ohno

Same here. I can understand not wanting to add them, but SOMEthing would have been nice. Even just a cutie mark on the forehead would have been okay, though a jewel would be cool. The glowing spot Twilight gets when escaping the caves in Legend of Everfree would have worked too. Just add a dot of glow in the dark paint to those toys and you're good to go. I liked the holographic horns in the third movie a lot, but I guess they considered it too late to implement for all of them, or wanted to keep it special for that moment or something? Though they tweak designs all the time (I mean, each new design means a new toy to sell, right?) so I wish they'd just add some kind of horn alternative.

Might as well throw my two cents into the ring. I hadn't actually considered the 'Element of Forgiveness' theory, but I do really like that one! I assume she started out as a contender for the element of magic, given that she was Twilight's predecessor, and their similar name conventions. I had two guesses, based on traits she's had both before and after her redemption. The first wasn't far off from 'Acceptance.' I was thinking Sunset might represent "Empathy," not in the sense of always being caring and understanding, but in the way that she understands how other people (and ponies think), what motivates them, what they want, etc. Even when she had no concept of how friendship works, she still used her knowledge of the other students to manipulate them and get what she wanted. She knew how to figure people out, and what might hurt them the most. After she started using her insight for good, she became a supportive and observant friend. And when they all gained new powers that seemed tailored to their personalities, if not elements, her power was the ability to literally sense what others feel and basically re-live their memories at a touch. (It could also fall in with the way she was instantly repentant after being defeated - she got Twilight's message right away, even if she didn't know how to act on it. But also her fast turnaround was probably just a matter of efficient storytelling, haha.) My other guess was the element of "Confidence," but that she's still on the path to properly embodying it. As both Celestia's student and the school bully, she was arrogant. (I think the comics even mention Celestia lecturing Sunset on humility, in the same way she later urged Twilight to consider the importance of friends.) After repenting, she lost her confidence in herself and her place among her friends, even when she noticed them having problems and had good suggestions that would have helped. She still seems to struggle with faltering self-esteem from time to time, but maybe she's on the path of turning her previous pride into a force for good. She doesn't shy away from confrontation, even when she overdoes it. She certainly seems to have a broad range of talents, from painting, music, photography, and academics. She has a lot to be confident about, if she can trust herself and temper it with humility. (Also, when she "ponied up" in Legend of Everfree, it was after she encouraged Twilight to use her magic and believe in her own ability to control it. I know her words were "our friends are in there," but since "Loyalty" is already spoken for, "Confidence" seems like a decent contender.) Anyway, it's fun to think about. I know it's all speculation at this point, but the argument for the geodes representing the alternate elements, and her ability to connect with the others during their big final showdowns both make it seem like she's Element potential. EDIT: Oh. Well then. There's also this quote from the wiki. "According to Twitter conversations with Jim Miller, Sunset Shimmer's popularity is not why Starlight Glimmer was added to the show.[9] When asked on Twitter in mid-December 2016 if Sunset is one of the Elements of Harmony, Ishi Rudell replied, "In our world she is the 7th element! ☀️"[10] later specifying said element to be "empathy".[11]" http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Sunset_Shimmer#Development_and_design Wish I'd read that before writing out this whole thing, LMAO. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