How Did Celestia Know It Would Take 1000 Years For NMM TO Return?

[Tenebrae 14]

16 minutes ago, JCKane said:

That's assuming they were even connected to them in the first place.  Honestly, I think they were just being used by them, not because they were connected to them.  They didn't change shapes when they collected them, not to mention they had to as it seemed, force the elements out of the tree of harmony.  

I seem to remember Celestia specifically saying that she was no longer "connected" to them.

As for their shapes, I think you may be right in the sense that they were not the true wielders. The Tree was originally made with the magic of the 6 Pillars, so it makes sense that the Elements were destined for 6 wielders that each represented a single element that was derived from a Pillar. Though that does not explain how Celestia and Luna could use them then. I am aware that both their cutie marks are on the tree, but did those markings appear before or after the princesses obtained the elements from it. It is also possible that the Tree mearly lent the elements to them as it waited for the true bearers to arrive.

Or something. Consistent lore and worldbuilding is not MLP's strong suit. As expected of a kid's show after all.

[JCKane 345]

4 minutes ago, Tenebrae said:

I seem to remember Celestia specifically saying that she was no longer "connected" to them.

As for their shapes, I think you may be right in the sense that they were not the true wielders. The Tree was originally made with the magic of the 6 Pillars, so it makes sense that the Elements were destined for 6 wielders that each represented a single element that was derived from a Pillar. Though that does not explain how Celestia and Luna could use them then. I am aware that both their cutie marks are on the tree, but did those markings appear before or after the princesses obtained the elements from it. It is also possible that the Tree mearly lent the elements to them as it waited for the true bearers to arrive.

Or something. Consistent lore and worldbuilding is not MLP's strong suit. As expected of a kid's show after all.

The terminology she used could of merely been that she or anyone else couldn't use them any more since they now have their 'true' connections.

As for consistent lore... yeah that's true but they do have a few times I think they do a good job.  Like showing the 'mare in the moon' design when you see a few flashbacks that take place when Luna was still imprisoned (The episode with Applejack's parents being one of them.)

[Tenebrae 14]

9 minutes ago, JCKane said:

The terminology she used could of merely been that she or anyone else couldn't use them any more since they now have their 'true' connections.

As for consistent lore... yeah that's true but they do have a few times I think they do a good job.  Like showing the 'mare in the moon' design when you see a few flashbacks that take place when Luna was still imprisoned (The episode with Applejack's parents being one of them.)

So to summarise:
Luna and Celestia were "connected" to the elements but were not they're true bearers and could only use them at full power when together as they were able to turn Discord to stone. However should only one of them use the elements they're effectiveness will be reduced hence why NM was only temporarily banished instead of purified. 

Is this what we are going with more or less?