A Talking Dragon

This is really impressive! I don't know many who give a thought to the timelines let alone piece bits together with canon information. I doubt I could have come close to writing this. I'll comment on some things for fun. ^Nice guess there on Smiths and Apples being two separate families. Granny Smith would of had to married into the Apple family on account of her old family name. ^ It also helped that Ponyvile was essentially an earth pony town, even if it became more diverse later on. ^ I think Applejack learned from her mother as she played one too. ^ That AJ's parents died while on a trip to make up with Grand Pear makes sense. It would add to the reasons why Granny Smith never spoke about the feud and why the mayor and Mrs. Cake looked so reluctant bring up the Pears. This is good Apple lore. Another reason could be the dangerous beasts the Apples would have to face while making their delivery routes to neighboring towns (Somepony To Watch Over Me). We know from Bats that the Apple Family would lose large parts of their harvest from the fruit bats. Any unexpected losses like with the Zap Apples would cause the Apples to lose their farm. So the need to make these risky trips just to pull even are likely very necessary. We know from Bats of one particular bad harvest time from the show is either before AJ was born or when she was too young to remember. Either way these reasons would explain why both of the parents aren't around at the same time. ^ Applebloom could have been older too. From Going To Seed Applebloom is around before AJ got her cutie mark. The Cake Twins and Flurry Heart show that babies can be around for a bit and still look like babies. So to consider you got the time period between Applebloom being born and the Going To Seed flashback, the time period between that and the first sonic rainboom and the time between the rainboom and camp with Rara. Add to that rainboom Applejack is younger than CMC Chronicle Applebloom. With The Mane Attraction episode I wonder if Applejack got her inspiration to go Manehattan from her friendship with Rara. But this only works if AJ and Rara knew each other before camp. If Applejack's parents died after these events it could be signaled when Applejack stopped writing to Rara. Again overall you did a great job with this.

Since changeling maturity rate is unknown this is really the best indication we have. Thorax choose that age for a reason. While Thorax has physical changed his age would still be the same. So based on his pony form and that he was chosen to be Spike's friend, Thorax has to be around Spike and the student six's age range.

A problem too might be that most of the threats in premiers and finales have been magical (Nightmare Moon, Tirek, Sombra, Starlight Glimmer, Discord, the cutie mark switching). There's only so much that a non-magic talented character can do in these situations. Discord homing in the point in one scene by simply putting the main 5 in a cage with the snap of a clawed finger. I think that's what A Canterlot Wedding did so well: having a villain that relayed on stealth, planning and using an army rather then rely more on magic. In the situation too more characters can help, like the royal guard enforcing security or Pinkie using her party cannon.

The mane 6--minus Twilight--always seemed to be lumped together during these episodes, the focus always being on Twilight or the guest character. And while the rest of the gang act as one unit behind their leader, they don't impact the plot as much. The last season premier seemed to try to do something with Fluttershy, but while everyone was depowered. Are the mane 5 being utilized effectively in premiers and finales? How can they be used; could they be broken up or should they stay together during missions? What do you hope for when season 6 starts?

Thanks. It feels great to be doing this again. Hopefully I can make more of these in the near future. 1. I see what you're saying. I believe AJ meant age; how many times have you heard the phase "when I was little"? While it can be taken for size, often not people use it to refer to a stage in one's life. So when AJ says "even littler" than the CMCs, she refers to her growth state in life and being younger. And if you think about it there's no point in AJ comparing sizes within the same ages when someone with a large enough growth spurt like Big Mac is around. 2. Applejack has never been shown spending money. It's not from a lack of wanting either; from the Gala events we know there are things she wants but never had the bits for. Even when promising it she had to get it somewhere else instead of pulling from her own pocket. No matter what the farm takes in it seems AJ is handed down money rather than taking from the top of the pile. Recall the only person we've seen in the family put forth large amounts of bits is Granny Smith. 3. As for responsibility, AJ's main role looks to be that of stall seller, with her helping around the farm in other tasks as a secondary role. In Applebuck season Big Mac headed the role for applebuck season with AJ learning about underestimating the job when he handed it down to her. Granny Smith does all the zap apple jam making--one of the two big income pulls--all by herself. And cider making is a team effort. AJ still organizes, though she's more new to it and has been overruled by Granny a couple of times. So while I agree AJ more than Big Mac is moving to towards taking over the farm, when mlp started she was more third string there and was still quite inexperience at parts of her own job. Compare this to Rarity, Rainbow and Fluttershy who had already settled well into their roles and in two cases have moved up the chain. 4. I think there are enough clues for a guess. Sweetie Belle was five during her birthday--and half the size--years later SB is still a filly, just learning magic and going to school. How many other species can you think of that has about tens years go by and not have the creature in question grown up by that point? 5. Maybe, but Trixie doesn't know AJ personally to know what insults would stick. And did she refer to Twilight, Rainbow and Rarity the same? Despite my arguements I can't say for certain where AJ would fall exactly in the group--Twilight is hardest to guess with privilege and studying masking the clues that would help. Though I don't think AJ would be in the upper end where Fluttershy and Rarity would be. Pinkie Pie and her would certainly be near each other age wise if I'm right. Visual media like this is about showing, and since heavy mystery isn't the point of mlp I think we were meant to see the 21 candles. Otherwise why 21 and why not just do the big one candle thing other shows do to get past listing the age? 21 matches Rainbow not being in school and gives enough time for her to make the upper positions of the weather team.

