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MelonHunter β They Don't Grow On Trees...
Published: 2013-11-23 16:54:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 50310; Favourites: 745; Downloads: 211
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Starswirl, you really need to check which idioms you use.
Also, wooooooooooo, Season 4 opener! How did you find it? I really enjoyed it personally; I think it's about tied with Season 2 as my favourite opener. Although, that locked container shown at the end has piqued my interest: is this going to form part of a season-long story arc? Will the Mane 6 have to go on a Legend of Zelda-style quest for the keys? Is this Discord's fault? And why not just try to open it with a sledgehammer?
Guess we'll be finding out these coming months!
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UPDATE: Posted to Equestia Daily on 23/11/2013!Β www.equestriadaily.com/2013/11β¦
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Comments: 281
I just want to point out here, dark magic.
She uses dark. Magic.
Again.
Is....is this going to become a thing? Twilight Sparkle the Dark Princess? Surely there must be SOME consequence for that.
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Maybe... I mean, it could just be a coincidence and one of the animators wanted to show off that this was a special spell (seeing as it was a fusion of zebra and alicorn magic). That said, they never really specified quite what the dark magic was or where it came from, and I noticed the suspicious absence of Sombra's defeat by Celestia and Luna in the flashbacks... Watch this space, I suppose!
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Perhaps they did, but why use the dark magic glowy eyes? And for that matter, why equate Alicorn magic with dark magic? Surely happy happy sunshine and rainbows and candy would have better represented our idealized leaders to all the impressionable little girls? Can't have them thinking authority is fallible after all....
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Who knows? I guess a spell to look back in time might cause all kinds of trouble... or maybe alicornΒ magic is inherently corrupting, unlike unicorn magic.
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In my opinion the "Dark" is just a color it depends on what you use it, Tia also used it, remember?
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True she did, but she did so specifically to show the effects of Sombra's dark magics on the Crystal Empire. Now I for one am all for subverting fantasy stereotypes, but MLP has very black and white morals, and dark magic there is unavoidably and undeniably evil. There are no two ways around it. Dark magic, is simply bad.
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Than we do use the wrong name, "Magic of hatred" was the original term if i remember correctly and that would make way more sense.
Hate--->Coruption
But my main theory is the just put that in to give fan fiction writers a nice start.
TwilightΒ was about to cast that black spell on the potion ans something went horribly wrong.
I mean, I know this fandom, I can bet with you they have already about 5 clopfics just about the tentacles.
Mayby i will try my own version of the 6 key Quest someday.
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Maybe sombra was a nice guy too.
But he began to do dark magic and he turned into generic villain #13213
Remember kids, don't do drugs or dMagic. They will do bad things t your body
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I rather hope that happens actually, perhaps at the season finale Twilight has to face the effects of all her dark magic. Still, knowing Hasbro nothing will come of it.
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I loved how a large theme of the episode seemed to be addressing fan fears about Princess Twilight 
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Yeah, I'm glad they made sure to show us that the dynamic between Twilight and her friends hasn't changed, and that Celestia isn't just going to force roles on her she didn't really want. Really feeling good about this season!
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Lol!!!! This is soooooo funny I almost fell off my chair with laughter and surprise!!!!!! Love ur style
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Heh, thanks very much! Glad you really like it!
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Well u impressed me so yeah!
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Β Don't go up against two princesses, it won't end well.Β Nice one!
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I am going to throw in a guess that in season finale we will see just how the Harmony Tree came to be.
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This was one very due and inevitable comic.
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Oh yeah. I had this dumb joke kicking around in my head every since seeing the teaser image with the tree in it
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Silencing a naysayer with their own hyperbole... I have yet to see that one fail.
I'm guessing that, considering that the directives of a toy company do have influence, that we will see a "collect-a-thon" run throughout season 4. I'm guessing that they find the first key easily in the next episode "Castle-Mania," and that the other keys will take more work (not unheard for the first to be a lot easier to find than the others).
I really like what you did with Starswirl the Bearded. He comes off as a figure that genuinely commands and expects respect. Despite humorously not getting it in this pic, for some reason he hasn't completely lost his authority (coming off as someone respectable, and not just a gag).
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Yeah, I'm thinking we'll see some slice-of-life episodes that focus heavily on one of the Mane Six's character-building (in fact Sleepless in Ponyville could well have served for Rainbow Dash's one had it not been last season), and reveal each of their keys as they demonstrate the virtue they represent.
And thanks for the vote of confidence on Starswirl! I always imagined him as this faintly exasperated wise pony trying to shepherd two youthful alicorns into a position of responsibility. I'd say he (eventually) succeeded
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That comment on Starswirl is really making me hope that he didn't later change into Discord. This is mostly because of liking the possibility that Celestia may still think fondly of, and by now genuinely missing, him. Possibly her saying (towards the end of Starswirl's life) something like, "I never did say thank you. I am who I am now because of you, and can now see how much of a kindness that has been the whole time." After probably going through hell in training them (have seen this portrayed humorously in some fan works), it would be quite heartwarming for him to be able to leave knowing that his role as probably a father figure to them has finally been appreciated. Can't even begin to say how much badly needed character development and depth that would give Celestia.
