Is there perhaps more Alicorns than we think?

[Prince Firemane 309]

Ugh, this seems to be the more and more likely direction the show is going with Alicorn lore. Me, I personally disliked the "hidden numbers of an allegedly rare race" trope; it's trite. It's a trope used to shore up numbers because the limited number and information of this race usually makes them rather popular, yet it cheapens the brand by completely ignoring previously established information and conflicts. If you absolutely have to retcon, at least be imaginative about it.

 

The problem with adding more Alicorns to the MLP universe is the fact that they would completely disrupt the established dynamics. After all, being an Alicorn immediately makes one Royalty by default. Twilight proved that ((and so did Cadance if you take secondary source material as canon)). What are they gonna do? Section off more areas of Equestria for more smaller Kingdoms? And that's to say nothing of their magical responsibilities. Every Alicorn currently in existence seems to have a specific reason tied to their existence. Celestia raises the Sun, Luna raises the Moon, Cadance is ((presumably)) the guardian of the Magic of Lovers, Twilight is the guardian of the Magic of Friendship. What would happen if more Alicorns show up? What magic would they preside over? Would they take the sky from Pegasi? Would they take the land from Earth Ponies? Would they continuously divide the magic over and over again based on their numbers? All this would only serve to take away from the profundity that's attributed to Alicorns.

 

Of course, politics would get muddied as well. Well, muddied more than they already are. Hell, there are at least two classes of Royalty in the MLP universe; Alicorn sovereignty and classical sovereignty. Independent nations exist; such as Griffonstone or the Crystal Empire before it was more or less annexed into Equestria. Smaller provinces exist as well, such as Maretonia or Saddle Arabia. But as to their positioning when compared to Equestria... we don't know. Celestia and Luna seem to treat these sovereign nations as equals, but there's a definite level of superiority due to she sheer amount of magical power they have as Alicorns. More Alicorns thrown into the mix would definitely add tensions.

 

Not to mention, it makes no sense. After all, Celestia has shown that Alicorns can be made from normal ponies. If there's more Alicorns out there, then why the hell aren't they everywhere like Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth Ponies?