Long Shadows · 9:02pm Apr 13th, 2015
I recently saw a story in the new category that had to do with Twilight being visited by a younger sibling. Not entirely a new concept, and this is not about that story specifically. More about the concept of it: a younger child in the Sparkle family. It got me thinking about something.
Could you imagine the sheer amount of pressure on the foal?
Think about it.
Let's say for the sake of conversation that it was a filly. We will also say that Twilight Velvet and Night Light are best case scenario parents on the matter. They love and support all their children, encourage them to do their best and follow their desires, and don't try to compare them to each other. All the same, think about what this filly would have to live up to.
Shining Armor joined the guard and rapidly ascended the ranks to become Captain. Plus he is powerful enough to create a shield bubble that can cover an entire city which he is able to sustain for days even if it causes headaches. He was crucial in the protection of Canterlot and forcing an invasion to retreat, even if he was more of assistance to a very powerful princess instead of doing so himself directly. Shining Armor then went on to marry a princess, becoming a prince-consort before going on to aid in the defense and ruling of a newly resurrected Crystal Empire. This is just what we know from the show, and does not include whatever threats faced while in the guard nor any of his accomplishments while going through his academy training.
Twilight Sparkle was the personal student of Princess Celestia. She has earned a reputation as being one of the most -- if not the most -- powerful unicorns alive. The same could also be said about her intelligence. As a unicorn, she defeated two major threats to Equestria, uncovered the infiltration of Queen Chrysalis and the Changeling invasion, helped rescue a princess from imprisonment, and was vital in stopping a threat to the newly returned Crystal Empire. Twilight Sparkle went on to ascend to an alicorn and became a princess. After, she was the temporary ruler of Equestria while Celestia and Luna were missing (even if for less than a day), rescued the two missing rulers, defeated yet another threat, got a castle, and is on her way to establishing her own kingdom.
This does not even include Spike, who is considered a hero to The Crystal Empire for his role in defeating King Sombra, and was able to save a large number of ponies during an incident at The Equestria Games.
So the hypothetical filly would be the younger sister of national heroes turned royalty of incredible power. Those are very high expectations. Expectations so high, in fact, that it would be all but impossible to live up to them. Essentially they would at least have stop two threats to the kingdom, rescue one princess, earn a royal title, have incredible magic power, and be able to cast either a very rare and powerful spell or a more powerful version of a basic spell.
Imagine how frustrating such a situation can be. The pressure. Even if not from the parents, with others who are familiar with the family. Especially from ponies who knew one of them personally, like Shining Armor's former subordinates, or teacher who once had Twilight Sparkle in her class. If the Sparkles are actually nobility, that means the rest of the noble class will have expectations as well. In theory it's even possible that some will try to intervene specifically to prevent the filly from achieving such.
So hypothetically, any younger sibling to Twilight would be stressed out and under a lot of pressure. It's possible that she could even be a little bitter at the idea of having to live in her older siblings' shadows. She would love them, of course, but hate how much is expected from her because of them. Especially if she had nowhere near the aptitude for magic that either of them did. The filly might even grow up to become rebellious. Not necessarily evil or villainous, although that could be a possibility. More like not really seeing the point in trying since she could never accomplish as much as practically everyone expects her to. Or she might work hard, but choose something that allow her to be a success in her own right, but still not seen as anywhere near as successful as her siblings.
It seems to have a lot of potential.
She becomes a mail pony.
And she regrets nothing!
But yes you do make an excellent point. One that has not got me out of bed early on my day off to start planing a story no, no, not at all.
It could be VINYL SCRATCH. Seriously, the idea that the filly in question just goes "F it, I'mma headin' for tha nightclub crowd" and becomes famous fits. Plus there's the whole way she looks like Shining, and the whole fact she performed at the wedding....
2981023 Now that you mention it, I think someone actually did write that somewhere on here.
Now imagine if they were an earth pony.
2981034
I know that in the Winningverse, Vinyl is Shining and Twilight's bastard half-sister, due to their parents having a somewhat unconventional, but surprisingly stable arrangement to their marriage.
2981247 It's possible. Dizzy Daze wrote a story (Something Unexpected) where Twilight's parent had a non-unicorn child, although saying such is a little bit of a spoiler.
In theory, you're not even limited to just the three tribes. If the child was conceived or in early development during Discord's escape, it could be almost any pony or related type. Imagine the trouble of fitting in if she was a batpony among unicorns, or a hippocampus like seapony similar to what Richardson uses in his stories. Even flutter and crystal ponies could be used and explained.
You make an excellent point.
2981247 Ugh, talk about Middle Kid Syndrome! Never mind if they have any talents or ability whatever, it'll be ignored by everyone around them because 'You'll never be what your brother and sister are'.