Need brainstorming help with a MLP FIM fanfic

Alright, the premise of my fanfic is this;

It's going to be about seven chapters long, and each of the first chapters covers one of the mane 6 having a mental breakdown as a result of freak/malicious coincidences.

In Chapter 1, Fluttershy gets sprayed by a fictional skunk variant and the resulting long lasting stench drives away all her animal buddies. She reacts poorly, and it's a downhill slope.

In chapater 2, a competing fashionista moves into ponyville, and Rarity doesn't handle the idea of being replaced well.

I'm asking all you fine tropers for ideas on what happens to the other 4. I was thinking Rainbow Dash does poorly in an athletic competition for one reason or another, but I'm stuck on the rest.

If you feel like helping me an extra bit, I also need help justifying why none of them get conveniently cured by the end of their respective chapters- It doesn't make sense for their friends to ignore them for that long, regardless of how unhinged they get, and since they're getting crazy over a longer period of time the same event sequence as the Season 2 premiere wouldn't work.

If this cursory explanation didn't work, feel free to ask me whatever additional questions you need before coming up with ideas, and thanks very much in advance to any tropers who help me!

EDIT; First chapter is now up on the interwebs- pacing/canonicity help would be nice is you have a spare mo'. http://www.fimfiction.net/story/40606/The-Crazy-Mark-Chronicles

edited 30th Jul '12 4:00:08 AM by CleverPun

Maybe Applejack makes an honest mistake that causes others to view her as untrustworthy or lazy? (Both impressions would be horrifying for her.)

Having had some experience trying to help people who are a bit unhinged, I think a key point about insanity is that sometimes it puts people literally beyond help. Sometimes having people there who care can actually make things worse by enabling the behaviour, triggering paranoia, or inducing fear and hatred because the sufferer fears intimacy and becomes violently defensive when confronted with a possible source of it. So that's something to think about.

I mean that all runs contrary to the FIM theme of, well, friendship being magic. But I think if you want to take this into darker and edgier territory then that's a necessary sacrifice.

As for the ideas, I'd consider two things: what do they cherish most, and what's their biggest flaw. Take away the former, let the latter run wild. That's a recipe for madness.

For instance, on the surface Dash seems to love winning, so losing could be a trigger for her. But observing her character type, I think what she really needs is validation. That's why her virtue is loyalty - she shows others the respect and dedication she craves. When she shows off, it's just to acquire praise and admiration. So take that away. Have someone thoughtlessly betray her, and have everyone completely lose respect for her as a result. I'd say her dark side is probably her arrogance, so I'd have her respond by becoming more emotionally distanced, refusing to accept help because she's convinced herself she's too strong too need it, eventually becoming outright hostile and physically abusive.

Quick thoughts about the others:

• Twilight wants to control her environment and protect her friends, and her flaw is probably obsessiveness. Her inability to help a friend in need might be enough to set her off by itself.
• Rarity wants to be loved and relied on, and her flaw is prissiness, she's practically OCD. Suddenly becoming useless, or worse being replaced, would devastate her. If she felt dirty or inferior she could easily begin hating herself.
• Applejack wants stability and mutual trust, but can sometimes be callous. Having to deal with constant doubt would put her under incredible strain, especially if it involved her having to lie for some reason.

Pinkie... kind of already had a breakdown on the show so I'll skip that.

And yes, I have thought about this too much.

edited 26th Apr '12 6:11:46 PM by Kesteven

@ Takwin That could work, but poor communication is more of an internal factor and I was hoping for a series of external circumstances for thematic purposes. I'll think it over though, thanks.

@ Kesteven You have, but I'm not complaining! Thanks for the advice, very thorough.

I was hoping for a bell curve of darker/edgier, since the theme of this fanfic is seeing how much a friendship can take while still being salvageable (or something), so your first paragraph fits in as long as I can avoid writing myself into a corner.

Going by your formula, Fluttershy values charity and helping others, and her flaws are her possessiveness and inability to deal with other ponies over animals, and since I kind of already targeted those in my outline for chapter 1 I'd say your summary is a good building point.

Suggestions still welcome

edited 27th Apr '12 5:00:36 AM by CleverPun

Bumping- still need some suggestions, though my plans are coming along

Is this a comedy or drama?

Applejack could be so obsessed with work she becomes a mad gordon gecko fruit and veggie mogul that will essentially enslave the town of ponyville with a mafia-like iron hoof. Fluttershy could be so shy of everyone she makes it so she's the only pony in equestria. Pinkie Pie could destroy reality and make a whole new one with fourth wall breaking or summon cthulhu. Rainbow Dash could try to outrace everyone and end up in the far future or distant past and screw up that timeline. Rarity could essentially put people into a laminate like bubble so no one will ever look messy. Twilight Sparkle could be a like a Doctor Manhattan version of a unicorn or could be so impowered she kills Celestia.

these could be used as comedy or drama, I don't care as long as you give me a shout out for credit. also it could even be set up like a simpsons treehouse of horror

It's a Slice of Life dramedy. Probably more drama than comedy.

Your ideas could certainly be entertaining in a more over-the-top story, but I need scenarios that are plausible and could be recovered from.

Thanks for the suggestions but I'm afraid they'd be out of my place in my plot :P

edited 30th May '12 9:59:03 PM by CleverPun

Hehe, you said "Plot"

but anyway that's alright, maybe I should use those for my fanific. Glad I could I help

First chapter is up if anyone is even mildly interested.

Cheers.