Celestia and Luna- a thousand years without. Celestia, Luna, or the elements to blame?

[ManaMinori 4,112]

I was listening to Lullaby for a Princess again, and still get a little choked up at the song, after all this time. The line of “the blame was my own, the punishment yours” by Celestia always makes me consider if the elements of Harmony had truly delivered a fair and just sentence for Luna who was simply hurting and desiring appreciation for what she created by her subjects, or if the elements had simply doled out the punishment befitting of Luna’s “crime” with no regards for it being appropriate of justified, since the blame was absolutely Celestia’s for not taking notice of her sister’s (her closest companion’s) hurt and suffering and sadness at that time.

 

The excuse of “oh she was so busy running a kingdom so she couldn’t have possibly noticed” is weak, imo. And with her sister as co-ruler, there HAS to be good communication to ensure a government functions properly, and even moreso behinds the scenes in their personal time, as sisters rather than rulers. And as the older and more mature sister, it was Always Celestia’s responsibility to ensure this. So yes, once again, the blame is 100% Celly’s. 
 

But going back to the elements ad their method of punishment. Was it just, considering the price Luna had to pay for her specific situation, and other party’s being to blame? Do you guys think the elements really function on a fair justice system, given not only Luna’s circumstances, but other villains? 

[Trot Shuffle 204]

Yeah, absolutely Celestia is to blame for not trying to talk it out (or at least the show portrays it that way until Nightmare Moon is defeated). Luna was upset because it didn't seem too fair to her but Luna didn't really seem to express that appropriately. I think Celestia's pride blinded seeing her sister in pain and only saw an angry version of her sister, which led to her being banished for a long time and led to tall-tales which portrayed Luna being "evil". Which, in reality, it was resentment created from sadness and a bit of jealousy.

Is it just? I think there could've been other options (talking it out for starters) but in the heat of the moment, I doubt Celestia was even thinking of wanting to talk it out and nor was Luna. "A Royal Problem" does touch on this though, which is close enough to what I think could've prevented their heartbreak. They should've tried seeing what it was like in each other's positions and realize they need each other.

It's also just like Stygian and the Pillars. Did Stygian deserve that kind of punishment? No, but they thought he was trying to conjure some evil thing up so in the moment it's understandable. And, he should've expressed that he wanted to be of more help because honestly it does seem strange if your personal possessions are taken from you without your permission. (and that's not even touching the whole magical cloning thing he wanted to do.) And after they pushed him away, that sadness turned into resentment. And the Tree of Harmony was trying to signify that it was a friendship problem which didn't need any punishing or banishment involved. Imagine if Luna and Celestia had that!

I don't think the elements themselves are to blame for anything as it depends on who is using them.