Pat.Rio.T.

Thank you! And I'm sorry to hear.

How's that?

Hello there. I honestly forgot about this, I guess I just assumed it eventually got approved or something. Well first off, I changed some of the description(mostly the hooves thing. The person who made this picture forgot them, but I think I like it better that way anyway), but I'm not sure if there's anything else that needs to be changed. The forehead spot? His ears?

So, his cutie mark. Too intricate... never occurred to me. Anyway, I was trying to make it represent his patriotism and his pride and devotion to, not specifically to the sisters, but to the country of Equestria, which is why I had the idea for the flag. It was sort of a last resort though, as I could not think of anything more... universal to represent patriotism.

Sorry I took so long, but I hope I have cleared things up now. Also, I really hate to shoot myself in the foot, but with a change to River's backstory of this magnitude, this means that I will also have to change Patterson Rio Tacitus' backstory as well. Problem? He is an approved character. Which is even more confusing, because his backstory, being linked to River's, has some of the same issues which you pointed out here, but were ignored when I submitted him.

Basically the harassment that the character goes through before meeting Rio is a little extreme. Some is okay, but if you could tone it down a bit, that would be great, such as the other ponies at the orphanage stepping on Serene's tail so she can't move, and having to drag her legs along behind her. Sad stories are okay, but this is a bit much. Quoting the OC requirements:

However, other aspects, such as character abandonment, loneliness, pre-existing injuries and medical conditions are fine within reason. Crippling abuse in back stories, however, is strictly prohibited.

I did look through OC requirements pretty thoroughly, and at first I was worried, but then I also looked at some approved characters' backstories and I though I saw at least one that seemed worse than mine so I thought that mine would get away with being borderline. And the abuse did not cripple her in any way, if that is what you are implying(with the exception of causing her to be extremely shy), her legs were paralyzed from birth.

We also currently don't know how governments are run in Equestria, we don't know if one would have enough power to take money from an orphanage. Because of this, before the character can be approved, the second paragraph of the backstory would need to be changed, as to why the orphanage was shut down. I'd be happy to work with you on this, or any other part of this character if you have any questions.

In the second paragraph I was merely implying that the orphanage's funding was in such bad condition that they may as well have taken it all away. Just in case there was any misunderstanding there.

Please don't take this the wrong way I do not mean to complain, although it can be difficult, and frustrating even, to have to change things around, but I also want to make sure that there is no misunderstanding.

(although, I am baffled as to how somepony else was able to get away with what I thought was a worse backstory.)

I did not know exactly to what extent I had to adjust the backstory, but I removed all of the beating. If you wish any more to be removed/adjusted...well, you know.