Line #80 Webcomic/FriendshipIsBetrayal


1	->''"Don't trust anypony."''
2
3	Once upon a time, the magical land of Equestria was ruled by two sisters: one who governed the sun and one who controlled the moon. However, the darker sister grew resentful and turned upon her sibling, becoming the dreaded Nightmare Moon. In order to save their subjects, the elder was forced to call upon the Elements of Harmony, sealing her away in the moon and taking the burden of controlling the night upon herself. Ever since then, Equestria has been peaceful and harmonic...
4
5	At least, that's the [[WrittenByTheWinners version of events]] passed down by Celestia herself. Twilight Sparkle, however, suspects there's more to the story than that... and she wants nothing more than to see that mule fall.
6
7	As the name implies, ''[[http://mlp-fib.thecomicseries.com/comics/ Friendship is Betrayal]]'' is a DarkerAndEdgier [[{{Fanfic}} Fan]][[{{Webcomic}} comic]] based on ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. Rather than being Celestia's faithful student, Twilight merely pretends to be loyal while plotting to bring about the cruel alicorn's downfall. To succeed, she'll need allies -- but who, if ''anyone'', can she trust? As both mentor and student prove, the most sinister of intentions can be hidden behind the brightest of smiles.
8	----
9	!!This Fan Webcomic contains examples of:
10
11	* ADayInTheLimelight: Each episode features a different primary POV character. "The Mare in the Moon" focuses on Twilight; "Griffon the Brush-Off" primarily stars Pinkie Pie, and "A Dog and Pony Show" revolves around Rarity. Fluttershy is featured in "Dragonshy", and Rainbow Dash takes center stage in "Sonic Rainboom".
12	%%* AxCrazy: Pinkie Pie.
13	* BigWhat: Nightmare Moon, when Twilight [[spoiler:turns the others against her]].
14	* BitchInSheepsClothing: Fluttershy seems just as sweet, shy and innocent as ever... but when she spots Spike, it's "Move aside, [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch]]!"
15	* BlackAndGrayMorality: While mostly gray, Celestia tips the balance towards this.
16	* BlackMagic: Rarity has added this art to the art of the dress. It's distinct enough from normal magic that Twilight recognizes the diffence.
17	* BloodierAndGorier: Not the most difficult thing to accomplish, considering no one even gets a paper cut in the original cartoon [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E20ItsAboutTime until late into the second season]]. Still, expect someone drenched in blood when it starts flying.
18	* BreakTheCutie: Most of the main cast. Fluttershy goes through a second breaking in "Dragonshy" thanks to Twilight ordering her to kill a dragon to prove her loyalty.
19	* BreakTheHaughty: The Diamond Dogs try this on Rarity, [[spoiler:supported by Celestia's magic]].
20	* BreakingTheFourthWall: Not surprisingly, Pinkie Pie does this.
21	-->'''Pinkie Pie:''' looking straight out Huh? Don't give me that look! What did you expect? Empathy? Wahaha!
22	* BroadStrokes: The author welds elements of different episodes together, like [[spoiler:the Hydra from "Feeling Pinkie Keen"]] appearing in the middle of "Griffon the Brush-Off''.
23	* BrokenBird: Twilight and Pinkie Pie went through some horrible [[BreakTheCutie cutie-breaking]] as fillies.
24	* BroughtDownToNormal: In "A Dog and Pony Show", Rarity is prevented from simply dealing with the Diamond Dogs herself by a mysterious PowerNullifier.
25	* CassandraTruth: When they first meet, Nightmare Moon refuses to believe that Celestia's 'faithful student' is just as eager to see her fall as ''she'' is. Ironically, Luna herself struggled with this in the past, when she couldn't make anypony believe that her sister was evil.
26	* CharmPerson: Rarity specializes in this via BlackMagic, which makes the victims develop BlackEyesOfCrazy.
27	* TheChosenOne: According to ancient legends, a pony capable of great magic is supposed to bring about harmony between day and night. Twilight seems to fit the bill.
