Why did Discord betray the Mane 6?

[Ribbonfree 2,383]

My idea about it is that it was sort of pushing the limits of their friendship, akin to a child constantly upping the ante in their trouble-making in an attempt to get people to notice them. He hadn't gotten any positive reception that wasn't at least kind of forced from any of the Mane Six besides Fluttershy. He was probably, on some level, hurt and unable to believe they really liked him. Not until Twilight proved it to him for good, and the others came to understand the importance of being genuinely his friend instead of reluctantly.

 

Also, I do like the ideas being thrown around about him just being too chaotic in nature to ever play anything straight. I think the answer might be somewhere between these concepts.

[Singe 2,111]

The point of the reform was to manipulate Discord into friendship as a way to keep his behavior in check. This wasn't a straight forward friendship like others since it had an ulterior motive.

Edited May 15, 2014 by Singe

[Nature's Spell 526]

I guess another possibility with the bookmarking is Discord didn't trust himself to turn in Tirek, and led the ponies to the rainbow power as a backup plan in case his conscience failed.

That's a really great point. It was like an insurance policy against his chaotic nature.

[NavelColt 22,879]

Discord considered Tirek a ''friend'', the seed of wanting friendship that Fluttershy planted in him in ''Keep Calm and Flutter On''. Discord thought that if he did what Tirek wanted then he would gain a friend that would not judge him or limit what he can do. Throughout the entirety of Season 4, the Mane 6 (with the exception of Fluttershy) treated Discord as if he was still an enemy, and would become hostile, on-guard and distrusting whenever he showed up. Discord isn't an idiot, he noticed they did not like him and obviously felt abandoned by people that call themselves ''friends''.  So Tirek offering him companionship without judgement was an offer Discord couldn't refuse. And when Discord was betrayed by Tirek and learned that Tirek only wanted to use him, this made him realize that even if the Mane 6 didn't like him, they still would never betray or use him, thus him feeling guilty for what happened.

 

Best way to word what my mind has been trying to word for a while, now x) Thank you, Youtube comments.

[Yellow Diamond 7,568]

As I mentioned to a friend, Discord's bizarre belief that Tirek would be his friend probably says something about the state of his psychology following "Keep Calm and Flutter On". I happen to hold that Discord enjoys having an audience; on some level, he desires someone who will indulge him and be entertained by his antics without instantly seeking to petrify him for a millennium. The encounter with Fluttershy opened a door Discord thought could be filled by most any person who expressed support for him; in this sense, then, he was blinded by his desire for affirmation and some level of companionship. He thought he could get the best of both worlds, i.e., act as he wanted while still having someone to appreciate the theater.

 

So yeah, basically what ~CD~ just posted.

[John 793]

Why did spoilers spoilers spoilers?

 

Spoilers?

 

#SpoilersOnTheFrontPage   spoiled milk spoilers.

 

spososlosuidslsisls

Edited May 22, 2014 by John

[LordDiscord 289]

Discord had every chance imaginable to usher in his reign of chaos again ever since the season premiere, but he chose not to because he was reformed. It really doesn't make sense how he suddenly changes his mind and abandons all character development he's had since Season 3.

 

 

He never implies that it was all a plan to "accelerate the process of unlocking the box". Even when Fluttershy is crying and the Mane 6 are locked in a cage, he still doesn't care or reveal any sort of scheme that in any way helps the ponies. While watching, I was waiting for something like this to happen but it never did.

 

 

That's old Discord. Reformed Discord refrains from using his chaos to harm anyone to any extreme extent, especially doing something such as what was shown in this episode (joining forces with an evil tyrant and planning to practically enslave everyone).

Just because Discord had many opportunities, does not mean any of them were at the right time. The Mane 6 ( minus Fluttershy) treated him like crap, so it is a possibility that their disrespect took its tole on Discord making him long a better offer. Discord wasn't truly reformed, the only thing holding him back before was Fluttershy because he want a companion, he didn't want to be lonely anymore, so when Tirek offered him this ''companionship'' as well as the freedom to do as he pleases without judgement, Discord found this offer to be a better one as it lets him be himself, and gain a friend in return. Discord needed this, he needed to be put in a situation where he would finally understand what friendship truly is, and that is what he was put through. When Tirek betrayed him and stole his powers, and then trapped him in the same bubble he trapped Twilights friends, Twilight could have easily left Discord in that bubble, and Discord knew that, heck he expected it, but once she saved him he realized who was truly loyal to him.

