History CodexEquus / TropesOToP

** It's mentioned in a few entries that Golden Scepter has this kind of relationship with Temnobog, the Dark One. Despite both of them being night and day in terms of personality, beliefs, and abilities, and despite Temnobog being the ''last'' sort of person that someone like Golden Scepter would want to associate with, they were nevertheless able to become good friends. Part of the reason is that, as a highly beloved ruler and [[AnthropomorphicPersonification the living embodiment of Ponykind]], Golden Scepter represents [[ForWantOfANail the god Belyolen and Temnobog could and should have been]]. But a canonized Codexverse quote also reveals that he and Temnobog became friends because, after hearing of the latter's emotionally abusive past, Golden Scepter was incredibly empathetic and treated him kindly, [[YouAreNotAlone even going out of his way to help him and his brother]] despite Temnobog being a GodOfEvil. Some of Golden Scepter's sons see this as rather odd, with Written Word [[GoodCannotComprehendEvil finding it baffling that someone like his own father would befriend an Evil deity like Temnobog]], though he would eventually get over this and befriend (or at least tolerate) Phykti, Temnobog's eldest daughter. Pokhot, Temnobog's youngest daughter, see nothing wrong with it and often plays "[[SecretTestOfCharacter games]]" of temptation with them whenever they visit the Bogolenya pantheon, as her way of being friendly with the children of a god who's friends with her father. It's revealed in Canteros' entry that Canteros was responsible for Golden Scepter befriending Temnobog in the first place; as Temnobog [[IJustWantToBeLoved only wanted to be loved and respected]], Canteros pulled some strings to ensure the Deer god of Evil's emotional recovery from the Elternteil Deer Pantheon's emotional abuse, "[[TheEmpath nudging]]" empathetic individuals like Upepo, Golden Scepter, and Kaldr to Temnobog so he could receive a steady stream of support.

** It's noted that this is somewhat common among dragons. [[VisualNovel/AngelsWithScalyWings Aerri]] openly admits she's one of the dragons who favors it, and has been in open romantic relationships before. However, despite being heavily implied to have romantic feelings for Shining Dove, he knows this isn't the case with him or his wife Edel. As such, she [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy respects it and even provides potions to aid their relationship.]]

* PhlebotinumKilledTheDinosaurs: In the Codexverse, the end of the Dinosaurs -- both the non-sapient species and sapient races -- over 65 million years ago was the result of not one but a [[RasputinianDeath conga-line of multiple]] [[ApocalypseHow cataclysms and catastrophes]] occurring at roughly similar time-frame, devastating them to the point most of them were wiped out and those that survive either retreated into seclusion or ditched the planet.

* PhlebotinumKilledTheDinosaurs: In the Codexverse, the end of the Dinosaurs - both the non-sapient species and sapient races - over 65 million years ago was the result of not one but a [[RasputinianDeath conga-line of multiple]] [[ApocalypseHow cataclysms and catastrophes]] occurring at roughly similar time-frame, devastating them to the point most of them were wiped out and those that survive either retreated into seclusion or ditched the planet.
** On top of a [[DeathFromAbove comet impact]], another natural ([[AmbiguousSituation maybe]]) disaster from outer space in the form of a cosmic shower of the mysterious [[{{Manga/GetterRobo}} Shinka Rays]] caused a mass die-off owing to its utter lethality to the Dinosaurs and other creatures deemed '[[EvolutionaryLevels evolutionarily unfit]]'. Some of the unfortunate Dinosaurs suffered a [[CruelAndUnusualDeath truly gruesome demise]] of having their flesh ''[[ImMelting melt off]]'' their ''[[LiterallyShatteredLives shattering bones]]''.
** [[InYourNatureToDestroyYourselves Internecine]] [[HumansAreBastards conflict]] between the sapient Dinosaur races, factions and civilizations [[HoistByHisOwnPetard caused widespread destruction that greatly weakened themselves]].
** A plague of Space Kaijus attacks during the twilight of the Dinosaurs were also responsible for devastating their kind. One of those space-kaijus - a [[{{Characters/GodzillaTheGhidorahs}} certain three-headed monster]] - did quite a number on them in particular.
** A (suspected) Child of the Void, [[spoiler:Fegrð, the Author of Beautiful Ends]], was one of the final nails in the coffin for the Dinosaurs, having arrived 65 million years ago to have the Dinosaurs are wiped out. Given the [[RasputinianDeath last couple of disasters the Dinosaurs already went through]], the last being a particularly nasty space-kaiju, he claims he was there mostly to '[[CoupDeGrace finish the job]]'.

