AC97 
"[@PaintEdits":](/images/2351340#comment_9013777
[bq])
> Literal prodigy[/bq]
She's a reformed villain, who had part of the logic for reforming her being "her magic is powerful." That's how the story worked. It would feel weirder if she suddenly sucked with magic for no reason.
[bq]
> got pardoned for kidnapping the mane 6 and stealing their cutie marks, also got pardoned for screwing with space time and nearly dooming Equestria, is on par with an alicorn in magic[/bq]
And Luna got pardoned for a repeated usurption attempt. Do you think Discord would've still been turned to stone if he was contrite at any point, wanted to befriend others? Do you think Celestia would've punished Luna if she managed to talk her down the first time? Because that was the situation Starlight was in.
[bq]
> is on par with an alicorn in magic[/bq]
I haven't seen proof she's actually_*as_* powerful as Twilight, it's just that she comes across as less restrained in power, more refined in some ways, befitting someone not shackled to academic learning for most of her life, and may or may not be noticeably older than Twilight, more experienced.
She's explicitly Chrysalis' physical inferior, she lost to Sombra offscreen (Twilight was matching him), she lost to Chrysalis after her tricks wouldn't cut it anymore, she never showed any evidence she could hurt Tirek, which Twilight did, and she was shown to be weaker than a charged-up Cozy Glow.
[bq]
> she convince AN ENTIRE COLONY OF LOYAL CHANGELINGS TO MUTINY[/bq]
And Shining Armor and Cadance curb-stomped an entire army, in addition to their leader who one-upped Celestia, who also managed to do so because the former was very powerful.
You would have a point there... if she didn't have Thorax going for her there.
[bq]
> she banished DISCORD[/bq]
Newsflash: that didn't accomplish much of anything. He let her hit him, and it did absolutely nothing to bind his magic, or inconvenience him.
[bq]
> can solve pretty much any problem except the one's the writers hamfist her to fail at.[/bq]
So she's a Mary Sue... because she's not perfect at solving problems, because she fails? Right...
[bq]
> Literal prodigy
She's a reformed villain, who had part of the logic for reforming her being "her magic is powerful." That's how the story worked. It would feel weirder if she suddenly sucked with magic for no reason.
[bq]
> got pardoned for kidnapping the mane 6 and stealing their cutie marks, also got pardoned for screwing with space time and nearly dooming Equestria, is on par with an alicorn in magic
And Luna got pardoned for a repeated usurption attempt. Do you think Discord would've still been turned to stone if he was contrite at any point, wanted to befriend others? Do you think Celestia would've punished Luna if she managed to talk her down the first time? Because that was the situation Starlight was in.
[bq]
> is on par with an alicorn in magic
I haven't seen proof she's actually
She's explicitly Chrysalis' physical inferior, she lost to Sombra offscreen (Twilight was matching him), she lost to Chrysalis after her tricks wouldn't cut it anymore, she never showed any evidence she could hurt Tirek, which Twilight did, and she was shown to be weaker than a charged-up Cozy Glow.
[bq]
> she convince AN ENTIRE COLONY OF LOYAL CHANGELINGS TO MUTINY
And Shining Armor and Cadance curb-stomped an entire army, in addition to their leader who one-upped Celestia, who also managed to do so because the former was very powerful.
You would have a point there... if she didn't have Thorax going for her there.
[bq]
> she banished DISCORD
Newsflash: that didn't accomplish much of anything. He let her hit him, and it did absolutely nothing to bind his magic, or inconvenience him.
[bq]
> can solve pretty much any problem except the one's the writers hamfist her to fail at.
So she's a Mary Sue... because she's not perfect at solving problems, because she fails? Right...