Pony Land In Danger (#12, #13, #14)

[ladymoondancer]

I think this little serial is deserving of its own post. ;D

[Al1701]

Spike, the Neigh Destroyer of Ponyland, folks.

[ladymoondancer]

Good JOB, Spike! Sheesh!

I like how they remembered to cover up Applejack and Gypsy's red symbols.

I wonder what Sparkler did about the red streak in her mane. Maybe she just wore a big hat . . .

[Al1701]

You know, I wanted to see just how the red cloud would have claimed Ponyland with three little flags. I like seeing the bad guy get the initial victory just see how their evil plan works and how the heroes will triumph with their backs against the wall.

Not to mention it would be funny as hell.
Red Cloud: I claim Ponyland!
Ponies: Because of three flags.
Red Cloud: Yes!
Ponies: You and what army?
Red Cloud: The flags!
Flags: Flap in breeze.
Red Cloud: This looked so much better on paper.

[ladymoondancer]

Yeah, I was always a little foggy (oh ho ho, a pun!) on how exactly the red cloud was going to "claim Ponyland."

Sidenote: Gypsy's wheel of fortune intrigues me. Is that an actual fortune telling thing, like the tarot cards, or did they just invent it for the comic?

Wikipedia talks about it in relation to the concept of the turning wheel of fate and apparently it's also a tarot card, but I can't find anything on a literal wheel like Gypsy has.

[firehooves]

Ok, that does it.... Gypsy is definitely showing up in my fics now! ^^ I have a role that I was going to give to another pony, that Gypsy's going to get now! Unless... does anyone think using a pOny named Gypsy would be considered offensive? ><

[Al1701]

Do you really care? It's not like Hasbro would ever pick your stories up. To answer, no. I don't think it's offensive.

[firehooves]

Sorry, I just don't like hurting people's feelings over stuff like that. >< I was evening toying with the idea of giving her an east european/Roma accent.

[ladymoondancer]

The term "gypsy" is considered a slur by some Romani for historical reasons, as I understand it. I've been stymied by the conundrum of her name too, as on the one hand I'm sure Hasbro didn't intend it to be a pejorative . . . but on the other hand, that doesn't make it okay to ignore concerns about it . . . (On a similar note, I have been working hard to get my mom to stop using the word "oriental", gah.)

I've been considering renaming her, myself, but keeping her appearance and skills the same.

But in any case, yeah, she is absolutely amazing in the comics, one of my favorites.

[firehooves]

Yeah, lady moondancer's correct. I was worried about the Romani issue. I try to aviod some sterotypes... like with Noth Star's british accent in 'the equestira dialoues'- I kept it toned down from how thick I was going to have it, but she still has it in the fic.

Ohh, Lady Moondancer, how about calling her Tarot?

[ladymoondancer]

I was thinking Tambourine, but I like Tarot much better!

Really captures that early G1 style of name where their name didn't necessarily exactly match their symbol, but still fit (like with Glory, Butterstoch and Minty).

[Al1701]

Thank you for Wikipedia.

Gypsy is a word similar to Indian here in the U.S. It was created because the Europeans thought the Romani came from Egypt. There are several groups that fall under the word. Some Romani groups consider it a slur while others (especially in the English-speaking where the word came from) have accepted it. That's probably how she got the name.

What's odd is she's the only pony I can think of named after a culture or subculture. Others are named after artifacts of a culture. So, Tambourine or Tarot would better suit her.

[firehooves]

Yeah, Gypsy/Tarot will be showing up next chapter in cherilee's story for a role that was originally going to magic star (who, by the way, I can now bump off like I wanted to originally)

[sunstar]

Anybody notice the earthling on the cloud, and the two honeycombs on the last page? Also, I see Princess Tiffany in a green dress. Heart Throb and Tickles can make it rain lace and feathers.

Love Snowflakes expression.

[Al1701]

The other "Honeycomb" is Surprise (they had identical coloring.)