Nine years.  It seems like a long time, doesn't it?  I mean, I grew up with Star Trek Voyager, from age 9 to 16, and that was only seven years!  It's still amazing that our show lasted so long...

But we all know why it did.  It was us.  Our love for 'some little girl cartoon' that no one else (heck, not even us sometimes) understands!

MLP:FIM affected us all is many different ways, to many to list here.  I can only tell you about my own experience.  I didn't start watching until sometime late in Season 2, ignoring the internet 'brony' craze.  Then I watched a clip on youtube out of curiosity, and it made me laugh.  So I thought, "you know what?  I'll give it a try."  Watched the first few episodes and, while a bit put off by the kiddy stuff, it also made me laugh.  And it was well written, animated, and acted.  Reminded me of the cartoons from the '90s, (Pinky Pie was based on the Animaniacs, change my mind!).  I kept watching, and after about a year my roommates were like, "dude, you're a Brony!"  Yup, I was hooked!

Fast forward to summer of 2017.  I had been enjoying the show for a few years, and having all sorts of fun here on the forums with RP's, fan art and music, and making new friends both online and in person (call-out to Canterlanta!).  Then, I lost my boy.  Welcome depression, loneliness and a cloud of darkness that hovered over me for two whole years.  I didn't care about pretty much anything, and just kept to myself.  My friends here on the forum will probable remember how I just up and vanished.  

Then earlier this year, my new roommate suggested that we go to Bronycon2019.  I met him in a local brony community and we became fast friends.  I had never been to a MLP con before, and since this was the last one i thought "why not?"   We arrived Wednesday afternoon, and the next few days were amazing!  I honestly had never been surrounded by so many happy, friendly, and welcoming people in my entire 33 years of life.  Heck, there were spontaneous sing-a-longs while waiting in line!  You could go up to anyone and start a conversation.  I arrived really only knowing my roommate, but left with over a dozen new friends that he introduced me too.  They welcomed me into the group without question or judgement.  Later, at a panel with the comic artists, I made a few Star Trek jokes that Andy Price (a Trekkie himself) instantly called out!  He even (jokingly) yelled at me for liking the wrong Star Trek series!  Love that guy!  But the biggest moment for me was at a community meet-n-greet, where I got to have a few minutes to meet an amazing person, who voiced a character that, as mentioned above, make me laugh and basically turned me into a brony, Jesse Nowack.  Now, I've met Star Trek actors, the (former) Illinois governor, NASCAR drivers, and even got to sit in the SPEED TV trailer with Kenny Wallace!  But NONE of them made me as nervous as meeting Nowacking and asking him to sign a custom CD I made filled with Vinyl Scratch music including tracks he did voice work for.  It was an amazing experience, and my new friends will tell you that the CD didn't leave my hands the rest of the night!!

Why am I going into all this?  I awoke in the hotel room Saturday morning, went to brush my teeth, and basically started crying, having relived the memories of the past few days and realizing I hadn't been that happy since loosing my boy.  Two whole years.  I had such a wonderful time with such wonderful people at Bronycon, and it will be a trip I will never forget.

Yes, the show is coming to an end.  Tears will be shed all over the world.  Yet, we still have Gen 5 coming, and FIM Season 10 will continue in comic form.  Many have said that the fandom may die off after the show. 

But this isn't the end!  MLP:FIM may be over, but it will continue forever right here, on this forum, as well as other places all over the world and net, from Fimfiction to Derpiborru.  From Youtube channels to our personal headcannons.  Keep creating your wonderful and amazing art, music, animations, stories, plushies, figures, and everything else!  FIM will live on with us!

This isn't the end, just another chapter.  So many wonderful memories, friendships, and relationships all happened thanks to the wonderful group of people called Bronies, all brought together by a little children's show called 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'.

Thanks for listening, and for all the happiness.

Your friend,

-Tim

p.s. Thank you Jesse! 

This is meant as a letter to the entire community on mlpforums.