History Fridge / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW

* "Season 10" Arc: The Knights of Harmony/Order were raised from birth to act as they do. And it's been like this for over a thousand years. This makes the fact they all look virtually identical to the original Knights have some disturbing implications.

** Shining Armor being a {{Nerd}} explains ''a lot'' about why Twilight Sparkle [[BIgBrotherWorship became the character she did]], and, [[ClosetGeek by hiding it on the job,]] [[SatelliteCharacter why he lacks distinct character on the show]].

** [[UpToEleven Possibly even worse]], given Sunset's trust issues, [[CassandraTruth who's to say the school believed it when they were told the truth about Anon-a-Miss]]?

* Issue #40. A young student is forced to juggle her studies at a prestigious academy with her responsibilities towards the newborn child who suddenly entered her life. Does this sound like a plot of a children's comic book or a teen pregnancy?

* Issues #11-12: Want to know how Trixie wasn't the thief? It's all in the sounds of their smoke bombs.
Trixie's make an "poof" or "poff". Rough Diamond's go "poomf".

** Some have speculated that the Elements of Harmony were uncomfortably close to KnightTemplar in their methods, what with subjecting victims to millennia-long AndIMustScream and possibly reverting Nightmare Moon to Princess Luna via HeelFaceBrainwashing.[[note]]The alternative interpretation that Nightmare was a separate entity exorcised from Luna proved unpopular when the comics ran with it.[[/note]] Given their empowering effect on [[LawfulEvil Accord]], it may be worth second guessing the OmniscientMoralityLicense they're treated with.

** Celestia's NotSoDifferent-related HeroicBSOD visibly begins only after she sees Twilight and Luna fall to Accord. Is she contemplating just surrendering so that she can at least be with her sister and surrogate daughter -- i.e., DrivenToSuicide logic?

* What if the CMC were actually trying to make Chrysalis [[PityTheKidnapper desperate enough to let them go willingly]]? This makes even more sense given that Sweetie Belle's sister Rarity used this tactic once herself. Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo may have been imitating her.
* In Issue #3, it seems odd that it was Rainbow Dash, of all characters, to be the first of the Mane 6 to realize their breaking up was a Changeling trick. However, as the Element of Loyalty, she would have regretted doubting Twilight due to such manipulations back at the wedding worse then the others, and thus try the hardest to learn from it and avoid such mistakes again.
** Said regret would also explain why she got so [[DrunkOnMilk drunk on punch]] that she needed to be reminded of what happened at said wedding.

* Issue #11-12, Shining Armor being a {{Nerd}} explains ''a lot'' about why Twilight Sparkle [[BIgBrotherWorship became the character she did]], and, [[ClosetGeek by hiding it on the job,]] [[SatelliteCharacter why he lacks distinct character on the show]].

* Still in issue #11: Cadance's flyer says her foal-sitting services are cheap. Obviously. As a princess, she doesn't really need extra money, and even if she did, she's just too kind-hearted to charge much anyway.

* Babs Seed's older, human counterpart being a straight-up bully makes sense upon realizing that, due to the age difference between her and the Human Cutie Mark Crusaders, the events of ''One Bad Apple'', where Pony Babs had her HeelRealization, likely didn’t happen here.
** This would also explain the Human Crusaders' antagonistic actions in the Holiday Special due to their never learning the episode's {{Aesop}}. It was around when Human Trixie pointed out their actions were causing as much harm as Sunset Shimmer ever did that they realized their wrongness and confessed to it.

** Why wasn't this set before ''Rainbow Rocks'' when everyones treatment of Sunset Shimmer would make more sense? Then it hit me; would they have been willing to hear her out/confess before her redemption?
* Issue #16 implies that Ponyville is unaware that the Elements of Harmony are still present, it makes sense the Mane 6 would not reveal that their best defence against evil is missing, less they invite panic and trouble.

* More like Fridge Tearjerker: in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E1PrincessTwilightSparklePart1 Princess Twilight Sparkle, Part 1]]" Celestia reveals [[StepfordSmiler she's been putting on a brave face for a thousand years after banishing her sister]]. But since Luna is back, Celestia can be truly happy again, right? Well, considering how the "Reflections" arc ended -- she's now back to her act. And there's no telling when she will get over this particular heartbreak (if ever).