Discussions in other places have got me thinking about the mane 6's age, particularly Applejack's. It's widely speculated that AJ is on the older end of the mane 6 group due to her maturity. However when considering some things in the show I think Applejack might be one of the youngest of the mane 6. 1. In Cutie Mark Chronicles the mane 6 are portrayed around the CMCs age in the flashback. Applejack said that she was younger than the CMCs during the incident. Yet this is never stated to also be true for the rest of the mane 6. 2. Applejack seems to be more in line with Pinkie's current position in life rather than further along like Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash: she doesn't yet own her own home, is staying with people who look after her, nor has she shown any spending power like that of Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow, or even Pinkie Pie. She more along the lines of someone in their late teens than one already out in the world. 3. Applejack doesn't own Sweet Apple Acres. AJ is credited with organizing Sweet Apple Acres in a Twilight fashion yet Granny Smith hasn't yet passed the reins over to either her or Big Mac. As such Applejack is still able to leave for over a week for contests or deliveries; is not needed to supervise events like that of the Sisterhoove Social when it's held on the farm; nor was she the one putting up the farm to the Flim Flam brothers for a bet. In fact, Granny letting AJ organize the family reunion alone was seen as a big deal. So while AJ works where she lives, she's not that along enough in life to take on big responsibility. 4. Appleblooms' birth/SweetieBelle's birthday: AJ and Big Mac were already alone with Granny Smith during the Cutie Mark Chronicles. It would be odd for AJ's parent not to be around or even mentioned during the massive changes in their daughter's life. If they had already passed on Applebloom would of had to have be been born already--just still too young to be out and about. Applebloom and Sweetiebelle are both in the same year in classes so are around the same age. But with Sweetiebelle's fifth birthday we see Rarity is already fully grown or near enough. And by this point we know for certain these ponies aren't going by our world's pony growth standards. So even at earliest if Applebloom was being born when AJ got her cutiemark, that only leaves five years between a filly even younger than the CMCs and a mare in adult form. By this alone Rarity has to be older than Applejack and by more than a year. 5. Trixie singling Applejack out in the crowd and calling her "little hayseed" in Boast Busters. A light point though I don't think Trixie would pick Applejack first out of a group of ponies and use that comment if Applejack looked older or was at least taller. The mane 6 ages aren't stated in the show but I think these points give clues where AJ would fall in age among them or the rest of the cast. What are your thoughts on these points? Where do you think Applejack would fall in age compared to the rest of the mane 6?

^ Twilight won't have known Spike was with the others. When she left Ponyvile Spike wasn't among the mane 6. And she had encouraged everyone to stay inside because of Triek attacking everyone. Also Twilight was away for a time learning to control her magic.

Was I the only one who wondered about Spike during the scene? Did Twilight even consider him in the instant she was in the tree? If Spike had been off cleaning some corner of the library or upstairs she wouldn't have known at a glance that he wasn't there. The way things had been going this season I can't shake this feeling that Spike's safety would've been disregarded. Moments like Twilight only saving herself during the fall in PTS or just ignoring his feelings in Castle Mania and AEBB don't help this. Thoughts?

^ Wait, so I was . . . right on this?

^ Disagree. More than once the ponies that have been shown on screen doing weight lifting have been pegasus--it wasn't small amounts either, so this idea that pegasus have to be weaker to fly is baseless. I won't say that the pegasus are the stronger ones of the three but they do have the history of being more battle prone.

The very first bit they made.

A good indicate is the episode Winter Wrap Up: Spike specify says he doesn't consider Twilight his mother and later calls her "sister". Also, Spike does too much for Twilight for any parental relationship. This includes feeding and giving her life advice (ex: EG). Though I can't say I care about what type of relationship they have after seeing the things allowed to happen to Spike in season 4.

Explain her fear of Dragons then. There's nothing to show that they have ever done anything to her. And the big and scary argument can't apply because it's been shown that this isn't a factor in her helping larger creatures.

Any scene in season 4 when bad stuff happens to Spike. I just can't STAND it.

