Recap / My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic S2 E10 "Secret of My Excess"

It's my birthday, and I wants it.

Spike: Hey there, Lickety Split! That's a pretty cool ball you got there! Did you know it's my birthday?

Written by M.A. Larson

Lights dim around the library as Twilight Sparkle prepares for the highly arduous task of... re-shelving her books. Her concentration is broken, however, as Spike giggles in anticipation of eating a flawless fire ruby for his birthday dinner next week. When Rarity drops by, she spots the gem, and her admiration turns to distress when she learns he plans to eat the precious jewel. Sensing her discomfort, Spike graciously gives it to her instead, and earns a peck on the cheek.

A week later, it's time for Spike's birthday party, and Twilight uses the timely arrival of Pinkie Pie and the others to finally wash the kiss off his cheek. Spike is astonished at the numerous gifts he receives.

Rainbow Dash: Don't you know you get presents on your birthday?
Spike: Well, actually, this is my first birthday in Ponyville. I usually only get one gift for my birthday. From Twilight. A book.
(Twilight smiles sheepishly and then hides the gift-wrapped book she was carrying behind her back)

Midway through the party, Spike goes to Sugarcube Corner to pick up a special sapphire cupcake Mr. and Mrs. Cake have made for him. As he's returning home, he crashes into Cheerilee, who gives him a hat when she hears that it's his birthday. Sensing an opportunity, Spike starts talking up everypony in town, mentioning his birthday and extorting presents from them. When Twilight catches him in the act, he stops briefly, only to resume once she leaves for home…

The next morning, Twilight is shocked to find Spike's bed covered with gifts — and that Spike is now a gangly adolescent as big as her! Not getting any answers from a pediatrician or a veterinarian, the two visit Zecora, who explains that his dragon nature is compelling him to hoard, which spurs his growth and drives him to even more avarice. Before the two can act, Spike steals everything from Zecora's hut and escapes! Twilight chases him back to town, where Spike's reverted to Hulk Speak and grabbing everything in sight. She tries to trap him in the library, but he breaks through the wall and rampages through Ponyville, snatching the apples and leaves from Applejack's farm, Fluttershy's chicken coop, the cakes from Sugarcube Corner, the Ponyville water tower, and finally Rarity!

Swatting away Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy (as well as the Wonderbolts), the now-massive Spike climbs the nearby mountain to find solace and a cave for his collection. As they ascend, Rarity (unaware that Spike is her captor) begins to tell him off; when he covets the fire ruby around her neck, Rarity contrasts his destructive greed with "Spikey-wikey," the kindest, sweetest, and most generous dragon ever. Reminded of his true nature, Spike instantly reverts to his original size, and the two suddenly plummet to the ground below. In freefall, Spike starts to confess his love for Rarity, only for her to gently silence him with a teary smile. The two are rescued by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash at the last moment and deposited on the town's main bridge.

While the others celebrate, Spike looks shamefacedly over the swath of destruction in his wake. Near tears, he is surprised when Rarity tells him she's proud of him, and explains that he saved the town by overcoming his greed and remembering who he really is. Calling him her hero, she rewards him with another kiss on the cheek.

His spirits uplifted, Spike writes his own letter to Princess Celestia:

You might think that it would feel good to get lots and lots of stuff, but it doesn't feel nearly as good as giving something special to somepony you really care about. Well, I learned it is truly better to give than to receive, and that kindness and generosity are what lead to true friendship! And that's more valuable than anything in the world.

Well... almost anything. [Spike turns, revealing he has framed Rarity's last kiss.]