* May also be FridgeHorror, Radiant Hope's KarmaHoudini and general overall characterization in the "Siege of the Crystal Empire" at first seems to be a case of bad writing. However, there may be a very good in-universe justification for all of it. Hope had been manipulated by masterful liars for centuries. Generally the excuse for being a TurnCoat in the "My Little Pony" verse was of being under a spell (like Discord's HatePlague), but here it's something much more mundane and realistic. To make matters worse, it wouldn't take much effort on the part of the Umbrum either. One "innocently" phrased comment here and there over a thousand years would be all it would take.
** Furthermore, she's not a KarmaHoudini after all, if you think about it; she actually got punished in advance of the arc (i.e. -- when losing everything due to Sombra's curse, and crossing the DespairEventHorizon) as well as during it (i.e. -- when almost dying from Twilight's blast, due to Hope's StupidSacrifice for [[ImplacableMan Sombra]]).
* Same arc, when we actually see the Umbrum fight, the ponies were doing surpassingly, almost comically, well against them given that they were presented as {{Eldritch Abomination}}s, at first, they were [[NearVillainVictory at the brink of overwhelming them by the finale]]. As established {{Hope Crusher}}s, they're taking a cue from the [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Anti-Spiral]], holding back to their opponents' level [[HopeSpot to give them false hope]] to further break their foes. Sombra, who was raised separately from them, adopted a [[NoNonsenseNemesis different method]].
** Relatedly, it was [[MeaningfulName Radiant Hope]] who thwarted the plans of beings of darkness and despair. ''Twice''.
* As Cadance explains, Hope could've just asked for help with the Umbrum instead of doing all this subterfuge. But the thing is, Hope already trusted others for help -- in "''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFiendshipIsMagic''" -- and it ended badly: Amore's inaction led to Sombra growing fed up and lashing out! In Hope's mind, they just won't give her or the Umbrum a chance until she forces them to see they were wrong!

* At the end of the Reflections arc, Mirror Universe King Sombra absorbed the evil of Celestia and Luna's mirror counterparts, becoming a feral creature much like his main universe counterpart, sacrificing his relationship with Celestia in the process. This issue balances it by having the Main Universe Sombra purged of his Umbrum abilities and becomes a good pony once again, even resembling his Mirror Counterpart, and reunites with Radiant Hope. A nearby tent with a sign that says "Reflections Custom Mirrors" hangs a very big lampshade on this.
* Sombra has often been considered an {{Expy}} of [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Sauron]]. Come this arc, and we finally see the Equestrian "Morgoth" as well: Rabia.

* Luna's plan to get Spike and the Mane 6 sans Rarity to the moon is rife with this. Namely the whole "Move the moon closer" thing.[[note]]the tides are dependent on the state and orbit of the moon[[/note]].

* The 2014 Holiday Special showed just how fragile Sunset Shimmer's forgiveness was, with the entire school including the Humane Five]] turning on her once there was evidence of her wrongdoing without considering why she'd do it, and lingering resentment being ''the most charitable'' interpretation of those framing her. If Sunset or the series looked into the implications of that, and asked if it was [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere worth putting up with]], [[ThenLetMeBeEvil or worth trying to be good]] if everyone was still so quick to condemn her, there would likely be a hard time finding a happy ending.
** Also, framing Sunset Shimmer is the human Crusader's ''plan A''. Not talking to Applejack about not spending time with her. No. Plan A is resorting to ''cyber-bullying''. Even after getting the Human Five to break up with her, they ''continued'' to frame her for days until they felt enough guilt to confess. For the looks of it, they have issues that the six months of detention they got seem unlikely to address.]]

** [[UpToEleven Possibly even worse]], given Sunset's trust issues, [[CassandraTruth whose to say the school believed it when they were told the truth about Anon-a-Miss]]?
** [[RunningGag Because it REALLY needed to be worse]], what if something like this happened prior to ''Rainbow Rock'', when Sunset wouldn't have been in touch With Princess Twilight to help her out, her fiends wouldn't have what little trust they had to work this out, and Anon-a-Miss would [[PayEvilUntoEvil have less to no reason to confess]]?

