Twilight- no flowing mane for you

[Nature's Spell 526]

So I was talking to my daughter about the episode and it suddenly dawned on me that Twilight's mane did not begin to flow like Celestia and Luna's does, even after absorbing their magic. The sisters manes did stop once they gave up their magic, but returned two normal as soon as it returned. So that means it's tied to their magic, but did not transfer to Twilight. A few possibilities:

 

1. That part of their magic was too specific to them and Twilight's mane didn't respond to it. Maybe this proves they are a different class of Alicorn?

 

2. The magic was too unstable, but once it settled she would have gained the flowing mane/tail.

 

3. The writers/ artists forgot or didn't want to do it. The whole keep your powers secret was stupid and pointless so it would have hardly mattered.

 

Thoughts?

[Malinter 3,064]

Twilight is not fully adult yet and has yet to grow into the true alicorn form. Luna's child form has no flowing mane.

[Nature's Spell 526]

Twilight is not fully adult yet and has yet to grow into the true alicorn form. Luna's child form has no flowing mane.

That could be and would apply to Cadence too. My head canon was that the sisters's manes flow because they are connected to nature (sun and moon) while Twilight and Cadence are princesses of feelings-friendship and love. But love and friendship are even more eternal than the sun and moon so who knows.

[Hive King 2,001]

Cadence's mane actually flowed when she used the shield against Chrysalis. 

 

As for why Twilight's didn't, it might be a simple case of power incontinence. The others have enough control over their power to let out some excess power as an aura to look like a badass, Twilight doesn't, so she just internalizes it

[Nature's Spell 526]

Cadence's mane actually flowed when she used the shield against Chrysalis.

 

As for why Twilight's didn't, it might be a simple case of power incontinence. The others have enough control over their power to let out some excess power as an aura to look like a badass, Twilight doesn't, so she just internalizes it

A few people made the observation that Twilight's mane flowed when she got the power boost. I personally don't think it was coming from inside her. It just suddenly struck me that it wasn't and it would have been fun to see her like that. Edited May 21, 2014 by Nature's Spell

[Hive King 2,001]

A few people made the observation that Twilight's mane flowed when she got the power boost. I personally don't think it was coming from inside her. It just suddenly struck me that it wasn't and it would have been fun to see her like that.

Perhaps in that moment she had enough control to look like a badass but afterwards, she didn't have enough control to do so

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

Twilight was born a regular pony. 

 

Here's my headcanon: Because Celestia and Luna's parents were the makers of the universe, they had flowing manes as well. They were referred as "gods". The flowing mane is a symbol of creation. Celestia and Luna helped shape Equestria because they created the sun and the moon. Twilight was born the natural way, and even though she gained those powers, she still isn't considered a "god" due to the fact that she has no relation with Celestia nor Luna. 

[dekutree64 713]

Cadence's mane actually flowed when she used the shield against Chrysalis.

That was only wind, I think. It was flapping around too fast, and not sparkly.

 

A few people made the observation that Twilight's mane flowed when she got the power boost. I personally don't think it was coming from inside her. It just suddenly struck me that it wasn't and it would have been fun to see her like that.

It also flows (and sparkles) when she's moving the sun and moon, so it's definitely coming from inside her. But it's still not clear exactly how it works. One of my theories is that she was purposefully suppressing it, because she didn't know how to selectively suppress all the other effects (levitating, glowing eyes, light rays) without just trying to hold it all in. Reminds me of her magic overload in Cutie Mark Chronicles, actually The levitation seems to come back on involuntarily as well when moving the sun and moon.

[Hive King 2,001]

Twilight was born a regular pony. 

 

Here's my headcanon: Because Celestia and Luna's parents were the makers of the universe, they had flowing manes as well. They were referred as "gods". The flowing mane is a symbol of creation. Celestia and Luna helped shape Equestria because they created the sun and the moon. Twilight was born the natural way, and even though she gained those powers, she still isn't considered a "god" due to the fact that she has no relation with Celestia nor Luna. 

Crappy gods when the implication is that Twilight is Celestia's equal. 

 

I know you aren't claiming that they are awesomely powerful because of their god status, but I still get the feeling they're Kaioshin type gods

The kind who get their asses whipped constantly

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

Crappy gods when the implication is that Twilight is Celestia's equal. 

