History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E10SpikeAtYourService

** DistressedDude: The main pivot of the plot is Spike acting as one when the timberwolves first appear at the start of the episode.

** Applejack's acting is so bad that Rarity [[LargeHam herself]] tries to give her acting lessons. She runs out of time so Applejack has to perform in her basic manner.

* [[SavageWolves Savage Timberwolves]] attack Spike.

** Rainbow Dash's love of reading is further expanded upon from [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E16ReadItAndWeep "Read It and Weep"]]; she has decided to try her hoof at penning a book of her own. Said book is about [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E7WonderboltAcademy an awesome flier who]] [[HerCodeNameWasMarySue becomes captain of the Wonderbolts]].

* CodeOfHonor: According to Spike, and with Twilight to back him up, it is the sworn duty of every dragon to follow the Dragon Code and serve the one who saves their life until the end of their days. Seeing how dragons tend to have a long lifespan...

* CodeOfHonour: According to Spike, and with Twilight to back him up, it is the sworn duty of every dragon to follow the Dragon Code and serve the one who saves their life until the end of their days. Seeing how dragons tend to have a long lifespan...

[[caption-width-right:350:He will serve you... for the rest of your life! [[StopHelpingMe May Celestia have mercy on your soul]].]]

* StopHelpingMe: In-universe example; Applejack is too nice to say it outright, but it's there. Even if Spike weren't making a mess of things, she's uncomfortable with the servitude and doesn't like friends feeling like they owe her for something.

The move Rainbow Dash uses to knock down the rock tower is reminiscent of the "karate kick" she used to chop down a row of trees in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E6SleeplessInPonyville "Sleepless in Ponyville"]].

* CallBack: The move Rainbow Dash uses to knock down the rock tower is reminiscent of the "karate kick" she used to chop down a row of trees in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E6SleeplessInPonyville "Sleepless in Ponyville"]].

* [[SavageWolves Savage Timberwolves]] attack Spike.

* [[EverythingsWorseWithWolves Everything's Worse with Timberwolves]]

* BizarreAlienBiology: The creature made out of sticks and twigs needs to breathe through its throat?

* MamaBear: Applejack is recognized as the Mane Six's TeamMom, so it's no surprise she's ready to do whatever it takes to protect Spike. Judging from her surprised expression when she see them forming the King Timberwolf, she didn't know they could regenerate, and yet she willingly used potentially lethal attacks on them.

* MamaBear: Applejack is recognized as the Mane Six's TeamMom, so it's no surprise she's ready to do whatever it takes to protect Spike. Judging from her surprised expression when she see them forming the King Timberwolf, she didn't know they could regenerate.

* AnthropomorphicZigZag: The timberwolves are mostly animalistic in nature but have a few quirks for RuleOfFunny, such as one giving an AsideGlance before it falls and crashes after losing its legs, or when [[spoiler:the King Timberwolf starts choking, it pauses and holds up a "claw" in a classic "one moment, please..." fashion]].

* BadassInDistress: Applejack plans to stage this to end Spike's perceived debt to her. [[spoiler:Then it happens for real...]]

* BizarreAlienBiology: The creature made out of sticks and twigs [[spoiler: needs to breathe through its throat?]]

** The timberwolves' bad breath the main things that tips Spike off to the Mane Six's act, as well as [[spoiler:what indicates the arrival of the real deal]].
** The rock tower. [[spoiler:Applejack and Spike use its rocks to fight the timberwolves during their second attack, and Applejack's leg is trapped under one of the rocks]].
* ClippedWingAngel: [[spoiler:Shortly after the timberwolves merge together into one giant entity, Spike tosses a small pebble down its throat, [[AntiClimax and it promptly "chokes" to death and falls apart.]]]]

* DamselInDistress: {{Discussed|Trope}} when Rarity tries showing Applejack how to act like one; {{Invoked|Trope}} with Applejack's plan to be one in order for Spike to fulfill his perceived debt to Applejack; and PlayedStraight when [[spoiler:Applejack becomes one once the King Timberwolf shows up]].

