How did YOU enter the fandom?

So, in the process of doing an English assignment about writing out a real, personal story that had taught you a valuable life lesson, I came up with this crazy idea for a writing prompt:

How did you enter the fandom?

To start it off, here's mine. (Long read ahead, I was really into it.)

My story took place about one and a half years ago. I recently happened to come across My Little Pony for the first time since it's "Gen 3.5" series, and it had now since moved on to it's "Fourth Generation". Being the kind of kid who used to taunt the show and make fun of it, I at first despised the idea that many other boys my age, known as "bronies" had come to love the show. However, after my little brother somehow managed to bring back a dvd from the library featuring the show, I had no other choice but to watch it. During the show, I realized that it wasn't the same as the show that I had once taunted as a first-grader, but that it had now blossomed into a beautiful series that was set on a single goal: Friendship. The show itself was obviously targeted at young girls, but at the same time, I noticed the things in it that made other boys and even adults become lifelong fans; the lessons that they teach. Now, I know that as I type this, I'm basically describing a story that teaches a lesson within a story that teaches a lesson, but that doesn't matter. What mattered was that well... After watching that dvd, I was immediately hooked on the series. Overall, it teaches vital lessons that everyone should know in life, honesty, loyalty, kindness, happiness (A.K.A. laughter) and generosity. The protagonist of the series, "Twilight Sparkle", ties all of that together with "magic". Even though the overall art and modeling was in a way, "cheesy", it grew on my. Quickly. For the first half a year, I slowly shed the shell that I had built around myself, fearing that I would be the one being taunted and teased now. Once I broke the shell, I realized that there was one thing that the show missed: Bravery. Off all things, bravery was the one that was never represented within the show itself, but as the experience that you carry away with yourself once you watch it. Over time, I began socializing, talking to others about the show. I eventually joined the brony fandom, complete with a "FIMFiction" account, giving me access to much more than the show. The FIMFiction website hosts a massive database of fan-made stories that extend and improve upon the original show, and it shows no sign of slowing down. The final, ultimate move that shattered the last layer of that "shell" that I built around me was when I was invited over to an old friend's house. His name, Jasper. He was an autistic kid who was the son of my old Chinese teacher, and up until then, we often avoided even eye contact. At his house, I noticed that there wasn't much to do, so we had just begun to play on his Xbox instead. As the hours passed, we both began to grow bored. Jasper had brought down his mom's tablet into the living room, so we also began to watch videos on Youtube. As the list of watched videos grew bigger and bigger, I grew bored once again. I took out my phone, and made what became the fatal blow to the "shell". I hadn't realized that I had absentmindedly begun to look at some My Little Pony fanart (seriously, it's cooler than you think.), and apparently, at some point, Jasper noticed what I was doing. Immediately, he jumped up, and said, "Wait, you like MLP too?!" Now, MLP is just an abbreviation used for "My Little Pony", and I had also known the acronym. At the sound of his exclamation, I immediately had a reaction that was equal to, if not surpassing his own. Back at Chinese school years ago, he was the kid who usually sat in the corner, reading a Harry Potter book. From that, I knew that he liked stories of that genre. I also knew that certain "seasons" of MLP were in a way, very similar to the Harry Potter series. Once we both realized that we were fellow bronies, we immediately became closer friends than we ever had been. All it took was some absentmindedness and bravery. Bravery, a lesson that definitely helps in making friends. What's the point of ever having those values, honesty, loyalty, etc. in you, if you never have the bravery to ever use them? If I had never had the bravery to even attempt to chip away that "shell" I had made, then I'd likely be one of the loneliest people at school. But instead, with the increasing bravery that I had built within me, I had ultimately destroyed the shell, and today, I am now a proud member of the Brony fandom, and loving it.

Comments

[CupcakeSprinkles]

Wow.
Because I homeschool, I was a lot more ok with being what I want, so at first I thought 'ugh, another stupid girly tv show my sister's gonna binge watch' but after watching it, I thought it was good, I watched more and then here I am, a brony.

A lot less interesting story than yours.