Updates and a Defense of the 100th Episode · 7:42pm Jun 5th, 2015
-As 'Victory Lap' slooooooooowly comes to completion, it occurs to me that there might be a way to close the trilogy without doing straight clop. Another anthology, but this one set at Canterlot High's Senior prom. Think of it as a slightly more risque version of 'Morning Glory.' Would it work, do you think?
-Secret project is still secret. Still very excited about it.
-The next chapter of 'Changelings' is in the proofing phase.
-Let us quickly discuss something that's been troubling my mind. With every new clip of Episode 100 (Slice of Life) I'm seeing more and more negativity. I've seen comments suggesting that the show has finally jumped the shark by giving in to so many pieces of fanon and that it's inappropriate that the show's 100th episode not focus on the Mane 6.
Most troubling of all is my sneaking suspicion that one of my favorite and most influential authors, one SleeplessBrony, has apparently vanished, having not updated a story in almost two years and not logged into the site in months. Comments on his user page hint that he might have left the fandom.
One wonders; why?
Is the show really that much different that what it once was? Sure, but is that a bad thing? Not in my opinion. The show's world and characters have evolved so much in the past four years that I strongly doubt the opinion of anyone who says the show has gone downhill. If anything, it's been nothing but uphill.
Which brings us to the 100th episode.
The 100th episode is not just a celebration of the show. It's also a tribute to the world... and to the fandom.
The tribute to the world is the simple fact that it isn't focused on the Mane 6. The world and characters have grown so wide and varied that we don't necessarily need to focus on the Mane 6. I've always loved the idea that one day Friendship is Magic will end, but a sequel series will follow with a NEW Mane 6. The characters we've known and loved will still be around, but in different positions. Think of Twilight in Celestia's position, aiding the now adult CMC. Or Applejack as the Granny Smith figure. The world still lives and grows.
As to the fandom, well... we are a major reason the show exists as it does today. Beyond calls from Hasbro to make obvious toy allusions and the obvious market of younger children, a major part of how the show exists is because of us. The writers and animators have always taken notice of how the fandom lock on to certain characters (for good or ill) and look at who we see in the teasers for Slice of Life.
Octavia? Finally voiced, she was just a background pony.
Vinyl Scratch? Appeared in all of two shots prior to being adopted and fleshed out in fanon.
Derpy? (Dead-panned stare)
Time Turner has a Trottingham accent, for goodness sake!
The 100th episode isn't caving in to fan demands... it's a thank you. To which I say no, thank YOU, DHX. Thank you always.
Thoughts?
WEEKLY TRIVIA QUESTION
Last Week's Answers: Sweetie's father Crescendo is her magical tutor and prior singing instructor. To avoid nepotism, Sweetie was transferred to the class of one Professor Pantameter.
I also accepted Twilight Sparkle, as she tutored Sweetie in magic first. No more than 1.5 points total, though.
Current Standings;
Dawn Flower: 1/2
Swirling Line: 0
DanvilleBengal: 3.5
themouthofmush: 8.5
Rubycast: 9.5
RC2101_Copey: 0
Yami Vizzini: 6
This Week's Question;
Princess Luna had many lovers across her lifetimes. We only know of four because of their testimonies... but those who hold the title of Brother Veritas know of several more. Brother Veritas mentioned one by name. 1/2 point for the name... and another 1/2 point if you create a good backstory for him/her.
Post answers below.
Jade, I'm not nearly as connected or well known as you or others like Path_of_Cloud and Bronystories, but SleepnessBrony apparently is still around. I just lurked on his user page and it shows that it was last used roughly nine weeks ago. Obviously we may need to take that with a grain of salt, but that is what it is. He may not be as active as he used to, but I think that he still logs on every once in a while.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, people are freaking out, and its bad about the 100th episode?
Why?
Jade you are right, this fandom does drive the writers.
Look at the Equestria movies. When the first one came out many of the analyst had similar points:
-Why didn't Twilight explain to Principal Celestia what was going on?
-Why did they just forget Sunset Shimmer?
and so on.
Then in Rainbow Rocks, many of the common points where addressed.
-Didn't go into Celestia in the first one? Well they do in the second one and the answer why Celestia doesn't help makes sense.
-Sunset, while forgiven by our mane 5 is not forgiven by everyone else.
