#thorax x trixie

[justvoidsdumbstuff1]

Sunburst x Thorax

Headcanons:]

[rootin-tootin-roleplayer]

𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝙻𝚒𝚜𝚝

୧‿̩͙ ˖︵ ꕀ⠀ ♱⠀ ꕀ ︵˖ ‿̩͙୨

A list here for fandoms I'm in/roleplay in (plus characters I can play!)

Usually in fandom roleplays I enjoy doubling up, unless I feel like being oc in oc x cc stuff, but thats a rare case!

୧‿̩͙ ˖︵ ꕀ⠀ ♱⠀ ꕀ ︵˖ ‿̩͙୨

RDRD 2 - Arthur Morgan, John Marston, Javier Escuella, Dutch Van der linde, Molly O'Shea, Tilly Jackson, Micha Bell, Bill Williamson, Kieran Duffy, Charles Smith, Hosea Matthews, Sean.

Hetalia - Prussia, Germany, South Italy, North Italy, Russia, Japan, America, Canada, England, France, Hungary, Austria.

ATLA - Aang, Zuko, Katara, Toph, Sokka, Yue, Ozai, Azula, Suki.

Adventure Time (Fionna and cake series) - Fionna, Adult Finn, Farm world Finn, Scarab, Prismo, Simon, Zesty Simon (man's very Zesty) , Vamp world Marceline, Vamp world Bubblegum.

ITSV/ATSV - Peter B. Parker, Miguel O'Hara, Miles Morales, Wiles Morales, Gwen Stacy, Pavitr Prabhakar, Hobie Brown.

Holes (yes that Disney movie) - X Ray, Stanley, Zero, Armpit.

The lion King - Scar, Mufasa, Simba, Nala, Sirabi.

Scooby Doo Mystery Inc - Scoobs, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, Velma.

MW2/3 - König, Ghost, Horangi, Price, Soap, Makarov, Graves, Alejandro, Rudy, Valeria.

Harry Potter - Harry, Ron, Hermione, Victor Krum, Fred, George, Seamus, Lee, Luna, Snape, Remus, Draco (that is a MAYBE) , Lucius (same as Draco)

Starwars - Han Solo, Ben Solo, General Hux, Rey, Leia, Padme, Anakin, Obi Wan.

ATWOW - Ao'nung, Roxto, Kiri, Spider, Neteyam, Lo'ak, Norm, Jake, Neytiri, Tsu'tey, Tonowari, Ronal.

GOT - Daenerys, Jon, Arya, Sandor, Ned, Catelyn, Cersei, Robb, Viserys, Khal Drogo, Robert Baratheon, Sansa, Stannis, Bran, Joffrey, Tommen, Gendry, Theon, Jorah, Ramsey, Ygritte, Oberyn, Jaime, Tywin, Tormund, Margaery, Brienne, Tyrion, Melisandre, Missandei, Petyr, Grey Worm.

House of the Dragon - Aemond, Viserys, Aegon, Alicent, Rhaenyra, Jaecerys, Daemon, Cole, Otto, Rhaenys, Lucerys.

Fallout Four - Nick Valentine, Paladin Danse, Preston Garvey, Gage Porter, Sean.

MLP - Applejack, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Discord, Sombra, Big Mac, Shining armour, princess cadence, princess Luna, princess celestia, Trixie, Chrysalis, Thorax, Starlight, Sunset Shimmer, Sunburst.

AC games - Eivor, Ivarr, Ubba, Randvi, Sigurd, Basim, Hytham, Kassandra, Bayek, Cleopatra, Apollodorus, Julius Caesar.

Jurassic Park - Alan, Ian, Ellie, Robert.

Peaky Blinders - Tommy, Arthur, John, Finn, Polly, Alfie, Michael, Billy, Luca, Lizzie, Aberama, Freddie, Esme, Isaiah, Bonnie.

South Park - Cartman, Kyle, Stan, Kenny, Wendy, Tolkien, Randy, Gerald, Bebe, Ike, Butters, the goth kids, PC principal, VP Strong Woman, Sharon, Shelly.

Hunchback of Notre Dame - Quasimodo, Claude Frollo, Phoebus, Esmerelda, Clopin.