* King Sombra's ultimate plan is revealed to spread his conquest of the Crystal Empire to the rest of Equestria, with the griffons and yaks being next. This was around the same time ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E25TheCutieRemarkPart1 The Cutie Re-Mark]]'' showed that he was doing just that in [[BadFuture in the timeline he won]]. With the Umbrum, each of whom could have been as powerful as Sombra was, at his beck and call, no wonder it took all of Equestria militarizing to fight him to a stalemate at best.
** As for Radiant Hope's absence, if Sombra won in ''The Crystal Empire'', [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness she'd be unnecessary and become a liability, so...]]
* After the final battle, Sombra is reformed and all seems well, except Chrysalis has escaped yet again. Now remember in Issue #36, when Sombra and Chrysalis got into a heated argument when Chrysalis spoke out against Sombra's plan to release the Umbrum. With Sombra reformed and likely no longer in possession of PhysicalGod-style BlackMagic, he -- unless still an abnormally powerful Unicorn like Star Swirl the Bearded, Starlight Glimmer, etc. -- and Hope are more vulnerable than ever if Chrysalis decides to take revenge upon him.

** [[UpToEleven Possibly even worse,]] given Sunset's trust issues, [[CassandraTruth whose to say the school believed it when they were told the truth about Anon-a-Miss]]?

* Sombra has often been considered an {{Expy}} of [[TheLordOfTheRings Sauron]]. Come this arc, and we finally see the Equestrian "Morgoth" as well: Rabia.

** Furthermore, she's not a KarmaHoudini after all, if you think about it: She just got punished both in advance of the arc (i.e., when losing everything due to Sombra's curse, and crossing the DespairEventHorizon) and during it (i.e., when almost dying from Twilight's blast, due to Hope's StupidSacrifice for [[ImplacableMan Sombra]]).

* Issue #40. A young student is forced to juggle her studies at a prestigious academy with her responsibilities towards the newborn child who suddenly entered her life. Does this sound like a plot of a children's comic book or a teen pregnancy?

** Said regret would also explain why she got so [[DrunkOnMilk drunk on punch]] she needed to be reminded of what happened at said wedding.

** Season Four of the show opens with Nightmare Moon destroying The Castle of The Two Sisters, why? In this arc, [[spoiler:Nightmare Moon plans to destroy Ponyville, the home of her current vessel, to crush what remained of her personality, likely what she was trying to do last time.]] The same thing also gives another reason why she was trying to destroy Celestia -- in addition to Celestia standing in Nightmare Moon's way, [[spoiler: she's Luna's sister and despite Luna's jealousy of Celestia, she still loved her. Killing Luna's sister by her own hooves would crush her spirit far worse than wrecking their castle, no matter what sentimental value it had.]]

* In the Sunset Shimmer short, she's seen rejecting the invitations of five unicorn mares: Moondancer, Lemon Hearts, Lyra, Minuette, and Twinkleshine. Now, considering that Celestia was trying to groom Sunset in the same way as Twilight Sparkle later, in hopes she would become a Princess, this would have also likely involved her having friends to become the Bearer of the Elements, and from this, there's a strong correlation in these five mares: Moondancer (Fluttershy), Lemon Hearts (Applejack), Lyra (Pinkie Pie), Minuette (Rainbow Dash), and Twinkleshine (Rarity), even with the brief characterization thrown in the comic.

** [[spoiler:This would also explain the Human Crusaders' antagonistic actions in the Holiday Special due to their never learning the episode's {{Aesop}}. It was around when Human Trixie pointed out their actions were causing as much harm as Sunset Shimmer ever did that they realized their wrongness and confessed to it.]]

*** During the movie, Twilight had the same FatalFlaw as Celestia, [[spoiler:being afraid of disappointing those who looked up to them, but by admitting this to Sunset Shimmer, she avoided the consequences Celestia faced.]] In short, she didn't have to be perfect to live up to, or surpass, the latter's example.
** Fluttershy's crush on MirrorUniverse [[spoiler:Sombra]] seems to come out of nowhere. Unless you remember that she's basically a Franchise/DisneyPrincess expy. And who do Disney princesses fall for? The PrinceCharming character, which [[spoiler:Mirror Sombra]] is obviously meant to be.

