tm2dragon

I really REALLY want to watch this episode! T_T Sadly, can't find a version that doesn't have the subtitles burned in (can't turn them off, they're part of the video), and they are SUPER distracting! Am I the only one with this problem?

I may actually have to disagree with you here. Sure, it wasn't promoted as much as the bigger movies (Marvel, Star Wars, DC, etc.), but it still got the word out there fairly well. There were posters in theaters, big signs up in stores, I walked by the TV and saw a trailer on more than one occasion, and my Mom even heard them talking about it on some of her talk shows before it hit theaters. When my MOM knows there's an MLP movie coming out, I think that's a good sign they did their job. I saw more ads for this than about 90% of what hits theaters. Of course, that could just have been my area. Just because my Target had signs and a display case right when you walked in doesn't mean the ad complain was as successful elsewhere.

And yet, the fandom's opinion of the movie itself is likely not the biggest factor here. The first Equestria Girls movie got some actual HATRED from many Bronies, and relatively few of actually loved it.......of course, Rainbow Rocks turned all that around, but that is besides the point. Equestria Girls was getting more of a response in the are and story department after it's first showing than this big theatrical release....a movie we can mostly agree more of us enjoyed. Not sure why that is.....whether the fandom has shrunk, grown lazy, or our enthusiasm was held back by the more critical negativity the film attracted. Hopefully, things gain momentum as more people get to see the film, and ideas start to sprout in response to it.

I'll admit that "Be Prepared" is the better number on nearly all fronts, but Tempest's song could have pretty easily fit in to a Disney flick somewhere. A little bit of tweaking on the lyrics and pacing and you could have had a true classic! As it is, I still found it to be a fantastic song, easily my favorite MLP piece since "The Magic Inside".

I'm pretty sure I groaned out loud at that one. ><

The fact that Tempest is getting more attention than the other characters was kind of inevitable, all things considered. She had more time on screen, a more eye-catching design, a better musical number, not to mention a back-story. There just wasn't enough time in this movie to get attached to more than a few characters.....it was overbloated as is. How much do you want to bet that more parents who'd never seen the show before left remembering Tempest's name then they did Fluttershy, Rarity, or Applejack's? ...........whatever the case, I have to admit that there is just something about Fizzy that grabs your attention and makes you curious to delve deeper. Sometimes, all it takes is an engaging design to grab our fascination (Vinyl Scratch, Derpy Hooves, Octavia, etc.), and when you add an actual CHARACTER on top of that.......yeah, Tempest was ALWAYS going to come out as the most popular new character in this thing, hands (hooves?) down. Even without my above points, sometimes the "rule of cool" comes out victorious......and she was FREAKIN COOL.

Not sure about the PUBLIC impact, but I worry a bit about the practical non-reaction from fans. If this movie had come out five years ago, I have little doubt we'd be drowning in fanfiction, songs, and more gorgeous art then we could ever hope for. So far, I've read maybe ONE fanfic from the movie that I found entertaining.....on a similar note, FIMfiction hasn't even bothered to add tags for any of the new characters yet. >< Is this because the movie didn't inspire people the way the show does? I'm really kind of worried that the real reason our response seems (relatively) subdued is because our community has lost it's momentum. This feels like a more lack-luster response on our part then back when the Equestria Girls movie came out!

I'm not sure about the Royal Guard, but Shining Armor is pretty easy to explain. He is TECHNICALLY co-ruler of the Crystal Empire. While his position might be a formality, considering he already has MASSIVE experience being in command, I'd assume he plays an active part in running the place alongside Cadance. My guess, things were too busy up in the Empire for both him AND Cadence to take off for a few days, so he stayed behind to hold down the fort.............or you know, maybe Flurry has a cold and he's playing nursemaid. The Royal Guards........yeah, no excuses there. That was an oversight on the movies part. ^_^; Maybe they were afraid that if there were guards with spears and such around, they might have to show something APPROACHING an actual fight, and didn't feel comfortable with that in their ratings?

I just learned that there was a one day sale of a "My Little Kaiju" shirt. https://www.riptapparel.com/graveyard/my-little-kaiju-2/ I want one........SOOOOOO BAD! I'm male, and my size is an XL. If anyone can point me in a direction to get my mitts on one of these beauties, I will love you forever and EVER! Pleasepleaseplease I MUST own a shirt that crosses my two favorite things of all time!!!!

Any suggestions on who I should look to for a good, COMPLETE audiobook reading? I understand completely, and THANK YOU! I'm kinda of a stickler for remaining unspoiled. As for "Project Horizons", was it ever completed, and if not, is it even still updating? The last post for it on EQD was well over a year ago, and there are few things more painful than an unfinished book!

