Virtues aren’t something you innately possess, they’re something you strive towards.
Loyalty makes total sense for Luna, and fits perfectly with her downfall. She poured her heart out for her subjects, and in return she saw only disdain. How can you stay loyal to someone who rejects you?
Honesty fits perfectly too. She speaks her mind straightforward and to the point.
Laughter… well, other than her evil laugh, she has tried very hard to make her subjects happy. Her inability to do so must have cut her deeply. “Screams of delight is what your princess desires, not screams of terror!”
Pity the likelihood of an episode that actually covers Discord -> NMM schism in any form of detail is so unlikely.
In the end all we have are factions trying to defend two very vague characters that only serve as ‘woobie questgiver’ (Celestia) and ‘important event prop’ (Luna)
Elements don’t seem to be assigned to whoever has the most of whatever personality trait, but rather someone who struggles with and especially highly values it.
AJ lies time and again, RD is torn between friends and dreams, Twilight was a loner most of her life, etc.
Otherwise Pinkie Pie would be the element of friendship.
I… don’t think the animators really thought out which Princess was supposed to have which Elements of Harmony.
According to this, Luna has Loyalty, Honesty, and Laughter. That last one definitely doesn’t apply to her, and Loyalty is pretty sketchy too. Honesty, though, yeah that one’s Luna’s. Celestia has Kindness, Generosity, and Magic. Sure those all fit, but I think Luna deserves to have Generosity more than Sunbutt did.
CONCLUSION: Back then, both Princesses could each bear all six elements by themselves. FURTHER HEADCANON: Luna forsook the Elements; Celestia was forsaken by the Elements after banishing Luna (this is pretty much canon based on what Celestia said in Ep.27).
I always liked the idea that the princesses lost their connection with the Elements due to various events which reversed their behavior and rendered the gems inert. Kinda why I was hoping Celestia would have honesty, since she tends to be a trickster mentor.
I don’t think there’s any significance to which elements they’re holding. When the main six used them, they were assigned their elements and they only worked as long as there was friendship and harmony between them. The rules were apparently different for Celestia and Luna.
Observation: Characters often reverse personality traits when confronted by situations that conflict with their self-definition (Cutie Mark Failure Insanity Syndrome).
Luna, in response to the perceived lack of devotion towards her night, may have reversed the devotion she felt towards her subjects.
@sargesprinkles
It’s kinda up in the air right now. in the Animatic she has a look of fear. In the final version she looks like she is in pain just before going into some kind of trance.
