Line #115 Fanfic/PonyPsychologySeries


1	[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin As its name implies]], [=Saddlesoap Opera=]'s [[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/06/story-pony-psychology.html Pony Psychology]] series delves into the minds and personal problems of the main cast of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', with [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation their own interpretation]] of their more... unstable moments. In order, the series goes:
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3	* '''Fluttershy: Origins''': After the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E26TheBestNightEver Grand Galloping Gala]], Fluttershy reflects upon her actions and how much it reminds her of [[DarkAndTroubledPast her childhood]].
4	* '''Pinkie Pie: Schism''': Rainbow Dash accidentally catches Pinkie Pie in an unguarded moment, discovering an uncomfortable secret -- and as we all know, spilling a secret is the fastest way to lose a friend FOREVER!
5	* '''Rainbow Dash: Dependence''': Dash turns to Fluttershy for help relaxing, but the cure may be worse than the original problem...
6	* '''Applejack: Exposure''': Applejack takes a lot of pride in being honest, but when that honesty extends to sharing ''all'' her feelings, complications quickly ensue.
7	* '''Rarity: Loss''': Rarity may be generous, but all her giving has a hidden cost -- and that's becoming too much to bear.
8	* '''Twilight Sparkle: Spellbound''': As her friends' struggles with their personal problems reaches the breaking point, Twilight learns an AwfulTruth from her mentor, one she must come to terms with if she's to have any hope of helping anyone.
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10	In addition, the series has several side stories:
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12	* '''Alicorns: Blame''': The truth behind the thousand year-schism between the Princesses comes to light, and is considerably more complex than the old fable of "The Mare in the Moon".
13	* '''Ditzy Doo: Muffins''': What is it with Ponyville's walleyed mailmare? Why does she have a unicorn foal? What does her Cutie Mark mean? And why is she so fixated on muffins? Is she an amnesiac CIA agent or something?
14	* '''Trixie: Treasure''': The once Great and Powerful Trixie comes into possession of the means to get back at the residents of Ponyville - but is she ready to pay the price for that vengeance?
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16	A sequel, "Secrets and Lies", has been completed. Set after the end of Season Two, it leads off with a bang when Twilight is forced to kill Topsy Turvy/Screwball in self-defense. Having to hide that from the others leads to problems.
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18	----
19	!!This ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' FanFic contains examples of:
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21	* AccidentalMisnaming: It's revealed that [[spoiler:"Ditzy Doo" is simply a slurred version of the cover name "Desiderata" that Bright Eyes was using when she infiltrated the Griffon Mafia.]]
22	* AesopAmnesia: Pretty much all of the trouble in the first series was caused by Twilight's friends keeping secrets and stumbling over each other's problems, and Twilight learned she needed to be on the lookout for the other Elements' stresses. So, when the sequel has her provoked into vaping another pony and fearing that Discord is trying to escape and weaken the Elements, ''of course'' [[SarcasmMode the best way to handle it is to simultaneously hide it from her friends as much as possible and browbeat them into helping her anyway]].
23	* AmnesiacDissonance: When Ditzy starts to recover her memories, she [[HeroicBlueScreenOfDeath becomes horribly depressed]] when she thinks [[spoiler: she used to be a mob enforcer and a killer.]]
24	* ArentYouGoingToRavishMe: At one point, Rarity assumes that [[spoiler:the Mayor's hints about taking a bribe to turn a blind eye to her unpaid taxes]] mean something entirely different. When she realizes the truth, all her horror and shock at her assumption being proven wrong is directed inward.
25	** Granted, [[spoiler: that was how Big Macintosh got a tax break]].
26	* TheAtoner: [[spoiler:Bright Eyes, who adopted a foal orphaned when she failed to protect her parents from Giovanni's hitpony.]]
27	* AwfulTruth: In ''Spellbound'', the various reveals about [[spoiler:the nature of the Elements of Harmony]].
28	** Averted: WordOfGod claims that [[spoiler: Luna version was a lie and Celestia's is the truth]]
29	* BlackMagic: [[spoiler:Twilight is forced to use Neighcromancy to save Dash's life.]]
30	* BrainwashedAndCrazy: In ''Treasure'', [[spoiler:Trixie uses the glamor of Celestia's Regalia to inflict this upon all of Ponyvile, save for Twilight, Snips and Snails]].
31	* CerebusRetcon: The reason Twilight survived all those AmusingInjuries throughout the series? [[spoiler: The Element of Magic has made her immortal.]]
32	* TheConspiracy: According to [[spoiler:Fluttershy's mother, the Dragons are always out to get them]].
