#kindverse

[kindheart525]

If you favorite character from each of your next gens met would they get along?

Instead of picking my favorite character from each next gen, I decided to pick the characters who I think would have the most interesting interactions!

As you can see there’s a pretty wide range here lol, some of these characters would loathe each other but I could see others becoming close friends!

[allysartstuff]

[Kofi] [Picarto] [Commission Info]

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So I noticed that I haven't really finished a drawing in one sitting in a very long time and now that I have more time on my hands, I decided to put that to the test. And who better than to push me to the challenge than kindheart525's Galaxy Guard! Her mean scowl pressured me to finish this in about and hour and twenty minutes! Whew! That's one motivational glare! Also, she's my fave and I wanted to draw her again. Can't wait for her return!

My Little Pony (c) Hasbro

Galaxy Guard (c) kindheart525

Find out more about Gal here!

[deceel]

[kindheart525]

What are your favorite kinds of stories to tell? What are your favorite type of characters to write? Favorite dynamics?

I love this question, thank you so much! Most broadly, my favorite kinds of stories to tell are the character-driven ones. I often tell my friends that I find it easier to write dialogue than describe actions in my MLP stories and I think that's a reflection of how interpersonal interactions are where I really feel at home as a writer.

I can write anything from friends to enemies to lovers but I think my favorite dynamics to explore are between family members. I am incredibly close with my family irl so I enjoy putting that into my stories. Even the less happy family interactions make for an emotionally-gripping exploration of the tensions and traumas that do exist within homes. The thread of generational trauma that runs through Bojack Horseman had me especially captured so I like to explore those themes in my own work. I am a mama's girl so mother-child relationships are usually my favorite within stories, particularly those that are very much loving but complicated like the Tempest Shadow/Raspberry Sorbet dynamic. I also like delving into a little relationship drama (like in Scootaloo and Terramar's arc) because that kind of angst is just so much fun to write. Marmalade Meringue's arc is among the upcoming arcs I'm really looking forward to because it has relationship drama AND family tension, both themes I love.

As for my favorite types of characters to write, I've consistently been drawn to the angsty/sad asshole types. Those characters who make terrible choices and are perhaps unkind to others but carry some deep trauma inside of them. Turquoise Edge, Galaxy Guard, and Firefly from the Kindverse were those types of characters to varying extents. I write Scootaloo like that in the Auraverse where she makes mistakes as a mother while also coping with internalized ableism and a shitty marriage. Rainbow Dash is also that character for me in the Kindverse and Thirdverse where things keep going wrong for her and she responds by pushing others away. Blueberry Sticks in the Auraverse is another one of those characters; her arc consists of the Sad Asshole trope AND familial drama which makes it another I'm especially excited about. Outside of the MLP fandom, I really enjoy Smiling Friends fanfictions that portray Charlie Dompler struggling with his vices and trying to become a better man despite his behavior harming others, so my enjoyment of that trope is more widely applicable. I like exploring this trope in a way that shows the angsty asshole really trying to make things better. When they succeed it feels all the more rewarding, and if they fail it's even more heart-wrenching in a good way.

I really like writing character driven angst as you can tell lol but I've also had fun writing the Dottieverse which in a lot of ways is the opposite of my pony projects. Sure there's some light angst, but it's mostly lighthearted and funny and told through doodles, shitposts, and lore dumps rather than full stories with dialogue. One thing it does have in common with my other projects is the heavy focus on character interactions, of course. Plus, I've been known to make shitposts and doodles alongside my pony arcs as well so that part isn't new. I'm going to try to make some more pony content in the lighthearted and informal format of the Dottieverse because I have really enjoyed that. It might make the angst a little less overwhelming if I have more of a balance in format and tone.

[kindheart525]

I loved reading your sexuality list! Just curious, do you have one for KindVerse?

Thank you so much! ❤️ I used to have a list for the Kindverse, but it was pretty boring to be honest. Almost everyone who was part of a straight ship was labeled as heterosexual (back then I thought I was straight myself lol) and there wasn’t a lot of variety in labels outside of homosexual, bi/pansexual, and the one (1) aroace character I had. I don’t plan on remaking the list four years after the Kindverse’s end, but if I did I would be more creative with it.

