spoiler Who allowed Cerberus to escape and Tirek out of imprisonment?

[ManaMinori 4,146]

We never got an explanation as to who released Cerebus in season 2- or why, to allow Tirek to escape Tartarus and show up in season 4. What if is was (SPOILERS) Season 5's villain, Starlight Glimmer? Wait- just....hear me out. In the premiers, we learn that Starlight Glimmer desires all ponies to be equal. In one preview, Starlight Glimmer says; “When the rest of Equestria sees that a princess gave up her cutie mark to join us, they'll finally understand what we're trying to accomplish.” This implies that Starlight's been at her ideals for quite some time, for that “finally” to be slipped in there. And by her desiring to get a princess' cutie mark to get other ponies to see that her way was right in that all ponies- even princesses- should be equal, leads me to believe that she might've been the one to release Cerberus from his post, and free Tirek, maybe for her original plan, for him to steal pony magic- along with their cutie marks, in attempt to get everyone to be equal, but what may have backfired was her lack of tacking into account that Tirek wouldn't go after the princess ponies and steal their cutie marks first, to achieve what she had in mind, first, because he couldn't without taking the cutie marks (and magic) of non alicorns, first, and build up his strength. Starlight likely also didn't take into the account of Tirek being put in his place by the Mane 6 and the rainbow power, so she could've tried a different approach to her goals of equality, through cutie marks, amongst an isolated town of ponies, after Tirek's defeat.

 

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out she was the master manipulator behind Cerberus'- and ultimately Tirek's escape. The writers have been good at following through on continuity since season 1, after all. What does everyone else think?

[Castle Bleck 19,387]

IMO, he just got distracted by chasing a carriage or something.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,316]

Celestia just forgot to lock the gate and Cerberus went out to play. It happens.

Edited March 9, 2015 by cuteycindyhoney

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

Good theory, though I think Starlight is just a unwitting pawn for a bigger organization that will be the finale villain.

[LZRD WZRD 1,929]

The sociopathic Princess Celestia did obviously. She let Nightmare Moon escape and probably let Discord escape too. All of it was a test for Twilight, who she's grooming to be her successor.

[Jeric 46,866]

We never got an explanation as to who released Cerebus in season 2- or why, to allow Tirek to escape Tartarus and show up in season 4. What if is was (SPOILERS) Season 5's villain, Starlight Glimmer? Wait- just....hear me out. In the premiers, we learn that Starlight Glimmer desires all ponies to be equal. In one preview, Starlight Glimmer says; “When the rest of Equestria sees that a princess gave up her cutie mark to join us, they'll finally understand what we're trying to accomplish.” This implies that Starlight's been at her ideals for quite some time, for that “finally” to be slipped in there. And by her desiring to get a princess' cutie mark to get other ponies to see that her way was right in that all ponies- even princesses- should be equal, leads me to believe that she might've been the one to release Cerberus from his post, and free Tirek, maybe for her original plan, for him to steal pony magic- along with their cutie marks, in attempt to get everyone to be equal, but what may have backfired was her lack of tacking into account that Tirek wouldn't go after the princess ponies and steal their cutie marks first, to achieve what she had in mind, first, because he couldn't wiithout taking the cutie marks (and magic) of non alicorns, first, and build up his strength. Starlight likely also didn't take into the account of Tirek being put in his place by the Mane 6 and the rainbow power, so she could've tried a different approach to her goals of equality, through cutie marks, amongst an isolated town of ponies, after Tirek's defeat.

 

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out she was the master manipulator behind Cerberus'- and ultimately Tirek's escape. The writers have been good at following through on continuity since season 1, after all. What does everyone else think?

I added a spoiler prefix and removed the (Spoiler)" tag in your title.

[Pastel 7,630]

That seems a bit complicated, and we still don't know a lot about the = cutie marks. Maybe the ponies who lost their cutie mark can't get the = CMs.

Plus I don't think she would have taken the risk of freeing him, I think she would have thought he was too dangerous.

Edited March 9, 2015 by Blobulle

[Jangocoolguy 433]

While it would be interesting (and kinda neat) if an invisible hand (hoof) was behind a lot of the worst moments in Equestria (I have the makings of a fanfic about it my head), chances are just as good that Cerebus simply left Tartarus on his own accord like any dog would and Tirek saw his chance to escape.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,162]

Considering how docile Cerberus apparently can be in FiM, he likely found something interesting and went outside to investigate.