33	%%* DarkAndTroubledPast
34	%%* DarkerAndEdgier
35	* DefeatMeansFriendship: Once Trixie admitted that she'd acted like a world-class jerk because her feelings were hurt, she apologized to Celestia and went back home to learn a new act.
36	* EmpathicWeapon: The Regalia of the Daymare, which is linked to the Elements of Harmony [[spoiler:and really dislikes having its powers abused by the wearer for their own selfish ends]].
37	* EpiphanyTherapy: [[spoiler:How Twilight tries to help her friends in the second half of ''Spellbound''.]]
38	** How Celestia and her royal guard show Twilight she's a living avatar of magic. "Kill her." (Cue horrified Twilight face and cliffhanger ending.)
39	* EvilCannotComprehendGood: In ''Treasure'', Trixie is mystified upon sensing that [[spoiler:Fluttershy would have been just as compassionate towards her ''without'' the Regalia's glamor ''forcing'' her to submit]].
40	* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: In ''Treasure'', Twilight Sparkle is struck by the thought that [[spoiler:Pinkie Pie was finally freed of her depression and made truly ''happy'' by losing her free will]]. It's a sobering thought, and one that makes her [[spoiler:submit to being taken back to Trixie]].
41	* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Stalliongrad might be the most prominent example, that with a royal visit from tsarevna in ''Spellbound'' (and with perfect Russian to boot). Then there are mentionings of Xiao Ma, San Caballo and Puledria.
42	* {{Foreshadowing}}: Each installment foreshadows future events in small ways.
43	* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Twilight telekinetically slaps Rarity in ''Loss''.
44	* {{Glamour}}: In ''Blame'', Nightmare Moon's striking appearance and natural intimidation is explained as the effects of a mantle Luna wore, which originally belonged to the princesses' mother. [[spoiler:Celestia wears one all the time, and its effects are so powerful even Luna can't fully resist its thrall -- something which causes her no end of frustration.]]
45	* GoneHorriblyRight: [[spoiler: Luna wanted to remove the ponies having to [[PaintingTheFrostOnWindows change the seasons and everything themselves]]; the Everfree Forest, the most feared and hated place in Equestria, is the result.]]
46	** [[spoiler: NotQuiteTheRightThing: Even Luna thinks The Everfree was a mistake and should have though through it more.]]
47	* HoistByHerOwnPetard: In ''Treasure'', Trixie eventually learns that [[spoiler:abusing the power of the Regalia caused all her suffering and agony]].
48	* InnocentInnuendo: [[spoiler:Bright Eyes]], when wanting some farrier work done on her hooves, tells Big Mac point-blank "''I want you to nail me''." Big Mac's first response is a JawDrop.
49	* IronicEcho: A dramatic version in ''Origins'': [[spoiler:the last words Fluttershy's mother said to her were an insane scream of "You're going to LOVE ME!"]]
50	* ItRunsInTheFamily: Fluttershy's deepest fear is that she'll turn out [[spoiler:just as insane as her mother. Justified--it's a heriditary disease.]]
51	* KissingUnderTheInfluence: [[spoiler:Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy]].
52	* LastSecondWordSwap: Rarity, upon finding out that [[spoiler:Applejack]] is gay.
53	-->"I'm flattered, but I'm just not interested. Personally, I ''love'' the co– ''come right in! Welcome to Carousel Boutique!''"
54	* LoveTriangle: [[spoiler: Applejack and Fluttershy, for Rainbow Dash.]]
55	* TheMagnificent: Parodied in ''Treasure'', where Trixie is frequently described not just as The Great and Powerful, but in terms suited to her current state, such as The Typical and Commonplace or The Shaky and Anxious.
56	* MalfunctionMalady: Trixie's use of the Regalia of the Daymare to punish Ponyville for the end of her career almost killed her.
57	* MafiaPrincess: ''Muffins'' reveals [[spoiler:Gilda the Griffon]] as one. [[spoiler:By the end, she's implied to be taking over her late Uncle's business.]]
58	%%* MamaBear: Ditzy Doo.
59	* MiddleChildSyndrome: [[spoiler:Trixie had so many siblings that her parents were hard-pressed to care for them all, leaving Trixie feeling neglected and longing to be seen]].
60	* ObfuscatingStupidity: [[spoiler: the ending of Muffins clearly implies that Bright Eyes/Ditzy Doo is only feigning being a [[TheDitz clumsy scatterbrain]] again because it's the only way to [[MamaBear keep Dinky safe]].]]
61	* PeoplePuppets: Trixie inflicts this punishment upon [[spoiler:Snips and Snails]] for humiliating her in the past.
