Analyzing Some Suggested Ships · 9:14pm Dec 29th, 2017
I got this from "Parents React To Their Childrens' Coltfriends and Marefriends" by Equestrian Twist, which asks the question of how the parents of the Mane Six would react to some proposed relationships. I decided to answer it here as well, as the question interested me.
Two of these are ones which exist or existed at some point in the Shadow Wars Story Verse (one was abortive, but the other ended in a very long marriage).
Twilight Sparkle/Flash Sentry: The funny thing is that her parents would be perfectly okay with Pony Flash Sentry. He's a respectable Guards officer. They would probably think he was too low-status for Twilight Sparkle, but then most stallions now are, and they wouldn't want her to wind up with some utterly-vapid and spoiled-rotten prince. And of course Shining Armor, from a similar background, married Princess Cadance.
"Well, mom, dad, this isn't exactly the Flash Sentry of whom you've heard ..."
Beacause, of course, this is Humanoid Flash Sentry we're talking about. In Pony form. And you're right in that this has been the most strongly supported relationship ever for Princess Twilight.
I honestly don't know how they'd take her being in love with a hairless ape-creature -- though the portal would change him if he entered Equestria. Presumably into the Pegasus version of him.
They'd have no problem with a Pegasus. That's what Cadance started as, after all.
Pinkie Pie/Cheese Sandwich: I actually think that Igneous and Cloudy would be okay with this. Cheese obviously worships Pinkie, and he's both a really nice guy and a good match for her -- indeed, in many ways one of a very few possible matches for her (normal stallions couldn't keep up with her).
The only problem I see is their weird Amish-like subculture and whatever strange customs might thus appertain. Like the Choosing Stone. A lot depends on how we assume that thing operates. In the SWSV the Choosing Stone is a terminal linked to the Paradise Entity, and it actually works really well at judging compatibility through precognition.
So it would be okay with Cheese Sandwich, and I think so would the Pie Family.
Fluttershy/Big Mac: Who wouldn't like Big Mac as a husband for their daughter? He's strong, brave, honorable and kind. Likewise, who wouldn't like Fluttershy as a daughter-in-law? She's a weirdo, but not in ways the Apples can't tolerate.
The main problem I see with this is that in vanilla canon, each of them have stronger relationships with others. Fluttershy with Discord, and Big Mac with Sugar Belle (and if not with Sugar Belle, then with Cheerilee). Show has very strongly shown both of these pairings to be quite strong.
Rainbow Dash/Soarin: Given that Dashie's parents are totally into the same Pegasus code of honor that motives Rainbow Dash, and that Soarin' himself has never been shown as anything but a brave, honorable nice guy who has a high-status position from the POV of the Pegasus culture, I can't see their problem with it. They'd certainly prefer Soarin' to Quibble Pants. Let alone Zephyr Breeze (*shudder*).
Applejack/Flim: This strikes me as a highly dubious pairing. In canon Applejack despises the Flim-Flam Brothers. Yes, they're obviously some kind of Apple cousins, but if she knows this it would only make AJ despise them all the more, because they've betrayed the Apples and the code of honor for which the family stands.
And Granny and Big Mac would feel the same way about them. So would AJ's parents, if they were still alive to express their emotions. They'd all be worried that Applejack -- who is extremely honorable and good and would take love very seriously -- would be utterly taken advantage of by FLim. Which, if he did, would make AJ and all her close kin deeply hate him (probably her kin even more than her, as AJ isn't all that good a hater).
Honestly, since the Season Seven finale, I think that if I was to pair AJ with any canon character, it would be Rockhoof. AJ hero-worships him and he obviously respects her. Didn't you notice the quietly-happy looks she kept giving him? Or the way he seemed impressed that somepony as small as her could keep up with him as a hero?
The main problem with Rockhoof of course is that he's a Fish Out of Temporal Water. But I think that his culture isn't that incompatible with the Apple ways. Heck, I wouldn't be at all suprised if some early Apples were members of the Helm -- or if Rockhoof was personally an Apple ancestor.