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Tropes:

• 2D Visuals, 3D Effects: The thick black line around the Fire Ruby Spike is holding is glaringly out of place, drawing attention to the fact that the gemstone doesn't share the same shading style as the rest of the show.
• An Aesop: "It is better to give than receive." The Aesop is further played with, because after the hat, Spike wasn't receiving anyway; he was taking.
• Affectionate Nickname: Spike is called "Spikey-wikey" by Pinkie Pie, then Rarity.
• Ageless Birthday Episode: Spike's.
• All Animals Are Dogs: When visiting the pony vet, she speaks to Spike like a dog, even giving him a dog treat. It doesn't help that Spike responds like one.
• Anguished Declaration of Love: Spike tries to confess his crush to Rarity while both are plummeting to their deaths.
• Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: We have this lovely little quote from Rarity:
  Rarity: Oh, be quiet! You've got nothing to be proud of! Steal everypony's things, terrorize the town, and use me as a weapon against my own friends! Which, as horrible as it is, I can almost understand because you're a dragon and all, but THIS! [tears off ruined cape] THIS IS A CRIME AGAINST FASHION!
• Ascended Fridge Horror: Up until now this show had been stepping around the potential issues that could arise from a dragon living in a pony community; this episode addresses them thoroughly.... for about ten minutes, then brushes them aside again. The real Fridge here might lie in why everyone in town is so quick to accept Spike again after he caused what might be the only crisis in the show brought about not by outside trickery or a misunderstanding, but willful violence and crime. The fact that this will apparently be In the Blood for Spike forever and we see more adult dragons in the background than children only makes things worse...
• Ash Face: Happens to the pony pediatrician when Twilight takes Spike to see him.
• Attack Backfire: When Pinkie throws a pudding at Spike, he just catches it and adds it to his growing hoard.
  Pinkie Pie: How dare you take the cake!
• Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: Who knew puberty in dragons could be so destructive? The working title for the episode was, in fact, "Attack of the 50 Foot Dragon".
• Baby Talk: The doctor and the vet talk baby talk to Spike, much to his annoyance. Then there's the fact that Pinkie and Rarity repeatedly call him Spikey-wikey.
• Behind the Black: Spike makes off with anything not nailed down in Zecora's hut while she and Twilight are talking. Including the cauldron they were looking over seconds ago.
• Blah, Blah, Blah: While a kidnapped Rarity endlessly berates him, Spike just rolls his eyes, and motions his hands in the "Blah, blah, blah" manner.
• Bound and Gagged: Twilight and Applejack attempt to hogtie Spike but they only succeed in tying themselves to a tree.
• Call-Back:
  • We had some idea how large adult Spike could get from "The Cutie Mark Chronicles".
  • The whole episode lends context to the jewel-hoarding dragons we've seen in "Dragonshy" and "Owl's Well that Ends Well".
  • Twilight tried to tell Spike that his feelings were obvious to Rarity in "Green Isn't Your Color".
• The Cameo: As mentioned below, Derpy Hooves.
• Captain Obvious: "He's... a dragon."
  Twilight Sparkle: That's not the problem. He's always been a dragon!
• Cassandra Truth: When Twilight tells Applejack that she needs her help corralling Spike.
  Twilight: Applejack, help! Spike's running wild and I need you to lasso him!
  Applejack: That's a good one, Twilight! Sweet little Spike running wild!
  [Spike runs by]
  Applejack: Twilight, get my rope.
• Chekhov's Gag: The emergency siren Spike stole wasn't just a throw away joke - it also summons the Wonderbolts.
• Chekhov's Gun:
  • Spike's enduring crush on Rarity, more specifically, the good feeling he got when giving the Fire Ruby to her.
  • The fire ruby itself making it a Chekhov's Gift.
  • Rarity's torn cape.
• Circling Birdies:
  • Spike sees stars after Twilight yanks her globe away and makes him fall hard on his face and every time she has to yank stuff out of his grasp for the rest of the episode.
