Fanfic / Harmony and Valor

A series of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fanfics found on Fimfiction.net written by Highlord Langslock.

• The first official entry in the series is It Sounds Better Than "Pity Date", set after the Friendship Games. On her first day at Canterlot High, the Twilight Sparkle of the human world learns that it wasn't just her new friends who mistook her for her royal Equestrian counterpart. Realizing that what had seemed like a harmless brush-off to her may have in fact broken the heart of nice-guy Flash Sentry, Twilight becomes determined to make it up to him. What better way to do that than to set him up on a date with the girl of his dreams-or at least, a close proximity to her? It's a crazy plan to be sure, but it just might be crazy enough to work. Best of all, it's completely risk free. After all, there's no way either of them could develop feelings for each other, right?

• The second entry is A Daughter Not His Own. Four years ago, Shining Armor’s parents died in a horrific car accident, leaving him and his wife to take care of his little sister, Twilight Sparkle. There isn’t a thing that he wouldn’t do for her, yet there are times when it feels like there isn’t anything he can do for her. To him, the time she spent under his care has been nothing but a long string of him letting her down. All things considered, it is understandable that she wouldn’t want to spend a day reserved for celebrating one’s parents with him. After all, he is not Twilight’s father, and she’s not his daughter, right?

• The third and current entry is Heart of Valor. After all of the adventures they have been through thanks to the presence of magic in their lives, the Rainbooms are more than ready for some much needed R&R, especially with Canterlot City’s 200th Anniversary fast approaching. In the midst of a week of games and special events leading up to the big day, Fluttershy hopes to raise awareness of the needs of rescue animals, Applejack plans to promote her family business, and Pinkie Pie and Rarity are both asked by the influential descendant of their beloved city’s founder to help prepare a big final event set to take place at their own school! Sunset Shimmer, meanwhile, is eager to continue her research on how Equestrian magic operates in the human world alongside her newest friend, the human Twilight Sparkle. Nothing, not even the antics of an abrasive student who resents everything the Rainbooms stand for, can ruin their mood. Unfortunately the fun and games must be put on hold when they discover a dark figure who wields a new kind of magic that is more dangerous than anything they've faced before. When they call in Princess Twilight Sparkle to help investigate, she reveals that it may in fact simply be the tip of a much greater threat. The Rainbooms will need to pull out all of the stops in order to defeat this new menace. But can even the Magic of Friendship conquer a force created specifically to counter it, or will a new magic be needed to overcome the power of pure rage and destruction?

Several side stories are confirmed by the author to take place within the same universe. However, it is up to the readers to decide for themselves whether or not they are canon to the main storyline.

• The first side story released is Cultural Differences. The people of Equestria and Gaia may have a lot in common with each other, but when one world is populated by ponies that possess the gift of magic while the other has bipedal creatures that don’t, there are bound to be some differences. They will have different traditions, different values, different beliefs, and different celebrations. Of course, harmony and friendship is all about embracing the things that make people unique, and if there is going to be harmony between these two very different worlds, it is important for everyone to understand these differences. Fortunately, there are a couple of girls who are very eager to learn.

• The second side story is Can Ponies Get Drunk?. After the girls suffer the effects of some spiked drinks, Twilight reveals a surprising fact about the human world's equine species—basically, they don't get drunk like humans do. Of course, this raises the question of whether or not the same holds true for Equestrian ponies. The answer is a bit surprising.

• The third and current side story is Seeking Valhalla. Applejack’s day is ruined when a stallion with an abnormal number of legs appears and makes a shocking request of her. One that could severely compromise her sense of morality. Unfortunately, refusing it will not be as simple as she would like it to be. Applejack will have to use everything she knows, plus a few new tricks as well, if she wants to survive in a fight with the iciest pony she has ever known.

This series provides examples of:

It Sounds Better Than "Pity Date"

