History Heartwarming / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicSeason3

** In a meta sense, this pretty much eviscerates the idea that Rainbow Dash abuses Scootaloo (Called [[MemeticMutation Scootabuse]]) while canonizing the opposing idea (Called Scootalove), which itself is heartwarming.

** In a meta sense, Rainbow Dash frequently is thought of as a case of missing or abusive parents. It's nice to see her spend time with (presumably) her father.
*** Also meta: the revelation of her father spawned some heartwarming fanart of him and Firefly (often depicted by fans as Dashie's mom).

-->'''Celestia:''' You've come such a long, long way
-->And I've watched you from that very first day
-->To see how you might grow
-->To see what you might do
-->To see what you've been through
-->And all the ways you've made me [[SoProudOfYou proud of you.]]

-->'''Twilight''': It worked! It worked! Oh, I'm so happy you're back to normal! Now we need your help!
-->(Twilight and Fluttershy sing to Rainbow, telling her to help Rarity)
-->'''Rainbow''': Uh, what just happened?
-->'''Twilight''': There's no time to explain, but we need your help. Applejack's trying to make dresses!
-->'''Rainbow''': Say no more!
-->(Rainbow sings to Rarity, telling her to help Applejack)
-->'''Rarity''': (gasps) Oh my, what a terrible dream I had. ''Or, maybe I'm still having it.''
-->'''Twilight''': Rarity, Pinkie Pie is about to lose the apple farm. We need Applejack's help!
-->'''Rarity''': Lose the apple farm? Well we can't let that happen, now can we?
-->(Rarity sings to Applejack, telling her to help Pinkie)
-->'''Applejack''': Yee-haw! Now that's more like it, what's next?
-->'''Twilight''': The townspeople are furious, we need the old Pinkie Pie back.
-->'''Applejack''': I'm on it, I know just the thing.
-->(Appleack sings to Pinkie, telling her to cheer up the ponies in the town)

-->'''Pinkie Pie:''' Come on, ponies! I wanna see you SMILE!!\\

* Princess Luna's role in the episode. Part of the job of the Princess of the Night is to protect Ponies from their own nightmares.

** A subtle example that's also in-universe: Rainbow Dash's face when Scootaloo finally spills the beans. - she's ''visibly'' touched at that moment, almost as if to say "Wow, I had no idea." and it makes you wonder if she's been secretly hoping for this the whole time herself.

** Although it may be HarsherInHindsight, as a Season 4 episode hints that Scootaloo may be a cripple.

A friend will be there to help them see]]'']]

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[https://youtu.be/2cjAOJ5qRWA A true, true friend helps a friend in need\\

* [[https://youtu.be/2cjAOJ5qRWA "A True True Friend."]] If there's one song in the entire series distills [[ThePowerOfFriendship the message of the show]], its this one. It's even the closing credits for the episode!

A true friend will be there to help them see]]'']]

-->'''Entire population of Ponyville:''' PINKIE!!!

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/magic_hug__by_jordila_forge_d5vcyov.png]]

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GJ3FDYPxw4k "True True Friend."]] If any one song in the entire series distills [[ThePowerOfFriendship the message of the show]], its this one. It's even the closing credits for the episode!

[[folder: The Crystal Empire Part 1]]

[[folder: The Crystal Empire Part 2]]

[[folder: Too Many Pinkie Pies]]

[[folder: One Bad Apple]]

[[folder: Magic Duel]]

[[folder: Sleepless in Ponyville]]

[[folder: Wonderbolts Academy]]

[[folder: Apple Family Reunion]]

[[folder: Spike at Your Service]]

[[folder: Keep Calm and Flutter On]]

[[folder: Just For Sidekicks]]

[[folder: Games Ponies Play]]

[[folder: Magical Mystery Cure]]

* Baby Applejack. ''[[http://derpibooru.org/189329 BABY. APPLEJACK.]]'' [[MostWonderfulSound And she]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlbeQxBBrJE talks]] too!

* Babs defending her new friends from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon is both this and a MomentOfAwesome.