୧‿̩͙ ˖︵ ꕀ⠀ ♱⠀ ꕀ ︵˖ ‿̩͙୨

This took FOREVER to write out but here it is lmao-

[askstellarandfriends]

If these are next-gen characters, who is who's parents? (like who is Stellar's parents, who is Kunzite's parents, etc etc)

I'mma answer this one in text this time, this is a next gen AU. Not all of the characters are next gens. Stellar is just an OC (Who's parents will be revealed in time but if I say who now it will be very spoilery) Then some of the next gens ended up in this universe from another universe because they were either adopted or I just wanted to create them.

I can show a list of the current next gens though, fair warning, the list is long: Pixel Note: Button Mash x Sweetie Belle Apple Slice: Caramel Chance-A-Lot x Applejack Appleseed: Caramel Chance-A-Lot x Applejack Sharp Gleam: Diamond Tiara x Snips Gem Shine: Discord x Rarity (another universe transfer) Sunrise Illusion: Discord x Celestia Muffin: Doctor Whooves x Derpy Hooves Time Bubble: Doctor Whooves x Derpy Hooves Rose Seed: Feather Weight x Babs Seed Blue Ribbon: Flam x Cherry Jubilee Constellation Sparkle: Flash Sentry x Twilight Sparkle Apple Cider: Flim x Apple Fritter Apple Crisp: Big Macintosh x Fluttershy Crass: Grogar x Everest(OC) Star Tricks: Luna x Trixie Lulamoon (another universe transfer) Dream Walker: Sombra x Luna Mint Swirl: Lyra x Bonbon Pop Rocks: Lyra x Bonbon Shooting Star: Mordecai x Twilight Sparkle (another universe transfer) Midnight Aurora: Nightmare Moon x Everlight Everlasting (another universe transfer) Record Label: Octavia Melody x Vinyl Scratch Play Wright: Pink Tom x Trailblazer (another universe transfer, parents are from the @projectfimily universe) Honeycrisp Apple: Pip Squeak x Apple Bloom Surprise Pop: Pokey Pierce x Pinkie Pie Quick Dash: Rumble x Scootaloo Luminia: Sassy Saddles x Thorax (another universe transfer) Gem Gleam: Snails X Silver Spoon Cumulus: Sky Stinger x Vapor Trail Spectra: Soarin x Rainbow Dash Thunder Cloud: Soarin x Rainbow Dash Molto Vivace: Songbird Serenade x Rainbow Dash (another universe transfer) Crystal Fire: Spike x Rarity Kunzite: Spike x Rarity Opal: Spike x Rarity Bright Idea: Sunburst x Starlight Glimmer Sunset Sparkle: Sunburst x Starlight Glimmer Luster Dawn (Yes, I know she's from the show but I wanted to incorporate her in the next gens): Sunburst x Starlight Glimmer Dawn Delight: Sunset Shimmer x Trixie Lulamoon Royal Blue: Blue Blood x Twilight Sparkle (another universe transfer) Spring Breeze: Vapor Trail x Tree Hugger Evermore: Zecora x Gizmo Lightning Strike: Master x Marble Pie (He is not sure where/when he came from anymore)

Non next gens: Spell Caster - Currently a statue Alicorn Poupée - Living Doll Stellar Cables - Alicorn Flicker - Changeling Mimic - Reformed Changeling Chambers - Currently a ghost Draconequus Everest - Draconequus Berry Blue - Earth Pony Film Reel - Earth Pony Flora Fauna - Earth Pony Harvest - Dead Earth Pony (Can appear as a ghost) Herbal Remedy - Earth Pony Light Heart - Earth Pony Melody Fever (DJ Fever Beats) - Earth Pony Music Rush - Earth Pony Paint Point - Earth Pony Phantom Ink - Possessed Earth Pony Quill Pen - Assumed Earth Pony Rapid Gear - Earth Pony Sun Dial - Currently a ghost Earth Pony Swift Apple - Earth Pony Wave Breaker - Earth Pony Bursting Flame - Pegasus/Color Drinker (Subset of Vamponies) Cross Stitch - Unicorn Fast Catch - Pegasus Fire Forge - Earth Pony Kiwi Tart - Unicorn Sweet Note - Earth Pony Twirling Ribbon - Earth Pony Gray Claw - Griffon Crescent - Hippogriff Fallon - Hippogriff Amphy - Fenec Fox Earth Pony Hybrid Draco - ??? Pony Hybrid Forest Jewel - Deer Unicorn Hybrid Mizu - Ray Pony Hybrid Night Shade - Deer Changeling Hybrid Willow - Deer Pegasus Hybrid King Variant - Dead Kirin King (Can appear as a ghost) Spring Leaf - Kirin Charlie and Dave - Two headed lamb Granite - Diamond Dog Maple Tree - Dikdik Oak Tree - Dikdik Droplet - Pegasus Dusk Light - Pegasus/Color Drinker (Subset of Vamponies) Gale Force - Currently a ghost Pegasus Vampony Happy Sales - Pegasus Popcorn - Pegasus Shady Deal - Pegasus Starlight Flight - Pegasus/Color Drinker (Subset of Vamponies) Sweet Smile - Pegasus Sweet Treat - Pegasus Violet - Pegasus (another universe transfer) Tango - Siren (Looks younger than actually is) Autumn Leaf - Unicorn Chai Tea - Unicorn Cuddle Bug - Unicorn Ink Blot - Unicorn Lily Pad - Unicorn Peppercorn - Unicorn Professor Spark - Unicorn Red Shine - Unicorn Silver Star - Unicorn Song Note - Unicorn Stardew Valley - Unicorn Symphony - Currently a ghost Unicorn Winter Breeze - Unicorn Moon Mist - Vampony If you want to ask any of the characters a random question, just be sure to put who you want to ask. Hope this helps!

