Chapter 3 Comments

iloveportalz0r

#40 • 11h, 26m ago • • •
What if Discord stopped the intruder?
Shepard of Peace

#39 • 1d, 1h ago • • •
//fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/319/4/a/organized_chaos_by_paradigmpizza-d4g8sur.png
Sorry Princess, no idea what you're talking about. I've just been here working on my quarterly chaos reports.
But after some observation, I can confirm...
http://s23.postimg.org/mjo8xsu97/discord_you_are_this_mad.jpg

MLai

#38 • 3d, 5h ago • • •
>> MuchAdoAboutNonny
I can't +1 this comment enough! Too many times, Mane6 ponies are depicted as "heavily flanderized one-note" characters. This happens in poorly-written fics ofc, but even in the "last gen" classic FiMfics which are otherwise expertly crafted, I'd notice this trend.
For example, in Arrow 18 Mission Logs: Lone Ranger, Twilight excited carries on doing experiments like Dr. Frankenstein while ignoring Rainbow in distress who is going into (actual, not comedic) near-catatonia. That lapse in characterization mars an otherwise stellar chapter.
I don't hold it against these "last gen" authors. They were pioneering new territory, after all.
>> Just a tree
LOL yelling at Just A Tree feels like yelling at Fluttershy.
I commend you for your temperate disposition, author.
DerpedRainbow

#37 • 4d, 2h ago • • •
>> Apocrypha PLOT TWIST: Like any mad scientist, Starswirl tested his final spell on the worst possible subject, Discord! In a bid for immortality he had fused himself with a certain Draconnequus, serving as his conscience when not in control, making sure his pranks don't go too far.
Of course that is my fun theory, my other theory is that Celestia made a deal with Discord due to some perceived threat on the horizon. Or just to take a short vacation.
TwiIight Sparkle

#36 • 4d, 3h ago • • •
>> Woomod
Is earth pony strength biological or magical?
Is Pegasus flight biological or magical?
Both are magical, according to the show. Yet they also possess biological abilities, though mostly natural rather than super ones. Dragon resistance to heat? Biological.
Soul in the greek sense. The soul of a knife is cutting.
Tirek has a soul because Tirek has an -anything-, he hungers for power and might.
Show me the canon evidence and I'll accept that. But otherwise it's just your opinion.
Then we have a very short period of founding of equestria, -reign- of discord, celestia and luna, then a big chunk of nothing, then the show.
Well, there's the crystal empire and Tirek, but yeah, that's pretty much whsht happened.
Hearth's warming eve when the tribes come together in harmony for the first time and thus the magic of friendship/harmony is used for the first time in the history of the world. That's textual canon from the hearth's warming eve episode.
It's not a huge leap to guess that the tree grew from where the magic of harmony was first invoked. Especially with the old castle being on top of the tree, if the cave held such a symbolic meaning for early equestrian society.
That's actually pretty interesting headcanon. But I don't recall the episode saying it was the first time harmony was used in the world. Perhaps it was only the first time ponies used it?
Just a tree

#35 • 4d, 3h ago • 1 • • MLai
>>5363606 I'm sorry this isn't the story you were expecting. I can recommend this story to you: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/56458/the-longest-night
Although that still isn't the story you wrote in your post. I don't know any stories like that.
Shortness I accept. Maybe one day I'll learn how to write something long and still have it feel like one chapter.
Emotions ... I wrote Celestia back when she trusted Luna, so my Celestia just acts confused until she realizes what's going on. I recognize that "confused" isn't an interesting behavior to everyone, even though canon Celestia hardly ever acts confused, so I tried to make it quick. For the rest of it, I'm not sure what else I could have done besides exaggerate ...
Woomod

#34 • 4d, 3h ago • • • TwiIight Sparkle
>> TwiIight Sparkle
Wrong, MLP does make that distinction. The difference between Superman and magic is that Superman's powers are biological traits. MLP shows creatures to have biological traits not related to magic.
Even if magic was "the soul manifest", the argument could be made that Tirek has no soul of his own (since creatures exist and function without magic, and therefore without souls by your reasoning), and would have no magical signature still.
Is earth pony strength biological or magical?
Is Pegasus flight biological or magical?
Soul in the greek sense. The soul of a knife is cutting.
Tirek has a soul because Tirek has an -anything-, he hungers for power and might. Thus his magic reflects that hunger, literally allowing him to steal magic from others to strengthen his own, which he then uses largely in displays of power and might.
Totally unsupported headcanon that conflicts with current canon. Just because it doesn't make sense to you doesn't mean the canon is invalid.
Then we have a very short period of founding of equestria, -reign- of discord, celestia and luna, then a big chunk of nothing, then the show.
Who said they created the Elements of Harmony? Last time I checked, the Tree of Harmony created the Elements.
Hearth's warming eve when the tribes come together in harmony for the first time and thus the magic of friendship/harmony is used for the first time in the history of the world. That's textual canon from the hearth's warming eve episode.
It's not a huge leap to guess that the tree grew from where the magic of harmony was first invoked. Especially with the old castle being on top of the tree, if the cave held such a symbolic meaning for early equestrian society.
icekatze

