My Little Pony XII: No One Can Groove Like the Girls with the Hooves

[PhoeKun]

Today feels so weird, pony thread. I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

I haven't gotten a single submission, haven't dug through a pile of pictures and thought about what the best comment for each one would be. I haven't given a lick of thought to new themes, and I haven't really done much of anything that could be considered creative. Mostly I've just rested.

And after a day of resting, I have never felt more burned out and exhausted than I do right now. What gives?

[RdMarquis]

Noooo why are there only 26 episodes ;-;

If it's any consolation, you're in good company. We're waiting for season 2, as well.

[TheAmishPirate]

Noooo why are there only 26 episodes ;-;

And now it begins. The new brony has run out of official material to slake his thirst, and must drink from other springs. Except all the springs are full of delicious contaminants and other such crazies. Dementia should set in within a few days.

And then he will be compleat.

@Phoe: You've been overclocking yourself for a month now. I expect you've been running on pure willpower and whatever sugar/energy drinks/friendship you can get into your bloodstream. That's what it would take for me anyway.

And now you've just abruptly stopped. This is the mental/physical equivalent of trying to change gears from High to Park at highway speeds. There's bound to be some gears grinding and whatnot, although the risk of automobile accidents is admittedly much lower.

[SiuiS]

And before I forget (again);

Spoiler

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The thrilling conclusion to the Sad Luna Comic

[EsperDerek]

Today feels so weird, pony thread. I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

I haven't gotten a single submission, haven't dug through a pile of pictures and thought about what the best comment for each one would be. I haven't given a lick of thought to new themes, and I haven't really done much of anything that could be considered creative. Mostly I've just rested.

And after a day of resting, I have never felt more burned out and exhausted than I do right now. What gives?

In my experience, it's actually a natural thing. The body and mind has the ability to put off things like stress and exhaustion until it can effectively deal with them, when it's not interfering with things that need doing.

Since there isn't any need for you to be at your top form and work towards something, there's no need for you to put off feeling that burn out.

[SiuiS]

Today feels so weird, pony thread. I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

I haven't gotten a single submission, haven't dug through a pile of pictures and thought about what the best comment for each one would be. I haven't given a lick of thought to new themes, and I haven't really done much of anything that could be considered creative. Mostly I've just rested.

And after a day of resting, I have never felt more burned out and exhausted than I do right now. What gives?

Dive back about 20 pages, and drink in the Pony.

Relax.
Close your eyes.

Feel that you are still with the pony.

Turn inward your discernment. Feel that there is pony within, though you are within the pony.

You are the pony.

Be Compleat.
Failing that, we can all draw lots and then continue sending one to three arts a night, and help you wean yourself off of the fanartz.

[MCerberus]

Today feels so weird, pony thread. I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

I haven't gotten a single submission, haven't dug through a pile of pictures and thought about what the best comment for each one would be. I haven't given a lick of thought to new themes, and I haven't really done much of anything that could be considered creative. Mostly I've just rested.

And after a day of resting, I have never felt more burned out and exhausted than I do right now. What gives?

Meh, just go with it. When something starts being a job it stops being a hobby.

[darthbobcat]

Today feels so weird, pony thread. I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

I haven't gotten a single submission, haven't dug through a pile of pictures and thought about what the best comment for each one would be. I haven't given a lick of thought to new themes, and I haven't really done much of anything that could be considered creative. Mostly I've just rested.

And after a day of resting, I have never felt more burned out and exhausted than I do right now. What gives?

I know what you mean. When you have something to do, you're focused and alert, but as soon as that stimulus is dropped, BAM, sleepytime. It's how I always feel when I go home after finals week.

Oooh ooh! I know! You could read Always Sunny! I'd considered asking if you'd read it, but obviously didn't want to bug you while you were artist training.

... and now I feel bad about my attention whoring ways.

[Kairaven]

This should be the official brony welcome from now on.