~ GPG Mod

[pinkie-keen]

welcome to sugar cube corner!

my name is mars, but you can call me pinkie if you’d like since the blog bakery is themed around her!

i am eighteen, and i use they/he pronouns!

the bakery is all inclusive, so if you have beliefs that aren’t please leave! i might own a sweet shop, but we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

sugar cube menu (tags)

the menu is subject to change, please keep that in mind when ordering!

drinks

#sugar cube corner - blog updates n info (free)

#baked goods - art (varying prices)

#custom orders - artists w/ commissions (varying prices)

#friendship is trans - trans pride ponies (free)

#friendship is gay - queer pride ponies (free)

harmony specials

#spike - spike posts (3 bits gems)

#twilight - twilight posts (6 bits)

#pinkie pie - pinkie posts (6 bits)

#applejack - aj posts (6 bits)

#rainbow dash - rainbow posts (6 bits)

#rarity - rarity posts (6 bits)

#fluttershy - fluttershy posts (6 bits)

#mane six - twi, pinkie, aj, rainbow, rare, and flutter posts (36 bits)

#element of laughter - memes (6 bits)

pastries

#sunburst - sunburst posts (4 bits)

#discord - discord posts (4 bits)

#trixie - trixie lulamoon posts (4 bits)

#bloom - apple bloom posts (4 bits)

#belle - sweetie belle posts (4 bits)

#scoots - scootaloo posts (4 bits)

#crusaders - cutie mark crusader posts (12 bits)

#thorax - thorax posts (4 bits changling coins)

#chrys - chrysalis posts (4 bits changling coins)

#zecora - zecora posts (equal value exchange)

#pies - pie family posts (16 or 24 bits)

princess cakes

#celestia - celestia posts (5 bits)

#luna - luna posts (5 bits)

#cadence - cadence posts (5 bits)

#flurry - flurry heart posts (5 bits)

#glimmer - starlight posts (5 bits)

#shimmer - sunset posts (5 bits)

wedding catering

#zap apple gems - rarity x aj x rainbow (18 bits)

#sparkle pie - twilight x pinkie (12 bits)

#rainbow pie - rainbow x pinkie (12 bits)

#apple shy - aj x fluttershy (12 bits)

#rainbow shy - rainbow x fluttershy (12 bits)

#apple gems - rarity x aj (12 bits)

[popoponies]

Sup guys, here are some pony smooches for the Valentine’s mood!

[jazzjab]

my fav mlp ships

[iamallybee]

“You and I don't make sense to anypony else.” 

“That may be true, but we make sense to me. I never would've thought to make singing ginseng before I met you. But you've opened me up to so many more possibilities and impossibilities. So I guess what I'm trying to say is I like you because you're so different from me.”

[kitchenf0rk]

MLP x MP100 AU because I will make anything about ponies. And I've made some notes on it :)

How espers work is no matter the pony race they contain alicorn magic since alicorn magic is deemed to be very fucking powerful.

The Young Six are replaced by these losers.

