TheElements of Harmony are sixmagical artifacts representing fundamentalvirtues offriendship in the television seriesMy Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Each element embodies a specific virtue:honesty,kindness,laughter,generosity, andloyalty. The sixth element,magic, is the catalyst that activates the others when the bearers demonstrate true friendship. The Elements serve as both physical magical artifacts and abstract concepts central to the show's lore and moral framework.
Originally discovered asancient relics in theEverfree Forest, the Elements initially manifest as ornatejewelry pieces that can be wielded by worthy bearers. However, as the series progresses, it is revealed that the true power of the Elements lies not in their physical forms but in the embodiment of their respective virtues by the main characters (collectively known as theMane Six):Twilight Sparkle,Applejack,Rarity,Fluttershy,Rainbow Dash, andPinkie Pie act as the living representations of magic, honesty, generosity, kindness, loyalty, and laughter, respectively.
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The Elements of Harmony are introduced in the series premiere "Friendship Is Magic" as ancient artifacts of legend. Initially depicted in atapestry andstained glass window, they are described as the "most powerful magic known to ponydom."[1] The Elements are first discovered as physical stone orbs housed in the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest,[2] where they transform into ornatenecklaces and atiara when activated by the protagonists' demonstration of their respective virtues.
Throughout the first two seasons, the Elements appear in their physical jewelry forms during major conflicts, including the defeat ofNightmare Moon and the initial confrontation with Discord. However, the artifacts' power is contingent upon the genuine friendship and emotional connection between their bearers; when Discord manipulates the ponies' personalities and severs their friendships in "The Return of Harmony", the physical Elements become powerless.
In the second season finale "A Canterlot Wedding," the Mane Six were going to use them to defeatQueen Chrysalis. Unfortunately, they were captured by the Changelings, forcing Princess Cadence and Shining Armor to defeat them instead.
In the fourth season premiere "Princess Twilight Sparkle", the Elements' magic is transferred to theTree of Harmony. However, in the season finale "Twilight's Kingdom", the Mane Six were given a new power known as Rainbow Power.
Sunset Shimmer, a former anthropomorphic unicorn fromEquestria who becomes human after traveling through a magic mirror to the human world, is first introduced inEquestria Girls. Originally a student ofPrincess Celestia beforeTwilight Sparkle, she drops out of school in search of power and crosses over to the human world, where she becomes a student at Canterlot High School. With a desire for revenge, upon discoveringTwilight's coronation in the third season, Sunset returns to the world of Equestria to steal Twilight's Element of Harmony (hercrown), with the intention of taking it to the human world to mirror chaos and rule Equestria. However, Sunset's plan is thwarted by Twilight and her five friends from the pony universe.
InLegend of Everfree, the Mane Six (from the human world) and Sunset Shimmer (having already had her redemption) end up discovering that when Princess Twilight's element was brought to the human world, a large amount of magic was released. However, after much confusion and problems, Twilight and Sunset discover a cave with seven magical crystals that allow each of their friends to gain a different special ability, such assuper strength,super speed, andtelekinesis. When they connect with these crystals, they end up becoming necklaces, just like the Elements of Harmony (from Equestria). However,Equestria Girls directorIshi Rudell revealed on hisTwitter that "In [the human] world, Sunset Shimmer is the 7th element! ☀️"[3] later specifying said element to be "empathy".[4]
InThe Art of Equestria, the Elements are described as an "unstoppable force of good".[5]Military bronies have compared the Elements of Harmony to theUnited States Army's core values, known by the acronymLDRSHIP (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage).[6] According to Laura Shillington, the Elements are "responsible for keepingnature in balance" since "if [nature] is not kept in balance, problems will emerge", which contributes to gendered emotional responses to nature.[7] Kevin Fletcher wrote that while the show promotesindividualism via thecutie marks and distinct personalities of the ponies, it also emphasizes "communalism and sharing" through the collective responsibility required to wield the Elements.[8] Historian Louis Clerc described the Elements of Harmony inThe Hague Journal of Diplomacy as theEquestrian equivalent of anuclear arsenal.[9] History professor Andrew Crome wrote that some Christian bronies view the Elements as having explicitbiblical parallels (particularly as allusions to theFruit of the Holy Spirit) and describe the Elements as "a tool God has given us to diagnose friendship problems" or as "theSeven Spirits of God."[10]
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