#i relate to luna/nightmare moon and it feels... less? that it be something like that

[mbat]

wait why was no one going to tell me that nightmare rarity, something ive only heard vaguely of over the years since i keep neglecting to read the comics, wasnt corrupted by some internal pain, but instead the comic claims that nightmare moon is actually a parasitic type creature that took her over and that nightmare moon is a seperate entity from luna entirely. or at least according to the wiki

i kinda... hate that. thats not canon to me actually

[transingthoseformers]

Definitely feel free to add whatever you think fits to mltfp :3 you definitely remember more about it than I do!

I love Griffin Bumblebee and ex-Wonderbolt Starscream.

Thank you! I remember a nice amount of the series (or well at least the mane six and most of the side characters) and i have more:

May I suggest changeling!Soundwave? They have an interesting design, both their initial appearance and their shared-love appearance, and I feel like it's just alien enough for him.

Ratchet is a unicorn with the autobot medic symbol as his cutiemark because yes, of course. Has known Oppy for Primus knows how long, okay now I'm just staring at the map

Appleloosa is right there meaning i just gotta add Cliffjumper in here, say he's from there, and he's an earth pony. He lives this time, and if he was actually in FiM he'd be mildly related to Applejack because the Apple family is/was massive as hell.

Ykw? Arcee is a pegasus but like Fluttershy she doesn't fly very much. Because i feel like her color palette would look good as a pegasus.

I agree with the one ponysona post i reblogged, Knockout is a unicorn and Breakdown is an earth pony: Clydesdale addition. It's too sweet of an opportunity to miss. They met in Las Pegasus after both of them accidentally (well as accidentally as you can get considering gambling) losing all of their bots.

Remember Fluttershy: batpony addition? She looked so damn cool in that episode, i think there was a callback to it in the halloween episode where Luna came back for the first time after being Nightmare Moon. Why do i bring this up? That's 100% how Dreadwing and Skyquake are designed.

Ratchet complains about Ponyville constantly but he loves the place just the same.

Wait there's possibility here for hippogryff! Soundwave here too, that's also an option.

The Decepticorns are based somewhere in Everfree Forest because of course it's Everfree Forest there's so many fucked up things in that forest. They deal with timber wolves constantly and it's kinda hilarious. Somehow they like Starscream but he hates this, he doesn't want to be the wolf puppy whisperer.

Arachnid our dear friend is also a changeling but her favorite disguise is well bugs. She's exactly got beef with Soundwave.

An evil part of me suggests that Optimus Prime still gets a battle mask here that he wears very often because he's got scars, but these scars were from a silly in hindsight accident. This is exactly inspired by the time I slangshot my way into the ER.

There are exactly moments in the history books about Primus and Unicron that are framed as serious but in actuality are based on funny sibling shenanigans before Unicron was corrupted. Nobody but the brothers know the truth about this.

Unicron's interactions with Megatron are more frequent than canon tfp and they are... distressing to say the least. He keeps his heralds on a much tighter leash.

Starscream ambushes Arcee and Cliffjumper from above quite an amount with varying results.

... I'm tempted to add the tfp kids and base their ponysona dynamics off of the Cutiemark Crusaders. Miko is just too much like Scootaloo for me to pass up that opportunity.

Ultra Magnus = royal guard kinda yeah yeah yeah but he has significantly less success in wrangling the autobots than he does in tfp canon.

... UM still loses a hoof.

i am exactly looking at Predaking and i am exactly looking at FiM Spike and I propose a scenario. Shockwave: unicorn addition found a young lone dragon years ago and took him in to study Predaking as his own. Because this means Preds would be older than FiM Spike, this means by the time he meets Megatron and joins the Decepticorns he is quite an amount larger and has his wings.

I'm torn between suggesting MLTFP Shockwave's backstory is akin to Sunset Shimmer's, Trixie's, Starlight Glimmer's, or something else entirely. All i do have is that he's an evil unicorn with a dragon and an eyepatch.

Breakdown also has an eyepatch but unlike in tfp canon it isn't explained.

wAIT WHAT IF SHOCKWAVE HAS A BROKEN HORN LIKE WHATSHERNAME? what is her name? She's got a namey-name, an edgy one, she's from the movie which i loved dearly, uhhh google time. Tempest Shadow, that's who she is. Loved her.

Starscream's cutiemark is a star.

Shockwave's magic is based on well shockwaves, though since his horn is broke it is less predictable than one would expect. I want to say that his horn was broken a little later in life than Tempest's, meaning he had already gotten familiar and skilled with his magic before.

Starscream's red sticky uppy part in tfp canon becomes a red hairlick that moves (especially when he's pissed or excited)

The Knockout, Optimus, and Breakdown scene happens kinda because I'm sorry but I think Knockout deserves to flirt with Optimus still.

Knockout has electric based magic.

... i almost want to say skyquake and dreadwing still end up dying but it's not "on screen" this time.

When Bumblebee flies he's got smaller fluttery wings so he flies more like a changeling, a bee, or that one buff white pegasus we see a few times

It's still Predaking who causes the loss of UM's hoof.

I almost want to say Bumblebee can talk in this and it's like a running commentary like in TFA, but often times he chirps/whirrs like he does in tfp canon. It's adorable.

primus is mltfp bumblebee cute

I am so tempted to draw these guys but perfectionist mode will kick in and it will take too long

Tumblr please do not eat this post × 100

I'm debating if alicorn Optimus has a normal main and tail like Twilight has for a while or a flowy sparkly main and tail like Celestia, Luna, or finale!Twilight.

Soundwave still does not speak.

Laserbeak is a phoenix that Soundwave raised from an egg, but may i suggest she is a blue fire phoenix or a black fire phoenix?

I just remembered how the finale made AppleDash canon. Like. Yes. That happened.

Honestly Arachnid would probably fit Queen Chrysalis's role fairly well

In hindsight Orion Pax > Optimus Prime and Twilight Sparkle have more similarities than you'd expect personality wise.

Corrupted!Megatron has to look so fucking cool. Everyone has to look so fucking cool.

If someone calls Predaking Shockwave's pet dragon he will respond with violence

Instead of the Nemesis being a warship like it is in canon it's this badass underground base or a castle. Evil castles are always amazing.

Bulkhead is an earth pony with an anomalous past involving Breakdown, their fights are still On Sight. His cutiemark is a wrecking ball.

Maybe? Smokescreen shows up eventually and I'm torm between him being an earth pony, a pegasus, or something else entirely. His colors would look way so cool in the FiM style, whether it's his s2 or s3 paintjob.

Wheeljack would make an amazing unicorn and he still gets his explosions in his magic. i keep going on and on about the paintjobs but seriously i love how they'd translate. He deserves his magic to be green.

This got long I'll make a part two if need be

[kexing]

YEAH I WAS LIKE “OH MAN THIS IS GIVING SERIOUS WATERS OF MARS VIBES” AFTER THE FIRST INFECTION RELATED DEATH. (that ep of dw seriously freaked me out tbh anskfksk like to this day it’s still terrifying to me)

the one thing i didn’t understand (spoilers ahead) is why they didn’t have luna bite all of the remaining four when they found out that’s what kept dr song alive after she got infected. like it woulda been a relatively simple way to protect them (wouldn’t even have to draw her blood or anything ahdjdjjwbe)

as suspenseful and freaky everything on the moon was it was the stuff back on earth that really got me. the amount of concern i have for that dog we saw in like 2 episodes and never again. everything about the no pets was immensely stressful for me. anytime a dystopian includes animas i get so much more stressed and i have to remind myself they’re actor/fake animals 😂

i am super curious to see if we’ll get a second season because personally i think there’s a chance the captain (han yun-jae?) is still alive, cause like the rescue ship showed up right as his lights went out and it didn’t seem like he was infected? so potentially they coulda gotten him on the rescue ship and done like. dystopian future cpr. i simply would like to see the two doctors and the captain raising luna together (potentially Still In Space?) and if they get back to earth healing the captains daughter and then they’re just one weird lil family unit (i’m a big sucker for found families haha can you tell)

EXACTLY ALDKSKDKKS I FEEL YOU!! i was messaging my friend while watching literally screaming “oh my god this just like waters of mars!!! nooooo 😭😭😭😭” lmao i was seriously triggered at first. that episode traumatized me!!!

my thoughts exactly!! even though there’s the problem that they don’t know if it would work on everyone. it could potentially have side effects or just work on some people instead of everyone. it’s a very unstable thing BUT it would be better try than die, right???? i’d totally let luna bite me lmao she deserves it

“THE AMOUNT OF CONCERN I HAVE FOR THAT DOG WE SAW IN LIKE TWO EPISODES AND NEVER AGAIN” ALKSKADKLAKS OKAY BUT SAME??? WHO’S GIVING WATER TO THAT POOR DOG???? PLEASE TELL SOMEONE IS????? I’M STRESSED

but yeah, you’re right. the whole situation on earth was a true nightmare as well 😭😭😭 thank god it’s just fiction. FOR NOW

yep. i also think gong yoo is alive akdkskkd but it was kind of ambiguous so we need a second season to confirm what happened to him

i would love for them to be this found family with the doctors, the captain, his daughter and luna. but for the captain’s daughter to be healed, they would still have to take luna back to earth. and i’m not sure they would be able to leave with her 😭😭😭😭 and i would like earth to have water again but not at luna’s expense. like. aren’t they in a dystopian future? take a little bit of luna’s blood and find a way to multiply it and create antibodies for the everyone on earth. and maybe mixing luna’s blood with the water would make it somehow less harmful? since it clearly doesn’t affect her negatively, quite the contrary, it heals her v fast!! she’s not just immune to it, she’s one with it.

idk but they Could make something that doesn’t involve hurting luna for the rest of her life. so she could live a peaceful life, if not on earth then in space with her family 🥺🥺🥺

[i-dream-of-twilight-sparkle]

Chapter 28: Starlight’s Mother, Part 4 - The Tragedy of Starlight’s Past

The group that went to New Haven to bring back Sunburst’s father return to the room where everyone else is waiting for them.

