Unpopular opinion time: Flash Magnus is actually a direct ancestor of Flash Sentry. Sentry joined the Royal Guard in hopes of going on similar adventures, but has had no such luck. He has no idea where the Netitus Shield is, but one day, once he has proven himself, it will reveal itself to him.
What? Don’t tell me that wouldn’t at least make him interesting!
I wonder perhaps if like the Rainbow Power, they somehow connected themselves to the elements without specifically taking them from the tree. That would give them enough power to fight opponents like the Sirens, but would likely be ineffective against Discord.
Star Swirl really doesn’t feel much like ‘Friendship’ though, I agree. The only ones he seems to have actually got along with are Celestia and Scorpan. And even his friendship with Celestia hit the rocks a little.
@Philweasel
I’m pretty sure they’d notice whene Discord took over regardless of where they were in the world, considering he pretty much turn the entire world into his own madhouse on a sugar high.
And there’s still the question of how the elements would have picked them, it’s already established that Starswirl didn’t understand friendship like the way Twilight did so “magic” isn’t exactly going to choose him. And it was indicated by the sisters themselves that this would be the first time the elements were ever removed from the tree.
@darknessRising24
Star Swirl might have lived longer than them (he’s revealed to have magic capable of reversing aging in ’Journal of Two Sisters), some of them might have left on other adventures (Mistmane and Meadowbrook are wanderers with no fixed abode), some just might not have been there (Flash Magnus and Rockhoof are part of the military forces of regions outside of the Castle of Two Sisters and Canterlot, and Somnambula is Royal Advisor to the Pharaoh).
@Philweasel
But then what was topping the other legends from at the very least helping? Especially if they supposedly wielded the elements themselves? Wouldn’t it make sense that they’d try to retrieve them to save their friend?
Plus, how much time would have had to pass for them to lose their connection to the elements in the first place?
@darknessRising24
Even if Star Swirl was present during the fight against Discord (which is a big ‘if’), there’s no indications the others were. Celestia and Luna are the only ones ever to use more than one element by themselves. And again, there’s always the possibility that he was taken out by Discord before he had a chance to retrieve them.
Plus there’s the fact that Discord didn’t really know about the elements because he didn’t seem very worried when Celestia and Luna came to use them.
That’s actually a pretty good justification for the whole ‘don’t tell anyone about the elements/tree of harmony thing. If you don’t advertise them and keep them hidden away, any enemy who attacks won’t be expecting them.
@Philweasel
That still begs the question of why didn’t they just use the elements against him themselves? The only reason Celestia didn’t do it in the show was because she had lost her connection to the elements after her sister turned evil. If the others had access to them then they would have used them on Discord immediately. Plus there’s the fact that Discord didn’t really know about the elements because he didn’t seem very worried when Celestia and Luna came to use them.
Then there’s also the fact that the Legends couldn’t have have the elements for that long to lose their connection to them, and even then Discord, Celestia, and Luna would have already known about them otherwise.
@darknessRising24
Well Celestia and Luna did know
about them, because they managed to retrieve them for use against Discord. Maybe Starswirl’s last words before being turned into a dancing puppet were “you must find the elements of harmony, they are our only hope…”
Like Celestia and Twilight, Starswirl was obviously grooming Celestia for greatness. That suggests the same trials, willingness to step back and let her handle it, and ‘I’m going to let you figure this out yourself’.
@Vox
That still doesn’t explain how/when they discovered them or why . Their stories all take place after the three tribes united, not too much time could’ve passed since Starswirl himself lived well past Luna’s transformation into Nightmare Moon, in which Celestia was the only one who could use the elements. So that begs the question as to when they could have possibly used them then returned them, and how Celestia and Luna couldn’t have known about them despite stalls while being very close to them…
@darknessRising24
They discovered the Elements. Key distinction. There’s nothing to suggest the Elements weren’t active before that.
Maybe they’d already gone through at least one cycle of use? Consider that the Mane Six had only been bearers for a few years before they were returned to the Tree… and maybe that return enabled Discord’s rise to power. It even juxtaposes with the M6’s restoration of the Tree after Discord’s vines.
