History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E24TopBolt

* BookEnds: As a sort of BrickJoke, the episode begins with Rainbow arriving at Twilight's castle for a friendship problem only to realize she has to go back to the Wonderbolt Headquarters for it. The episode ends with her and Twilight arriving at the castle after solving the problem only for Misty Fly to arrive and say Dash is needed at Headquarters once again for a Wonderbolt emergency. Both times Rainbow complains that she was literally just there.

* {{Bookends}}: As a sort of BrickJoke, the episode begins with Rainbow arriving at Twilight's castle for a friendship problem only to realize she has to go back to the Wonderbolt Headquarters for it. The episode ends with her and Twilight arriving at the castle after solving the problem only for Misty Fly to arrive and say Dash is needed at Headquarters once again for a Wonderbolt emergency. Both times Rainbow complains that she was literally just there.

* BehindEveryGreatMan: Vapor Trail has been both a physical and LivingEmotionalCrutch for Sky Stinger ever since they met.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: Rainbow Dash's mentions of making cider with Applejack were cut from the UK airing, since "cider" refers to an alcoholic beverage there.

** Angel Wings has her moments as well.
* AnAesop: Helping a friend with a skill handicap is good and all for their self-esteem. But if the help is made in secret and it doesn't change from promoting confidence to giving them the skills needed to independently overcome their handicap, it becomes a shackle of over-dependency that weighs them both down together with adverse side effects such as overconfidence, underperformance, and overexertion to pick up the other's slack, inviting a disaster in a moment where both friends have to stand on their own without the other to support them.

* BothSidesHaveAPoint: Twilight's approach to solving the problem is to talk directly with Sky Stinger, with Vapor Trail revealing how she'd been helping him, while Rainbow wants to play it subtle, without telling Sky, while both she and Twilight help the two flyers separately to correct their respective weaknesses. Twilight and Rainbow tell each other about each approach's flaws, with Twilight's potentially causing a breakup between Vapor and Sky plus affecting his confidence, while Rainbow's lacks the honest, direct communication necessary for the problem's solution; both are proven right in the end.

* BreakUpMakeUpScenario: Between Vapor Trail and Sky Stinger after the former reveals to the latter she had been helping him.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Sky Stinger. While he is very arrogant and self-absorbed, he cares deeply for Vapor Trail, even urging Twilight and Rainbow to help her with her flying.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: As is common for map episodes, Twilight and Rainbow end up making things worse before they make it better.
* TheNicknamer: Rainbow Dash tells the newbies that they can call Twilight "T-Sparks", and herself "The Dashinator".
* NoodleIncident: According to Spitfire, an incident where somepony flew so hard their wings fell off has only happened once, but it's unknown if this is true or she's just making it up. However, it's possible she's referring to [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E16SonicRainboom Rarity's magical wings]]. Or, she's only joking.

* SnowballLie: Vapor Trail has been secretly helping Sky Stinger with his flying which has done much for his self-esteem but done little for his ability over the years.

** Though Sky Stinger doesn't realize it, Vapor Trail has been the "wind beneath his wings" ever since they met.
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Vapor Trail and Sky Stinger are having a falling-out with each other that could end their careers as Wonderbolt Cadets.

* VocalDissonance: In a flashback, even as foals, Sky Stinger and Vapor Trail have their present-day grown-up voices. Justified for the audience to recognize them.

* {{Irony}}: Despite having opposite personalities, Rainbow Dash and Vapor Trail have two things in common: They're talented flyers who have doting parents.

* AnAesop: Helping a friend with a skill handicap is good and all for their self-esteem. But if the help is made in secret and it doesn't change from promoting confidence to giving them the skills needed to independently overcome their handicap, it becomes a shackle of over-dependency that weighs them both down together with adverse side effects such as overconfidence, underperformance, and overexertion to pick up the other's slack, inviting a disaster in a moment where both friends have to stand on their own without the other to support them.

* TheGlomp: Vapor Trail: She gives Sky Stinger a big hug when they reconcile, and another when they both get into the academy (this one strong enough to knock him off his hooves).

-->'''Spitfire:''' Angel Wings! You call that cloud-busting? That cloud barely knew you were there! (''aside to Rainbow Dash'') I love my job.

-->'''Spitfire:''' Angel Wings! You call that cloud-busting? That cloud barely knew you were there!

* StealthPun: During Vapor's flashback to her youth, we see her parents flittering about their front yard trying to engage Vapor in some activity, thus acting as [[MeddlingParents "helicopter parents"]]. Their cutie marks are rotors, also pointing to the pun.

* HonestyIsTheBestPolicy: Twilight believes in this, suggesting to Vapor Trail that she should tell the truth to Sky Stinger.

* SnowballLie: Cloud Vapor has been secretly helping Sky Stinger with his flying which has done much for his self-esteem but done little for his ability over the years.

* AssKicksYou: Rainbow bumps Vapour Trail towards Sky Stinger with her rump when they're trying to help them make up.

--->'''Vapor Trail:''' SKY, YOU'RE NOT AS GOOD AS YOU THINK YOU ARE!!

* VisualPun: During Vapor's flashback to her youth, we see her parents flittering about their front yard trying to engage Vapor in some activity, thus acting as [[MeddlingParents "helicopter parents"]]. Their cutie marks are rotors, also pointing to the pun.

* VisualPun: During Vapor's flashback to her youth, we see her parents flittering about their front yard trying to engage Vapor in some activity, thus acting as [[MeddlingParents "helicopter parents"]].

* AnAesop: Helping a friend with a skill handicap is good and all for their self-esteem. But if the help is made in secret and it doesn't change from promoting confidence to giving them the skills needed to independently overcome their handicap, it becomes a shackle of over-dependency that weighs them both down together with adverse side effects such as overconfidence, inviting a disaster in a moment where both friends have to stand on their own without the other to support them.