Mob - magic

Reigen - generosity

Serizawa - kindess

Ritsu - honesty

Teru - laughter

Tome - loyalty

And Ekubo is just the Spike of the group

Everypony, except Reigen, goes to Twilight's School of Friendship. Serizawa worked alongside Starlight Glimmer during her dictatorship in Our Town and is now apart of her friend group with Trixie, Discord, and Thorax. He also has scheduled tea parties with Fluttershy that is just glorified therapy sessions. Tome hangs out with the CMC and goes to Zecora's with Applebloom. I like to think she already knew Grogar was Discord and the only one what got bad vibes from Cozy Glow immediately. Ekubo and Discord are long time besties. Reigen 100% faced King Sombra during his 4th take over, told him to get a life with no plan and almost died. Also him and Twilight has a mutual dislike towards each other but his only friend is Pinkie Pie because everyone is friends with Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash is Teru's favorite teacher and he uses his wings to wield his power.

[ravenwitch45]

My little pony friendship is magic for the ask game

Oh fun! I don't think I have many posts about it despite having a Rarity pfp lol either way this will be fun, thank you for sending it in!

The First Character I Fell In Love with: Twilight, by far, I've always loved magic users and her personality drew me in as well, she's persistent and compassionate, and she can admit when she is wrong, even if it can take a while for her to get there. btw i never had a problem with her becoming an Alicorn, it felt pretty natural to me.

A Character I Never Expected to love as much as I do now: Starlight actually, She feels very relatable at times, she's kind but she's got a short temper too, plus her friendships with Sunburst, Trixie, and Thorax are just so cute.

The Character everyone else loves but I don't: I'm sorry but it's Discord. I don't hate him by any means, his relationship with Fluttershy is adorable and he has his good moments, but he just rubs me the wrong way sometimes, He will intentionally try to annoy Twilight if not everyone else and if not then he won't stop when he can tell it is bothering them. He also called Starlight power hungry and like... no. Again not hated, just not adored.

The Character I love but everyone else hates: Flurry Heart, though she is less of a character and more of a plot device because you know... she's an infant. I just love Twilight's dorky desire to be the "Best Aunt Ever!" and it's really fitting for her to be honest and while Cadance and Shining Armor certainly could always be written better mostly they make sense as parents. Also can we just take note that in season nine Flurry wasn't even afraid of Sombra, she was just surprised and then annoyed.

The Character I used to love but no longer: I'm bad with this one, I can't think of any character's where I stopped at least liking them, so yeah... pass.

The Character I would totally smooch: Starlight, Thorax or Sunburst. There just dorks and I love them all.

The Character I'd want to be like: Celestia oddly enough. For all the flacc she get's I think she is a good ruler and is willing to put herself in harms way for her people. She also is just great at helping people. She helped Twilight go from a isolated bookworm to someone who thrived off her friendships. She helped her again the best she could when Twilight was worried about what to do with Starlight and she gave Fluttershy confidence when she was panicking with just a few words! That I would love to be able to do, being able to help people with their problems with what I say.

The Character I'd slap: If I had to pick one then it would be Chrysalis even though I love her. Redemption was right there you idiot! But noooo you just HAD to throw a fit and scream about it and get petrified because your so fudging stubborn! God dang it Chrysalis!!!

A pairing that I love: I honestly love most ships the fandom came up with, but i'll pick one, I love Twirax (Twilight x Thorax) for the fact that it's just two dorks in love. But I also love just most ships both of them have so yeah, i'm not sure either

A pairing that I despise: Again it takes a lot for me to hate a ship, so none I really hate.

Thank you for sending this in! This was fun! Feel free to send in any more but I may not get to it today, I'm really tired sorry.

[charmmycolour]

This is old as fuck but I presume maybe Tumblr would like some ponies?

I next gen I made last year. Obviously now the serie ended, it needs some touches, but not much, fortunately.

If you’re interested enough to know who are they, it’s under the cut:

Top Row

Hindwing - Starlight Glimmer x Thorax (adopted)

Sandy Pommel - Coco Pommel x Starstreak

Caddy Pie - Marble Pie x Bulk Biceps

Snowflake - Marble Pie x Bulk Biceps

Terracota - Maud Pie x Mudbriar

Lavender Crème - Fleur Dis Lee x Fancy Pants

Cotton Candy - Cheerilee x ?

