Thoughts regarding the Power Stones

Cartoons ThunderCats (2011)
1

I have a few theories and analysis’ regarding the four stones of Power.

The War Stone (aka the Eye of Thundera) was found among a militarized civilization, it is mainly used for means of combat and gaining an advantage over others, and it was guarded by a militaristic and imperialistic culture. Honestly, the stone’s only real use is for means of warfare, and chances are, its real power is probably activated when the user genuinely has the will to attack or when they truly require the stone’s protection. Just a thought

The Spirit stone was the glue that held an entire spiritual dimension together, it was also guarded by a culture of spiritualist pacifists, and it possesses the ability to use spiritual energy. If i had to guess, i’d say that the Spirit stone is powered by the user’s spirit, and to use it properly, one’s mind, body and soul must truly be at peace and in sync. However, to use its power at all, all you need is a strong spirit, and let’s face; Lion-O and Mumm-Ra do both have strong spirits. Just a thought.

Vultaire once said that the Birds built Avista by using the Tech Stone, so i’m going to assume that the Tech stone allows the user to actually create highly advanced machines and weaponry from scratch (possibly even from nothing). Which means using it probably is just a trick of mind over matter, and if the Avistans could pull something like that off, it would probably explain their condescending attitude. Just a thought

As for the last stone, the unnamed, diamond-shaped one, since many of us agree that the Shark creatures are the ones who took it, one could assume that it must benefit their race somehow, but how? I’m still playing with ideas myself, but while i work out the kinks of one of them, what about you? What do you all think?

2

We have the four aforementioned stones, three identified, one not, but we don’t know who created them or why. I think that if that story were told, that it would have provided a lot of the answers for the ThunderCats show period.

All Mumm-Ra did was simply gather them like a demented child during a perverted Easter egg hunt under the direction of the Ancient Spirits of Evil. Since Mumm-Ra is bent on ruling the Universe at all costs, he is taking these stones instead of allowing them to become his legitimately, not to mention doing that in the cruelest way possible. As such, I find it highly doubtful that even he could successfully wield all of the stones’ power and use them to their full capacity, because his heart and motivations for having the stones in the first place are not right, whereas Leo’s motivations, and later Lion-O’s are.

During his and Lion-O’s battle, Mumm-Ra was surprised during the second part of “What Lies Above” that the Spirit and War stones protected Lion-O from the worst of his attacks, even though Mumm-Ra was the more powerful in the fight, and Lion-O’s inexperience with the stones hindered him somewhat.

As in nature, there’s an opposite for every dynamic to balance each element out. I think that as we saw that the stones worked in conjunction with one another in Leo’s claw shield, the stones had to have been created together by some force or person, were originally meant to be together, and never meant to be split up.

The Spirit stone seems to be a type of conscience as it were, a moral guide in sense. How else would it have decided Lion-O was not only worthy to wield it, but also deemed him worthy by merit of his noble heart at a second chance of life after his own death. Such a symbolic and literal representation of harmony and unconditional love balances out the destruction and famine inherent in the War stone.

We have the Tech stone, which of course is inorganic technology bridled, so I would venture a guess that perhaps the blue diamond shaped stone you mention could possibly be some life-force of the powers of nature/some sort of organic type stone that could create life, or save it in the hands of its master. (A possible nod to the Totem of Dera?) You can’t create something from nothing too awfully easily, there has to be a base to make something from, and perhaps this blue stone is a base power for not only the Tech stone, but all the others too.

Maybe the blue stone is just a jar of mayonnaise.

Just my theories, not trying to make it canon as it were.

3

My theory was that the Ancient Spirits of Evil and the Ancient Spirits of Good battled a long time ago. They were equally powerful or near so. And during the last battle, knowing none could be killed, they each tried their last ditch effort to imprison each other. They launched their attacks at the same time. And the ASOE were trapped in whatever dimension they’re in, only able to communicate with certain beings like Mumm-Ra. And the ASOG were trapped inside the stones (notice there’s 4 ASOE and 4 stones). And the ASOE sent Mumm-Ra to collect them, not for power (though that’s how Mumm-Ra wants to use them), but to keep them out of the hands of good, or to use them to break their own prison.

4

I really, really, like that idea about the spirits and the stones balgus82.

5

Very interesting theory. I really hope at some point we get some answers as to what they had planned in the next season.