  • Cheerilee also sees stars after her collision with Spike.
• Close Up On Head: After Zecora shows Spike's greed-induced growth cycle, we get a close-up of hers and Twilight's heads before the view zooms out to reveal the entire hut was robbed.
• Color-Coded Stones: That red gemstone Spike's saving for his birthday? It's called a Fire Ruby.
• Continuity Cavalcade: In Spike's initial hoard we see: Applejack's trophy from "Applebuck Season", Pinkie Pie's rubber chicken from "Dragonshy", the rainbow football from "Fall Weather Friends", Pinkie Pie's foam finger from "Sonic Rainboom", Apple Bloom's bowling ball from "The Cutie Pox", and Pinkie's tuba (although technically a sousaphone) from "Swarm of the Century".
• Continuity Nod:
  • Fluttershy's able to fly almost as fast as Rainbow Dash, as seen in "Return of Harmony".
  • The Water Tower used to feed the Ursa Minor in "Boast Busters" is used to store Spike's hoard (and trap the Wonderbolts).
  • From "Dragonshy", Fluttershy's fear of adult dragons makes a return and Spike climbs up the same mountain that the dragon lived in.
  • In "Luna Eclipsed", Twilight asked Spike why he hadn't read the book she gave him about "Obscure Unicorn History", which might have been one of his previous birthday presents from her.
  • When Zecora shows Twilight the image of Spike's growth on water's surface, she uses the same brightly green powder that she used in "Luna Eclipsed" to make Nightmare Moon illusions.
  • Rainbow Dash: "You tied YOURSELVES up?!" Yeah, well you did too...
• Crash-Into Hello: Spike is devoting so much attention to happily boggling at his cupcake from Mr. and Mrs. Cake that he collides with Cheerilee, which leads to the conversation that gets him thinking greedily.
• Crush Filter: According to the author, Rarity's eye-fluttering and mane wave during the moments before Spike gives her the Ruby are from Spike's point of view, not something she was objectively doing.
• A Day in the Limelight: Focuses on Spike, once again.
• Deadly Upgrade: Dragon adulthood grants immense size and power, but at the cost of becoming a greedy, mindless rampaging beast.
• Delayed Reaction:
  • Rarity has one upon first hearing Spike intends to eat the Fire Ruby.
    Rarity: Is that a Fire Ruby? That must be at least 20 carats! No inclusions, pristine facets...
    Spike: And totally delicious.
    Twilight: Uh, you guys don't mind?
    Rarity: Oh, of course. I just came by to see if you had any books on historical fashion. Did you say "delicious?"
    Spike: Sure did!
  • Happens again to Spike when he realizes Twilight gave him the washcloth for his kissed cheek.
• Disapproving Look: Twilight gives Spike one that borders on Death Glare territory when he wonders why she gave him a washcloth.
• Dragon Hoard: Spike starts with coveting gems, but soon collects anything and everything. Apparently a dragon's size is determined by the size of its hoard.
• Easily Forgiven: Played for Laughs at the end, where Rarity praises Spike for saving Ponyville... from himself.
• Eat Dirt, Cheap: One pony's priceless jewelry is another dragon's delicacy.
• Edible Ammunition: Pinkie Pie tries to fight off giant Spike with cakes. Too bad they're ineffective and Spike just takes the cake.
• Epic Fail:
  • Twilight and Applejack try to tie up Spike but tie themselves to a tree.
  • The Wonderbolts, whose heroic efforts end with them stuck inside the empty water tower.
  • Pinkie Pie's cake throwing just fuels Spike's greed even further and empties the bakery even faster.
• Evil Sounds Deep: Spike's voice deepens significantly the more he grows into a full dragon. Justified in that he's maturing, so it's more like a boy's voice breaking when he hits puberty.
• Flashback: Spike remembers his moment of gifting the fire ruby to Rarity, though some of the details have conspicuously changed... then again, this is from Spike's POV and he probably remembers differently.
• Freefall Romance: Spike chooses the moment when he and Rarity are plummeting to their doom to confess his crush to her.
• Funny Background Event: In one shot, Spike is walking in Ponyville with Lyra Heartstrings & Bonbon talking in the background, then Derpy pops up between them; from the inside of a well.
