Creamy Arty

Wouldn't a Pinkie Pie version be at least double the caffeine, and with extra sugar?

I don't think most people who complain have a problem with him carrying her bags, I think they have a problem with her method of enlisting his aid at times. She knows he's crushing on her, and she's not afraid to play that. On the other hand, he's all too happy to lend a claw to his beloved Rarity whether or not she bats an eyelash. Nothing to be concerned about here. But I know Spike would do it for any of the others too, because he's just a nice guy like that, a loyal friend. He's always ready to aid anypony in any way he can with no ulterior motive. Altruism is his element. I think we could probably learn by Spike's example.

Heard of this ages ago but could never find any. Thanks for the tip, , I have a Five-Below near me that'll I'll scope out soon. Getting one to drink and one to put on a shelf. ^^

As for rumors of pedophilia and other creepy goings-on, it's all bogus. Such accusations have been flying for years, all of which were hoaxes perpetuated by people with grudges or those who just hate bronies and want to make them look bad. BABSCon is a new convention. BronyCon has been going since 2011 and is both financially and logistically sound. I attended in 2012 and 2013, and will be returning this year. Should you find yourself in need of a guide or just some general information, I'd be glad to help you out there. This convention is a very large social event, the largest in the fandom, and my experiences there have been nothing but positive. A handful out of the thousands I met struck me as being jerks, and nearly everyone I encountered didn't mind chatting with me like an old friend. Last year was great in that I wasn't exactly going alone, I was going to meet up with some people I already knew from this forum, and that made it even more fun. Go to BronyCon and make your own judgements about it. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself.

Most bronies I know are what you would expect from fans of any show, to be honest. Enjoyment of the show simply for what it is, without picking apart every last detail; collecting a little bit of merchandise here and there as stuff comes out relevant to their tastes. Maybe seeking out fan art and music, but to varying degrees depending on the person. Hats don't look good on me, but I do own a fedora because it adds a nice touch to the living room decor when hanging from my coat rack.

Brave thing for you to do, Macklin. And good on you for making people happier. Perhaps I'll give this a shot myself. Richmond certainly is a gloomy enough place.

Hey, everybody! Tomorrow is Friday!

Cranky is a good guy, really, but he's got Matilda and he's happy with his life of seclusion. Babs is sweet and could always use some more friends though, so I'm with her. ^^

Military prowess is one necessary aspect of a competent ruler, although far from being the most critical, in my opinion. Compassion towards one's people and a sense of stewardship is what I believe is needed most, as well as economic knowledge, and a good grasp of diplomacy to prevent a war or conflict before it can begin. Princess Celestia has demonstrated all of these in sufficient measure. We've little knowledge of Equestria's inner workings, but based only on what we've seen it would appear that poverty is either nonexistent or at a respectably low level. Even the Pies, rock farmers in the middle of nowhere, had a decent house on the inside, it's only their chosen profession that kept them living amid such desolation. Assuming that she makes economic decisions with an appreciable impact on cities and towns throughout the land, I'd say she's handled this part of the job quite well. As Equestria is not at a state of war, even with the Changeling kingdom, I'm going to say she's also doing well in that regard. The Mane 6 are mostly ordinary ponies if one was to take away the Elements of Harmony. Without them, they would have been unable to save the world when Nightmare Moon or Discord returned. However, these were once controlled by Celestia and Luna. If they eventually passed from the princesses to this band of friends, they'll eventually pass to another set of ponies or back to the princesses once the Mane 6 live out their days. At least that would make sense and is what I'm going with for now. Without the elements, Celestia and Luna are still more than powerful enough to fend off whatever mundane threats pop up. The Mane 6 can be on call for the world-threatening catastrophes. I don't think any one of them or the lot currently possess the wisdom and temperament to take the reins of Equestria anyway. The Royal Guard aren't needed for the princesses' protection. There's nothing they can do against an assailant that Celestia or Luna can't do themselves. For the most part they're ceremonial and guard the castle grounds, and most likely serve as the police force of Canterlot; perhaps also abroad in a limited capacity. Shining Armor, while he could be a competent soldier, hasn't done anything else to inspire me in his abilities to lead a nation. Cadence is someone I would trust to rule given her affinity for pleasing others and inspiring love, while keeping a cool head under pressure. Unless I was to make might the paramount concern, which I'm not, I believe everything can remain as it is. Celestia and Luna are well-rounded rulers, have saved the world several times on their own prior to the birth of the Mane 6, and have centuries of experience building and maintaining this kingdom, garnering the adoration of their subjects.