Twilight: Welcome back, all of you! So you’re Sunburst’s father? It’s nice to finally meet you.

Sunspot: I could say the same Princess Twilight… especially after you and your son Spike’s Dragon Tear has allowed me to find some closure about Sunset. We still have yet to hear everything about what happened… but I’d still like to thank you and Spike so much for letting me see my sister again, from beyond the grave no less.

Twilight: You’re welcome! Once me and Spike discovered this and got some important information on how it all works, we needed to immediately get to the ponies we knew that would need to see any spirits whether they miss them so much like Applejack and her parents. Or as it turned out… figuring out the mysteries about Starlight’s Mother, your sister, and what happened to Sunset. Who knew they’d all connect?

Sunset: Speaking of what happened to me, while there... I had another memory jog… I still don’t know everything yet… but Sunspot brought back something that helped me remember something.

Twilight: Oh? What is this?

Sunspot brings out the jar with Sunset’s disembodied yellow horn he found while on a search at Nightmare Cliffs.

Just about the entire room gasps. Any Unicorns and both Alicorns in particular shivering at the sight. Rarity in particular just about shrieks in horror.

Rarity: I-is t-that…?!

Sunset: My disembodied horn? Yes, it is.

Rarity falls over fainting, Fluttershy catches her as she falls backward

Twilight: You lost your horn?! Was this during the confrontation with the Anarchists?

Sunset nods

Sunset: When I saw the horn, I instantly got a mental image of facing two pony shaped figures in front of me and another flying above me. Followed by a large rock that was dropped at the base of my horn, breaking it off and giving me a short concussion.

Twilight: That’s awful… I suppose that also explains how you had trouble despite the anarchists otherwise being regular ponies…

Sunset: It definitely looks like whatever happened, they took advantage of the fact I couldn’t effectively use my magic after my horn broke, and I died somehow… That’s all the new information I have, though of course a reminder that 2 of the 3 lost their lives too… so whatever happened next certainly couldn’t have been as simple as they grouped together to throw me off the cliff or something.

Starlight: Brrr… losing the horn… that’s a fear just about every unicorn has… I can’t imagine what that must of felt like…

Sunset: It was quite painful… and I definitely think I remember feeling a bit of helplessness after I recovered from the concussion.

Starlight: At least physical injuries don’t seem to have shown up permanently on your spirit. I can see your horn’s still on you right now

Twilight: Spirits show up as the last known appearance of those who summoned them. Which means Firelight’s memory likely allowed Sunset to appear as she was on the last day Firelight saw her before she left towards that fateful chase. It might be possible had Starlight summoned Sunset by herself, maybe the physical appearance of when you died would of showed up, since it defaults to just about the spirit’s age and/or last appearance when alive if the one who summoned them is somepony blood related that did not know them. Though Spirits are also capable of becoming any age/appearance they were when alive. I saw Jinn turn herself into an old mare, and a filly earlier. I wonder if the same goes for physical injuries?

Sunset closes her eyes and focuses, she only needs to go a little bit forward. Most of her horn fades away revealing a hole of a horn very much akin to Tempest Shadow’s own broken horn, a disheveled and wet mane and tail as if she was in the middle of a heavy storm, and her right eye injured with a black eye revealed as she opened her eyes

Rarity has finally recovered from her faint, but as she looks up she now sees Sunset with her injured appearance. And she faints again.

The rest of the group just look taken aback as they view Sunset’s likely appearance before she died.

Twilight: Ouch… I hope going into injured appearances doesn’t result in you feeling that pain again…

Sunset: Thankfully no, it’s only appearance-wise on us spirits. We don’t exactly… have nerves anymore. Like say if somepony who was able to touch me, hit me for some reason. It wouldn’t exactly hurt. I could still get angry and ask why they’re trying to hit me, but I don’t think Starlight, Sunburst, Princess Celestia, Fi-Fi, and my brother would ever want to.

All those who she named nod in agreement that they have no reason to want to hit Sunset. Sunset focuses again to erase the injuries and looks like how she was before again.

Meanwhile, Sunset’s brother Sunspot approaches Princess Celestia and bows before her.

Sunspot: Princess Celestia, it’s an honor to be in your presence.

Celestia actually looks sort of solemn at the bow of Sunset’s brother.

Celestia: Are you sure I deserve this bow… Sunset led a dangerous life because she was my protege… It’s indirectly my fault your beloved little sister’s life ended this way...

Celestia closing her eyes, with tears dropping. Sunset looks at her old mentor, and immediately goes to reassuring the Princess.

Sunset: Princess, you know as well as I do that I when you said you wanted to make me your personal protege, I was enthusiastic. I very much enjoyed my time as your student, if anything, I should of listened to you when you told me to take a break from watching the movement of every threat out there that I personally chose would be my prerogative. But I was so dedicated to protecting Equestria that I lost sight of having much of a personal life. And because I chose to pursue criminals at every opportunity, that only made it more difficult to establish one.

If there’s anypony to blame for what happened other then the 3 anarchists I chased that fateful day, it would be myself, for getting careless…

Celestia: I appreciate hearing that from you, Sunset… just even I kick myself for what I perceive as failures… even as I now have my sister back, it doesn’t make it any less upsetting that I didn’t stop her turn into Nightmare Moon in the first place…

Sunset just gives Princess Celestia a reassuring smile.

Sunset: Good thing you found a new student that succeeded on bringing her back to you, and now Twilight will achieve everything you hoped I would one day. And from the sounds of things, the world has gotten more and more peaceful. Actually…

Sunset turns towards Twilight.

Sunset: Is if ok if I ask for a run through on all the threats you faced in your time as Celestia’s student? I know you didn’t really start saving the world until past Adulthood, meanwhile my world-saving days started in my pre-teens. But maybe I can provide some commentary if any of them were in my list of potential threats.

Twilight: Well.. I guess I’ll start with Nightmare Moon. Where, through trials of my friends showing their elements. we discovered the Elements of Harmony and were able to banish the evil out from within Luna.

Applejack tips her hat up and winks, Pinkie Pie bounces, Rarity gracefully poses, Fluttershy smiles, and Rainbow Dash gives a smug grin as Twilight reminds them of their first triumph together.

Sunset: Mmhmm! Very nice! It was still a good two decades before Luna’s Banishment was over so I would of been in my 40’s if I had been the one to face off with Nightmare Moon. Though if I had continued on, I likely would of already ascended prior to then so I could really help bring Luna back.

Celestia: I don’t know if Sunset would of had 5 individual friends, like you did Twilight. Another option we possibly had was I use half of the elements, while Sunset used the other 3 for us together to free Luna. I probably would of used the elements of laughter, kindness, and generosity. And Sunset would be given magic, loyalty, and honesty.

Twilight: Those elements do seem to fit you, I know from experience Princess Celestia would of wielded the 3 elements she mentioned, and now that I’ve met Sunset… She was very good at magic, she was really loyal to Princess Celestia, and while this is a bit posthumously… she’s shared much of the truth of quite a few things. So that might’ve worked.

Sunset: What’d you face off with next?

Twilight: Next was… Discord. He was surely a hoof full…

Sunset: Ohhhhh yea, Discord was still trapped in his statue throughout my time. But I was aware of what crazy things he was capable of. But apparently he’s on the good side now?

Twilight: When he wants to be I guess... he’s friends with Fluttershy so he doesn’t do much to actively antagonize any of us. But he does do some things we often have to go and fix… Frankly, one good thing about being a genie… is that I’m able to fix something crazy he does faster then it otherwise normally would of been.

Sunset: It is true that becoming a genie got you powers just about on par with Discord. He does call himself the Spirit of Chaos. Given you’re at least in part Spirit, you could say you’re the Spirit of Order. *giggles*

Twilight: Wait… is Discord’s magic soul magic too?

Sunset: I’m not even sure, I think Discord has magic that fits in its own category, but it is quite powerful. It might be safer to say it’s sort of a mix between soul magic and dark magic? It’s neither powered up with good over a lifetime like soul magic is, though it’s not inherently malicious or damaging like dark magic is.

Twilight: Hmm… true. His magic often has insane or annoying results, but it’s often all for laughs and/or doesn’t purposefully harm anypony. Might be for once, something interesting to talk about to him later.