 

I know you aren't claiming that they are awesomely powerful because of their god status, but I still get the feeling they're Kaioshin type gods

The kind who get their asses whipped constantly

No, not those. They are imperfect gods, gods with faults, yet still make a way. 

[Hive King 2,001]

No, not those. They are imperfect gods, gods with faults, yet still make a way. 

What is a god anyway? I mean, Discord by admission is just a spirit and he whipped their asses easily

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

What is a god anyway? I mean, Discord by admission is just a spirit and he whipped their asses easily

What I mean by "god" is that they created something and rule over it. 

[Silver Letter 1,832]

 

 

Luna's child form has no flowing mane.

What child form? But neither Cadence nor Twilight has flowing manes. We don't know why.

[Nature's Spell 526]

What child form? But neither Cadence nor Twilight has flowing manes. We don't know why.

That's referring to episode 1-2. When Luna is changed back from Nightmare moon she looks young and has no flowing mane. I've heard it was because she was weakend by the elements.

[Zhortac 1,475]

Concider how old Luna and Celestia are, vs how old Twilight and Cadance are.

 

Twi's will probably flow and stuff, but not for quite a long time.

[Pastel 7,630]

Celestia and Luna are over 1000 years old, while Twilight and Cadance are still very young, and they're less powerful than C&L.

I guess that explains it.

[Red Cedar 1,408]

My headcanon on the matter: Celestia and Luna's manes are like that because they are the only two who are immortal. Cadence and Twilight, despite being alicorns, are not, so they have normal manes.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

That's referring to episode 1-2. When Luna is changed back from Nightmare moon she looks young and has no flowing mane. I've heard it was because she was weakend by the elements.

Oh yes, that. It's hard to say since the second Luna was obviously a redo of her design and probably isn't tied to the story at all.

[Nature's Spell 526]

Oh yes, that. It's hard to say since the second Luna was obviously a redo of her design and probably isn't tied to the story at all.

I've heard that as well. It's always easy to draw a stright line between events in the show.

[MLPFanatic34 3,234]

I've heard that Celestia and Luna's manes flow due to immortality, but I've also heard their manes flow because the flowing manes represent what they do, like how Celestia raises the sun and Luna the moon, but I assume as Twilight and Cadance grow their manes may flow too.

[Adorkable 2,737]

Twilight is not fully adult yet and has yet to grow into the true alicorn form. Luna's child form has no flowing mane.

 

This, this right here.

 

I didn't think of it, but it totally makes sense.

 

However, it did flow for a few seconds, remember that? ^^

 

Gosh, it was so beautiful. ^^

 

But I agree with this, I guess it's connected to adulthood. ^^

[Malinter 3,064]

Oh yes, that. It's hard to say since the second Luna was obviously a redo of her design and probably isn't tied to the story at all.

 

in  the comic she  regresses back into to that if she lets her magic get low. 

[Whofch 128]

Sure there could be many reasons. We did see it flow and sparkle briefly, probably just to show the viewers the implied power gain.

 

Ignoring the S1 Luna (since I believe S2 was stated as a redesign to make her look more like her sister and can therefore pretend that she never looked like S1 version) and the freaking weird route they used in the comics (not show canon anyway lols?) you could probably say it's age(1000+ years of magical exposure?)/power/connection to celestial objects/born alicorn vs created (nothing says otherwise yet) or possibly a number of other things and be safe.

 

I like the idea of Cel/Luna having some unique trait remaining (they've lost much over the past few seasons ) and am glad that Twi didn't suddenly gain a perminent/semi-perm flowing mane.

Edited May 22, 2014 by Greenlitsky

[Zhortac 1,475]

This, this right here.

 

I didn't think of it, but it totally makes sense.

 

However, it did flow for a few seconds, remember that? ^^

 

Gosh, it was so beautiful. ^^

 

But I agree with this, I guess it's connected to adulthood. ^^

 

Aside the fact its hard to tell if the mane 6 are adults or young adults, the point of the flowing mane being an adult trait is disproven, by Cadance. There is no way she's not an adult, since she was Twi's foalsitter.

[Gary S. 102]

The writers/artists forgot or didn't want to do it.