Line #173 Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E10SecretOfMyExcess


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8	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Secret-of-My-Excess_7322.jpg]]
9	[[caption-width-right:350:[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings It's my birthday, and I wants it.]]]]
10
11	->'''Spike:''' Hey there, Lickety Split! That's a pretty cool ball you got there! Did you know it's my birthday?
12
13	-> Written by M.A. Larson
14
15	Lights dim around the library as Twilight Sparkle prepares for the highly arduous task of... [[MundaneMadeAwesome 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.
16
17	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.
18
19	->'''Rainbow Dash:''' Don't you know you get presents on your birthday?\
20	'''Spike:''' Well, actually, this is my first birthday in Ponyville. I usually only get ''one'' gift for my birthday. From Twilight. A ''book''.\
21	(''Twilight smiles sheepishly and then hides the gift-wrapped book she was carrying behind her back'')
22
23	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…
24
25	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 HulkSpeak 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!
26
27	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 [[GravityIsAHarshMistress suddenly plummet to the ground below.]] In freefall, [[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove Spike starts to confess his love for Rarity]], only for [[InterruptedDeclarationOfLove 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.
28
29	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.
30
31	His spirits uplifted, Spike writes his own letter to Princess Celestia:
32
33	->''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.''\
34	\
35	''Well...'' almost ''anything.'' [Spike turns, revealing he has framed Rarity's last kiss.]
36
37	----
38	!!Tropes:
39
40	* TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects: 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.
41	* AnAesop: "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''.
42	* AffectionateNickname: Spike is called "Spikey-wikey" by Pinkie Pie, then Rarity.
43	* AgelessBirthdayEpisode: Spike's.
44	* AllAnimalsAreDogs: 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.
45	* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: Spike tries to confess his crush to Rarity while both are plummeting to their deaths.
46	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: We have this lovely little quote from Rarity:
47	-->'''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]'' [[FelonyMisdemeanor THIS IS A CRIME AGAINST FASHION!]]
48	* AscendedFridgeHorror: 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.... [[SubvertedTrope 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 InTheBlood for Spike forever and we see more adult dragons in the background than children only makes things worse...
49	* AshFace: Happens to the pony pediatrician when Twilight takes Spike to see him.
50	* AttackBackfire: When Pinkie throws a pudding at Spike, he just catches it and adds it to his growing hoard.
51	-->'''Pinkie Pie:''' How dare you take the cake!
52	* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Who knew puberty in dragons could be so destructive? The [[WorkingTitle working title]] for the episode was, in fact, "Attack of the 50 Foot Dragon".
53	* BabyTalk: 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.
54	* BehindTheBlack: 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.
55	* BlahBlahBlah: While a kidnapped Rarity endlessly berates him, Spike just rolls his eyes, and motions his hands in the "Blah, blah, blah" manner.
56	* BoundAndGagged: Twilight and Applejack attempt to hogtie Spike but they only succeed in tying themselves to a tree.
57	* CallBack:
58	** We had some idea how large adult Spike could get from [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E23TheCutieMarkChronicles "The Cutie Mark Chronicles"]].
59	** The whole episode lends context to the jewel-hoarding dragons we've seen in "Dragonshy" and "Owl's Well that Ends Well".
60	** Twilight tried to tell Spike that his feelings were obvious to Rarity in "[[Recap.MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E20GreenIsntYourColor Green Isn't Your Color]]".
61	* TheCameo: As mentioned below, Derpy Hooves.
62	* CaptainObvious: "He's... a ''dragon''."
63	-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' That's not the problem. He's always ''been'' a dragon!
64	* CassandraTruth: When Twilight tells Applejack that she needs her help corralling Spike.
65	-->'''Twilight:''' Applejack, help! Spike's running wild and I need you to lasso him!\
66	'''Applejack:''' That's a good one, Twilight! Sweet little Spike running wild!\
67	[''Spike runs by'']\
68	'''Applejack:''' Twilight, get my rope.