• Almost Kiss: Sci-Twi almost kisses Flash without realizing it when she becomes too attracted to him on their simulation date. Flash covers her mouth to snap her out of it.
• Big "NO!": When Sci-Twi tells her friends she wants to ask out Flash Sentry, Fluttershy does several of these while repeatedly jabbing Sci-Twi in the chest.
• Bound and Gagged: When Sci-Twi returns to Rainbow's house, she finds Shining Armor there like this. The others did this to him to stop him from interrupting her date.
• Curb-Stomp Battle: Flash mops the floor with two thugs that harass Sci-Twi, impressing both her and her friends that are watching.
• Doppelgänger Replacement Love Interest: Zig-Zaged between Flash Sentry and Sci-Twi. Flash got his feeling hurt when Sci-Twi ignored him thinking she was Princess Twilight and Sci-Twi tries to make it up to him by asking him out. Sci-Twi's friends don't like the idea of her asking out Flash because of him and Princess Twilight already seeing each other but agree to help once she explains that there will be no romantic feelings between the two of them. Averted by the end of the story when Sci-Twi understands that Flash is in love with Princess Twilight and doesn't have the same feelings for her, but the two do agree to be friends and Sci-Twi jokes that he should look her up if things don't work out between him and Princess Twilight.
• Handshake Refusal: Flash Sentry ignores Sci-Twi's offer of a handshake on her first day at CHS. This shows Sci-Twi that something is wrong with him because he was perfectly friendly when they first met.
• Hyperventilation Bag: Flash gives Sci-Twi a paper bag to breath into after Sci-Twi panics, realizing she got carried away with the "simulation date" she and Flash were on and actually tried to kiss him, knowing he likes Princess Twilight.
• Make-Out Point: Whitetails’ Peak is said to be a total make-out zone where couples go to get 'alone time.' This fact panics Rarity and Sunset when Sci-Twi wants Flash to drive there so she can see the view.
• Manchild: The Principal of CHS before Celestia took over, Discord, was described to be this.
• My God, What Have I Done?: Sci-Twi becomes depressed when she realizes that by ignoring Flash during the Friendship Games, she unintentionally broke his heart due to him mistaking her for Princess Twilight and thinking she lost interest in him. She later has another one when she realizes that she became attracted to Flash herself and tried to kiss him, calling herself a man-stealer.
• My Greatest Failure: Applejack thinks that Flash is still mad at himself for everything he said to Princess Twilight during the Battle of the Bands while he was under the Sirens spell.
• Nice Guy: Flash naturally. He accepts Sci-Twi's invitation for a date, protects her from thugs, is gentle when he turns her down and couldn't have been a better date even if he's in love with someone else.
• Offhand Backhand: Flash does this to one of the thugs he fights when he tries to sneak up behind him, knocking him back with his elbow to the face without even turning around.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Nice Guy Flash Sentry is shown not to be his usual gentlemen-self at times. He is still upset over his hurt feelings at the Friendship Games and acts rude to Sci-Twi before catching himself and apologizing, something she and the rest of her friends pick up on quickly. He also loses all enthusiasm in his voice when his father is brought up in discussion on his "simulation date" with Sci-Twi, angry at the man for abandoning his own family years ago.
• Parental Abandonment: Both Flash Sentry and Sci-Twi reveal that they have lost members of their family. Flash's dad walked out on him and his family one day and never came back. Sci-Twi lost both her mom and dad in a semi-truck accident during a road trip.
• Punch Catch: Flash Sentry does this to one of the two thugs that were harassing Sci-Twi. He then proceeds to knock them around with little to no effort.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Played for laughs. While the girls are tying up Shining Armor, Rainbow's dad Rainbow Blaze walks into the room, sees what they're doing, says "Nope," walks out and goes to bed.
• Shipper on Deck: The Rainbooms all support Princess Twilight and Flash getting together someday. The ship name "Flashlight" is even referenced.
• Ship Sinking: Although Sci-Twi becomes attracted to Flash herself by the end of their "simulation date" she accepts that he is already interested in someone else and he doesn't have the same feelings for her. Both of them however agree to be friends.
• Shout-Out: Puppy Spike used to enjoy a show called Dog With A Facebook Account.
• Suspiciously Specific Denial: While Rainbow and Applejack argue about the best way to ask Flash out on a date, Flash eventually walks up behind them and Pinkie says hi to him casually. Rainbow and Applejack quickly assure him they weren't talking about how they'd ask him out.
• Teen Genius: Mr. Time Turner, the Physics professor at CHS, is the same age as Sci-Twi but is also a super genius who graduated college at the age of 10 and pointed out several inaccuracies Sci-Twi herself had never noticed for years.
• Urine Trouble: Spike threatens Flash that he just drank a full bowl of water and if Twilight comes home upset, he won't be able to contain himself. All said while holding up one of his back legs over Flash's shoe.
• Wham Line: When discussing Flash's dad, Sci-Twi tells him she knows that deep down he wants to see him again one day, because she herself would give anything just to see her parents one more time.
  Flash Sentry: Don't tell me both of your parents walked out on you too.
  Sci-Twi: They're both dead.