--> '''Moon Ray Vaughoof:''' So y'mean ta say that ev'ry time some-creature turns into a god, they shit rocks?

** [[Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure Radiant E. O. Speedwagon]] (now [[MeaningfulRename Arch-Prince Rhinwedd Llachar Grittin]]) ends up marrying both Gifted Goldstar and his wife, Shining Settlement, after the two of them offered to include him in their relationship. While this was treated as scandalous in their time, both Gifted and Shining had since realized the social norms they grew up with were incredibly bigoted and toxic, and wanted to give their old friend a respite from all the suffering he went through for the greater good. The three of them have since become a loving polycule, but due to his past traumas, Speedwagon sometimes [[InsecureLoveInterest wonders if he really is worthy of Gifted and Shining's love or not]].

** Subverted in regards to things like societies and technologies, according to [[https://www.deviantart.com/comments/1/869479644/4944155377 BrutalityInc]]. InUniverse, present-Age scholars, historians, and the like regard divine societies of pre-Known History like the Alicorn Civilization as 'better' due to a combination of advanced development in technology, magic, and progressive thinking lending to the creation of divine utopias. However, said scholars and historians forget that [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome such societies take a long time to develop]], and ironically, the deities who founded them were [[TheFutureWillBeBetter looking towards the future]].

** The Second Age, which is a technological era with little magic, we have familiar nations that became mythical in later Ages; the '[[{{UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates}} Federal Republic of Ponyland]]', the '[[{{UsefulNotes/SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn}} Union of Sovereign Hooviet Republics]]' (Which was later remembered as the 'Empire of Ushr' and its people 'Ushrites'), the '[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-British_Union#World_War_II_(1940) Pranco]]-[[{{UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire}} Bitish]] Commonwealth' from a union of the Prance and the Bitish Isles/Isle of Pony, and several others. The Tales Seven lived in Ponyland. Early in that Age, though, there were more mythical ([[RealAfterAll or not]]) civilizations or realms such as [[{{Camelot}} Friendship Garden]], ruled from [[WorldsStrongestMan Queen Majesty]] to [[{{Myth/KingArthur}} Queen Sunsparkle]] and served as the predecessors to the Isle of Pony and the Bitish Empire.

* PyrrhicVillainy: In the Codexverse, the inherent self-destructive nature of all things Evil and Villainous meant that no evil or villainy is sustainable in the long run, no matter how robust or how successful they are. The inverse however is also true for all things Good and Heroic, as they'll eventually fall to complacency and stagnation that makes them vulnerable to corruption and destruction, although it'll take much longer since they're not as inherently self-destructive. The only examples of evil ''and'' good that does not fall to this is when both heroism and villainy exists in a [[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil harmonious balance]].

* OppositesAttract: Taken UpToEleven with Válka and his wife Mier, who are a WarGod and Goddess of ''Peace'' respectively. Mier balancing out Válka is one reason why he's the only one of his three siblings to ''not'' fall to evil. They're also SickeningSweethearts and deeply in love with each other.

* {{Precursors}}: All over the place. Since Codex Equus covers all canonical Generations of MLP settings, many societies and civilizations of the earlier Ages of Known History plays this to those of later Ages, and sometimes [[RecursivePrecursors Precursors plays this role to other Precursors]]. And that's not counting those that exist BEFORE Known History when all records are apocryphal and evidence are paleoarchaeological at best. Given the sheer scales of the setting, which [[TimeAbyss covers up to BILLIONS of years of Deep Time]], [[RecursivePrecursors many]], ''[[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair many]]'', '''''[[UpToEleven many]]''''' precursor civilizations had [[TheCycleOfEmpires risen and fallen]] well before Ponykind had its very first civilizations or even EXISTED. Incidentally, all this plays into [[CentralTheme central themes and tones]] of [[ViciousCycle Vicious Cycles]] and [[MonoNoAware the ultimate transience/fragility of all things]].