62	* PowerAtAPrice: [[spoiler:The Elements of Harmony slowly drive their bearers mad.]]
63	* PrecisionFStrike: ''Treasure'' has a variant when [[spoiler:Applejack stands up to Trixie -- "My Granny's cookin' is FAN-BUCKIN-TASTIC!"]]
64	* RageAgainstTheReflection: Pinkie's story has her staring into a mirror. Fortunately, Rainbow is able to hear what's going on ...
65	* RevisedEnding: Originally, [[spoiler:the Pegasi ended up as an OfficialCouple]] by the end of ''Spellbound''. After readers expressed their concern about the circumstances behind this, however, Saddlesoap Opera went back and tweaked the story so that [[spoiler:Dash admits she was under the influence and Fluttershy accepts that, returning to a strong friendship]].
66	* RevengeBeforeReason: Trixie's need to get payback for "Boast Busters" leads her to steal from Celestia and halfway kill herself using an EmpathicWeapon that backfires on her with nearly lethal results.
67	* RevengeByProxy: Unable to direct her full anger at her sister [[spoiler:thanks to her Mantle preventing it]], Luna instead gleefully steps up to break the AwfulTruth to her perceived replacement Twilight.
68	* SecretKeeper: Rainbow Dash becomes one for Pinkie Pie, and Twilight for Rarity, both against their will.
69	** ''Muffins'' reveals that Rarity knows about Ditzy [[spoiler:dyeing her mane blonde]], and [[spoiler:Ditzy becomes one for The Doctor]].
70	* SpeechImpediment: ''Muffins'' introduces a griffon with a cracked beak, giving him a permanent lisp.
71	%%* StepfordSmiler: Pinkie Pie.
72	* TallPoppySyndrome: According to ''Loss'', Rarity lives in constant fear of this, which is why [[spoiler: she's generous to the point of driving herself deep into debt.]]
73	* TarotMotifs: Celestia uses one combined with a ThemedTarotDeck to give Twilight greater insight into her friends [[spoiler:and explain how to help them]].
74	* ThereAreNoTherapists: According to ''Spellbound'', it seems [[spoiler:the Magic-bearer's role is to play psychologist and keep the other bearers from going insane]].
75	* WrittenByTheWinners: In ''Alicorns: Blame'', it's revealed that Luna wasn't banished for trying to make the night last forever…Instead, it was because [[spoiler:she made the Everfree Forest ''free'', with all the beauty and horror of nature unleashed]].
76	* VoodooShark: The idea that [[spoiler: the Elements of Harmony drives the bearers mad only affects Applejack. The rest are explained by outside sources (Fluttershy's problem is hereditary, for instance), and it comes off as something Luna made up to hurt Twilight.]]
77	** One could argue otherwise. [[spoiler:Rarity, who has the Element of Generosity, became so generous to the point of suffering massive debts, out of a fear of being rejected if she stopped putting others' needs ahead of her own. It's possible that her Element somehow made her think that, or made an already-existing fear into a bigger deal than it actually was. Pinkie, having Laughter, puts on a StepfordSmiler act even when she's not in the mood to laugh at all. Again, it's possible that her Element had something to do with her depression.]]
78	*** WordOfGod has stated [[spoiler: Luna did make it up.]]
79	%%** The more you think about [[spoiler:Celestia's mantle as a mind-control device]], the less sense it makes.
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81	!!Its sequel, ''Secrets and Lies'', also contains examples of:
82	* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:''Screwball''. It’s hard not to cheer when Chrysalis and the rest of the Changelings end the story feeding off of her.]]
83	* BadassBoast: In Chapter 7:
84	-->[[spoiler:'''Screwball:''']] "You Screwheads are all the same; underestimating the big, dumb Mudhooves who grow your food and pull your carts and take out your trash. Well, Buzzards mighta got the wings, and you mighta got the horns, but we…GOT EVERYTHING ELSE!"
85	* BreakTheCutie: Basically everypony, but especially Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Scootaloo and Spike.
86	* CurbStompBattle: Chapter 7 gives us two: [[spoiler:Screwball stomping an utterly broken Twilight]] and [[spoiler:Pinkie Pie unleashing hell on Screwball]].
87	* DarkestHour: "The Second Element". [[spoiler:Discord has already taken control of Ponyville (to an extent), and Fluttershy is in the madhouse, with Screwball[=/=]Topsy-Turvy as her nurse.]]
88	* DespairEventHorizon: Screwball/Topsy Turvy does her best to push Twilight past it; later, [[spoiler:Fluttershy nearly crosses it after their JustBetweenYouAndMe chat]].
