How would Twilight handle an issue regarding Equestria's buried past?

[Denim&Venöm 19,213]

So I've an idea for a fanfic, where an artist delves into Equestria's history of conflict for inspiration, revealing to the public that ponies weren't necessarily peaceful and that their peaceful present was built upon a violent history of war that was reduced to legend and old mares tales. Think Thor: Ragnarok or Frozen II. Seemingly idyllic kingdoms with skeletons in the closet. 

Now some parts of Equestria outright deny this and call the work offensive and slanderous. Other parts proclaim it as glorifying war and militant ideals. Some don't want their ugly pasts or bitter defeats brought up. Celestia being a proponent of all this, having seen the chaos of the Lunar Rebellion.

But others take pride in being victorious, or being shown as not as weak and powerless as everypony else believes. Others say that it's history and it should not be hidden, no matter how painful it is. Or that the sacrifices made should not be forgotten. Luna favors this stance, as for her, this was her recent past that she has accepted, for all its pride and shame. 

This would put ruler Twilight in a bind. She's not one for censoring history. That ones past should be learned from. But she also wants peace and it isn't fair for old wounds to be reopened and feelings hurt over this, and that one's present is more important than their past. 

So with a threat of conflict and chaos brewing over whether Equestria's denies or owns its past, how would Twi and her friends handle dealing with their nation's complicated history?

 

[Sparklefan1234 172,155]

4 hours ago, Denim&Venöm said:

So with a threat of conflict and chaos brewing over whether Equestria's denies or owns its past, how would Twi and her friends handle dealing with their nation's complicated history?

 

Borrow the Time-Turner from Hogwarts? 

It's a fan fiction so a simple dimensional detour doesn't have to make any sense. 

[Toastypk 923]

The comics had a somewhat similar scenario for Twilight's response.

This unicorn dude named Shadow Lock is going around wiping history books, and with it, the knowledge of their contents. After a few issues, Twilight finally confronts him, where she learns that he's doing this because he learned he was descended from an ancient evil (which is shown to be the Pony of Shadows!) and fearing its return, he wanted to erase all knowledge of it to reduce the chance it could somehow return.

Twilight goes into a whole spiel about how we have to learn from the past to move on from it. So that's definitely her approach.

[Cagey 4,248]

Very interesting theme you’ve got going on there. Sounds like something I’d be interested in reading. 

I’d assume Twilight would first go with the moral impulse: covering up the past is wrong, and knowledge is good, so she should not censor the ponies. 

Then, because it won’t be that simple, ponies become violent in some fashion. Twilight realizes she has to do something, since her words about addressing the past and moving on aren’t getting through. But she’s not going to censor Equestria’s history, so she has to try another solution. 

Whatever she comes up with has to be big enough to reach others, and it’s not going to solve the conflicts overnight. After all, they might be old wounds, but they’ve only recently been rediscovered. 

It’s never been my strong suit, but I wish you luck in plotting.

[nightshroud96 124]

I can see some history revealed such as more info on what led Luna into becoming NMM.
Such as how Celestia was at fault too due to not being there for Luna and such but said info being censored by nobles long-ago due to believing it will damage Celestia's reputation.

[swu24 8]

On 10/19/2020 at 8:09 PM, nightshroud96 said:

I can see some history revealed such as more info on what led Luna into becoming NMM.
Such as how Celestia was at fault too due to not being there for Luna and such but said info being censored by nobles long-ago due to believing it will damage Celestia's reputation.

 

[nightshroud96 124]

3 minutes ago, swu24 said:

 

There's nothing in the post.
What were you meant to say?

[swu24 8]

On 10/19/2020 at 8:09 PM, nightshroud96 said:

I can see some history revealed such as more info on what led Luna into becoming NMM.
Such as how Celestia was at fault too due to not being there for Luna and such but said info being censored by nobles long-ago due to believing it will damage Celestia's reputation.

 

[Goat-kun 2,527]

If I had gotten a primogem for every fanfic about totes-not-human pony history I'd have summoned all the Genshin waifus by now.

 

 

Both Celestia and Luna are gone so she can do whatever she wants. Twilight would probably be in favor of learning from history. That aside, she'd listen to Celestia.

[swu24 8]

On 10/19/2020 at 5:00 PM, Sparklefan1234 said:

 

Borrow the Time-Turner from Hogwarts? 

It's a fan fiction so a simple dimensional detour doesn't have to make any sense. 

 

[SharpWit 2,701]

The chapters of history may have been rewritten, but the current story remains the same.

I think the best thing they can do is accept what's happened, but put emphasis on the fact that the Equestrians of today are not those of yesterday. They shouldn't let the sacrifices made go to waste and allow this period of peace to end after so much has and still can be achieved.

We may have to deal with the lasting impacts from our ancestors, but we do not inherit their transgressions. Some may turn their backs feeling as though they've been living a lie. Some may become inspired and see the world through a different lense, for better or for worse. Ultimately, I think Twilight and Co will manage to maintain order, but the nation will continue onto a path that would inevitably be tread.