no one like you

art by NCMares

Years ago, bronies held themselves up as something special and unique amongst fandoms: a group of love, tolerance and charity as well as exceptional creativity. It was easy to claim exceptionalism when we were small and more tightly knit.

But bronies have always been inclusive, not exclusive. We are a welcoming fandom. And an energetic one. As we spread word of how wonderful this show is to the far reaches of the internet, people took notice. And while many reacted to what was new and different with hatred or fear, people joined the herd in droves. 

Now we are huge, large enough and diverse enough to put lie to the stereotypes, including the good ones that we had created for ourselves. Bronies have become legion... and in doing so, we have become a fandom like any other.

But we don't have to be.

art by AssasinMonkey

Not long ago, I engaged in the single least productive activity of the modern age: arguing on the internet. Specifically, attempting to crack the blinders of prejudice worn by a self-proclaimed "furry" who was ranting about bronies. As expected, the discussion was a small waste of time. But here is a portion of it that I think is worth repeating:

I will let you in on the secret: people are people. Furries are just people who really enjoy anthropomorphic animals. Pony fans are just people who really like the human-like technicolor ponies of a specific show. That is all. The extent to which any furry or brony enjoys what they do, and how they act on that enjoyment, is individualized. You do not need special brain chemistry or a particular background or a specific social disposition to be a furry. And you do not need one to be a brony. Or a fan of Star Wars, or Star Trek, or anything else... [They] are a fandom. Made of people. Just like every other fandom. And in any fandom, you will find good people and bad people, superfans and the passively interested, perverts and prudes. Furries are not inherently superior people to bronies, and bronies are not inherently superior people to furries. No more than Trekkies are to Whoovians, or football fans are to hockey fans, or people who like classical music are to people who like J-pop. At the absolute most, you can try to claim superior taste in one tiny and extremely subjective facet of the grand category of "things people like". Woohoo, you rock.

But this is the important part: we do not have to be just like any other fandom. 

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic offers more to love than just cute, colorful ponies. Most of us, I would hazard to wager, didn't fall in love with the show for the ponies as art -- we fell in love with the characters, with what they did and how they behaved, with the idyllic-but-not-sugary-perfect the world of Equestria, and with the heartwarming messages of virtue and friendship at the emotional and philosophical core of the show. An if we are fans of that, then we are fans of something with more depth and meaning than just an artistic concept or musical style or type of sports. 

We can be something very special and unique by lauding those messages of friendship and virtue, and trying to adhere to them as best we can. We can treat "love and tolerance" as calling again, rather than just a 4-chan meme whose time has passed. We can strive to be better people. 

And if we do, we can be something truly beautiful -- we can be the realization of what the early brony fandom held itself to bo. We will do so as individuals. Points of brilliant light in the gloom. In general, the rest of the fandom will not follow -- it is too large, and many will never be interested beyond "I like cartoon ponies." But that isn't why we strive to shine. We should do so because it makes us better, and we want to be better than we are. Because we are inspired to do it. And for those in the darkness who are looking for a light.

art by AssasinMonkey

We are large and growing, but we have lost many as well. We have all seen people leave the fandom because "it isn't what it used to be." The most surprising element of this is that so many of them were surprised. They saw their fandom grow, change and evolve... and apparently they hadn't expected that. Instead of remaining in the fandom and being examples of what they believed it should be, they abandoned it and moved on. Perhaps I can fault them for that, but only just a little. And I certainly cannot fault those who left simply because their interests changed, as interests often do. Plus, we have seen many whose contributions to the fandom launched new careers, and who have gone off to follow these dreams professionally. To them, we raise our glasses, thank them, and wish them well.

art by AssasinMonkey

Art by KikiRDCZ

Something about these:
1) CheesePie! <3 I really wanted to finish this one but well.. No time.. Like for almost all of these.
2) Older Twilight. Obviously? 
3) Anthro chibi Mane6. It's kinda old (the 2nd oldest from these) but I still like this chibi design and idk how to do it anymore, I wil have to practice xD
4) Dash. I was inspired by song named "So what" (obviously) by P!nk... Cuz idk, I just like P!nk xD
5) Pinkamena. It was jsut practicing with tablet.
6) Amary (my main Oc) in my fav clothes to wear (shoes only before I will get high knee sneakers this Christmas xD).. Cuz why not?xD
7) Anthro Twily.. I didn't even finish coloring xD But it was just practice.
8) ......... Meh... I was bored, okay? (this didn't actually happen tho.. Thanx godness) .... Also Amary's dress are my dress and Blazing's shirt is obviously Eichy's.
9) I just practiced with poses. This is actually no one *shrugs*
10) Pic with Mane 6, Spike and 4 vilains: Nightmare Moon, King Sombra, Discord (I sucked at drawing him in past xD) and Chrysalis. It was ispired by song "The End Is Where We Begin" by Thousand Foot Krutch (here: 

"Hold on" by Kansas

Ihad a dream - of the wide open prairie,                                          Я видел сон о широкой открытой прерии,

Ihad a dream - of the pale morning sky,                                          Я видел сон о бледном утреннем небе,

Ihad a dream - that we flew on golden wings,                                  Я видел сон о том, что мы летим на золотых крыльях,

Andwe were the same -just the same - you and I...                           И мы одинаковые,просто одинаковые, ты и я...

Follow your heart - little child of the westwind,                                 Следуй за своим сердцем,дитя западного ветра,

Followthe voice - that 's calling you home.                                       Следуй за голосом, что зовет тебя домой.

Follow your dreams - but always, remember me,                              Следуй за своим мечтами, но всегдапомни меня,

Iam your brother - under the sun...                                                 Я твой брат, под солнцем....

Weare like birds of a feather,                                                          Мы, как птица и перо,

Weare two hearts joined together...                                                Мы два сердца, соединенныевместе...

We will be forever as one,                                                              Мы будем всегда,как одно целое,                                       

Mybrother under the sun...                                                             Мой брат под солнцем....

Whereveryou hear - the wind in the canyon,                                    Где бы ты ни слышал ветер в каньоне, 

Wherever you see - the buffalo run,                                                Где бы ты ни видел, как бежит бизон,

Wherever you go - I 'll be there beside you,                                     Куда бы ты ни пошел– я буду всегда около тебя,

Cuzyou are my brother - my brother under the sun...                        Потому что ты мойбрат, мой брат под солнцем...

We are like birds of a feather,                                                         Мы, как птица и перо,

Weare two hearts joined together...                                                 Мы два сердца, соединенныевместе...

We will be forever as one,                                                              Мы будем всегда,как одно целое,

Mybrother under the sun...                                                             Мой брат под солнцем...

 OSTSpirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (саундтрек к мультфильму "Спирит: Душа прерий")

Spitfire (Give It All You Got)