Well, here goes nothing! I told you I would discuss that weird video I posted on Monday on Wednesday. Well, it's Wednesday! And I am now here to tell you that I am a Brony. Or Pegasister, but I prefer Brony, since it rolls off the tounge better.
So, once upon a time, I happened to turn on the television to find a bunch of multi-colored ponies lecturing on how to be a good friend. Ultimately, I wasn't impressed. However, as luck would have it, I stumbled upon its TV Tropes page (Warning, that site will make you read everything concerning any game you've played or show you've watched) and began to read some of the entries. Wait a second, I thought to myself. There's no way My Little Pony has Crowning Moments of Awesome!
So I ventured to the internet to discover more about these candy-colored ponies that apparently I had misjudged. Much to my surprise, they were all available on Youtube. And so began my marathon watching of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
So, at first, I was afraid this song was going to ruin the show for me, but I was surprised. Not only was it catchy, it also spoke the truth: Giggle at the Ghosties, and they do disappear! More importantly, I love how Twilight (the purple unicorn) goes, "Tell me she's not." And Rarity, (the white one) "She is." It's so deadpan, and totally in character for all of them. That's what drew me in.
The characters were well-developed, yet there was room for improvement for all of them. Each episode dealt with something each character went through, whether it be pride, dealing with a jerk-friend, or standing up to bullies, and at the end, Twilight notes what's she's learned on friendship. In the first season anyways. The second season brought the Mane Six (the main cast) into the friendship report fold.
While it may sound cheesy, part of the beauty that is this show is that the episode writes the lessons, not the other way around. You're not hit repeatedly over the head with "BE NICE TO EVERYPONY!" Instead, you're shown it, and you can even glean lessons that aren't even outright stated in the episode.
At the time of my emerging love for the show, my current roommates weren't being the very best friends to me. They were ignoring me, and any interaction we had felt forced. While they say they didn't mind me hanging out with them, I just kept getting vibes that I was very much unwanted. And because of this show, I realized that they weren't being good friends to me.
I remember watching episode after episode, watching as Twilight and her friends grew closer together while my own relationship drifted apart. I became jealous of multi-colored ponies that didn't exist. Here they were, sticking up for each other, learning to overcome their own personality differences and remain friends in spite of that, learning that something just can't be explained, but that doesn't mean it's not real. And I wanted to get sucked into my screen, into the world of Equestria, where Friendship is Magic. Because there, at least, I would be able to have true friends, not fair-weather ones (no, literally. After Christmas break, it was like my "Free Trial of Friendship" expired).
Eventually, my drama filled life reached a boiling point, and things just...were never the same after that. However, my final story concerning Friendship is Magic hits really close to home.
So, I had finally caught up with the show and was now waiting each week for the next episode to appear somewhere on Youtube. I had learned of the Brony community, and how they were rapidly expanding, and how some people just didn't understand how fully grown men would be watching a show made for little girls. And finally, my birthday rolled around. This was my first birthday away from home, and I hoped that things with my roommates would finally reach a happy conclusion. At first, things seemed that way. My car was stuffed with old Statesmen (my college newspaper), my presents buried alive somewhere in there. It was like I had my friends back, just like we had been at the beginning of the year.
But it didn't last.
I had requested that the two roommates in question meet up with me and my friends later that evening at the mall to do girly stuff for my birthday. On this same day, my birthday, a certain episode of Friendship is Magic aired, called "Party of One." It told the tale of how Pinkie Pie, a certain pink, bouncing pony I instantly latched onto and considered my Equestrian double, invited her friends to a party, only to have them each reject her offer. Becoming suspicious, she forces Spike, Twilight's baby dragon/assistant/little brother to fess up on why her friends now hate her. And then, this happened.
(As a side note, Pinkie's full name is Pinkamena Diane Pie. There was a flashback when she was a filly. Apparently, she has naturally straight hair.)
When Pinkie's mane deflated I knew exactly how that felt. I knew exactly what Pinkie Pie was going through. Allow me to clarify: Pinkie's life revolves around having parties and making ponies smile. To have that taken away from her, by her best friends, is pretty much tell her she has no point to exist. And I'm very similar in personalty to Pinkie (seriously, ask any of my friends). And to be rejected by the people who are supposed to like you no matter what...I bonded with Pinkie in this moment. I knew there was a reason I liked her so much.
Oh yeah..This happens too. Totally a show for little girls, right?
Luckily, for everyone involved, Pinkie's friends were just throwing her a surprise party, and they weren't disowning her. And at the end of that episode, I thought that, just maybe, my roommates would pull through and show their true colors.They did.
At the mall, having a grand old time, my friend receives a text from one of my roommates, saying that they aren't going to come. It's too cold to wait for a bus. I knew that it was not too cold with a jacket on, and I knew they had plenty of jackets. It was an excuse. An excuse to stay way from me. I asked why they hadn't told me that they weren't coming but I didn't care about that. I cared that on my birthday, of all days, they chose to avoid me and not celebrate with me. That was the final nail in their coffin.
Luckily for me, ponies helped me find who my true friends were and are. I even made a friend because of this show (granted we had a lot of interests in common already, but this was the point that we both excitedly gushed over). (You know who you are ;) ) I feel the need now to sign this off via Twilight Sparkle and her friendship reports.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I learned that friendship truly is magic. If you don't know who your true friends are yet, keep looking. They are the people that make you better, that make you want to be better, and will be willing to be a shoulder to cry on should you need it. Nothing about you will turn these true friends away. You will always find a way back to each other, no matter how much time has passed. As long as you have these people, you can never fail, and you will always find happiness.
Your Faithful Student,
Janessa
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