Should Alicorns have a requirement to be all-powerful?

[Singe 2,111]

Alicorns are Perfect/Ultimate Evolutions. With the way the show is going, Twilight Sparkle will have Ultimate/Mega Evolution form.

Edited April 28, 2014 by Singe

[Fox 5,330]

I don't think so. I mean if you can coordinate with your army, you make a good leader.

[DokiLoki 519]

Well yeah, I expect them to be in my opinion. Besides, princesses can only be alicorns.

[Ianpiersonjdavis 513]

Celestia and Luna aren't exactly 'all-powerful' since the term implies invincibility and no limitations on their powers-which we've seen as false since Celestia was defeated by Queen Chrysalis once she absorbed enough of Shining Armor's love and in 'Princess Twilight' both she and Luna were still trapped by the plunder seeds.

 

Princess Cadance's power is also limited given the fact that she was captured and overpowered by Queen Chrysalis before taking her place and holding up the barrier to defend the Crystal Empire from Sombra wore her down quite a bit.

 

With that said, Alicorns should probably have a bit more power than other ponies since the transformation involves them achieving something extraordinary to warrant the change-otherwise they would more than likely just be ponies with magical wings (like Rarity in 'Sonic Rainboom') or horns, which doesn't seem like much of a reward in the face of such a huge accomplishment.

[Scoots and Dash 208]

I think alicorns should at least be powerful enough to justify being alicorns. Honestly, i think the way the show has handled it has been perfect. Alicorns can become as powerful as cele and luna, but when they first become alicorns like twilight they aren't instantly extremely powerful. They still have room to grow :3

 

I agree with this 20% more than anyone else does  .

 

It's all about learning from your mistakes and growing in strength and intelligence. You don't just magically become somepony you aren't.

[Castle Bleck 19,383]

They're pretty much just Unicorns with wings.

 

I mean, look at Sombra: he's a Unicorn, not an Alicorn, yet ~Chaotic Discord~ ranks him as the 2nd-most powerful villain (behind only Discord).

Edited April 28, 2014 by Anti-Villain

[SaburoDaimando 1,196]

Well this thread is about the necessity(or lack there of) for alicorns to be all powerful.

That's what it's all about: The theory about some alicorns being only as powerful, or less than, Earth Ponies, Pegasi and Unicorns.  Also, would adding a disability to the alicorn make it a more interesting character?(Like Autism)

 

And also, what if the Alicorn wishes he/she wasn't an Alicorn?

Edited April 28, 2014 by SaburoDaimando

[Castle Bleck 19,383]

That's what it's all about: The theory about some alicorns being only as powerful, or less than, Earth Ponies, Pegasi and Unicorns.  Also, would adding a disability to the alicorn make it a more interesting character?(Like Autism)

 

And also, what if the Alicorn wishes he/she wasn't an Alicorn?

 

1. Am I a human Alicorn, then (*Cough*AspergerSyndrome*Cough*)?

 

2. I'm pretty sure Twilight wishes she still wasn't.

[silvadel 1,393]

Alicornhood is a special state where a pony encompasses the abilities of all three tribes of ponies.  They tend to compliment each other yielding a pony who is more than the sum of their aspects.  This alone places an alicorn significantly ahead of your run of the mill pony.  They do not need to be massively powerful, but there is a baseline that the state grants. 

[Shanks 10,816]

No, Celestia and Luna are not all powerful if they were than Discord, Queen Chrysalis and King Sombra would have been taken down by one or either of them no problem. They are considerably more powerful than other ponies but they are far from being invincible, Cadence and Twilight aren't nearly as powerful but are still far more powerful than your average pony but do have the potential to become as powerful as Celestia and Luna. I just hope in Twilights case that they wait on that until maybe the end of the series.

[Khaoios 1,970]

I never got the impression that Luna and Celestia were "all powerful" just more powerful than most ponies.

 

Same here.  Even though they are natural-born Alicorns, they don't, nor Cadance or Twilight fit the "Almighty" category.  I have a feeling, yet, don't think creators would do it but i think there are ancient alicorns, who would be considered "Almighty". 

 

HINT: Before anyone comments.........yes, Fausticorn.  

[Pastel 7,630]

It depends.

We don't know if the 3 alicorns: Cadance, Celesia and Luna are born alicorns or not.

If it's after an "achievement" (Twilight), then it justified why they are so powerful.