• Furry Confusion: The pediatrician (or whatever the equine equivalent of that would be) has a bowl of lollipops in his office. While an adult unicorn could hold and unwrap a lollipop using magic, it would be extremely difficult for a pegasus or Earth pony of any age to do this with their hooves.
• Furry Reminder: Junebug is drinking from the pool of a (non-drinking) fountain like a horse before Spike talks to her.
• Gaussian Girl: Rarity gets this treatment when she's lusting over the Fire Ruby.
• Gift-Giving Gaffe:
  • Rainbow Dash drops a dumbbell on Spike from above. Implication seems to be it's something from her own gym she stuck a bow on.
  • Twilight has cluelessly, but with good intentions, given Spike a book every year. When she hears his thrilled reaction to his presents from everypony else and his dismayed remembrance that a book is all he's ever gotten from her, she backs away, embarrassed with what is obviously another gift-wrapped book..
• The Glomp: When Spike gets a blanket from Applejack, he thanks her by tackle-hugging her, making her accidentally spit out an apple she was eating. While flattered, she then pushes her away because that was the 16th time he had thanked her, implying that he hugged her this way 15 times already.
• Good Cop/Bad Cop: Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, respectively, when they try to get Spike to put Rarity down.
  Rainbow Dash: Put her down, right now!
  Fluttershy: I— if you wouldn't mind, that is...
  Rainbow Dash: I mean it, dragon boy!
  Fluttershy: We'll be ever so grateful if you'd be so kind as to possibly consider...
  Rainbow Dash: Drop her, scaly!
• Got Me Doing It: Twilight momentarily lapses into Zecora's rhyming habit, to the point of matching her meter.
  Twilight: You mean, the more things a dragon collects the bigger and greedier he gets?
• Gravity Is a Harsh Mistress:
  • Form IV: Spike and Rarity remain suspended long enough for Rarity to realize who he is. It looks like Spike and Rarity are falling to their deaths until Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy save them.
  • This also happens with the water in the water tower, retaining its shape for a moment after Spike takes the tower before flooding the ground below.
• Greed: Spike's (and every dragon's) problem. Side effects include compulsive hoarding, loss of complete sentences, and very fast, very massive growth.
• Grievous Harm with a Body: Spike grabs Rarity in his tail, then uses her to swat at Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, much to Rarity's chagrin.
• Gross-Up Close-Up: Spike said he wouldn't wash that cheek and he meant it. There's dirt and grim and other nastiness on there.
• Hand Rubbing: Spike does one with his claws when he sees Lickety Split playing with a ball.
  Spike: Hmmm. I wonder...
• Heroic BSoD: Pinkie Pie gets one after Spike destroys Sugarcube Corner.
• Homage: When the rampaging Spike, now immense, gets to Carousel boutique, the bit with him looking in her window and reaching for Rarity is a shot-for-shot homage to King Kong. The same is true for the Wonderbolts diving in like planes and Spike swatting at them.
• Hulk Speak: Spike's articulate vocabulary devolves to "Spike want!" as he gets bigger and out of control. Near the end, he doesn't even use words and is reduced to roaring.
• Hulking Out: Pretty much the main plot of this episode is how Spike gradually transformed into an adult dragon.
• Hypno Pendulum: Zecora briefly uses it when examining Spike.
• Hypocritical Humor: Rainbow Dash makes fun of Applejack and Twilight for tying themselves up when she did the same thing in the previous season, even aiming for Spike as they were.
• Idiot Ball: Twilight for never considering the possibility of researching dragon life cycle prior to this episode, and by extension Celestia for either similarly not doing research or, more likely, allowing Twilight to take him to Ponyville without informing her of the specifics of such. Later justified as of "Dragon Quest"; apparently since dragons are so rare, no-one ever bothered to research them to any degree, which raises its own questions.
