A Dog and Pony Show
Author's Note: The show may be over, but the bloopers go on.
Intro
[Pierre treks towards the Director and some of the other crew members. A new set has been built- it's pretty simple-looking, being a dirt landscape with a great many large rocks scattered around the place.]
Director: Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm proud, but I am genuinely impressed by the work done here.
Tou-Mou: [Smirks and pushes her sunglasses up her nose] I'll take that. My team and I worked until four in the morning to get this done, and we actually had a pretty good time.
Director: Peng, I might just make a good crewwoman out of you yet. It's nice to hear you enjoyed building this so much.
Tou-Mou: ...well actually, we spent a lot of time picking up these rocks and pretending we had super strength. [To demonstrate, Tou-Mou wraps her arms around one of the nearby rocks and lifts it up, raising it above her head.]
Pierre: Wait, what?! Are those rocks made of styrofoam?
Tou-Mou: Nope, plastic. We're not idiots, Hannah.
Pierre: Stop calling me Hannah!
Director: Maybe a change in the set will get everyone more excited about the shoot?
[Then Rarity and Rina, her friend in the costume department, come over, pushing a clothing rack that has Rarity's gem-encrusted outfit on it.]
Rarity: Or, maybe they'll be excited to meet Sapphire Shores?
Rina: I can't believe you were able to afford her!
Director: Hey, we aren't that tight on money, uh… okay, I honestly forgot who you are. Tell me your name so I can disparagingly call you by your surname.
Rina: Er… Rina Tamboli?
Director: Are you sure? You don't seem so.
Rina: I-I'm sure… [she nervously fiddles with her hijab].
Tou-Mou: [To Rina] You'll get used to it.
Director: Just get that outfit to the other set and we'll start filming as soon as the others arrive.
Pierre: Hey, I wanted to ask why the heck we have another dragon in the studio?
Director: God that scene is gonna be awkward to film…
Pierre: ...What?
Director: Hey Pierre, do you want my job for the day?
Pierre: What?
Director: Nah, forget it. No one touches my megaphone but me. Also, you'd probably suck at this.
Pierre: What?
(Credit to AkaiKamiRyu)
Take 1
[Much to her surprise, Rarity gets a celebrity guest at her boutique.]
Rarity: Sapphire Shores! The Pony of Pop!
Sapphire Shores: [In a melodic voice] Good afternoon, Miss Charity!
Rarity: Wh-what…?
Director: Cut! Miss Shores, her name is Rarity.
Sapphire Shores: Oh? Well, at least I almost got it, am I right?
Rarity: [Muttering to herself] She doesn't know my name… why must that hurt so much?
Take 2
Rarity: [Trying not to freak out] How may I help you, Miss Shores?
Sapphire Shores: Oh please, call me Sapphire.
Rarity: [Giggles] How may I help you… [dreamily] Sapphire.
Sapphire Shores: Well, as I'm sure you know, I'll be touring all of Equestria with my latest concert… uh…
Director: Cut!
Sapphire Shores: Darn it, it was… it sounded like some kinda German name. [Trots away] Now where did I put my script?
Rarity: [To herself] I guess that myth about singers being terrible actors is true...
[Rarity is searching for gems and has brought Spike with her to help dig for them. She uses a gem detection spell to locate a bunch of gems buried beneath the ground.]
Rarity: Aha!
Spike: Did you find some?
Rarity: Yes Spike, right there! [Rarity points to a spot a few feet away.]
[Spike starts digging, but can't find anything.]
Rarity: Um… maybe a little to the left?
Spike: Okay. [Tries again, but still can't find any gems.]
Rarity: Um… where were they… oh, maybe a little further forward.
Director: Cut! Rarity, they're nowhere near that spot.
Rarity: Ugh! Well, can't you mark the location somehow?
Director: Fine, someone put a pebble just behind the gems.
Tou-Mou: Fine. [Picks up a pebble and heads over to the spot she believes the gems to be.]
[Pause]
Tou-Mou: Uh… [Turns to the others] Yeah, I don't remember where the gems are.
Director: I thought they were all the way to the left of the set.
Spike: Can't you just use the gem detection spell again?
Director: Spike, we aren't using real gems; we're using plastic ones. Do you think we can afford perfectly-cut gemstones?
[Another pause]
Director: This is going to be an annoying day isn't it?
