SgtSporky

Oh, I think it will. Nay. I know it will.

This hasn't got much to do with ponies, so if that's what you're looking for, leave. If you're interested in the sentiments of a tired young man, however, maybe you'd like to stick around a while, friend. I was playing Pokemon HeartGold earlier, and I spent some time in Lavender Town. Now, the first Pokemon game I ever played was original Silver, and I'm a nostalgic person, so I play with the GB Sounds turned on so I can listen to old songs and relive good memories. And there it was, the Lavender Town theme from the Game Boy. That song is the most nostalgic of all. You'd think that would be Pallet Town, New Bark Town, or Goldenrod City or something, but nope. Lavender Town is most nostalgic song. Maybe it was meant to be that way, considering what Lavender Town is- a resting place for dead Pokemon. Anyway, that song took me on a real long trip down Memory Lane. I remember the first time I ever stuck original Silver into the Game Boy and what starter I first chose (Cyndaquil) and my pride for having beaten Falkner (the first Gym Leader in original Gold/Silver), my first walk out of New Bark, the first few steps down Route 1 when I got Red/Blue, and then my memories took me away from the Pokemon world. I remembered a lot of other things, too. My first night on the parade square, my first day of Grade Primary, and a great many other good memories. I was so happy, and so sad. Happy that all this stuff happened, but sad that I could never go back to it again. All I can do is hold on to the good old days in my mind, and do my best to make good new days, am I right? I hope that someday I will be able to be an old man and look back at S1, laugh, sigh, and say "good times". Of course, I hope that MLP:FiM doesn't go off-air until long after I'm far too old to come back and re-read this post. I want it to keep going with the same quality until long after I'm dead and buried, just like everything else I love. And it will. So, here's to the good times behind us, and to the good times ahead! Cheers, mates! *drinks from mug of apple cider*

I've been hearing and repeating the same mantra since I became a Brony: "love and tolerate". I think I've been precieving it a bit differently than most, however. The way some seem to interpret it is as a message saying to put up with whatever is thrown at us, and I think that isn't quite right. The way I always meant "love and tolerate" was as a shortened version of "just because someone is different doesn't mean they're bad". Regardless of how someone is different, whether because they follow another faith or their skin is a different color, or even something as small as liking different music or books, they should be given the same respect as anyone else. The way some people are interpreting the mantra isn't quite the same. Where I see what I said above, others apparently see "turn the other cheek". Sometimes this is a good policy- as with Trolls, who seek only your reaction. It's a great way to spite people like them. Other times, however, it's not such a great idea. Let's take the example of Trixie. Did the ponies turn the other cheek? No. Of course not. Her behavior was unacceptable. Because she was rude, a liar, and had an ego the size of Texas, none of the ponies really wanted her around. Believe it or not, there is a bad way to be different and that is it. What about the Crusaders in "Bridle Gossip"? Were they loved and tolerated when their untoward behavior came to light? Again, no. Their actions simply were not acceptable- they spread false rumors and invaded people's privacy for their own sake. They were promptly shunned until they corrected what they'd done wrong. There is a reson for all this- people who do things like that are bad for the community. There's the good kind of different, which is what people who think outside the box and bring something new are. And there's a bad kind of different, which is what those who treat others like dirt or manipulate people to get what they want and then leave them for dead are. In short, I think we've been doing it wrong. Sporky, out.

Some of you know it, some of you don't, but see that "Sgt" in my name? That's actually my title IRL. Well, it was, but then I got promoted and I'm trying to find a universally recognized version of Flight Sergeant. I'm just an Air Cadet, but the thing is that I'm still looked at by more people than you'd think as being part of the military. I don't have a service number, but I wear a uniform. The biggest difference between me and a real soldier is that I don't fight wars, what with being under 18 and all. People here in Canada look at Cadets as being the "good" kids, as being the leaders of tomorrow and all that jazz. Little kids look up to us and adults trust us, and it makes me proud. Now, I know a lot of Bronies out there are involved in the US military, and I can't express how much respect I have for you guys- especially the ones who make no secret of it with their unit. I don't make it a secret with my squadron. Maybe when I show up on a grub night wearing a Brony shirt, there'll be thirty-odd less haters in the world. They look up to the senior Cadets, and I know that for a lot of the other military Bronies who hold a higher rank, your unit looks up to you. I've got a challenge for you guys. Every time you get a chance to wear civvies, make it a Brony shirt. For the guys who don't have a higher rank, try getting the others in on the fun. Maybe once people realize that half the military are Bronies, they'll stop calling us "a bunch of fruits", eh? All the best, anyone reading!

