Luna is responsible for technological progress.

Oh! Something interesting I noticed when watching the G Gundam parody again.

When Cadance and Shining Armor perform the big love-powerd shield wave thing, take a look at Cadance's mane during the whole sequence. For that short time, it flows, much like Celestia's mane. At one point, even her tail flows. However, it settles back into a solid shape when the spell is over and they settle on the ground.

So, the flowing mane is definitely an indication of power. However, Cadance is younger than Celestia or Luna, and hasn't reached full maturity yet. It's only in moments like that that her mane flows.

I think the best analogy I can think of is to think to Dragon Ball Z. It's like the golden hair of the Super Saiyan state. Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna are like Goku in the Cell Saga: they're powerful enough that they're in this powerful state at all hours of the day.

edited 23rd Apr '12 10:57:13 AM by Enlong

Oh yeah and I was thinking that while Permafrost is a tyrant, she's also very good at defending her land from threats.

@Bad Alright, then. Should the Snowcatcher, The Irrelevant fanon be taking place in the past or in the present day?

And, if it's in the past how old would Snowcatcher be present day?

edited 23rd Apr '12 10:59:07 AM by crowlover

Luna was busy in the finale background chasing away the Changeling army reinforcements and backguard to prevent Canterlot from really getting overrun with more than what already got in. She was asking more about the wedding than anything since she spent the whole day cleaning up the stragglers.

And yes, I too want a weaponized Royal Canterlot Voice.

...Oh goodness it's late I need to go catch up on sleep see y'all later :D

@Ace: Dangit, I wanted to make the Ludicrous Speed joke.

Night Ace!

I'm not really seeing much of a tech jump, TBH. Twilight's lab equipment from Feeling Pinkie Keen is still the most blatant out of place bit of tech in the show, and considering how we've seen the SSSS6000 function, it was probably just magic-powered scanning equipment rather than any sort of advanced computer.

I was commenting more on the TRAIN. It was horsepowered in season 1. In Season 2 it's more like an actual steam train.

Or it could be a magic engine. Besides steam power isn't really all that advanced.

Magic engine? No. It was clearly a steam engine in S 2 E 24. All that coal shoveling...

And a steam engine is a HUGE change for society.

Also rumor has it that Season 3 premiers on 9/15/12

edited 23rd Apr '12 11:08:54 AM by stevebat

In a society with magic, magical development is often seen supplanting technological advancement that we had in real life. Fullmetal Alchemist would be a good example. With alchemy forming the basis of the socity, the country of Amestris saw many advancements through use of alchemical methods, rather than pure technological advancement. The same can most likely apply to Equestrian society. As such, a steam engine would likely be less of a major revolution, and more of a slightly different way of doing things.

Back on the subject of flowing manes, which I get the feeling that nobody else is particularly interested in, I like the way they've shown us how it works without telling us directly. We saw the marked change in Luna's look, which suggested she was weakened in her first appearance, or simply grew older and more powerful in the previous year. Her flowing mane resembles Nightmare Moon's who was clearly more powerful than Luna. We saw Celestia's mane becoming static when she was knocked out by Chrysalis, suggesting that it can be seen as a sort of indicator of power, and we saw Cadance's mane briefly take on insubstantial properties during the big scene, solidifying the whole thing. It just works very nicely, and they didn't have to say a word.

edited 23rd Apr '12 11:10:43 AM by Enlong

I hear ya Enlong. I went on a rant the other night about how much I love that sort of subtle worldbuilding.

@Steve That doesn't mean that it was particularly advanced or complex. Steam engines have been in use since the 1700's, not exactly modern tech by any means.

Not to mention the fact that the train being pulled by the ponies was a steam engine, just a non-functional one. It probably just broke down at some point, and the crew had to get out and pull.

Insubstantial? Where in the episode was this again?

Derp. Nevermind.

edited 23rd Apr '12 11:14:54 AM by stevebat

I was just watching the wedding episodes at lunch, and the other people's reactions to me doing so are hilarious XD

During the big love-wave thing. Perhaps "insubstantial" is the wrong word, but for that brief time, Cadance's mane flows just like Celestia's.

I find it significant, considering another shot, where Celestia's mane solidified when she was knocked flat by Chrysalis.

What did they say?

edited 23rd Apr '12 11:15:49 AM by Bluespade

@ Crowlover: I was thinking some time between Nightmare Moon's banishment and her return, but there's nothing set in stone. And on how old Snowcatcher is now, I was thinking that she could be a historical figure that died years ago. A framing method I was thinking about if I ever could write a fanfic about her would be some ponies maybe doing a project on her.

@bad Sounds good

Have to go now...

edited 23rd Apr '12 11:23:23 AM by crowlover

I ended up getting my younger brother to watch the finale with my sister and I yesterday, out of boredom. He actually ended up enjoying it, but still doesn't care for the series as it normally is. It's not "epic" enough for him, which is fine by me. My parents simply find it amusing that I watch the show, and will occasionally poke fun at it, but I can't get them to sit down and watch an episode. They don't watch cartoons in general, unless they feel like watching an old Loony Toons short or something like that, so that's understandable too.

edited 23rd Apr '12 11:26:59 AM by PerpetualLurker

I heard some of the DP students behind me saying something about it, and my friend was like "Why, just why?" My answer: Why not?

It was Story who suggested the Windigo thing.

Sup. Decided to take over for a while. What's going on?

Well nothing more fun then getting lost in 4 different cities while trying to get back home.

What's going on?