[Rarity and Spike continue searching for gems. Rarity finds another bunch beneath the earth a few feet in front of her and orders Spike to dig them up. The dragon begins to scoop up the dirt and tosses it behind him, but some of it ends up flying back into Rarity's face.]
Rarity: Mud in my eyes! Mud in my eyes! [Paws frantically at her eyes.]
Director: CUT!
(Credit to AkaiKamiRyu)
[Spike uncovers several gems, and starts drooling over them.]
Spike: Oooh! [Licks his lips] You look so… delicious!
[The little dragon jumps into the hole and lifts up the gems, ready to gorge on them.]
Rarity: Spike!
[He freezes.]
Rarity: I promised I'd give you gems to snack on, but we need to collect more first or I'll never be able to make these outfits for Sapphire.
[Reluctantly, Spike carries the gems over to the wagon they brought with them]
Spike: I will miss you… my sweets. [He puts them in the wagon.]
Rarity: Come along Spike, we have many jewels to find.
Director: CUT!
Rarity: Huh? What's wrong?
Director: I saw that, Spike! You shoved a gem into your mouth while Rarity was talking!
Spike: [Muffled] N-no I didn't.
[Rarity uses her magic to force Spike's mouth open, and sure enough, an emerald has been stuffed in there.]
Pierre: Oho! Busted!
Spike: [Taking the emerald out of his mouth] I was just making sure they were really plastic… [frowns] and they are…
Rarity: Spike!
[The unicorn finds another bundle of gems buried underground. Spike begins digging them up as well, this time using his tail as a shovel. He tosses some of the dirt over his shoulder, and then-]
Rarity: ACK! Seriously, in my mane now?!
Spike: Sorry!
Director: Cut!
[Rarity gives Spike a pat on the head as he drools over the wagon full of gems they collected.]
Rarity: You've been very patient today, Spike, and for that, you get the finest reward! [The unicorn lifts up a large sapphire from the pile of gems with her magic and levitates it over to Spike.] This is from me to you.
[Spike stands with his mouth agape for Rarity to drop the gemstone into. However, upon hearing what Rarity said, he closes his mouth, ready to catch it in his claws instead, but Rarity releases the gem too soon and it falls onto his face.]
Spike: Yowch! [Clutches his snout] Holy guacamole, that hurt!
Rarity: Oh dear! Let me go get the nurse.
Spike: Nah, it's okay, but geez those gemstones are heavy.
[Rarity detects some more gems beneath the earth and Spike begins digging. The Diamond Dogs watch from the bushes.]
Spike: Jackpot! [He emerges from the hole he dug with an armful of all sorts of different gemstones.]
Rover: Ooh, it's not the dragon we want. It's the pony!
[Spike stretches up to place the new bunch of gems on top of the pile in the wagon.]
Rarity: Well Spike, I think that's-
Spike: Oops! [The gem stack topples over and spills out of the wagon.]
Director: Cut!
Spike: Ugh. Why couldn't we just put them in bags?
Director: I don't know. Why are gems always found in huge clusters in this universe?
[The Diamond Dogs ambush Rarity and Spike. After some mayhem, Spike manages to hold the biggest Dog (Fido) down, preventing him from going after Rarity.]
Spike: Got him, Rarity! I got him!
[The dog, however, manages to kick his hind legs into the air, sending Spike flying upwards. His head makes contact with a tree branch, but instead of simply getting his spines lodged into the bark, the collision knocks Spike the heck out and he falls back down to earth.]
Fido: Uh…
Director: Nancy-
Nancy: Ya know what, I'm just gonna stay around here today. I'm sick of having to carry all my equipment over here every time one of you idiots needs a band-aid.
Director: ...fair enough.
[Spike takes the rest of the Mane Six to rescue Rarity, who has been kidnapped by the Diamond Dogs. He explains that they dragged Rarity down a hole, but it turns out the valley is littered with practically hundreds of identical holes. The ponies start wandering around.]
Twilight: Come on girls, let's get started. [She walks up to a hole and peers down inside it.] Hello? [Her voice echoes]
[The rest begin looking down into some of the other holes. Suddenly, after a while of staring into one, Pinkie leans forward and drops inside, letting out a shrill squeal as she plummets.]
Director: CUT! PINKIE!
Pinkie: [Sticks her head out of the hole again. Turns out it's only a few feet deep.] Yes?
