History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E21ARockhoofAndAHardPlace

* DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength: One of Rockhoof's biggest problems throughout the episode is that he unwittingly causes damage or destruction whenever attempting a new livelihood.

'''Twilight''' Sparkle: Eh?

* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: This is how Rockhoof got his job as a keeper of the tales. bonus points since Twilight is the Headmaster of the School of Friendship. + Princess too.
---> Twilight Sparkle: As the Princess of Friendship, I'd like to appoint you as Equestria's official keeper of tales!
---> Spike: Can you do that?
---> Twilight Sparkle: Eh?

* TooMuchInformation: During his brief stint as a mail pony, Rockhoof loudly announces that Cranky Doodle Donkey needs medicine for a rash in a very embarrassing place. Spike and a few other ponies are visibly [[{{Squick}} squicked out by it]].

** Bulk Biceps makes an appearance when Rockhoof tries working at the massage parlor.
** General Seaspray makes his second appearance after being seen in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E1SchoolDazePart1 the season]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E2SchoolDazePart2 premiere]].

** Doctor Fossil and Rockhoof's old home make a return appearance, having last been seen in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E25ShadowPlayPart1 Shadow Play -- Part 1]]".

* EasilyForgiven: After Rockhoof accidentally causes the Hippogriff navy to crash into some rocks, Seaspray dismisses him but doesn't show any signs of anger when doing it, even saying [[ItHasBeenAnHonor it was an honor]] to serve with him. Silverstream later excitedly tells the tale to her classmates after hearing it from her brother Terramar.

* InstantlyProvenWrong: A rare good example. In class, Yona gushes over Rockhoof and states "day cannot get better." As soon as she says this, Rockhoof busts through the wall to get the students outside, due to thinking there is a fire. As he is about to fling Yona outside to "safety" Yona gains a giant grin and screams "day just got better!"

* MetaphoricallyTrue: When the students are discussing Rockhoof in class, they talk about some of his recent feats but get a few of the details wrong. Sandbar says he gathered all the bees in the Everfree Forest as a gift to Zecora, when he was actually giving her the leaves she needed and accidentally brought the bees with them. Silverstream says Terramar told her that Rockhoof called down the stars and sunk the whole Hippogriff Navy, when he actually sunk it due to misleading them by following the stars.

* LikeADuckTakesToWater: Flash Magnus is seen leading the first company of guards that is a mix of the other types -- both the white pegasus and both types of unicorns.

* LikeAFishTakesToWater: Unlike Rockhoof, the other Pillars have adapted pretty well to modern Equestria, either because they can still perform their original jobs (military for Flash Magnus, gardening for Mistmane, healing for Meadowbrook, and research for Starswirl), or can use their talents and experiences for new purposes (motivational coaching for Somnambula, authoring for Stygian).

* LikeADuckTakesToWater: Flash Magnus is even seen leading the first company of guards that is a mix of the other types -- both the white pegasus and both types of unicorns.

* ShockwaveStomp: During his argument with Twilight, Rockhoof slams a hoof down, hard enough to briefly lift Twilight and Spike off the floor.

* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: Besides Rock Hoof, we are shown what the rest of the pillars have been up to ever since we last saw them in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E26ShadowPlayPart2 Shadow Play-Part 2.]]

** Somnambula is a motivational speaker.
** Meadowbrooke has expanded her clinic.
** Starswirl is still learning about friendship (Which we saw him doing at the beginning of [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E16FriendshipUniversity Friendship University]])
** Stygian has written novels about his past which have all become best sellers.

* DespairEventHorizon: Rockhoof reaches it when he starts to feel that he has no place in the modern world.

** He later bursts through the wall of the same classroom when he believes there's a fire on the second floor, and evacuates the student through the hole.

** LikeADuckTakesToWater: Flash Magnus is even seen leading the first company of guards that is a mix of the other types - both the white pegasus and both types of unicorns.

** He later burst through the wall of the same classroom when he believe there's a fire on the second floor, and evacuates the student through the hole.

* ThereWasADoor: To be fair, Rockhoof does use the door to the classroom... it's just that with his large bulk and the shovel on his back, he also resizes the doorframe at the same time.

