Starlight and the Tree of Harmony

[ManaMinori 4,145]

 

Starlight, much to my dismay, has been around for quite some time now in the show. She’s graduated from her friendship studies- so says Twilight, though she still has yet to show it by her actions….Bum I’m still not convinced that she has changed, simply because she spend her whole life believing the philosophy of equality of ponies so long as they remain blank flanks, that in such a short period of time that she’s been with Twilight- isn’t enough time to have her relinquish those beliefs fully. And while its up for debate as to whether SG is really trying to change or not, I find it a missed opportunity that the writers haven’t yet allowed her to come into contact with the Tree of Harmony in the Everfree forest yet. Back in season 5, she had infiltrated Twilight’s castle, and knew how to trigger the map- which is connected to the Tree, and likely would’ve gathered any information she could fine throughout the books in Twilight’s castle- likely one of which would’ve also been the Mane 6’s friendship journal, to have known about the tree along with the map.

 

Coming to discover the tree itself could either trigger SG to fall back on her old ways, pursuing a course of action where she tries to eliminate it and its will of and pre-destined cutie marks, and the very concept of friendship itself using the very elements it bears against it and the mane 6 (is was her own friend, Maude, who mentioned the possibility of ruling the world with a gem, and the 6 elements act together as 1), or trying to wield the elements while the spirits of the elements are still active, and having it end terribly, either way.

 

Do you guys think Starlight has to know about the Tree of Harmony, at this point, given her actions in the season 5 finale? What potential is there, going forward, for SG to interact directly with the tree (outside the overspeculated ‘secondary 6 element bearers’ situation)

[Marimo 555]

50 minutes ago, Nightmare Muffin said:

Coming to discover the tree itself could either trigger SG to fall back on her old ways, pursuing a course of action where she tries to eliminate it and its will of and pre-destined cutie marks, and the very concept of friendship itself using the very elements it bears against it and the mane 6 (is was her own friend, Maude, who mentioned the possibility of ruling the world with a gem, and the 6 elements act together as 1)

What? No! This seems completely out of nowhere and such a jump for her to suddenly go back to being evil. She's gotten past her cutie mark hangups. She's gotten over what originally triggered her hatred of cutie marks by getting in touch with Sunburst again. Why does she want it destroyed? All the tree literally does is just stand there, holding back the Everfree Forest from spreading outwards. It holds the Elements of Harmony, but does that really factor into the tree? Like does she need to destroy the tree to just get to the Elements or to try and destroy them too, because she never has shown reason to hate the Elements of Harmony or want to collect them or other powerful magical artifacts, whether her intentions are good or evil. The pre-destined cutie marks have already been fulfilled, since Celestia, Luna and Twilight have already interacted with the tree, so wanting to destroy it for that is like trying to destroy a prophecy that's already past, it's pointless. What is the logical process from seeing and learning about the tree that makes her suddenly turn on friendship all of a sudden instead of thinking it's a good thing, considering she originally did like friendship, her hangups were about losing friendship which she regained, even when she was evil she wanted a facsimile of what friendship is like, and reforming she still likes friendship. What does she gain by losing friendship?

50 minutes ago, Nightmare Muffin said:

trying to wield the elements while the spirits of the elements are still active, and having it end terribly, either way.

Why should it end terribly? Shouldn't they just not work like they didn't work like when 4 corrupted Element bearers and Spike standing in for Rainbow didn't really work? Because I really don't see her turning into some corrupted version of herself like Sunset Shimmer since that was implied to be because things worked differently in a different world, plus we already saw how that can be overcome any attack on the mane six can just be absorbed and shot back and that would just mean the climax is a complete rehash.

50 minutes ago, Nightmare Muffin said:

Do you guys think Starlight has to know about the Tree of Harmony, at this point, given her actions in the season 5 finale? What potential is there, going forward, for SG to interact directly with the tree (outside the overspeculated ‘secondary 6 element bearers’ situation)

I don't think there's anything to be gained really from just knowing about the tree's existence.

Edited July 28, 2017 by Marimo

[Mirage 24,770]

I love the way you analyze @Nightmare Muffin - you break things apart and reveal all sorts of interesting questions.

There was a thread not too long ago where it was proposed with Starlight should become an alicorn, and thus more integral to the Mane 6 and the Princesses. I expressed doubts about Starlight's 'reformation' and it seemed to offend some ponies...

Anyway, I'm not sure of SG's fate, but it seems to me the writers are leaving an opening for turncoat - we'll see.

[Ganondorf8 11,316]

Given that the Elements of Harmony have been returned to it and the chest that it produced has been unlocked, the Tree of Harmony doesn't really serve much of a purpose anymore other than to ensure that the Everfree Forest remains peaceful--or as close to it as possible considering what lurks there. Since we haven't seen the tree since the end of season four, it's safe to assume no one feels the need to go and check up on it unless they do so off-screen. Also, the writers haven't bothered to bring it up either so again I think it doesn't have much of a purpose. If Starlight were to see the Tree of Harmony for herself, she might just see it as something majestic and nothing more.

[ShootingStar159 2,156]

We don't know for sure that Cutie mark magic is related directly to the tree of harmony (though I wouldn't be surprised if it was) only that Celestia, Luna, and Twilight's Cutie marks were on the tree. The most interesting thing for the tree to me is that Cadance's mark isn't there, nor did the elements shapes originally match the other fives Cutie marks.

So, first question, is Twilight a super special Alicorn like the royal sisters; does she have immortality like them?

Did Twilight choose the elements based on the actions of her friends, or were they always predestined to be the elements?

As for Starlight turning evil, I feel like her doing so would ignore what her character is all about. Starlight never wanted to be evil, or even to really control people's wills. What she wanted was friendship, but the abandonment issues she had from Sunburst leaving her meant she wasn't able to have those things. In her own words, she wasn't able to move on, she felt anyone else she tried to get close to would abandoned her too. So she, again, in her own words, decided to force friendship by magically enslaving a town.

When Twilight gave her a chance as her student, she gave Starlight what she always wanted all along; friendship, community, and place to call her own. I don't think Starlight would even be tempted to do what your suggesting, because she doesn't have to. She already has what she wants.

Edited July 28, 2017 by ShootingStar159

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

17 hours ago, Ganondorf8 said:

Given that the Elements of Harmony have been returned to it and the chest that it produced has been unlocked, the Tree of Harmony doesn't really serve much of a purpose anymore other than to ensure that the Everfree Forest remains peaceful--or as close to it as possible considering what lurks there. Since we haven't seen the tree since the end of season four, it's safe to assume no one feels the need to go and check up on it unless they do so off-screen. Also, the writers haven't bothered to bring it up either so again I think it doesn't have much of a purpose. If Starlight were to see the Tree of Harmony for herself, she might just see it as something majestic and nothing more.

Which is a tragedy, so much story potential untapped.

[Ganondorf8 11,316]

6 hours ago, Ryanmahaffe said:

Which is a tragedy, so much story potential untapped.

I agree. The writers seem to have a specific focus in mind which means they ignore potential that could be dangling in front of their noses.