@Psi Considering that we've never seen a pony not named Twilight lift anything heavier than Sweetie Belle with their magic, I'd bet that 95% of unicorns couldn't restrain the average pony magically.

Possibly, I'm just saying it would interesting to see it demonstrated in universe, like how it would look.

edited 30th Dec '12 2:01:46 PM by Psi001

I wonder if Twilight can restrain Big Mac on juggernaut mode.

Here's a hypothetical situation:

Twilight has to confront a hostile Earth/Pegasus who unbeknownst to her as full blown super strength. She uses the same amount of magic power she would normally use on a pony to restrain them, but they start jerking around the limb she has a fix on, actually making Twilight jerk around as well. This requires her to considerably ramp up the power to subdue them, and during the process, the pony manages to throw twilight around too. Think of it like a magical 'lasso'.

Would this seem likely/plausible?

edited 30th Dec '12 2:05:56 PM by ApplelightLimited

I imagine there isn't a feedback thing. For example Twilight isn't forced completely to the ground by lifting the Ursa.

edited 30th Dec '12 2:06:47 PM by Badwolfwho

As said, I could sorta see teleknesis working sort of like a magic lasso, and if the target had enough power to stay mobile and thrash around, they might jerk the user in a sort of chain reaction.

It may just be because of the Rule of Funny vibe the show has though.

edited 30th Dec '12 2:07:28 PM by Psi001

Further more, what if said pony could both slowly rip through her shield spell and deflect/absorb her shooty offensive spell with their indestructible hooves?

@Applelight/Psi: I don't think that is something that would happen normally. Though I do think it could happen, either through specialized training or circumstances.

This is sorta the stuff I was wondering, like if another pony could actually break through a spell physically. I don't think that's ever happened fully in the show, most spells were deactivated due to the user itself being distracted or hit.

It may be fun to see if a more serious clash between the main cast ever happens, like Twilight or Rarity fight Applejack or Rainbow Dash in a non playful manner where they aren't holding back (due to a heel turn or brainwashing or whatever).

edited 30th Dec '12 2:15:52 PM by Psi001

I don't think hooves would deflect spells. Pounding on a shield would weaken it as the Changelings showed.

What if the hooves were able to deflect cannon balls? Is that strong enough to absorb the force of that spell without ill effect?

Hooves deflecting cannonballs would break my suspension of disbelief unless I'm given a good reason for it.

edited 30th Dec '12 2:12:52 PM by Badwolfwho

@ bad

Don't read my comic then.

@Applelight: I'm assuming these hooves are in motion rather then just standing still.

Sure!

I wonder if Twilight can restrain Big Mac on juggernaut mode.

Sure. Just levitate him. All the strength in the world won't do you any good if you've got nothing to push against.

My personal theory is that when a unicorn levitates something, they're not only lifting it against gravity, but also acting against any force that the thing is otherwise exerting. Like if Twilight lifted a blob of water, she wouldn't just be counteracting gravity, but also exerting energy against the sides of the water-blob so it doesn't flow out. There are obviously forces other than gravity involved; otherwise everytime she picked something up it could tip over. She could probably lift Big Macintosh temporarily, but I get the idea that if he were moving a lot it would be more difficult for her to maintain control because she'd have to compensate for his movement. Every time he tries to kick out of the levitation, she has to use a bit of energy to keep him upright.

It's probably part of the reason that she put the Ursa Minor to sleep before levitating it away; if that wasn't the case she could have just chucked it someplace without bothering to put it to sleep first.

edited 30th Dec '12 2:35:40 PM by JapaneseTeeth

@Wryte - Oh. Well.

The other part of it being that a still-enraged Ursa would just wander back to Ponyville anyway?

I didn't notice at all until everyone pointed it out.

I noticed it because they look like how Transformers look in relation to humans in Cybertron. Which is fitting considering that Timberwolves turned out to be a Combiner Team in the end.

Whereas the last image I posted was really epic, this one is just really pretty.

This is from a while back, but

Maybe she pretended to be Shining to lure Cadance off somewhere to be subdued.

As for unicorn TK, I like the idea that sufficient struggling can break free from a normal unicorn. It seems a bit unfair if any unicorn can win any fight by just picking you up and dropping you down a well.

as was mentioned earlier, your average unicorn probably can't lift anything heavier than a foal.

Me neither. How did the theory start anyway? That stupid gag in Secret of My Excess?