** On Rarity's side of the exchange too. [[CrowningMomentOfFunny This gem on its own was able to buy an industrial strength dryer.]] The other gems, despite being large, could not buy anything nearly so expensive. Of the major cast, Rarity and Spike are the only ones that can accurately appraise the value of gems (Rarity being the one who goes around collecting gemstones for her fashion creations, and for Spike a valuable gemstone is a delicious meal). A smaller gem can be worth ''more'' than a large one because its size means it is less likely to have flaws. As an example, a flawless Burmese ruby of the same size as the one given to Spike would, depending upon the number of carats in it, be worth something in the neighborhood of fifty thousand dollars. That's more than some people make in a year and Rarity gave that to Spike without a second thought. Rarity is the element of generosity, and don't you ever forget it.

* This is an unusual one, but when we see Spike's worst fears [[spoiler: it surprisingly isn't that Rarity wouldn't love him, it was being sent away from Ponyville by Twilight forever.]] What exactly makes this heartwarming is that it shows how much he cares about Twilight and all the other friends he's made in Ponyville, despite what some of them do to him. It shows how much he really cherishes Twilight's companionship, and would be upset if she [[spoiler:made him leave.]] Twilight's response is to hug him and [[spoiler:tell him that would never happen]]. The best part is how he smiles and relaxes ''instantly'' at those words.
* Another one for Spike is that [[spoiler: he's actually the one to save the day, not Twilight. And how do they repay him? By putting up a stained-glass window in his honor.]] After two seasons of being the ButtMonkey, including him being completely sidelined in both season finales, the writers finally allow the dragon to have his day.
* A double-whammy in one moment: Spike [[spoiler: refusing to let Twilight find the missing Crystal Heart on her own]] and Twilight [[spoiler: allowing him to come, even though she initially thinks it may ruin her chance of successfully passing her test.]]
** It also shows some nice CharacterDevelopment for Twilight. [[spoiler:Making Celestia proud and advancing in her studies are high priorities for her. ''Lesson Zero'' showed what happens when she believes herself to have failed. Here, there's momentary hesitation and some minor angst.]]
** On a related note to the above: [[spoiler: Celestia explaining to Twilight why she passed the test. There is no mistaking [[SoProudOfYou just how proud Celestia is]] to have Twilight as her student.]]
* A subtle one, but when Twilight first attempts to cast dark magic to [[spoiler:revert the throne room to its appearence in the time of King Sombra]], she struggles visibly for a long time before finally managing it - ''because Twilight has extreme difficulty feeling hate.''

* When Spike [[spoiler: jumps out of the crystal palace]], you hear Rarity screaming as he's falling and see her fainting (without her couch, no less!) While still a scary scene, it's sweet to see that Rarity was terrified of losing her Spikey-wikey, and how much she cares about him.
* After Twilight tells the others [[spoiler: she passed Celestia's test,]] Spike runs up to her and gives her a hug, and in return she nuzzles him.

* [[spoiler:Concerned that Twilight is no longer answering his calls, Spike hurries after her down the deep, dark stairway and doing so in spite of being told not to follow or help earlier. He ends up saving her from the illusory "Worst Fears" spell.]] After this, Twilight tells Spike that he can accompany her on the rest of their quest [[spoiler: which , pays off tremendously]].
* Shining Armor spends 95% of the two episodes [[spoiler:hugging or holding Cadance, as she is exhausted from keeping up her love barrier.]]

* [[spoiler: The love of all the crystal ponies combined was enough to destroy Twilight's prison, obliterating the hate-crystals surrounding her and allowing her to attain crystal form. And the joyful look on her face when she realizes that Spike succeeded.]]

** [[spoiler: Although it may be HarsherInHindsight, as a Season 4 episode hints that Scootaloo may be a cripple.]]
* When Sweetie Belle again suggests they tell Applejack, both Applebloom and Scootaloo say no. What does Sweetie Belle then suggest? Rarity. The sisters truly have come a long way since 'Sisterhooves Social'. She then suggests Twilight, [[spoiler: who she once referred to as "Auntie Twilight" in the comics, showing how much Sweetie respects her sister's friends]].

