(spoilers ahead) Season 7 finale -after the fact-

These are my thoughts on the last two episodes of season 7 of MLP.
Since some things happen that kinda relate to my story, I thought it would be a fun thing to do. Be aware of the fact that I won't discuss everything that happened; I just want to point out the connections (or lack thereof) between my story and the episode canon.

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This'll need a bit of background.
Honestly part of the motivation to write my current fanfiction and kinda what started it all was actually to try and create a personality for Starswirl no one had seen before. After hearing reviews time and time again from different members of the brony analysis community, all usually unanimously concluding that "WE NEED MORE STARSWIRL (but we're probably not gonna get it)", I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I had gone through a phase of reading through different MLP comics in the playstore (unfortunately only previews. So I could never see the end of an issue. This sounds really weird.... but let me explain.... I'm broke. I took whatever I could get )

I read one comic in particular that actually featured Starswirl at one point. He was goofy, bubbly, scatterbrained -- an elderly male Pinkie Pie, if you will.
In my mind it didn't really fit him. So I decided to give Starswirl a sort of Jayfeather-esque edge. Warriors fans will understand what I mean.
Yet, I didn't want him to be irredeemably grumpy and just a plain sourpuss and whatnot, so I planned out some things with his character. I would say more, but we haven't quite reached that point.

So, knowing the little grumpyboi Starswirl is, I was super excited to see what Starswirl's personality would be, and was NOT disappointed. His character basically matched the one I'd written out for myself. Headcanon confirmed

Sadly the events that occurred in the episode, and especially the reveal that Celestia and Luna were more like Starswirl's students, kinda chewed up my headcanon and spit it out. Again... you'll have to see what I mean ;w;
In my mind Starswirl is only a couple years older than Celestia, but their friendship is one of equals, not mentor/apprenticeship.

Despite the canon failing to cooperate with my story, I enjoy that kind of continuity: Starswirl to Celestia, Celestia to Twilight, Twilight to Starlight.
Pretty cool. Not AT ALL what I had in mind, but cool.

So Starswirl is honestly one of my favorite characters in the show now, and I have to say the majority of this affection is contributed by the fact that he's a character in my story. I've gotten to know him in my own way and it's sooo amazing to see what he's like in the show. Because of this, and knowing my own version of Starswirl's backstory, I was able to excuse much of his grumpy scenes throughout the show, since it's his personality, and my story provides redemption. The show contributes to the Jayfeather personality though, where redemption actually had to be achieved through Starlight's example.
But it's good enough.
All in all, I'm super glad this episode happened, and I'm sure I'm not alone~~