28	* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Everyone's [[SpeechBubbles Thought Bubbles]] have a different style and color scheme.
29	* ConspiracyTheorist: Twilight, who's extremely paranoid and views everyone as a potential spy for Celestia.
30	%%* CrapsaccharineWorld: Oh so much.
31	* CruelMercy: In "Dragonshy", Fluttershy opts to TakeAThirdOption with the dragon... by [[spoiler:blinding it]] instead of killing it.
32	* DarkerAndEdgier: Celestia is a tyrant, Twilight is super paranoid, and it all goes downhill from there.
33	* DeadFic: The story seems to be this, as it hasn't updated since 2013.
34	* DemonicPossession: The 'Metamorphosis' spell Twilight tests on Rarity causes her to be possessed by [[spoiler:Nightmare Moon]]. [[spoiler:Rainbow becomes a secondary victim when Nightmare Moon senses her resolve is waning.]]
35	* DissonantSerenity: Celestia is a master of this.
36	* DoomedHometown: {{Flashback}}s reveal that [[spoiler:Cloudsdale was destroyed by a Sonic Rainboom]] when the cast were still fillies. Implied to double as WhereIWasBornAndRazed for [[spoiler:Rainbow Dash]].
37	* DontExplainTheJoke: Rainbow Dash does this when she's nervous:
38	-->'''Rainbow Dash:''' "I knew you were good at baking... but that cake just takes the cake! Get it? Hehe! The CAKE, heh..."
39	* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:The red dragon.]]
40	* DroppedABridgeOnHim: The off-panel deaths of [[spoiler:the Cutie Mark Crusaders]] is casually revealed while Pinkie's joking around with her friends. However, it's done without her naming names, setting up for an InternalReveal that could be catastropic.
41	* DumbassHasAPoint:
42	-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' "That's surprisingly wise coming from a homicidal maniac."
43	* TheEndingChangesEverything: Twilight seems satisfied with the results of "Dragonshy"... and so is [[spoiler:Fluttershy, who sports one heck of a SlasherSmile while gloating about how she didn't get caught by her loyalty test]].
44	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Twilight is ''horrified'' that her decisions resulted in [[spoiler:Luna's gruesome execution]].
45	* EveryManHasHisPrice: In "Griffon the Brush-Off", Gilda appears to be plying Rainbow Dash with promises of a Wonderbolts membership.
46	** In "A Dog and Pony Show", Celestia ''might'' be trying to determine Rarity's price... [[spoiler:but is actually setting her up for something else entirely.]]
47	* EyeScream: [[spoiler:The dragon's fate]] in "Dragonshy".
48	* FakeDefector: Played with in "Griffon the Brush-Off", where [[spoiler:this was Dash's plan all along, but she bucked it up]].
49	* FantasticRacism: The Diamond Dogs state they hate the ponies for something which was done to their species by them, and are perfectly willing to take it out on Rarity.
50	* FantasticSlurs: 'Mule' is thrown about [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch fairly frequently]].
51	* FriendOrIdolDecision: "A Dog and Pony Show" starts this way: Celestia offers Rarity a penthouse in Canterlot in exchange for designing a beautiful gown for the princess to wear to the Grand Galloping Gala. However, Rarity fears that if her friends learn about this, they'll suspect she supports the mule... So she tries to TakeAThirdOption by completing the work ''secretly''.
52	* FunWithAcronyms: Friendship Is Betrayal shortens to FIB.
53	* {{Geas}}: Spike is bound to Twilight by magic and cannot leave her service. Twilight rather gleefully informs Fluttershy of this when she tries to convince him to ditch Twi and stay with ''her'' instead.
54	* GoryDiscretionShot: Used when [[spoiler:Celestia tears Luna apart]].
55	* GratuitousFrench: Pinkie calls Fluttershy 'mon petit fleur'.