89	* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: Appears with a twist in Chapter 7: [[spoiler:a side effect of Rarity dispelling the dresses is that everypony blurts out some innermost doubts and thoughts…those of somepony close to them]].
90	* DrivenToSuicide: During the DarkestHour, [[spoiler:Screwball seemingly pushes Fluttershy to this point]].
91	* EmpathicEnvironment: Which turns out to be a side-effect of [[spoiler:how unappreciated Rarity felt while mass-producing dresses]].
92	* FantasticRacism: Screwball takes this trope to a level few people dare to take it.
93	* ForTheEvulz: This is essentially Screwball’s motivation.
94	* {{Foreshadowing}}: The BadassBoast above? Its giver doesn't consider that [[spoiler:Pinkie Pie's an Earth Pony, too]].
95	* {{Gaslighting}}: Twilight suspects that somepony's doing this to her after Topsy Turvy's death. [[spoiler:She's right. Unfortunately, it still works.]]
96	* GoAmongMadPeople: Happens to poor [[spoiler:Fluttershy after Twilight betrays her]].
97	* HannibalLecture: Twilight Sparkle does this ''to herself'' at the very start, using 'Discorduroy' as a stand-in.
98	* HowWeGotHere: The first chapter opens just after Twilight's deed, then flashes back two days prior to explain what happened.
99	* IGaveMyWord: Twilight forces Dash to swear upon her wings that she'll support her ''no matter what''. This is more than words, as a Pegasus who breaks this oath cannot use their wings anymore.
100	* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Topsy Turvy's motivation for going after Twilight: while Discorded, she could FLY and do all ''kinds'' of amazing things!
101	* ItsAllAboutMe: Topsy Turvy was happy when she was Discorded, which motivates her actions throughout the story. It doesn't matter that she was the only one happy under it, and that the Mane Six were motivated by a desire to save their home from a MadGod when they turned Discord to stone again, because as far as she's concerned, her happiness is the only thing that's important.
102	* {{Jerkass}}: Topsy Turvy does all of the horrible things she does throughout the story because she wants Discord back because of her own selfish desires and her racism against unicorns and pegasi.
103	* JustBetweenYouAndMe: Between [[spoiler:Topsy Turvy and Fluttershy]] in "The Second Element", where she explains everything that's going on.
104	%%* KeepingSecretsSucks
105	* LeanAndMean: Later on in the story, Screwball is described as being very thin.
106	* LeeroyJenkins: The viability of this tactic against [[ZergRush the Changelings]] is discussed in Chapter 1, with Rainbow Dash insisting it could've worked if they just pressed ''hard'' enough.
107	* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Twilight tries to keep as much information away from others as she can, particularly Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Spike.
108	* MaliciousSlander: Twilight was constantly subjected to this as a filly after becoming Celestia's student.
109	* MamaBear: In "What You Sow", a {{BSOD}}ing Twilight rallies when Spike gets attacked.
110	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Way to go, Twilight!
111	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Twilight hits Rainbow Dash with a blistering one in Chapter 3, basically saying she can't trust Dash to live up to her element.
112	** And in Chapter 6, [[spoiler:Dash returns the favor]].
113	* RedHerring: Twilight initially thinks ''Pinkie's'' responsible for the cruel pranks, to the point that [[spoiler:she cold-cocks her when she pops up in the library right after the TeleFrag incident]].
114	* RoomFullOfCrazy: Upon returning to Ponyville from Canterlot, Twilight and Spike discovered [[spoiler:the main Library]] had been turned into this during their absence.
115	* SanitySlippage: Twilight starts suffering from this after killing Screwball in self-defense.
116	* ShutUpHannibal: Pinkie Pie to [[spoiler:Screwball]] during the climax.
117	* TeleFrag: Nearly happens to Twilight Sparkle thanks to a malicious trap.
118	* VillainSong: Screwball gets one in "The Second Element", "Everypony Ought to Be Afraid", to the tune of [[Music/StephenSondheim Sondheim]]'s "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid".
119	* VoiceChangeling: Screwball is established as an extraordinarily gifted voice thrower in the first chapter.
120	* WhatTheHellHero: Twilight receives a lot of these towards the end as her secrets and lies unravel, but the biggest is from [[spoiler:Fluttershy, who she falsely accused and had committed to an asylum]].
121	* YouHaveToBelieveMe: [[spoiler:Poor Fluttershy]] runs into this while trying to convince everypony [[spoiler:she's not crazy]].

Context Fanfic / PonyPsychologySeries