Why Fluttershy?

[LordDiscord 289]

Ever since "Keep Calm Flutter On" I have been pondering why reforming Discord was left up to Fluttershy and why the two was even paired together to begin with. Now don't get me wrong, I like that Discord and Fluttershy are friends, but knowing how Discords character is based off of Q and how Q befriends Picard,( the Enterprize's Captain) it makes me wonder why Twilight was not chosen as the one to reform Discord, seeing how she is the leader of the Mane 6? 

 

I feel that had Twilight been the one to befriend and reform Discord, it would have made her ascendance to " Alicorn" more rewarding considering the feat she had accomplished, a feat that not even Celestia or Luna had done, which resulted in them turning him to stone.

 

It just seems like a missed opportunity and would have made more sense seeing how it is Twilight Discord is constantly annoying.

 

I don't know what do you all think? 

Edited October 23, 2014 by LordDiscord

[11th Doctor Whooves 794]

I think that its because, of the Mane Six, Fluttershy was the one most likely to actually befriend him.  The othersdidn't even give reforming him a real chance.  Twilight went to go find a spell, and when that didn't work, she and everyone else were pretty much "Turn him to stone!!"

 

Fluttershy tried from the beginning to be his friend, to show him just what being friends was all about, so that when she told him they weren't friends anymore, it really hurt him.  He saw the error of his ways (mostly) and turned good.

[ReverieRiver 526]

Because Fluttershy is the Element of Kindness?

 

The rest of the others, including Twilight, were incredibly mistrusting of Discord (and still are to some extent even after his reformation). With good reason, of course, but... I think you know as well as I do that friendship requires trust. If none of them were willing to place their trust in his potential for good, they would get nowhere with him.

 

Fluttershy, on the other hand, is a very compassionate pony that tries to see the good in everyone, even Spirits of Chaos. That's why she was chosen, I believe.

[Guest]

I actually really like the idea of linking Discord's reforming to Twilight's 'ascension'. After all, taming the spirit of Chaos through the magic of friendship? Much better than finishing an incomplete spell I think. 

 

Having said that, the dynamic between Fluttershy and Discord is great and I can see why it worked that way. Also, FLuttershy is Kindness ponysonified, the perfect foil for Discord If anyone was going to make you feel guilty about being naughty, it would be the passive and gentle Fluttershy

 

Edited October 23, 2014 by Guest

[AmberDust 1,118]

I'd never considered it before, but it does make sense. But i think the reason they chose Fluttershy was because she was the only one willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, you know? She's the only one who never gets angry or impatient, which means she's basically impervious to Discor's shenanigans. Twilight wouldn't be able to handle Discord, nevermind change him at all.

[Jeric 46,869]

Q never really befriended Picard though. Though there are moments that Picard recognized the importance of his lesson or involvement, he would have rather preferred he NOT show up. Twilight already fits that, but the story needed something more than that. Fluttershy was the best candidate to work with Discord. It also allowed for Flutters to have her moment and tell her friends that she isn't as naive as they think ... character development good!

[Yamato 1,348]

I think you got a point there. It woulda been neat to have had Twilight do it, and the fact that she would have invariably gotten pissed at him would have made it that much more amusing. Realistically, however, a reformation by Twilight would have spanned multiple episodes, and I think the writers wanted it to be a "one-and-done" kind of deal. It also gave them an excuse to make the yellow one not seem completely useless, so that's probably why they went that route.

[ReverieRiver 526]

I think you got a point there. It woulda been neat to have had Twilight do it, and the fact that she would have invariably gotten pissed at him would have made it that much more amusing. Realistically, however, a reformation by Twilight would have spanned multiple episodes, and I think the writers wanted it to be a "one-and-done" kind of deal. It also gave them an excuse to make the yellow one not seem completely useless, so that's probably why they went that route.

 

As much as I agree that the reformation should have been spread across the span of more than one episode - I mean, I think it wouldn't have killed the writers to make it a two-parter - but I'll have to respectfully disagree with the rest.