56	* HanlonsRazor: Due to her paranoia, Twilight is always looking for something that'll ''prove'' one of her friends is a traitor, and will leap to that conclusion whenever a new detail presents itself. In "Griffon the Brush-Off", for instance, she immediately assumes [[spoiler:Pinkie]] betrayed everyone simply because [[spoiler:Fluttershy didn't recognize Gilda's name]].
57	* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Twilight reassures herself of this when she feels guilty about [[spoiler:causing Luna's death]].
58	%%* IKnowYouKnowIKnow
59	* INeedAFreakingDrink: In "Griffon the Brush-Off", Pinkie Pie decides to go get one to distract herself from her suspicions.
60	* InLoveWithYourCarnage: Pinkie thinks that [[spoiler:Twilight ripping open a hydra's belly with her horn]] is a ''beautiful'' sight.
61	* {{Irony}}: Twilight thinks the others might betray her to Celestia, but [[spoiler:they're all working for Nightmare Moon]].
62	* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: "Griffon The Brush-Off" sees Pinkie Pie doing this to [[spoiler:Dashie]]. Whether or not [[TortureForfunAndInformation she's enjoying it]] is ambigious... in ''THAT'' instance, at least.
63	* JustBetweenYouAndMe: Gilda gloats to Pinkie Pie about tempting Dash to [[FaceHeelTurn flip sides]] before trying to kill the pink pony.
64	* [[KickTheDog Kick The Cutie]]: Gilda tries to go to full-on KillTheCutie with Fluttershy as her target.
65	* KilledOffForReal: The Mare in the Moon arc ends with [[spoiler:Luna dead at her sister's hooves]]. "Griffon the Brush-Off" adds [[spoiler:the swamp hydra and Gilda]] to the body count, and "A Dog and Pony Show" adds [[spoiler:the head Diamond Dog]].
66	* KillTheGod: Twilight's goal for [[PhysicalGod Celestia.]] [[spoiler:Already done with Luna.]]
67	* ManipulativeBastard: Celestia, who does it all with a sunny smile.
68	* MindRape: Nightmare Moon inflicts this on Twilight.
69	* TheMole: Twilight fears at least one of her new acquaintances in Ponyville might be secretly working for Celestia. Celestia herself hints at this, though this may be a ParanoiaGambit.
70	* MoodWhiplash: Pinkie Pie goes through this after [[spoiler:witnessing Luna's execution]]. Celestia may or may not have 'nudged' her into it.
71	* MoralMyopia: Pinkie doesn't care about Gilda terrorizing Granny Smith -- and even explicitly points out her LackOfEmpathy to the audience -- but when Gilda threatens Fluttershy?
72	--> '''Pinkie Pie:''' thinking Doesn't she know Fluttershy is one of us?
73	** Pinkie also considers Rarity and Applejack to be callous for not being upset over the deaths of their younger siblings. Whom she killed over a minor infraction.
74	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Nightmare Moon accuses Twilight of this: [[spoiler:in defeating her, she may have accidentally ensured that nobody will be able to stand against Celestia]].
75	** At the core of "Griffon the Brush-Off"'s events: [[spoiler:Dash thought she could manipulate Gilda into joining their cause, but just put her friends' lives at risk]].
76	* OfCorsetHurts: While fussing over Twilight, Rarity tightens her corset a ''little'' too much...
77	* {{Pacifist}}: The central conflict of "Dragonshy" is that Twilight wants to exploit Fluttershy's Beastmistress talents to kill a dragon, while Fluttershy struggles with this concept, aware that if she backs out, Twilight will label her a traitor.
78	* PaintingTheMedium: Each of the girls has a unique [[SpeechBubbles framestyle]] for their inner thoughts.
79	* ParanoiaGambit: Princess Celestia ''may'' be running one against Twilight. The mere fact that Twilight isn't ''sure'' one way or the other is what's making it so effective.
80	* PassiveAggressiveKombat: The way Twilight and Celestia address each other. While their letters seem polite, tension simmers beneath the surface, and questions hide their points in sweet words.
