RD's destiny is to become a full-fledged Wonderbolt, maybe even their future captain.

The Powers That Be have gone on record as saying they don't know what Star Swirl was trying to accomplish with that spell.

I don't think Dash would make a very good captain.

On the other hand, her loyalty would make her an excellent Lancer.

She'd make a better captain than Lightning Dust

Well, as to AJ lessons... They could do one about excessive honesty. But doubt that. Plus AJ's shown she knows there are times you don't want top tell the truth, she just sucks at it.

And agreed, RD wouldn't be a good Captain, but a great Lancer.

edited 26th Feb '13 8:11:19 AM by Seraphem

Why not? She did alright with the waterspout challenge.

edited 26th Feb '13 8:11:24 AM by KylerThatch

Regarding AJ aesops, a "sometimes lying is good" lesson could be pulled off, I think.

@Kyler: That would be a good way of doing it. Basically, I think what would help most with AJ is to give her an episode where the flaw isn't on her side. Like what I would do is have an episode where the other ponies constantly take advantage of her willingness to help by asking her to do increasingly trivial things until she gets fed up and tells them to knock it off. The dual aesop could be a combo of "it's okay to say "no" to your friends when they're taking advantage of you" and "good friends will be willing to help you out, but it doesn't mean you can take advantage of that to get them to do things for you".

That would veer into Family-Unfriendly Aesop territory really fast. I think a better route to go would be to point out that being honest doesn't preclude keeping your mouth shut, and you can be honest without being overly blunt.

edited 26th Feb '13 8:13:04 AM by JapaneseTeeth

That would be a cool conclusion to R Ds 'story'. Her and another pony competing to take Spitfires place, and Dash comes to accept that they are the better choice and throws herself behind them as their number 2. Loyalty to the team above personal achievements.

When it's one specific goal, yes she's a good leader, but long term? Dealing with the papaerwork, the PR, all that...

She'd make a good flight leader during performances, but it's the outside the performance stuff she'd have issues with.

Exactly my thoughts.

Obviously they'd need to be careful but AJ lying to keep someone happy would be interesting, I think.

edited 26th Feb '13 8:15:37 AM by PurpleDalek

Oh, that kind of captain.

There's always room for more character growth, I suppose?

You keep that bookstore open!!!

Exactly!

Or a lesson that sometimes, the best way to help someone, is to simply do nothing. That if you try to solve all their problems, they'll never learn to do it themselves.

I think that's a safe bet.

But Lancers are useless! Noone uses TSS, and their high cost (especially in QP) makes them unattractive as early game scouts. Plus they're too weak to win battles.

And this other pony could be a perfect foil to RD. More of a Chuck Yeager type...stoical and calm and collected and focused.

Whaaa? What the flying f**k is THIS? This cutesy-wootsey donkey dung is an insult! An insult to the awesomeness that is Lightning S. Dust!

Ha! Your middle name is Susan!

Wook at your giant anime eyes.

edited 26th Feb '13 8:21:40 AM by edvedd

I'd say that's more creepy than cutesy.

@Lightning: Hey look, I found a baby picture!

L.S.D., huh? How appropriate.

How did I miss that? Hah!

Well LD, it's true that not many people would ever accuse you of being cute...

Honestly, I think whoever raised the point that maybe we don't need to be learning lessons every episode may have been onto something(although it does in a way defeat the purpose of the show): Maybe a good AJ episode wouldn't revolve around any lessons, but simply around character dynamics. Heck, even among them oral episodes the best ones already did. We just need AJ to drive the episode for once...

Heck, here's an idea: AJ asks Pinkie to help out on the farm. That could be good for a lark. Or a more extended version of AJ helping Fluttershy with the animals. Patience doesn't exactly seem to be AJ's strong suit.

OR actually, in terms of morals, here's one: An episode where AJ is wrong about soemthing, and she knows it, but doesn't really want to admit it, so she just keeps on being wrong and hoping she can somehow make things turn out.

I...I don't believe it...I think I've had my identity stolen...again!!!

BT is thanking me for setting up with them and is about to send me bills!!!

Sorry I have to go.

edited 26th Feb '13 8:26:42 AM by ApplelightLimited