 

I honestly think Fluttershy was the only one that would have been able to realistically reform him. Twilight? She wanted to use a spell to 'poof' him good, because she didn't truly believe that he could be reformed otherwise. Same with the others. They were all too ready to jump to using the Elements and turn him back to stone the moment he stepped out of line; Fluttershy was the only one that trusted him enough to actually remove her Element. (...If I remember correctly.)

 

Which brings me back to the point I made before... To reform him with the magic of friendship, they would have to become his friend. But how could Twilight even begin to earn his trust if she didn't even trust him?

[Jeric 46,869]

@Miss Reaper, good points and yes your memory serves you well. Fluttershy did promise not to use her Element and kept that word. And I agree with the two-parter being unnecessary. The full reformation didn't occur until Twilight's Kingdom and was due to Discords friendship with Fluttershy, being betrayed and finally getting what friendship really is, Fluttershy's reaction, and then Twilight's forgiveness. Using the finale in that way was superior to a two-part episode dedicated on reforming him. It also worked for me since his initial reformation seemed ... too easy. It made Twilight's Kingdom more believable. 

 

Also, Fluttershy's reaction in the finale would never have happened if it was a Twilight-centric friendship.

[LordDiscord 289]

As much as I agree that the reformation should have been spread across the span of more than one episode - I mean, I think it wouldn't have killed the writers to make it a two-parter - but I'll have to respectfully disagree with the rest.

 

I honestly think Fluttershy was the only one that would have been able to realistically reform him. Twilight? She wanted to use a spell to 'poof' him good, because she didn't truly believe that he could be reformed otherwise. Same with the others. They were all too ready to jump to using the Elements and turn him back to stone the moment he stepped out of line; Fluttershy was the only one that trusted him enough to actually remove her Element. (...If I remember correctly.)

 

Which brings me back to the point I made before... To reform him with the magic of friendship, they would have to become his friend. But how could Twilight even begin to earn his trust if she didn't even trust him?

True, however, this trust issue that Twilight and the others have is what lead to Discord betraying them in "Twilights Kingdom". I feel at some point this trust issue is going to have to be addressed if they ever intend on Discords character developing further. If they keep it exclusively Fluttershy with Twilight and the other constantly pushing him away, then he is never going to learn what friendship truly is and is going to see it as a one-hit wonder that he was lucky to stumble across. Which means one day he may relapse again, only Fluttershy might not be their to steer  him straight again.

Edited October 23, 2014 by LordDiscord

[Will Guide 21,365]

You know what could seen as hilarious foreshadowing in hindsight? Think back to Return of Harmony when Discord first brainwashed everypony. Fluttershy was the only one in the maze that didn't easily fell into Discord's mind game, up to the point where he forcefully turned her cruel with a touch of his talon. This made me realize something: Discord could have easily conquered Equestria if he wanted to by brainwashing everyone just like that. But then where were the fun be in breaking them down one by one?

 

In a sense, Fluttershy and Discord both won and lost at the same time during Return of Harmony. Fluttershy won by spoiling Discord's fun agreeing with Discord's taunts, but lost because she became cruel anyway. Discord won by turning Fluttershy cruel, but lost because Fluttershy prevented him from brainwashing her the way he wanted to!

[FizzyGreen 909]

Twilight wouldn't even have tried. After the first thing like turning her house around, she would be so angry that she would blast him back to stone immediently. No doubt. She just wouldn't be able to handle him, cause she gets too fast angry and desperate.

 

But fluttershy, fluttershy wouldn't even dare to say anthing against him. At least not at the beginning.

She the one to show how kindness can be nice.

And, let's be honest, you see fluttershy representing her element the most. Like, Rarity is generous when she gives her friends stuff for nothing, but only THEN. Fluttershy however... , she's always kind, cause kindness doesn't only depent on certain situations like giving you something like that. It's all the time, and about your general behavior.