6

A lot of you are agreeing on the idea that Lion-O is able wield the stones’ power because the stones themselves allow him to, because they know that he’s going to use their power for good. And if this truly was the case, then the only reason i can fathom for Mumm-Ra being able to use them is because he’s using his magic to force them to work. Also, it begs the question, what if the other Thundercats (Tygra, Panthro or any of the others) tried to use the War and Spirit Stones. From what we saw in the Pilot, it’s safe to assume that the Lightning aspect of the Sword of Omens was always accessible. But what about actually firing it and using the Eye of Thundera’s power, was Lion-O really the only person able to do that since Leo or were other Kings in between them able to do that too? I want to believe that if Tygra had the Sword, he couldn’t use it as anything more than a Melee weapon, but i can’t help but think that Sight Beyond Sight would be the only feature that Tygra couldn’t use, while everything else (shooting lightning, firing red energy out of the Eye) would still be something he’d be able to do. Just something to consider

A lot of you have also said that Lion-O could save Pumyra by using the Spirit Stone to give her a second chance. But keep in mind, the Spirit Stone only did that for Lion-O because it (correctly) deemed him worthy of a second chance. What has Pumyra done to deserve one? And even if the Spirit Stone did give her a chance to win back her life, do you really think she’d succeed, given the way she is?

7

The crew have actually said that only Lion-O can use all of the Stone’s power. Tygra could use the sword (as could anyone who wasn’t pure evil like Mumm-Ra), but only so far as Claudus could. Basically just for melee.

8

I don’t think that Pumyra would go through a trial like Lion-O did inside the Spirit Stone. I know that you’re not particularly fond of Pumyra, but I believe that she really had come to feel some sort of I wouldn’t say love, (and I won’t insult you with the word respect) but a affinity for Lion-O that was separate from the machinations of her own anger and her master Mumm-Ra. In my heart I think Pumyra was torn, and when she saw the way things were going, she chose the side that was going to keep her alive. I believe that if the show had continued, something would have happened, and she would have seen how wrong she was, and made some sacrifice to save Lion-O.

Under his command, or request, I think the Spirit Stone would bring Pumyra back, and help cleanse her soul of her misguided hatred. It’s no mistake that the elephants got the Spirit Stone. If anything, the ThunderCats show was about love and forgiveness, and if anyone would do that selfless act, it’s King Lion-O!

@Balgus: Cool idea about the stones and spirits of good, by the way!

9

Okay, with that in mind, answer me this. If Lion-O was the only one who could use the Eye of Thundera’s power (which, let’s be honest, is the only aspect of the sword that can hold up against Mumm-Ra), than why does Tygra still think he should be king instead. Does he think that he could use sight beyond sight? Did he think that he could fire the sword’s lightning and/or red energy? Or was he under the impression that simply being able to use the sword as melee weapon would be enough to defeat Mumm-Ra (because, let’s be honest, it’s not)?

10

Tygra grew up wanting to be king. Back when the Eye of Thundera’s full power wasn’t known. Plus he’s never actually tried using the sword (that we know of; aside from the astral plane copy), so while WE know he can’t use those powers, that doesn’t mean that HE knows he can’t use it. Not to mention there’s more than being King than just using the sword. Claudus was (more or less) thought of as a good king, and he couldn’t use the sword the way Lion-O could either.

11

Do we REALLY KNOW he can’t use it? He obviously was not trained for the sword like Lion-o was, but if he had the training would he not be able to wield it?

12

Didn’t Tygra admit in a conversation with Lion-O (Was it in the Magi Oar episode?:confused:)that it didn’t matter if he agreed that Lion-O should be king or not, that the Sword of Omens chose him?

It seems that the stones choose who they serve, and that Lion-O was “the chosen one” to unlock more of the powers inherent in the War stone. The prophecy was that Thundera’s greatest king would have the power of sight beyond sight, right? As far as we know, Lion-O was the first to ever use that power of the Sword of Omens.

Tygra’s only chance to see if he could wield, in part, some of the sword’s power came with Lion-O’s death in The Trials of Lion-O parts one and two; which was moot because he couldn’t get access to it.

I would theorize that since Lion-O wasn’t all the way dead to begin with, kept alive by the Spirit stone, the War stone/Sword of Omens wouldn’t have served Tygra, even though he was next in line.