^ I guess, but her fears or discomfort seem to get in the way of expressing the best aspects of herself. As a result more out going personalities like Pinkie or AJ stand out in their acts of kindness more. Fluttershy does have it in her. Look at Stare Master. Fluttershy really steps up to babysit the CMCs. She's not forced or guilt into it. And it looks like she wants to do it. I think the show could have shown more moments like this. Her love of animals is great and all, but when she sides with them so much it sends a different message.

I've notices a large gap in the way Fluttershy treats her animal acquaintances verse pony acquaintances: With non-pony creatures--minus large dragons--she'll go out of her way from their sake (PYHD, CC, SOTC, Pinkie Keen, MTBPW). Fluttershy is generally excited around creatures, seeking them out (Best Night Ever, Dragon Quest, Three's A Crowd), and if an animal is injured or needs her she'll care for that animal in her own home, no questions asked, for as long as it's needed (A Bird in a Hoof, IAEBB). With other ponies and non-animals Fluttershy is more hesitant. She doesn't seek them out. And when she helps them she appears guilt into doing things(Bats, Hurricane Fluttershy) or the circumstances are set up to force her hoof (Dragonshy, KCFO, Luna Eclipsed). Edit: (Coming back and reading my opening post it did not come out like I wanted it to so I reworded the section after). I guess I should be saying that throughout the series there seems to be a lot of missed opportunities to display Fluttershy's kindness to pony individuals. A good example is the barn scene in the last roundup. Fluttershy could be the one who hands the cake to the mail pony instead of Pinkie. Or in MMMystery on the Friendship Express as the one who doesn't take a bite out of Pinkie's cake. With Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 Fluttershy could be the pony who approaches the mayor to save Sweet Apple Acres. So does the show do the best job at showing Fluttershy's actions among fellow ponies. Or is there a difference in how Fluttershy acts to them? --

Applejack: goes on and on about always wanting to spent time with her friends and family while staying in a field all day with her favorite fruit. Never met such a lazy pony in all my life.

While I understand why people would ship them, I just can't get on board with it: 1. It just comes off more as a ship with Weird Al rather than with Cheese. AL's gimmicks were used during the goof off. Heck, even the hub was promoting PP as an episode that Weird Al shows up in rather than the appearance of a potential rival for Pinkie. I just cannot ship a celebrity with Pinkie. 2. Cheese comes off as a rule 63 Pinkie Pie. It's cool that he has the same passion as her, and I excused his similar over-the-topness, but the appearance and sidekick, right down to his own Pinkie sense--which is a unique trait that Pinkie should at least be able to hold on to--was too much. I can't support a character with such an obvious contrived plot device. Can Cheese even be his own character? :/

^ Again everyone, something doesn't have to be in pony form or human like to serve as an antagonist. Example: zombies are the antagonist in The Walking Dead. Mankind, in general, can be an antagonist.

It could be on purpose, but then again Bats would of made a wonderful Halloween episode.

^ I disagree, Jammo. The Plunder Seeds had a will and life force to react to new threats, a goal it wanted to achieve, an intellect to carry out orders--as well as find and capture the royal sisters--, and body structure apparently advance enough to take in meat. It is for all proposes the antagonist of that main arc. -

. . . I think that the Plunder Seeds/black thorn vines of season 4 deserves that title more: - appears from no where. Where did Discord even get those seeds from? - somehow grew all the way into Canterlot--a crowd, major, capital city-- without anyone noticing. - somehow had the intelligence to track down the princesses and use stealth inside a several story tall castle that at the edge of a cliff. How did it even grow up floors without anyone noticing? - somehow overpowered two alicorn princesses--one of which is strongest at night--with minimal effort, yet struggled with five non-alicorn ponies who fought it in the thick of its own jungle, using non-magical means. - somehow affects the sky, even though it appears land base. - messed with all magic, yet Twilight was completely fine, and Rarity seemed to have use of her horn again in the jungle. - can affect the moon and sun? Note: the princesses were captured, but if Celestia was ponynap at night, then the sun shouldn't have been up in the sky when Twilight woke up. It would still be night afterward. I doubt Luna would try to raise the sun on her own, first thing, if she felt something was wrong with her sister. . . . that's quite a lot of holes to this major villain. While I still enjoyed Princess Twilight Sparkle, I was surprised there wasn't any type of criticism on the Plunder seeds. Say what you will about King Sombra, but at least I can explain away some of his feats: - Twilight leveled unicorn that dove into dark arts - took over an earth-pony-based kingdom with magic and mind control - used clever traps to guard against enemies - defeated easily by the princesses So, what do you think? Do I have a point about the Plunder Seeds? -

My list: 1. Applejack 2. Pinkie Pie (would mark her higher than Applejack, but she can be insensitive at times) 3. Twilight (when she's not focused on a book she can be quite attentive) 4. Rarity 5. Rainbow