Yes. God, yes. This is something my own little sisters have done.

Dear Princess Celestia... I've learned a valuable lesson today. People don't really hate Bronies because we like the show. Their preception is the problem. The way they see us is entirely different from how we see ourselves. They see us as freaks where we see ourselves as average people who just happen to like a show whose target audience is quite a distance from us. They see us as fetishists where we see ourselves as people who just like to draw and look at pony-related art. The funny thing is that our preception is off as well. Where we see a legion of hateful people, there is actually a legion of people who just accept- and even respect- us. The few haters in the crowd change our preception of the group as a whole. Preception is a problem on both ends because nobody sees clearly. This is something we need to find a way to deal with. This whole "internet war" that's been going on is just a prime demonstration of this, because it is very clear how everyone sees eachother and we're all wrong. Basically, not everything is in plain black and white. The line of distinction is blurred from all viewpoints. This whole problem would be corrected easily if both sides were open to communication. With a little clearing up, we could all be friends again. -Your faithful fan, Sgt. Sporky

Cool, is that your art? I've never really been much good at visual art, myself. That's why I stick to my keyboard for the most part. As for your family, all my best wishes go out to them. I've lost a couple of good people to cancer myself, and it's never easy. It would be a hoot, it would indeed. Make my life, Canon Creators. I'll get around to that fic eventually.

Hehehe, yes. Scootaloo is best CMC, easily. Discord is best non-pony. Let's face it, we all love the nut. Chocolate rain, anyone? Hm. The alicorns as younger ponies? It's a fic now, we can't stop it. It's probably badslash, too. I never did understand the Princesst pairing... I've always wondered about Dash's family, you know. We've seen everyone else's. We still don't know where AJ's parents are either. But Dash has no family at all. Nor Scootaloo, who we like to think of as an orphan. How odd. Eugh, G3 RD make me sick. G3 in general makes me sick, really. Seeing that is like being shot in the gut with a tracer round. In other words, I wanna throw up and it burns. IT BURNS! In any case, you have my thanks for being the first ever commenter on my blog.

Well, I've been speculating on S3. I've been presented with some intersting theories about what the opener will be like. One theory goes that we will have an especially cruel or greedy villain. Think a moment: Nightmare Moon was a user of dark magic. Discord's whole existence revolved around laughing- at the pain of others. And Chrysalis' whole strategy hinged on deciet. Perversions of Magic, Laughter, and Honesty, respectively. Coincidence? I think not. Other theories say that the writers will continue to cater towards the older fans- and I hope that this is true. Truth be told, I swear there are more Bronies than there are "orginal target audience" fans. I've been thinking a lot of late about old characters as well. Where have Trixie, Luna, and others been, when we were promised far more of them than we were given? Maybe they'll come back later. I hope. As grating as Trixie is, she is still a great character to have around. Luna, I just like Luna all around. It would have been fun watching her continue her attempts to adapt to modern society. Can't win 'em all, I suppose. I think they'll return someday. What of Equestria's military? Will we see more from them? I understand that they still have to cater to younger fans as well, but they could incorporate the REAF, REA, and REN while doing so. There could be a whole episode revolving around Shining Armor's recruit days, for instance. Perhaps they could bring in some new characters who are retired members of the Royal Guard, sent to Ponyville under the premise of their retirement, but who are actually there to keep an eye out for- and lend a hoof with- any sort of trouble. Heck, that could be part of the season opener! In any case, I run short on time. So, I will return later,

