The Elements of Harmony: An analysis

[Akemi Homura 7,680]

Everyone knows that the Mane 6 are really good friends. But what makes their friendship so special and magical? We know they're the elements of harmony, but what does that really mean? We know that AJ is Honesty, Rarity is Generosity, Rainbow Dash is Loyalty, Fluttershy is Kindness, Pinkie Pie is Laughter and Twilight is Magic. But, what makes their friendship really tick? I thought I'd do this so that everybody can understand.

 

So, in every friendship, there has to be things that separate it from being a bad friendship to a great one. The elements of harmony show this very well. Let's take a look at what the elements stand for:

 

Honesty: In a friendship, or in any relationship, being honest can go a long way to what a person can think of you. By being honest, you can be counted on to do a task with a lot of trust. This also makes you a really dependable.

 

Kindness: Showing people compassion is an act of real love. You are devoting yourself to a person's well being and showing sympathy as well as empathy towards a person's negative aspects of life. By doing so, the other person can automatically return some love as well. In other words, you can bond with people easily if you treat them with respect and care.

 

Generosity: Generosity means giving without expecting anything in return. We give things to people because we want them to be happy, and the happiness of the other person can easily rub off on you. If you give your friend a toy, for example, he/she will be happy because you know he/she will be happy. In turn, this makes you happy.

 

Loyalty: Sticking by your loved ones can be hard at times, but is very rewarding. If you stick by someone's side, you are faithful to them and the other person will know that you are very dependable. You respect their beliefs enough to choose them over another group of people. For example, you are really good friends with a local "nerd" in your community, but one night, there will be a party (no, this is NOT a Pinkie Pie party ) at someone's place. The only problem is, the "nerd" was not invited. You can either choose to hang with the "nerd" or chill at the party. By choosing to hang out with the "nerd", he/she will praise your decision. This goes to a real sense of gratitude.

 

Laughter: In any friendship, there's a ton of fun involved! Parties, get togethers, or just plain hanging out. You can joke around, tease each other, and among other forms of social interaction. Having fun with the person means that you truly enjoy their presence and enjoy doing all these things together. This creates the sense of amusement among the people involved. The result is that you can continue to have more fun with the person.

 

Magic: Your friendships are truly special. This is a special case in which all the elements form together and there is a very strong bond connecting you and your friend. You stuck by your friend's side through rough times (big adventure). You have amazing times with your friend in social interactions (tons of fun). You give them things that would make them happy, and in turn, you'll be happy because they're happy (a beautiful heart). Your friend trusts you a lot because you can tell them things which take a lot of guts (faithful and strong). You show them sympathy and empathize with them when they're feeling down (sharing kindness). These all make you a better person, and is something you can do all the time (it's an easy feat). And all of this combined creates that amazing and powerful bond, commonly known as friendship (magic makes it all complete).

 

-----------------------------------------

 

And, that's my analysis on the elements of harmony! While studying this, I came to realize that the Mane 6's friendship wasn't just built from the elements, it was what the elements stood for that really made it special. Let me know what you think of this in the comments below. Thanks.

[Moosefullaeggs 543]

Needs more Helements of Armory

[cuteycindyhoney 13,307]

Needs more Helements of Armory

 

"Stay outta my shed!"

[Nah 3,182]

My element is sarcasm, problem?

[Ezynell 2,037]

I would imagine that magic would be the hardest one to write on, seeing it's not really an emotion that fits together with the rest of them, but you did a nice job! Edited February 19, 2012 by Ezynell

[Ninja Derpy 343]

I would imagine that magic would be the hardest one to write on, seeing it's not really an emotion that fits together with the rest of them, but you did a nice job!

 

None of them are really emotions.....

[RockinRarity 1,605]

I would imagine that magic would be the hardest one to write on, seeing it's not really an emotion that fits together with the rest of them, but you did a nice job!

 

None of them are really emotions.....

 

True, they're all character traits. But "magic" still doesn't fit in the same category as the others, so yes, it would be hard to write about.

[Ninja Derpy 343]

True, they're all character traits. But "magic" still doesn't fit in the same category as the others, so yes, it would be hard to write about.

 

Point.

[Akemi Homura 7,680]

True, they're all character traits. But "magic" still doesn't fit in the same category as the others, so yes, it would be hard to write about.

 

That is why the sixth element (magic) is (or rather, was) a complete mystery. Nobody really knew how it would play a role with the other elements. However, seeing as how you need the other 5 elements to appear, and that magic = friendship, AND the fact that in order for a friendship to be truly special... guess what, you need the 5 traits: honesty, loyalty, kindness, generosity, and laughter. It makes sense for magic to be the sixth one because friendship = magic.