Rarity/Capper: I don't know ... he's obviously a rogue but a reformed one. At least he came through in the end. I think they'd reserve judgement, being afraid that Capper would wind up treating her caddishly, but hoping that he turned out to be nicer than he seemed.
This love affair is sort of possible as Rarity obviously found him attractive. But then, Rarity finds a lot of males "attractive." That doesn't mean she's in love with them.
Also, Rarity is very obviously more seriously attracted to someone else. Spike. An attraction that the Show has depicted as increasing over years of time.
Who is of another species, but then again, so is Capper. (IMO, Rarity is something of a xenophile). While Spike is now too young, he's getting older. Also, Spike actually is high-status, and destined to be wealthy.
But Rarity and Spike haven't really consummated or pledged anything. So either of them could wind up with someone else. So I guess it's possible.
So what do you all think?
Have you become more accepting of Sugar Mac?
4762055
I think it originally came out of left field (literally, considering Sugar Belle's likely radical politics), but -- once started -- it's certainly plausible. There's no particualar reason why Big Mac and Sugar Belle wouldn't like one another.
4762061
Got it. Do you still dislike Hard to Say Anything that much?
4762067
It's still kind of a stupid story. Not just because of pairing Big Mac with Sugar Belle, but because of all the stupid things both Mackie and the CMC do in it.
The question is whether they'd believe her...
4762086
Glorious.
A nice summary of family reactions. I would add that the comics seem to be shipping Rockhoof and Meadowbrook, but you may not care about comics.
4762086 If you've got one of those mini-fics compilation stories, you should add this to that.
After Viva Las Pegasus, I don't the Flim-Flam brothers aren't completely crooked. After all the Squeezy did do what it was said to do. Only after it failed due them turning off the controls, did they really started to go full con artist. After the whole thing with Gladmane, and from what I understand the whole incident with Maren, the brothers do value family. Oddly if Flim and Applejack got together, He would be very good for advertising Sweet Apple Apples and Apple products. However Applejack would have to ride herd to cut out his impatience. I don't think he would directly screw her over, since he didn't do so for Silver Shill or even Gladmane until the latter was proven to be tricking him.
4762168
Those are good points. And, well, even the thing they did at the end of Viva Las Pegasus was not a con in and of itself. They promised ponies exactly what they would get—an empty stage. There were no lies there, no tricks, no falsehoods, just lots of gullible ponies willing to pay for literally nothing. I'm not terribly happy with that, mind, but on the other hand, any judge worth their salt would throw that case out.
Flim and/or Flam could be a great addition to any business, once they start getting over their greed and impatience and believe in their own worth.
If you take a close look, they seem to be undergoing their own character development. First they had a legit good idea but sabotaged themselves through overconfidence and rapaciousness. Then they went with a full-blown lie, which blew up in their faces once it got exposed. Then they tried what seems like good, honest work for a guy they thought was their friend, and got taken advantage of.
So yeah, maybe they need a shot at, if not redemption, then at least guidance. They're not even a Trixie or a Starlight.
Well, thanks for reminding me of that CheesePie wedding fic that I want to continue but I'm just a little too distracted with a bigger thing I have.
Anyway, I think the only Pie that wouldn't be okay with that relationship is Limestone, while the others just roll with it regardless of their feelings on Cheese. Flip that around to Cheese's family reacting to Pinkie... well, at least in my version his mom would scold Cheese for choosing the wrong kind of mare, his dad would be scared of Pinkie, and... eh, at this point in my 'verse, Tommy's pretty much just used to her, so he'd probably be the only one somewhat okay with it.
As for Rainbow Dash's parents, I think they'd accept whatever boyfriend their daughter brought home, reasoning that her choice would be just the best. If it's Soarin, they'd cheer over her choice of a flyer that's worthy of her, if it's Quibble, they'd cheer over her choice of an intelligent stallion, though a little surprised over him being an earth pony (imagining how this scenario would go down is the most fun, if only for Quibble's reaction to them
).
Although, maybe Zephyr would give them some pause and have them question it.
And Flimjack... no, just no. I absolutely cannot see it happening at all.