 

Otherwise, we'd find "weak" alicorns in the next episodes... :|

 

But I don't believe becoming an alicorn gives superior powers.

Edited April 28, 2014 by Blobulle

[Zekromic 1,054]

for me, they can be powerful as long as they don't reach the god sue mode, like Superman

[SaburoDaimando 1,196]

for me, they can be powerful as long as they don't reach the god sue mode, like Superman

If I were writing a fanfiction about an Alicorn, I wouldn't want to do so.  As I stated, flaws are what make the character unique.

 

Alicornhood is a special state where a pony encompasses the abilities of all three tribes of ponies.  They tend to compliment each other yielding a pony who is more than the sum of their aspects.  This alone places an alicorn significantly ahead of your run of the mill pony.  They do not need to be massively powerful, but there is a baseline that the state grants. 

That may be true, but not all Alicorns are ascended ponies.  Some like Celestia and Luna are Natural-born Alicorns which should be a rarity among ponies.

 

But should they consider adding a 5th Alicorn, I would like for them to explore the idea that not all Alicorns see themselves as gifted and blessed, but they see themselves as cursed.

 

Oh and Anti-Villain, the reason why I wanted to bring up Autism is...

 

a) I actually want to explore the idea of an alicorn colt with autism.  Someone who is trying to struggle through his foalhood not just because he's being picked on for being an alicorn by a group of 3 ponies(Earth Pony, Unicorn, Pegasus), plus he is also shy and not willing to interact with other ponies. Not to mention he has a poor short-term memory, but a great long-term memory.

 

I have autism myself.

[silvadel 1,393]

If I were writing a fanfiction about an Alicorn, I wouldn't want to do so.  As I stated, flaws are what make the character unique.

 

That may be true, but not all Alicorns are ascended ponies.  Some like Celestia and Luna are Natural-born Alicorns which should be a rarity among ponies.

 

But should they consider adding a 5th Alicorn, I would like for them to explore the idea that not all Alicorns see themselves as gifted and blessed, but they see themselves as cursed.

 

Oh and Anti-Villain, the reason why I wanted to bring up Autism is...

 

a) I actually want to explore the idea of an alicorn colt with autism.  Someone who is trying to struggle through his foalhood not just because he's being picked on for being an alicorn by a group of 3 ponies(Earth Pony, Unicorn, Pegasus), plus he is also shy and not willing to interact with other ponies. Not to mention he has a poor short-term memory, but a great long-term memory.

 

I have autism myself.

 

It is more the fact for a natural born alicorn than it is for an ascended one.  Ascended ponies reach the pinnacle of one form and gain the others after.  If anything they are far less balanced than a natural born alicorn would be.

[Jeric 46,861]

Alicorns should not be written or treated to me omnipotent beings, no. The show cannon has already show that they aren't, thank God. Making a character too strong reduces the element of danger with them. This happened with Jedi in the Star Wars books, Superman in the 70's and 80's, just to name a few. Eventually writers realized that it is hard to create suspense when a hero is too God like. Superman is depowered and Jedi were written as very flawed in the Star Wars prequels.

 

Celestia isn't really written as omnipotent anyway. On occasion she has come across is almost ... well ... useless. One of my favorite moments in the series is the Season 2 finale when she was smacked down hard, and technically Nightmare Moon could have won the duel if Celestia didn't 'Form Blazing Sword' on her.

 

 

 

 

[Zekromic 1,054]

If I were writing a fanfiction about an Alicorn, I wouldn't want to do so.  As I stated, flaws are what make the character unique.

 

That's one of the reasons the comics have a pretty good portrayal of alicorns, as evidenced in Nightmare Rarity's arc and the current reflections (I think Celestia also struggled in a flashback fight in her micro-comic)

[Jeric 46,861]

Off topic but, Nightmare Rarity? What?! I have to start reading IDW's series.

[Manman20x6 359]

Actually, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are natural-born Alicorns.

 

Source? I don't think we've ever seen Celestia and Luna as babies.

 

 

I think others have already expressed my opinion on this; alicorns are more powerful than regular ponies, but not all-powerful.

Edited April 28, 2014 by Manman20x6

[DiscordedSocks 8]

Alicorns are the definition of power. While Cadence is weak unless in the presence of strong affection, Luna is probably the second weakest with Twilight and Celestia at joint top depending on what you base it off.

 

There isn't many Alicorns anyway and if they added more the show would get repetitive...

