Dio

I would pare down some of her profession and her field of expertise. Mechanical engineering, locksmithing, and clock making, while they share similar traits require vastly different skill sets and each requires substantial investment of time to stay good at it. I think mechanical engineering fits her well since she seems to love engines, though the clockworks part was a good stepping stone towards that.

He wants to be famous, and to know for himself he's an incredible flier. The only way he feels he can prove it to himself is by getting into the Wonderbolts.

I would emphasize this then. Focus on him wanting to be the best that he can be. You can say that he tests himself when he can and that eventually he found that the final threshold was trying out for the Wonderbolts. There could also be a bit about the point where he accepts that the Wonderbolts would be the next step in his development so he overcomes his old hesitation and tries out.

Celestia smiled as she finished writing up her latest note, neatly folding it up before placing it in an envelope and stamping the wax seal with the royal signet. The first round of letters was complete! The foal’s hospital would be notified and the caterers, the show organizers, and the promoters would all begin their work shortly. Now all that was left was to “inform” the trainers and the star of the show!

Lanceguard would arrive to find the Rhododendron room empty save for the low mahogany conference table at its center. Cushions ringed the table, providing seating for any of the ponies who would be in attendence. The table itself was graced with a platter upon which a delicious-looking raspberry cheesecake sat. Dishes and a tea set accompanied it. At the table’s head, resided the monarch herself, rainbow mane floating lazily in the aetheric breeze.

Celestia nodded in acknowledgement to Lanceguard’s entrance, a fresh teacup floating by her head and a small dessert plate with a single slice of cheesecake off to the side of the table. The day was not over quite yet, but the princess was willing to indulge in a bit of refreshment.

“Good afternoon,” Celestia said. “Lady Lanceguard I presume? Please have a seat. We have quite a bit to discuss! Would you like a slice of cheese cake? Some tea perhaps?”

“As you were, Sergeant Bonfire,” Shining Armor said, returning the salute and also issuing one to Reveille before nodding in acknowledgement. “Same to you, Master Sergeant Reveille.”

"Well, Sir, I-I have a way with clocks..."

Private Tick’s story was intriguing enough, but there was plenty that didn’t add up. As Master Sergeant Reveille had pointed out, Guards were not supposed to leave their posts until properly relieved by the next watch shift. There was something missing from the story, and Shining Armor was intent on finding out what it was.

“So let me get this straight, private,” the captain said nonchalantly, floating his report folio out of his saddlebags and in front of him. “You’re telling me you managed to bypass the palace perimeter, evade every arcane sensor in the Southwest Colonnade of the palace proper, and make it to the colonnade armorer’s stable because of a trick with the clockwork?”

They were already two NCOs playing bad watch commander and Tick probably didn’t need a third. The kid looked terrified as it was, and if he had found a security gap in the palace perimeter, the last thing Shining Armor needed was for him to clam up or start blathering nonsense in the hopes of stopping the onslaught of questions. The captain furrowed his brow as he rethought his methods.

“That takes cojones, kid,” he finally said, his tone softer than that of the NCOs. “Guts. A bit of luck, and a lot of crazy. I’m almost impressed. But like the sergeant said, something here doesn’t quite add up. Guards don’t leave their posts until relieved, even with the time swap. From what you’re telling me, they were never relieved. Is there something else I need to know?”

Miasma seemed to be amicable and straightforward enough. A job was a job, and handsome reward for a job was always welcome. From the description, it was a simple smash and grab op. Get in, get the map, get out. He’d leave the detaining to the predatory creatures; after all, they were the only ones who seemed concerned about taking the Diamond Dog boss for... well, whatever you’d do with a Diamond Dog boss.

"...though the way I see it, bringing along deadweight may end up dragging us down."

“Oh c’mon now, lass,” White Feather said without missing a beat, “Don’t be so hard on yourself! I wouldn't go so far as to call yourself that! You're just a little 'soft around the edges' is all!”