* DavidVersusGoliath: The way [[spoiler:Spike defeats the King Timberwolf]] is a literal version of this trope.; all it takes is one rock in the right place.

* FusionDance: [[spoiler:Three shattered timberwolves combine into a single one, with material drawn in from the Everfree Forest for additional mass]].

** Rainbow Dash demonstrates a previously unmentioned skill at timberwolf impressions. They're realistic enough to frighten Fluttershy, and [[spoiler:attract actual timberwolves]].

* MamaBear: Applejack is recognized as the Mane Six's TeamMom, so it's no surprise she's ready to do whatever it takes to protect Spike. Judging from her surprised expression when she see them forming [[spoiler:the King Timberwolf]], she didn't know they could regenerate.

* NonStandardCharacterDesign: [[spoiler:The King Timberwolf is Flash-animated, unlike the normal timberwolves in this episode, but is visibly made of multiple individual components joined together, rather than appearing to be a single seamless object. Like the ConspicuousCG, this might have been intentional because of how strange it is and how it was created.]]

* PullingThemselvesTogether: Timberwolves have this ability after they have been blown apart. [[spoiler:They can even combine into an aggregate form]].

* WeaksauceWeakness: [[spoiler:Spike defeats the King Timberwolf by tossing a pebble down its throat. It chokes and falls apart]].

* SuperOCD: Twilight is so focused on getting her reading done that Spike's announcement that he's leaving her service bounces right off. Later, Applejack instantly gets her attention by moving an ink well ever so slightly out of place.

-->'''Rarity:''' [[SarcasmMode How ever did you come up with]] [[LampshadeHanging that ingeniously woven, intricate plot line]]?\\

* WhenTreesAttack: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin timberwolves are wolves made of timber]].

-->'''Rainbow Dash:''' Bad news: he actually ended up building the whole rock tower. Good news...\\
''({{beat}})''\\
'''Rainbow Dash:''' [[ThisIsGonnaSuck I've got a rock tower to knock down]]...

* MobstacleCourse: When Spike is chasing after the balloon he has to avoid townsponys.

* FandomNod: After Spike and Applejack strike up a deal to stop getting themselves into mortal peril, Applejack extends a hoof and Spike sticks out an open hand as if to shake on it. He quickly realizes he can't shake hands with Applejack, because [[FurryReminder she has none...]] So he makes a fist and they brohoof.

->'''Spike:''' Twilight, Applejack just saved my life from horrible, dragon-eating Timberwolves.\\

Twilight Sparkle is busy cramming for Princess Celestia over the weekend, giving her faithful assistant Spike plenty of free time to do whatever he wants... if only Spike had anything better to do. A nearby Twinkling Balloon ride seems promising, but Spike accidentally sets the balloon loose and sends it floating away. By the time Spike catches it, he finds himself deep in the Everfree Forest and chased by Timberwolves. Just as the wolves close in to gobble up the baby dragon, Applejack (who's there to investigate the balloon) heroically steps in and smashes the wooden wolves to pieces.

ThePlan is to set up a fake Timberwolf attack where Applejack pretends to get her leg stuck between some rocks so Spike can free her. Unfortunately, Spike sees right through their makeshift Timberwolf puppet... until a pack of real Timberwolves show up. Applejack easily smashes these wolves, only to get ''truly'' stuck under a rock as the wolves reform into one giant monster. Spike springs into action and saves Applejack, finally ending his life debt. Life returns to normal for the two after they promise not to owe each other anything if they ever have to save each other from certain doom in the future.