#33 • 4d, 4h ago • 4 • •
>>5363606
Whether or not there is a grain of truth in your comments, I have a feeling that any point you were trying to make will inevitably be overshadowed the sheer meanness of your attitude. I find it ironic that a complaint about the inappropriateness of a fictional character's emotional response would come in such an inappropriate emotional response.
TwiIight Sparkle

#32 • 4d, 5h ago • 2 • • Woomod
>> Woomod
Mlp doesn't make that distinction, Mlp goes with the concept that magic is the soul manifest.
Ponies special talents are right there stated in the episode magical abilities, which was pretty clear before the episode just not stated out right. Rarities fashion sense is just as magical as twilight teleporting around, and less likely to blow up in her face.
Wrong, MLP does make that distinction. The difference between Superman and magic is that Superman's powers are biological traits. MLP shows creatures to have biological traits not related to magic.
Even if magic was "the soul manifest", the argument could be made that Tirek has no soul of his own (since creatures exist and function without magic, and therefore without souls by your reasoning), and would have no magical signature still.
the entire point of Starswirls Character is that he's a failure because he never made a single friend, and sought knowledge rather than wisdom.
Nowhere in canon does it say he never made a single friend, or that he was a failure. It says he didn't understand the magic of friendship like Twilight did, but that doesn't mean he had no friends. He could have had a much more limited knowledge of the magic of friendship. Rarity didn't complete the spell, does that make her a failure with no friends? In fact, just the fact that he had even part of the spell shows he understood part of the magic of friendship!
pre founding of equestria which is going to be at least several hundred years post founding to discord, celestia and luna showing up on the scene.
Totally unsupported headcanon that conflicts with current canon. Just because it doesn't make sense to you doesn't mean the canon is invalid.
his original introduction being him being an obscure figure best known for making a pottery spell.
Wrong, he's the father of the amniomorphic spell, which would be a spell that changes something into a sheep. A pretty useful spell, actually.
They really should be using pansy/clover/smart cookie for "People who did shit pre Sisters" seeing as well they founded equestria and created the elements of harmony.
Who said they created the Elements of Harmony? Last time I checked, the Tree of Harmony created the Elements.
MuchAdoAboutNonny

#31 • 4d, 6h ago • 1 • • MLai
>>5363606
Not every story needs to follow such a melodramatic formula. Luna and Twilight are both experienced professionals now; they aren't going to spend so much time freaking out over a problem when they could be using that time to fix the problem. And they aren't going to freak out in front of Celestia, who is already a little frightened and doesn't need to be pushed overboard into panic.
And I actually think it's rather creative to have Celestia forget Luna's banishment. It allows the author to examine the relationship they had before everything collapsed, instead of dwelling on Celestia's angst like nearly every similar story out there.
This story has a fave and a thumbs up from me. It's nice to see the characters acting like the capable individuals they are instead of the heavily-flanderized, one-note ponies the fandom can make them out to be. I'm looking forward to the rest if the story.
The Slending Angel

#30 • 4d, 8h ago • • •
I sense a big ol' Shitstorm of Chaos coming. TO THE BUNKER!!!!!!
Just a tree

#29 • 4d, 8h ago • • •
>> Alondro Mistagged it, I'll change that
Woomod

#28 • 4d, 9h ago • • • TwiIight Sparkle
>> TwiIight Sparkle
There is a difference between "supernatural" and "magic". Superman has supernatural powers, but isn't magic.
Mlp doesn't make that distinction, Mlp goes with the concept that magic is the soul manifest.
Ponies special talents are right there stated in the episode magical abilities, which was pretty clear before the episode just not stated out right. Rarities fashion sense is just as magical as twilight teleporting around, and less likely to blow up in her face.
Also, Starswirl = Discord should surprise everyone, since that theory makes no sense (don't even start that Discord quote). Starswirl is around before and after Discord, even in this story's timeline.
And the Canon on Starswirl the bearded with the Tirek two party is rather wonky when the entire point of Starswirls Character is that he's a failure because he never made a single friend, and sought knowledge rather than wisdom. (and would have made him old as shiiitttt, pre founding of equestria which is going to be at least several hundred years post founding to discord, celestia and luna showing up on the scene.)
Starswirl is in general a character who gets bounced around a lot because they just need "Person who did sum thing in the past" despite his original introduction being him being an obscure figure best known for making a pottery spell.
They really should be using pansy/clover/smart cookie for "People who did shit pre Sisters" seeing as well they founded equestria and created the elements of harmony.
BierKeks

