What role did Twilight's friends play in her ascension?

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

If I were to guess, Twilight's friends were probably like training wheels, designed to build Twilight up into a leader for the same reason training wheels are designed to build up bike-riders.  Technically, before Twilight could lead and unite all of Equestria, she first had to learn how to do the same to at least five mares her age.  After all, while the principles behind leading a small group like Twilight's friends are almost the same as leading an entire nation, the former is much easier than the latter, because it's much, much fewer ponies.

[Jadefire 2,797]

"Since you've come to Ponyville, you've displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrety, optimism, and of course, the leadership of a true princess." Each of the Mane Six represent their respective Element (Generosity, Kindness, Loyalty, et cetera), but their influence has taught Twilight what it means to be a true friend, but more importantly what it means to be a true leader.

 

Also Equestria Girls was important as well, where what she had to encounter (public attacks on her reputation, political enemies, bringing her friends together, rallying her subjects to support her, and fighting off evil) is pretty much what she'll need to do as a princess of Equestria on a much smaller scale.

[Nature's Spell 526]

"Since you've come to Ponyville, you've displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrety, optimism, and of course, the leadership of a true princess." Each of the Mane Six represent their respective Element (Generosity, Kindness, Loyalty, et cetera), but their influence has taught Twilight what it means to be a true friend, but more importantly what it means to be a true leader.

 

Also Equestria Girls was important as well, where what she had to encounter (public attacks on her reputation, political enemies, bringing her friends together, rallying her subjects to support her, and fighting off evil) is pretty much what she'll need to do as a princess of Equestria on a much smaller scale.

I think what you and the OP said is completly true, by it's important to remember that it wasn't a one way steet and Twight did a lot for her friends and because of her for each other. I'm gald you brought in EQ because even if it isn't "cannon" it provides a good glimpse of what Twilight will be like in season 4.

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

"Since you've come to Ponyville, you've displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrety, optimism, and of course, the leadership of a true princess." Each of the Mane Six represent their respective Element (Generosity, Kindness, Loyalty, et cetera), but their influence has taught Twilight what it means to be a true friend, but more importantly what it means to be a true leader.

 

Also Equestria Girls was important as well, where what she had to encounter (public attacks on her reputation, political enemies, bringing her friends together, rallying her subjects to support her, and fighting off evil) is pretty much what she'll need to do as a princess of Equestria on a much smaller scale.

It's doubtful that Equestria Girls is even canon.  But I can see where you're coming from; everything she endured throughout her time in the human-world will almost be the same thing during her time leading Equestria from her Ponyville library, if not her own palace.

 

Equestria Girls was also not the only story that gave a small preview of Twilight's new alicorn princess life in Season Four.  The book, Twilight Sparkle and The Crystal Heart Spell, also had her learn as much as she could about true leadership, namely by relying on her friends for opinions on how to lead Equestria.

[Nature's Spell 526]

It's doubtful that Equestria Girls is even canon. But I can see where you're coming from; everything she endured throughout her time in the human-world will almost be the same thing during her time leading Equestria from her Ponyville library, if not her own palace.

 

Equestria Girls was also not the only story that gave a small preview of Twilight's new alicorn princess life in Season Four. The book, Twilight Sparkle and The Crystal Heart Spell, also had her learn as much as she could about true leadership, namely by relying on her friends for opinions on how to lead Equestria.

It's cannon in that some of the themes it brought up like being nervous about being a princess, learning to fly, getting used to her wings, learning even more directly how lead, etc have to be part of season 4. It's my strong conviction that the way they wroteTwilight in the movie (fully in line with seasons 1-3) is the way she will be in season 4. No reason not to be true. Edited August 5, 2013 by Nature Spell

[Scootalove 10,689]

Twilight's friends were there to help and guide Twilight along the way to becoming a leader when it came to bringing them together and solving their problems. A good leader must always do what's right, and always fight against adversities. Without her friends, she would not have learned about the meaning of friendship which was something she never wanted to learn in the first place. Her friends are similar to the Elements of Harmony, when you put them together they hold a magnificent power but when they are apart you only get the opposite. Twilight's friends helped her through a lot.

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

It's cannon in that some of the themes it brought up like being nervous about being a princess, learning to fly, getting used to her wings, learning even more directly how lead, etc have to be part of season 4. It's my strong conviction that the way they wroteTwilight in the movie (fully in line with seasons 1-3) is the way she will be in season 4. No reason not to be true.

Canon in-terms of themes, yes.  But canon in-terms of continuity and timeline?  Powerfully doubtful.  Very soon, Season Four will not bring up the events of Equestria Girls, and will just repeat its story of Twilight learning about leadership, but this time in Equestria rather than Canterlot High.

 

Also, I don't know if this question is off-topic, but I'm asking it anyway because I'm pretty much curious.  What does rising to a leadership position have anything to do with the power of friendship?  In the real-world, most leaders, from ancient and medieval times, to right now, often care more about themselves and their own power, more so than the welfare of their citizens.  But not fictional leaders, like Optimus Prime, Commander Shepard, and in this case, Princess Twilight Sparkle.

[Nature's Spell 526]

Canon in-terms of themes, yes. But canon in-terms of continuity and timeline? Powerfully doubtful. Very soon, Season Four will not bring up the events of Equestria Girls, and will just repeat its story of Twilight learning about leadership, but this time in Equestria rather than Canterlot High.

 

Also, I don't know if this question is off-topic, but I'm asking it anyway because I'm pretty much curious. What does rising to a leadership position have anything to do with the power of friendship? In the real-world, most leaders, from ancient and medieval times, to right now, often care more about themselves and their own power, more so than the welfare of their citizens. But not fictional leaders, like Optimus Prime, Commander Shepard, and in this case, Princess Twilight Sparkle.

To your first point that's the point I thought I made. :-) Yes it won't be mentioned, but I see it as a good model for how Twilight will be and some challenges she'll face.

 

To answer your second question, fiction is a form of escape so we naturally show what we hope our leaders will be like. The show is idealized and in some ways a utopian vision.

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

To your first point that's the point I thought I made. :-) Yes it won't be mentioned, but I see it as a good model for how Twilight will be and some challenges she'll face.

Again, Equestria Girls isn't the only preview of Twilight's challenges as leader in Season Four.  There is a book called Twilight Sparkle and The Crystal Heart Spell, which directly takes place after the events of Season Four.  There, she struggles to learn about leadership with the help of her friends.  If you haven't read it, go to Amazon.com and purchase it, so that you could eventually read it yourself.  Because it's a children's book, that means you'll breeze through it in a short amount of time.

[Nature's Spell 526]

Again, Equestria Girls isn't the only preview of Twilight's challenges as leader in Season Four. There is a book called Twilight Sparkle and The Crystal Heart Spell, which directly takes place after the events of Season Four. There, she struggles to learn about leadership with the help of her friends. If you haven't read it, go to Amazon.com and purchase it, so that you could eventually read it yourself. Because it's a children's book, that means you'll breeze through it in a short amount of time.

I did read it and even if I didn't mention it I agree that it also provides context for Twilight as she moved into season 4. It wasn't a bad book. I don't like seeing bad Twilight but whatever.