* AnthropomorphicZigZag: The Timberwolves are mostly animalistic in nature but have a few quirks for RuleOfFunny, such as one giving an AsideGlance before it falls and crashes after losing its legs, or when [[spoiler:the King Timberwolf starts choking, it pauses and holds up a "claw" in a classic "one moment, please..." fashion]].
* AsideGlance: One of the Timberwolves [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lpKW1F5FUXg/UN_PquFghXI/AAAAAAAAAHg/kRJNAgpBDvQ/s1600/vlcsnap-2012-12-29-17h56m21s150.png looks at the camera]] when its front legs come off, right before smashing into the ground.

** Pinkie Pie is wearing a big grin on her face while running away "scared" from a "Timberwolf attack".

* ChaseScene: In the beginning where the Timberwolves chase Spike in the Everfree Forest.

** The Timberwolves' bad breath the main things that tips Spike off to the Mane Six's act, as well as [[spoiler:what indicates the arrival of the real deal]].
** The rock tower. [[spoiler:Applejack and Spike use its rocks to fight the Timberwolves during their second attack, and Applejack's leg is trapped under one of the rocks]].
* ClippedWingAngel: [[spoiler:Shortly after the Timberwolves merge together into one giant entity, Spike tosses a small pebble down its throat, [[AntiClimax and it promptly "chokes" to death and falls apart.]]]]

* CombatPragmatist[=/=]DefensiveFeintTrap: Rather than facing the Timberwolves in a direct fight, Applejack uses the terrain to her advantage by hitting them with whatever she can put her hooves on. Chasing after her can be much more dangerous than facing her one-on-one.
* ConspicuousCG: The Timberwolves are rendered in CG. This might have been intentional to emphasize their strangeness, but nevertheless is jarring. They are also rendered in the blander black-line art style that clashes with their surroudings even more than their CG-ness does.

** AJ shows her skill at launching projectiles with her hind legs, as from "Dragonshy", to shatter the Timberwolves.

** The [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E11FamilyAppreciationDay Timberwolves]] appear again.

** Twilight's [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E11WinterWrapUp pitiful crafting skills]] are brought up again as she makes a fake Timberwolf that couldn't fool anyone.

** DistressedDude: The main pivot of the plot is Spike acting as one when the Timberwolves first appear at the start of the episode.

* ElementalEmbodiment: The Timberwolves are animated sticks and branches; they can be shattered, but they'll recover very quickly. Get them very far from the Everfree Forest and they [[WeaksauceWeakness go to pieces at the slightest provocation]].

* FearIsTheAppropriateResponse: Despite being a group of [[ActionGirl Action Girls]] and a fire breathing dragon with NighInvulnerable scales, the Mane Six and Spike's first reaction when facing the Timberwolves is trying to escape rather than fighting them.

* ForgotAboutHisPowers: Spike is a ''fire-breathing dragon''. The Timberwolves are made of wood and many animals are scared of fire. Even if the former aspect wouldn't work because they're not dry wood, the latter should have at least been considered. [[MST3KMantra Oh well.]]

* FusionDance: [[spoiler:Three shattered Timberwolves combine into a single one, with material drawn in from the Everfree Forest for additional mass]].

** Pinkie insists on sporting a fake one during the plan for Spike to "save" Applejack's life from a fake Timberwolf. She looks downright disappointed when she's told to get rid of it.
* GlassCannon: The Timberwolves are implied to be dangerous but they're little more than a collection of random tree junk magically formed into a wolf shape. One good hit will shatter them. That said, it doesn't stop them for very long.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: The real Timberwolves' eyes glow when stalking prey
* GoneHorriblyRight: ThePlan was to for a Timeberwolf to attack Applejack so Spike could save her and nullify his debt. What happened was a ''real'' timberwolf showed up and Applejack was in ''real'' danger.

* GravityIsAHarshMistress: Of the dramatic kind. One of the running Timberwolves, after losing its front legs to an AJ projectile, [[AsideGlance turns to look at the camera]] before falling and collapsing.

** Rainbow Dash demonstrates a previously unmentioned skill at Timberwolf impressions. They're realistic enough to frighten Fluttershy, and [[spoiler:attract actual Timberwolves]].