* The ending shows [[spoiler:Babs [[HeelFaceTurn finally becoming friends with the CMC]] and says she's going to spread the Cutie Mark Crusaders to other "blank flanks" in Manehattan.]]
** Even more touching because [[spoiler:Babs is the first antagonist since Nightmare Moon to be redeemed.]]
** The group pose they have after [[spoiler:inducting Babs as the [[SixthRanger fourth Crusader]]]]. Not only is it adorable, [[spoiler:Babs looks so ''genuinely'' happy.]]
** During [[spoiler: Babs' initiation, she's clearly blushing and [[TearsOfJoy on the verge of tears.]]]]
* [[spoiler:Babs defending her new friends from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon]] is both this and a MomentOfAwesome.
** [[spoiler: Made more heartwarming when you realize that when Babs first came to Ponyville, it was to escape the constant bullying from Manehattan, so her self-esteem must have been ''cripplingly'' low. Now that she does have three little fillies who ''aren't'' judgmental that she's a 'blank flank' and love her just the way she is, she finally found the confidence to stand up for both herself and those that she calls her friends.]]
* [[spoiler: The CMC, after learning about Babs's bullying troubles in Manehattan, immediately abandon their revenge plan and desperately try to make amends. They do so by pushing Babs out of the way and becoming the victims of their own prank.]]
** [[spoiler:When Babs sees that the CMC saved her, she ''immediately'' drops all bullying pretense and is genuinely grateful and remorseful.]]

* [[spoiler: The Mane 6 and Spike, in spite of seeing just how powerful Trixie has become and how cruel she can be in her spells, immediately defending Twilight, determined to never let her be banished.]]

* [[spoiler: Trixie's redemption arc coming full-circle as she adds a little spice to Twilight's entertainment for Celestia and the delegates, refers to herself as "The Great and Apologetic Trixie," and asks and receives Twilight's forgiveness and friendship before leaving town in the same manner as Boast Busters.]]
** [[spoiler:Bonus points for being {{Adorkable}} in the process.]]
** [[spoiler:When Trixie follows her apology and Twilight's forgiveness with a LargeHam proclamation, Twilight rolls her eyes, but gives Trixie a smile anyway. Not only is it nice to see Trixie back to her normal hammy self ([[TookALevelInKindness almost normal]]) after spending the episode corrupted by the Alicorn Amulet, Twilight accepts her personality quirks as Trixie just being Trixie, instead of being annoyed by them.]]

* Subtle, but upon discovering that [[spoiler:the Alicorn Amulet corrupts the wielder, the rest of the mane six go from overjoyed at discovering the source of Trixie's new-found power to looking genuinely concerned. Even after all Trixie did, they still become concerned at the realization the Amulet is corrupting her.]]
* Also subtle: [[spoiler:Trixie is willing to lift the barrier to let the beavers out. Even corrupted by the Amulet, Trixie isn't so evil as to torment innocent animals.]]

* [[spoiler:Princess Luna's]] role in the episode. Part of the job of [[spoiler:the Princess of the Night is to protect Ponies from their own nightmares]].
** Scootaloo's reaction [[spoiler: to seeing the former "''Nightmare'' Moon" in her dream is one of relief, not fear. Luna's finally got the acceptance she wanted so much.]]
** Another bit of heartwarming: [[spoiler: After imparting wisdom to Scootaloo in her dream, Luna manifested herself behind Rainbow Dash in the moon to encourage Scootaloo to conquer her fears, and then appears in a later dream to check up on her, just in case]]. Let there be no doubt that [[spoiler: Luna cares about her subjects just as much as Celestia does]].
** Related to the above: [[spoiler:Luna is first seen wandering through the dream, looking around. It's likely she realized she'd entered a nightmare and was searching for Scootaloo to help her and simply didn't reach her before she woke up. She came back the next night ''because'' she saw Scootaloo was having a nightmare the night before and wanted to help her.]]

* Even though it might be a little bit funny, it's also quite sweet seeing [[spoiler:Rarity hugging Thunderlane like she did (partially because of him saving her from falling to her doom).]]

** [[spoiler: Spitfire agrees.]] It makes the fans realize once and for all that there is a ''reason'' she's the leader of the Wonderbolts, and there's a reason Rainbow Dash respects her so much.

* Several bronies breathed sighs of relief when it's mentioned that [[spoiler:Babs is in a new school.]]
** Even better, [[spoiler: Babs mentions that there are two blank flanks that want to join the Manehatten Crusaders.]]