Honeycrisp - Sugar Belle x Big Mac

Middle Row

Rainforest - Zecora (adopted)

Quartz Wood - Maud Pie x Mudbriar

Skyla - Cadence x Shining Armor

Flurry Heart - Cadence x Shining Armor

Tarsus - Starlight Glimmer x Thorax (adopted)

Mac Sweet - Sugar Belle x Big Mac

Golden Pattern - Zephyr Breeze x Trenderhoof (adopted)

Dissonance - Octavia Melody x Vinyl Scratch (adopted)

Cupcake Apple - Sugar Belle x Big Mac

Bottom row

Comet Spell - Trixie Lulamoon x Startracker

Cinnamon Roll - Sugar Belle x Big Mac

Apple Blossom - Sugar Belle x Big Mac

Crystal Song - Rarity x Spike (adopted)

Jewel - Rarity x Spike (adopted)

Windy - Whisper x Seabreeze

Cloud Colors - Rainbow Dash x Soarin

Aurora - Twilight Sparkle x Sunburst

Fiore “Neapolitan” Pie - Pinkie Pie x Cheese Sandwich

Brie “Neapolitan” Pie - Pinkie Pie x Cheese Sandwich

Harmony - Fluttershy x Discord

Antenna - Starlight Glimmer x Thorax (adopted)

Sky - Rainbow Dash x Soarin

[echubbie]

I couldn’t resist and made another new ng, Chillverse. The universe that is just chilled and normal.

The ships are;

- Twilight x Rarity = Aligned Constellations

- Pinkie Pie x Party Favour x Tempest = Silly String

- Applejack x Soarin = Byfleet Apple

- Big Mac x Svengallop (exes) = Crab Apple Cider

- Trixie x Flash Sentry = Whirlwind Flash

- Sunburst x Thorax = Solar Eclipse

- Fleur De Lis x Coco Pommel = Agate Shard

- Donut Joe x Sweet Biscuit = Crispy Cream

Sully (Solar)’s my favourite

[skwtches-art]

Some NextGen doodles

Characters shown on page 1 from top to bottom:

Bubbles (Pinkie x Cheese)

Shimmering Sky (Sunburst x Flash)

Curtain Call (Starlight x Trixie)

Pegmatite (Maud x Mudbriar)

Equinox (Twilight x Tempest)

Amber (Rarity x Capper)

Page 2 from top to bottom:

Gloom (Luna x Fluttershy)

Cloud Chaser (Rainbow x Quibble)

Pacific Rose (Apple Bloom x Diamond Tiara)

Star Finder (Twilight x Tempest)

Strawberry Sorbet (Pinkie x Cheese)

Soot (who’s design I’m not exactly fond of and will change) (Spike x Thorax)

[askmotherlyluna]

Finally finished my NG universe guide for Hallowverse!

names and stuff under the read more!

Rainbow Dash x Zephyr Breeze -Son: Summer Breeze -Daughter: Windy Monsoon Zecora x Fluttershy -Daughter: Ambrosia (conceived with magic) -son: Butter Bean (fathered by discord, adopted by Zecora) Discord x Celestia -Daughters: Euphoria and Sunrise (SR fathered by unknown griffon) Luna X intemp -Son: Night Fall -Daughter: Moon Light -Daughter-in-law: Slumber (owned by blue-wonderland) -Grandaughter: Cinnamon Dust (fathered by slumbers ex. adopted by Night Fall) -Grandson: Dream Weaver Heshmet and Beast Master (Intemp's siblings) Cadence x Shining Armor -Daughter: Flurry Heart Sunburst x Twilight Sparkle -Son: Comet Beam -Daughter: Star Dust Sugar Belle x Big Mac -Daughter: Candy Apple Spike x Apple Bloom -Son: Pear Jam Apple Jack x Trouble Shoes -Sons: Spiced Oats, Apple Chips -Daughter: Cinnamon Cider Button Mash x Sweetie Belle -Daughter: Sweet Silk Capper x Rarity -Daughters: Duchess and Jewel Trixie x Starlight Glimmer -Daughter: Pixie Shine (conceived with magic) Cheese Sandwich x Maud Pie -Son: Sandstone Pie Party Favor x Pinkie Pie -Son: Sugar Rush -Daughter: Rock Candy Sombra x Marble Pie -Daughter: Gemstone Pie Limestone Pie x ??? -son: Lavender Streak (adopted) Cloud Chaser x Thunder Lane -No child yet Rumble x Scootaloo -Son: Dust Kicker Diamond Tiara x Silver Spoon -Son: Platinum Tray Adagio Dazzle x Sunset Shimmer -Daughter: Solar Song Tempest Shadow/Fizzlepop Berrytwist x Pharynx -Son: Mandible Thorax x Ember -Son: Obelisk

[alternate-equestria]

Ship list/ family tree

(work in progress)

The tree of harmony

Twilight

Solaria

Luna

Torch X Crystal

Ember 

Spike (adopted)

Twilight x Spike

Solaria

Dawn (magic)

Luna x Blood Moon

Dawn x Spilled Ink

?x?