@cheezedoodle
Okay, that’s not a bad Theory. But it kind of has some holes in it…
I’m not saying that it’s impossible. But it’s unlikely that these 6 in particular where the ones since Celestia and Luna discovered the Elements during Discord’s reign of terror.
If they were the elements then they would have utilized them against Discord himself. Especially since it’s indicated that Starswirl was alive before and after the uniting of the three tribes and the Royal Sisters came into power sometime after that. Meaning that Discord started his reign of terror sometime after that as well, and such it would be a big continuity error if these six were the original elements.
I’m not saying it’s not a good idea, just that it doesn’t a hundred percent fit with the canonical establishments in the show.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say they are reincarnations, but I’m sure the similarities are intentional. It will be interesting to see where the writers are going with them. Since we know (per the comics) that they will be teaming up, I’ve speculated previously that they may be bearers of the elements of harmony, or even the first bearers. I’m pretty sure their timeline predates the founding of Equestria, so it’s possible Star Swirl discovered the tree of harmony and organized the construction of the castle of the two sisters due to its location.
I’m not really sure about the original Founders being reincarnations. Mainly because Starswirl where was still alive when Platinum was, so it’s arguable that the others are still alive at the point of the comic as well…
@darknessRising24
If he means the Hearth’s Warming Eve ponies, the journal of two sisters indicates they weren’t quite as much like them as the mane 6 portrayed.
For one thing, Princess Platinum was more like Diamond Tiara (fortunately including her hidden depths).
@darknessRising24
Off the top of my head, I only remember the founders of Equestria (Smart Cookie, Princess Platinum, Commander Hurricane, Chancellor Puddinghead, Private Pansy, and Clover the Clever.)
I think the other 6 possible ones were probably from the comics.
@Background Pony #62EC
I think you’re either taking it too literally, or missing the point entirely. There are aspects of the Mane Six that align with the Legends that aren’t the Elements, as that isn’t the only defining parts of them.
Applejack and Rockhoof both share the strength of both character and body to see thing through to the end, despite the odds. They care so much about their friends and family that they don’t have a second thought about putting themselves in danger to protect them, even if the task is well beyond them.
Rainbow Dash and Flash Magnus share the hotneadedness, fierceness, and passion that drives them forward in everything they do. They are both brave to the extreme, don’t afraid of anything, and both certainly carry Loyalty with them to not leave their friends in danger.
Rarity and Mistmane both see beauty in the world, and both strive to bring it out for others to enjoy. While their methods are different, the end result and goal is still the same: make the world a much more beautiful place for everyone to enjoy. To this effect, they both selflessly give of themselves in different ways to make sure that happens.
Pinkie Pie and Somnambula both share something that a lot of people overlook in their characters: Faith. Both characters have absolute faith in that the path they’ve chosen to help others will always work out in the end. They want to see others happy, and believe with all their hearts that the road to happiness starts with a smile.
Twilight Sparkle and Starswirl the Bearded both have an intense desire to understand as much about Magic as they can, but both often misunderstand the context of what they learn at times. They also both did not understand the power behind Friendship (at first). Twilight breaks away from Starswirl in this regard, but we’ve seen shades of how she could have turned out to be exactly like him in other individuals she’s helped (Moondancer, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer, Trixie Lulamoon). Their connection to Magic and their focus on Friendship is key to both of their characters, and examining how divergent they are is definitely a part of both of their stories.
As for Fluttershy and Meadowbrook, that comparison will have to wait until we get A Health of Information and Meadowbrook’s story in Legend of Magic. I have a feeling, based on the other five stories, it won’t be just that mask that’s the main connecting theme between them.
The Mane Six and Legends have strong connecting themes between them, and no, it’s not the Elements. The Mane Six have moved beyond them, and the Elements never limited their definition to them. There have been many episodes that showed that “FUN! PARTIES!” isn’t the only thing that defines Pinkie Pie, or that “MAGIC! SCIENCE! BOOKS!!!” isn’t the only thing about Twilight Sparkle. Falling into the fallacy of viewing the characters as only that is a narrow-minded approach to examining a story, and leads you to missing out on a lot of the creative energy put into a work that makes this so enjoyable in the first place.