• I Meant to Do That: Done in pantomime by the Wonderbolts after they're freed from the water tower.
• Impact Silhouette: Spike's departure from the library.
• Interrupted Declaration of Love: Subverted. Rarity interrupts Spike's, but only because she knew all along.
• Iris Out: Taking on the shape of Rarity's lipstick on Spike's cheek, and accompanied with a *mwah* sound effect.
• Irony:
  • Remember how Spike didn't like Twilight's book as a present? Now because he's greedy-obsessed, he's hoarding that book and Twilight's entire library!
  • This episode features a giant lizard with back-spines who breathes green fire and smashes the town... and they use it to do a King Kong parody!
• Jaw Drop: This is Pinkie Pie's reaction when she sees Spike grow bigger and wreck Sugarcube Corner.
• Kids Prefer Boxes: Spike is playing in one of the boxes his presents came in when he thanks Applejack (for the sixteenth time) for his new blanket.
• "King Kong" Climb: Spike climbs the tallest mountain next to Ponyville in this manner, with Rarity as his hostage, and the Wonderbolts swooping around like biplanes.
• Kissed Keepsake: Spike refuses to wash his cheek after the first time Rarity kisses him. The second time he frames her kiss.
• Kitchen Sink Included: A Visual Pun, as one can be seen as part of Spike's initial hoard.
• Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Rarity of all ponies does this complete with an Aside Glance after Spike roars at her and disheveling her mane.
  Rarity: How rude.
• Let's Get Dangerous!: When Applejack sees Spike with her apples and leaves:
  Applejack: Twilight, get mah rope.
• Literary Allusion Title: The name is similar to a 1987 Michael J. Fox film The Secret of My Success.
• Loophole Abuse: Spike did say that he wouldn't wash the cheek that Rarity kissed, but he didn't say that anypony else couldn't.
• Miracle-Gro Monster: Spike has this happen to him the greedier he gets.
• Mood Whiplash:
  • The episode ends with two characters nearly falling to their deaths, with the city destroyed, and a character who we know and love is to blame. What set all of this in motion? A spur-of-the-moment gift from the kind schoolteacher Cheerilee.
  • Spike causes massive property damage and is depressed about it. He gets a kiss on the cheek from Rarity, and then... "Dear Princess Celestia."
• Multipurpose Tongue: When he almost drops his sapphire cupcake on the ground, Spike saves it by extending his tongue to his own body length, catching it on its tip, and carefully reeling it back in.
• Mundane Made Awesome:
  • Re-shelving the entire library at once is very important.
  • A broom makes a fantastic gift!
• My God, What Have I Done?: Spike doesn't come right out and say it, but the emotion is conveyed by his reaction to seeing Ponyville devastated, and his own giant footprints.
• My God, You Are Serious!: Applejack initially laughs at Twilight's claim that Spike is running rampant... until she sees it for herself.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: A minor one with Pinkie Pie; her attempt to assault Spike with cakes only gives him more things to hoard.
• No Ontological Inertia: As soon as Spike remembers he can be generous and how happy it made Rarity, his uncontrolled dragon growth spurt and personality change reverse instantly. This leads to the new problem of how high up he and Rarity are with no way down except the cruel pull of gravity.
• Not Hyperbole: When Rarity kisses him on the cheek, he claims that he will never wash that cheek again. Later, Twilight wants to clean it because he indeed DIDN’T wash it. He even turns his head to show dirty cheek with Rarity’s kiss mark on it, confirming that he meant it.
• Obsessively Organized: Twilight re-shelves the entire library and makes sure ladles in punch bowls are straight. She's also got a copy of The Art of the To-Do List... which she sets aside to read again. Later on, she locks Spike in a different room, then realizes that he'll probably make a mess of the books in there by adding them to his hoard.
