Talk:Friendship is Magic animated media/@comment-1031724-20181110052100/@comment-29981995-20181130020647

@KillRoy we don’t know that the Elements couldn’t have purified Stygian because they didn’t try to use them to purify Stygian. The Elements act on the intentions of their wielders, and the Mane 6 were trying to banish the Pony of Shadows to limbo. It was an issue of Star Swirl being hung up on that strategy and Twilight wanting to make up for what she saw as failing her hero and ruining his plan. And from the writers’ perspective, the magic purifying rainbow cannon had been done before. Even if the Elements couldn’t have purified Stygian, I’d put that more on the Pony of Shadows’ power rather than the Elements losing any of there’s.

Until we get official word to the contrary, I’d blame the Mane 6’s failure to use Rainbow Power on ignorance, rather than inability. Essentially, I think they could use Rainbow Power again, they just don’t know how to do so. After all, the only mechanism they’ve used to unlock it before was the chest, which turned into Twilight’s castle. I wouldn’t be surprised if the castle or the Tree of Harmony could allow the Mane 6 to utilize Rainbow Power once again if or when the right situation arises.

By that, I mean that I don’t think the tree will just let the Mane 6 use Rainbow Power for every crisis. They’re supposed to use the magic of friendship, except in those rare cases-like Tirek-where friendship avails nothing. The Pillars needed to reconcile with Stygian and save him the darkness, not condemn him to limbo with it. The Mane 6 needed to befriend Capper, the pirates, Skystar, and Tempest, not just beat the Storm King and his army.

I agree that the villains need a permanent resolution to their arcs. Death or redemption is preferable, unless we know the imprisonment is actually going to help them reform. Sticking a villain in prison is asking for them to break out at some point, unless you can find one that’s truly inescapable. I’m only somewhat satisfied by the darkness being back in limbo, because you’d presumably need the Elements or some force just as/more powerful to get it back out.