* TheHunterBecomesTheHunted: The Timberwolves' attempts to hunt Spike and Applejack end very badly for the predators when their prey decides to fight back.

* ImposterForgotOneDetail: Spike can tell that the Timberwolf that Applejack and her friends set up is fake because it doesn't have bad breath like a real Timberwolf.

* NonStandardCharacterDesign: [[spoiler:The King Timberwolf is Flash-animated, unlike the normal Timberwolves in this episode, but is visibly made of multiple individual components joined together, rather than appearing to be a single seamless object. Like the ConspicuousCG, this might have been intentional because of how strange it is and how it was created.]]

* NotQuiteDead: After her first encounter with the Timberwolves, it seems Applejack had killed them (on-screen, no less) until she and Spike leave, and we can see the twigs and leaves start to move and get back together.

* PursuedProtagonist: Spike in the beginning by Timberwolves. While Twilight's cram session lead to this scene, it was this that started the plot.

* SicklyGreenGlow: The Timberwolves' eyes and aura.

** Knowing how easily the Timberwolves can be defeated, they're all bark and no bite.

* StylisticSuck: From Spike's drawing on his Dragon Code card, to Applejack and Pinkie's crude drawings to show how their plans work, to the Mane Six's Timberwolf puppet.

* SuperPersistentPredator: Despite them failing at hunting Applejack and Spike the first time, the Timberwolves are still willing to go after their prey when finding them again. Plus, their regenerative abilities allow them to get back to hunting over and over again.
* TemptingFate: "Come on, Spike. Just because this forest is full of... wild dangerous animals doesn't mean you're going to see one." Cue Timberwolves...

* WhenTreesAttack: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Timberwolves are wolves made of timber]].

* YouNeedABreathMint: How Spike can tell a fake Timberwolf from a real one.

Because Applejack saved his life, Spike insists on helping Applejack around Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack's okay with letting him help for the day--though being a farmhand isn't Spike's strong point, which he quickly proves by clumsily causing more trouble than good. Still, Spike sticks around the farm to fulfill his honorary "Dragon Code" in which dragons must prove their nobility by serving their savior to the end of their days. Spike is reminded that he's still Twilight's assistant, but Twilight's so caught up in her studies that she absentmindedly gives Spike her blessing to stay with Applejack, meaning he's free to "help" the Apple family ''forever''!

Applejack can't stand the messes Spike keeps making of things, but doesn't have the heart to make him think he's not a noble dragon. She and the other ponies do everything they can to keep Spike preoccupied, but they all backfire spectacularly--Spike easily tackles Rainbow Dash's "impossible" task of building a tower of rocks for her to smash through; and Fluttershy's suggestion to simply tell him Applejack doesn't need help makes him find other ways to help her, from scratching her back to breathing. Finally at the end of her rope, Applejack snaps Twilight out of her study-induced trance for help. Twilight comes up with the solution: make Spike truly feel even by saving Applejack's life.

The plan is to set up a fake Timberwolf attack where Applejack pretends to get her leg stuck between some rocks so Spike can free her. Unfortunately, Spike sees right through their makeshift Timberwolf puppet... until a pack of real Timberwolves show up. Applejack easily smashes these wolves, only to actually get stuck under a rock as the wolves reform into one giant monster. Spike springs into action and saves Applejack, and finally ends his life debt. Life returns to normal for the two after they promise not to owe each other anything if they ever have to save each other from certain doom in the future.

** Applejack's acting is so bad that Rarity [[LargeHam herself]] tries to give her acting lessons. She runs out of time, though, and Applejack has to perform in her basic manner.

* BizarreAlienBiology: So, wait, the creature made out of sticks and twigs [[spoiler: needs to breathe through its throat?]]

