@PonyPon  
Why do you think the reason was that it wasn’t removable? It wasn’t organic and it looked removable but it wasn’t, so why do you think that is? Even from a writing perspective, it was awfully inconvenient that they had to go over to the middle of the forest just to study it. If it wasn’t necessary for the tree, Twilight would of brought it over to Celestia and Luna’s rundown but renovated castle to study, end of story.
 
(Whatever happened to that thing anyway? I would of been plenty happy if they kept that castle as their base of operations instead of the fugly, gaudy one in the middle of Ponyville. Isn’t having a giant glowing building that screams ‘this is where Equestria’s heroes are located’ in the middle of a populated and unarmed town extremely dangerous 0.0)
 
“I thought it was only a seed of power(hence the growing of another tree), not the heart of it. I would think the tree actually dying would get notice.”
 
The notice is now. Its not like its possible to casually walk past it, its in the very heart of the forest. It probobly only had enough energy to last a month or two.
 
Also, you claim the tree had no power. Do you see how that’s an enormous problem with your other claim?
 
How would a tree with no power create a seed of infinitely greater power while at the same time make itself fully powered again with just the elements? That doesn’t even make the slightest bit of sense.
 
“And once again, if it had no power, why would they give them back”
 
To repeat myself, its power wasn’t gone, it was sealed after the slow progression of the vines finally reached it. Its power still existed, but it was being muzzled. Without the old elements, its been “running on auxillary power”. Just enough to keep Everfree at bay and slow Discord’s seeds.
 
“and not just retrieve them afterwards?”
 
…what? Its for the same reason they didn’t ask Discord to remove the old seeds after the fact and then remove the elements, considering they didn’t know this (points up at picture) would happen if retrieving the elements was possible. That reason is it would be pointless: All of the power of the elements, along with the energy from the source tree, was merged to create the ‘truer’ form of the elements, the Rainbow of Light.
 
That was kind of the point of the whole tree plotline…Did you honestly think the power in the physical elements wasn’t completely absorbed into the rainbow of light?
 
By your logic, Celestia could of just teleported the elements out of the tree whenever an evil being entered Equestria, had the six use them, then teleported them and placed them back on the tree before Everfree got too hairy.
 
“It would render the entire thing pointless if that was really some sort of swan song for it.”
 
It gave the Mane 6 magical Harmony power of infinitely greater power then old elements. I don’t understand your definition of ‘pointless’ in terms of aiding the heroes.  
And keep in mind the problem itself was presented as rather pointless. The episode PTS was basically Discord not owning up to one of his old, spiteful pranks. “J/k LOL, it was me I lied, I’ll be good I don’t do windows.” That was the plot. If anything, this outbreak is infinitely more relevant conflict-wise then that episode.
 
The everfree forest itself attacking Equestria after the Tree of Harmony gave its swan song of great power to the main heroes? Hell that sounds WAY better then Princess Twilight Sparkle. And it starts off the issue with Twilight blasting a timberwolf while AJ smashes another one in the front as Rarity blasts it from behind? I don’t know about you, but I’m sold.

@CronoM  
Or maybe it just wasn’t removable?
 
I thought it was only a seed of power(hence the growing of another tree), not the heart of it. I would think the tree actually dying would get notice.
 
And once again, if it had no power, why would they give them back, and not just retrieve them afterwards? It would render the entire thing pointless if that was really some sort of swan song for it.
 
I can’t say I understand your logic.

@PonyPon  
Exactly. Or more accurately, its power was sealed cause it couldn’t hold back Discord’s seeds for any more centuries.
 
Ponypon, why do you think they never removed the box from the tree?
 
When Celestia and Luna removed the physical Elements from the Tree, the tree still had a vast amount of power in it. When it finally started dying not just from the unruly nature of the forest, but from Discord’s seeds, they needed to return the elements to heal it. And when the Elements, charged by their souls, was recombined with the tree’s power, it created the box containing the Rainbow of Light. They did not remove it from the tree because it contained all the tree’s power. Removing it or releasing what was inside would be the equivalent of removing the power core. But, so long as the box was closed, Equestria was without the magic of harmony to defend it.
 
When you think about it logically, think about how much invincible power the Rainbow Power gave the 6, there is no freakin’ way the tree had even a fraction of its power left. This isn’t Discord’s seeds, timberwolves are also extending their reach.
 
Everfree is completely unrestrained now. But maybe with some guidance and the new powers they’ve received, they can find a way to seal Everfree’s reach for good.

@CronoM  
I recall it dying was the whole reason for giving the elements back, so it could be restored.

@Background Pony #9377  
The Tree of Harmony just recently gave the Mane 6 the power to repel Tirek, the Rainbow of Light.
 
That seems to be the very source of the power of harmony. Without it, the tree might have served its purpose and is now dying.

@Villain Pony  
forest is normally quiet though. the danger lies within and we rarely hear of everfree creatures and foliage moving far out of its borders.
 
my issue is when this occurs. if it occurs post tree of harmoyn discovery, this shouldn’t be happening to begin with……. if it is happening before the tree of harmony, well the forest going nuts AGAIN would have to be adressed later, but it would make more sense. the tree’s power is fading at this point.

@PonyPon  
its a deer. i bet ninety dolalrs its a fucking deer.
 
then again the everfree forest is normally quiet unless you try to enter too deeply. the danger lies within yet rarely leaves. and ponyville is there.  
so far this is looking a whole lot like the season 4 premiere just less……. destructive. the vines are growing but just growing, and nothing is screwing with magic. its more like something has agitated the forest or something. though the tree of harmony should be surpressing it….  
if this is occurring prior to season 4 though that might actually be more understandable. the tree was weakening.
 
there are some things i do like here though. the fact that while not visually active, the regal sisters are moving to action to help repel the vines. considering these are not demon vines powered by the might of a god tree, they can do something here and area.  
course they are sending tiwlight rather than themselves. then again they are probably better suited for repeling the vines and plants than twilight would be.

@Classy  
Damn it Neil.
 
First you repeat a word in the Iron Will comic and now this?
 
COMICS RUINED FOREVER!

…Did Celestia typo dat shit?
 
“Making THIER way”
 
THIER
 
Celestia. Celestia, stop drinking when writing letters.

fax machine dragon is best spike.

@PonyPon  
Eh, we shouldn’t so surprised by this , we’ve seen that ponies never make the smartest choice.

@Anon-a-Miss  
Very High.
 
A volcano can at least sleep.

@PonyPon  
I guess living at the Everfree Forest is like living in a city below an volcano. Sure eventually there will be a big disasters but what are the odds thaabout t it happening during your life time?

@PonyPon  
*there’s a

How many towns actually border it?
 
How does more than one group of ponies lack that much foresight?
 
And, love how three’s a creature called The Heart of the Forest, just like that, not even a slow reveal.