The Stretch of Chaos: Discord's Reign & Power Estimation

[NavelColt 22,883]

Just finished watching The Return of Harmony parts 1 & 2 with my sister and mom, and I thought up this topic halfway through the second part. First I'll open up with a bit of quick questions to summarize:

 

-Exactly how far did Discord's chaotic reach extend?

 

-As Discord used his powers to spawn the events that heralded his presence (cotton candy clouds, chocolate rain, horse bunnies, popcorn corn, etc) which then evolved into completely transforming Ponyville, was this manually done by him, or did these things happen automatically due to his presence?

 

Both these questions relate to each other:

 

From the show itself, we know Discord completely overturned Ponyville. And at the start of the episode, we also know that Cloudsdale was hit by a 'cola storm' as Rainbow Dash says to AJ, before she's attacked by popping corn stalks. But, we also know that Discord's chaos caused the sun and moon themselves to switch places in the sky at random. This would hint to the fact that Discord's reign stretched the entire planet, because the sun and moon are their own celestial bodies, a fact that remains solid in the show, having not been yet disproved.

 

But what, the entire planet? Discord couldn't possibly traverse the entire planet, hell, even Ponyville, Canterlot, Cloudsdale and the surrounding region, quickly enough to see to it that every chaotic occurrence happen manually, in the time frame we witnessed before he was defeated. After all, he was trolling the six ponies for half that time if not more, and had to focus on them. Thusly, I'm convinced that Discord does not manually create most of his chaos. It happens automatically, and escalates the longer he's out of prison and wandering about. Simply put, logic itself deteriorates simply due to him being around.

 

Now, specific pranks, jokes and events that he causes, the pepper shaker on Berry Punch for example, he does cause himself through his little snaps. But the cotton candy clouds, popping corn, etc etc. like what was shown in the beginning of the first episode, all occurred on the spot, when he was nowhere nearby. This supports that theory.

 

As a side-note, it's these reasons that lead me to believe he has more raw power than any character in the show. In reality, he holds back because he's a prankster who likes to takes things slow and have fun with it, but we haven't really seen the extent of his plausible wrath.

 

What are your thoughts about Discord's power manipulation and how he uses it? Do you have any alternative ideas or explanations?

[MrL0LZ 866]

About how logic deteriorates when he's around, The atomic world is actually quite chaotic, in my eyes, Discord doesn't make logic deteriorate, he just amplifies the chaos to the entire planet instead of it just being in the atomic world. That is unless we dwell into another theory about how the pony universe works. (But that's for another time).

[NavelColt 22,883]

About how logic deteriorates when he's around, The atomic world is actually quite chaotic, in my eyes, Discord doesn't make logic deteriorate, he just amplifies the chaos to the entire planet instead of it just being in the atomic world. That is unless we dwell into another theory about how the pony universe works. (But that's for another time).

 

Speaking metaphorically, but thanks for the scientific explanation for the real sense :3

[Nas 2,874]

Well, this may not be a relevant factor, but the fun he seemed to be having from said events, might make the situation seem as if it was all voluntary. That said, the “chaos” that was happening in Equestria seemed to be contagion of a disease with similar properties to chaos that might be spread whenever Discord, the spirit of chaos himself, is around. As for the bizarre weather and nature changes, those seem like something one mind and one mind only can come up with themself.

[MrL0LZ 866]

Speaking metaphorically, but thanks for the scientific explanation for the real sense :3

 

No problem, Also I would like to present a thought on a point about how Discord was only focusing on Ponyville/Mane 6.

Sure, maybe regular minds can't concentrate on more than 2/3 things at once. But we're talking about Discord, he doesn't abide sense, he could easily focus on 100 people at once, if he abided by laws he couldn't but he doesn't.

TL:DR, Discord's mind doesn't work like ours because he gives the middle finger to logic and laws.

[NavelColt 22,883]

No problem, Also I would like to present a thought on a point about how Discord was only focusing on Ponyville/Mane 6.

Sure, maybe regular minds can't concentrate on more than 2/3 things at once. But we're talking about Discord, he doesn't abide sense, he could easily focus on 100 people at once, if he abided by laws he couldn't but he doesn't.

TL:DR, Discord's mind doesn't work like ours because he gives the middle finger to logic and laws.

 

Having a more advanced mind to the point of being anywhere, or that many places would basically make him omniscient or 'all-seeing', putting him on par or just below being a god or a deity close to a god. Since he's been labeled a powerful 'spirit', I personally don't see him as that, thusly, don't agree with that theory myself. Plus, if he was truly able to do that, he would not have let himself be hit so easily with the elements. He would have taken notice of the thoughts and minds of all the Mane 6, have known what happened, and would have known that they were about to actually accomplish what they set out for in defeating him. But it's something I've considered as well ^^

Edited July 10, 2012 by ~Chaotic Discord~

[Literally Snails 2,307]

I think the problem here is that you're applying logic to Discord.