* ChaseScene

** The Timberwolves' bad breath is one of the main things that tips Spike off to the Mane Six's act, as well as [[spoiler:what indicates the arrival of the real deal]].
** The rock tower. [[spoiler:Applejack and Spike use its rocks to fight the Timberwolves during their second attack, and Applejack also gets her leg trapped under one of the rocks]].

* CodeOfHonour: According to Spike, and with Twilight to back him up, it is the sworn duty of every dragon to follow the Dragon Code and serve the one who saves their life until the end of their days. And seeing how dragons tend to have a long lifespan...
* CombatPragmatist[=/=]DefensiveFeintTrap: Rather than facing the Timberwolves in a direct fight, Applejack uses the terrain to her advantage, hitting them with whatever she can put her hooves on, to the point that chasing after her can be much more dangerous than facing her one-on-one.
* ConspicuousCG: The Timberwolves are rendered in CG. This might have been intentional to emphasize their strangeness, but nevertheless is quite jarring. They are also rendered in the blander black-line art style that clashes with their surroudings even more than their CG-ness does.

** Rainbow Dash's love of reading is further expanded upon from [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E16ReadItAndWeep "Read It and Weep"]]; it seems she has decided to try her hoof at penning a book of her own. Said book is about [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E7WonderboltAcademy an awesome flier who]] [[HerCodeNameWasMarySue becomes captain of the Wonderbolts]].
* DamselInDistress: {{Discussed|Trope}} when Rarity tries showing Applejack how to act like one; {{Invoked|Trope}} with Applejack's plan to be one in order for Spike to fulfill his perceived debt to Applejack; and PlayedStraight when [[spoiler:Applejack ends up being one once the King Timberwolf shows up]]. The main pivot of the plot is Spike acting as one when the Timberwolves first appear at the start of the episode.

* DavidVersusGoliath: The way [[spoiler:Spike defeats the King Timberwolf]] is almost a literal version of this trope.
* {{Determinator}}: Spike is this when it comes to fulfilling his Dragon Code, and it's shown to ridiculous extremes, like [[UpToEleven actually counting every blade of grass (24,567,837 of them) on Sweet Apple Acres]].
* DisproportionateReward: Spike goes a bit overboard in fulfilling his Dragon Code.

* ElementalEmbodiment: The Timberwolves are animated sticks and branches; they can be shattered, but they'll recover very quickly. Get them very far from the Everfree Forest, however, and they almost immediately [[WeaksauceWeakness go to pieces at the slightest provocation]].

** Spike somehow destroys Rarity's pipes ''while trying to wash her plate''.

* FandomNod: After Spike and Applejack strike up a deal to stop getting themselves into mortal peril, Applejack extends a hoof and Spike sticks out an open hand as if to shake on it. Spike quickly realizes he can't shake hands with Applejack, seeing that, [[FurryReminder well...]] So he makes a fist and they brohoof.

* ForgotAboutHisPowers: Spike is a ''[[IdiotBall fire-breathing dragon]]''. The Timberwolves are made of wood and many animals are scared of fire. Even if the former aspect wouldn't work because they're not dry wood, the latter should have at least been considered. [[MST3KMantra Oh well.]]

* FusionDance: [[spoiler:Three shattered Timberwolves combine into a single one, with material drawn in from the Everfree Forest for some additional mass]].

* GlassCannon: The Timberwolves are implied to be quite dangerous, but they're little more than a collection of random tree junk magically formed into a wolf shape. One good hit will shatter them. That said, it doesn't stop them for very long.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: The Timberwolves'.
* GoneHorriblyRight

* HandshakeSubstitute: Spike agrees with AJ to just let rescuing friends be its own reward, and when goes to shake her hoof, pauses a moment before balling his claw into a fist and then bumps fist to hoof.
* HerCodeNameWasMarySue: Rainbow Dash is penning a new novel about a totally awesome pegasus who is the best flier ever and becomes captain of the Wonderbolts.