Anyhow… after we defeated Discord. Queen Chrysalis and her army of changelings invaded my brother’s and Princess Cadence’s wedding

Sunset: Ah yes… Queen Chrysalis… I did some recon of the hive back in the day. But due to that protection they have of not allowing non-changeling magic from working around or in the hive… I couldn’t really approach to attack myself, as it was too dangerous to go in alone. But they also didn’t have much power, since there was no big event for them to gather enough love to attack like the wedding your brother had. I had them listed as a low-tier present time threat that could potentially become a big threat, if a publicized event full of love to feed on happened as they invaded.

Twilight: Which happened to be my brother’s wedding… huh…?

Sunset: I guess so! And it was also another reason I had a secretive wedding with Fi-Fi, a personal protege of the princess having a public wedding may have been exactly what Chrysalis was waiting for.

Twilight: The changeling invasion was the last big event before I became a genie. Going to Saddle Arabia was in fact somewhat of a reward Celestia allowed me and Spike after defeating Chrysalis. There was no threats then, but I wonder if maybe Malakhar would of tried to genify you at some point Sunset if he had seen you?

Sunset: Possibly! Though I believe Malakhar may have only been a little colt back when I was still Celestia’s protege.

Twilight: I guess his Grandfather could of possibly done it then, if they had found out about you early enough.

Sunset: I have been to Saddle Arabia before, but I mostly accompanied Celestia during routine negotiations with the Sultan. So I was never there too long, and never really on the Streets where Malakhar’s grandfather could of approached me.

Twilight: Alright… so next… the Crystal Empire came back and so did King Sombra.

Sunset: Oof, Sombra is certainly a doozy. He’s pretty much dark magic incarnate. I think sometime ago, he discovered a way to sort of control himself in Dark Magic form if he ever was killed though at the price that if he’s defeated, he sort of gets a fate worse then death in being trapped in a void that only could escape through substantial magic, such as the Crystal Empire coming back. I think technically the first time Celestia and Luna faced him was when he “died” for the first time.

Twilight: Oh, is Sombra being controllable dark magic why he has that sort of smoky form?

Sunset: *shrugs* I only heard of Sombra through whatever the royal archives had on him, so I’ll take your word you saw that. But maybe?

Twilight: The fact he only goes to a void may have explained why he came back two more times…

Sunset: WHAT?! You had to face Sombra THREE times?! How in Equestria did that happen?

Twilight: …I did say Discord did things that we had to fix

Sunset: ….Are you sure Discord is on the good side? I would of put him back in stone for bringing back Sombra TWICE!

Twilight: Believe me when I say I sometimes feel the same way… but again, he does have a legit friendship with Fluttershy. Plus, he’s actually helped me out at least once when I was had this strange Genie Sickness. He also helped with something that i haven’t quite gotten to yet. But I still have a few more events and/or villains to talk about before then. 

Though Sombra was the last threat before I ascended to Princesshood. Though… given you were Celestia’s student before me. I hope you don’t feel like me mentioning that is sort of flaunting a status you didn’t achieve…

Sunset shakes her head horizontally

Sunset: No, staying to eventually ascend to Princesshood became the opposite of what I wanted. I wanted a family. Celestia & Luna have never been married, and the reason for that is while outliving friends, family, as well as royal staffers & guards is hard enough. It’s a whole ‘nother thing with special someponies, and your own children. Cadence has your brother, though arguably she may be the one exception being the Princess of Love. Outliving your brother is just going to have be something she faces one day.

Twilight: Yeah… though at least Spirit summoning will sort of help with that. But I picture it’ll still be rather hard for both her & me when Shining passes

Sunset: Just always remember that everypony going up there just continues to protect the planet long after they’re gone and that may make you feel better. Plus, unless you have a lot of huge dragon friends that pass you want to see, it should be safe to summon a few friends down every now and then.

Twilight nods

((Story continues after the break))

Twilight: Continuing on… my first huge test against a villain as Princess was Tirek.

Sunset: Oh yeah… Tirek would of certainly been a toughie had he gotten out with enough strength to cause havoc when I was around

Twilight: He certainly was tough, even with the combined added strength of Celestia, Luna, and Cadence coursing through my veins. Tirek had Discord’s magic powering him up... So we had a stalemate. And it took an additional power-up offered by the Tree of Harmony to send him back to Tartaurus as we just happened to have collected these sort of strange keys over the course of that year that allowed us to open a box given to us.

Sunset: Sometimes you gotta be lucky, when saving the world!

Twilight: After Tirek… was when we returned to Saddle Arabia, though this time also bringing my friends along. That was when we came face-to-face with Zathir, who controlled me with a device of his own, and if not for Spike creating his Dragon’s Tear that we’re using to see and talk with you now… the world would likely be under a Saddle Arabian empire controlled by Zathir.

Sunset: I did always have a feeling that Zathir was somepony that had some sort of plot in his mind. Though now I know what it was, his method of trying to take over the world seemed unlikely given no genies were around. And up until what he did to you, the Sultan naively trusted him.

Twilight: Perhaps the scariest part was ironically after I was freed from his control… where he stabbed Spike straight in his right eye…

Sunset: OUCH… I guess that explains Spike’s scar…

Spike: It’s thanks to Fluttershy, I didn’t end up with only one eye. Remnants of being a vampire bat pony had healing properties in her fang.

Sunset looks over to Fluttershy a bit dumbfounded

Sunset: You were a vampire?!

Fluttershy sheepishly smiles

Fluttershy: Sorta… only in regards to fruit… not blood, ehehhehheh...

Applejack: We kinda always get some pretty strange things happen t’ us, even when we’re not saving the world

Sunset: I see… well, I certainly have to be thankful for what happened after you girls defeated Zathir... not just for the usual saving the world once again... But due to that event spawning the very Dragon’s Tear allowing me to speak down here so I can see my husband again and talk to my lovely daughter for the first time. 

So… what came next?

Twilight gulps, given Sunset just mentioned talking to her lovely daughter… given her daughter was the next villain. Twilight looks over to Starlight, who gives her a sad face but still whispers as she says…

Starlight: Go ahead, Twilight. It’s best she knows much of the truth of what my life’s been like…

Twilight nods, even if she is still a little afraid of Sunset losing all good will she had for her daughter up until now.

Twilight: Well um… how can I put this… your daughter… Starlight… led a whole town under an Equalist Cult that took cutie marks away… and aimed to expand...

Sunset looks over to her daughter with a stern look, causing Starlight to lower her head. But instead of actually getting mad at Starlight, Sunset just breathes deep and sighs.

Sunset: *sigh* I knew I shouldn’t have left that manifesto in the house… even if I at least tried to hide it…

Twilight: Huh? Manifesto?

Starlight: She’s… probably referring to the other book I found when I broke the wall… it happened to be the manifesto that got me hooked on the beliefs I held over “Our Town”…

Sunset: Among many of the criminals I defeated were also those looking to start dangerous cults. I burned most copies, but usually kept one as a sort of historical account of what to look out for. It’s a shame that this one lone copy ended up in the hooves of my daughter, and she got influenced by it… so I kind of blame myself more for that one…

Sunset turns around to Firelight with a rather stern eyebrow raise at her husband

Sunset: Though I should also ask how you let her read it…

Firelight: Um… you never told me what the book looked like… I thought it was just a math book from the Equal Sign on the cover… She always looked like she was quite deeply engrossed in the book… I didn’t want to take it away from her because she always had this infectious smile on her face reading it so intently…

Sunset: You never saw what was in the book other then the Cover?! What kind of filly her age was going to be so engrossed in Math like that?!

Firelight: I’m so sorry, Shimmy! I really thought she was just yearning to be a fantastic mathematician or something!

Sunset facehoofs

Sunset: Well... at least Twilight and the others broke you out of that ideology… and you seem to be on good terms now. 

Given the reaction though, it makes Twilight even less sure about telling Sunset about what came next. She leans on over to whisper to Starlight.

Twilight: Starlight… I can skip over what happened with the time travel… I feel like she may blow a gasket if she hears about that…

Starlight looks to the side and allows Twilight to not mention it, though she has this strange sense it’d probably be important for her mother to hear it anyhow.

Twilight: Anyhow… next Queen Chrysalis came back. And managed to bottle nap me and capture many of us. A team of your daughter, Trixie, Discord, and a rogue changeling named Thorax had to come in and save Equestria

Hearing this cheers up Sunset, she grins and looks at her daughter

Sunset: No way! My daughter has saved Equestria once? Once again, the apple hasn’t fell far from the tree. I’m proud of you, Starlight!

Starlight at first blushes from her praise, but then she looks to the side sadly. And she lowers her head and closes her eyes.

Starlight: No… I don’t deserve this praise yet… maybe not even ever... and I refuse to hold any more secrets out from my family…

Sunset: Huh? What do you mean?

Starlight: There’s some context missing before I helped defeat Chrysalis the 2nd time around… it didn’t go as simply that Twilight and the others freed me from the Equalist ideology and then I was on their side from then on… I ran away and plotted a revenge plan… 

The whole room gasps as it looks like Starlight’s about to fully come clean to what she’s done to her mother who was known for making sure Equestria was safe at all costs. Starlight’s use of Time Travel arguably being one of the highest threats to Equestria as they knew it throughout Twilight and her friends’ era.

