Hi, everypony, and welcome to another episode of Twilight Tries!

As you can probably tell from my appearance right now, this episode is going to take place in my friend Sunset Shimmer’s world. Though unfortunately, Sunset won’t be joining us today. She wanted to be here but sadly I’ve been informed that she’s become indisposed of due to, and I quote, ‘having turned herself into a pretzel’. And before you ask, I have no idea what that means. I’m assuming it’s some form of slang in this world but I didn’t bother to ask.

Mostly because I’m not sure I want to know what happened if it isn’t slang.

But anywhoo, as regrettable as Sunset’s absence here today is it doesn’t mean that we can’t do today’s episode. Thankfully, my friends Applejack and Rainbow Dash were able to fill-in for her at the last minute!

Say hi, girls!

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Huh?

Oh, and, uh, Pinkie Pie is here too.

For some reason.

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Oh, don’t be silly, Pinkie, of course you’re welcome to join us. The more the merrier!

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Oh, yeah, you’re right. I haven’t said what the theme of this episode is going to be yet.

Ahem.

In today’s episode, everypony, I’m going to try…breaking!

And just to be clear, when I say that I’m going to try breaking I don’t mean that I’m going to go into a rage room and break stuff. What I mean is that I’m going to be trying an urban sport that involves performing acrobatic movements and stylized hoofwork – err, I mean footwork - to hip-hop music. According to Sunset, it’s something that’s been growing in popularity in this world as of late and has apparently even been recently added to something called the Olympic Games.

Which I’m pretty sure is this world’s version of the Equestria Games.

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Oh, sure thing, Applejack.

All right, everypony, it looks like we need to get things underway now so that Applejack can get back to Sweet Apple Acres in time to help her family set-up for the annual tractor pull competition that they host every year. And not going to lie, a tractor pulling sounds like something that would be pretty fun to try. So if everything goes well here I may just head on over to Sweet Apple Acres afterword and film another episode of my vlog!

Only with Applejack’s permission though, of course.

But enough small talk, time for some breaking!

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All right, b-girls! Let’s throw down!

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Oh, s-sorry, Rainbow. I thought that was the correct terminology for addressing ourselves as female breakers and saying, ‘let’s hit the dancefloor’.

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That was the correct terminology but you just don’t want me to use it?

Yeah, okay. Fair enough.

That nomenclature isn’t exactly emblematic of my usual vernacular anyhow.

So, what will we be doing first?

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The helicopter?

Ooh, I think I know this one.

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Uh-huh. Straighten my right leg and keep my left leg close to my body.

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Make a hook position while on my right arm.

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Go on my left arm and jump up with my left leg while my right leg is still on the ground.

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Do the same movement while I make a circle until I’m at the front again.

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Say, this is pretty fun.

All right, what’s next?

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Oh, you want to show me how to do a shoulder freeze, Applejack? Okay.

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Uh-huh. Position my right arm at a ninety degree angle like this.

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Elevate my legs and walk them slowly towards my right arm.

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Sorry, AJ. Can you repeat that?
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Jump up and land with my right knee over my right leg on my left arm? Okay, got it.

I hope.

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Oh my gosh, I’m doing it! I’m doing it!

*SQUEE*

Whoa!

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Phew. I almost fell over there.

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I’m fine, AJ, thanks. I think I just got a little too excited and lost my concentration for a moment. But I landed on my feet so no worries.

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Um, okay, Pinkie. I’ll turn on my ninja focus so that I can concentrate better.

Well, that was…random.

But anyways, what’s next, girls?

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A kick up, Rainbow? Sounds good!

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All right, so I just get on my back like this?

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Now I press up with my arms and upper body while I make a crescent motion to the ground with my legs? Okay, here goes.

Hup!

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Oof!

Ow. I landed on my bottom.

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I’m all right, girls, just a little embarrassed is all. I think what happened was that I just didn’t push up enough with my arms.

I’m still not quite used to having them instead of forehooves.

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What’s that, Applejack? You think the problem was actually with how I was laying on the ground?

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I should’ve been more like that; on my shoulders instead of my back?

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Oh, n-no, Rainbow, I don’t think Applejack was criticizing your instructions. I’m sure she was just, um…offering an alternative approach.

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Girls, seriously, I’m all but certain that the problem was with how hard I pushed up. There’s really no need to make such a big deal out of this.

You don’t need to demonstrate how you can do the kick up while on your back, Rainbow.

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Aaand she’s doing it.

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All right, see? It was because of me and not anyone’s instructions, so why don’t we just move on and –

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Oh dear, Applejack just said that Rainbow Dash barely leapt up off the ground.

Applejack, Rainbow’s performance looked fine. You don’t need to do a kick up again.

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Wow. I have to admit, AJ got some good air on that one.

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Oh, come on, Rainbow, don’t. Let’s not turn this into a competition to see who can do the kick up better.

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Oy vey.

Applejack, I’m begging you. Please don’t engage Rainbow in this pointless compet - and there she goes too.

Great, now Applejack and Rainbow Dash are just competing against each other to see who can do a better kick up.

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You know, it’s kind of uncanny how these two seem to compete with one another in every world; almost as if that contradistinction were a fixed corporeality across all of space and time.

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Yes, yes, Pinkie. You’re a fixed corporeality across all of space and time too.

I mean, if you say so.

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What’s that? You want to walk me through a few moves?

I didn’t know you were into breaking, Pinkie?

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You dabble in it? Well, all right then.

So, what do we do now?

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You want me to mirror you while you perform different breaking moves?

Hmm. That’s not a bad idea. Mirroring has been proven to be an effective method for learning how to dance because of its ability to provide immediate visual feedback to the dancers and allowing them to evaluate the height and shape of their movement.

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Yes, and it’s fun too.

All right, let’s do it!

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Okay, extend my right leg and bend my left leg.

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And kick.

Whoa!

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Wow, I think I’m really getting the hang of this.

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Yeah, all right!

Let’s pick up the pace a little, Pinkie. I think I can handle it.

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Whoo! I’m really getting into it now!

Faster, Pinkie! Like we were actually in a breaking competition!

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Yes, I’m sure! I’m doing great, so let’s really throw down!

Sorry, I used breaking terminology again.

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Yeah, uh-huh!

Now watch this!

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Uh-oh.

Uh, Pinkie? I think my right arm is stuck underneath my left leg. And my right leg is stuck behind my back.

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No, no, I’m not in any pain. I’m just…very uncomfortable, and unable to free myself from this mangled position.

I think I understand now how Sunset ‘turned herself into a pretzel’.

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Yeah, I think seeking some professional help would be a good idea. Just give me a quick second to sign-off my vlog.

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Well, everypony, this episode certainly ended a bit more embarrassingly than I’d hoped, but at least no pony got hurt. Right now I just want to get myself unstuck and, with any luck, still feel okay enough to go to the tractor pull at Sweet Apple Acres.

So as always, thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next time on Twilight Tries!

Okay, Pinkie, let’s go. And, um, could you please help me to the car?

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Thank you.

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How the hay are Applejack and Rainbow Dash still doing kick ups?

Author's Note

Fun fact: Part of the inspiration for this episode came from one of my favorite South Park episodes: You Got F'd in the A.

Originally, I wanted to include a reference to that episode in the chapter but the only good one I could think of was the episode's ending. And if you've ever seen that episode I think you'll understand why I decided to not include it.

If there's something you'd like to see Twilight try, please let me know in the comments!