Diaries of a Former-Hater

My name is Xander Archibald. I’m nineteen years old and currently attending my sophomore year in college. One question that people keep pestering me about is what do I think of the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and I reply that I think it’s one of the best shows ever put to television. Everyone I know knows me as one of the biggest bronies they’ve ever met. I talk about the show in public places; I draw fan art and write fan fiction, and I even attended some conventions every now and then. However, I wasn’t always like this. I used to be very unpleasant when talking about the show. I was extremely critical, hateful, and very short-tempered about other bronies. If you told myself a year ago that I would become brony, I’d probably tell you to get your brain checked. What happened last year will always be one of my most memorable life experiences. This is how I was turned from being a hater to becoming a brony.

_____

Over the summer, I worked at a local toy store to help save up money for college. I have a younger sister named Sarah and she has recently gained a fascination for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I thought it was cute of her for liking a show that was tailor-made for her. On rare occasions, I had grown men purchase Pony-related merchandise. I didn’t say much to them, because I would get fired if I ever insulted a customer. I just forced a smile and wished them a good day.

For a while, I’ve wondered what is it that this show brought that attracted so many grown men to its fan base. It seemed like a cult following to me. I didn’t want anything to do with the show, because not only was it not made for me, but also because the fans are just downright weird. I was promised myself, “I will never become a brony.”

With enough money saved up, I enrolled in a nearby university. I was even able to move in into the dormitories, which was what I was hoping. I was told I was going to be sharing the room with someone else. That didn’t too much, since it’d be nice to have someone to study with. I arrived at the dorms. My room was on the second floor of the building, which had a great view of the neighboring mountain range. I looked on my slip of paper, directing me to which room I’ll be staying in. It said I was sharing a room with someone named Chris Patterson. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to get accustomed to my new room

I came up to the door and inserted the key. I opened the door, looked around my new room, and in that instant, I want to hightail it out of there. The walls were covered with My Little Pony posters. Small, plastic figurines were littered on the dressers and on top of the TV. A guy about my age was sitting on the bed on the far side of the room, next to the window. He noticed me and came up to greet me, while I just kept thinking in my mind, “Please tell me I’m in the wrong room.”

“Hey there, are you my new roommate?” he asked extending a hand out in greeting.

“Are you Chris Patterson?” I asked nervously.

“Eeyup!” he answered and followed up with a slight giggle. “And you are?”

I was still so devastated by the fact that I’m going to be stuck with this guy, I almost forgot to answer. “Oh, I’m Xander.” I eventually replied.

“Xander?” Chris asked. “That’s a cool name!”

Chris invited me into the room and started telling me a little bit about himself. Surprisingly, he didn’t make any mention of the fact that he may or may not be a brony.

“Oh and I hope you don’t mind my pony stuff.” Chris said.

The aura and vibe of the room was a little unsettling. This guy was a full out brony. I even noticed that he had a keychain of Applejack on his belt loop. “I guess it’s something I have to get used to.” I said.

I didn’t want to offend Chris, because he seemed like a nice enough guy. I tried my hardest to keep my hateful comments contained. “Oh, if you don’t like then I’ll take them down if you want.” Chris said.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.” I said.

I noticed that Chris’s face started to turn very negative. It was very subtle, but noticeable nevertheless. “Alright then if that’s what you want.” Chris said reluctantly.

He started to take down his posters one by one, rolled them up, tied them with a rubber band and hid them in a plastic bin underneath his bed. Even though I felt a little bad about having him take down his posters, it felt really good knowing that I won’t have ponies surrounding me when I study.

“What, do you hate bronies?” Chris asked.

I couldn’t help it anymore. “Yes I do.” I started. “Why on earth would anyone like this show? It’s for little girls. Anyone who enjoys the show must have really bad taste in television.” At this point, I was almost yelling. “Tell me, what is it about the show that has you so interested? Because you enjoy watching little girl shows? If that’s the case, go get a sex change! Either that, or just get your own room where you and your ponies can spend the rest of your life alone!” I dropped my head in my hands and gave out a long sigh.

