Nightmare Moon

[Mywas 687]

Can somebody explain to me why did she do those trials on the mane six? What did she gain from them? Its not like its with Discord where Discording the Mane Six gave him amusement. She could have just killed them seeing how she was powerful enough to defeat Celestia.

 

Can someone explain this to me

[An Old Head 4,816]

The only obstacle that Nightmare Moon herself imposed were the Shadowbolts. The rest were just general denizens of the Everfree Forest, so Nightmare Moon must've assumed that the Mane 6 would've tripped up on those before getting to her. I imagine the Shadowbolts were a precaution as she thought "Actually, damn, they're doing pretty good. Let's see if this stunts them."

And in the context of the show, outright killing them wouldn't have been the most villainous thing to do. Taking a single friend away from them (i.e, Rainbow Dash with the Shadowbolts) would've been much more impactive, both in the world itself and for the intended audience.

[Puddlejumper 1,649]

The only obstacle that Nightmare Moon herself imposed were the Shadowbolts. The rest were just general denizens of the Everfree Forest, so Nightmare Moon must've assumed that the Mane 6 would've tripped up on those before getting to her. I imagine the Shadowbolts were a precaution as she thought "Actually, damn, they're doing pretty good. Let's see if this stunts them."

 

And in the context of the show, outright killing them wouldn't have been the most villainous thing to do. Taking a single friend away from them (i.e, Rainbow Dash with the Shadowbolts) would've been much more impactive, both in the world itself and for the intended audience.

 

She was behind each citizen's woe though. She zipped by and cut off Steven's mustache, she was the thorn in the beast's paw, and she possessed the trees to make them "evil".

 

Otherwise I do agree, outright killing them isn't good story telling. Not in this show, or anything else. Why else does Jame Bond never just wind up dead? Or Batman? Or any other captured hero? It just doesn't tell a good story. In real life sure, kill the hero if you want.

[Mywas 687]

agree, outright killing them isn't good story telling. Not in this show, or anything else. Why else does Jame Bond never just wind up dead? Or Batman? Or any other captured hero? It just doesn't tell a good story. In real life sure, kill the hero if you want.

But at least give the villain an Excuse to why they won't kill off the heros. Discord wanted to be amused so he kept them alive. Just having the villain hold the idiot ball for no reason is bad writing. Heck, just giving her a big ego that makes her think that she does not need to co front them herself would been nice.

[Scootalove 10,692]

She made those trials because, she wanted to keep the Mane 6 distracted and off track so that they could not be able to work together and defeat her. Killing them without a reason for it wouldn't make any sense, so she had to make precautions to keep the Mane 6 at bay to see if they can fall for the bait.

[. eris . 1,661]

Distracted and off track, sure, but we could also assume that she could do basic math. 

 

"Gee, six ponies. Six elements. OH HEY if I knock off one of them with Shadowbolts or a couple of them become Manticore snacks, then they won't be able to use the Elements of Harmony." 

[Princess Lona 382]

I think she was trying to kill them with the Manticore an the stormy river. And she could have been trying to give them heart attacks with the scary trees.

 

But even if she wasn't trying to kill them it could be that much like Gollum was once a kind and gentle hobbit in Lord of the Rings, Nightmare Moon used to be a good and wise princess. A part of Luna was still inside and perhaps it was that little smidge of good that held Nightmare Moon back from doling out death.

[NavelColt 22,883]

Nightmare Moon didn't care much about the ponies at all. She listened in to the ponies' mentioning the old castle, and then she zipped off to get the Elements before them, so that she could destroy them. She threw obstacles at them along the way to try and slow them down if not completely stop them in her tracks, but killing them was never a part of her intent. Destroying the Elements was.

[Castle Bleck 19,451]

The Starter Villain TV Trope says:

 

"Nightmare Moon from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, although powerful, really only tries to mess with the ponies and slow them down rather than directly attack them. She basically exists as a training-wheel villain for the Mane 6 to forge a friendship over while fighting her."

[Commander Tangent 861]

@,

 

I really see it as she was toying with them. Getting entertainment out of them. Waiting for them to come to her so she could have some fun, and the kill them. (Which really backfired XD) 

[Castle Bleck 19,451]

@Commander Tangent,

 

That, and what ~Chaotic Discord~ said about her racing them to the (then-)Elements. Unlike, say, Sombra, who presumably had all the time in the world to set up his curses and traps before Celestia and Luna banished him, NMM was pretty much stuck in the heat of the moment (Just getting back from the moon didn't help, either.).