Starlight: I tried to change the past with a Time Travel spell by preventing the Elements from earning their cutie marks… It took seeing multiple timelines of bad outcomes and some soft spoken words from Twilight before I was finally convinced to get back to the present safe and sound…

Sunset just stands there distraught, and her face towards her daughter becomes even more stern.

Sunset: Starlight… An act like that… if I were the one to see you do that… I would of had the hard choice of having to turn my own daughter into stone.. or sent to Tartaurus! You don’t mess with time travel! Do you have any idea how many lives that effects?!

Starlight: I know, I know, I know! I kick myself for it everyday… I never even gave Twilight the full context of why I did it back then… I told her what put me on the path was Sunburst earning his cutie mark and leaving me in sparsely populated and friendless Sire’s Hollow…

But I left out that you disappeared 2 weeks after I was born…

I left out that when my father was at work... I was left alone at the house, not even one babysitter as a mother figure to tell me right from wrong... and a naive father… 

I left out that not only did I read a manifesto that only reinforced my beliefs about Cutie Marks… I also got my very own Cutie Mark by using a spell book you left behind in the house after an intense magical outburst… I never even mentioned back then that I couldn’t understand my mark…

Or perhaps more accurately… I didn’t want to understand it…

Thus over years of indoctrination, I eventually put it into action when I took over a small village and plotted to expand. But then I was defeated by Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony... my hypocrisy exposed as they managed to show I still had my Cutie Mark to the entire village and thus had been lying to them… I ran away, occasionally keeping up with Twilight’s movements.

Until... I finally made my move and gave in to my darkest impulses… I entered her castle and went to change the past… Battling Twilight as the timelines changed… It still took a bit of time… but seeing all those horrible futures… and Twilight speaking to me softly near the end… I finally gave in, and turned myself in fully expecting a harsh punishment for what I did… What Twilight did instead… I couldn’t have ever expected…

She extended the hoof of friendship, and put me under her wings as her student. I couldn’t believe it myself, I had done such terrible things and from all they knew, for such petty reasons as a friend moving away… Not that I wasn’t grateful for not being as harshly punished as I probably should’ve been… but another thing about being under Twilight’s wing… she sort of became the mother figure I never had in my life at that point… and this was an opportunity to finally feel how that felt like…

Starlight starts tearing up heavily

Starlight: I just didn’t have a very happy early life because you were gone, mother! I was so jealous of other ponies! I was left with almost no reason to care what happened to the world when it all seemed so unfair! 

Twilight and her friends get worldwide recognition as heroic, talented ponies not just because of their marks… but they also had lovely families and friends that loved them, were always around, and/or didn’t keep such important secrets from them! And while I never understood how I got it until now, because I had so much raw magical power... perhaps I thought it was just my destiny to change Equestria in the way I saw fit...

But then my Equality Cult was foiled in “Our Town”... I thought I would only end up rotting in jail if I allowed myself to be captured, so I gave in to my worst instincts and decided to get revenge on Twilight and her friends in the best manner possible while also proving cutie marks weren’t the be-all to end-all once-and-for-all. And Time Travel felt so enticing to that goal... 

I wanted to see Twilight’s face when she sees cutie marks don’t matter and the world would of been fine without her and her friends finding their talents. But each timeline kept backing up what Twilight was saying... Especially the one where Equestria was nothing but a cloudy, deserted wasteland!

I gave in to dark instincts prior to time traveling, but I never aimed to actually kill anypony nor end nearly all life on Equestria! I foolishly thought everypony’s lives would generally be unchanged without the Elements of Harmony finding their marks! I still cared about Equestria at large, I just refused to believe 6 Cutie Marks were so important to the world when all I had known about cutie marks was the loss of my only friend and utter confusion and disdain about my own... And never having that mother figure in my life to tell me right from wrong…

If only you had survived, Mother! *sniff* I may have never gone the path I went down!

Starlight covers her eyes with her hooves and just starts sobbing uncontrollably on the ground. Sunset now hearing the full context lowers her head, and lessens her stern look at her daughter. She sits down for a moment and stays silent. Before outstretching her hooves to call Starlight in for another hug.

Sunset: …Come here, dear. You look like you need another hug from me

Starlight sniffs, and is a little bit surprised she managed to get her mother on hugging terms after she admitted how dire her actions got. Starlight walks on over into her Mother’s hooves and continues to sob right into her mother’s shoulder. Tears again falling through the transparent spirit. Suddenly, her mother lets go of the hug and starts singing toward Starlight.

((To the tune of My Past is Not Today))

Sunset: Answers…

Was all you desired… But all that grew inside of you was the darkness you acquired…

When you began to fall And you lost the path ahead… That’s when your friends found you And they lifted you instead!

(Sunset jumps up slightly kicking her hind legs as she transforms her body from the waist down into her spirit tail and triumphantly flies around her daughter as she sings the chorus)

Like a phoenix burning bright in the skkkkkyyyyyyy! I’ll show there’s another side to you... You can’t denyyyyyyy!

I may not know what the future holds But hear me when I saaaay... That your past does not define you... ‘Cause your past is not todaaaaaay!

(Starlight feels the warmth and comfort of her mother’s singing get to her as her tears start streaming more in joy rather then from admitting everything she’s done. Though she still expresses some concerns)

Starlight: My... past is not today...? I don’t know about that... It’s certainly always felt like it’s still today... because I can’t help but always think about it... *sniff*

Sunset: Your past is what shaped you into the pony you are today, that’s all true. There’s no shame in admitting things you’ve said and done were wrong. But you also don’t have to feel like who you were in the past is still who you are now. You alone... have the power to shape yourself into the pony you want to be...

(Starlight smiles and raises her head high, as she begins to sing a verse of her own towards her mother)

Starlight: Vengeance…

Is what I belieeeeved…

Would be the only way...

to make them seeeeeee…

Because you disappeared...

And I found myself alone…

Until you came down like a comet...

And now it truly feels like hoooome!

(Starlight charges up her horn to allow her to levitate herself in the room, she used it originally before she got her cutie mark. And eventually mastered it by the time she fought with Twilight across the timelines, but is now simply using it to go in sync with her flying spirit mother in the air)

Like a phoenix burning bright

In the skkkkkyyyyyyy!

I’ll show there’s another side to me

You can’t denyyyyyyy!

I may not know what the future holds

But hear me when I saaaay...

That my past does not define me...

‘Cause my past is not todaaaaay!

(Starlight and Sunset quiet down their voices to repeat the chorus together)

Sunset & Starlight: Like a phoenix burning bright... in the sky...

Sunset/Starlight: 

I’ll show there’s another side to you/I’ll show there’s another side to me

Sunset & Starlight: You can’t deny!

Sunset & Starlight: I may not know what the future holds 

But hear me when I say…

Sunset/Starlight: 

That your past does not define you/That my past does not define me

‘Cause your past is not todaaaaaay!/’Cause my past is not todaaaaaay!

Once they float themselves back down, with Starlight deactivating her hover and Sunset reforming her spirit tail back into her hindlegs and pony tail while both of them slowly float back down to the floor. They once again embrace eachother as Sunset softens her voice as she comforts her daughter further.

Sunset: I wish I could of been there for you too, Starlight. I would of gladly told you how special Cutie Marks actually are. Both Myself and Princess Celestia thought at one point thought my mark meant I was destined to be the next Princess of the Sun. But perhaps, whether I changed my destiny or perhaps what I now hoped would actually be my true destiny was… so that one day, I’d instead simply be your sunshine… showing you the light and warmth of a loving Mother, always there for you, and supporting you on whatever path you took…

But because I was gone… you had no such sunshine. And not even a sliver of moonlight to comfort you as you fell deeper and deeper into darkness. At least you understand where you went wrong, you can say sorry, you can feel remorse, it doesn’t make what you did justified, but the fact you can actually learn and there was still hope for you to change yourself into a better pony… is probably ultimately why Twilight decided to put you under her wing as her student…

I love you, Starlight… I hope you know that…

Starlight: *sniff* I love you too, mom!

The mother-daughter hug after their song lasts a good long while, the rest of the group smiling or crying joyous tears again as Starlight came clean to her mother about what she did. And Sunset answering her daughter with the comfort of her mother she couldn’t get for her entire life until now. It’ll never erase what Starlight has done, Starlight certainly never will quite forgive herself for doing what she did.

But she’s finally gotten most of the things she’s always wanted during her life. Lots of friends, she now recognizes that her cutie mark shows her true self as the daughter of a former Celestia protege who became a student of the next one, and is for now the Principal of the School of Friendship where she’ll be helping hold up Twilight’s ideals to the next generation of both ponies and non-ponies alike, and now she has her mother back to talk to whenever she can stop by to see Spike summon her spirit back down.

They let go of the hug and stand back up, Twilight herself tears up with liquid pride for Starlight for coming clean the way she did. She wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to straight up admit what she had done right after informing Sunset of the one time Starlight saved Equestria from Queen Chrysalis. But she’s proud of Starlight for bravely going forward with admitting it, even to her Mother who dedicated her life to protecting Equestria’s way of life.

Twilight: I’m very proud of you, Starlight.