Director: Why did you do that? You just ruined the take!
Pinkie: Oh… this is kinda embarrassing. Do you ever get that dizzy feeling when you're standing in a really high place?
Director: What dizzy feeling?
Pinkie: The feeling that you're gonna fall, and then sometimes you do?
Director: No.
Twilight: You mean vertigo? Pinkie, you should probably get that checked out.
Nancy: Psh. I told you I'd need to be here.
(Credit to GuardianAngel1234567)
Twilight: [Calling down the hole] Hello?
[Everyone else peeks down a different hole, but suddenly Applejack yells out in pain.]
Applejack: Holy heck, get it off!
[A mole is clinging to her snout with its teeth.]
Director: Cut! Cut! Cut! Someone get that thing off her!
Fluttershy: Applejack, keep still!
Applejack: [Freezes, but she's clearly trying hard not to cry.]
Fluttershy: Okay, Mr. Mole, please let go of my friend's nose. You're hurting her an awful lot.
Applejack: [In agony] Understatement of the year.
[The mole drops off AJ's nose and the earth pony scurries away to stand beside Nancy, who has already got some disinfectant ready.]
Fluttershy: [Picking the mole up and letting it crawl onto her back] I'll put this little fella outside. [She leaves.]
Director: I hope the explanation for this is that a mole accidentally got into one of the bags of dirt we bought, and not that we have a mole infestation.
Applejack: I sure hope we don't- I think I'm scarred for life!
Nancy: You probably literally are with a bite like that...
[The Diamond Dogs start covering up all their holes. After rushing about trying to jump down one, only one hole remains. Rainbow Dash, who is airborne, zooms down towards the final hole as fast as she can, but she cannot make it before it is filled in.]
Applejack: Rainbow! Slow down!
[But it's too late because Rainbow slams face-first into the dirt.]
Everyone: [Flinches] Eesh!
Nancy: [Grabs the Director's megaphone] CUT!
Director: Hey, that's what I'm supposed to-
Nancy: Can someone carry Rainbow Dash over here so I can patch up her face?
Twilight: [Picks Rainbow up with her magic.]
Pierre: Wow, sir, I can't believe you let her get away with that. I mean you just said nobody could touch your megaphone but you.
Director: Who said I'm gonna let her get away with it?
[The group is imagining how Rarity would handle being imprisoned.]
Rarity: [Overdramatically] Oh, woe is me! What ever shall I do?!
[She takes a couple of steps and treads in some muck.]
Rarity: Ah! Dirt! Dirt! Get away dirt! [She backs into a wall, getting dust all over her flanks.] Make it stop! Make it stop! [She rushes forward and slams her face into a stalactite. However, she hits it so hard it breaks off.]
Director: CUT!
Tou-Mou: Aw man, we worked hard on building all this.
Rarity: No need to worry. It's nothing a little hot glue can't solve.
[Two of the Diamond Dogs burrow out from one of the dirt piles. Rainbow Dash and Twilight spot them.]
Rainbow: Get 'em!
[The pair of them charge at the dogs, but the dogs resubmerge into the ground, making the two mares crash into one another. When they fall to the ground, they lay winded for quite some time.]
Director: Cut! GIrls, can you pick up the pace? This is an action scene, not a picnic. You can't just lie around!
[Twilight and Rainbow sit up, and the Director grimaces.]
Director: Ooh, your mouth's bleeding, Twilight.
Rainbow: [Presses a hoof to her lips and winces] Mine's all swollen, too.
Nancy: Alright, I got some ice packs here for you. Ya know, I've been thinking about taking on an assistant who has healing magic- might make things a lot faster.
Director: I'm surprised you didn't think of that weeks ago.
Applejack: Heh, Dash. Does this mean you crashed into Twilight's mouth with your mouth?
Rainbow: [Flustered] Shut up, AJ. She crashed into me, too!
[Spike lowers the gem Rarity gave him down into the final un-filled hole with a fishing pole.]
Twilight: Spike, it is very noble of you-
[Spike shushes her]
Twilight: [With her voice quieter] -to sacrifice the gem Rarity gave you.
[And then Spike fumbles with the fishing pole, dropping it down into the tunnel.]
Twilight: ...never mind.
Spike: [Facepalms and chuckles] Aw man, I really am terrible at rescuing.
Director: Cut.