* May also be FridgeHorror, [[spoiler:Radiant Hope's]] KarmaHoudini and general overall characterization in the "Siege of the Crystal Empire" at first seems to be a case of bad writing. However there may be a very good in-universe justification for all of it. [[spoiler:Hope]] had been manipulated by masterful liars for well over hundreds of years. Generally the excuse for being a TurnCoat in the "My Little Pony" verse was of being under a spell (like Discord's HatePlague), but here it's something much more mundane and realistic. To make matters worse, it wouldn't take much effort on the part of the Umbrum either. One "innocently" phrased comment here and there over a thousand years would be all it would take.
** Furthermore, [[spoiler:she]]'s not a KarmaHoudini after all, if you think about it: [[spoiler:She]] just got punished both in advance of the arc [[spoiler:(i.e., when losing everything due to Sombra's curse, and crossing the DespairEventHorizon)]] and during it [[spoiler:(i.e., when almost dying from Twilight's blast, due to Hope's StupidSacrifice for [[ImplacableMan Sombra]]).]]

** Relatedly, it was [[MeaningfulName Radiant Hope]] who thwarted the plans of beings of darkness and despair. [[spoiler:''Twice''.]]

** While were at it, there's also the tightrope. Let's just say [[ExplosiveDecompression they're lucky that the rope didn't break earlier]].

* The Bookworm from #15-#16, after full persuasion by Twilight not to eat the books, lest he destroys reality, finally got to be the hero of his own book. Then cut to the part where [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E26TwilightsKingdomPart2 Tirek destroys the whole library]], and --given the sheer HSQ amount of destruction-- we would cringe of the fate of the bookworm, and all of the characters with it.

* The 2014 Holiday Special showed just how fragile Sunset Shimmer's forgiveness was, with the entire school [[spoiler:including the Humane Five]] turning on her once there was evidence of her wrongdoing without considering why she'd do it, and lingering resentment being ''the most charitable'' interpretation of those framing her. If Sunset or the series looked into the implications of that, and asked if it was [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere worth putting up with]], [[ThenLetMeBeEvil or worth trying to be good]] if everyone was still so quick to condemn her, there would likely be a hard time finding a happy ending.
** [[spoiler:Also, framing Sunset Shimmer is the human Crusader's ''plan A''. Not talking to Applejack about not spending time with her. No. Plan A is resorting to ''cyber-bullying''. Even after getting the Human Five to break up with her, they ''continued'' to frame her for days until they felt enough guilt to confess. For the looks of it, they have issues that the six months of detention they got seem unlikely to address.]]

* Expanding the universe shows just how much of Equestria is a CrapsaccharineWorld. Break the law? No problem, the authority won't use magic on you, even when you're hurting her friends, because you're a legal citizen. Nearly drowned the entire populous? You're let off the hook because you were just trying to help your friends. Invade your neighboring country to expand your territory? Well, don't worry. The ruler of said country had so much excitement, it's comparable to when her kingdom nearly got overrun by shape-shifting monsters partly [[NiceJobBreakingItHero due to her own fault]]. Oh, and while the authorities might do things to reign in the excesses, they can prove to be just as bad at applying rules in any sort of fair and sane way: Committing fraud and hostage taking? No big deal, you're doing it to stop the aforementioned lawbreaking because they can't just stop them the normal way. Hang around someone that breaks one of the few laws that gives them the authority to use magic on you? You're in for as much punishment as the guy who did. In Equestria, you can almost expect to be a KarmaHoudini. That, or one gets [[AndIMustScream particularly]] [[CruelAndUnusualDeath terrifying]], [[LaserGuidedKarma if deserved]], fate with little middle ground. [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity One must question Equestrian morality]].