** Queen Mab I, the mother of Mab II, is a small Fae goddess who not only had a nature-based portfolio, she could also wield Chaos magic like Discord. Her insanity makes her an extremely dangerous foe, using her powers to inflict [[BalefulPolymorph horrific transformations]], [[RealityWarper warp reality to her whims]], and cause [[ButterflyOfDoom "domino effects"]] that lead to utterly catastrophic disasters for anyone who tries to go after her. It took ''every'' Fae to seal her the first time, and it took ''even more'' people to defeat her the second time.

** King Xestobium is genocidally insane to the point of trying to detonate the entire 'Ring of Fire' in his attempt to kill off the Dragon species as well as the Summer Court, which would also trigger a mass extinction event via volcanic ice age, which he may have known about but no longer cared. There's implication that he had no intent to survive this himself, making him [[PutThemAllOutOfMyMisery far more sympathetic]] than Ahuizotl, who kills because he sees death as a natural part of "The Cycle", and that [[ForTheEvulz it amuses him]].

* OurGiantsAreBigger: Prominently mentioned, with the Codex going into extensive detail in explaining their various behaviors and cultures, revealing they have considerable HiddenDepths than most small races assume they have other than just being violent, over-sized brutes.

** Nature Giants, among some of the biggest Giants on Equus, are a race of druids attuned to nature ruled over by a theocratic matriarchal monarchy. They use to be more friendly to Tinies, but a terrible experience with Grogar and Tambelon's desecration of their domains in the First Age irrevocably ruined their relationship with Tinies outsiders and promptly lead to their continued isolationism to this day.

* OurZombiesAreDifferent: The zombies of [[VideoGame/StoryOfTheBlanks Sunnytown]] were products of a curse Pakak put on them as [[KarmicTransformation punishment]] for murdering an innocent filly out of fear of the Cutie Mark she earned. As undead, they're biologically immortal, and the fact that they're [[TheNeedless unhindered by mortal needs like eating, breathing, or sleeping]] allows them to pursue their victims for longer periods of time. However, Pakak's curse prevents them from leaving Sunnytown or the Everfree Forest, essentially making them prisoners in their own home.

** Most deities are born from various elemental/abstract phenomena as simple lifeforms that gradually develop sapience and intelligence until they Ascend to godhood. Other deities, however, are the result of [[DeityOfHumanOrigin mortals Ascending to godhood]], hence the Ascendant category. While generally [[PureMagicBeings composed of magic]], deities can assume physical forms and are capable of biological reproduction, even spawning racial divine hybrids in some cases, and unlike mortals, they generally do not suffer any consequences from incestual relationships. Also, unlike mortals, deities [[StrongerWithAge only become more powerful and eldritch as they get older]], with the oldest of them being feared and [[EldritchAbomination incomprehensible]]. However, due to the fluid nature of divinity in general, it is possible for deities to take this further by having their 'age' accelerated or even re-Ascending into a completely different being under the right circumstances.

CodexEquus/TropesAToB ([[AbusiveParents/CodexEquus Abusive Parents]]) | CodexEquus/TropesCToD | CodexEquus/TropesEToF | CodexEquus/TropesGToH | CodexEquus/TropesIToJ | CodexEquus/TropesKToL ([[LaserGuidedKarma/CodexEquus Laser-Guided Karma]]) | CodexEquus/TropesMToN | '''Tropes O to P''' | CodexEquus/TropesQToR | CodexEquus/TropesSToT | CodexEquus/TropesUToV | CodexEquus/TropesWToX | CodexEquus/TropesYToZ]]]]-]

** Scarlet Bell feared the idea of Noble Grace and Bubbling Beaker retaliating against her for ruining their work as a filly, which became one of the reasons why she moved to the Grittish Isles and settled down for a quiet life. Years later, after her grandniece, Midnight Bell, ran off alone to save Page Wheel, she quickly learned that she was right to be fearful, as Noble Grace and Bubbling Beaker were also in the same country ''by [[CopntrivedCoincidence sheer coincidence]]''.

** Scarlet Bell feared the idea of Noble Grace and Bubbling Beaker retaliating against her for ruining their work as a filly, which became one of the reasons why she moved to the Grittish Isles and settled down for a quiet life. Years later, after her grandniece, Midnight Bell, ran off alone to save Page Wheel, she quickly learned that she was right to be fearful, as [[AdultFear Noble Grace and Bubbling Beaker were also in the same country]] ''by sheer coincidence''.