69	* ChekhovsGag: The emergency siren Spike stole wasn't just a throw away joke - it also summons the [[RedshirtArmy Wonderbolts.]]
70	* ChekhovsGun:
71	** Spike's enduring crush on Rarity, more specifically, the good feeling he got when giving the Fire Ruby to her.
72	** The fire ruby itself making it a ChekhovsGift.
73	** Rarity's torn cape.
74	* CirclingBirdies:
75	** 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.
76	** Cheerilee also sees stars after her collision with Spike.
77	* CloseUpOnHead: 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.
78	* ColorCodedStones: That red gemstone Spike's saving for his birthday? It's called a Fire Ruby.
79	* ContinuityCavalcade: In Spike's initial hoard we see: Applejack's trophy from "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E4ApplebuckSeason Applebuck Season]]", Pinkie Pie's rubber chicken from "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E7Dragonshy Dragonshy]]", the rainbow football from "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E13FallWeatherFriends Fall Weather Friends]]", Pinkie Pie's foam finger from "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E16SonicRainboom Sonic Rainboom]]", Apple Bloom's bowling ball from "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E6TheCutiePox The Cutie Pox]]", and Pinkie's tuba (although technically a sousaphone) from "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E10SwarmOfTheCentury Swarm of the Century]]".
80	* ContinuityNod:
81	** Fluttershy's able to fly [[ChekhovsSkill almost as fast]] as Rainbow Dash, as seen in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E2TheReturnOfHarmonyPart2 Return of Harmony]]".
82	** The Water Tower used to feed the Ursa Minor in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E6BoastBusters Boast Busters]]" is used to store Spike's hoard (and trap the Wonderbolts).
83	** From "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E7Dragonshy Dragonshy]]", Fluttershy's fear of adult dragons makes a return and Spike climbs up the same mountain that the dragon lived in.
84	** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E4LunaEclipsed 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.
85	** 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 "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E4LunaEclipsed Luna Eclipsed]]" to make Nightmare Moon illusions.
86	** Rainbow Dash: "You tied YOURSELVES up?!" [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E13FallWeatherFriends Yeah, well you did too...]]
87	* CrashIntoHello: 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.
88	* CrushFilter: 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.
89	* ADayInTheLimelight: Focuses on Spike, [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E19ADogAndPonyShow once]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E24OwlsWellThatEndsWell again]].
90	* DeadlyUpgrade: Dragon adulthood grants immense size and power, but at the cost of becoming a greedy, mindless rampaging beast.
91	* DelayedReaction:
92	** Rarity has one upon first hearing Spike intends to eat the Fire Ruby.
93	--->'''Rarity:''' Is that a Fire Ruby? That must be at least 20 carats! No inclusions, pristine facets...\
94	'''Spike:''' And totally delicious.\
95	'''Twilight:''' Uh, you guys don't mind?\
96	'''Rarity:''' Oh, of course. I just came by to see if you had any books on historical fashion. Did you say "delicious?"\
97	'''Spike:''' Sure did!
98	** Happens again to Spike when he realizes Twilight gave him the washcloth for his kissed cheek.
99	* DisapprovingLook: Twilight gives Spike one that borders on DeathGlare territory when he wonders why she gave him a washcloth.
100	* DragonHoard: Spike starts with coveting gems, but soon collects anything and everything. Apparently a dragon's size is determined by the size of its hoard.
101	* EasilyForgiven: PlayedForLaughs at the end, where Rarity praises Spike for saving Ponyville... from himself.
102	* EatDirtCheap: One pony's priceless jewelry is another dragon's delicacy.
103	* EdibleAmmunition: Pinkie Pie tries to fight off giant Spike with ''cakes''. Too bad they're ineffective and Spike just [[{{Pun}} takes the cake]].
104	* EpicFail:
105	** Twilight and Applejack try to tie up Spike but tie themselves to a tree.
106	** The Wonderbolts, whose heroic efforts end with them stuck inside the empty water tower.