[Metemponychosis 1,262]

A think that the problem with alicorns is that the writers themselves don't seem to know the answer to any questions surrounding them. Cadance seems to have much more raw power than Shining Armor, who seems to have much more power than his sister, who is an alicorn. That or different spells work differently for different ponies. It may be just as easy for Twilight to make a shield around her library as it is for Shining Armor to make a shield around Canterlot, as it is for Cadance to make a shield around the Crystal Empire, as it is for Luna and Celestia to move celestial bodies around the sky (and we don't even know if their sun and moon is the same as ours). But them Celestia just effortlessly dispels Twilight's spell in Lesson Zero. Is she a stronger spellcaster? Does she just know the right counterspell? Do the writers care? This stuff changes at the convenience of the plot of the episode.

 

Since the canon on how magic works in Equestia is a mess, I prefer to think that being an alicorn is more about worth than it is about power. After all, that was the message in MMC and in Twilight's book, where she learns of how Cadance became an alicorn. So, my opinion is that being an alicorn has nothing to do with with being all-powerful. At least for now. Alicorns are supposed to be leaders, examples to be followed. If they become powerful, it should be because they just know stuff.

Edited April 28, 2014 by moonlightavenger

[pony.colin 156]

Or is it more interesting to make them not as powerful as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna?

 

This is coming from someone who's observed the season for a long time.  Before "A Canterlot Wedding," all we had were Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, two Alicorn sisters who possess power beyond any pony.  Then we were given Princess Cadance(Who, during the 3rd season, shows more physical weakness than her superiors) and later on, Twilight Sparkle becomes the 4th Alicorn.

 

But I wonder.  Why should Alicorns be powerful?  Is it mandatory for an Alicorn to have god-like powers?  Or is it more interesting for the Alicorn to be on similar scales as an Earth Pony, Unicorn and/or Pegasus?  Personally, I would like to see the latter explored often, especially if said Alicorn was weak and timid.  Why?  In my view, flaws make the character.

 

Define "all powerful" or at least the standards of which you are measuring Luna, Celestia, Cadance, and Twilight.

 

Are we talking about heightened magical power? Because the way I currently see it, being an alicorn means you have both the benefits of flight from pegasus and magical capability from unicorns (sorry earth ponies, you've been shafted). All the alicorns have magical capabilities above other unicorns, or I would make this gander because it seems the average unicorn does not display much magical capability outside of basic telekinesis. Celestia and Luna both control the sun and move (respective), Candance is a love goddess who has the capability of controlling a couple's emotions towards each other and Twilight acts like your weekly deus ex machina whenever the plots requires it.

So I would make the gander that alicorns have heightened magic over the average unicorn, or at least heightened magic capability. It does not matter if they are physically weaker or stronger.

To make a reply, no I don't think we can say that alicorns are on the same scale as your average earth pony, unicorn or pegasus.

Is it a requirement for alicorns to have heightened special magic capabilitiy? To be an alicorn or to rule? (a specific answer is needed before I would reply back).

[SaburoDaimando 1,196]

 

Source? I don't think we've ever seen Celestia and Luna as babies.

 

 

I think others have already expressed my opinion on this; alicorns are more powerful than regular ponies, but not all-powerful.

 

I think I had a wrong choice of words.  I should have said "Should Alicorns have a requirement to be more powerful than regular Earth Ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi?" I actually want to come up with an Alicorn that's actually only as powerful as, or even less than, Earth Ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi.

 

Oh and as for the source of Celestia and Luna being natural-born Alicorns: Lauren Faust, courtesy of Equestria Daily  http://www.equestriadaily.com/2013/05/lauren-faust-q-part-2.html

 

Q: Were Celestia and Luna born as alicorns?

A: In my book, yes

 

But like I said, my idea for an alicorn would require him to put under tons of pressure, hating the fact that he is one(Mainly because he refers to the alicorn form as a curse and wishes that he were only an simple Earth Pony).  The addition of autism is more inspired by myself, since I also have autism.

[Flash Fire 386]

No. Cadance can barely do anything, and yet she is an alicorn. An alicorn is more of a state of being, meaning that one has ascended to mastery of their talent, or the skill their cutie mark represents (dis-regarding the royal sisters). So they would not be all powerful, but would gain an overall buff to skills, and become masters of their skill or profession.

Keep in mind too, that Cadance was a pegasus before she became an alicorn, so it makes sense she wouldn't be overly talented with magic, but at the same time, she was strong enough to ward off Sombra for quite a while.