A Daughter Not His Own

• Annoying Younger Sibling: According to Wild Ride, his little sister, Cut Flower, when she wasn't crying and moping, she would yell at him and accuse him of being happy that their parents died in a car accident. That is what caused Wild Ride to think his sister was a burden and murdered her to avoid looking after her.
• Big Brother Instinct: Shining Armor deeply loves Twilight and hates it when a big brother doesn't take care of their little sibling. This is something Wild Ride learns firsthand after he confesses to murdering his own sister, Cut Flower, to get rid of the responsibilities and calls his own sister a "whiny brat" who had it coming.
• Bring My Brown Pants: Wild Ride pees himself when Shining Armor slams him against the wall and shouts at him for killing his own little sister and calling her a "whiny brat" instead of taking care of her.
• Broken Pedestal: Shining Armor lost all respect he once had for Principal Cinch when he learns that she blackmailed Sci-Twi to compete in the Friendship Games and then almost got her killed by making her mess with forces she didn't understand just to win a game of Capture the Flag.
• The Bully: A student by the name of Aurora Shine is stated to have been Sci-Twi's main bully at Crystal Prep; she has also recently been bullied by Gilda since attending CHS.
• Distracted by the Sexy: Midnight Blossom is very sexy and attractive and uses it to her advantage during interrogations. Suspects have slipped up and revealed information around her because they were more focused on her than what they were saying.
• The Dog Bites Back: Sci-Twi, who was bullied excessively at Crystal Prep, finds herself being a victim of bullying once again at CHS, this time by Gilda. Sick of being bullied all the time, her friends get her self-defense lessons from Flash Sentry and she uses her new skills to break Gilda's nose.
• Karma Houdini: Shining Armor and Cadance had to drop the charges against Cinch for blackmailing Sci-Twi due to having no real evidence or eyewitnesses to support it.
• Laser-Guided Karma: On the other hand, Wild Ride is arrested and convicted for killing his little sister, Cut Flower, because he saw her as an unnecessary burden that he was saddled with after their parents' deaths.
• My Greatest Failure: Both Shining Armor and Cadance feel they failed Sci-Twi for how miserable she was at Crystal Prep and never noticing.
• Promotion to Parent: Shining Armor and Cadance became this for Sci-Twi after her parents died. Although she knows they can never replace her real mom and dad, she is grateful for everything they have done for her over the years and asks, if just for one day, if she can call them "mom" and "dad". This even ties to the title, where Twilight is "a daughter not [Shining Armor's] own".
• Properly Paranoid: Flash Sentry's mother, Legalhawke, says that she was originally planning to enroll him at Crystal Prep but changed her mind after she met with Principal Cinch. The old woman reminded Legalhawke too much of some of the sociopaths she's dealt with.
• Revenge by Proxy: Gilda was expelled from CHS for bullying, so she decides to retaliate by bullying the students off campus. Her latest victim for the last two weeks was Sci-Twi.
• Sibling Murder: Wild Ride murdered his little sister, Cut Flower, because he saw her as a whiny burden that he was stuck with after their parents died.
• Talking in Your Sleep: Sci-Twi mumbles in her sleep at the beginning of the story asking her dad not to make her eat anymore broccoli.
• Took a Level in Badass: Sci-Twi has been given self-defense lessons and can now defend herself if needed. She punches out Gilda with one blow, giving Gilda a broken nose in the process.

Heart of Valor

• Big Bad: The end of the first chapter reveals that the main villain is Lord Grogar.
  • The Dragon: The Grand Chief.
• Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are: Gilda is hunted by a shadow creature that the Grand Chief sics on her after he catches her spying.
• Disproportionate Retribution: Gilda once beat up a neighbor's dog for its annoying barking and broke the unwritten rule between gangs not to enter others' territory because she got annoyed with one gang leader's content flirting with her.
• Mugging the Monster: After being separated from her gang, Gilda comes across the Grand Chief wandering the streets and follows him to a warehouse to rob him. She soon wishes she hadn't.
• Sucky School: Hard Knocker’s School for Hard Knocks is basically just a school where hopeless kids are sent when there are no other choices, making it the perfect choice for Gilda. Teachers hardly care about roll call so students can easily sneak away if they want.

