Princess Luna offers a forgiving smile when Twilight Sparkle apologized for not asking for her and her sister, Princess Celestia’s aide after the evil King Sombra was ressurected and destroyed the Tree of Harmony after Twilight and her best friends overconfidently “stopped” him at the Crystal Empire. She agrees that a good leader knows when to ask for help, but a great leader has the courage to admit their mistakes and the strength to make up for them. She should know from experience.

Back when she and her sister became Equestria’s first rulers, Luna felt like she would be overshadowed by Celestia; their ponies relished daytime (the time of Celestia’s reign) but slept at night (Luna’s time of rule). Her bitterness and jealousy allowed evil to consume her, transforming her into the maleficent Nightmare Moon, and to usher in an eternal night. Unable to talk sense into her, Celestia had no choice but to banish her fallen sister to the moon for a thousand years with the Elements of Harmony. A thousand moons later, after being defeated and healed back to her old self by the Mane Six, Luna reunited with Celestia and made amends. Although she consented to her nocturnal station in life, resuming her duties in protecting Equestria once more, Princess Luna strived to prove that she would bring night only when it is needed and that she is no longer the fiend she once was. She celebrated Nightmare Night and revealed to be fun, after struggling with how to fit in; she helped all of the Cutie Mark Crusaders overcome obstacles or difficulties through their dreams.

However, the only pony she could never forgive was herself. She created the Tantabus, a spectral spirit that plagued her with nightmares of her past to punish herself. But when her nightmare turned into a good dream, the Tantabus escaped, and began giving everypony in Ponyville their worst nightmares. Despite the town’s efforts in defeating the Tantabus in a shared dream, however, Princess Luna’s guilt caused it to grow to immense size and almost escape into the real world. Luna tearfully revealed that she created the Tantabus to punish herself with nightmares after all the trouble she caused when she was Nightmare Moon. Realizing that the Tantabus was feeding off of Luna’s guilt, Twilight and her friends rallied around her, telling her to forgive herself. Twilight told her that while Nightmare Moon would’ve wanted the Tantabus to turn Equestria into a nightmare, Princess Luna was doing everything she could to stop it. Thus, proving that she was no longer the same pony she was then. With her new friends’ love and support, Luna finally forgave herself and banished the Tantabus for good! From then on, Luna knows from this day that even though she isn’t the most perfect princess, she must be more loving to herself and that she always has the love of her sister and friends.

And just before she and Celestia retired from rulership, they forgave Twilight for her mistakes and even admitted that they rushed her too soon to be their successor. So, they decided to give her time until she is truly ready to be Equestria’s new ruler. Even Luna has faith in her, especially since it was she who helped her move on from her dark pasts, and she will never forget that.

Yesterday was Luna Day (and it’s the winter solstice/Winter Moon)!!! I couldn’t think of anything this year, so I stuck to making a vector of her instead. In spite of being unable to make a grand tribute pic for her, I will always say that Princess Luna will always be most favorite pony princess for all for the following reasons: for one she is blue, my favorite color OMG! I can’t contain my excitement! Dance! Headbang! Singing Judge :o (Eek) :( (Sad) Sweating a little… (sorry got carried away); she is very beautiful (mentioned that already), and she reigns over the night, which I consider an equally beautiful yet misunderstood period of time. Now I admit nighttime can be frightening at times, but it is also a time of beauty and serenity. Luna’s role is to raise and lower the moon, which when full can bring such a gorgeous and comforting light in the darkness, along with the glittering sea of stars surrounding the silver shield Luna brings. Nighttime is also the time when nocturnal species, including my most favorite animals, are active. The night is also cool and a great time to evade the unbearable heat of summer’s day. And it also the time to dream, and if nightmares haunt us, Luna will always be there to save us from them. Our dream heroine. And despite her dark past, her feeling unappreciated and unloved by her peers, she deserves to be loved and have friends. She is our Princess of the Night and she always will be.

Traced from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 9 Episode 2, “Beginning of the End Pt. 2.”