Not really. The other griffon was a bit rough around the edges. She had a scrapper’s build and a certain swagger that suggested she got her kicks from pushing others around, but the excessive amount of edge on her voice suggested she was none too good at it. Amateurs, the thief chuckled to himself.

"What exactly do you bring to the table, pony?” The griffonness continued. Gilda was it? “You can't fly and you don't look very tough. Far as I can tell the only thing you can do is talk fast and in my book that ain't really worth much!”

“I bring myself to the table first and foremost. Then I bring drinks!” the pony smirked, tapping on the edge of his mug. He then took a swig of the tankard, swiping the froth away with a free fetlock, purposefully letting the grin slip ever so slightly. The only response was a continuing glare from Gilda, drawing nothing more than a mildly exasperated sigh from White Feather. “Aye, tough crowd tonight.”

“But since you asked so nicely, I’ll be blunt. I bring with me very particular set of skills; skills very useful for persons such as yourself, Miasma,” he said, rapping his hoof on the table. “I’m what they like to call a... retrieval specialist. If you want something, no matter where it is or who happens to have it at the moment, I can ‘retrieve’ it for you. Get what I’m saying?”

"Didn't you know that good taste was standard issue for the REA officer corps?" Shining Armor smirked as he led her forward. “Speaking of taste, I could use something to drink!”

The bar was situated at the rear of the club, out of the way of both the dancefloor and the circular hardwood tables and wall booths where patrons wishing for more private conversation seated themselves. From the swing-door cordoned rear entrance came the crackling of cookfires and the clanging of pots and pans; indeed food was served here as well. Fairie lanterns adorned the walls over the booths, bathing the wall-side tables in subtle aetheric ambience. The floor tables were similarly lit, a short rod holding a single faerie lantern standing upright on each table, giving the appearance of a floating orb of golden light suspended above each one.

The subtle sensations of the nightlife wafted through the air around them. Idle chatter from bar patrons, the occasional wave of a hoof or nod of a muzzle in recognition, smatterings of laughter and the subtle clinks of drink glasses on hardwood tables, the muffle clops of hooves on the dancefloor-- all formed a subtle backdrop for the

Finally, they arrived at the bar, a middling-sized hardwood affair stained a rich wine color and polished to perfection. Like most pony establishments, the counter boasted a low profile and gentle lip, with cushions at ground level that allowed ponies to comfortably lay down and rest their hooves while they enjoyed a drink. The shelves were stocked with myriad liquors from as far away as Aquellia and Stalliongrad, though most were spirits from Canterlot and Garden Gait-- in fact, an entire section of shelving was devoted to the Garden Gait Winery’s selection. Taps with various kegs occupied the next segment over, housing a small but respectable selection of local brews. Finally, off in the corner was a section of syrups, ice boxes with sliced fruits, and a small soda water maker for those who preferred their drinks with less punch.

A pink unicorn mare zipped back and forth behind the bar, her teal and lime mane flowing in long tendrils behind her as she worked, tending to patrons, passing off drinks to waiters, and making smalltalk to those who chose to make the bar cushions their spot for the night. Shining Armor settled into his cushion, motioning for Cadence to take a seat next to him.

“Drinks are on me tonight, honey! Bartender, I’d like something simple to start-- a Hoofington Pale Ale, please. As for the lady...” he knickered happily as he spoke, “...well, I think it might be best if she told you herself!”

[[ You're up next, Solaria. But after that, stand by because I'm bringing in a pro bartender! ]]

As this character has already been approved and sorted, bumping is unnecessary. You're ready to play since he's your OC!

Your post reads convincing, but it is quite unsatisfying... etc.

People have their reasons for selecting the type of pony they want to be. I was positing how they might make that selection and how I would make mine. I am not type-limiting anyone based on their personalities. You guys be what you want to be!

Now can we un-derail the topic? I think there are more people waiting to tell us what pony they would like to be

*peeks in* What did I miss?