Harmonious Willow

Spilled Ink

Cloudy skies

Rainbow Dash

Zip Dasher (adopted)

Rainbow Dash x Gilda

Igneous Rock X Cloudy Quartz

Limestone

Maud Pie

Marble Pie

Cloudy Quartz X Igneous RockX Discord

Pinkie Pie

Discord X ?

party popper

Rutherford x Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie x Crissy

Found family

Crissy

Thorax

Pupa

Marble Pie x Moon Dancer

Limestone X Carmel 

Mud Pie

Night Glider X Gentle Breeze

Flutter shy

Zephyr Breeze

Discord x Flutter shy

Tree Hugger X Zephyr Breeze x Zecora

Mr. Cake X Mrs. Cake

Pound Cake

Pumpkin Cake

Rarity (adopted)

Pinkie Pie (adopted)

Rarity x Fancy Pants

Sweetie Bell

Rarity x Coco Pommel

Bright Mac X Peaches N' Cream

Apple Jack

"Mini Mac" Apple Cobbler

Peach Puff

Apple Jack x Trouble Shoes 

Big Mac x Cherry Jubilee

Trixie x Starlight x Sunburst 

?x?

Sunset Shimmer

Sunburst

Other

Igneous Rock, Carrot Top, and Mr. Cake are siblings

Mrs.Cake and Cotton Candy are sisters

[tricks-up-my-sleeve]

Trixie x Thorax?

✰ ━ ❝ Even though she wouldn’t necessarily consider him her type anyways, tell Thorax that Trixie’s very sorry, but she’s only interested in dating beings of pure evil now.. ❞ ━ ✰

[marvelandponder]

Building Off of Simple

When we even just first saw the synopsis for this episode, I thought, ‘Damn that’s simple.’ Character A has to stop Character B and Character C from seeing that Character A has invited them both to the same thing.

Granted sometimes the beauty of a simple premise is that it’s so simple that the characters can bring it to life through their interactions. With less plot to explain, simple and in this case dare I say cliched premises can give the characters room to breathe, or perhaps make a greater point, with the simple plot as a foundation.

Does this episode do any of that? Well, I’d so say so, yeah, if with a few misses here and there. But the more I think about all that it does right, the less the stale premise takes away from the experience.

For one: I called it. 

Usually whenever I call something, hell has frozen over, but this time it’s because they set it up well in advance around the time I was examining Spike’s character arc in my What is Spike’s Special Talent? editorial from last year:

“Spike’s destiny, I think, is to be an Ambassador of Foreign Relations under the Princess of Friendship herself. He can use the fact that he never belonged anywhere to belong everywhere, and help connect countries far and wide back to his home.”

And look at us now! Spike has officially become the “new official Equestrian Friendship Ambassador to the Dragons,” good personal friends with the new leader of the changelings, and he’s successfully able to be called on by the map.

It’s quite the episode for showcasing his potential, isn’t it?

Sure, he makes assumptions that pad out the run-time when the conflict could’ve been solved with a conversation, but I think his accomplishments in this episode and his good intentions save this from Princess Spike territory, or even Spike at Your Service. 

I mean, he’s trying to stop a war from happening. As short-sighted as he is to let his anxiety get the better of him---which, by the way, made for a great parallel to Twilight---he’s endearing because he’s trying to do the right thing, which I think is something you need when you’re writing this particular kind of story. 

The other way to go is to have Character A/Spike intentionally invite them both to the same thing, which is selfish and that much more predictable. I like that here it’s not even purely scheduling error, either, it’s that both friends needed to talk to him, and by the nature of how long it takes each of them to get from their homelands to Ponyville, it just so happened to be the same day.

Still a plot contrivance, yeah, but it’s one that just makes honest-to-god sense (these kind of communication/timing errors do happen), and again, really endears us to Spike because he’s only trying to help.