Edited October 23, 2014 by FizzyGreen

[Conred 274]

Twilight might work as his friend but Celestia knew that she lack patience and that she resemble her in many way (lawfull, serious, collected etc) so she choose Fluttershy because she knew that shes the most patient of mane6. Possibly Pinkie Pie would be the only other choice other than her but her lack of responsibility or sense of duty lead to choosing Fluttershy

[KokuraiNoSenshi 3,463]

Honestly, it is one of those things of opposites attract (no not suggesting shipping). Flutters is quiet, timid, and gentle, and is very easily upset if she even THINKS she is hurting anyone or anything. Discord is loud, proud, and sarcastic, and his whole demeanor was to make others' lives chaotic. So to truly reform him, you put the most polar opposite with him. Sort of like addition; -2 + 2 = 0. They canceled each other out. However, in this case, it was more like -2 + 3 = 1, since Flutters not only canceled out his opposite traits but replaced them with some of her own, or at least somewhat

[CheeryFox 23,823]

Flutters is the best candidate for Discord. Not many will tolerate his nonsense. Pinkie didn't seem to mind the shenanigans. I think Fluttershy wouldn't mind a little craziness here and there. But yeah...which other ponies would deal with him...seriously? And besides, they just 'fit' anyway... 

[Nature's Spell 526]

I've always felt that Discord had a special interest in Twilight. I think he knew right from the start how special she was and so took particular delight in tormenting her. She seemed generally surprised by his betrayal. She did not see it coming and needed to realize that betrayal isn't absolute and can be forgiven, when it's a true friend. Showing mercy and forgiveness gave her the key. That's the thing about Twilight, she's able to go beyond herself and embrace all of the elements of friendship.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

One reason I can think of off the top of my head is her occupation. She tames monsters of all sizes for a living, and is used to handling them in a rewards/Stick fashion. In a way she does treat Discord like that, but with a personality and powers like his you have too.

 

Then there is whole element ot kindness thing others have brought up, but also the fact that they are both socially awkward individuals that could relate to eachother in an odd way (as evidenced by writing letters to one another). Empathy is vital for being able to get someone to come around to a better way of thinking.

[A goat 323]

Because fluttershy's element is kindness, so it it would make much more sense if Fluttershy was the one who remormed discord.

[Cloud Strife 928]

I think that its because, of the Mane Six, Fluttershy was the one most likely to actually befriend him.  The othersdidn't even give reforming him a real chance.  Twilight went to go find a spell, and when that didn't work, she and everyone else were pretty much "Turn him to stone!!"

 

Fluttershy tried from the beginning to be his friend, to show him just what being friends was all about, so that when she told him they weren't friends anymore, it really hurt him.  He saw the error of his ways (mostly) and turned good.

 

This is exactly why I think it was Fluttershy who was chosen. Even if Twilight was supposed to prove that she could be a friend to Discord (and she did, in "Twilight's Kingdom"), Fluttershy was the only one, at the time, who was actually willing to give Discord a chance. No amount of Twilight being the Chosen One would change what her position on Discord was emotionally at the time.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

Because of trust.

It takes a very kind person to forgive someone for their past wrong-doings, and trust them to never do said wrong-doings again. The other mane six didn't have that kind of trust, but since Fluttershy's element is kindness, she was able to place her trust in him.

[VitalSpark 1,830]

One reason I can think of off the top of my head is her occupation.

 

This was always my interpretation. Discord is part goat, part horse, part snake, part lion, part eagle, part bat, and part god-knows-what-else, so who better to tame him than Fluttershy?