[PonyEcho 1,610]

well i thing Discords power can only stretch as far as he can go and since he can be anywere at the blink of a eye, he could have gone round equestria and transform it or just focused on ponyville (the task at hand)

but this can all be sumed up in one word Discord

Edited July 10, 2012 by PonyEcho

[NavelColt 22,883]

I think the problem here is that you're applying logic to Discord.

 

But...wouldn't not applying logic to Discord by the TRUE thing that would make sense? By applying logic to Discord, I'm not making sense.

[MrL0LZ 866]

Actually, Discord is logical, if he wasn't you wouldn't be able to say ANYTHING about him other than that he is chaotic, but you can say things about him like that he's a draconequus, there is no way to have a completely chaotic being. Food for thought.

[XUNUSEDXXX 3,459]

I think it's just Discord's non logic coming into place. Maybe the sun and moon didn't move at all, it just looked like it did and didn't make sense because, well, he's Discord. And I think his power didn't have enough time to spread all over Equestria, just Ponyville and Cloudsdale, maybe Canterlot.

[Dusty Soul 2,614]

When Discord is around, there is no logic. He can be anywhere and everywhere with a snap of his fingers. I think it's very possible that he controlled all of Equestria during his reign.

[Batbrony 16,086]

I guess I never really thought about it, but I gotta say, now that I've heard you say it Chaotic Discord, I agree wholeheartedly that most of the changes that befell Equestria upon Discord's return happened simply as a result of his presence rather than his actual interference. However, I did think about how much of his own power Discord held back when I rewatched "The Return of Harmony" recently before I read this thread; I especially noticed that Discord really didn't try at all during the final confrontation with the Mane 6, since he was so confident that their efforts would fail. That said, if he does come back in the show, I can't even wrap my head around what kind of power he will display when he's actually trying, and I gotta say, it scares the BUCK outta me!

 

[silvadel 1,393]

The question is an interesting one -- I mean when you hear "Equestria" sometimes it seems to be pointed at the country where the ponies live and sometimes it appears to be more "the world the ponies live upon." Consider what the griffons might have had across the sea... If the sun and the moon were randomly popping up there, it would have been quite the event, BUT if there was no focus on them by discord then everything else could have been just fine, until the cycles just spook everything and cause plantlife to suffer etc.

 

It did seem that discord kept mainly to annoying ponies in the stories though, and his personality.

[silvadel 1,393]

Actually a completely different thought with regard to discord.

 

Discord has been defeated by the ponies -- and the ponies have a consistent method of defeating discord.

 

Discord does not enjoy being turned to stone...

 

Why bother ponies at all?

 

I mean if you were imprisoned in stone, I would think the first thing you would do is get away from the one nation that has defeated you. Yes he does seem to have a "thing" for messing around with ponies, but a hundred years making griffons fly upside-down would be preferable to the risk of re-stoning.

 

Then you have to think -- what makes the ponies so much more entertaining than the rest of the world? I mean it at least seems that the ponies have control over only a small amount of the world. This all seems to imply that the rest of the world is at the very least less interesting to a chaos being like discord -- otherwise he would be there. Strongly so indeed since it would be safer to be anywhere but Equestria the nation.

 

Or -- that the other lands also have effective ways of dealing with discord and he doesnt want to be there because of that....

Edited August 26, 2012 by silvadel

[pinkiefan1287 610]

Let me ask this, does Discord need to be there? If you ask me Discord must have some kinda of energy wave that spreads threw out Equestria and causing random events to happen. So he can use his powers to do specific chaotic things, but the other parts of the world just get hit with random stuff.

 

Also he can teleport. So it would not be hard for him to get to the next place with out having any problems.

[XUNUSEDXXX 3,459]

Let me ask this, does Discord need to be there? If you ask me Discord must have some kinda of energy wave that spreads threw out Equestria and causing random events to happen. So he can use his powers to do specific chaotic things, but the other parts of the world just get hit with random stuff.

 

Also he can teleport. So it would not be hard for him to get to the next place with out having any problems.

 

Well, I was thinking that his presence within a certain range of an area would affect that area, not spreading to around the world unless he went over there for a bit to wreak havoc.

[pinkiefan1287 610]

Well, I was thinking that his presence within a certain range of an area would affect that area, not spreading to around the world unless he went over there for a bit to wreak havoc.

 

I was just going with the probelms that were going on. There problems in problems going on in Ponyville, while Cloudadale was having problems and in the end Discord was in Canterlot. So thats why I think the chaotic wave thing.