Now that I got that off my chest, I waited to hear Chris’s response. I expected him to burst into tears being the immature person he is. Instead, my comments did nothing. I looked back up and found Chris just giving me a confused look. He wasn’t crying, he didn’t seem offended; he just took my bashing like a real man. “Have you even seen an episode of the show?” he replied in a semi-angry voice.

“No and why should I?” I said back.

“I’m surprised you enjoy making critical assumptions over a show you’ve never seen before.” Chris went on. “For me, that’s more immature then liking a show that’s for a younger demographic." His tone started to be a little more lighthearted. But again, that’s my opinion and you also have yours. What do you want for dinner tonight? My treat.”

I was almost blown away by Chris’s response. I just got served! I didn’t know how to reply to that. “Um…is Chinese okay?”

_____

That night, Chris and I didn’t do much by ways of conversation. He simply went to bed after dinner. For me, I couldn’t sleep, not knowing if it was because of what happened earlier that day, or if it was because I ate too many eggrolls. Either way, I couldn’t sleep. Eventually, the insomnia started to bug me, so I figured if I watched something on the TV, I’ll fall asleep eventually.

The remote of the TV was on the nightstand in between our beds. I turned the TV on instantly began switching between channels. Eventually, I came across Friendship is Magic. In response, I quickly pressed the button to move on to the next channel, but nothing happened; I was stuck watching the show. Even turning the TV off didn’t help.

Chris woke up and noticed what was going on. “Xander, you’re watching the show? I thought you hated it.” Chris said in a tired voice.

“I do, it won’t let me change!” I replied in a frustrated tone.

Chris looked at the screen and looked very confused. “Strange. This is not in any other episode.”

Season two of the show wasn’t supposed to be released until later this month. At this time, Chris has seen every episode of the show thus far. If he didn’t recognize the scene, then something was really wrong. On the screen, the main six characters of the show, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash were talking about finding somebody! The characters in the show NEVER say somebody, without a little slip up of the writers. In any case, this wasn’t any ordinary episode.

“Girls, I found him!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed pointing directly at the screen.

The other ponies turned and seemed to notice as well. “Let’s get him!” Twilight shouted.

All six ponies ran for the screen. At this moment, Chris was completely confused on what was happening. At one moment, all six of them leapt in the air and entered into the dorm from the TV. “Xander Archibald!” Applejack shouted. “We finally found you!”

“What!?!” Chris and I shouted in unison.

Rainbow Dash flew up to me with her face in my face. She was not happy in the slightest and I’m not going to lie, it scared me to death. “We heard about what you said about us.” she said.

“We haven’t met anybody so dastardly cruel.” Rarity exclaimed. “You’re coming with us right now!”

It felt like my mind was about to burst from all of this. At the corner of my eye, I noticed that Chris went back and forth from being confused to being absolutely star-struck. “I can’t believe it!” he said. “You’re in my dorm room!”

The six turned to face Chris. “Oh, I know you!” Pinkie shouted. “You’re..um…Charlie Peterson! No, uh, Caden Paulsen! Wait, I know for sure, Colton Paddy-cake!”

“Christopher Patterson!” the other five said.

“Oh, that was my next guess!” Pinkie replied.

“You guys know me?” Chris asked, trying to keep in his fanboy-ness, for lack of a better term.

“Of course, we’re familiar with all of our fans.” Twilight said. “We know when you guys are watching or not. It’s really complicated so I won’t go into any further details.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Christopher.” Fluttershy said. “You in particular I’ve really been fascinated in.”

Chris’s smile at this moment rivaled that of Pinkie Pie’s. “I honestly don’t know what to say.”

“I know what to say!” Rainbow said turning her attention back to me. “You’re coming with us! Princess Celestia has requested your presence in royal court!”

“What?” was all I could say.

I had to think of something fast, or else I'll taken to the land of little girl fantasies. As fast as I could, I ran for the door, swung it open and ran down the hallway. "Rainbow, stop him!" I barely heard Twilight say.

It wasn't long until the light-blue pegasus tackled me. It was a good thing she wasn't so heavy, making it easy for me to get her off. I looked back and noticed the other five were on pursuit as well. Twilight had her horn glowing pink and fired a beam of magic at me. It moved so quickly, I couldn't avoid it. My body began to glow a similar color of Twilight's horn. I started to feel very drowsy and in less than a few seconds, I was asleep.