Applejack: That took guts t’ admit t’ your Mother, Starlight. Perhaps some o’ the strongest, honest feelings ah’ve ever seen. If ah could, ah’d let ya borrow the Element o’ Honesty necklace fo’ this.

Firelight: I’m happy to know that you’ve obviously inherited your mother’s singing talent too... you both sing so beautifully... *sniff*

Starlight: Thank you all…

Everyone in the room takes a small moment to smile and help comfort Starlight further. Allowing some free time before Twilight finishes her recap of what they’ve faced over the years.

UP NEXT: Chapter 29: Starlight’s Mother, Part 5 - Closure At Last

[thanksjro]

MTMTE #21:  The Sound of Breaking Glass, a prose story- James Did, in Fact, Put That Baby in That Robot

It’s after the fight with Tyrest and his goons, but before Cyclonus stabs Tailgate with a sword for medical purposes. The portal has stopped working, Skids isn’t making any sense, and Rodimus is about to do one of the scariest things you can do as an adult person.

He’s going to make several business-related phone calls.

Perceptor trying to be funny is the oddest take I’ve seen in a bit. I was completely unaware that he had a sense of humor.

Rodimus is looking pretty rough from that nonsense he pulled in the space-crucifix, but he doesn’t want to bother Ratchet, since Tailgate’s still looking like he’s gonna bite it at this point. Besides he’s still got work to do- he fully intends on getting the space bridge back in working order.

The bridge, unfortunately, isn’t making it easy for him; thing’s falling apart and bursting into flames at random intervals.

Rodimus wants to make the last few days at least somewhat worthwhile, a sentiment that Minimus catches onto, and doesn’t seem to agree with. What would it mean, if they were able to say “well, Tailgate, half a religious order, and the concept of trust in the law are dead, but at least we got to finish off our road trip in record time!”? Food for thought, Minimus, I’ll give you that.

Brainstorm runs through the room like a maniac, over the metaphorical moon about something, as he interrupts the conversation. Once he’s gone, Minimus asks about his outer shell, I guess because he feels naked without it. As he collects his belongings, Rodimus brings up their earlier conversation, and reaffirms that he wants to make up for what’s happened. Minimus acknowledges his words, but doesn’t really offer anything in return.

Back over on the Lost Light, we get subjected to a title drop.

Rung is meeting Fort Max in the hollowed-out remains of Swerve’s, because his office is full of corpses. This is a sort-of continuation of their conversation in the brig, where Rung forgave Fort Max for being a big part of why he got shot. They have a brief discussion about where Max’s head is at, and whether or not he’s ready to get back into the workforce after the nightmare hellscape that was Garrus-9. Rung seems to think that the fact that Fort Max is considering his mental health in the first place is a good sign, and offers his services should he be needed.

Too bad they’re going to have to tele-con, since Fort Max is being sent off the ship for his new job.

Over at Rodimus’ office, Rodimus considers hiring Atomizer to redecorate his pad- even though they seem to have very similar tastes when it comes to paintjobs- because he just isn’t feeling the sick flames and hot pink interior anymore.

I see Rodimus is taking the “no fun allowed” route to personal growth. Wonder how long that’ll last.

He has a think about the last conversation he had with Drift before he threw him off the ship, the memory laced with “Overlord murdered a lot of people because of me” guilt. Drift hadn’t been thrilled about the prospect of Rodimus’ inquiry, and made that much known, then volunteered to be the scapegoat. Rodimus hated this idea, horrified by the idea of letting Drift take the fall for him, after all the work he’d put in to try and be liked by people after the whole “Deadlock” thing.

Then Drift revealed that he’s got another reason for not letting Rodimus get kicked off the ship.

Back at Swerve’s, the man himself has made an appearance, interrupting the meeting between Rung and Fort Max, and proceeding to make a fool of himself by way of slapstick. It’s okay though, because he’s too high on actually feeling good about himself for once in his miserable life to feel physical pain.

Rodimus more or less insinuated this exact idea back in issue #17, and it made him so upset he was about to close his bar completely down over it. Good to see our robot Pagliacci bouncing back so nicely.

Brainstorm enters the scene like a vengeful spirit, and I guess Rung and Fort Max just disappear into the aether as he has a little chat with Swerve. Turns out that someone went and took a peek inside the super-secret, possibly-sun-destroying briefcase Brainstorm keeps on his person at all times, and he wants to know who. It was probably a little easier to swing than usual, given that Brainstorm had given up the springs on the clasps of the thing to help break everyone out of moon jail, and he probably had to take at least a little time to recover from his soul halfway evaporating out of his eyes.

Swerve makes a joke, because he has a lot of trouble handling serious situations, then we get confirmation that Brainstorm kidnapped a fucking zygote from the moon.

Brainstorm has a baby inside him.

James, I’m begging you, we can’t keep doing this.

Later, Ratchet’s checking on Tailgate after his stabbing/stabbing repair/cybercrosis cure injection.

Swerve what the FUCK do you think you’re doing with that medical biowaste?

Minimus comes in, looking very silly, as he’s having a heck of a time putting the Magnus Armor back on.

Minimus would like some help getting dressed, and, because clothes for space robots seem to skew more towards body parts than anything else, he’s come to the best doctor on the Lost Light.

(Nobody tell First Aid I said that. I fear his wrath.)

Ratchet is surprisingly handy with the Armor, and it’s revealed that he’s known about Ultra Magnus actually being a completely different, much smaller guy, since the very start.

As in, when Tyrest first started pulling this nonsense.

He didn’t say anything to anyone because he didn’t see the point, then lets Minimus know that he’s his favorite, which gives him a much-needed ego-boost. Minimus wanders off to go put the rest of his clothes on, leaving Ratchet to pull a body out of the morgue that isn’t dead.

Later, on Luna 1, we get to see Rodimus get bummed out about the baby moon not flaring back up. It’s not for lack of trying- he’s crawling around on the ground, rubbing his face in the dirt, all while Getaway watches- but it doesn’t seem like the babies are coming back. Getaway thinks it’s weird that it just kinda turned off, but then again this wasn’t exactly a typical situation, now was it? He tries igniting the Hot Spot himself, planting the first seed of his primus apotheosis diagnosis years from now, then asks our dear captain what’s next on the agenda.

Rodimus, saddened by the loss of literally a billion lives, shakes out his pocket onto the ground.

Don’t worry, the Matrix was in there, so it was totally respectful of the dead. Fort Max rides up, playfully threatening to arrest Rodimus for littering, and we finally get to know what his new career path is.

Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord.

Also, he brought a friend.

Red Alert, jumping right back into his work, has decided to stay with Fort Max on Luna 1, to chase bad guys and help the Circle of Light recover/prepare for attack. Then he tells Rodimus to turn his phone back on, because Perceptor’s been trying to call him for a while now.

Back at Tyrest’s sweet digs, Perceptor’s gotten the communications system working, and is ready to call Cybertron. Cybertron, who probably thinks they all died back in issue #1, despite Blaster’s best efforts in issue #13 and #15. Blaster did not help with this project, probably because he was busy getting his tiddy compartment fixed.

Perceptor dials, everyone wonders what Bumblebee’s been up to, they get their hopes up, and we get one hell of a reveal for anyone who hasn’t been following along with the sister series up to this point.

Ah, that’s right, I’ve got to do a lightning round for RID, don’t I?

In the Postscript of this prose story, we meet Outrigger, a member of the Circle of Light who will be established as a big honkin’ dork the more we learn about him. He’s just run into Red Alert’s office to tell him about Tyrest having moved. This is a very odd occurrence indeed, as Tyrest was shot in the spine, and should not be able to move. 

The two of them head over to where Tyrest is being held, only to find he’s disappeared from a locked room.

Well, shit.

[puppyluver256]

I just randomly remembered something real stupid earlier while in the bath, which led to me thinking of something else, so I’m just gonna combine the two and get my thoughts out.

First part, a friend and I were discussing, of all things, MLP winter holiday specials and thinking about that earlier today made me remember when a mutual acquaintance (and in my specific case ex-friend) got all whiny about the first of them, Hearth’s Warming Eve, which I literally had to look up just for this post because it’s been over five years since I’ve watched anything pony-related. Now keep in mind this ex-friend liked to get all upset about the most inane stuff and is also the same guy who belittled my eye trauma trigger, so I don’t exactly have the nicest things to say about the guy most of the time.

Anyway, either he was also a brony around this time or it’s just that he’s a cartoon fan in general, and I remember the dude ranting up a storm about the plot of Hearth’s Warming Eve. For those that don’t know, the plot is that the protagonists star in a play based around the original founding of Equestria after the leaders of the different pony factions went in search of a new home after their people had been driven from their homelands by some ghost horses with a very unfortunate name that really didn’t fit what they were so why was that named even chosen in the first place... Now if he’d been ranting about this naming choice I could understand, especially if he was indigenous, but he's as white as I am and that wasn’t the problem he had with this episode.