107	** Pinkie Pie's cake throwing just fuels Spike's greed even further and empties the bakery even faster.
108	* EvilSoundsDeep: 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.
109	* {{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.
110	* FreefallRomance: Spike chooses the moment when he and Rarity are plummeting to their doom to confess his crush to her.
111	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: 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.
112	* FurryConfusion: 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.
113	* FurryReminder: Junebug is drinking from the pool of a (non-drinking) fountain like a horse before Spike talks to her.
114	* GaussianGirl: Rarity gets this treatment when she's lusting over the Fire Ruby.
115	* GiftGivingGaffe:
116	** 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.
117	** 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..
118	* TheGlomp: 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.
119	* GoodCopBadCop: Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, respectively, when they try to get Spike to put Rarity down.
120	-->'''Rainbow Dash:''' Put her down, right now!\
121	'''Fluttershy:''' I-- if you wouldn't mind, that is...\
122	'''Rainbow Dash:''' I mean it, dragon boy!\
123	'''Fluttershy:''' We'll be ever so grateful if you'd be so kind as to possibly consider...\
124	'''Rainbow Dash:''' Drop her, scaly!
125	* GotMeDoingIt: Twilight momentarily lapses into Zecora's [[RhymesOnADime rhyming habit]], to the point of matching her meter.
126	-->'''Twilight:''' You mean, the more things a dragon collects the bigger and greedier he gets?
127	* GravityIsAHarshMistress:
128	** 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.
129	** 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.
130	* {{Greed}}: Spike's (and every dragon's) problem. Side effects include compulsive hoarding, loss of complete sentences, and very fast, very massive growth.
131	* GrievousHarmWithABody: Spike grabs Rarity in his tail, then uses her to swat at Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, much to Rarity's chagrin.
132	* GrossUpCloseUp: Spike said he wouldn't wash that cheek and he ''meant it''. There's dirt and grim and other nastiness on there.
133	* HandRubbing: Spike does one with his claws when he sees Lickety Split playing with a ball.
134	-->'''Spike:''' Hmmm. I wonder...
135	* HeroicBSOD: ''Pinkie Pie'' gets one after Spike destroys Sugarcube Corner.
136	* {{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 ''Film/KingKong''. The same is true for the Wonderbolts diving in like planes and Spike swatting at them.
137	* HulkSpeak: 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.
138	* HulkingOut: Pretty much the main plot of this episode is how Spike gradually transformed into an adult dragon.
139	* HypnoPendulum: Zecora briefly uses it when examining Spike.
140	* HypocriticalHumor: Rainbow Dash makes fun of Applejack and Twilight for tying themselves up when [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E13FallWeatherFriends she did the same thing in the previous season]], even aiming for Spike as they were.
141	* IdiotBall: 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 "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E21DragonQuest Dragon Quest]]"; apparently since dragons are so rare, no-one ever bothered to research them to any degree, which raises its own questions.
142	* IMeantToDoThat: Done in pantomime by the Wonderbolts after they're freed from the water tower.
143	* ImpactSilhouette: Spike's departure from the library.
144	* InterruptedDeclarationOfLove: Subverted. Rarity interrupts Spike's, but only because she knew all along.
145	* IrisOut: Taking on the shape of Rarity's lipstick on Spike's cheek, and accompanied with a mwah sound effect.
146	* {{Irony}}:
147	** 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!
148	** This episode features a [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} giant lizard with back-spines who breathes green fire and smashes the town]]... and they use it to do a ''Film/KingKong'' parody!
149	* JawDrop: This is Pinkie Pie's reaction when she sees Spike grow bigger and wreck Sugarcube Corner.
150	* KidsPreferBoxes: Spike is playing in one of the boxes his presents came in when he thanks Applejack (for the sixteenth time) for his new blanket.
151	* KingKongClimb: Spike climbs the tallest mountain next to Ponyville in this manner, with Rarity as his hostage, and the Wonderbolts swooping around like biplanes.