• "Oh, Crap!" Smile: Twilight gives one to Zecora after Spike steals everything in her hut.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Pinkie Pie is completely serious while defending Sugar Cube Corner from Spike. Her Heroic BSoD afterwards is still played for laughs, though.
• Overly-Long Tongue: How Spike rescues his sapphire cupcake after knocking into Cheerilee.
• Paper-Thin Disguise: Rarity doesn't recognize the giant purple/green dragon as her "Spiky-Wikey" until after he reverts back to his baby form. The same occurs with some of the other mane cast. Then again, given the significant visual and behavioral changes, perhaps they believed he was a different member of the same breed.
• Pimped-Out Cape: Rarity makes one for each of the mane cast (although the first one for herself had to be redone).
• Playing with Fire: Twilight Sparkle lights a few candles at the start of the episode.
• Post-Kiss Catatonia: Rarity kisses Spike on the cheek and he falls over.
• Post-Treatment Lollipop: Twilight takes Spike to the doctor after he begins growing very fast and becoming greedier. Spike takes the entire bowl of candy the doctor keeps on hand for patients.
• P.O.V. Cam: Several instances from Spike's perspective, including during the Flash Back mentioned above.
• The Power of Love: Spike loses himself as his greed takes over and kidnaps Rarity. However, when she mentions the Fire Ruby was a gift from "[her] dear friend, Spikey-wikey," he is able to remember why he gave it to her in the first place.
• Precocious Crush: The dragon's crush for Rarity remains, even when losing control of himself and hoarding. Dispensing of all chivalry, he's drawn to her, and kidnaps her. Unfortunately, his feelings become a Villainous Crush, as he's not willing to let her go.
• Prehensile Tail: Spike uses his tail as an extra hand when he's looking for things to hog.
• Rapid-Fire Nail Biting: Rarity bites her hooves as well.
• Razor Wings: The Wonderbolts create this effect when they fly.
• Rent-a-Zilla: Spike after maturing to full size and going on a thieving rampage comes off as this, though he isn't really attacking Ponyville and its citizens intentionally so much as he's just greedily stealing stuff and leaving mass destruction behind in the process.
• Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Spike is normally portrayed as adorable but in this episode, his reptilian traits become more pronounced as he succumbs to dragon greed. His irises become smaller and the slitted pupil more pronounced. His long tongue starts to hiss. When he opens his mouth to yawn or growl, his teeth are bigger and his mouth cavernous. Used to creepy effect when he begins to indulge his own greed; he blinks, and his eyelids are sideways and transparent.
• Rule of Symbolism: The Fire Ruby forms the shape of a heart when held upside-down, implying that love overcomes greed. Even in Spike's flashback, the stone is held that way.
• Rule of Three: It takes visits to three practitioners to determine what's wrong with Spike.
• Sci-Fi Writers Have No Sense of Scale: Rarity says that Spike's fire ruby is at least twenty carats. A twenty carat ruby would weigh about four grams and would fit on a large ring. Spike's fire ruby appears to be the size of a fist. Although technically that would be larger than twenty carats.
• Ship Tease:
  • The fans' most popular "fanon" couple got a moment as seen here before being interrupted by another famous background character. Many fangasms were had.
  • The episode is this for Spike and Rarity.
• Shout-Out:
  • The way Twilight magically rearranges her book shelf calls to mind the way Merlin packs.
  • When Twilight starts to clean Spike's cheek, you can hear a little familiar tune from the Mario Bros. game. Check it out here.
    • Which also makes it a reference to Mozart's A Little Night Music.
  • It's also reminiscent of The Sorcerer's Apprentice, complete with a Suspiciously Similar Song playing in the background.
  • Rarity's skipping out of the shop is reminiscent of Pepé Le Pew''.
  • Spike's rampage takes cues from Godzilla, King Kong, and The Incredible Hulk (Spike want!). The Wonderbolts show up to fight him probably just because, when you have the giant monster carrying the lady and climbing to a high place, you just have to include the airplanes.