Can you point me too any that answer any of the following questions: Whatever DID happen to Rainbow? How were the last two elements found, and who did they belong to? What misadventures did Homage and Velvet get up to when they set off traveling together at the end? How did the Enclave finally fall? What happened to Xenith at the end of the story? Finally, what role did Wonderbolts play after being freed? Felt these things should probably have been covered in the main fic, but were cut for time or something. ;

JUST finished reading this epic story, and while I certainty loved every moment of it, the last few chapters left me slightly underwhelmed, and with a few questions! Hopefully, someone here could point me in the right direction of some answers? Warning, I'll try to be vague, but I may let loose a few details from the fic for anyone to understand my questions! It seems to me that the author lost a LOT of steam during the end run of the story, introducing multiple characters without having any time to explore them (what the heck is Lion and Mouse's story? How did they meet and bond? They came out of nowhere!). Also, we never discovered the final fate of one of the Mane Six, OR the identities of two ponies needed to run the Gardens. Velvet and Homage seemed to be going to look for them.......then we got a timeskip and no real answers. How was our "tree" rehabilitated? I feel that such prime unexplored questions would be RIPE for someone to dive into. Does the author have any plans on every going back and doing so, or have any other authors attempted to address these or other unanswered questions? I'm aware that there are dozens of fanfics OF this fanfic, but they all seem to follow totally different stories, utilizing the world that was built, but not focusing on the story of the main fic at all. Secondly, I'm now listening to the audio book! It appears to stop after chapter 22, and doesn't seem to have been updated in months. Does the actor putting out the audio books plan on releasing more, and if not, has anypony else taken up the mantle DJ Pon3 style? Thanks for any help you folks can offer!

I kinda feel like folks may be over-reacting a bit. We're shown a male, and a female hugs him, therefore they are love interests? That kind of logic may be something we've come to expect from shows we've seen in the past, but I like to think we're dealing with writers who have a bit more respect for the audience than that. More importantly, however, blue eyes and spiky blue hair kind of screams "Shining Armor" to me. Chances are just as high (if not higher), that we're seeing a "big brother" figure, rather than a "love interest" figure, especially considering Twilight is going back to Equestria at the end of this film, what with needing to do season 4 and all.

I had a weird one last night! Kinda of a G1 that never was, movie form. For some reason, Lyra was in it........ she was all self-conscious because she was raised be squirrels. ............my brain is a weird place.

Long story short, I've got bad eyes, and reading any sort of length of text off a computer screen is downright PAINFUL! My Kindle doesn't use any sort of backlighting, so it's very easy on my eyes. I can browse EQD or Fimfiction on it just fine, but it's not up to loading up big pictures like the "Equestria Inquirer" files on DeviantArt. Anyone know if there's a place to find or download just the text, so I can read all of the editions without turning my poor optics into twin orbs of fire and pain? ;

Lucid dreaming happens to be a skill I've worked at for several years, and I've pretty much got it down to an art form. Near total control of the world around me, able to warp reality, flying is almost TOO easy, and in story-driven dreams I've been able to jump from character to character and guide it down a path I like (playing The Doctor is probably my favorite dream role). It took me years to get to this point, but I'd be glad to share the steps and tricks I've found work for me if you'd like.

I can't find one ANYWHERE! T_T And I prefer to pick things up in person if I can, so online isn't my best option.

Well..........that was actually kinda of mean. O_O That's a first for me around here! No, this is NOT a fanfic, I AM acquainted enough with the site to know of the fanfic section, and this WAS an actual dream I had. My natural writing style just sort of found it's way into the description. I promise, I started out just wanting to share the dream I'd had......this is just how it ended up coming out. I tend to be a bit long-winded I'm afraid, and when I get REALLY into writing something out, my my writing tends to pick up this odd style I have trouble describing. ; Sorry if you got the wrong idea, I suppose I could have been more clear. THIS thread I've been moved to, however, I did NOT know about. Interesting! I'll have to remember this one. I feel no shame for reading fanfics, OR for my love of ponies, no worries. ( ; This was just posted on my wall on Facebook first, and a lot of my family is......well.......kinda CLUELESS when it comes to the newer generations. Those comments were for their benefit. XD Thanks though!