** The "impossible" tasks that Spike does count as this. That tower of rocks looks rather impressive, many of them are even bigger than Spike himself is and yet he was able to stack them regardless. Or counting every blade of grass on the Apple family farm in less than a day when it normally takes days to count that high. Looks like someone is tougher and smarter than they were letting on.
* HoistByTheirOwnPetard: Rainbow Dash gets Spike to build a tower of rocks for her to knock down, convinced he'd give up well before finishing.
* HonorBeforeReason: Spike throughout the entire episode. Most notably when he insists that Applejack doesn't realize she needs help when she tells him she can't think of any chores for him to do, and then proceeds to help her breathe.

* IdiotBall: Twilight and Spike spend most of the episode passing this to one another, and toward the end, nearly the ''entire cast'' ends up holding an Idiot Ball. (See TheKlutz, EpicFail, ForgotAboutHisPowers, PoorCommunicationKills, etc.)

* ImpossibleTask: Rainbow suggests using one of these to get Spike to quit. Unfortunately, he's [[{{Determinator}} tenacious]] enough to complete them, even counting all the blades of grass in Sweet Apple Acres.[[labelnote:*]]24,567,837[[/labelnote]]

* InsaneTrollLogic: Spike's leap of logic to asserting that maybe he needs to help Applejack think of things that Applejack needs help doing.
* IOweYouMyLife: This episode is all about this trope.

* TheKlutz: Spike, [[CompressedVice despite him usually being reliable and]] [[IdiotBall not being nearly this clumsy in any other episode]]. He regains his normal level of competence once they ''[[SpringtimeForHitler want]]'' [[SpringtimeForHitler him to be a klutz]], [[RuleOfFunny of course]].

* TheLostWoods[=/=]WildWilderness: Everfree Forest, as usual.
* MamaBear: Applejack is recognized as the Mane Six's TeamMom, so it's no surprise she's ready to do whatever it takes to protect Spike, even attacks that would have killed the Timberwolves if they didn't have their regenerative powers... and judging from her surprised expression when she see them forming [[spoiler:the King Timberwolf]], she didn't know they could regenerate.
* MobstacleCourse: When Spike is chasing after the balloon.

* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Spike's [[MundaneUtility magical fire and its "message teleporting" properties]]; for the first time, Spike uses it to retrieve a card from [[{{Hammerspace}} wherever he's keeping it]], and to send it back there after showing it to Applejack. Before this episode, whenever Spike's fire summoned a message, it was always something sent by Princess Celestia.
* NoBigDeal: Apple Bloom states she and the other Crusaders are going to get fitted for water skis. Applejack treats this as if it's an everyday occurrence (which it pretty much is).

* NoodleIncident: Apparently Applejack is writing a novel that's been unfinished for some time. The look on her face when it's mentioned indicates it's probably going to stay that way...

* NotQuiteDead: After her first encounter with the Timberwolves, it seems Applejack had actually killed them (on-screen, no less) until she and Spike leave, and we can see the twigs and leaves start to move and get back together.

* ObsessedAreTheListmakers: Spike takes a scroll from Twilight's stash and makes his own checklist for what to do on a free day. [[SubvertedTrope It isn't nearly as long as one of Twilight's]].

* PoorCommunicationKills: Twilight could have tried talking Spike out of following his Dragon Code if she wasn't so absorbed in her studies. When she finally figures it out later, she seems guilt-ridden by it.
* PullingThemselvesTogether: Timberwolves are revealed to have this ability after they have been blown apart. [[spoiler:They can even combine into an aggregate form]].

* PursuedProtagonist
* RuleOfPerception: After Rainbow Dash knocks down the rock pile, Spike seems to be crushed by a falling boulder. It actually just landed in front of him.
* ShoutOut: As he fulfills Applejack's every request, Spike takes to saying one of the most memorable catchphrases from ''Film/ThePrincessBride''.