(Credit to Shadow Wing 22)
[Spike's fishing pole gets tugged down into the hole, taking him with it. Applejack tries to hold onto him but ends up getting tugged down herself. Twilight grabs AJ, then Rainbow grabs her, and then Fluttershy grabs Rainbow.]
Pinkie: Wait for me! Wheeee! [She catches Fluttershy's tail in her teeth and everyone is pulled down into the tunnel. They all slide down and the tunnel opens up into a wider cavern with a deep ditch below. The fishing line is meant to tug all six of them across to another tunnel on the opposite side of the ditch, but the line breaks while they're in mid-air.]
Spike: Oh no!
[Spike, Applejack, and Twilight make it across to the other side and continue to slide down, but Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie fall short. Dash and Fluttershy grab hold of Pinkie to keep her from falling and carefully carry her down to safety.]
Rainbow: What the heck was that?! Did you really think a fishing line would hold all of our weight?
Pinkie: How long was that line anyway?
Director: L-look, it didn't seem like that hard of a stunt to pull off!
Pierre: This is why we should have called in Veronica, but you wouldn't listen to me!
Director: I didn't want to have to pay another person today!
Fluttershy: Well, Pinkie could have gotten really hurt if we hadn't been there…
Director: [Sigh] Alright, I'm sorry. Let's re-shoot this scene tomorrow and I'll call Espinosa.
Rainbow: Sir, this is the most sensible thing I've ever seen you do.
Director: I don't need your compliments, Dash.
Rainbow: You still suck, though.
Director: That's more like it.
[The gang has made their way into the Diamond Dogs' network of tunnels by means of wacky hijinks.]
Twilight: How are we ever gonna find Rarity?
Applejack: Guess we're just gonna hafta start going down 'em one by one.
Rainbow: That could take forever! There's gotta be a way to narrow it down.
Spike: I know! I bet they've taken Rarity down the tunnel with the most gems!
Twilight: Um…
Director: Twilight, did you forget your line?
Twilight: No… it's just…
Director: What?
Twilight: Diamond Dogs mine for diamonds. Wouldn't they more likely be where there are fewer diamonds? You know, because they've been mining there?
Director: Twilight, what have I said about criticising the script?!
Twilight: I'm sorry! I mean, it's not even that big of a problem, I guess...
Twilight: But Spike, Rarity's the only one who knows how to find gems!
Spike: No, Twilight. You can! You can copy Rarity's gem-finding spell.
Twilight: Oh my gosh, you're right! Rarity showed me how she did it a while back. If I could just remember…
[She strains as she tries to cast the spell, squeezing her eyes shut and grunting from the effort. Predictably, she ends up passing wind before any kind of magic happens.]
Director: For film's sake, Twilight. That's gross.
Twilight: [Blushing] S-sorry. I couldn't really control that.
Director: [Wafting his copy of the script in front of his nose] Let's just cut this take.
Pinkie: [Popping up behind him] -and the cheese, am I right?
Director: Go away, Pinkie.
(Credit to AkaiKamiRyu)
[The Diamond Dogs are forcing Rarity to pull a cart for them.]
Rarity: I must say, the working conditions here are simply dreadful. Musty and damp, it's going to wreak havoc on my mane. And this air is stifling- suffocating. And when I try to take a deep breath, the stench of all you dogs makes me nauseated.
[She marks a spot for the dogs to dig with her magic. But when a pair of dogs go over to excavate them, their digging causes some rocks on the ceiling to fall down on top of them, crushing them.]
[Everybody freezes.]
Director: [Whispering] What are you just standing there for? Keep the scene going.
Rarity: But sir, those rocks falling wasn't in the script.
Director: Who cares? We're keeping it!
Rainbow: But I thought the Producer didn't like people changing the script?
Director: She's funny like that. We can't change anything that happens in the script, but adding a short, innocuous slapstick piece like that is fine 'cause it's filling in empty space in the episode- she might even call it clever. Plus, she likes seeing people in pain.
Tou-Mou: That explains a lot about this production.
Twilight: I'm still not sure about this…
Tou-Mou: I'm fine with it so long as it keeps him from calling me out on my team's shoddy glue work.
[The Dogs have had enough of Rarity's complaints.]
Rover: Enough! Your whining! It-it-it hurts!
Rarity: Whining? I am not whining. I am complaining. Do you want to hear whining? [She demonstrates] Thiiis is whiiining!