This fandom does help to drive the show, and so far its working.
I'm looking forward to the 100th episode. This should be a lot of fun. To me, its like the Simpsons. That show can focus a lot on the town and its people but our main family is still the center. An episode about Mr. Burns? Fine. Apu? No problem. Moe. Sure thing, bring it.
So one episode we expand the world and see more of the background world we've only glimpsed at? Sweet.... It'll be a nice change of pace.
I think that the reason people are freaking out or looking down on ep 100 is that much like a few other things that have happened (Twilight's ascension to an Alicorn, Discord going with Fluttershy instead of Pinkie Pie, Derpy's original speaking role, Bab Seed's off-screen Cutie Mark, etc) is that it blows certain people's headcannon out of the water and thus "ruins" the site for them because they now have an official ruling that doesn't jive for them so they have to gripe and try to bring others down to make themselves feel better.
Sadly, as with a lot of things, while the majority of us are excited, the naysayers always talk the loudest.
As for me, I'm just happy the site is still going and doing so strongly. Seriously, how many animated shows (or shows in general) actually make it to 100 episodes these days? It's gonna be awesome!!!
people are against ep 100?
it looks pretty good to me. though I never really paid much attention to the headcannons of fimfiction.
There is absolutely no way Octy can play with that bow. Although I'm more impressed by her ability to play multiple sounds in one bowstroke. And without touching the cello.
You know, some of us are trying to go into this episode cold.
3126128 ...oops.
Wish Vinyl Talked though
Awwww yeah! 9.5!
Name: High Wind.
Gender: Male
Race: Peagasi.
Bio: High Wind was a Pegasus. He was born in Cloudsdale by simple factory workers Cloudy Specks and Dashing Snow. Just like most of his family members he had a coat the same color as the sky and a mane white as clouds. His cutie mark was a white and black flag, indicating his love of racing. He was the oldest child out of two, having a little sister.
For years his family had been nothing but factory workers working at the Cloudsdale Weather Factory, either creating snowflakes, or rainbows, or clouds. High Wind knew this life wasn't for him ever since he was a young foal, and his cutie mark proved it, but he wasn't sure what he wanted to do or become. Luckily his parents were supportive of him, wanting the best for their child. Unluckily both his parents were killed in a factory explosion. He was sent to live with his grandparents (like his sister was) on his mother's side, who were not supportive of his dream. "You were born into a factory family and you will die a factory worker. Just like your parents did." They would tell him. Whenever he spoke of not wanting to become another factory worker, they would work him to exhaustion, hoping to crush his spirit.
One day, while escaping from his grandparents’ house for a few hours, he flew to Canterlot. He had heard of some event held in the castle ground's where hoof-picked Pegasus would race for Princess Luna's entertainment. This event would happen every month, but it was not open to the public. It was a private event that only Luna (and sometimes Celestia) would be able to watch in the castle's garden, yet it was no secret to anypony. After finding an opening in the fence gate that surrounded the garden, he hid in the hedges that were planted in front of the fence and watched. There were five ponies all lined up in a row, dressed in the same dark uniform with Luna's cutie mark sewed on the front. Princess Luna was seated on a throne on the sidelines, watching them from above. She slowly raised her hoof and when she lowered it the ponies flew.
High Wind watched in amazement as the ponies flew at top speed. They only flew a few times around a huge circle, but it was still amazing to him. The way they flew with passion, determination, and speed was like an art. He soon realized that this is what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Every month on the same day he would sneak away from home and watch the ponies (which he later learned were named "Luna Flighters") race. He slowly learned each of the racers names and who won the most, but what he couldn't figure out was how they became the private entertainers for Luna. It wasn't until a year later that he was caught.
He had been watching from his usual spot when he felt a tug on his tail. He was pulled out from the hole with a small yelp by a royal guard. "What are you doing?!" The unicorn guard snarled at him. "Trying to sneak into the castle?" Before the young stallion could explain, a mare's voice spoke for him.
"What is going on, Gleaming Shield?" High Wind looked behind him and saw Princess Luna standing there, looking at them. He would have bowed, had the guard not held him still in magic.
"I caught this one trying to sneak into the castle grounds, Princess Luna." The guard said.