[AnonBrony 1,469]

Having a more advanced mind to the point of being anywhere, or that many places would basically make him omniscient or 'all-seeing', putting him on par or just below being a god or a deity close to a god. Since he's been labeled a powerful 'spirit', I personally don't see him as that, thusly, don't agree with that theory myself. Plus, if he was truly able to do that, he would not have let himself be hit so easily with the elements. He would have taken notice of the thoughts and minds of all the Mane 6, have known what happened, and would have known that they were about to actually accomplish what they set out for in defeating him. But it's something I've considered as well ^^

 

Well what 'bout this?: He not evrywhere at once but he can manipuate evrything around him. Many people and i think himself included say hes the "God of Chaos and Disharmony" He can basically do whatever he wants i suppose.

 

HOWEVER. I have a personal theory. Like u said he let the elements hit hm so easily. He could of just teleported or done something else. Perhaps some magical force didn't let him? But what i think...

He let himself be defeated.

 

Bear with me here. That sounds crazy right? As if it doesn't make sense? But then again... Wheres the fun in making sense?

He let himself be defeated simply because of one reason: Chaos.

Now what does Chaos mean? Disorder of course. And when he rules he gets rid of Harmony, which is the current order, and replaces it with disharmony which would be disorder. However, with all Harmony gone only to be replaced by disharmony... so what becomes the current order? Disharmony. Disharmony would become the new order being it the only thing.

So how do create disorder and chaos in a world full of it? By establishing Harmony ofcourse.

To create chaos in world of disharmony u must create harmony. Get it?

And by letting himself be defeated. He did just that. He had is fun. Now its time for harmony to return. After all he could just come back. And when he does he would create disharmony. Then harmony. And Cycle will continue forever.

Its just a bunch of harmony and disharmony. Creatin' chaos all the time.

Sound confusing? Well thats the very definition of Chaos right there.

 

So inconclusion. He let himself be defeated to create harmony for that would be cause chaos in a land of disharmony.

 

You could argue that he rule didn't really last that long though. But eh, Hes Discord. Why question it? He is coming back after all. So that means the current reign of harmony wouldn't last long either. Heheh.

[NavelColt 22,883]

 

Some interesting points. But these ideas pop up into my head when thinking of them:

 

Why bother ponies at all?

 

I mean if you were imprisoned in stone, I would think the first thing you would do is get away from the one nation that has defeated you. Yes he does seem to have a "thing" for messing around with ponies, but a hundred years making griffons fly upside-down would be preferable to the risk of re-stoning.

Discord is most likely truly immortal. He is a spirit of a fundamental law of nature, and is probably thousands and thousands of years old, maybe even as old as the world itself. Not only that, but as we've all seen, he is INCREDIBLY over confident. Between the fact that he truly didn't believe they'd be able to seal him again this time, and that he quite literally has all the time in the world to wait till the spell breaks again, being immortal, I don't think he'd have any fear of the Elements.

 

Then you have to think -- what makes the ponies so much more entertaining than the rest of the world? I mean it at least seems that the ponies have control over only a small amount of the world. This all seems to imply that the rest of the world is at the very least less interesting to a chaos being like discord -- otherwise he would be there. Strongly so indeed since it would be safer to be anywhere but Equestria the nation.

You need to remember that it's not about just trolling ponies for the fun of it. He ruled over the region of Equestria before Celestia and Luna came along and stole that rule away from him when they defeated him. I'm betting he wants his throne back, and is never going to stop hounding after Celestia's rule over Equestria, because he wants to bring back his vision of a perfect anarchic rule to the place he once ruled over. Not only that, but I bet Celestia amuses the hell out of him, much more so than anyone else on the planet could. She's probably the singular most representative harmonic pony we know, and he get's on her nerves very easily. Plus, she was the first person we know of to stand up to his rule, and defeat him, no less. To a troll like him, she and her overly harmonious kingdom are the ultimate play toy, and I don't think he'd bother trolling anywhere else when she amuses him so.

 

Or -- that the other lands also have effective ways of dealing with discord and he doesn't want to be there because of that....

I don't think there's anything other than the Elements of Harmony that can defeat him, personally. In my mind at least, the reason Discord is petrified by the Elements of Harmony, is because they are the polar opposite of himself. He is pure, undiluted chaos, they are pure, undiluted harmony. When he's hit with their full-force magic, his magic is cancelled out by theirs, resulting in his petrification. Even if there are other ancient magics out there that could be helpful against him, I don't think we'll find anything that can turn him to stone indefinitely like the Elements can.

 

So in conclusion. He let himself be defeated to create harmony for that would be cause chaos in a land of disharmony.

 

You could argue that he rule didn't really last that long though. But eh, Hes Discord. Why question it? He is coming back after all. So that means the current reign of harmony wouldn't last long either. Heheh.

An interesting theory, and him letting himself be caught is certainly a peculiar idea to ponder. He looked truly surprised and shocked when he was getting stoned, and it didn't look like he was putting on an act, but who knows?

 

Also, so very glad to see this topic getting some discussion it was lacking until now <3 Thanks everypony.