* {{Precursors}}: All over the place. Since Codex Equus covers all canonical Generations of MLP settings, many societies and civilizations of the earlier 'Ages of Known History' plays this to those of later Ages, and sometimes [[RecursivePrecursors Precursors plays this role to other Precursors]]. And that's not counting those that exist BEFORE Known History when all records are apocryphal and evidence are paleoarchaeological at best. Given the sheer scales of the setting, which [[TimeAbyss covers up to BILLIONS of years of Deep Time]], [[RecursivePrecursors many]], ''[[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair many]]'', '''''[[UpToEleven many]]''''' precursor civilizations had [[TheCycleOfEmpires risen and fallen]] well before Ponykind had its very first civilizations or even EXISTED. Incidentally, all this plays into [[CentralTheme central themes and tones]] of [[ViciousCycle Vicious Cycles]] and [[MonoNoAware the ultimate transience/fragility of all things]].
** The venerable Alicorn Civilization was not the only one of its time - in its heyday, it coexisted with, among many others, the '[[TheFairFolk Empire of the Fae]]' ruled by Queen Mab I, the '[[OurDragonsAreDifferent Grand Tianlong Dynasty]]' in the eastern continents, the '[[HalfHumanHybrid Halfblood Empire]]' founded by King [[FirstOfItsKind Miracle Wing]] / [[DeityOfHumanOrigin Ibrida]], the '[[BigCreepyCrawlies Cephalothoraxian Mediumocracies]]', the '[[BeePeople Anthophilan Hiveswarms]]', just to name a few. Despite the great heights they've risen to, many of them would decline and eventually be destroyed by decadence, civil war and other catastrophes.

* PrinceOfPranksters:
** Arlequin is the literal Goddess of Pranks, and plays lighthearted pranks constantly, even on other gods. She gets it from her father Pakak, the God of Mischief and Discord's brother, who loves her pranks just as much.
** Prince Puck, Empress Blackrose's eldest son, is a literal Prince due to being a First-Spawn son of the Changeling goddess, Empress Blackrose. He's also a lover of pranks and is usually good-natured about it... but he'll resort to meaner pranks if someone has managed to incur his wrath.

* PhilosophersStone: One is created every time someone Ascends to godhood. They have the cataloged abilities of being used for transmutation, extending life, and empowering their user, but also have a broad range of abilities depending on the deity who they were created from. The Acension process that creates them is [[https://www.deviantart.com/comments/1/859065132/4904296474 hilariously lampshaded]] at one point.

** However, because the nature of deities is fluid, it is possible for them to have their ages accelerated far past their natural age or 're-Ascend' into completely different beings under the right circumstances. Princess Arcus, Queen Aoide Mousikós, and [[spoiler:Diamond Tiara/Queen Elpis]] are a few examples of the former, while Moon Ray Vaughoof/Prince Canticum Lunae Cahaya is an example of the latter.

** In a ShoutOut to popular fanon, it is revealed [[spoiler:Vinyl Scratch/'DJ Pon-3', Octavia roommate/soulmate]] in Ponyville is actually an Equestrian Vampire who had been around for [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld 500 years]], sustaining herself through blood packs from blood banks and feeding ([[VegetarianVampire non-lethally]]) on the occasional AssholeVictim to sate her HorrorHunger. Luckily for every-pony, she is a FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire in Ponyville and apparently the town already knows of and is fine with her vampirism.
** During the 'Great Wars Era' of the Second Age, a ''[[FeralVampires Strigoi]]'' from [[{{Myth/RussianMythologyAndTales}} Strussia]] somehow managed to find its way to Ponyland and began terrorizing a town preying on its inhabitants. Unfortunately for the Strigoi, a working-class Strussian émigré member of the VampireHunter group which went after and eventually ambushed the vampire [[https://www.deviantart.com/comments/1/829176999/4891700191 brought]] a [[{{UsefulNotes/RedsWithRockets}} Hooviet]]-made [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPV_heavy_machine_gun KPV-series]] [[MoreDakka Heavy Machine Gun]] along to deal with the bloodsucking bastard.[[note]]For reference, those things fire 14.5x114mm rounds size of fists which can absolutely shred people and kill light vehicles at a range of up to 4-8 km at 600 rounds-per-minute[[/note]] [[CurbstompBattle The Strigoi]] [[MugglePower didn't stand]] [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill a chance]].