* After the final battle [[spoiler:Sombra]] is reformed and all seems well, except [[spoiler:Chrysalis]] has escaped yet again. Now remember in Issue #36, when Sombra and Chrysalis got into a heated argument when Chrysalis spoke out against Sombra's plan to release the Umbrum. With Sombra [[spoiler:reformed and likely no longer in possession of PhysicalGod-style BlackMagic, he -- unless still an abnormally powerful Unicorn like Star Swirl the Bearded, Starlight Glimmer, etc. -- and Hope are more vulnerable than ever if Chrysalis decides to take revenge upon him]].

** Season Four of the show opens with Nightmare Moon destroying The Castle of The Two Sisters, why? In this arc, [[spoiler:Nightmare Moon plans to destroy Ponyville, the home of her current vessel, to crush what remained of her personality, likely what she was trying to do last time.]]

* What if the CMC were actually trying to make Chrysalis [[PityTheKidnapper desperate enough to let them go willingly]]?

* Issue #40. A young student is forced to juggle her studies at a prestigious academy with her responsibilities towards the newborn child who suddenly entered her life. Does this sound like a plot on a children's comic book or a teen pregnancy?

* Babs Seed's older, human counterpart being a strait-up bully makes sense upon realizing that, due to the age difference between her and the Human Cutie Mark Crusaders, the events of ''One Bad Apple'', were Pony Babs had her HeelRealization, likely didn’t happen here.

** The prototype mirror portal [[SuperPrototype seems to superior to the ‘’Equestria Girls’’ one]], (able to access multiple dimension at any time), so why did Star Swirl bother to create another? It can disguise users as local life (he and Celestia were nearly eaten because the first mirror didn’t).

** Why was Trixie made an alicorn princess instead of Sunset Shimmer? Since main universe Sunset Shimmer demanded to become an alicorn princess, it would seem more likely that her mirror counterpart would instead be granted the position. That is until you realize that main universe Sunset Shimmer also fled into the Equestria Girls universe. Assuming that there is also a mirror Equestria Girls universe, mirror Sunset Shimmer probably ended up there before she could be alicornized (maybe due to Mirror Celestia throwing her in there).

*** During the movie, Twilight had the same FatalFlaw as Celestia, [[spoiler:being afraid of disappointing those who looked up to them, but by admitting this to Sunset Shimmer, she avoided the consequences Celestia faced.]] In short, she didn't have to be perfect to live up to, or surpass, the laters example.
** Fluttershy's crush on MirrorUniverse [[spoiler:Sombra]] seems to come out of nowhere. Unless you remember that she's basically a Franchise/DisneyPrincess expy. And who do Disney princess's fall for? The PrinceCharming character, which [[spoiler:Mirror Sombra]] is obviously meant to be.

* May also be FridgeHorror, [[spoiler:Radiant Hope's]] KarmaHoudini and general overall characterization in the "Siege of the Crystal Empire" at first seems to be a case of bad writing. However there may be a very good in-universe justification for all of it. [[spoiler:Hope]] had been manipulated by masterful liars for well over hundreds of years. Generally the excuse for being a TurnCoat in the "My Little Pony" verse was of being under an spell (like Discord's HatePlague), but here it's something much more mundane and realistic. To make matters worse, it wouldn't take much effort on part of the Umbrum either. One ''innocently'' phrased comment here and there over a thousand years would be all it would take.
** Furthermore, [[spoiler:she]]'s not a KarmaHoudini after all, if you think about it: [[spoiler:She]] just got punished both in advance of the arc [[spoiler:(i.e., when losing everything due to Sombra's curse, and crossing the DespairEventHorizon)]] and during it [[spoiler:(i.e., when almost dying from Twilight's blast, due to the Hope's StupidSacrifice for [[ImplacableMan Sombra]]).]]
* Same arc, when we actually see the Umbrum fight, the ponies were doing surpassingly, almost comically, well against them given that they were presented as {{Eldritch Abomination}}s, at first, they were [[NearVillainVictory at the brink of overwhelming them by the finale]]. As established {{Hope Crusher}}s, they're taking a cue from the [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Anti-Spiral]], holding back to their opponents level [[HopeSpot to give them false hope]] to further break their foes. Sombra, who was raised separately from them, adopted a [[NoNonsenseNemesis different method]].