* WingDingEyes: When Rockhoof sees what appears to be a fire (actually Spike and Smolder having a fire-breathing contest), images of the volcano he fought appear in both his eyes.

** Rockhoof recalls how he saved his village from a [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E16CampfireTales river of lava]].

--> '''Yona:''' No!
--> '''Spike:''' Oh, don't worry. It doesn't have to be a long essay.

* InnocentlyInsensitive: When Spike subs for Twilight's class he casually announces Twilight can't make it because she is going to turn Rockhoof to stone. He doesn't bother explaining it is what Rockhoof wants when asked why, and after giving the assignment to the class and hearing Yona moan "[[LittleNo no]]" over Rockhoof he thinks she is moaning over the assignment.

* LikeAFishTakesToWater: Unlike Rockhoof, the other Pillars have adapted pretty well to modern Equestria, either because they can still perform their original jobs (Military for Flash Magnus, Gardening for Mistmane, Healing for Meadowbrook, and Research for Starswirl), or can use their talents and experiences for new purposes (Motivational coaching for Somnambula, Authoring for Stygian).
* MetaphoricallyTrue: When the students are discussing Rockhoof in class they talk about some of his recent feats but get a few of the details wrong. Sandbar says he gathered all the bees in the Everfree Forest as a gift to Zecora when he was actually giving her the leaves she needed and accidentally brought the bees with them. Silverstream says Terramar told her that Rockhoof called down the stars and sunk the whole Hippogriff Navy when he actually sunk it due to misleading them by following the stars.

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Spike tells the class that Rockhoof will be turned to stone, then moves on to assigning them an essay.

* TheCameo: Cranky Doodle has a short appearance.

Rockhoof is helping with the excavation of his old village with Professor Fossil, but with his overpowering strength and little regard for the historical nature of the artifacts, Fossil sends him to Twilight Sparkle. Twilight decides to make him a professor at the School of Friendship. During the class, he starts to tell tales of his fight with an Ursa Major, which enraptures the students, particularly Yona. However, as he acts out more and more, he starts destroying parts of the classroom. Twilight and Applejack ask to speak to him privately, explaining he needs to be less active in the classroom. As they are talking, they witness flames coming out of a school window, and before Twilight can stop him, Rockhoof goes to rescues the students in the classroom below and put the fire out. Too late, he learns that it was just fire from Spike and Smolder's fire-breathing contests, and he has ruined some of the sewing Rarity was doing.

With no other options, Rockhoof asks Twilight to cast a spell that will turn him into a statue, which shocks Twilight. She insists there must be another option, and has Spike teach her class while she tries to work out a solution. In class, Spike has the students write an essay about herosim, which gives Yona an idea. After class, she approaches Rockhoof and reads her essay, describing how she felt like an outsider at first but discovered a way to fit in, and telling him of her appreciation for him. She then shows Rockhoof a crowd of students waiting outside, all eager to hear the rest of his story about fighting the Ursa Major. Twilight, thinking she has found a solution, is surprised to find the crowd hanging on his every word. Seeing how much happiness his stories bring, Twilight appoints Rockhoof as Equestria's official Keeper of Tales so that he can pass his stories of a bygone era on to others. Grateful to have found a purpose that suits him, Rockhoof starts into a new story.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Rockhoof asking to be turned into a stone statue sounds all too much like someone contemplating suicide.

* InnocentlyInsensitive: When Spike subs for Twilight's class he casually announces Twilight can't make it because she is going to turn Rockhoof to stone. He doesn't bother explaining it is what Rockhoof wants when asked why, and after giving the assignment to the class and hearing Yona moan "no" over Rockhoof he thinks she is moaning over the assignment.

* FridgeLogic: In an InUniverse example, Applejack wonders why the hippogriffs need ships, when they can easily turn themselves into seaponies. Twilight makes a weak guess that they "like cruises" and the question is quickly forgotten.

* WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer: Rockhoof is used to fix all troubles with brute force and the clever use of his shovel. While this makes him a very good hero, he's ill-suited for non-action jobs.