* Although it also ultimately confirms that [[spoiler: Applejack's parents are indeed dead]], it is really heartwarming to [[spoiler: see them [[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/12/applejacks-parents-subtle-nod-in-episode.html appear in the sky as two shooting stars]], knowing that they are still there with their children, even after death]].

* When Applejack [[spoiler: saves Spike's life, from the Timberwolves.]]

* In the end of the episode Applejack tells Spike that [[spoiler: he didn't have to do all of that work for her, to make her think that he's a noble dragon. They already thought he was!]] ''Awww''

* It's a brief moment but when Spike says that Rainbow Dash's [[spoiler: impression of a Timberwolf roar]] was spot on, it cuts to Rainbow Dash hi-fiving Fluttershy, both with the biggest smile on their faces.

* Fluttershy declares she's being so easy on Discord's pranks "Because that's what friends do," and hugs him. Discord is stunned at the idea that Fluttershy truly considers him her friend, [[spoiler:and the end of the episode confirms this was completely genuine]].
-->[[spoiler: '''Discord:''' ''*dumbfounded*'' Oh... Well, I've... Never really had a friend before...]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Fluttershy:''' ''*smiles and holds Discord's hand*'' Well now you do.]]
** [[spoiler:This is also the ''first'' time we actually see Discord smile with absolutely ''no'' malice to be seen. Keep in mind that this is '''[[MadGod Discord]]''' we're talking about. This is the same guy who [[BreakTheCutie broke]] and brainwashed Twilight's friends ForTheEvulz.]]

* [[spoiler:Fluttershy holds Discord's paw at the end of the episode and declares that "he can be a real sweetheart once you get to know him." It's so heartwarming that all the ponies and Spike look away!]]
* Discord (although reluctantly) admitting that [[spoiler:[[TitleDrop Friendship Is Magic]]]].
* A subtle one, but [[spoiler: after tricking Fluttershy into promising never to use the Element Of Kindness against him in exchange for "fixing" Sweet Apple Acres,]] and winning the freedom to do whatever he wants forever, Discord immediately asks Fluttershy to go ice skating with him. He doesn't instantly go on a worldwide rampage of chaos, he doesn't immediately make Ponyville the chaos capital of the world, he doesn't immediately go around making everyone miserable... He asks his first and only friend in the world to have fun with him. Yes, even before he admitted that she had succeeded in reforming him, she had already succeeded in making him better than he was. This is backed up an even ''earlier'' appearance in the scene where he's calling to Fluttershy to join him in water-skiing.

* In the train, it's a brief moment, but when you hear Rainbow Dash saying that "It's a bummer that Spike missed out on all the fun." It shows that she does care about him, and that they do feel bad when he's left out sometimes, [[spoiler:even if, in this case, the Mane 6 went through hell mistaking a tourist for the actual games inspector in "Games Ponies Play"]].

* When Spike's GrowlingGut threatens to expose himself, the pets and the Crusaders to the Mane Six, Angel denies him the opportunity to take the fall by rushing off the train to retrieve his last gem. He feeds Spike half not only so he'll be satisfied for the entire trip home but it also leaves him enough for his cake. [[spoiler:He eats it just before it can go in the cake, though.]]

* [[spoiler:When the inspector declares that the Empire can host the games, amidst the general celebrating you can see Rainbow Dash sweep that same filly into the sky for a huge celebratory hug.]]

* The pure delight the tourist takes in her unexpected tour of the Crystal Empire, except the parts when her claustrophobia kicks in. Then [[spoiler:she makes sure the real inspector picks the city by describing how well she was treated.]]
* Cadance giving Twilight a long-needed method of stress relief, which prevents another lapse of sanity. [[spoiler:No doubt it will be useful when she meets her destiny in the Season Finale]].

* When the announcement that [[spoiler:the Crystal Empire has won the appointment]] is made, the elation of the city is powerful enough to activate the Crystal Heart.
* [[spoiler: Rainbow Dash taking the rap for leaving the real inspector and supposedly blowing the mission. Especially notable since she did so to prevent Twilight from doing so instead, who has a long history of being absolutely terrified of letting down peers.]]

* [[spoiler: As Twilight's friends release the full power of the Elements of Harmony on Twilight, all of them start to panic, ''except for Twilight'', who closes her eyes and smiles. She trusts so much in the love of her friends that she knows nothing that's happening in that moment is going to hurt her.]]