* SpringtimeForHitler: A minor one. Rainbow Dash convinces Spike to build a rock tower for her to crash into, thinking he will give up soon after just starting. Needless to say, she underestimated how determined the dragon can be.

* StopHelpingMe: Applejack is too nice to say it outright, but it's there.

* SuperOCD: Twilight is so focused on getting her reading done that Spike's announcement that he's leaving her service bounces right off. Then Applejack instantly gets her attention by moving an ink well ever so slightly out of place.

* ThinkNothingOfIt: Applejack's general attitude to saving Spike's life. It takes her the whole episode to try and get this across to Spike.
* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Rainbow Dash's reaction to Spike actually ''completing'' the rock tower... meaning she's going to have to smash through it.

* WhyDidntIThinkOfThat: Uttered by Applejack after Fluttershy notes that if she was in AJ's situation with Spike, she would have simply told Spike in the beginning that she didn't have anything for him to do. Not that it would've worked; once told there isn't anything left for him to do, Spike starts coming up with ways to help on his own.

Twilight Sparkle is busy cramming for Princess Celestia over the weekend, giving her faithful assistant Spike plenty of free time to do whatever he wants...if only Spike had anything better to do. A nearby Twinkling Balloon ride seems promising, but Spike accidentally sets the balloon loose and sends it floating away. By the time Spike catches it, he finds himself deep in the Everfree Forest and chased by Timberwolves. Just as the wolves close in to gobble up the baby dragon, Applejack (who's there to investigate the balloon) heroically steps in and smashes the wooden wolves to pieces.

The plan is to set up a fake Timberwolf attack where Applejack pretends to get her leg stuck between some rocks so Spike can free her. Unfortunately, Spike sees right through their makeshift Timberwolf puppet...until a pack of real Timberwolves show up. Applejack easily smashes these wolves, only to actually get stuck under a rock as the wolves reform into one giant monster. Spike springs into action and saves Applejack, and finally ends his life debt. Life returns to normal for the two after they promise not to owe each other anything if they ever have to save each other from certain doom in the future.

* AnthropomorphicZigZag: The Timberwolves are mostly animalistic in nature but have a few quirks for RuleOfFunny, such as one giving an AsideGlance before it falls and crashes after losing its legs, or when the giant Timberwolf starts choking, it pauses and holds up a "claw" in a classic "one moment, please..." fashion.

* BadBadActing

* BigDamnHeroes
** Applejack's rescue of Spike.
** In the end, [[spoiler:Spike rescues Applejack]].

* CallBack
** Rainbow Dash's love of reading is further expanded upon from [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E16ReadItAndWeep "Read It and Weep"]]; it seems she has decided to try her hoof at penning a book of her own. Said book is about [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E7WonderboltAcademy an awesome flier who]] [[HerCodeNameWasMarySue becomes captain of the Wonderbolts]].
** The move Rainbow Dash uses to knock down the rock tower is reminiscent of the "karate kick" she used to chop down a row of trees in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E6SleeplessInPonyville "Sleepless in Ponyville"]].

* CombatPragmatist / DefensiveFeintTrap : Rather than facing the Timberwolves in a direct fight, Applejack uses the terrain to her advantage, hitting them with whatever she can put her hooves on, to the point that chasing after her can be much more dangerous than facing her one-on-one.

* ContinuityNod

** Applejack had previously expressed mild exasperation at Spike's gratitude in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E10SecretOfMyExcess "Secret of My Excess"]]. This time she gets an extra dosage.

** Spike's penchant for imagining himself knightly is also seen during his [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E19ADogAndPonyShow "A Dog and Pony Show"]] daydream.
** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E4ApplebuckSeason "Applebuck Season"]] Spike finds the baked bads downright tasty. Maybe there's a reason he expects Rarity to enjoy his strangely gray, unappetizing pie.