Anyway…round about in getting to it, if Lion-O is the chosen one, does the war stone/Sword of Omens have psychic powers, and lain in partial dormancy until his birth?

I need to go sit down with a margarita now, my head hurts. :eek:

13

Training had nothing to do with it. Lion-O wasn’t trained to use the Eye of Thundera’s powers. He had to learn to use them on his own. We even see him trying to learn by trial and error on the show.

And yes we know. The crew said so on the tumblr blog (though come to think of it I can’t remember if they published that publicly or sent the answer to me in a PM).

Edit: Meh. I can’t find it. Maybe Dan said it somewhere on Deviantart or FB. But I do remember someone on the crew saying it outright that only Lion-O could use it’s full power.

14

I agree with several of these theories. I think the stones are sentient and do choose who gets to use their power and how much. Their power can still be forced using magic, which is what Mumm-Ra’s sword and gauntlet do. Unlike Lion-O’s Sword and Gauntlet of Omens, the Plundar set has inherent magic which draws out the stones’ power. This inherent magic can also be wielded. The SoO is just the metal without being imbued with magic aside from the spell that keeps it from being touched by (pure) evil. It can’t force the power out of the war stone, but as long as a good person is using it it doesn’t need to.

I also theorize that back when Leo fought Mumm-Ra, the Tech Stone was able to come loose from his gauntlet partly because it wanted to get loose. Kind of like the One Ring from Lord of the Rings in a way. In that series I think they mention it wanting to slip out of Gollum’s grasp when the time was right. I could be wrong though. But the Tech Stone couldn’t get loose on its own, it needed a blast from the war stone.

While Lion-O is the chosen one, I don’t think it’s necessarily because it was his destiny or birthright, I think it’s more because of it just being the right circumstances. The stones choose him mostly because he has the right goals in mind, but also because he has some combat prowess (not as much as many other characters, but enough to at least wield a sword competently). The war stone may favor someone who is both righteous and strong. You’ve got to be a good person, but you need to know how and be willing to fight. Claudus had these traits, but he wouldn’t be able to use the sword’s full power because he still had some bad qualities.

Another reason is simply because the Sword of Omens is stuck being handed down the royal bloodline. While it may choose its wielder, it doesn’t have a lot of options, it can’t really hold auditions, much less be picky. There could have been hundreds of people, cat or not, who would have qualified as the chosen one, but they would never have a chance to touch the sword. It probably let most of the past kings wield it out of necessity; as long as that king was using it for good, it would let them use it, but not at full power. Lion-O was simply the first lion prince since Leo to meet the right qualifications.

I like to believe that if Kit trained in combat she could also wield the Sword of Omens like Lion-O when she grows up, since she seems to be probably the most pure hearted Thundercat. Jaga has probably come the closest to using the sword’s full power, but he was likely using his own magic to amplify its power. Actually, maybe Jaga was indeed able to use the sword’s full power if he was like Lion-O, but I get the feeling he may have held some of the old prejudices when he was younger. Doesn’t seem like he did much to put an end to the racism in Thundera. Or maybe he really did use the sword’s full power and simply gave it back to the king once he was done with Ratilla.

15

If only a chosen person can fully-wield the power of the Stones, then they would be useless to Mumm-Ra, and he would not have set on the course to obtain them in this first place.

If the Stones choose whom they serve, then there would be no point in the Cats racing Mumm-Ra to the Stones, because they would not serve him anyway.

There is nothing to suggest that the Stones are sentient, let alone that they can only be compelled to serve against their will through magic.

16

That’s why Mumm-Ra needed the Sword and Gauntlet of Plun-Darr, their enchanted metal was what allowed him to force the stones to work.

17

Where is the evidence for that assessment?

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Actually there is something to suggest they are sentient. Both Jaga and Mumm-Ra said as much. Jaga said the Spirit stone was giving Lion-O a second chance at life because it deemed him worthy. And also said the Sword would know if he truly has a King inside of him. And Mumm-Ra commented on how the Stones decided to protect Lion-O even though he didn’t really know how to draw out their power.

That being said, just because they’re normally able to choose who uses their power doesn’t mean they can’t be forced into letting someone use them.

19

What’re everyone’s thoughts on the unnamed blue power stone? What do you think it does? :slight_smile:

20

But are the Stones sentient in the true sense of the word, or are the simply enchanted and operating under certain mystical parameters?