- sent from my HTC Evo using Tapatalk 2

On a related note, why is everyone relating science and knowledge to unicorns? If a horn is a prerequisite for careers that use you brain, I would be a unicorn, but that is not actually the case. In fact, in a world where the scientific professions come from one group, those that come from a different background are valuable because they don't come in with the same preconceived notions. An "outsider" is more likely to say "why do we do this?" about something that everyone else has taken for granted since before the original reason for it disappeared. Similarly, I could do this as a pegasus.

You can do many things as many ponies, but the show suggests that it is a sort of cultural norm for unicorns to be studious and intelligent. After all, there is an entire school dedicated to training unicorns with unusual magical prowess. Again, the show establishes that magic is a force to be learned and studied and improved. Unicorns are inherently magical and the desire to master aetherics is fundamentally a part of their nature.

Pegasi are shown to also be athletic, vivacious, and competitive. From Hearth's Warming Eve, we see them as being possibly militant and from Sonic Rainboom, we see them as hosting the Best Young Flyer's competition, a highly popular athletics competition.

Finally, Earth ponies are shown to be common-sense no nonsense friends; Applejack/Smart Cookie are prime examples of this.

That said, there are exceptions to every rule, like Fluttershy, a pegasus, not being very athletic at all or Rarity eschewing academics in favor of art. Just bear in mind that these tropes are not baseless assumptions, nor are they inherently bad. They just provide a basis for us to build characters on and certain expectations we know we'll have to fulfill or at least explain in storycraft.

Councilor-Princess Mi Amore Cadenza

Office of Canterlot Royal Public Relations

Suite 52, Palace Complex

107 Equestrian Way

Canterlot

Hey honey,

Happy Friday! It's been a long week and I figure both of us could use a break. There's a little jazz club I know from my ROTC days in downtown C-lot that offers cheap drinks and good music. I figure it would be a good place to unwind and catch up after the craziness of the past month. Call some time off and bring your dancing horseshoes. I promise it'll be a good time! I'll see you soon, sweetheart.

Love, your Shining Armor

Guard Captain Shining Armor

Barracks of the Royal Equestrian Army

Official's Suite, Palace Headquarters

152 Trottenheim Boulevard

Canterlot

Hi love!

The same to you! You know I love jazz, and I always love your old hangouts. Things here at the CRPR have been hectic lately, but I bet they still pale in comparison to my strong Captain of the Guard's duties. I know we haven't had much time at night this week, and I can't wait to steal you away from your manly stallions. Be safe during all those training sessions!

My heart to you,

Cadance

Ponyland was a paradoxical mixture of hole-in-the-wall charm and big-name popularity. Whispers of the place swam through the Canterlot streets like hippocamps would through the Okeanos atriums and underground newspapers and magazines showered it with endless accolades. At the same time, hardly any press circulated in the upper echelons of Canterlot society. It seemed the owners of the establishment welcomed the word of mouth marketing model, even preferring it to the kind of coverage that the big name papers could give it. Some even called it Downtown C-lot’s “best kept secret.”

Military patrons were common at Ponyland, as it was garrison tradition to visit the establishment on weekends. That wasn’t to say that the establishment was exclusively military. Civilians of all shapes, sizes, and social strata also frequented Ponyland. At the bar or on the dance floor, all could enjoy quality drinks and music that could be heard in few other places in Equestria.

Shining Armor smiled as he stepped through the door, taking in the faint scents of hardwood floors, strong cider, and pipe smoke. This was it. He was home. Even after all these years, Ponyland had retained its charm, capturing the spirit of a bygone era, one that delicately balanced style and class without sacrificing either.

The captain was careful to match his dress to the aesthetic of the establishment. After his promotion he’d decided that work would stay at work, so Class-A was out of the question. But to show up wearing nothing at all simply wouldn’t do. A tailored suit jacket, a proper tie of solid black, and a collar pressed and worn with all the precision of an REA officer was the order of the evening. The only hint of military was the lapel pin, the REA emblem of a rearing alicorn in silhouette.

The stage was set. The lights were dim. The drinks were flowing. The music filled the air. Before them was the whole of Luna’s night.

“Just the way I remember it...” the dashing captain said with a smile, extending a hoof to his lovely wife. "Shall we?"