[Rebelhero]

You know...going through the episodes once more... im not quite sure why i loved the show... but yet i still do. I think i love the fan material more then the show its-self.

[erikun]

Noooo why are there only 26 episodes ;-;

Take a look at Equestria Daily, and relish the fact that we're getting a second season soon. (Check the first post for the link, and to preserve Trixie's poor heart.)

Today feels so weird, pony thread. I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

I haven't gotten a single submission, haven't dug through a pile of pictures and thought about what the best comment for each one would be. I haven't given a lick of thought to new themes, and I haven't really done much of anything that could be considered creative. Mostly I've just rested.

And after a day of resting, I have never felt more burned out and exhausted than I do right now. What gives?

It sounds like you need more than just a day to recover. Perhaps you should relax. Enjoy some tea. Get some fresh air. Take a break from ponies for a day or so?

As for the no submissions, didn't you just run a large fanfiction contest immediately after a 30-day art contest? I think that you tapped everyone out for at least a day or two.

[Gamerlord]

This should be the official brony welcome from now on.

I like it.

[RdMarquis]

Today feels so weird, pony thread. I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

I haven't gotten a single submission, haven't dug through a pile of pictures and thought about what the best comment for each one would be. I haven't given a lick of thought to new themes, and I haven't really done much of anything that could be considered creative. Mostly I've just rested.

And after a day of resting, I have never felt more burned out and exhausted than I do right now. What gives?

I've had days like that. Usually, it's the thought of something big on my plate that makes me want to jump back into bed. Just take it easy if you have the time. We appreciate what you do, but nopony is cracking a whip at you to keep working. Pushing yourself past your limits isn't going to help matters.

[darthbobcat]

Today feels so weird, pony thread. I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

I haven't gotten a single submission, haven't dug through a pile of pictures and thought about what the best comment for each one would be. I haven't given a lick of thought to new themes, and I haven't really done much of anything that could be considered creative. Mostly I've just rested.

And after a day of resting, I have never felt more burned out and exhausted than I do right now. What gives?

What they said. ... also sorry about my attention whoring.

It's like Sting keeps trying to tell me, I don't have to put out the red light... but I just can't stop The Life.

[the_druid_droid]

@Thread: I go away for a day to play some D&D and you go out of control! Also, why do you continue to reference Lovecraft and Sweeney Todd and other fun things when I'm NOT AROUND?! It hurts... *faux sad*

[TheAmishPirate]

@Thread: I go away for a day to play some D&D and you go out of control! Also, why do you continue to reference Lovecraft and Sweeney Todd and other fun things when I'm NOT AROUND?! It hurts... *faux sad*

Yay! Somepony got the reference! *utterly ridiculous happy dance*

Aw, don't be sad Mr. Droid! We saved you a hat and everything!

[Bunny Earz]

Noooo why are there only 26 episodes ;-;

bummer right?

This should be the official brony welcome from now on.

nah i think it should be this

@Thread: I go away for a day to play some D&D and you go out of control! Also, why do you continue to reference Lovecraft and Sweeney Todd and other fun things when I'm NOT AROUND?! It hurts... *faux sad*

I know right? Soooo many posts...

[PhoeKun]

In my experience, it's actually a natural thing. The body and mind has the ability to put off things like stress and exhaustion until it can effectively deal with them, when it's not interfering with things that need doing.

Since there isn't any need for you to be at your top form and work towards something, there's no need for you to put off feeling that burn out.

That... that makes a large degree of sense. I'm familiar with the phenomenon, even, I just didn't really think it would ever apply to something like ponies. Or maybe I was just severely underrating how hard I was actually pushing myself to stay on top of that event. It's like running a marathon and thinking you just walked to the store.

Dive back about 20 pages, and drink in the Pony.

Relax.
Close your eyes.

Feel that you are still with the pony.

Turn inward your discernment. Feel that there is pony within, though you are within the pony.

You are the pony.

Be Compleat.
Failing that, we can all draw lots and then continue sending one to three arts a night, and help you wean yourself off of the fanartz.