152	* KissedKeepsake: Spike refuses to wash his cheek after the first time Rarity kisses him. The second time he frames her kiss.
153	* KitchenSinkIncluded: A VisualPun, as one can be seen as part of Spike's initial hoard.
154	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Rarity of all ponies does this complete with an AsideGlance after Spike roars at her and disheveling her mane.
155	-->'''Rarity:''' How rude.
156	* LetsGetDangerous: When Applejack sees Spike with her apples and leaves:
157	-->'''Applejack:''' Twilight, get mah rope.
158	* LiteraryAllusionTitle: The name is similar to a 1987 Creator/MichaelJFox film ''The Secret of My Success''.
159	* LoopholeAbuse: Spike did say that he wouldn't wash the cheek that Rarity kissed, but he didn't say that anypony else couldn't.
160	* MiracleGroMonster: Spike has this happen to him the greedier he gets.
161	* MoodWhiplash:
162	** 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.
163	** Spike causes massive property damage and is depressed about it. He gets a kiss on the cheek from Rarity, and then... "Dear Princess Celestia."
164	* MultipurposeTongue: 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.
165	* MundaneMadeAwesome:
166	** Re-shelving the entire library at once is ''[[SeriousBusiness very important]]''.
167	** A broom makes a fantastic gift!
168	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: 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.
169	* MyGodYouAreSerious: Applejack initially laughs at Twilight's claim that Spike is running rampant... ''until she sees it for herself''.
170	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: A [[DownplayedTrope minor one]] with Pinkie Pie; her attempt to assault Spike with cakes only gives him more things to hoard.
171	* NoOntologicalInertia: 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 [[GravityIsAHarshMistress cruel pull of gravity]].
172	* NotHyperbole: 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.
173	* ObsessivelyOrganized: 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 [[SkewedPriorities realizes that he'll probably make a mess of the books in there by adding them to his hoard.]]
174	* OhCrapSmile: Twilight gives one to Zecora after Spike steals everything in her hut.
175	* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Pinkie Pie is completely serious while defending Sugar Cube Corner from Spike. Her HeroicBSOD afterwards is still played for laughs, though.
176	* OverlyLongTongue: How Spike rescues his sapphire cupcake after knocking into Cheerilee.
177	* PaperThinDisguise: 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.
178	* PimpedOutCape: Rarity makes one for each of the mane cast (although the first one for herself had to be redone).
179	* PlayingWithFire: Twilight Sparkle lights a few candles at the start of the episode.
180	* PostKissCatatonia: Rarity kisses Spike on the cheek and he falls over.
181	* PostTreatmentLollipop: 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.
182	* POVCam: Several instances from Spike's perspective, including during the FlashBack mentioned above.
183	* ThePowerOfLove: 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.
184	* PrecociousCrush: 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 VillainousCrush, as he's not willing to let her go.
185	* PrehensileTail: Spike uses his tail as an extra hand when he's looking for things to hog.
186	* RapidFireNailBiting: Rarity bites her hooves as well.
187	* RazorWings: The Wonderbolts create this effect when they fly.
188	* RentAZilla: 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.
189	* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: 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.
190	* RuleOfSymbolism: 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.
191	* RuleOfThree: It takes visits to three practitioners to determine what's wrong with Spike.
192	* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: 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 [[MathematiciansAnswer technically that would be larger than twenty carats.]]
193	* ShipTease:
194	** The fans' most popular "fanon" couple got a moment [[http://Vanderlyle.deviantart.com/art/Rude-Interuption-273291145 as seen here]] before being interrupted by another famous background character. Many fangasms were had.
195	** The episode is this for Spike and Rarity.
196	* ShoutOut:
197	** The way Twilight magically rearranges her book shelf calls to mind [[WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone the way Merlin packs]].
198	** When Twilight starts to clean Spike's cheek, you can hear a little familiar tune from the ''Videogame/MarioBros'' game. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kHlrVTemu4 Check it out here.]]