His issue was that it was a winter holiday episode that didn’t focus on Christmas or a one-to-one Christmas equivalent. Iirc, he was pissy that they didn’t instead have the backstory of the in-universe holiday didn’t revolve around Celestia basically being an equivalent to Jesus or whatever, similarly to how Luna’s corrupted form of Nightmare Moon became the basis for the in-universe equivalent of Halloween. And while I wasn’t officially considering myself an atheist just yet (which ironically I figured that out during that time when I had the Veggietales hyperfixation, anyone remember that part of my life?), I still wasn’t religious and I could see, unlike this dude, that maybe a fictional universe doesn’t need Jesus shoved into it. The world does not need a pony Jesus! We’ve already got millions of people trying to convince everyone that that was a real thing that happened in our world, we don’t need that in the fictional universes of our secular kids’ cartoons dammit!! The less that’s said about the phenomenon of christian Sonic memes and that one asshole comic writer basically trying to turn Knuckles into Jesus the Echidna, the better. At least I think that’s what he was going for, but then again walking on water does not alone make a Jesus allegory.

Quick edit: this guy also really hated Discord (the MLP character, not the app, idk how he feels about the app and I don’t give a damn), and iirc he either ran or was a member of a Discord hate group on DA. Yeah. He was that serious about his character hate. And to think, I drew a comic for this dude once of him punching out Discord to protect his favey despite me liking Discord at the time. Hopefully that comic has been erased from the internet, cuz I know I deleted it from my DA gallery after our falling-out...

Second part, thinking about ponies and the whole brony phenomenon then reminded me of something else. A bunch of dudes start liking a show targeted mainly at little girls and the show starts making references and side jokes to appeal to them, but a show targeted to boys starts getting a periphery demographic of girls and the show gets canceled! It’s a phenomenon that strangely keeps happening every single time, that’s weird, wonder why that’s so common? Which yeah, I know why, but it’s a very backwards logic. They do it because they don’t want girls buying the toys. But executives, c’mere, I’ve got a secret to share with you.

Those little boys you’re trying to limit your audience to aren’t buying the toys either. They’re being bought by adults. Perhaps adult women. You can’t ever know for certain unless you have direct access to their credit card info, so stop trying to punish people for getting interested in your work and not fitting the exact criteria of your intended audience. ;3

[adios-gatos]

i heard mlp’s ending soon so i felt like i gotta finally post these redesigns with a bunch of random hcs underneath the read more-

Luna - mane has been changed into the one she originally had during her very first appearance as symbol of another difference between her and her sister that could've been a possible insecurity Nightmare Moon preyed on - the chance she's less powerful than Celestia. Though she does get neat star freckles as her manifestation. Could also possibly be another reason Celestia took interest in Twilight who also was given star markings? Has a long straight horn again that gives her an advantage over complex magic, something very useful with channeling enough power to raise the moon and travel through ponies' dreams. Wings are larger, perfect for silently gliding about 

Applejack - though small compared to Posey (fluttershy), she's made mostly of muscles and could still probably kick a boulder in half. Doesn't care much for her manestyle so usually just pulls it into a ponytail along with her actual tail, which is keep short for bucking. Otherwise she's the one that's probably had the least changed to her, she's a good gal

Pinkie Pie - her parents were a Pegasus and an Earth Pony so her wings ended up being a bit too small to do more than hold her up in place for several seconds or gliding but she doesn't let that stop her! Honestly she just mostly uses them for pushing things away or putting more ump into her jumps when she's traveling around Ponyville. She doesn't have to worry any about mane and tail logistics when flying since it doesn't really interest her much so she's fine with letting it grow out

Rarity - still has a long mane but usually keeps it tied up whenever she has a project or just generally feels too busy to take the time she does to prepare it when its let down. not to say that that means she doesn't take at least half an hour making sure her bun is perfect but it's less time than when she doesn't put it up. curved horn gives her a disadvantage at more complex magic (like activation of starlight's time travel spell) but is seen as beautiful in unicorn culture so she doesn't really mind the shape. takes pride in her white coat since it's harder to keep a shiny look with it than it is compared to other colors. also would have more knowledge about rocks and gems to relate to her cutie mark

Rainbow Dash - like twilight, her larger wings give her more of an advantage in gaining lift and such as well as keeping her in the air. due to both her wings and intensive self training, she can easily fly long distances that would tire out other pegasi. keeps her mane short just to keep it out of her eyes when flying though still likes to keep her tail long since she thinks it looks cool when she's in flight. most pegasi are pretty small compared to other ponies but she's very much mostly muscle, mostly around her shoulder blades and back legs from kicking off land

Posey - tbh i just like gentle giant aesthetics and the idea of fluttershy being an earth pony that'd also tie in being earth-attuned into earth ponies since compared to the other races they don't get much advantages to them. still keeps her long mane and tail both to hide from others and because her animal friends enjoy playing with the strands. Doesn't really give much attention to her mane and coat besides not looking horrible so if someone were to use a brush on it, itd likely get stuck. Despite her size, she isn't actually that strong and often trips over things

Twilight - star shaped markings are result of manifestation of her magic along her coat. long straight horn gives her a natural advantage in more complex magics. due to being born as a unicorn, she would have more trouble with doing tricks that born pegasi can easily do but her large wings give her the benefit of advantage in gaining lift and such. basically she's best as a practical flyer instead of a for-show one

[fanfics4all]

More Personal Stuff! (Do you guys like when I do these?)

1. What is your nickname? Sam and Sammy (by my family)

2. How old are you? 21

3. What is your birth month? April

4. What is your zodiac sign? Aries

5. What is your favorite color? Red and Black (Harley Quinn colors)

6. What’s your lucky number? 13 (it’s a family lucky number)

7. Do you have any pets? Not anymore :(

8. Where are you from? New York

9. How tall are you? 5’2

10. What shoe size are you? Depends on the shoe, 8 to 8 ½ normally

11. How many pairs of shoes do you own? 6

12. Are you random? Oh yeah

13. Last person you texted? My best friend

14. Are you psychic in any way? Yes, I get feelings about people and can tell if they’re bad or not. I also predicted my boyfriend was going to break up with me two weeks before he did, he was in another state visiting family and he was talking over text slightly differently and then when he came back he broke up with me over text when we were hanging out that same day and talking about what we were gonna do for our year and a half

15. Last TV show watched? Adventure Time lol

6. Favorite movie?  I don’t know, I love a lot of movies. Nightmare Before Christmas, The Little Mermaid, The Little Mermaid 2, Me Before You

17. Favourite show from your childhood? Pokemon, Totally Spies, Hello Kitty, Danny Phantom, Chowder, Sailor Moon, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, H2O, Wings, Home Improvement,Doug, Rugrats, Powerpuff Girls, Jimmy Neutron, Hey Arnold, My Life As A Teenage Robot, Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends, Full House, Samurai Jack, Dexter’s Laboratory, Ed Edd n Eddy Johnny Bravo, Krypto the Superdog Scooby Doo and Codename Kids Next Door

18. Do you want children? Yes, more than anything!

19. Do you want a church wedding? No

20. What is your religion? My family is Catholic, but I’m not. I say out of that.

21. Have you ever been to the hospital? Yes, admitted because I almost Died as a baby twice

22. Have you ever got in trouble with the law? Kind of

23. How is life? Ehhh kinda sucks

24. Baths or showers? I like baths to relax but I don’t have one so showers

25. What color socks are you wearing? None

26. Have you ever been famous? Not at all!

27. Would you like to be a big celebrity? No, I’m shy AF

28. What type of music do you like? All really, but I don’t like most pop songs TBH

29. Have you ever been skinny dipping? I’ve been in my bra and underwear with my friend but no not nude

30. How many pillows do you sleep with? 3 normally

31. What position do you usually sleep in? On my side but I move around a lot

32. How big is your house? We rent so it’s an alright size

33. What do you typically have for breakfast? I don’t! It kind of makes me sick

34. Have you ever left the country? No :(

35. Have you ever tried archery? Nah, but I really wanted to

36. Do you like anyone? My friends, Sometimes my family

37. Favorite swear word? Cunt

38. When do you fall asleep? Depends

39. Do you have any scars? Oh man a lot, I use to self harm

40. Sexual orientation? Bi AF

41. Are you a good liar? Yeah but I don’t do it much

42. What languages would you like to learn? French, Russian, and Polish

43. Top 10 songs? The ones I’ve been listening to a lot right now are: 1) A Little More by MGK 2) This Is War by Thirty Seconds To Mars 3) When You Were Young by The Killers 4) Almost Love by Sabrina Carpenter 5) Killer In The Mirror By Set It Off 6) Horns By Bryce Fox 7) Marijuana Breath by Adam Jensen 8) One Love By Marianas Trench 9) Kiss It Better by He Is We 10) Put The Gun Down by Andy Black   