"I am the pony" is kind of where a lot of my problems started, y'know.

I'm basically incapable of distinguishing myself from Shimmer anymore. Which I guess is nice because it helps me feel pretty. On the hoof, this whole not having fingers business is darned inconvenient.

What they said. ... also sorry about my attention whoring.

It's like Sting keeps trying to tell me, I don't have to put out the red light... but I just can't stop The Life.

Hey don't worry about it. I needed the reminder that I had been putting off that story anyway. Although I'm sorry to say I'm probably going to have to put it off at least one more day while my brain turns itself back into a brain and not scrambled eggs. I know you wrote a ton for that one; I wanna actually be able to process it.

Also, not 2 minutes after my last post, the following appeared in my in-box. I'm sharing it because the words are really beautiful:

Spoiler

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Dear Princess Phoe,

Yes, I'm still in the habit of writing to you like that.

I was just about to turn in for the night, snuggling up under the covers after a whirlwind of messages through the new ATG Alumni group when I realized that when I woke up at my usual ungodly hour there would be no Training Grounds post soon to follow. No hundreds of fun, original pieces of artwork to peruse, no witty comments from our host to accompany them, and no extra long comments section full of our peers making shout-outs to their favorite submissions. For the first time I felt genuinely sad that the event had come to a close.

Then I thought of you, our host, who had spent so much time and energy to make it as wonderful as you could, who made a labor of love out of sorting through submission after submission giving feedback and encouragement, coming up with fun new themes for us to try, and making a routine out of it all. Now that routine is a memory. I realized that as bad as I might feel, you might be feeling even worse. As much as you must be looking forward to getting some consistent, well deserved sleep (trust me, I know the feeling) you're in the same boat as the rest of us.

I just wanted to send you something to say you're not alone, and that even though the event has ended it's still influencing the pony fanart world. I can't speak for anyone else, but within hours of the event ending I learned that someone had colored one of my submissions, and someone else sent me a request for a Nightmare Moon piece that, if all goes well, is going to look absolutely beautiful.

So don't go to bed longing, and don't wake up disappointed. Even though the event is done, everyone who was touched by your inspirational work is still reveling in it's wake.

Your former (though still quite faithful) event participant,
[Name Removed]

Bronies are kind of amazing.

[the_druid_droid]

Yay! Somepony got the reference! *utterly ridiculous happy dance*

Aw, don't be sad Mr. Droid! We saved you a hat and everything!

You might actually be disturbed by my capacity to recognize and/or quote from that particular movie...

[darthbobcat]

Take all the time you need, Phoe. Since you'd made a joking comment on it at someone on ED, I thought you'd read it and a review had slipped your mind.

And I am honestly tempted to try and mouse-draw something tonight for a "sorry I missed the entire training ground" thing.


The only suitable subject, it seems to me, is Pinkie Pie as a Slowpoke with the subtitle "Day 1: Draw a Pony". But I don't wanna draw that.

[SiuiS]

Al~Falfa!

Alfalfa is the warm cockles feeling, right? Never quite sure ofthe direct analog.


I am horrible at giving up pony threads to do other work.


EDIT: oh! OH OH OH! I've been waiting to ask his since day six!
You said you were gonna drop one of your planned themes in order to make up for (think it was) Sethisto having us draw winged ponies.

What was the discarded theme?! please don't tell me you threw it in anyway. You had to cut something, somewhere, right? I need to know!
Also I might draw that slowpone maybe we will have to see

[darthbobcat]

Al~Falfa!

Alfalfa is the warm cockles feeling, right? Never quite sure ofthe direct analog.


I am horrible at giving up pony threads to do other work.

Alfalfa has no equivalent in human emotions. Only ponies and falcons can comprehend it.

And honestly, a symptom of my Silly treatment is a reduced ability to feel alfalfa. And that just makes me monocle.

[erikun]

Well, I think that's it from me tonight.
As I talked quite a bit today, let me leave the thread on a high note.
Dance the night away, everyone. And sleep well.