4762075
I didn't think the CMC where that stupid in the episode, even adults do silly things over romance sometimes.
4762211
Yeah, I think most of the Pies would be okay with Cheese, if only because Cheese very obviously loves Pinkie and is compatible with her. (This is also why I think the Choosing Stone would affirm Pinkie's judgement). The Pies wouldn't fully understand Cheese, but then this would be for many of the same reasons they don't fully understand Pinkie.
Limestone, as her personality has developed over time, would be upset simply because Pinkie falling in love and getting married would just be another way in which Pinkie was more successful than herself. Bad enough that Pinkie gets to live in the big exciting town of Ponyville, bad enough that she's a successful baker and party planner and national heroine, but love and marriage on top of that? Oh no.
Wow, this logic makes sense for the character, which shows just how severely negative her personality has become. I hope Limestone finds someone or something nice so that she can be cheerful again. I don't think she was this much of a spiteful, envious grouch as a filly.
I think that Dashie's parents would be dismayed if she wanted to marry Zephyr Breeze. Fortunately, I don't think that Rainbow Dash is likely to do any such thing. Just because she kind of accepts him a bit more than she used to does not mean she's in love with him. Or even likes him, really.
Compare her interactions with Soarin' or with Quibble Pants to those with Zephyr Breeze. She is clearly aroused by Soarin's even accidental touch; Quibble Pants she accepts as a Kindred Spirit, clearly enjoys talking with,and respects for his keen intellect and courage in the face of danger. Zephyr, on the other hand, tries to glom onto her and literally climb on top of her, and creeps her out to the point that she shoves him away violently.
So, yeah.
4762193
Good point about Flim and Flam. This is, after all, a series in which private enterprise is seen sympathetically, in delightful contrast to many fantasy worlds in which traders are despised. Note that Filthy Rich is consistently portayed as honorable, and that Rarity and Applejack are each in their own way small businessponies.
Flim and Flam are a cautionary example of dishonest businessponies, who sink into actual con games at one point. And it's shown as being a less successful strategy than the honesty of the Riches, or Rarity or Applejack. Rarity builds her business one shop at a time, while Flim and Flam lose trust and leave a trail of enemies behind them.
It's very possible that Flim and Flam's character arc will see them coming to realize this, and that they will reform and achieve the greatness of which they may be capable. And at that point, Applejack may well respect them.
With Twilight/Human Flash:
I honestly don't know how they'd take her being in love with a hairless ape-creature -- though the portal would change him if he entered Equestria. Presumably into the Pegasus version of him.
For some reason I used to think that he'd come through and stay human, for some reason. Twi takes him to meet her family and starts delightedly telling them about the kids she wants t have with him. Which leads her parents to get an evil vision of anthro pony-spawn.
It all ended with her father Nightlight and Shiny chasing a screaming Flash off, horns down and ready to thrust, and Velvet locking Twilight in her room. "You're grounded until you're sixty, young lady!"
AJ and Flim? Only if he got her drunk and had his wicked will of her. I doubt even if the Apples put him through a shotgun wedding that it'd last. Flim would sneak out the back door at the first opportunity. Rockhoof would work better for AJ. Heck, Zephyr Breeze would work better!
Speaking of which, anyone ever want to see how a Zephyr/Rainbow Dash ship would work? Though I expect t'd be more of a 'Rainbow Dash 'slash' Zephyr's throat', but anyway.
Rarity and Capper? Ihave heard sicko ideas of Capper actually being into Opal. Which lead to Rares taking Capper to the vet for that One Special Trip to protect Opal's virtue.
I begin to suspect that I should just stay away from Derpibooru.
Heck I've had some people suggest I get Ardi together with Fluttershy despite her making it clear in the story that she didn't like him romantically!
4762086
I love this. I like the idea of Twi and Shiny's parents being burned out on the weirdness to the point where nothing fazes them much any more.
Makes me wonder how Pinkie's parents would react to anything bizarre after raising her.
4762305
Especially with the recent example of Starswirl and Stygian. "Once a crook, always a crook" and all that.