199	*** Which also makes it a reference to Mozart's A Little Night Music.
200	** It's also reminiscent of ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}} The Sorcerer's Apprentice]]'', complete with a SuspiciouslySimilarSong playing in the background.
201	** Rarity's skipping out of the shop is reminiscent of WesternAnimation/PepeLePew''.
202	** Spike's rampage takes cues from Franchise/{{Godzilla}}, Film/KingKong, and ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk ([[HulkSpeak Spike want!]]). The Wonderbolts show up to fight him probably just because, when you have the [[Film/KingKong giant monster carrying the lady and climbing to a high place]], you [[StockParody just have to]] include the airplanes.
203	** Spike the dragon capturing Rarity the maiden reminds one of the legend of Perseus and Andromeda, as well as the legend of [[Myth/SaintGeorge St. George and the Dragon]].
204	** The hat Cheerilee gives to Spike is similar to Music/MichaelJackson's from "Smooth Criminal".
205	** Spike's monstrous corruption after greedily demanding extra birthday presents is similar to the fall of [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sméagol]].
206	** The scene of Spike and Rarity in free-fall after he returns to normal size bears a resemblance to the climax of ''Anime/SpiritedAway'', especially Rarity's SparklingStreamOfTears.
207	** It also bears a remarkable resemblance to the ending sequence of the computer game ''VideoGame/ToonStruck''. [[http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/705/tsmlpcomparison.png Comparison]]. Particularly note the similar color scheme between Spike and Flux Wildly.
208	** Even the show's composer got in on the act. Several cues from the background music homage Music/JamesHorner's ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' score.
209	* ShutUpScaryThing: Rarity gives gigantic Spike a thorough telling-off for ruining her cape.
210	* SkewedPriorities: Played for laughs when Spike tries to swat the Pegasus ponies with Rarity.
211	-->'''Rarity:''' Girls! ''My cape!''
212	* SpaceWhaleAesop: 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.
213	* StealthPun:
214	** Spike plans to eat his Fire Ruby. He holds a tuning fork to test its readiness.
215	** 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 [[BuzzingTheDeck buzzed]] him.
216	* StockScream: Rarity's scream from "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E10SwarmOfTheCentury Swarm of the Century]]" was reused in the scene where she gets captured by Giant Spike.
217	* StockSoundEffects: When Twilight backs away sheepishly with yet another book as her gift to Spike, there is actually a sheep baaing sound in the background.
218	* SuperpoweredEvilSide: Spike's growth is powered by his {{Greed}}.
219	* TakingAdvantageOfGenerosity: Spike's dragon greed kicks in this way; "It's my birthday so give me something!".
220	* TalkingIsAFreeAction: 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.
221	* TalkingTheMonsterToDeath: 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.
222	* TearfulSmile: Rarity, as her silent way of showing that she always knew about Spike's crush on her.
223	* TeleportSpam: 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!
224	* TemporarilyAVillain: [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E24OwlsWellThatEndsWell It wouldn't be the first time it happened with Spike]], but this time is much more threatening.
225	* TooDumbToLive:
226	--->'''Twilight:''' Pinkie Pie, stop giving him cake!\
227	'''Pinkie:''' I'm not giving him cake. [[ItMakesSenseInContext I'm]] ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext assulting]]'' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint him with cake!!]]
228	* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: 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.
229	* WhamLine: A minor example that's a DoubleSubversion: "I've always sorta had a crush--", [[SubvertedTrope which Rarity interrupts]] and replies to with [[DoubleSubversion a teary-eyed smile]].
230	* WhatHaveIBecome: Spike has this moment right before he changes back.
231	* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Spike's transformation to an adult dragon pretty much made him become this when he realizes what he had become, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone especially after he reverts back to normal]].
232	* TheWorfEffect: The Wonderbolts fail to [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E16SonicRainboom save the day again]], leaving Rainbow Dash (and Fluttershy) to do the main hero work.

Context Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E10SecretOfMyExcess