[tonberrian]

I rarely feel alfalfa. Mostly I feel moostache. Or maybe even moooooooostache.

What's that, Fluttershy?

Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed

Drift drift off to sleep
Exciting day behind you
Drift drift off to sleep
Let the joy of dreamland find you

Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed

*yawn* If you say so, Flutter *snore*

[PhoeKun]

EDIT: oh! OH OH OH! I've been waiting to ask his since day six!
You said you were gonna drop one of your planned themes in order to make up for (think it was) Sethisto having us draw winged ponies.

What was the discarded theme?! please don't tell me you threw it in anyway. You had to cut something, somewhere, right? I need to know!
Also I might draw that slowpone maybe we will have to see

Two themes were discarded for various reasons:

- Draw a pony climbing
- Draw a pony committing a crime

And one more theme that was never seriously considered because it's way too self indulgent:

- Draw a pony shrinking/draw a tiny pony

For no reason, have a series of Lyra images that tell a story:

Spoiler

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Final image linked for naughty words

With apologies to DBC (and Octavia), this is now canon for me.

[darthbobcat]

Two themes were discarded for various reasons:

- Draw a pony climbing
- Draw a pony committing a crime

And one more theme that was never seriously considered because it's way too self indulgent:

- Draw a pony shrinking/draw a tiny pony

For no reason, have a series of Lyra images that tell a story:

Spoiler

Show

Final image linked for naughty words

With apologies to DBC (and Octavia), this is now canon for me.

Ah well.

Flugel: What did the artist do to mommy? And where are my umlauts?

There there, Flugel. We'll go get you some ice cream.

[Grif]

Two themes were discarded for various reasons:

- Draw a pony climbing
- Draw a pony committing a crime

And one more theme that was never seriously considered because it's way too self indulgent:

- Draw a pony shrinking/draw a tiny pony

For no reason, have a series of Lyra images that tell a story:

Spoiler

Show

Final image linked for naughty words

With apologies to DBC (and Octavia), this is now canon for me.

Oh, oh I seen the end of the story. Was pretty... um... yeah, heart-warming I suppose. Though since when Lyra had a foal?

[mikeejimbo]

I like how Twilight is the straightpony to a lot of the insanity that goes on around her. It's a role that fits her well, especially being intelligent, but also somewhat of an outsider. I also like how she manages to do this while still being a caring friend.

In fact, that's one thing I really like about the show - despite the characters' own flaws, they're still good friends to one another. Like how Applejack can be stubborn, Rainbow Dash a braggart and Rarity vain. But when push comes to shove, they're there for one another.

(I left out Pinkie and Fluttershy* because their flaws are both more obvious and less obtrusive, I feel.)


* Also because how could I say anything bad about Flutter? D'awwww.

[PhoeKun]

Oh, oh I seen the end of the story. Was pretty... um... yeah, heart-warming I suppose. Though since when Lyra had a foal?

She's one of the two foals seen hopping around during the Winter Wrap Up montage. Fanon named one of those children Dinky Hooves and gave her to Derpy, and the other one was more or less forgotten about because Lyra and Bon Bon are much less popular, but those who cared quietly asserted that foal was their child. Probably through adoption, but with EsperDerek's book floating around Ponyville, honestly who knows?

Also, to be clear, in my head there's one more part to this series where Lyra and Octavia meet up again a month later and talk over how they both said some things they probably shouldn't have, hug, and then have a great day as a family. Because however beautiful the raw emotions in those comics might be, My Little Pony always deserves an unambiguously happy ending.

[Grif]

Because however beautiful the raw emotions in those comics might be, My Little Pony always deserves an unambiguously happy ending.

This. This. This a hundred times.

I have read too many fanfics, especially crossover ones that offend this key tenet of MLP:FiM. Seriously it's ponies. Why the hell would you wish something bad to happen to them with no obvious happy endings?

(I'm especially careful with this in my own fics.)