4762339
I actually think Zephyr and Rainbow would be terrible for one another. Zephyr puts on cool airs to distract both his listeners and himself from his crippling insecurity. Rainbow knows that now. As long as he acts like, well, her, she won't respect him.
There's also the factor of this possibly being about Rainbow being Fluttershy's friend as much as anything. Zephyr looks up at his big sister, but he also resents her at least a little bit. "Winning" Rainbow Dash could be another way to validate himself compared to Fluttershy.
I've seen him shipped with Tree Hugger a lot. She's so weird he doesn't feel out of place, and being around her is so relaxing he begins to feel more content with himself. The downside here is that hardly anyone seems to think about what Tree Hugger gets out of this relationship.
4762900
I've seen him shipped with Tree Hugger a lot. She's so weird he doesn't feel out of place, and being around her is so relaxing he begins to feel more content with himself. The downside here is that hardly anyone seems to think about what Tree Hugger gets out of this relationship.
Wow, that's one of the more bizarre MLP ships I've heard of. As for what Tree Hugger gets from it -- free mane stylings? Lots and lots of nookie? Your guess is as good as mine.
4762086
Your little vignette is utterly hilarious.
4762148
I didn't know that the comics did, but that makes sense. Big, honorable Rockhoof, and the utterly-kindly Meadowbrook. Hmm, I wonder if the two of them were married? Meadowbrook is the one member of the Pillars whom we know to have left descendants ...
4762168
The comics hint at this by having Granny Apple help Flim and Flam get together after their quarrel over Madam Librarian.
4762943 It's not a bad guess, I could see those two being married. The pillars all come off as a lot older than the Mane 6 ever did.
Also, again according to the comics, Stygian also left descendants.
4762339
I wonder just how cross-species breeding works in the Ponyverse. It's probably possible across certain species boundaries, more so than in the real world, because in the myths on which the Ponyverse was based it was definitely possible.
It's generally assumed that Discord could breed with a Pony because of his chaos magic. In the SWSV, Fluttershy's half Changeling Royalty, so she could if necessary change herself to the appropriate form (hmm, now I'm envisioning Fluttershy Shifting into the form of a Draconequus).
Obviously, this isn't a problem if we ship her with Big Mac instead.
Likewise, I assume that Dragons can breed with Ponies, because I have Spike and Rarity have Kirin offspring. Did I mention how glad I am Spike's going to finally get his wings in vanilla canon?
Notably, crossbreeding is also an issue with Rarity x Capper. And there's less reason to assume that fertility is possible, as while there are legends about horse-dragon hybrids, there are none as far as I know about horse and humanoid cat people hybrids.
I'm guessing that Capper would regard Opal much as we would regard an exceptionally-bright lemur. Capper is to Opal as Rarity would be to a real horse from our world.
I don't know that I've ever read a story with Rainbow Dash falling for Zephyr Breeze. This may be because I deeply don't want to read them. I really like Dashie, and Zephyr Breeze is everything Rainbow Dash isn't, and not in the "complement" sense that Quibble Pants is different from her.
I would also tend to think that Applejack and Rockhoof are destined for each other. He might be a bit behind the times but he's pretty much what she'd look for in a mate: a powerful Earth pony who isn't allergic to hard work.
4762935
Those are some perks, I guess. With Fluttershy, there is already an element in place that connects them; they could meet when both visit her, for example, and both of them are the type who might drop in unannounced. Lop did a picture that sums it up pretty well:
derpicdn.net/img/view/2016/8/16/1226479__safe_artist-colon-lopoddity_tree+hugger_zephyr+breeze_annoyed_bedroom+eyes_blushing_boop_exclamation+point_female_floppy+ears_fluffy_male_nose.png
He's not quite sure what she's saying, but it sounds like she's hitting on him, and he doesn't know how to handle that.
Did anyone ever write a Discord/Fluttershy piece where Zephyr Breeze tries to be the overprotective brother? That could be really funny.
4762945
If you want so good Flim-Flam Brother Apples fics, Try Flim, Flam, and the Little Lost Apple Scam by Georg and Three Steps Back by SusieBecca.