Cultural Differences

• Adaptational Villainy: The human version of Zephyr Breeze. While in canon he was also a Casanova Wannabe, here he goes right into sexual harassment with the girls he "flirts" with.
• Beware the Nice Ones: Flash Sentry may be one of the biggest nice guys ever, but do not harass his friends or his younger siblings if you value your life, otherwise you will get a major beatdown.
• Big Eater: Princess Twilight lists all of the meat foods she ate during her first visit to the human world while having dinner at her human counterpart's house. The family is amazed at the long list of food she gives.
• Casanova Wannabe: The human version of Zephyr Breeze big time. He out right says that any girl he sees belongs to him and flirts heavily with the girls he meets even when they make it clear they aren't interested. According to Sunset, nothing short of extreme physical violence will get him to back off, which is exactly what Flash uses when he catches Zephyr harassing his little sister True Action.
• Cut His Heart Out with a Spoon: Flash gives a final warning to Zephyr about staying away from his sister, after beating the crap out of him, dangling him from the roof of the mall and giving him a "The Reason You Suck" Speech, stating if he ever sees him harassing her or any other girl again he will gut him alive with a smile and paint his house with his blood just as a warning to anyone else.
• Entitled to Have You: The human Zephyr Breeze has this mentality, outright claiming any girl he sees belongs to him.
• Exotic Extended Marriage: The pony versions of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash explain the concept of "herding" to Human Fluttershy when she visits Equestria and how it is different from polygamy. Instead of a stallion marrying multiple mares, its a group of ponies marring each other, with all members given equal rights in the relationship and the ability to file for a divorce should one member wish to leave. It was originally started to stop ponies from going extinct due to mares massively outnumbering stallions, but has since fallen out of practice and is rare to see.
• Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: Fluttershy gets a letter from Zephyr Breeze that he tried to apply for a herding license, and she has this reaction when explaining to her human counterpart and Rainbow Dash that it was his fillyfriend's idea.
• High-Altitude Interrogation: Flash does this to Zephyr as a warning to stay away from his sister and any other girl or else. Sunset has to remind Flash to pull him up before someone spots them or he loses his grip.
• Hollywood Atheist: Flash Sentry said that he is an Atheist, but says these days he is more of an Agnostic after seeing so many magical events and his school being next door to a portal to another dimension. This almost causes problems with Princess Twilight, who believes in her god Faust on an instinctive level, until Sunset calms both down.
• Hospitality for Heroes: When two drunk men make a scene in a restaurant by harassing Lyra and Sweetie Drops, Flash Sentry and Sweetie Drops kick their asses. The entire restaurant cheers for the two of them and their meals are offered on the house if they throw the two men out.
• I Need a Freaking Drink: Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy decide to get out some booze (and tell human Fluttershy not to worry about being too young to drink) after learning that not only does Zephyr Breeze have a fillyfriend, she wants him to get a herd license to "spice things up."
• Kill It with Fire: After reading a book about Scientology, Princess Twilight burns the book in an alleyway.
• Last-Name Basis: True Action addresses Sunset as "Shimmer" due to her dislike of her.
• Nature vs. Nurture: When talking about the different religions in the human world compared to Equus, Princess Twilight and Flash get into a small argument when Flash claims he doesn't believe in any gods, with Twilight not understanding how that can be and Flash not understanding how Twilight can be sure everyone in Equus believes in Queen Faust despite never seeing her. Sunset eventually gets them both to shut up long enough to explain to both of them that everyone in Equus believes in Queen Faust because they have an instinct from the moment they are born that tells them they were created by Queen Faust, but humans do not share that instinct for any of their own gods, meaning some can choose not to believe in any of them.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: You know Twilight is angered by a subject when she burns a book of all things about it.
• Reformed, but Rejected: Flash's sister, True Action, still doesn't like Sunset Shimmer because of all the things she did when she was still a bully and was dating Flash.
• Replacement Goldfish: Sunset thinks that this is the reason Rainbow isn't happy about her dad dating someone, because she's afraid her dad is trying to replace her deceased mom.
• Single Woman Seeks Good Man: Flash's mom, Legalhawke, a professional prosecutor and single mother to three kids, is currently dating again. Flash doesn't care who her new boyfriend is, who is implied to be Rainbow Blaze, Rainbow Dash's dad, as long as he makes her happy.

Can Ponies Get Drunk?