#27 • 4d, 11h ago • • •
Timespells...maybe this IS the Celestia from the past.
Anon42

#26 • 4d, 13h ago • • •
>> TwiIight Sparkle Eh. Basically, there's nothing that says that he needs magic to drain others, but there's also nothing whatsoever that says he's not using his own magic to do it.
And no offense to you but I'm more inclined to believe he's using magic rather than some other supernatural force or advanced technology to absorb magical energy given how everything supernatural in Equestria seems to originate from magic of some sort.
TwiIight Sparkle

#25 • 4d, 13h ago • • • Anon42
>> Anon42
Changelings suck love out of victims but don't need love themselves to do it. Who says Tirek needs magic to suck magic out of victims?
There is a difference between "supernatural" and "magic". Superman has supernatural powers, but isn't magic.
Lord Commissar Alexer

#24 • 4d, 15h ago • 2 • •
There wont be a dislestia shipping, right?
Anon42

#23 • 4d, 15h ago • • • TwiIight Sparkle
>> TwiIight Sparkle Erm... I'm sorry, but that comparison makes no sense to me. Also, the ability to drain magic out of things as if you're sucking in air sounds supernatural to me, so it kind of qualifies as a magical power.
Flarestorm

#22 • 4d, 17h ago • • •
*crosses arms* Alright, Discord. Explain yourself.
LuluCalliope

#21 • 4d, 20h ago • 3 • •
*gasp* Old Man Discord?
Old Man Discord: I would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for you meddling ponies!
...I'm so sorry, I couldn't resist... XD
Apocrypha

#20 • 4d, 20h ago • • •
>> Djerid Oh I'm not saying he's the bad guy. We don't even know if whoever is doing this is a "bad guy."
TwiIight Sparkle

#19 • 4d, 21h ago • • • Woomod Anon42
>> Anon42
Not at all. Changelings don't need love to drain love. Tirek can have a non-magical ability to drain magic. Who knows, maybe his breath lierally sucks the magic out of creatures?
TwiIight Sparkle

#18 • 4d, 21h ago • 1 • •
>> Woomod
I didn't say Tirek gained the abilities, just possibly the magical signature.
Also, Starswirl = Discord should surprise everyone, since that theory makes no sense (don't even start that Discord quote). Starswirl is around before and after Discord, even in this story's timeline. That puts Discord and Starswirl existing at the same time at the same place. This story goes even farther than canon, with Luna being there to attest to Starswirl being there the whole time, she surely would know if Discord was Starswirl. And while this story makes it clear that Starswirl was indeed the creator of at least one time spell, there is still no evidence that he could go back in time and become Discord, without anyone knowing (including himself, wouldn't he have told someone, especially after he was reformed?).
Not to mention the fact that John de Lancie himself said Discord is not Starswirl, so that automatically relegates Starswirl = Discord to AU only.
Anon42

#17 • 4d, 22h ago • • • TwiIight Sparkle
>> TwiIight Sparkle Wouldn't he need at least some degree of magic of his own before he can absorb the magic of others? It's not like he cuts people open and scoops the magic out of them with a spoon, after all.
Woomod

#16 • 4d, 22h ago • • • TwiIight Sparkle
>> TwiIight Sparkle
He didn't for instance, gain rarities eye for fashion after having stolen her magic, which if he gained peoples abilities after having drained their magic he would have. Or flying after eating pegasi magic.
Or again, discord regardless of discord's actual "power level" what discord can -do- is what makes him dangerous.
The more magic he drained the more powerful he got, but he kept using the same magic throughout, which was pretty much all about brute power and force.
>> Apocrypha
Starswirl = Discord should never surprise anyone ever.
Djerid

#15 • 4d, 22h ago • • • Apocrypha
>> Apocrypha While there is a lot of foreshadowing, at this point I am not sure enough is known to pin Star Swirl as the Bad Guy. If the tags were different, I would expect a puppet master to be at work here, and an adventure was about to take place, but sadly no.
Apocrypha

#14 • 4d, 22h ago • 1 • • DerpedRainbow Woomod Djerid
>> Djerid Unless it really was Discord, and all of this is to teach her a lesson about...something. Also, pretty sure Twilight kinda trusts Discord now.
----
...Time spells. Starswirl disappeared. Discord doing this for seemingly no reason.
So I'm guessing Discord is Starswirl?
TwiIight Sparkle