Best way to word what my mind has been trying to word for a while, now x) Thank you, Youtube comments.

Wait wasn't that a sample from one of my quotes?

[NavelColt 22,879]

Wait wasn't that a sample from one of my quotes?

 

It is from you :3 Didn't know you had an account here. Awesome

[LordDiscord 289]

It is from you :3 Didn't know you had an account here. Awesome

Thought it was a post on here but it must be on Youtube.

Edited May 22, 2014 by LordDiscord

[NavelColt 22,879]

Yep it is mine, I found the full post.

 

Ever sense ''Keep Calm and Flutter On'' I was left with a daunting feeling that Discord was just reformed for the heck of it. That their was no big need for his power, it was just a way of getting rid of him as a villain. I was really conflicted on what aspect of Discord I liked more, his evil manipulative, chaotic side, or his softer side, and for the longest time, I had preferred the first side as that was the side of Discord I was introduced to, that was the reason Discord became my favorite character in the first place. And the fact that through out the entirely of Season 4, that non of the Mane 6 (other than Fluttershy) had been willing to give Discord a chance and I hardly felt they really cared about him at all. Honest had something happened to Discord or had he been taken away and thrown in Tartarus for some unknown reason, Fluttershy would have been the only one hurt from that ordeal, and the others would have felt relieved. Atleast this is the vibe I get when ever Discord interacts with Twilight and the others. Tirek even hinted at this when he first encountered Discord, by stating that his friendship was nothing more than a new form of imprisonment, and sadly Tirek was correct, as that is what it felt like and that could be a reason why Tirek had so easily persuaded Discord to join his side, because he felt Tirek would let him be himself and would not judge him based for it. 

 

Another part that had me worried was the fact that before Tirek, there would have been no villain that could stand up to Discord and that he would have become the ''go to'' weapon now that the elements are gone. However when Tirek had grown powerful enough to drain Discord of his chaotic magic, I felt that it was a powerful moment because Discord was just officially dethroned as the most powerful character, and the fact their was a villain that could stand up to him, made that worry of him being overpowered fade away.

 

Discords betrayal was a great and powerful way of finalizing his reformation, by proving that he truly does want friendship and not just because he has to but because he wants it, as well as proving that the Mane 6 as a whole cares about him and was even willing to forgive him despite what he did. It would have been easy for Twilight to save her friends and leave Discord at the mercy of Tirek, yet she saved him.

 

The season final finally gave Discord that growth I have been longing for ever sense Season 3 and it felt natural too, I can now accept Discord as a good guy and even more so I can consider him a part of the Mane 6 or should I say Mane 7.  I can not wait for Season 5 and what they plan to do with Discords character, I hope they continue this trend and have Discord eventually become part of Twilights main circle of friends.

 

His initial reformation process seems to sit better with others now as well, now that he's had a 'true' reformation in light of Tirek's betrayal.

 

I hope Pony Discord shows up again some time x)

[LordDiscord 289]

His initial reformation process seems to sit better with others now as well, now that he's had a 'true' reformation in light of Tirek's betrayal.

 

I hope Pony Discord shows up again some time x)

As do I, also I did figure out that that post was mine, only it was one i posted on Youtube, I had thought you were referring to one I posted here.

[Sunny Fox 5,950]

Discord stated a couple of times that he joined Tirek because Tirek offered him freedom, not friendship. Tirek says that "friendship is merely another prison", and the amulet was a sign of "gratitude and loyalty", not a sign of friendship. Sure gratitude and loyalty are aspects of friendship, but not the same thing. I reject the notion that he turned traitor because he wanted Tirek to be his friend.

[NavelColt 22,879]

As do I, also I did figure out that that post was mine, only it was one i posted on Youtube, I had thought you were referring to one I posted here.

 

xP If you read my initial post, I said outright it was from Youtube.

[LordDiscord 289]

xP If you read my initial post, I said outright it was from Youtube.

Must have misread that, also I had forgotten about the post I posted there.

[Ianpiersonjdavis 512]

Well, Tirek was technically right when he pointed out that friendship was a new form of imprisonment for him because in "Keep Calm and Flutter On" Fluttershy blackmailed him with the threat of breaking off their friendship if he didn't fix everything at the end.

 

This was used again in 'Princess Twilight Sparkle' when he realized the Elements of Harmony were gone and Fluttershy flat out told him that she wouldn't be his friend anymore if he betrayed them.