 

Also, I blame Tirek.

[ggg-2 3,553]

I believe nopony was responsible for Cerberus leaving his post. Cerberus is, of course, a dog. Dogs, let's face it, don't always have the best attention spans. (trust me, i speak from experience, here)

[marshmallowminish 183]

But everyone, Cerberus isn't necessarily as imbecillic as you all are implying him to be. He seems to have a bit more knowledge and discretion than the average house dog, and why wouldn't he, if they assigned him to a post? I agree that there is a possibility that he got distracted and wandered off, but I highly doubt it.  

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

I think the most believable and logical explanation is that somepony put in a really ill-conceived doggy door through which Cerberus escaped.  It probably gets lonely guarding the entrance to Tartarus.  I bet poor ole Cerby hardly ever sees a belly rub. ; _ ;  Or hears a day-brightening "datsagood boi."

[MysticShine 529]

I always assumed it just got out on its own. That in itself gave Tirek the chance to escape.

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,607]

Cerberus probably just got distracted.

[jeray2000 111]

It was Discord. He let Cerberus out during his very short reign, then Cerberus arrives in Ponyville a week later. 

[Cwanky 17,622]

IMO, he just got distracted by chasing a carriage or something.

Considering that Cerberus was just as easily pacified with a ball, that's far from far-fetched,

 

It of course raises the question of whose in charge of security in Equestria. Because if its Celestia, she hasn't done a very good job. The Royal Guards and Wonderbolts are equally complete jokes. The Guards and military were visibly absent when Chrysalis invaded and were rendered helpless with Celestia and Luna kindapped. Where's the hierarchical chain of command?

 

It's hardly a wonder that Ponyville alone can't even handle a few loose rabbits. 

[Sobana 100]

That makes me think if Twilight went back in time to warn past Twilight about a disaster it wasn't about Cerberus escaping but rather she was trying to warm them that Tirek escaped! =O

[yeet 2,027]

Season two takes place at the same time as devil may cry 3, and in devil may cry 3 Dante defeats Cerberus and takes him with him as the nunchuck weapon, so they had to make a new and stronger Cerberus in hell (which explains the end bit where you have to fight every boss again) and during this time tirek escaped.

[Castle Bleck 19,387]

That makes me think if Twilight went back in time to warn past Twilight about a disaster it wasn't about Cerberus escaping but rather she was trying to warm them that Tirek escaped! =O

 

No, Future!Twilight was just trying to tell Past!Twilight not to worry so much.

[Sobana 100]

No, Future!Twilight was just trying to tell Past!Twilight not to worry so much.

But how did that cycle start without some dire event to trigger it? It must of been that Tirek escaped so the first Twilight went back to try to warn her past self but she didn't have time so the second and every proceeding one went back to say not to worry to her past self.

[Castle Bleck 19,387]

But how did that cycle start without some dire event to trigger it? It must of been that Tirek escaped so the first Twilight went back to try to warn her past self but she didn't have time so the second and every proceeding one went back to say not to worry to her past self.

 

Nope, just your everyday time loop: Future!Twilight was being OCD, so she tried to tell Past!Twilight to calm down, but the way it went about only gave Past!Twilight reason to worry, thus leading to Future!Twilight's OCD.

Edited March 10, 2015 by A.V.

[ivar 23]

I always thought that it was a result of a weakening of financing Tartarus. Imagine that you have a prison that has been around for thousands of years. And none of prisoners is not yet escape. Well, not that something terrible happen if you take these bits to financing building the road and not on the financing of the prison?

 

This is of course a joke, but I just can't think about a serious version

Edited March 10, 2015 by ivar

[Sobana 100]

Nope, just your everyday time loop: Future!Twilight was being OCD, so she tried to tell Past!Twilight to calm down, but the way it went about only gave Past!Twilight reason to worry, thus leading to Future!Twilight's OCD.

But that still begs the question of how did it all start?

[Jangocoolguy 433]

But that still begs the question of how did it all start?

Twilight just paradoxed herself. No need to think very much of it.

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

But that still begs the question of how did it all start?

It's a predestination paradox.  Future Twilight is the one who started the chain of events when she went back in time.  Basically it's a giant loop in time where Twilight must go back in time for the event to unfold, so there is no "Original" start point since time is fixed.