#13 • 4d, 22h ago • • • Anon42 Woomod
>> Woomod
But what if Tirek has no magical signature? All his magic appears to be stolen, so he would have no signature of his own.
But Discord being to blame explains why Celestia apparently forgot that the reason they found the Tree of Harmony was to defeat Discord.
Pixel Pony

#12 • 4d, 23h ago • • •
>> Alondro
Perhaps it was Starswirl. That seems like the kind of thing an ancient and mysterious wizard would do. At least, if this is indeed all a part of some grand plan.
honeyhoneyhoney

#11 • 4d, 23h ago • • •
Phew. *leaves blanket*
I think I'm safe. I'm glad this wasn't sad. :)
Drama and potential-Angst does not make a sad story. lol. *takes out popcorn* May teh festivities begin!
honeyhoneyhoney

#10 • 4d, 23h ago • • •
I fell in love with the synopsis... but I'm afraid to read because of that sad "tag."
*worried*
I don't know if ah should read. Ah!!!! *runs in circle*
Skydrake

#9 • 4d, 23h ago • • •
>> Alondro
Twilight did feel as if Discord's magic was mixed together with something else though, which is likely to be significant. Add to that Starswirl's disappearance way back then thanks to his time spells, and Luna's musings how they may yet see him again, and I have a feeling a certain bearded menace is likely to be behind this incident.
I suppose it could also be the author playing tricks and dropping false clues, but eh ... even for Discord, I can't see him trying anything too dastardly just a day after the lesson he learned with Tirek (unless this is him playing some sort of a prank, but I find that hard to imagine, as I figure at this time he is still sulking about somewhere).
And Discord does make for a very convenient scapegoat - and while mimicking his magical signature could be hard (and it wasn't perfect, hence the impurities Twilight felt), I imagine that, say, Twilight, could pull it off if she really put her mind to it, for the purposes of leaving behind a simple imprint. If Starswirl was around her level, which seems to be the implication, I imagine he could manufacture something up as well.
After all, to use an analogy, one doesn't need to mimic a nuclear blast here (in terms of Discord being too powerful to imitate) - just sprinkle enough radiation in the area to make people believe there had been one and watch them blame the likely source.
Fiddlesticks

#8 • 4d, 23h ago • • •
Haha. That one dislike.... sometimes you can't even please people with perfection.
Woomod

#7 • 4d, 23h ago • • • TwiIight Sparkle
>> Alondro
Tirek couldn't copy the magic he stole, he just used it as batteries for his magic.
Notice he just did the same thing, if he had discord's -magic- twilight with all the alicorn's magic would have been a pushover. Since discord can easily beat all four princesses combined due to what his magic does.
Tirek just wanted power, and that's all his magic let him do, wield raw power.
Amethyst Gem

#6 • 5d, 1m ago • • •
That comic, omg, so cute! XD
I like this chapter, we can see somethings about their past and of course, Discord... >_>
Alondro

#5 • 5d, 26m ago • • • Pixel Pony Skydrake Woomod
>> Djerid But the only one who could mimic Discord's chaos magic would have been Tirek for the time he'd stolen it... but the Tree of Harmony ripped all stolen magic from Tirek and now he's bound in Tartarus.
Discord's power is too immense for a lesser entity to copy.
Chrysalis cannot be the culprit because, though changelings can shape-shift, they cannot disguise their magical hoofprint. And also, Chrysalis would need another source of powerful love energy to raise herself to a level high enough to mimic Discord's power even if changelings could perfectly disguise their magic as that of another.
funbrand

#4 • 5d, 27m ago • • •
This story is AWESOME! I really want mo - hold on
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/b/bf/Doctor_wait_what.gif/revision/latest?cb=20140514224108
Is that... Is that a dislike?!
//i.imgur.com/AV4Lrw4.gif
Alondro

#3 • 5d, 31m ago • 2 • • Just a tree
I'm rather curious about one thing: how is this story going to be slice-of-life with a plot this complex?
Alondro

#2 • 5d, 33m ago • • •
>>5360800 Yeah, Starswirl was never, at any time, implied to have made any sort of prophecy about NMM.
And unless he's also somehow immortal, he'd have been dead/suspended in time/some other excuse for him not being dead, by the time NMM came along, which was after the unification given that Starswirl was Clover the Clever's teacher.
Djerid

#1 • 5d, 40m ago • • • Apocrypha Alondro
well someone is covering their tracks well, pinning it on a target no-one can trust