Okay, be warned, I wrote this entire post in under an hour. I had to go to work soon, so I just let my feelings flow as uninterrupted as possible.....so expect errors! I'll probably go back in and edit it later, when my inner Grammar Nazi rears it's head. XD Anyways, here' what I wrote, copied straight from where I typed it in and posted it on Facebook. Hope some of you enjoy! I had the STRANGEST dream the other night. It was SUPER violent.......but in an AWESOME way, not a scary way. Be forewarned, ponies were involved. Yes, ponies, in a bloody violent dream. Go figure? Okay, so the night before I'd finished one fanfic (a story written be a fan of something.....in this case My Little Pony........shut up, they're well written, creative, and FREE!) in which it was r evealed that there was once four other Alicorns besides Princess Luna and Celestia, but they were killed long ago. Then I STARTED another fanfic that detailed the battle between Celestia and Nightmare Moon, and it was VIOLENT AS HECK, though a lot of fun. Anyways, somehow those two bits of stories, the end of one and the start of another, blended together in my sleeping mind into something GLORIOUS, and actually pretty clever! And here it is! While their two armies waged war on the ground, in the sky above Celestia and Nightmare Moon battled. It was BRUTAL, and even though Celestia was more skilled and fought fiercely to protect her kingdom, she was loosing before Nightmare Moon's raw power. The dream that I found myself in took place on the clouds, the two Alicorns standing on a great field of white fluff....now stained bloody from their hours of clashing. Nightmare Moon, obviously in better shape, stood gloating, as Celestia, shaking with anger and obviously the worse for wear, stood recovering her breath. Then, four Alicorns appeared. Celestia wheeled upon them, and shouted at them for aid. I got the feeling that this had happened before...that Celestia had pleaded with them for help, to stop the rampaging Alicorn and prevent the genocide she would bring with her plans to forever banish the sun from the sky. The four Alicorns, however, had refused.......and still refused. Whether they were they were too frightened to help, knew that even working together they would still have no chance, or simply DIDN'T CARE, I wasn't quite sure. I got the feeling it was mostly the latter, as they seemed almost apathetic to the plight of the lands below. Let the Nightmare do what she wanted.......it was no problem of theirs. They were immortal, after all, and the lives of short lived INSECTS was not their concern. Celestia asked one final time, her eyes narrowed, as Nightmare Moon looked on with amusement. Again, they refused. The Goddess of the Sun closed her eyes, sighed, and said "....so be it". Then her eyes flew open, and with a flash of movement, CHARGED.....not at Nightmare Moon, but at the four startled Alicorns. Before they even knew what was happening, she'd already zipped past......and with a fountain of blood, the entire foreleg and much of the chest of one VERY shocked Alicorn was ripped viciously away. Celestia turned on a heel, and charged again, and a second Alicorn was nearly ripped in two. By now, the four Alicorns (the two injured ones miraculously still alive, though ANGRY.......it seems Gods are not so easily killed), began to fight back. Celestia, however, had the advantage of surprise, and though she was impaled, kicked, and her flesh torn from her body by might swings of their horns, still she whipped and tore through them. A head was severed from one Alicron, and it died. Another's chest and body practically EXPLODED as Celestia charged through it with unstoppable force. In seconds, the battle was over, and the four Alicorns were slain......messily. Legs, wings, and chunks of flesh......along with BUCKETS of blood, were all that remained of the four apathetic Alicorns. Before them, barely standing, was a gravely injured and panting Celestia, covered in the blood of her fellow Alicorns, and much of her own. Nightmare Moon stood looking on in shock, completely caught off guard by her sister's actions. Had the Solar Goddess finally cracked? Had she lashed out at their brothers and sisters, knowing that she had no chance of victory against the evil Nightmare, as one final act of vengeance against those who refused to help save the planet she loved. It didn't matter. Nightmare Moon knew that she had already won.....Celestia was now FAR too injured to have any chance of victory......not that she ever had one to begin with. Celestia, however, had NOT gone mad. She turned to face her dark sister, her horn glowing in power. The chunks of Alicorn, the torn and sundered bodies of those she had just slaughtered, rose into the air, and with a roar of power and effort, Celestia CRUSHED the remains of her brothers and sisters.......condensing them into six separate pieces. The Alicorn flesh compressed, fused, and the raw magic that the four gods and Godessess.....which even upon their deaths had yet to leave what remained of their bodies, shone brightly as their very flesh and bones were compressed with the force of a desperate Goddess......and as the blood dripped away from the 6 small spheres of what had ONCE been the flesh of gods, in their place was revealed 6 SHINING orbs........the Elements of Harmony! Celestia had sacrificed her fellow Alicorns, and used their remains to forge six artifacts of PURE MAGIC. The Power of the Gods, compressed into six shining beacons........and the last hope for Equestria. All of this, her attack on her brothers and sisters, their violent deaths, and the creation of the Elements, had taken less than a minute. Nightmare Moon, frozen in shock and HORROR, stared wide eyed as her sister, injured and bleeding, began to glow. Shining as bright as the sun, she merged her magic with that of the elements, and with a great FLASH of light, color, and power, a rainbow of pure magic, the combined strength of FIVE Deities, shot forth towards the now terrified and screaming Nightmare Moon. Even with all her power, with all the dark magic she had gained, she was no match for THIS.......a power like none had seen since the very creation of the world who's balance now rested on the outcome of this last clash. The magic struck the Dark Goddess........and the force blasted her away......up, up, up into the sky. Up to the very moon itself! And there it BOUND her, sealed her very essance within the orb that had, since the dawn of the world, been her responsibility. As the lights of the elements faded, and Celestia, utterly drained but still miraculously standing, looked up to the sky.......the full moon was revealed.......the silhouette of an Alicorn's head now etched into it's surface. Celetstia had one.......she had sacrificed her fellow Alicrons, and sealed away the dark being that had once been her dear sister. Equestria and her subjects had been saved........and Celestia wept. ............intense, huh? Yeah, I embellished a LITTLE, but I kid you not, that was nearly image for image the dream I had. The mind is an amazing thing, and I will TREASURE the vision it gave me just two nights ago for as long as I live......for even in all the brutality and violence I saw, the story itself, and the ideas it imparted, were beautiful. I can only hope you enjoyed reading about it nearly half as much as I enjoyed WITNESSING it.