 

Before the episode Fluttershy was the only one willing to be his friend while the remaining cast only indulged him, despite their loathing of him for fear of either her being upset with them or that Discord would decide that friendship wasn't really worth changing for.

 

With Tirek he saw an opportunity to be himself and have a friend, which easily beat Fluttershy's deal of only being able to have one or the other.

 

It's also worth noting that he probably still harbors great contempt for the rest of the Mane Six ( maybe  excluding Twilight, since she wound up saving him later) as Fluttershy was the only one he actually felt guilty for betraying once his decisions came back to bite him as evidenced by his dialogue singling her out.

[Nature's Spell 526]

It's also worth noting that he probably still harbors great contempt for the rest of the Mane Six ( maybe excluding Twilight, since she wound up saving him later) as Fluttershy was the only one he actually felt guilty for betraying once his decisions came back to bite him as evidenced by his dialogue singling her out.

Contempt isn't the right word. Friendenemy, such as it is, might be more correct. He likes them but also loves to mess with them.

 

Twilight is an interesting case and I've always felt Discord is fascinated by her. He respects and maybe even fears Twilight and I think he always sensed how special she is.

[BrawnyBold 11]

He probably still had some chaos inside of him that he wanted to use against the mane 6 probably because of what they did to him in season 2. 

[Adorkable 2,737]

Well, I've been saving this for this topic. ^^

 

But I found a theory, I'm truly willing to believe. ^^

 

Here it is! ^^

 

(It does have a little cursing in it, so beware! ^^)

 

 

 

 

 

As I said before, I totally buy this. ^^

[Ducky 13]

its easy to make a character do something when you write poorly. 

[JH24 385]

its easy to make a character do something when you write poorly. 

 

Personally I think it's cleverly written. Fluttershy didn't deserve this (and to a lesser extent Twilight, but she could have done more) but the other Mane 6 should have seen the writing on the wall and seen Discord's betrayal coming. They treated him badly, with hostility and never as a friend (while that usually is so important to them) Discord mentioning he's mostly doing it for Fluttershy painfully showed the other Mane 6 had failed in their task.

 

 

As others pointed out, Discord valued Fluttershy's friendship, but because he still didn't know the full meaning he believed he could "trade" one friendship for the other. With Tirek he could have his freedom, be himself and have a friend. But seeing Twilight freeing him and still view him as a friend made him realize what a huge mistake he had made. And having a friend means that things can't always go your way.

Edited May 30, 2014 by JH24

[Singe 2,111]

Discord is new to friendship, but he was also right there where Celestia spoke about the underlying intention was to reform him and keep him in check.

[Ducky 13]

Personally I think it's cleverly written. Fluttershy didn't deserve this (and to a lesser extent Twilight, but she could have done more) but the other Mane 6 should have seen the writing on the wall and seen Discord's betrayal coming. They treated him badly, with hostility and never as a friend (while that usually is so important to them) Discord mentioning he's mostly doing it for Fluttershy painfully showed the other Mane 6 had failed in their task.

 

 

As others pointed out, Discord valued Fluttershy's friendship, but because he still didn't know the full meaning he believed he could "trade" one friendship for the other. With Tirek he could have his freedom, be himself and have a friend. But seeing Twilight freeing him and still view him as a friend made him realize what a huge mistake he had made. And having a friend means that things can't always go your way.

yeah i know, i just pissed at the show. i want to like it, but i just cant. im regretting finding this site cause it lets me vent when i shouldnt... also i just dont like discord, never really liked him in the show. hes annoying, not trixie levels, but close

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

I tend to think that it was because he's still in the process of learning just how valuable friendship is. Having never had a friend before Fluttershy, he didn't realize just how valuable it is to have people who can trust him and whom he can trust. He thought friendship was just another tool for getting what he wanted. But when Tirek betrayed him, he found himself with no one to trust and no one who trusted him, and he realized in that moment just how much it means to have friends.

[Celli 4,337]

He didn't "have to do it". He could have captured Tirek on the spot, but instead chose to betray his friends by believing Tirek's lie. Even after capturing the ponies and Fluttershy crying, he still didn't care and still wanted to continue on with the plan to take over the land. Only after he himself was betrayed and had all of his powers drained did he realize what he had done.

 

It really ruined the episode for me. It was very out of character. He already learned his lesson several times now.

You do realize we wouldn't have had an episode if that happened, right?

[Steve 290]

because what fun is there in making sense?