Dear Princess Celestia,
Being a good friend often involves interacting with friends of friends, however they may be like. In Season 1 Episode 5 of “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” Pinkie Pie, the fun-loving, party-throwing pony always ready to put a smile on every pony’s face, makes an unlikely duo with one of her good friends, Rainbow Dash, the cool, adventurous, thrill-seeking pony, after bonding over pulling pranks.
Their good natured fun is quickly interrupted by an unexpected visit from one of Rainbow Dash’s old friends, Gilda the griffin. A mighty half eagle and half lion creature, Gilda is excited to relive some of her and Rainbow’s glory days from their old camp: Junior Speedster Flight Camp. Rainbow Dash introduces the two friends to each other, and while Pinkie Pie remains her bubbly, friendly self, Gilda seems unimpressed to say the least.
As Gilda and Rainbow Dash spend the day catching up and impressing each other with their flight skills, Pinkie Pie tries to join in on the fun and continue her and Rainbow’s pranks. Her enthusiasm quickly disappears as soon as, unknowingly to Rainbow Dash, Gilda snaps at her to stay away from Rainbow because she believes she is not cool enough for her.
Gilda spends her day being a grump throughout Ponyville, bullying ponies with mean pranks and snapping at Fluttershy, one of the shyest and sweetest ponies around. Pinkie Pie sees this as crossing a line and makes her way over to another pony friend, Twilight Sparkle’s house for advice. She explains her issue with Gilda and Twilight dismisses her by telling her she should not be jealous of Glinda over her and Rainbow Dash spending so much time together. Pinkie becomes increasingly frustrated, then comes up with the idea to do what she does best: throw a surprise party.
Upon arriving at the party, Glinda is highly suspicious of Pinkie Pie’s unexpectedly energetic demeanor. She warns Pinkie she has an eye on her, but Pinkie is seemingly annoyingly oblivious to her message. Glinda spends the entire party being the butt of pranks placed throughout it, and loses her cool after having an embarrassing accident. She accuses Pinkie Pie of rigging her party with pranks meant to make her look silly and insults her relentlessly, claiming all of the ponies are too “lame” and “dorky” to be friends with her or Rainbow Dash, and urges Rainbow to join her and leave.
Rainbow Dash is appalled by Glinda’s behavior and reveals she was the one who set up the pranks and that it was purely coincidence that Gilda was the victim of all of them, and that Pinkie Pie only threw the party in hopes of changing her mood. Gilda storms off, huffing and puffing along. After every pony witnesses the scene, Twilight apologizes to Pinkie for assuming she was jealous and Pinkie Pie forgives her.
When friendships go awry and ponies are not who they seem, it is important to stay positive and friendly just like Pinkie Pie continued her efforts of trying to cheer Gilda up. Grumps cannot always be fixed with smiles and parties, but remaining one pony’s true self and not choosing to stoop to the levels of others will be rewarding and soon, ponies’ true colors will show.