"Is this true?" She asked him, looking at him with no expression. When High Wind explained what he had been doing for the past year, her lips slowly twitched into a smile. "You've been watching from the shadows?" When he nodded she continued. "You do realize that doing such a thing is a high offensive and the punishment is seventy years in the castle dungeons, right?" When he paled she held up her hoof. "But I will let you go, if you join me for dinner."
After that incident High Wind and Luna became close. He learned that to join Luna's Flighters he would have compete in a special race that was held every four years. Many would join, but only a few were chosen. The race was not only about speed, but also who about guts, passion, and determination. He was determined to win the race. Over the four years he trained and visited Princess Luna every time he could escape his home at night. They would talk and joke for hours until the sun came up.
It wasn't long before he fell in love with Luna. He knew she would never fall in love with a regular Pegasus like him, so it came as a shock when she accepted him as a lover. His days were filled with hardship and stress, but his nights were filled with love and passion only lovers could understand. He was content with his life, until the fourth year came.
High Wind had won the race and he knew he showed all of the qualities it took to become a Luna Flighter. All of the stress from his grandparents disapproval, the sting of their words, the sadness from being forced to work a job he hated, would finally pay off. He could quit the job at the factory and finally enjoy life completely.
When he didn't hear his name of those who would become Luna Flighters he felt his heart break before he had a panic attack. Why wasn't he chosen? Why would he have to suffer another four years of stress before he could compete again? He confronted Princess Luna and her words finally broke him.
"You cannot become one of my Luna Flighters because you are my lover. All of the ponies in Canterlot know of our love. If you were chosen it would bring about an uproar. I did not tell you because I did not want to worry you, and...I did not think you would win."
He felt something snap inside of him. He was felt with rage. Rage at his parents dying and leaving him with his grandparents. Rage at his grandparents. Rage at everything. He knew there was only one way to rid himself of this rage. He would have to kill those who brought him pain: his grandparents and Princess Luna.
The next morning, just as the sun rose, he killed his grandparents in their sleep. He didn't bother to clean up their bodies, but he did clean himself up before leaving for the castle. It wasn't unusual for the guards to see him in the castle, but it was strange to see him this early. They said nothing though as he flew into Luna's bedroom, not knowing what he hid under his wing. He stalked up to Luna's bed as she slept. His eyes were dull as he looked down at the Alicorn he had once loved. Slowly he pulled the bloody dagger from his wing and raised it above his head. He felt no sadness as he quickly threw his hoof down, planning to stab her heart, but he did feel the magic aura around his hoof. Luna had awoken and now held him in her magic. The last thing he saw was the pain and betrayal in Luna's eyes before he was hit with a blast from her magic.
He was placed where all the traitors of Equestria were placed at the time: in Canterlot gardens as a statue. All records of him were erased from Equestria records, erasing him from existing. Anypony who mentioned his name would be thrown in jail. Over the years he was forgotten, only being remembered by Luna and his sister who would later give birth to colt. The Luna Flighters were renamed as a Wonderbolt after Luna's banishment and became more about acrobatic tricks rather than racing. One of the Wonderbolt members was Fleet Foot, High Wind's sister's great-great-great-great granddaughter.
(Sorry that it sucks. Tired)
3127392 I heard that cannonly she's mute.
3143865
I know it's a week late, but sincerely congratulations, Ruby. It's simply amazing how you were able to pull all that trivia apparently off the top of your head. And if it's because you knew what to look for, more power to you. I definitely need to see the other stories of the Jadeverse that I simply haven't gotten the chance to look at. Honestly I didn't even see Luna's previous lover prior to Shining Armor until you brought that to light. And it's cool that Fleetfoot is related to High Wind. I wonder if she is related to Luna by blood. I mean, I can't help but say that Luna was definitely not celibate prior to her banishment, but sometimes the loins need to be attended to, just like she copulated with Shining.
Congratulations again.
DanvilleBengal
3152833 Oh woah, thank you. It actually took me like a day to find his freaking name. I kept looking in different stories going, "Where is it?! Is it this one? This one?!" then I finally slowed down and looked at the story that's about Luna's lovers again. xD
I just thought it'd be kinda fun if I made him related to Fleet Foot since she's a real character. I ended up doing the same thing with my OC (kinda) but it was Blueblood. xD
Edit: Annnd I just realized why you said congrats. Pff. xD Thanks again! I really love these contests.