I can’t believe Paint Swirl was straight and that only her husband got to be fruity (by interpretation), like why didn’t I have a single bi4bi couple

[kindheart525]

Galaxy Guard's character is a mix of privilege and resentment, shaped by the tragic loss of her father. Her entitlement and work ethic create a complex personality. Strained relationships with family, especially her stepmother and brother, add depth. The unresolved conflict with Turquoise Edge and a crush on Firefly add intriguing layers. Friendships with Confetti Surprise and Hawk Eye reveal vulnerability. The conflict of interest with Hawk Eye's connection to Turquoise Edge builds tension.

Even though the Kindverse is over I’m always appreciative of those who look back on the characters fondly. Privilege and entitlement are a great way to describe her flaws; such traits (which were shaped by Flash’s favoritism towards her) are what led her to cope with her tragic situation in horrible ways and push everyone away when she could have turned her life around and become a better pony than her father.

[kindheart525]

Projects, Tags, and Fandoms

At least some of you may know me from DeviantArt, but my name is Kindheart and I have been a MLP Next Gen artist since 2016. I post ponies here, and as of recently I am also active as a Smiling Friends artist. I have a four next gen projects from my time in fandom spaces which are as follows:

Kindverse (2016-2020) - Some slice-of-life, some drama. Prominent storylines include character deaths, divorces and breakups, and family drama. This was my first next gen started when I was in my mid-teens when I was still learning how to craft a solid narrative. Read here and here.

Auraverse (2020-present) - More story-driven and cohesive. Fewer character deaths, but also includes relationship conflict and family drama like the first one. Some (not all) storylines contain more political and/or triggering themes including ableism, MLP speciesism, sexism, fatphobia, and treatment of mental illnesses, so read at your own discretion. Read here. Thirdverse (2022-present) - A smaller, more character-driven next gen. Follows a narrative where each of the Mane 6 betrays their Elements of Harmony as they drift apart, and thus only focuses on their families. Much fewer triggering themes than the Auraverse, but still angsty. Read here or look out for it to be posted on Tumblr!

Dottieverse (2024-present) - My Smiling Friends next gen. A fun slice-of-life side project, it has no traditional story arcs and instead consists of oneshot drawings, doodles, and memes. It’s mostly comedic with some light angst, and prominently focuses on themes of female friendship. It is all being posted here on Tumblr.

Tags I use:

#kindverse, #auraverse, #thirdverse, #dottieverse for my next gens (described above)

#KindsDoodles for sketches I post

#KindsMemes for doodles or images made as jokes

#KindsArt for any of my art at all, regardless of fandom

#AskKind for ask posts

#KindsThoughts for fandom opinion posts I write (and #pony opinion for reblogs)

Some media/shows I like:

MLP: FiM

Smiling Friends

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Bojack Horseman

Tuca & Bertie

Breaking Bad

Moral Orel

YOLO Crystal Fantasy

Gravity Falls

Beavis and Butthead

Invader Zim

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

The Amazing Digital Circus

The Good Place

Steven Universe

I mostly make MLP and Smiling Friends art.

I will also occasionally reblog leftist political posts so if you don’t like such opinions, this might not be the blog for you.

I love all of my trans and nonbinary friends and will not tolerate exclusion of any kind. TERFs and radfems are not welcome here.

I hope you make yourself at home here! ❤️

[kindheart525]

How DID Strawberry Breeze find out the truth about Santa at such a young age?

Although there’s a sad element of the Dash family being in such a bad situation that Strawberry doesn’t get to experience certain traditions of childhood whimsy, the other fact of the matter is that Dash just sucks at keeping secrets 😂 Her kids ask one (1) question about something she says to try and keep up the ruse and she gives up immediately

"But why does Santa give other kids bigger presents if he’s the one paying for them?" "You know fucking what"

Even though Dash is sad and struggling in the Thirdverse, this part of her parenting style applies to all of my next gens, including the ones where she’s well off. The SoarinDash kids of the Kindverse found out about Santa Hooves extremely early too and Paint Swirl still tears up thinking about it into adulthood 😂 The CheeseDash kids got to believe for a decent bit longer because Cheese was extremely good at keeping up the ruse and was able to stop Dash from letting the truth slip too early. Moonray’s situation in the Thirdverse is somewhat similar where her dad is the one keeping up the ruse, but he lets her believe for a little TOO long