* OurGodsAreDifferent: In the Codexverse, deities are MadeOfMagic and come in three categories: Elementals, Ethereals, and Ascendants. Most deities are born from various elemental/abstract phenomena as simple lifeforms that gradually develop sapience and intelligence until they Ascend to godhood. Other deities, however, are the result of [[DeityOfHumanOrigin mortals Ascending to godhood]], hence the Ascendant category. Deities can assume physical forms and are capable of biological reproduction, even spawning racial divine hybrids in some cases, and unlike mortals, they generally do not suffer any consequences from incestual relationships. Also, unlike mortals, deities [[StrongerWithAge only become more powerful and eldritch as they get older]], with the oldest of them being feared and [[EldritchAbomination incomprehensible]]. However, due to the fluid nature of divinity in general, it is possible for deities to take this further by having their 'age' accelerated or even re-Ascending into a completely different being under the right circumstances. Many mortal factions/individuals like the Alicorn Ascendancy have tried creating shortcuts to godhood, but because the complex nature of Ascension and divinity in general ensure that many of said attempts fail disastrously.
* OurMermaidsAreDifferent: Merponies and Sea Ponies are two Pony tribes that live underwater, with their racial magics naturally involving [[MakingASplash water]]. Alicorns can choose to manifest Sea Pony traits in order to gain access to their racial abilities.

** The Enchanted Throne of Friendship Gardens contains the Majestic Power, the magical power of [[WorldsStrongestMan the strongest mortal pony to ever live]] (heavily implied to be Queen Majesty), but will only give it (and thus the throne of Friendship Gardens) to one worthy. It's given it to heroes throughout history in times of great need, most recently Fluttershy, but most return it due to having no interest in ruling. Only Queen Sunsparkle has ever claimed it for any length of time, though she gave it up for a worthy successor to use so she could help those pony colonists who got stranded in space. [[spoiler: Fluttershy would eventually inherit the throne after the League of Domination Crisis.]]

* OurGodsAreDifferent: In the Codexverse, deities are MadeOfMagic and come in three categories: Elementals, Ethereals, and Ascendants. Deities can be born from various phenomena, and generally start out as simple lifeforms that gradually develop a complex sapience and intelligence as they grow, until they obtain godlike power and status. However, as shown by many Codex entries, it is possible for mortals to [[DeityOfHumanOrigin Ascend to godhood]], hence the Ascendant category, by achieving a certain level of enlightenment that would influence the domains they would get after Ascending. Deities are also capable of assuming physical forms and biological reproduction, spawning hybrids depending on what type of deity the parents are, and unlike mortals, their aging processes are completely different - [[StrongerWithAge deities only become more powerful and eldritch as they grow older]], with the oldest of them being feared and [[EldritchAbomination incomprehensible]] to mortals. This aspect of divinity is very prominent with [[WingedUnicorn Alicorns]], who gain more wings and an ethereal, eldritch appearance the older they get, with Queen Mzazi and Emperor Golden Scepter being two such examples. Because of the relative accessibility to godhood for mortals, many mortal factions/individuals like the Alicorn Ascendancy have tried creating shortcuts to godhood or streamlining the process to make it a little easier to undergo. But because of the complex nature of Ascension and divinity in general, many of said attempts had failed disastrously.

** The Second Age, which is a technological era with little magic, we have familiar nations that became mythical in later Ages; the '[[{{UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates}} Federal Republic of Ponyland]]', the '[[{{UsefulNotes/SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn}} Union of Sovereign Hooviet Republics]]' (Which was later remembered as the 'Empire of Ushr' and its people 'Ushrites'), the '[[{{UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire}} Bitish Royal Commonwealth]]' of the Bitish Isles/Isle of Pony, and several others. The Tales Seven lived in Ponyland. Early in that Age, though, there were more mythical ([[RealAfterAll or not]]) civilizations or realms such as [[{{Camelot}} Friendship Garden]], ruled from [[WorldsStrongestMan Queen Majesty]] to [[{{Myth/KingArthur}} Queen Sunsparkle]] and served as the predecessors to the Isle of Pony and the Bitish Royal Commonwealth.