MLP FiM is now 14 years old today. Happy birthday ponies!
Gosh, I'm going to get so sentimental here for a second, but genuinely... 14 years!!!
I remember when season one was airing on The Hub network, just a couple of tv channels down from NickToons and Disney XD. My brother and I were waiting for the Avatar: the Last Airbender reruns to return on NickToons, as there was an ad break, and we happened to stumble across The Hub playing the first episode of MLP:FiM. We happened to catch onto it as Nightmare Moon took over Ponyville and was laughing maniacally at Princess Celestia's disappearance.
Now, I immediately recognized MLP. I grew up with it! (Specifically the generation 1 movies. Honeysuckle the flutter pony is STILL my favorite! I always hated that one baby character though. Twilight's wishing ability was super fun; she came in clutch in the movie when the gals were crossing the bridge. Fond memories!!)
My brother, on the other hand, had been too young when I was collecting the old gen 1 dolls, so this was his first experience with it. He ended up falling in love with the show, whereas I was in my rebellious "ugh I'm too old to be watching the pony show; I outgrew that already!" phase.
Oh boy was I so wrong.
My brother and I always had to watch the same things together, and so when I tried to flip the channel back to Avatar, he complained and whined and we ended up going back to FiM. I can't remember if I got hooked then and there, or if it took a couple of tries on my brother's part, but we ended up both falling utterly in love with the show and its characters. When Princess Cadance was captured in the Season 2 premiere, we were the two who memorized EVERY. LYRIC. of "This Day" and would often reference the show in between our shared "Warriors" cats obsession.
I got into the RPC with Twilight around the ending of Season 3, and the hiatus between it and Season 4. Back when the Twilicorn discourse was still at its height. And I remember thinking to myself that everyone already loves Princess Luna, and Rainbow Dash is also exceptionally popular...
Ironically, the only pony not represented was the main character herself! And I'd always loved Twilight. She's purple, she reminded me of g2 Kimono, we both love books and making lists and being organized, with a fair bit of ambition to boot. After that, and especially with how underrepresented she was at the time, it was a no-brainer of who I'd choose to focus my love and attention onto. I don't regret it!
Anyways, that's my personal "getting into MLP:FiM" story. Been there since the beginning! It forever holds a special place in my heart.