  • Spike the dragon capturing Rarity the maiden reminds one of the legend of Perseus and Andromeda, as well as the legend of St. George and the Dragon.
  • The hat Cheerilee gives to Spike is similar to Michael Jackson's from "Smooth Criminal".
  • Spike's monstrous corruption after greedily demanding extra birthday presents is similar to the fall of Sméagol.
  • The scene of Spike and Rarity in free-fall after he returns to normal size bears a resemblance to the climax of Spirited Away, especially Rarity's Sparkling Stream of Tears.
  • It also bears a remarkable resemblance to the ending sequence of the computer game Toon Struck. Comparison◊. Particularly note the similar color scheme between Spike and Flux Wildly.
  • Even the show's composer got in on the act. Several cues from the background music homage James Horner's Aliens score.
• Shut Up, Scary Thing!: Rarity gives gigantic Spike a thorough telling-off for ruining her cape.
• Skewed Priorities: Played for laughs when Spike tries to swat the Pegasus ponies with Rarity.
  Rarity: Girls! My cape!
• Space Whale Aesop: Spike learns that it's better to give than receive... or else he'll get greedy and turn into a giant rampaging monster and destroy the town.
• Stealth Pun:
  • Spike plans to eat his Fire Ruby. He holds a tuning fork to test its readiness.
  • When Spike is fully grown and scaling the mountain with Rarity, the Wonderbolts perform a flight maneuver so close to him that they cut off part of his head spines in their wake. In other words, they buzzed him.
• Stock Scream: Rarity's scream from "Swarm of the Century" was reused in the scene where she gets captured by Giant Spike.
• Stock Sound Effects: When Twilight backs away sheepishly with yet another book as her gift to Spike, there is actually a sheep baaing sound in the background.
• Superpowered Evil Side: Spike's growth is powered by his Greed.
• Taking Advantage of Generosity: Spike's dragon greed kicks in this way; "It's my birthday so give me something!".
• Talking Is a Free Action: Even though Spike is on the loose and tearing Ponyville apart, Rainbow Dash takes her time to thoroughly make fun of Applejack and Twilight Sparkle, who accidentally tied themselves up when chasing Spike with a rope. She only snaps out of it after hearing Fluttershy is in danger.
• Talking the Monster to Death: Played with. Rarity goes on a tirade about how rude it is to be used as a weapon against her friends being understandable because he's a dragon. Then she describes how sweet "Spikey-wikey" was to give her the beautiful fire ruby, and that is what reminds Greedy!Spike of the moment and undoes his transformation.
• Tearful Smile: Rarity, as her silent way of showing that she always knew about Spike's crush on her.
• Teleport Spam: Twilight gets particularly spammy in this episode. It's most obvious in the scene where she tries to wipe Rarity's kiss mark off Spike's cheek, and keeps teleporting Spike to her as he tries to run away. The sequence ends when Pinkie Pie is randomly teleported in instead!
• Temporarily a Villain: It wouldn't be the first time it happened with Spike, but this time is much more threatening.
• Too Dumb to Live:

  Twilight: Pinkie Pie, stop giving him cake!
  Pinkie: I'm not giving him cake. I'm assulting him with cake!!

• Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Spike is innocently enjoying his friends' generosity until Cheerilee gives him a hat just for mentioning that it was his birthday. This triggers his greed for yet more gifts from other ponies in town.
• Wham Line: A minor example that's a Double Subversion: "I've always sorta had a crush—", which Rarity interrupts and replies to with a teary-eyed smile.
• What Have I Become?: Spike has this moment right before he changes back.
• Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: Spike's transformation to an adult dragon pretty much made him become this when he realizes what he had become, especially after he reverts back to normal.
• The Worf Effect: The Wonderbolts fail to save the day again, leaving Rainbow Dash (and Fluttershy) to do the main hero work.

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