Wow. The finale was just wow. I know I'm a wee bit late, but I do have other business to attend. I couldn't get over how drastically different it was from S1. Not just the finale, but the whole season. Especially the finale though. We have closed borders, espionage, identity theft, all-out war, international threats, straight up fighting in the streets, even a proper display of an armed-albiet-unready Royal Guard contingent. I've always wondered about Equestria's military, and it now becomes apparent that they are ridiculously inept and ineffective. I suppose this can only be expected with such a long period of peace, however. I can't help but wonder if training has been stepped up in the light of the nation's vulnerability, behind the scenes. If it hadn't been for Bronies, this whole thing would doubtless have been a repeat of "At the Gala", which, as amazing as it was, left something to be desired. We also got to see something like serious marshal magic, from shielding to knockback spells. I hope I get to see a little more of that in S3, as magic is tricky due to the fact that its mechanics vary from fandom to fandom and we need a good understanding of how it works to write about it effectively, realistically, and without excessive dispute. I hope we get to see more of what's outside Equestria. It'd be cool to know, wouldn't it? S3 has endless possibilities. They could do just about anything they wanted, you know. I've been speculating on S3's opener. Return of an old villain? The coming of a new one who surpasses all who came before them? Regardless, I'll be rather giddy when it finally airs. I'm expecting a lot of S3. I can only hope that the awesomeness continues. S2 was about 20% cooler than S1, and that's quite an achievement. Even the staff at MLP will be hard-pressed to surpass themselves again. For now, though, the canon remains frozen in time, and we can write fanfics without making adjustments every week. The off-season does have its upside, you know! Goodbye, everybrony!

I don't know if anybrony is reading. Frankly, I don't care. I had a good time in Shearwater. I've learned a little more. And I've been accepted for the "Military Band- Advanced Musician" course at CSTC Greenwood. This means I'll be gone for six weeks in the summer. I'll be sure to catch up again, but I don't leave for a few months yet. Anyway, as some of you know, I hail from the Pit of Voles- fanfiction.net. It's got other, more obscene names, too. It's known mostly for Badfic among the PPC, and with good reason. A lot of the fanfiction there completely defies Canon, is riddled with Sues and Stus, has bad grammar, and is generally just no good. But sometimes, in the piles of dirt and filth scattered throughout the ruins of destroyed Canons, you will find a gem or two. They're that much more valuable because of where they were found. They're few and far between in many sections, though some have more. Some people don't think it's worth sacrificing their time and sanity, but I think it is. That's why I'm there. It also pays to give a Badfic author some concrit. Sometimes there's a complete turn-around and they start writing masterpieces. More often that not, you just get flamed for it, but at least you can say you tried, and that's better than nothing, right? So, I saw "Dragon Quest" last week, and I liked it. What Spike wrote in his letter was so true. "Who you are is not the same as what you are." I'm not sure on this, but maybe there was something said about racism in there. Just becuase the guy next to me is Black doesn't mean he loves fried chicken, and just because I'm White doesn't mean I'm ignorant. If I offended someone there, you have no idea how sorry I am. But my point got across, yeah? I can't help but wonder what was in the letter Spike burped up. It was probably something important, too. I get the feeling it will be brought up in this week's episode. Don't know why, just do. Well, I'll be going now. It's been good writing again!

The "Pit of Voles" is another name for fanfiction.net. It has other names, and many of them are rather obscene. I can't blame them for that, because it can be a nasty place to be. But sometimes, in the piles of dirt and filth among the ruins of destroyed Canons, you can find a gem, believe you me. And those gems are all the more precious for where you find them. Some sections have more than others. Some seem to have none at all. But they're there. Some would say it's not worth risking your sanity, faith in humanity, and (in some cases) sobriety to find them. I say it is. Then again, I was insane when I started there. Unfortunately, while I do have a way with animals, I don't think I could do that. Best of luck though!

Well hey there! Eheheh, you think you're nuts? If you want crazy, you should see me and my friends. Like that one time at band camp where... No, wait, not exactly G-Rated content. Closer to PG-13. Oh, or this one time on the way to Halifax when... No, wait, even less appropriate. But we're all crazy, I assure you. Welcome, enjoy your stay and have some Bleep-products for any badfic you might find on the Pit!