So, yes, I’m extremely proud of Spike for his accomplishments. It might’ve been a more impactful character moment if they had come with a less well-worn conflict, but they still make me extremely proud of the little guy because they’re still so fitting and have been built up over the course of multiple episodes.

The moral about assumptions fits with Spike’s character arc rather nicely. He’s spoken out about making assumptions about another race in The Times They are a Changling, but this episode challenges him to not underestimate his friends on a personal level. Because of it, he comes out a better ambassador for having learned the lesson.

Which brings me to the map, and Spike solving his own problem. The episode shows us twice that Spike can actually be a great mediator if he tries, which is a very smart thing to write in, because by episode’s end Spike’s first friendship problem is just an internal one. Without those demonstrations of what a good help he can be to others, it would be easy to argue Spike might not be able to solve actual friendship problems in the future, and thus, not a good addition to the map’s roster---which he totally is.

Quick detour while we’re still talking about the moral: I also just love that they have a running gag where Ember not only criticizes how alike Starlight and Twilight are as a wink to the fans who’ve said the same thing, but as thematically resonant point. Like, not only does making generalizations about your friends based on their personalities come back to bite you, but making generalizations based on their race or nationality still only forces conflict and hurts feelings.

It’s a joke based on the Cross Race Effect, which is “the tendency to more easily recognize faces of the race that one is most familiar with (which is most often one's own race” (x). Often, we only think of blatant racists saying “all ___ look alike,” but the greater point isn’t just that Ember’s pretty racist, it’s that even though it might be harder at first for Ember to tell the difference between Twilight and Starlight, the better move is to recognize the bias in herself and think more of their feelings instead of just straight up saying she has a hard time telling them apart. Just thought I’d throw that out there, because knowing that tid bit of sociology only adds to the meaning of that running joke and choosing to give it to a character who freely speaks her mind.

Anyway, going back to what I said up top, this simple episode uses its characters and their interactions to make the episode, and it works in a number of ways.

The moments that fall flat are the ones that are following the formula that comes with this plot: awkwardly phrased excuses and distractions that are rather obvious from the viewer’s perspective. 

But aside from a few of those beats, this episode really takes advantage of every character it has and it shows!

Ember and Thorax are both characters fans have been clamoring for more of (Ember especially because she’s only had one appearance), and both of them shine in this episode.

Ember’s, for lack of a better word, tsundre character type continues to work well in a friendship context instead of a romantic and/or sexual one, as the archetype often does in anime (yes, it has been used for just friends before, of course, but not as often). Because of that, it’s sweet to watch her want to try to learn about friendship to be a better leader to the dragons (perhaps, even better than her father).

Thorax is once again his adorably neurotic, self-depreciating self. With the character development he’s received in his past few appearances, including this one, he’s becoming less and less like the hilarious, but one-note archetype FimFlamFilosophy/Dawn Somewhere uses for Fluttershy in the Mentally Advanced Series (just try and tell me you don’t see the resemblance).

Even Twilight and Starlight get great moments as Spike’s support in this. Twilight gets to show-off her character development, ironically being the level-headed voice of reason for Spike while he freaks out and catastrophizes the problem. Starlight gets in some good lines, and once again this season proves she can play a supporting role to other characters without stealing the spotlight or anything of that nature.

And there are a lot of little jokes and moments that stick the landing and make the episode that much better overall (which I’ll get into in a sec), so even though the story feels a bit too standard from concept, there’s a lot to like and not a lot to cringe at or take real issue with.

All in all, I like this episode for Spike’s development and it makes me look forward to what adventures our little ambassador will get up to next.

Details, Thoughts, and Whatnots

Starilight’s “You’ve been hanging around Twilight for too long” line.Self-aware jokes never fail to make me laugh

THORAX IS AN ADORABLE BUG, I LOVE HIM GETTING DISTRACTED BY FIRE (which by the way: wasted opportunity to have him be distracted by Ember’s fire)

“Is that ice in the shape of a dragon?” --- I love that Thorax is delighted by this and doesn’t question it, because seriously, that’s the appropriate response to something that a life-sized ice sculpture of a dragon

Thorax mentions that he has a brother, which [spoilers] ties into an episode later this season where Starlight and Trixie help him continue to solve the problem he has in this episode. I just. I love. This. Continuity. 

I also just love that the way they did it, you might not hear it on the first watch through because Spike is distracted. So cool.