• Abusive Parents: Berry Punch, being The Alcoholic, is often unable to take care of her daughter. Downplayed slightly as there is no proof that Berry is physically mistreating her daughter, just being unable to cook or clean for her, but it still has others worried.
• Big "WHAT?!":
  • Sci-Twi gives off two. The first after Sunset jokes that they'll play Strip Poker at the party and later when a drunk Sunset confesses to her how she wants to have a three-way with Flash and Princess Twilight.
  • The whole group gives off a big one when Sunset jokes that in Equestria she's about 80 years old, when she really only turned 20 when she first came to Gaia.
• Call-Back:
  • Pinkie mentions how Flash rejected Sci-Twi because she isn't Princess Twilight.
  • Sci-Twi uses her newly learned self-defense skills to defend herself from a drunk boy.
  • Sci-Twi mentions trying new things with her friends, including canoeing, and jokes about adding the picture of a drunk Applejack and Rarity making out to her wall of photos.
• Deadpan Snarker: Sci-Twi shows shades of this. Examples include her answering Sunset's question of "You know what I want to do more than anything?” with "You want to give me a ride home right now" and telling Pinkie Pie "Bite me" when she reminds her how Flash rejected her.
• Does Not Like Spam: Sci-Twi dislikes strawberries due to a bad experience when she was little. She went to a strawberry farm and entered a strawberry eating contest. She won, but her stomach couldn't keep up and she threw up inside of her parents car.
• If It's You, It's Okay: Sunset says that most ponies have this mentality even if they aren't bi, thanks to being part of a polyamorous society with an uneven gender ratio. She's hoping this is the case with Princess Twilight, so she can have a three-way with her and Flash.
• Kids Are Cruel: When Sci-Twi was in Middle School she was tricked by some of her classmates that she would be suspended for forgetting her homework unless she snuck into the Principle's Office and revealed her most embarrassing secret for the whole school to hear.
• Let Us Never Speak of This Again: At the very end of the story when Sci-Twi whispers to Sunset she's sure Princess Twilight and Flash will agree to a three-way with her if she asks nicely Sunset immediately stops laughing and growls at her that that never leaves this space.
• Mood Whiplash: The Rainbooms find Princess Twilight's stories of drunken antics to be hilarious, until she reveals that the subject in her last story, Berry Punch, has a young daughter who may be suffering because of her mother's alcoholism. The atmosphere becomes much more somber after that.
  • It brightens up again immediately after Pinkie receives a text from Cheese asking her out to lunch.
• Mrs. Robinson: When the girls learn that Princess Twilight is actually at least 21 instead of 16, due to the portal to Equestria changing your age slightly, Sci-Twi notes that it brings up several questions about the Princess's relationship with Flash Sentry.
• Open Mouth, Insert Foot: When Rarity comments that a proper lady doesn't do raunchy behavior even when drunk, Twilight silently wonders what her foot tastes like, given Rarity's drunken antics with Applejack the previous night.
• Pyrrhic Victory: How Sci-Twi grew to dislike strawberries. She entered a strawberry eating contest as a kid and ended up winning. Her tiny stomach couldn't keep up though and she ended up throwing up in her parents car.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Sci-Twi tries to leave the party early when it gets too crazy for her and the drunk attendants get on her nerves, but she can't leave without someone to drive her home.
• Suspiciously Specific Denial: Rarity mentions that Pinkie and Cheese Sandwich would make a cute couple, and Pinkie immediately shouts that she doesn't have a crush on Cheese.
• What Did I Do Last Night?: All of the Rainbooms except Sci-Twi are hungover and exhausted the day after the party and can't remember anything they did. Their embarrassing activities include Fluttershy dancing with several boys, Sunset complaining no-one will ask her out and confessing to wanting a three-way with Princess Twilight and Flash, Pinkie complaining that no guy is attracted to her and the guy she really wants, Cheese Sandwich, only sees her as a rival, Rainbow throwing up rainbow vomit in the toilet, and Applejack and Rarity making out shirtless in a bedroom.
  • Princess Twilight also tells a story via the journal of one time she got drunk shortly after moving to Ponyville. She doesn't remember much, but before she was done with her first drink she was dancing around saying she would quit being Celestia's student, then woke up the next day in a barn next to a pig.

Seeking Valhalla

• Chick Magnet: Many mares in Ponyville are upset that Big Mac is now dating Sugar Belle.
• Easily Forgiven: Pinkie quickly forgives Rime for punching her in the face and giving her a black eye, stating it was her own fault for getting in his personal space without his permission.
• Multi-Armed and Dangerous: Rime is a sleipnir, a race of ponies with eight legs. Rime himself is also skilled enough to take on Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash all at once when they attack him for hitting Pinkie.
• No Sense of Personal Space: When Pinkie first meets Rime she is fascinated by his extra forelegs and tries to play patty cake with him. Rime quickly becomes annoyed at a stranger grabbing his forelegs and punches Pinkie away.
• Not a Morning Person: Starlight Glimmer is first seen with her mane in a mess and bags under her eyes, saying she needs coffee before she can speak to anyone. She immediately jolts awake when Rime puts a sword in her face after being told the stories he heard about her time as a villain were true.
• Reflexive Response: When Pinkie gets in a stranger's personal space without his permission and annoys him by trying to play patty cake with him he lashes out at her and punches her in the face. After regaining consciousness Pinkie stops the fight between him and her friends and admits it was her fault.
• Wham Line: The end of the first chapter has Rime make a request to Applejack, which he claims only she can help him with since his Raidho rune brought him to her and she promises to help.
  Rime: I want you to kill me.