This is the intro video for a rather ambitious project that's been floating around in my head. The idea is that rather than uniting against Nightmare Moon, the Elements are split because of their different beliefs of who is at fault for the whole Nightmare Moon incident; Princess Luna or Princess Celestia. Because Nightmare Moon is not defeated, a civil war erupts, with each of the Princesses leading a side.
If I continue with this project, viewers will get to choose which side and service branch they want to serve in, and will then participate in a battle between the two forces. The battles will play out like choose you own adventure stories; in each combat situation, there will be multiple choices that will result in either victory or defeat.
If you would like to see something like this happen, please let me know by liking the video or leaving a comment. All hail the Princesses!
EXPLANATIONS FOR CHARACTER ALLIANCES
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: Being Princess Celestia's personal student for most of her life, her alliance to the Solar Kingdom is obvious.
FLUTTERSHY: Fluttershy has an affinity for caring for all kinds of animals, as well as having a tendency toward peace and non-violence. A society where all species are (theoretically) equal would have a larger draw for her than a society with a social hierarchy, hence her alliance with the Lunar Republic.
RARITY: Rarity does like to associate herself with the high class aristocrats of Canterlot and their culture. However, as the Element of Generosity, she has also shown a great desire to help others, no matter their species. One such example is sacrificing her tail to help Steven Magnet in the second episode, a tremendous act of cross-species kindness. She is both generous and forward-thinking, and would fit with the Lunar Republic better.
APPLEJACK: While she can be stubborn, as the Element of Honesty Applejack is able to objectively look at situations as they really are, and make the decision that is truly right. Thus, she will go for the side that promises equality for all, the Lunar Republic. (Also, many people have brought up Applejack's siding with the ponies in "Over a Barrel", even though they were technically the antagonists. See the situation as Applejack does: her family and friends, who have worked so hard to raise a new town in the desert, are being attacked by menacing looking buffalo. It doesn't matter how impartial somepony is, if its family vs. some scary stranger, they're going to side with family every time.)
PINKIE PIE: Honestly, Pinkie is just too unpredictable. If she was to break off from Celestia and start the Pink Federation, I wouldn't be surprised at all. I placed her with Celestia mainly because I wanted each side to have one of each pony type, and Luna already had Applejack.
RAINBOW DASH: This was easily the most difficult decision to make. Rainbow Dash has a fierce loyalty to her friends, demonstrated in the second episode when she denied an opportunity to fulfill her life's dream, instead opting to help them. What she would do when her friends join opposite sides is up for debate. However, this matter is bigger than just her friends. The Solar Kingdom represents Dash's entire life experience: her hometown, her house, her friends, her idols. While she has some friends on the side of the Lunar Republic, it also represents a new world, one that she does not know. Given her role as the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash would side with the Solar Kingdom.