs to face some opposition as a princess, because its ultimately how she'll grow as one. We all face our critics going through the paths we take, and its overcoming those critics that we grow as a person and learn more about what it is we do. We can't really learn anything if we're supposedly already perfect and infallible, as it seems the ponies want Twilight to believe. It just seems awfully naive for them.

 

Would it not make a much better statement for Twilight to silence numerous neigh nay-Sayers, both villainous and closer to home, by showing that, while she does have things to learn and accept in her duties, she can succeed in these challenges without disaster striking or having some kind of major mess up that the other princesses will need to clean up, and that she can make a very fine princess for Equestria. Personally, I'm all for the idea.

Edited January 18, 2015 by DarkHorse Brony

[Dulset Tarn 441]

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Damn, that's a great point I didn't even notice. Luna essentially failed at being a princess, collapsing under the pressure and struggles and went insane with bitterness. Therefore, Twilight has to, at the very least, be a better princess than Luna was. I definitely don't see Luna or Twilight just being flippantly confident about that.

[sweetolebob18 728]

Well, for Luna I think it is a bit of a case of conflicted emotions.  On the one hand, T saved her from being Nightmare Moon & arguably saved her from a relapse by trusting her, having faith, & showing her how to make new friends (Luna Eclipsed)

 

On the other hand, C trusted T over Luna in the Crystal Empire. Now, IMO, this was to make up for C not trusting T in Canterlot Wedding.  The whole mess arguably happened because T expressed concern & C just blew her off. Didn't even listen, just basically told her "stop being a jealous little baby & grow up" (Not those words, but what she meant).  Now you could make the case Nightmare Moon either C had a plan or just thought T was too young to take seriously.  But, by the wedding, T had done enough C should have had the courtesy to at least discuss the matter.  So, I think C sent T to the Crystal Empire alone as a way of saying "I screwed up, but I do trust you"

 

But, the question is Did Luna see it that way?  Or was this just another brick in the wall?  Luna became NMM because of jealousy &  here C goes again, not trusting me, & T is taking my place.

 

So yes, I could see Luna being conflicted about the whole thing & maybe questioning T.

 

Also, as I said earlier, not ONE of her friends said "Hey, I was there, too.  Where's my crown?"  Okay, F would probably never say that & maybe AJ would want to stay on her farm & Pinkie doesn't think like that.  BUT, I definitely see Dash & Rarity raising the question.  Not instantly, but after awhile they would ask why T gets the glory  & they get nothing for helping.