44. Do you like your country? Eh not really if I’m being honest, it’s pretty fucked

45. Do you have friends from the web? Yes

46. What is your personality type? Mediator (INFP-T)

47. Hogwarts House? Slytherin!

48. Can you curl your tongue? Yep

49. Pick one fictional character you can relate to? Luna Lovegood  

50. Left or right handed? Right

51. Are you scared of spiders? YES 100%

52. Favorite food? Steak or Lamb

53. Favorite foreign food? Umm, Chinese/Japanese

54. Are you a clean or messy person? Both but more on the messy side

55. If you could switch your gender for a day, what would you do? Nothing, I guess see how it feels to be paid more?

56. What color underwear? Black (I’m wearing Supernatural underwear rn so there’s a pentagram on them lol)

57. How long does it take for you to get ready? Depends on what I’m getting ready for

58. Do you have much of an ego? LOL No, I don’t like myself

59. Do you suck or bite lollipops? Suck but bite sometimes

60. Do you talk to yourself? Way too often

61. Do you sing to yourself? Oh yeah, I suck but people tell me otherwise

62. Are you a good singer? ^^ Nope

63. Biggest Fears? Not being able to have kids

64. Are you a gossip? Not really

65. Are you a grammar nazi? No

66. Do you have long or short hair? I have a little past my shoulder length so medium?

67. Can you name all 50 states of America? If you give me enough time probably

68. Favorite school subject? Math and Art

69. Extrovert or Introvert? Introverted as fuck

70. Have you ever been scuba diving? No, I’m not a huge fan of the ocean unless I’m on a boat (I love swimming just not in the ocean, rips the dye out of my hair)

71. What makes you nervous? My anxiety, Trains, talking to people I don’t know really well, Failing

72. Are you scared of the dark? No

73. Do you correct people when they make mistakes? Sometimes

74. Are you ticklish? Very

75. Have you ever started a rumor? I don’t think so

76. Have you ever been out of your home country? No

77. Have you ever drank underage? Like once, I don’t like alcohol that much. I only drink one type

78. Have you ever done drugs? Why? Yes weed because it helps me chill out and helps my depression for a little while, also helps me sleep sometimes

79. What do you fantasize about? Love

80. How many piercings do you have? None but I want some

81. Can you roll your R’s? Yes

82. How fast can you type? Pretty fast

83. How fast can you run? Not very, my asthma kicks in (I don’t smoke my week btw, I vape it because of my asthma and it gets you higher with less)

84. What color is your hair? Black on one side and very faded red on the other (I had Harley Quinn hair) I’m changing it to purple and blue soon

85. What color are your eyes? Hazel

86. What are you allergic to? A lot. Pollen, Dust, Cats, Dust Mites, anything with fur pretty much (I’m allergic to dogs but I’ve been around them a lot so I’m not as allergic to them anymore but I do get hives sometimes if I pet them) um there’s more but I honestly can’t remember right now. Luckily not allergic to any food!

87. Do you keep a journal? Yes, I only write in it when I’m super depressed

88. Are you depressed about anything? Like everything (I’ve had depression since I was 8)

89. Do you like your age? Not really, it makes me feel like I’m running out of time (Yes I know 21 is young)

90. What makes you angry? I have anger problems so it kind of takes very little to make me angry (Thanks dad! Hahaha)

91. Do you like your own name? Not my full name but I like Sam

92. Did you ever get a foreign object up your nose? Um no, but I accidently gave myself a nose bleed when I was little by accidently smashing a pencil up my nose (I was banging my head on the eraser side because I was so bored and I slipped and it went right up my nose! I was in like 4th grade lol)

93. Do you want a boy or a girl for a child? Both, more boys than girls I only want like 2 or 3 girls but I will love all my children no matter what! Not like you can choose anyway

94. What talents do you have? Art, writing, and I’ve been told I’m a good dancer

95. Sun or moon? Moon

96. How did you get your name? My mom wanted to name me something that could also have a boys nickname

97. Are you religious? Nope

98. Have you ever been to a therapist? I’ve been to 14, I stopped really talking to them because when I was a kid my therapist (Keep in mind I was like 6 or younger) threatened to take me out of my home because I told her my parents fight (This was before the abuse started) So I don’t like going to them (even though I need one)

99. Color of your bedspread? Black

100. Color of your room? It’s white (Unfortunately, I kind of want a dark green room or a dark red. I don’t know)

[lilietsblog]

so much sailor moon liveblog

oh my god is that sound Usagi's alarm clock no fucking wonder she's late every day, I could barely hear it

Umino is it really that hard to tell that when someone's crawling between the rows you shouldn't loudly greet them like for one you aren't really supposed to loudly greet ANYONE in the middle of the lesson, even if they just came through the door normally is he doing this on purpose

I love that Usagi actually noticed the lack of a line to the fortune teller and stopped to chat to him about it the queen is taking care of her kingdom

I wonder if Motoki realizes Usagi's got a crush on him... also Luna wtf rude okay I know saving people but like. they were having a good time and then you just bite Usagi's hand. rude and you don't fucking get to impose your 'mission' on Usagi, her getting home late or not is her issue with her mom, not your 'mission' problem

"You'll never have a boyfriend if you don't act more ladylike" and thus, my hatred for Mamoru was cemented

...I love Usagi's shoes, they are so pretty...

"It's not good to be hanging out after school" wtf why

Umino didn't even get the answer to his 'date' question before he walked away also man Usagi's teacher is really young huh

I have no fucking clue how to manage a full class of kids tbh, this is like a legit nightmare scenario to me

and then Usagi actually runs and confronts the boys breaking windows even after she saw how they acted now. holy shit this girl is nothing if not brave and lol she knows exactly how to handle Umino getting too handsy crying WORKS

and Usagi has been paying enough attention to connect their behavior to the House of Fortune as soon as Luna mentions them being controlled when it's something she actually cares about (like her classmates, god bless this little queen) you can damn fucking well COUNT on Usagi

when I was rewatching Sailor Moon for the first time (at ~17) I was completely of the same mind as Luna, so I didn't notice anything off about her treatment of Usagi but she pretty much bullies her into situation Usagi's rightfully scared of, and like... no fucking wonder Usagi blows her off at any opportunity she gets, Luna has NOT been kind to her

also I absolutely love that this anime doesn't subvert anything, that Usagi sees nothing off about the key phrase to activating her brooch and that she made up her catchphrase herself on the spot because NOBODY fucks with Usagi's friends

also man it's NOT true that Tuxedo Kamen does nothing here. Like yeah he doesn't fight but he gives Usagi the break she needs so much, and she sees her the way she wants to be seen - as a brave warrior who's doing her best. And he distracts her from fear and makes her feel like she can do anything, which, yeah, is what makes all the difference here.

omfg Jadeite signs off as "J-dite" subtle

again and again, Luna starts with reprimanding Usagi for habits that are actually bad for her school perfomance and then veers sharply into "You're a chosen warrior with a very important mission"... without ever actually even explaning what the mission is. She's completely 100% failing to sell Usagi on this. It sounded kind of romantic and cool when Usagi first heard it, but since then Luna only managed to make it sound like a chore and something Usagi must rearrange her entire life for. Propaganda fail.

Usagi's parents are adorable, and her dad is super relatable. I, too, wish to get an illness that would let me just sleep for a while -_- omfg their sweetness defies words im cryin

"What? Usagi's still here?" "I forget" OKAY MAYBE THEY ARE SWEET BUT THEY AREN'T TERRIBLY GOOD PARENTS ARE THEY

"Self study: just study whatever you want" that's a neat trick omfg I gotta remember that

I love how all of Usagi's classmates have completely unique faces. There is definitely a touch of 'recognize the protagonist by her hair', but you can easily tell the others apart, too.

"I hate it. Usagi never listens to what I say" actually Usagi listens to you all the time, she just doesn't LIKE what you're saying. You could maybe put some more effort into that jfc Luna if YOU treated Usagi better maybe she would be happy to see you and offer you milk too -_-

omg Haruna-sensei falls asleep and Usagi's question is "is it that exhausting to be a teacher?" my sweet child <3 Usagi is very, very, very emotionally intelligent and I will fight anyone (yes. yes it is)

Naru you didn't notice Usagi about to walk into the telephone pole either -_- Mamoru why do you have to be an asshole just why

and I love that where Naru instantly falls for his looks and doesn't notice how rude he is Usagi reacts appropriately to his words and actions which every single time are incredibly, annoyingly rude

oh my god I love how Luna is animated sooo much. I never really paid attention before but man there's a spectrum for anime cats and Luna is at the top. the beanies <3

you know Jet is always making fun of how Kunzite is an expert on the teenage girl condition, but Jadeite p much nailed the whole 'midnight DJ' gig too

...nobody other than Usagi noticed that Haruna-sensei wore the flower brooch the queen looks after her kingdom (even if she's failing math)

holy shit the brooches are getting less subtle this WOULD have been noticed before if people were falling asleep from putting them on immediately oh it looks like they get people who get close too, that explains part of it

man no wonder I was head over heels for Jadeite the first time I watched, his voice is AMAZING

okay Usagi's first reaction to Jadeite is that he's dreamy too, glad I'm not alone in that pffft

omg I love how the first thing Usagi does upon arriving this time is not attacking or announcing herself but making use of the radio to warn everyone against the brooches this girl is smart and I will fight

I love that while Usagi ends up screaming and running and not remembering her attack, she has ALREADY saved everyone. Didn't need Tuxedo Kamen for THAT part <3 oh hey looks like he didn't come today at all huh okay and I also love that when Jadeite stops Usagi's tiara her reaction is to charge into melee she sucks at combat, but cowardly she's not <3 ah and HERE comes Tuxedo Kamen right on time to snap Usagi out of her stupor omfg he literally did nothing this time he just scared off Jadeite okay but SARAMADA HO HO HO HO HO HO i can't with this dork omg <3