[The dogs realize they done messed up.]
Rarity: [Still fake-whining] Oooh, this harness is too tiiight! It's going to chafe. Oooh, it hurts and it's sooo ruuusty! [she pauses] Oh good gracious, I'm even annoying myself.
Director: That just means it's great acting. Now take that from the top!
[Rover attaches the cart to Rarity a second time, determined not to let her outwit them.]
Rarity: [After Rover shoves the harness on her back] Not so tiiiight!
Rover: Ha! Make the noises all you want. But move while you make them, mule! [slaps Rarity's haunches to get her to move.]
Rarity: [Appalled] Did you just call me a… mule?!
Rover: [Already afraid] Uhh…
Rarity: Mules are ugly. Are you saying that I too am ugly? [Pauses] Goodness, that's awfully rude of my character. Does she really believe all mules are ugly?
Director: Well they're mules. What do you expect?
Rarity: Tch. I beg your pardon, but I've personally met some rather lovely looking mules. Perhaps if you got out more, Mr. Director, you too would see some.
Director: Hey, I didn't write the script! Why are you even getting so upset about this?
Rarity: I run a fashion label, remember? As much as I love my work, I'm aware that the fashion industry loves to make people feel ashamed of their appearance- I would hate for my character to do that, too.
Director: [Sighs] Rarity, that's very nice of you, but you know the rules.
Rarity: [Frowns] No changing the script.
Pierre: Them's the breaks. Sorry Rarity- if it helps, just pretend you're making it up as an excuse to whine.
Rarity: Hmm… I suppose that will have to do.
[The rest of the Mane Six and Spike make their way closer to the sound of Rarity's fake-crying.]
Spike: It's coming from down here! Come on!
[They stop in front of a barred door.]
Rainbow: She must be in there! Let's go!
[Suddenly, five dogs leap out at them, each one landing on one of the ponies' backs. Fluttershy however, cannot hold the dog on her back's weight and collapses to the ground. The dog crushes the breath out of her lungs.]
Director: Cut!
Dog: Oh! Sorry pony. [Gets off the pegasus].
Fluttershy: I can't feel… my spine...
[The ponies have just dealt with the Dogs; they then hear a racket coming from beyond the door. Spike spots a stalactite hanging from the roof of the cavern and reaches for it, trying to tug it down. A few seconds pass.]
Twilight: What's taking so long?
Spike: I can't get it down!
Director: Cut! Dang it, Peng. The one time you're supposed to attach something loosely, you make it immovable!
Tou-Mou: Hey, you're talking like everything I make is cruddy. I'm good at what I do, man, but even the greatest still make mistakes.
Rainbow: It's true. Heck, I still crash a lot when I'm flying.
Everyone else: We know.
Rainbow: [Sheepishly] Okay, I guess it does happen a little too much…
Director: Just fix the stalactite!
Tou-Mou: Alright, don't get your man-bun in a twist, I'm on it.
(Credit to AkaiKamiRyu and Oliviaplayz- sorry this isn't quite what you wanted.)
[The final scene of the episode is being filmed.]
Pinkie: I can't believe you found all these gems!
Rainbow: Heh. I can't believe you tricked all those dogs.
Rarity: Just because-
?: TWILIGHT SPARKLE!
Director: What the frickity frack?!
[Something crashes down through the ceiling and down onto the set. When the dust clears, the 'thing' is revealed to be a young purple unicorn.]
Rainbow: Uh… I'm not sure what's going on, but that entrance was awesome!
Tou-Mou: Awesome? Look at the ceiling! I gotta fix that now… but yeah okay, it was pretty awesome.
Director: UM?! Hello?! Can we focus for five seconds? Who are you and why would you do that?!
?: [Barely able to hold her excitement] Hi! My name's Galaxy and I'm your biggest fan, Twilight Sparkle!
Twilight: [Blushing a little] Wow, really? I'm actually pretty flattered that you'd go to such, uh… extreme lengths to see me.
Galaxy: [Eyes shimmering] C-can I please get your autograph?
Twilight: Well… I don't see why not. Come with me and I'll get you a poster.
[Twilight takes a very happy Galaxy away with her, leaving the others standing around a pile of rubble.]
Rainbow: ...Not gonna lie, I'm surprised it's taken us this long to have a fan break in.
