History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWIssue25To26

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* MoralDissonance:
** Twilight's hesitation to use magic against a non-magical citizen could have been respectable [[MindOverManners on some level]] if she had been consistent in its application. Unfortunately, while she refuses to use her magic to protect innocent people from Longhorn's depredations, she does use it to imprison Longhorn and his gang when he alone smashed up a "historical site" that was declared so under dubious circumstances.
** Also, Twilight scolds Rainbow Dash for tearing up a notarized document as being illegal, but aside from standing aside while Longhorn commits assault, extortion, vandalism, and arson, she also participates in assault, false imprisonment, impersonation and fraud in order to set Longhorn up to commit a crime she'd actually do something about. Unless all of the aforementioned actions aren't actually crimes in Equestria, which has some [[CrapsaccharineWorld disturbing implications]].

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar : A literal case as Rarity, in anger, calls Longhorn "Cow Pie".

** Longhorn's scam is remarkably similar to that of Alameda Slim from ''Disney/HomeOnTheRange''...except Slim had the excuse of using an alias when trying to buy up the land he'd pillaged.

** Longhorn's scam is remarkably similar to that of Alameda Slim from ''Film/HomeOnTheRange''...except Slim had the excuse of using an alias when trying to buy up the land he'd pillaged.

''The Good, the Bad, and the Ponies''

''The Good, The Bad, and the Ponies''

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar : A literal case as Rarity, in anger, calls Longhorn 'Cow Pie'.

The Mane 6 travel to Canter Creek, where Chili Pepper, one of AJ's relatives, lives, who has implored the Mane 6 to come. They meet up with Sheriff Tumbleweed, who says that the town is being ravaged by Cattle Rustlers who want to gain control of the Peppers' ranch, and do this by intimidating the townsponies and make them give them their food; as such, ponies like Chili Pepper and others have already left town, figuring there's no hope. When the Cattle Rustlers, led by Longhorn, arrive after the Mane 6, AJ attempts to stand her ground only to be outpowered by Longhorn. Even with their power, Longhorn can tell AJ is stubborn, and creates a plan to set the Pepper barn on fire. The Mane 6 quickly help to put it out, though when AJ challenges Twilight and Rarity to use their magic against the bulls, Twilight says that they aren't supposed to use it against non-magical beings.

** Plus, ''Film/TheSevenSamurai'' with outside help being brought in to a village repeatedly plagued by a group of bandits. Though given the western setting, it's closer to ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven''.

The next day, after learning of AJ's persistence, Longhorn files official paperwork that, as the owners of the ranch have abandoned it, the Cattle Rustlers are due to become rightful owners as long as they remain camped on the property for 7 days. Twilight deems the paper all legitimate and within Equestrian law, but AJ comes up with a plan to dupe the Cattle Rustlers. While Twilight and Fluttershy pose as town officials, noting small mistakes in the signing of the document, forcing Longhorn to leave camp to fix it, the others, along with help of some of the braver townsponies inspired by the Mane 6, distract the other, more dimwitted Rustlers long enough to [[Film/BlazingSaddles move their entire camp piece by piece]] so that it's outside the ranch's property.

* AbsenteeActor: Spike is literally put on a bus, spending the arc at a Los Pegasus "Pony Trek" convention (and winning first place in the cosplay contest).

* DistractedByTheSexy : The Mane Six send Fluttershy, disguised as a cute messenger pony, to distract the bulls while the ponies move the villains' campsite.

''The Good, The Bad, and the Ponies''

* TookALevelInBadAss : Longhorn and his gang; when they first appeared in the 'Friends Forever' series, Applejack and Rarity fought them off, without any outside help, with relative ease. Here, they're a very serious threat to a whole town.

** Also, Twilight scolds Rainbow Dash for tearing up a notarized document as being illegal, but aside from standing aside while Longhorn commits assault, extortion, vandalism, and arson, she also participates in assault, kidnapping, impersonation and fraud in order to set Longhorn up to commit a crime she'd actually do something about. Unless all of the aforementioned actions aren't actually crimes in Equestria, which has some [[CrapsaccharineWorld disturbing implications]].

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The mail pony [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this when talking to Rarity.

The Mane 6 travel to Canter Creek, where Chili Pepper, one of AJ's relatives, lives and who has implored the Mane 6 to come up. They meet up with Sheriff Tumbleweed, who says that the town is being ravaged by Cattle Rustlers who really want to gain control of the Peppers' ranch, and do this by intimidating the townsponies and make them give them their food; as such, ponies like Chili Pepper and others have already left town, figuring there's no hope. When the Cattle Rustlers, led by Longhorn, arrive after the Mane 6, AJ attempts to stand her ground only to be outpowered by Longhorn. Even with their power, Longhorn can tell AJ is stubborn, and creates a plan to set the Pepper barn on fire. The Mane 6 quickly help to put it out, though when AJ challenges Twilight and Rarity to use their magic against the bulls, Twilight says that they aren't supposed to use it against non-magical beings.

The next day, after learning of AJ's persistence, Longhorn files official paperwork that as the owners of the ranch have abandoned it, the Cattle Rustlers are due to become rightful owners as long as they remain camped on the property for 7 days. Twilight deems the paper all legitimate and within Equestrian law, but AJ comes up with a plan to dupe the Cattle Rustlers. While Twilight and Fluttershy pose as town officials, noting small mistakes in the signing of the document, forcing Longhorn to leave camp to fix it, the others, along with help of some of the braver townsponies inspired by the Mane 6, distract the other, more dimwitted Rustlers long enough to [[Film/BlazingSaddles move their entire camp piece by piece]] so that it's outside the ranch's property.

* Everyone Calls Him Barkeep: The mail pony [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this when talking to Rarity.

* BrokenAesop:
** In the fantastical sense, Twilight's hesitation to use magic against a non-magical citizen could have been respectable [[MindOverManners on some level]] if she had been consistent in its application. Unfortunately, while she refuses to use her magic to protect innocent people from Longhorn's depredations, she does use it to imprison Longhorn and his gang when he alone smashed up a "historical site" that was declared so under dubious circumstances. It's like she's been taking lessons from [[Series/{{Charmed}} the Elders.]]
** In the less fantastical sense, Twilight scolds Rainbow Dash for tearing up a notarized document as being illegal, but aside from standing aside while Longhorn commits assault, extortion, vandalism, and arson, she also participates in assault, kidnapping, impersonation and fraud in order to set Longhorn up to commit a crime she'd actually do something about. Unless all of the aforementioned actions aren't actually crimes in Equestria, which has some [[CrapsaccharineWorld disturbing implications.]]

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Several, several times.

* WholePlotReference: The setup is effective the fable of "Literature/TheGrasshopperAndTheAnts", itself retold in Pixar's ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife''.
** Plus, ''TheSevenSamurai'' with outside help being brought in to a village repeatedly plagued by a group of bandits. Though given the western setting, it's closer to ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven''.

** In the less fantastical sense, Twilight scolds Rainbow Dash for tearing up a notarized document as being illegal, but aside from standing aside while Longhorn commits assault, extortion, vandalism, and arson, she also participates in assault, kidnapping, impersonation and fraud in order to set Longhorn up to commit a crime she'd actually do something about. Unless all of the aforementioned actions aren't actually crimes in Equstria, which has some [[CrapsaccharineWorld disturbing implications.]]