"Let me read it too" OMFG SENSEI HOW OLD ARE YOU

oh my god Usagi's family SUCKS at being encouraging they don't realize how bad they are making Usagi feel at all (well her brother probably does but he's just an ass) emotional intelligence is nOT a hereditary ability here

...looks like Usagi's classmate friendgroup has an aro ace kid and she's teased for it? idk huh

Umino is a little creep. canon. like in the first episode there was room left for doubt like 'socially clueless' but tbh there's no way to be socially clueless that following a teacher around and taking photos of her in revealing outfits is icky

does Usagi not recognize Jadeite just because he's wearing glasses? okay to be fair they do murk up his face shape

USAGI WHY WOULD YOU TRY TO BULLY A LITTLE KID INTO GIVING YOU HIS FOOD JFC SHE'S REALLY REALLY HUNGRY

why does Mamoru take such a liking to bullying this particular teenage girl good thing Usagi can take this and give back some just jfc WHY

LUNA WHY THAT'S NOT HOW MATH WORKS WHY DO _YOU_ LIKE BULLYING USAGI SO MUCH YOU MAKE A SHIT MENTOR NO WONDER SHE NEVER LISTENS TO YOU

I mean jfc literally Luna first pokes at Usagi's weak point then wonders why she can't get her attention while Usagi is too busy despairing

and Luna literally threatens Usagi into submission with claws x face shit mentor? shit mentor.

"If you fight, you will lose weight!" I mean Luna isn't wrong, fight is a lot of physical exertion but also JFC this is a cheap shot. she is REALLY desperate to get Usagi under her control isn't she

omfg Usagi definitely gets some super strength with her transformation she's not bad at fighting when she tries to she just generally doesn't because they 'WHY AM I HERE WHAT IS THIS' sentiment prevails I can relate to that

hm, so it looks like Jadeite DID get to keep all the energy he harvested, he just stopped getting any more of it

[lancecarr]

Watch цirst Man,ҠThen Watch These Movies

Damien Chazelle‘s last movie, La La Land, wore a lot of its influences on its sleeve. In fact, there were 24 movies I could recommend to fans of the Oscar-winning musical to watch afterward. With his Neil Armstrong biopic, First Man, the only earlier movie with blatant DNA visible and audible onscreen is 2001: A Space Odyssey, to which the new film pays homage. Of course, there are also tons of other precursors involving real-life and fictional space missions. So many, that this week’s Movies to Watch After… is focused on titles directly related in subject matter.

There were some more random movies I thought of while watching First Man, such as Loving during the home-life scenes. And as Justin Chang points out in his review for the Los Angeles Times, the climactic landing on the Moon shares something with Dorothy’s arrival in Munchkinland in The Wizard of Oz. But I’m going with a streamlined lesson here, even if it means overlapping with numerous listicles released lately in anticipation of Chazelle’s entry into the subgenre of astronaut dramas. Below, I highlight 10 films and one miniseries, but each specific recommendation comes with additional suggestions.

A Trip to the Moon (1902)

Inspired by the writings of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, Georges Melies’ iconic sci-fi short was not the filmmaker’s first work involving the Moon. The previous works, known as A Nightmare and The Astronomer’s Moon, are centered around dreams and the Moon being a creature sort of existing on the same plane as the Earth. A Trip to the Moon depicts the first mission to the Moon, which is also famously portrayed as a giant face, by spacecraft. Melies is more interested in fantasy, however, than the real physics of space travel, which Verne’s novel “From the Earth to the Moon” is astoundingly prescient about.

Many sci-fi movies released in the years ahead of NASA’s actual missions are also total fantasies — see Fritz Lang’s 1929 silent picture Woman in the Moon — though some such as the 1958 Verne adaptation From the Earth to the Moon and 1950’s Destination Moon do also try for technical accuracy. There have been cinematic trips to the Moon made after the real visits that ignored scientific fact, too, such as the 1989 Wallace and Gromit short A Grand Day Out and Pixar’s 2011 short La Luna, as well as Terry Gilliam’s Melies-inspired 1989 feature The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

Countdown (1967)

Throughout the 1960s, more sci-fi movies were made that attempted to correspond with the actual space missions. They range from Richard Lester’s silly Space Race satire from 1963, The Mouse on the Moon, to John Sturges’ drama Marooned, which came out just after Armstrong’s historical feat and deals with astronauts in an emergency situation that eerily sort of prophesized the Apollo 13 mission’s problems, except here a rescue effort was needed. Then there’s the early Robert Altman movie Countdown, which opened in the US in 1968 within months of the release of 2001. Based on the 1964 novel “The Pilgrim Project,” the serious drama is very much attuned to the real US space program and its competition with the Soviets.

NASA even cooperated with the production of Countdown, and Altman filmed the launch of the Gemini 11 to be used as a mission launch in his movie. The book was also inspired by a real proposal to NASA of a one-way trip to the Moon, submitted around the time that Neil Armstrong was being interviewed to become an astronaut, as depicted in First Man including his own take on how to achieve a lunar mission. The new film also references how NASA kept having to rethink and evolve their missions, and that’s part of the scenario of Countdown, that NASA has to go with their alternative plan for Project Pilgrim, sending James Caan to the Moon to try to beat the Russians, a plan that would basically purposefully strand the first man on the Moon there until the Apollo program was perfected and could send a mission to retrieve the astronaut.

High School (1968)

While 2001 seems to be the only explicit influence on First Man, editor Tom Cross told The Hollywood Reporter of some of the less obvious inspirations: “We watched movies like The Battle of Algiers and The French Connection…A lot of our conversations had to do with the Maysleses and D.A. Pennebaker and Frederick Wiseman, and those cinema verite documentaries of the 1960s — how they were put together and the ways you could join shots in such a way that it felt emotionally continuous, but actually wasn’t.”

Chazelle also referenced the documentary influence to The Washington Post; “If 2001 is the grand movie-movie treatment of space and the greatest possible version of that, you’re never going to beat that…(We thought), could we do the documentary version of that? Could we do the gritty, camera on the shoulder, 16mm, cinema verite version of space and make it feel like D.A. Pennebaker had crawled into the capsule with the astronauts?”

Neither Pennebaker nor the other named documentarians made any films about NASA or actual space travel, but Wiseman does have one film involving a space mission — well, it’s a simulation with students at Philadelphia’s Northeast High School featured in the classic feature High School. A pretty authentic-looking simulation with kids dressed as astronauts or playing members of a mission command. Twenty years later, Wiseman made Missile, which deals with nuclear missile command silos, and it features a memorial service for the Challenger astronauts killed in 1986.

Moonwalk One (1970)

As for docs about the actual Moon landing, the first to arrive was 1969’s Footprints on the Moon: Apollo 11, but this is the best-remembered — and is referenced by Chazelle to The Hollywood Reporter. While the earlier film is mostly a straight presentation of the record of the Moon landing, Moonwalk One chronicles a lot more of the preparations for Apollo 11 and the routines of Armstrong and the other astronauts as well as a lot of the aftermath, including the parades and other recognitions of the achievement. And, of course, there’s all the stuff on the lunar surface, including the planting of the American flag. Where Footprints puts the mission in the context of Verne and fantasy, Moonwalk One does so in the context of scientific history.

In the almost 50 years since Apollo 11, many other docs have been about the first Moon landing and subsequent missions. Another essential acknowledged by Chazelle is Al Reinert’s Oscar-nominated 1989 feature For All Mankind, which focuses specifically on the Apollo missions and features narration from Apollo 11 pilot Michael Collins (played by Lukas Haas in First Man) and Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell (Pablo Schreiber in First Man) among others. There’s also 2007’s In the Shadow of the Moon, which includes interviews with 10 Apollo astronauts, including Collins, Lovell, and Buzz Aldrin. And if you saw First Man on an IMAX screen, you’ll appreciate the 2005 IMAX doc Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D.

Capricorn One (1977)

Considering how well the Moon scenes were produced for movies like Countdown and 2001, the claims that the Apollo 11 mission was a fake would seem to have some weight. And this movie, out almost a decade later, suggests the concept of faking a space mission to Mars that certainly hints at what happened with an attempt to go to the Moon. Director Peter Hyams apparently got the idea while working on the CBS broadcast of Apollo 11, years before the first public claim of a Moon landing conspiracy theory in the mid-1970s. What Capricorn One supposes is, had NASA astronauts not wanted to agree to the faking of a space mission, they’d have been assassinated and their deaths would publicly be presented as a re-entry disaster.

If this entertaining thriller starring the amazing trio of James Brolin, Sam Waterston, and O.J. Simpson, plus Elliott Gould as an investigative reporter, isn’t suggestive enough, how about the supposed hints made by 2001 director Stanley Kubrick in his 1980 Stephen King adaptation The Shining that he had staged the Moon landing? Wait, what? For that claim, watch Rodney Ascher’s cult hit documentary Room 237. Other recent movies have recently dramatized the concept that Apollo 11 was fake, including Moonwalkers from 2015, but better is the documentary-style Operation Avalanche released a year later.

The post Watch ‘First Man,’ Then Watch These Movies appeared first on Film School Rejects.

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