* DamselInDistress: {{Discussed|Trope}} when Rarity tries showing Applejack how to act like one; {{Invoked|Trope}} with Applejack's plan to be one in order for Spike to fulfill his perceived debt to Applejack; and PlayedStraight when [[spoiler:Applejack ends up being one once the King Timberwolf shows up]]. The main pivot of the plot is Spike acting as one when the Timberwolves first appear at the start of the episode.
* DavidVersusGoliath : The way Spike defeats [[spoiler: The King Timberwolf]] is almost a literal version of this trope.

* EpicFail

* FearIsTheAppropriateResponse : Despite being a group of [[ActionGirl Action Girls]] and a fire breathing dragon with NighInvulnerable scales, the Mane Six and Spike's first reaction when facing the Timberwolves is trying to escape rather than fighting them.

* HiddenDepths

** Arguably, the "impossible" tasks that Spike does count as this. That tower of rocks looks rather impressive, many of them are even bigger than Spike himself is and yet he was able to stack them regardless. Or counting every blade of grass on the Apple family farm in less than a day when it normally takes days to count that high. Looks like someone is tougher and smarter than they were letting on.
** He wouldn't necessarily have to count the individual blades of grass. A much faster way is to do it the way scientists do it: count how many blades are in a certain area of land, say a square foot. Then figure out how many square feet are in a given area, in this case the farm. Finally, use the number of blades in the square foot to estimate the number of blades on the entire farm. It's not quite as accurate as counting every last blade of grass, but it is still a pretty smart way of accomplishing an incredibly difficult task.

* TheHunterBecomesTheHunted : The Timberwolves' attempts to hunt Spike and Applejack end very badly for the predators when their prey decides to fight back.

* TheIllegible: [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TxH0HTG_CpQ/UN_aLOIhIpI/AAAAAAAAAJk/GAmKGlDH_CM/s1600/vlcsnap-2012-12-29-18h14m23s5.png Spike's business card.]] It's so bad that the animators mirrored it horizontally (look closely and you might be able to make out the words "Spike Dragon Code").

* MamaBear - Applejack is recognized as the Mane Six's TeamMom so it's no surprise she's ready to do whatever it takes to protect Spike, even attacks that would have killed the Timberwolves if they didn't have their regenerative powers... and judging from her surprised expression when she see them forming [[spoiler: The King Timberwolf]] , she didn't know they could regenerate.

* NoBigDeal: Applebloom states she and the other Crusaders are going to get fitted for water skis. Applejack treats this as if its an everyday occurrence.
** That sort of endeavor ''is'' an everyday occurrence for the Crusaders.
* NonStandardCharacterDesign: [[spoiler:The King Timberwolf is Flash-animated unlike the normal Timberwolves in this episode, but is visibly made of multiple individual components joined together, rather than appearing to be a single seamless object. Like the ConspicuousCG, this might have been intentional because of how strange it is and how it was created.]]

* NotQuiteDead : After her first encounter with the Timberwolves, it seems Applejack had actually killed them (on-screen, no less!!!) until she and Spike leave, and we can see the twigs and leaves start to move and get back together.

* ShoutOut: As he fulfills Applejack's every request, Spike takes to saying one of the most memorable catchphrases from Film/ThePrincessBride.

** Spike stops the cart by holding the wheels. In other words, he pulled a handbrake.

* SuperPersistentPredator : Despite them failing at hunting Applejack and Spike the first time, the Timberwolves are still willing to go after their prey when finding them again. Plus, their regenerative abilities allow them to get back to hunting over and over again.

* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Rainbow Dash's reaction to Spike actually ''completing'' the rock tower...meaning she's going to have to smash through it.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Averted. The original version had Rarity instead of Applejack (see WhatCouldHaveBeen), but the head writer felt the unicorn came off as a JerkAss so they rewrote it.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: This was supposed to be Rarity's season 3 episode, but the head writer felt that the unicorn came out too unlikable, so it was rewritten with Applejack in her place.

** That sort of endeavor ''is'' and everyday occurrence for the Crusaders.