Director: [Head in his hands] Well next time it happens, I hope they just use the door like normal crazy superfans.
(Credit to Galaxy Gamer)
[The ponies are each lugging a cart back to Ponyville.]
Twilight: [To Rarity]I can't wait to write to Princess Celestia to tell her what you taught me today.
Rarity: [Caught off-guard] Me? What did I teach you?
Twilight: Just because somepony is ladylike, doesn't make her weak. In fact-
Rarity: Oh! Twilight, hold that thought. My cart seems to have gotten caught on someth-
[The cart suddenly jolts.]
Fluttershy: Oof!
Director: CUT! Fluttershy, watch where you're going.
Fluttershy: [Holding a hoof over her nose] That stings…
Nancy: [Sighs and holds up a box of band-aids, speaking monotonously.] Never fear, because I am here.
Outro
Pierre: Well, that wasn't so bad.
Director: Then why did it feel like it took so long?
Rainbow: Rarity's whining, maybe?
Director: Yeah… maybe Rarity's too good at acting?
Rarity: [Uncertainly] Thank you...?
Nancy: You know, maybe it's just because I've been standing here for most of the day, but it seems like you didn't have as many injuries this time around.
Fluttershy: That is just… not true. Plainly not true. [Gestures to her sore nose and aching back.]
Director: Yeah… maybe this is a sign that things are starting to look up for us?
Twilight: Either way, we only have a few more episodes left to film… it's kinda sad.
Rainbow: Are you kidding me? I'm more than ready to retire.
Director: Is that a resignation, Dash?
Rainbow: [Panicked] N-no! I'm just kidding, obviously.
Twilight: I wonder if we'll get a second season?
Pierre: Heh… I haven't really thought about it, Twilight. I personally wouldn't hope too much for a renewal.
Pinkie: [Popping up next to the Director's chair.] Well, I think we will!
Director: Really? Why's that?
Pinkie: I dunno… it's just that after these past few weeks, I've come to really like all you guys, and I don't get why the audience wouldn't, too. I wanna see you all again, so why shouldn't they?
[Everyone looks around at one another.]
Applejack: ...We really are all friends now, aren't we?
[At that moment, Twilight looks around at all the ponies and people that she's grown closer to.]
Twilight: [Smiles] Yes… I think we are.
Endnote: Yeah, I have no excuse for why this chapter has taken almost six months to complete. I just started another project that's been taking up a lot of my interest, but I do want to get back on track with this story. Gotta get to that season finale at some point! But yes, if anyone is still here, the next episode is Green Isn't Your Color, so send in your bloopers! Or tell me off for being so slow- it might encourage me to speed up next time.
Mouse's Musings: So… this is the second time I've ever watched this episode. I don't have an explanation for this- I just remember watching it once, coming to the conclusion that I didn't like it, and then deciding never to watch it again. But now that I've seen it again, I have no idea what caused such a strong reaction from me because this episode is fine. If I had to guess, it's probably because I was still in my Rarity-hating phase back then and the sound of her fake-whining irritated me just as much as it did for the dogs. Not gonna lie, I still found it annoying- I rewatch scenes multiple times while writing these chapters, so I had to sit through it several times as well.
But, I do like this episode! I think it does even more to make Rarity a strong character, I like that there's quite a bit more action in this episode compared to a lot of the other ones in this season, and I think the message is great, too- that there is no one singular type of strength, and your wits can be a valuable weapon if you use them well.
Did they ever bring the Diamond Dogs back after this episode? Because I don't recall them ever appearing again… but then again, it's not like they're much of a threat. I think the Dogs might be the least threatening monsters in the entire MLP canon, but I didn't dislike them. I could certainly relate to them when it came to Rarity's "whining" anyway. I mean, it won't be long before Twilight's battling a reality-warping God-creature next season, so it would be hard to make these guys intimidating to Twilight and the gang after they've defeated something like that.
I feel like the next episode is a good opportunity to world-build some more, if nothing else then just to get me more pumped to write, because I feel like with only a few chapters left until the finale, I need to get the humans and ponies to grow a little closer, because they're still just mostly hostile with one another- don't get me wrong, I love that part of their dynamic, but my end-goal is for the ponies and crew-members to become like this crazy dysfunctional family.
Also, I may not have seen the MLP finale, but I know of some stuff that happens in it. Yes, this will affect some of the characters' relationships as the story goes on. ^u^