I don't think she was deceptive. I think it was just that once Rainbow Dash saw how she was treating her other friends then she didn't think having her as a friend was worth it anymore.

It'd be a good idea to see at least one reformed former antagonist as one of the new bearers. If not Gilda, then maybe Trixie (Kindness) or Lightning Dust (Loyalty).

LD being the element of Loyalty makes roughly as much sense as Blueblood being the element of Generosity. She repeatedly demonstrated a severe lack of concern for anypony else, her 'friend' included, and was only interested in furthering her own goals. Ambition doesn't necessarily preclude loyalty, but loyal she was not.

Actually as far as that goes, Gilda would make a very good element of Loyalty. She was still a bit selfish about their friendship, sure, but more in a possessive way - she obviously still cared for Dash a lot considering what she was willing to 'put up with' for her.

Applejack is a far more competent survivalist than Rainbow Dash.◊

As for Gilda, Lightning Dust, and the like, there would need to be some definite development on all of their parts before we could really go assigning Elements.

Earths are the master race.

Could actually make for an interesting story - all the minor antagonists find themselves in possession of the elements, but only for potential - they have to grow into the roles first.

Always remember: If it can be done without magic or wings, and earth pony is better than you at it.

edited 26th Feb '13 11:40:33 AM by kegisak

I call dibs on Diamond Tiara for Element of Magic.

No, seriously. She's the leader-type.

Can't be Tixie, Lightning Dust or Blueblood because reasons.

I did consider making Gilda Loyalty, but Loyalty's takn. I wouldn't normally be averse to moving him to something else, but Loyalty fits his arc quite nicely.

Also, two related questions:

Firstly: How would pre-Ponyville Iron Will react to losing all his current customers?

Secondly: Mules are portrayed as part-Equestrian rather than part-Saddle Arabian, right? So my question is, and it's a strange but serious one, so I want you to think about it carefully, if Discord's head went missing, would mules turn into donkeys?

EDIT:True on both counts!

Good point!

edited 26th Feb '13 11:46:48 AM by Sereg

@ keg

Certainly!

Are you talking about the "ponies and pony related things disappear" idea? If you want to get technical about it, then the disappearance of the parent of a mule would likewise Ret Gone the mule as well. As for Iron Will, he doesn't seem to be the type to give up, at least if he takes his own advice.

@Perpetual Lurker; Yes, but the ponies aren't Ret Gone. Just gone. Everyone else remembers them and stuff they built or wrote or whatever is still there (unless it includes the word "pony" or an image of a pony or something like that).

EDIT: As for Iron Will, that's a good point, so:

Iron Will: Iron Will's the name and training was my game, but now they're all gone so now training other things is my game!

?

Would his staff reduce?

edited 26th Feb '13 12:00:52 PM by Sereg

Wow, apparently Unicon ended up as a financial clusterfuck when the con organizers went over budget and couldn't afford to pay the hotel for the group discount rate. The last day of the con was cancelled, and the guests got stuck with hotel bills that a lot of them can't afford to pay.

@CDRW: Yeah, we heard. Very unfortunate.

Zecora - Magic

Spike - Generosity (as the ultimate irony to his species)

The Great and Apologetic Trixie - Kindness

The C.M.C - Loyalty (after the element gets fragmented in a battle)

Derpy Hooves - Laughter

Spitfire - Honesty

edited 26th Feb '13 12:10:43 PM by nervmeister

@Sereg In that case, I'd say that the mules don't change, because they're technically not ponies. They'd just remember that they're half _____.

edited 26th Feb '13 12:05:56 PM by PerpetualLurker

@ CDRW actaully a lot of them managed to get the bill taken care of. The people at the con, and across the fandom joined forces to help them out and end the con right. Well or at least in less a clusterfuck then it would have been.

And all the VA's and what not seem to be taking it in stride, not put off from cons or anything since they know this was an exception. Though one or two did say they would be a little leary about attending first year cons without more details now.

I currently have Zecora as magic. For Spike, I considered Magic and Generosity, but currently have him as Loyalty as the fic is about him wanting to get the ponies he loves back.

These don't work for this story as they're missing.

EDIT: @Perpetual Lurker: Makes sense. I really want Discord's head missing, but I suppose that chimerae could work differently from hybrids.

edited 26th Feb '13 12:17:11 PM by Sereg

Gilda is the Element of Prussia.

How was she fooling her?

I don't think Dash was fooled by Gilda.

I think Dash just grew up a bit after becoming a bearer and making friends with a variety of ponies. Gilda may not have changed much since flight school but Dash apparently did.

I don't think Gilda was deceptive; her and Dash were just never in a situation where Gilda had to compete with RD's other friends for attention. She was always possessive, it's just that this was the first time RD didn't just roll with it.

@Sereg: You realize this means Cranky has to be the element of Laughter because irony, right?

@ Prussian Gilda: So her intent is to seize control of the mane six's vital regions?

edited 26th Feb '13 1:26:40 PM by theLibrarian

Hi everyone, what's going on?

Have I mentioned just how much I love this fandom? And the MLP Staff?

MA Larson and Megan are auctioning off sighned items to help raise money for the people that got screwed at Unicon.

Ha! Good point, but Cranky's still searching for Matilda while this happens. Matilda herself is available though.

EDIT:Good for them!

EDIT: @Lopiny: In addition to the Unicon issues, we're currently discussing some stuff rekated to a fanfic idea I had. Currently about non-pony element-bearers.

Speaking of which Perpetual Lurker has convinced me that Iron Will will unfortunately not work, but I could get one of his goats.

edited 26th Feb '13 2:03:11 PM by Sereg