[Coco before Pommel 679]

Quoting myself from another forum, but yeah...in addition to what everypony else has said about Fluttershy being the element of kindness and the most forgiving/willing to give anypony a chance, having lots of experience with dangerous creatures and it making more plot-sense for Discord to have an attachment to somepony not-Twilight...in hindsight, I think Fluttershy's corruption scene in The Element of Harmony becomes really significant, and interesting, in the light of the Fluttercord friendship:

 

[the scene when Discord attempts to corrupt Fluttershy] also really shows why she's not weak and helpless - she’ll believe the worst of herself (that she's weak and therefore lucky that anypony puts up with her), but the best in others (she doesn't believe that her friends will abandon her because she completely trusts that they're good ponies - they support her through her troubles, rather than picking on her flaws, and she can’t be tricked into doubting them as easily as Discord is counting on), and that gives her strength even in the scariest situations, when everypony expects she’d be the first to crumble. With hindsight - though I doubt the writers were thinking this far ahead - I feel like this is really significant: he can’t manipulate and rile her up as easily as the others (both here and in Keep Calm and Flutter On, when brute magic force isn’t an option), and she’s the only one whose reaction he doesn’t predict, which I feel like he has to grudgingly respect her for, even though he certainly doesn’t like it at first. Though obviously neither of them is going to realise it for a long time, I think that respect - and her willingness to see the good in him - that’s not there with the others (yet) is really important to their dynamic and eventual friendship, and I like to think part of the reason why Celestia chose Fluttershy to reform Discord.

 

...so yeah, I think the fact that Fluttershy was the only one of the mane 6 Discord couldn't manipulate into doubting her element, and had to be overcome using brute magic force, shows real strength of character, and that maybe she'd be the one who stood the best chance of getting through to Discord when he couldn't instantly overpower her because he had more difficulty riling her up that way. unlike, say, Twilight, who's pretty suspicious and snarky around him even in S4 when they're supposed to be friends (with good reason!), Fluttershy's surprisingly good at staying chill and "of course we're friends even if you wreck my house and terrorize my pets and torment my friends and I'm still going to trust you even though I have every reason not to! :squee:" - and I think Discord just doesn't quite know how to deal with that, because he's used to ponies hating, fearing, distrusting him and anticipating that reaction, but not, as he says, to treating him as a friend! and I'm not sure any of the other M6 could have pulled that off - they just wouldn't have the patience, and even if they did pretend to trust him I think it would have been obvious they were faking. so that's why I think it had to be Fluttershy (and I'm glad it was because I adore their friendship so much~)

[Odyssey 5,718]

Because, as everyone else said, Fluttershy is the most patient of the Mane 6. If Twilight tried to befriend Discord, the likeliest outcome would be Discord turning into stone.

 

Fluttershy is also willing to do anything for anybody. The ReMane-ing 5 would reject what Discord wants to do, but because of Flutter's patience, she accepted his chaotic antics, which makes Discord feel like someone actually cares for him.

[LordDiscord 289]

@Miss Reaper, good points and yes your memory serves you well. Fluttershy did promise not to use her Element and kept that word. And I agree with the two-parter being unnecessary. The full reformation didn't occur until Twilight's Kingdom and was due to Discords friendship with Fluttershy, being betrayed and finally getting what friendship really is, Fluttershy's reaction, and then Twilight's forgiveness. Using the finale in that way was superior to a two-part episode dedicated on reforming him. It also worked for me since his initial reformation seemed ... too easy. It made Twilight's Kingdom more believable. 

 

Also, Fluttershy's reaction in the finale would never have happened if it was a Twilight-centric friendship.

Not necessarily, Fluttershy has been shown numerous times to be sensitive, if Twilight was to befriend Discord, then by process of elimination, he would be Fluttershy's as well and a betrayal from a friend like that would have still had the same effect as Fluttershy, mostly likely could not handle the thought of losing a friend let alone, one of them betraying her.   

[Jeric 46,869]

Not necessarily, Fluttershy has been shown numerous times to be sensitive, if Twilight was to befriend Discord, then by process of elimination, he would be Fluttershy's as well and a betrayal from a friend like that would have still had the same effect as Fluttershy, mostly likely could not handle the thought of losing a friend let alone, one of them betraying her.

I still disagree. That approach you want can still be used with Twi instead of adjusting the relationship order and eliminating an important episode for a primary character. Now that Twi has made her friendship known and has embraced it, you can still build off of the same prankster like qualities Q and Picard had without marginalizing the Fluttershy aspects.

 

Best of Both Worlds is still possible going forward