Adieu G4, The Passing of an Era · 4:16am Oct 13th, 2019
About one hundred and twelve days ago, I made a post regarding the end of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic after discovering a certain tweet. One hundred and twelve days after that event in my life, I am once again writing an honorific to this amazing show.
But first, a little history lesson. How did I come to discover MLP:FiM? Honestly, purely by accident. In the region where I grew up in, the show during its earliest days had little to no traction. If memory serves, it only had a very sporadic airing schedule on the national channel for the children's segment. It was around 2013 when I first laid eyes on what would eventually end up as a major interest and hobby in my current, older years. My siblings and I were sharing a room in a budget hotel, waiting for our parents to ready up for lunch. Family holiday and all that for a younger, teenage Grau. Anyway, my youngest brother was channel flipping in boredom, and he just so happened to stumble across a strange show of pastel-coloured talking equines. Initially, I assumed it was some Barbie-related series, as that was all the craze during the time. But upon hearing Tabitha St. Germain sing Art of the Dress, a small part of me was captivated from that moment on - though I did not wish to admit it at that time.
Fast-forward into the future, about half a year later, the same brother, also enthralled by that single episode began searching up more about MLP and eventually started watching the series from its first season. At that time, we only had one computer between us and were only allowed to use it during specific intervals, as my parents did not wish for us to just spend all our time playing video games instead of studying.
Sometimes, I would actually watch with him, though infrequently. And others, I would frown in actual puzzlement. As I moved into college, my addiction (it actually was at that time) towards MLP grew. From canon to fandom, I moved. Art, literature, music. And even people, as I began making friends, both good and bad along my journey to "bronyhood". Even when I first created my Steam account, I opted for a brony-like profile - mimickry of one of the Mane 6, instead of something more original.
Six years later, both my siblings have moved on from MLP:FiM, having lost interest in the show and its fandom after the conclusion of Season 4. Yet I still find myself here, still impressed about the past and current feats being achieved by the fanbase. I look back, and I find reason to smile. The joy it has brought me, and the youthful exuberence it can instill me to feel. Even driven to tears at times, with how powerfully or meaningful certain songs and episodes have been able to resonate with me. The colourful world crafted by Lauren Faust has been a superbly magical one, and even though the series itself has just come to an end. Despite this, I do not believe the universe or its talented and dedicated fanbase will ever die.
Ponies forever!