You know one thing I kind of realized? I want more moments of Twilight and Spike feeling close. Not just comforting or supporting each other like they do for the rest of their friends, but that quasi mother-son or sister-brother relationship we’ve seen in previous seasons. That’s an element I really want them to emphasize again, especially now that Spike has an official title of his own. They could do a whole episode about it. Are they growing apart now that their jobs don’t include each other? Do they have the opportunity to be close than ever, if they work together on, say, a map mission (heck, a Twilight and Spike map episode would be adorable, and you could have them going about it in different ways and Twilight trying to treat Spike as an equal instead of an assistant)

I realize I’m going off on a tangent about this, but it just kind hit me that even though Twilight’s supporting him throughout the episode, I don’t necessarily feel how close they are and I miss that. It’s not like they’re cold or distant at all, I’m not saying that, I’m just kind of reminded of how sweet they are and now that they’re both established ambassadors of friendship, I think it’s high time we had an episode emphasizing the oldest friends in the series again. 

The hug thing all throughout this episode is just... it’s too cute. This is why I have to call a spade a spade/a tsundre a tsundre.

Also, tiny detail: I love that the first thing Ember notices is how colourful everything is. Seeing Ponyville through her eyes in that regard is neat

CUTE ALERT: Twilight and Ember still write letters to each other, and Ember wants to say hi to Twilight to be a good friend to her

I suspect the dragons don’t have a great medical system if one of their mottos is push past the pain... it kind of makes you wonder how they live so long

Twilight distracting Thorax with chairs. What a dork. She also still studies even years after graduation, and that just makes me happy

The small set-up and pay-off to Starlight not wanting to have to tell Twilight her house is being devoured though

Lyra and BonBon had a lover’s quarrel over cupcakes. I’m just going to enjoy that fact for a while...

Just the way Thorax says “Even though I said ‘Hey, let’s not do that anymore,’ and they said, ‘Hey, we’ve been doing that for hundreds of years’”---super cute way to introduce his problem

Never thought I’d say this but: Ember’s eyebrows.

Spike interrupts two stallions living together, about to have a cute domestic meal (and yes, it’s gay):

Once again MLP embraces the idea that drastic differences between friends make for stronger friendships than what they have in common. The show is all about learning from one’s own flaws to be better friends and a better person/pony/dragon/changeling/what have you, as was so simply put in in last week’s episode (”Without our flaws, there might not even be friendships to begin with.”), but a key component to that is often having friends that help you make up for your flaws by having drastically different and sometimes even polar opposite flaws and strengths themselves. And, this time, the show uses Ember and Thorax to make it clear as day that bonding over working through your own difficulties creates stronger relationships than even characters who can bond on what they have in common.

Or to sum it up: Friendship is Struggle, Endured Together. It’s a simple truth, but the fact that MLP thematically insists that differences can teach us more than commonalities is still neat. Especially because the best scenes I can think of where characters bond over what they have in common/understand each other through empathy are in EQG, not the main series, which might, in a roundabout way, mean the two series are starting to operate under different themes and dare I say philosophies, as simple as they may be.

And that, kiddos, is what over-analyzing looks like. 

I also feel like we’re ultimately building to either one of two things:

1. Twilight and Company Found the United Nations: It would be fitting to ultimately bring together all of the different creatures---crystal ponies, dragons, changelings, griffons, breezies, yaks, seaponies, cats, humans (EQG) etc.---into one organization that focuses on keeping peace and spreading friendship. The representatives would be the characters we know so well now and our own ambassadors. Twilight would even get to codify a rule book with their help on how to treat each other. 

2. Giant Battle/War Where Equestria Needs to Call on Its Allies: It’s been done in other shows before (i.e. Samurai Jack), but it can still be a great moment where all the friends they’ve made come to their aid to help them face the biggest threat they’ve faced.

Overall this episode might’ve been improved by avoiding more of the pitfalls that come with this standard plot, but it does a lot with it, and I can’t deny I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Yet another good season 7 episode... we’re on a roll at this point.

Pony? Yep, I got that! I write reviews and editorials, and heck, have the last three things I’ve done, just to make it easier: 

Honest Apple Review, SciTwi v. Twilight, and Fame and Misfortune Review

Year of the Pony

Special Thanks to Millennial Dan on Deviantart, who made the Microphone vector for the logo!

Pony in a Dragon’s Body Helps Shape-shifting Deer Thing and Dragon Lord Be Friends