In the past I've never been bothered by many of Spike's misfortunes, or him missing out on certain events in season 1 and 2, as I saw the former as him bring a lot on it himself (Spike floating on the lake in Winter Wrap Up) and the latter as the mane 6 having a social life that's different than his as older females (like him not being around in Sonic Rainboom). But in Dragon Quest, when Spike hung the photo at the end with him taped to the picture, I was bothered for the first time: until then I saw Spike missing out on Twilight's birthday as an oversight by the writer. After all, Twilight is quite important to Spike, and it's unlikely for him not to be there for her on her special day. He would want to go. That this photo was hung is an acknowledgement by the characters themselves that Spike didn't attend the party. There was no reason given for him not being there and he felt a need to include himself in the photo after the fact. If the show calls attention to Spike not attending Twilight's birthday party, then it calls attentions that no one else mentions or bothered about Spike in Sweet and Elite. And that is troubling in a show that stresses Friendship. In season 3 I notices that things were starting to go downhill for Spike --- Season 3 ep. 1 - Twilight hits Spike with a spell after he tries to calm her down. - Rarity lets Spike carry things that are too heavy for him. S3 ep.9 - No one other than AJ expresses concern that Spike would have to serve someone forever. Rarity and Rainbow even shows delight at the idea. - Suddenly Spike has no freewill. S3 ep. 11 - Spike finally had a pet and a friend like the other mane 6, but Peewee is written off screen for some reason. - The show explicitly states that Spike is not invited to the Kingdom he helped saved. No reason is given and he's clearly upset about it. Rainbow even states that Spike "would of had fun" with them. - Thoughout the epsiode Spike is conned by adult characters. - Spike is punished at the end of the episode again, even as he already took a beating during it. --- but the situation wasn't as bad in season 3 as Spike had his ups too, mainly saving the Crystal Empire, helping to find the real Pinkie Pie and the book to save her, and saving AJ's life. But in season 4 there just seems to be no breaks or reasoning for the bad treatment on Spike: S4 ep.1: - Celestia doesn't even acknowledge Spike when she says Twilight doesn't need to bow. - Twilight doesn't teleport Spike with her and he smashes head first into the glass. Not even a sorry for leaving him behind. S4 ep 2: - Spike is send down several flights of stairs. S4 ep.3 - Twilight doesn't acknowledge Spike's fears or gives him support despite the lesson being brought up before and in episode. He's clearly scared out of his mind and is only there for her. - Pinkie sends Spike flying across the room. No one checks to see if he's ok. S4 ep. 6 - All of the positives that Spike has done in the past (and there's a decent list too) is ignored and he's given a status untrue to his character for the sake of the plot. S4 ep. 8 - No one brothers to aid Spike in carrying all the bags despite everyone being bigger, stronger, and having other advantages over him (magic). - The one act of kindness to Spike this epsiode is wasted when his food is stolen. S4 ep.11 - Twilight yacks the letter from Spike, causing him to fall on his face. - The door is smashed on top of him with a pony's weight. Not even a "sorry" is mentioned. Around the time of Rarity Takes Manehattan I just couldn't take it anymore. There's a lesson in RTM about not taking advantage of your friends and Spike's situation just stood out to me as hypocritical. I couldn't enjoy the episode as I was so disturbed. It almost like there's this culture of inner circle/out of circle treatment by the mane 6, and Spike isn't really their friend. Now it's not even acknowledged when Spike gets hurt or is in pain. No one asks if he's ok. There is no fine line as there once was. Does anything good happen to Spike anymore? What's the point of him working so hard in life or being a good friend if none of this matters in the grandness of his personal karma? Once more Spike is seen by many in the fandom as a child-like character, and one without a real family. That makes a lot of these misfortunes even more disturbing. I know some will think I'm overreacting. And trust me that I tried. I truly did try to ignore/justify what's been going on with Spike for a while. You have no idea. But I've been denying and hoping for something different for too long I just can't take it anymore! Spike has always been one of my two favorite characters in the show, and he'll never leave the top ranks there. He's been an amazing character throughout the mlp generations and others should check out the impact he had there. But the point has come where I wish they would just write Spike out of MLP rather than him be continually treated like this. To say this in itself is extremely painful for me. Making this topic is something I didn't want to do, but I really need to get this off my chest. So, am I the only one who's bothered by what's been going on with Spike? -

^ I actually thought she was ok in Daring Don't, but you bring up a good point with Wonderbolt Academy. The fangirl part of her is being drawn out a lot more lately: Daring Don't - goes crazy over Daring Do Flight to the Finish - goes crazy over the Games, her position, and the CMC's routine Bats - goes crazy over cider RTM - goes crazy over the musical I just hope this doesn't continue to be a thing. RD's fangirl side should only uphold to her own interests and shouldn't be used to plug whatever presents itself that week. -