81	%%* ProperlyParanoid
82	* RefugeInAudacity: While trying to motivate Fluttershy, Pinkie casually reveals she murdered three fillies because she thought they were trying to steal her pie. Rarity and Applejack both laugh at her randomness, [[spoiler:unaware she's talking about the CMC]].
83	* TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized: Nightmare Moon's rebellion. Twilight's rebellion is shaping up to be little better.
84	* SadisticChoice:
85	** In "Dragonshy", if Fluttershy refuses to break her {{Pacifist}} ways and kill a dragon, Twilight will take that as proof she's TheMole.
86	** In "Sonic Rainboom", Rainbow Dash intends to use the Sonic Rainboom to kill Celestia, even though she knows that will destroy New Cloudsdale as well... but it becomes more sadistic when her friends show up as well.
87	* SecretTestOfCharacter: "Dragonshy" revolves around Twilight testing Fluttershy's loyalty by setting her against a dragon. She's not very good at concealing her motives, however, and Fluttershy quickly realizes the SadisticChoice she's faced with... [[spoiler:and plays Twilight like a fiddle]].
88	* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler:Twilight]] accidentally became one, while [[spoiler:Pinkie Pie]] deliberately did so.
89	* ShoutOut: Pinkie's murder schemes sure seem to involve the victims with ''Fanfic/CupcakesSergeantSprinkles''.
90	* SplashOfColor: {{Flashback}}s are mostly grayscale, with only a few things left colored.
91	* StartOfDarkness: The seeds of Twilight's resentment of her mentor were planted when [[spoiler:she left her parents cursed as plants, gleefully telling Twilight the curse she'd accidentally laid upon them could never be reversed -- but that was okay, since that meant she could take her on as a student!]]
92	** Pinkie Pie was disowned by her parents because laughter was 'a sin against God' and forced into slave labor. Before she was DrivenToSuicide, however, she [[spoiler:witnessed the Sonic Rainboom and became more positive... and AxCrazy]].
93	** Rarity didn't get to star in the school play, and turned to BlackMagic to make everypony more interested in the costume she designed than the actual actors. Oh, and [[spoiler:Luna dragged her away from her home and told her she was one of her chosen ones]].
94	** Fluttershy was [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer constantly teased and belittled by her peers]] for being a weak flyer. Rainbow Dash was the only filly who showed any concern about her, [[spoiler:but didn't rescue her when she knocked her off a cloud during the race]].
95	* TakeAThirdOption: [[spoiler:Join Nightmare Moon's rebellion or perish? Twilight would rather take down ''both'' alicorns, thanks.]]
96	** In "Dragonshy", faced with either breaking her moral code to kill a dragon and prove her loyalty or her friends turning on her as a suspected traitor, Fluttershy decides to [[spoiler:blind the dragon]] instead.
97	* TheStationsOfTheCanon: A rather large station-skipping occurs when [[spoiler:Twilight drinks the wrong thing and awakens in front of Nightmare Moon]].
98	* ThisIsForEmphasisBitch: Normally done with "[[FantasticSlurs mule]]", but Fluttershy uses the straight form.
99	* TraitorShot: Done at the end of [[spoiler:"Dragonshy", with Fluttershy smirking about how she saw right through Twilight's charade]].
100	* VainSorceress: Rarity believes she's SoBeautifulItsACurse, and has used magic to make her dresses more desirable.
101	* WellIntentionedExtremist: Nightmare Moon wishes to overthrow the tyrannical Celestia, but her overbearing methods don't win her many followers [[spoiler:and ultimately leads to her downfall]].
102	* WrittenByTheWinners: Twilight doesn't trust Celestia's account of what happened.
103	* {{Yandere}}: Pinkie Pie is a little obsessed with Rainbow Dash, since [[spoiler:witnessing her Sonic Rainboom changed her whole mindset]].
104	* YourHeadAsplode: The fate of [[spoiler:the Diamond Dog's leader]].

Context Webcomic / FriendshipIsBetrayal