[Comet Tail 808]

Hmm. I think I'll post a bit here that I just wrote about the Elements in another thread. They're an interesting subject, really, they're force, each one has an identity, a spirit, and when someone becomes an icon for them, a living perfect example of that element, then they can use that magic. But only if all 6 of them are together.

 

Here's a bit about what happens when the Elements of Harmony are together, but not in Harmony:

 

The Return of Nightmare Moon, I was writing about "Princess" Celestia... One of the two previous holders of the Elements of Harmony:

She vanished! Apparently she was defeated by Nightmare Moon or something, and she probably knew she would be. The last thing she did with the Elements of harmony, banish Nightmare Moon to the moon, probably destroyed her connection with them:

 

Remember in S2E1 she said She and Luna used the elements to defeat Discord? They bore them together. So Celestia using the Elements to banish Luna to the moon would be something like Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash using the elements to teleport and keep Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rarity alive on the moon _{(sides chosen at random)}. By fighting eachother they broke their connection with the Elements, but I guess Celestia somehow managed to pull it off because technically it was Nightmare Moon, not Luna, and she only teleported her somewhere and kept her alive, she didn't imprison her in stone like they did to Discord.

 

This also suggests some part of Luna was resisting Nightmare Moon, otherwise she couldn't have used the Elements, in the same way the 6 couldn't use them until all of them were united together. Well, this, and the stuff I mentioned at the end of the last paragraph about it technically being Nightmare Moon, not Luna, and all she did was teleport her somewhere and keep her alive, not imprison her in stone...

S2E1:

...

Celestia: "I thought the spell we cast would keep him contained forever... But since Luna and I are no longer connected to the elements, the spell has been broken!"

Twi: "No longer connected?"

Celestia: "This, is canterlot tower, where the elements are kept inside, since all of you recovered them. I need you to weild the elements of Harmony once again, and stop Discord, before he thrusts all of Equestria into eternal chaos!"

Twi: "But why us, why don't you - "

Pinkie Pie: "Hey, look! We're famous!"

 

*Pinkie Pie looking at stained glass window depicting mane 6 defeating Luna with Elements*

 

Celestia: "You six showed the full potential of the elements, by harnessing the magic of Friendship, to beat a mighty foe.

Although Luna and I once wielded the Elements, it is you who now control their power, and it is you who must defeat Discord!"

 

 

Just a snippet about the Elements I thought was interesting.

Edited February 19, 2012 by EASA - Dr. Braun

[Tenor Clef 112]

Needs more Helements of Armory

 

lol

[Envoy-in-exile 101]

Needs more Helements of Armory

 

Elements of Harmony -> Helements of Armory .....converting.......

 

Honesty -> Misdirection - A global network information designed to mislead our enemies and spread the truth of our cause

 

Kindness -> Senseless Torture - to strike fear into our enemies

 

Generosity -> Looting - Gaining an enemies resource is worth having twice our own

 

Loyalty -> Slavery - is the only way to build our empire

 

Laughter -> Laughter - to burst the ears of our enemies and drive them...

 

Magic -> Madness - Friendship in madness. Lunatics unite!

 

The Helements of Armory is ready for the true Queen, Nightmare Moon!

 

Edited February 19, 2012 by Envoy

[Tailssod 20]

The "magic" element, In my opinion, its the catalyst that makes all other work together in harmony, the "spark", you know?

[Ezynell 2,037]

None of them are really emotions.....

 

I would imagine that magic would be the hardest one to write on, seeing it's not really a real-life aspect that fits together with the rest of them, but you did a nice job!

 

Happy?

Edited February 19, 2012 by Ezynell

[Moosefullaeggs 543]

Elements of Harmony -> Helements of Armory .....converting.......

 

Honesty -> Misdirection - A global network information designed to mislead our enemies and spread the truth of our cause

 

Kindness -> Senseless Torture - to strike fear into our enemies

 

Generosity -> Looting - Gaining an enemies resource is worth having twice our own

 

Loyalty -> Slavery - is the only way to build our empire

 

Laughter -> Laughter - to burst the ears of our enemies and drive them...

 

Magic -> Madness - Friendship in madness. Lunatics unite!

 

The Helements of Armory is ready for the true Queen, Nightmare Moon!

 

 

YES, may the reign of Nightmare Moon be long!

[ffffff 50]

My element is Sheer Evil. Problem?

[ScarletDagger 88]

I hope this is OK to post and doesn't make anypony mad but in my fanpony's storyline I was a prince (Luna and celestia's brother) who created the elements of harmony and control them like celestia controls the sun and Luna controls the moon...hey..not bad for a storyline. There's more to it but that's off topic.