That aside, there may be evidence of this. In MMC, Celestia pointed out that Starswirl couldn't reach his full potential since he never had any friends himself. That may have reflected that she later came to be genuinely concerned about that, and possibly came to genuinely care more about him (something not as easily done if she had resent of him being too strict or authoritarian). Of all spells that she could have tested Twilight, she chose his. While there probably were not many others that could compare to that one, she still seemed to speak in too involved a tone to not be indifferent.
As for Luna, I actually am convinced that she acknowledged him, but expresses it her own way. She recognized the costume immediately on Twilight, in "Luna Eclipsed," and pointed out she got right all the details. It's possible that she recognizes his role to them her own way (sort of like a "take care of yourself old man" attitude, or otherwise respecting the results without the a need to agree with all of them). Later on, she realized that his training may have helped her get her ideas for forming intricate constellations, giving stories (maybe) behind them, and possibly even forming the phases of the moon. Someone who realized all his training paid off in the end. That would explain why she took her work being ignored so personally. She probably went through hell in learning her responsibilities, and in finally learning how to even thrive creatively (not just get by with them) have all that ignored (particularly by a sibling who did not go through that kind of creative trouble).... that would not end well.
Darn.... now I'm wishing something like that was canon. Anyway, I'm glad the vote of confidence towards Starswirl was appreciated (I'm serious when saying I hope Discord is not who he became now).
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Yeah... it always felt like it was a bit insulting to assume the two characters were the same thing because, well, they both have a beard? And a couple of throwaway comments? I've really never seen the Starswirl/Discord link. I think the biggest hole in the theory is that Celestia always seems genuinely sad and regretful whenever she looks back on her actions leading up to Luna's fall, but is just exasperated when Discord's around. If he was a fallen Starswirl, I cant see her not exhibiting that sadness somewhat as witness to another loved one who turned evil.
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Finally saw the series premier on iTunes. Turns out that part, about Celestia having more personal thoughts about the NM incident is canon (was very happy Luna was there during the summer sun celebration).
Still, there is one thought that may be consistent of dark transformations related to Starswirl (sort of). That is, King Sombra. At first the thought occurred that he may have been a former student of his. That was scrapped since he seemed way too good at what he does (besides magical, he was anything but petty or unfamiliar with the depth of the territory with which he dabbled), and may be too cliched. I'm guessing that he was instead a rival of his. Not in the sense of an evil villain (at first), mind you, but rather as someone who genuinely had the skill and practical life approaches to stand as his equal. Possibly they had mutual respect for one another (whether or not they used to be friends could be open to debate) at first, and over time the path they both would take became more apparent.
Hmm... Starswirl v. Sombra... I really have to admit that would be downright epic. Since Celestia and Luna didn't get more personally involved in the crystal empire, I'm guessing Starswirl wasn't killed (assuming that this theory would be sound).
Anyway, that's enough commenting and theorizing. I appreciate the feedback to the comments posted.
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Starswirl, need some ice for that BURN.
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Beware of Celestia's wit, Starswirl, because she'll unleash some SUNBURN on you!
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Thanx to Season 4, we now know where the elements came from!
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Indeed we do! I love world-building episodes like this
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That is true but the real good question is where the tree come from?
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I have a theory (albeit one that requires a fair bit of geological movement) that the cave the Tree of Harmony is growing in is the same one the Hearth's Warming Six sheltered in, and their budding friendship caused the tree to sprout with its six elements.
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That makes a lot of since.My idea was that some unknown
Β powerful being plant the tree there 10,000 or more years before
Β the formation of the three tribes,maybe even before the ponies even existed.
That is Β assuming there other beings that are like discord but
Β represent harmony instead of disharmony.But it just a theory andΒ
we will have to wait and see what the rest of season 4 revealΒ to us.
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Sure, join right in! Why not pick up another Element to throw for double the fun?
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Awesome! Time to play some element baseball.
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Glad you liked it! ^^
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Open with a sledgehammer, nice one there
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YOU GOT TREE'ED STARSWIRL!
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MLG UBER-PRO 360 NOSCOPE WORDPLAY PWNAGE
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HUZZAH!
THE TREES HAVE BEEN PWNED!
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No, it might as well be the very power of Friendship that will promote Twilight's Friends to Alicorn Status. Think like the contents of Total Drama Action's Ark of the Covenant (NOTHING IN THE BOX), or the ending of "Pasadena Jones and the Secret of Life," where Buster Bunny learns that FRIENDS are the Secret of Life!
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Oooh, that's an idea. The journey to open the box is the prize, not what's in the box itself? Like the mirrored scroll from Kung Fu Panda? I like that idea!
...I really don't want to see the fallout if all of the Mane Six become alicorns, though. Good Lord
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And speaking of which, (I may have already told you about this), but I have a theory that, basically, the Elements of Harmony are just like the mirrored scroll.
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Ah-hA! BUT THERE"S ONLY ONE TREE SO HA! I WIN! BINGO! GAME OVER! ONE MILLION POINTS.Β
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