Zero Blogs: The Psycho Six

When it comes to conflict and rivalries, some of my favorites are the kind that pit two similar characters against each other. Whether it's a foe drawing their powers from the same source the hero, a rival that studied under the hero's same teacher, or a Five-Bad Band to counter the Five-Man Band, conflicts like these greatly up the tension and provide more of a reason to get invested in the character. Sure, you can beat a whole army of mooks no sweat but what about the guy who can do everything you can?

Searing: Which is why he really likes it when MLP introduces Evil Counterparts to the Mane and Humane 6. And why he put so much effort into making Yours Truly.

Suri Polomare, Lightning Dust, the Flim Flam brothers, Starlight Glimmer. They all represent how our heroines could have ended up if they either abandoned their Elements or used them badly. After all, harmony isn't always good. And Friendship Games's advertising did its best to broadcast the Shadowbolts as negative versions of our girls.

Sugarcoat: Honest like Applejack but much more blunt and hurtful.

Sour Sweet: Uses kindness to enhance cruelty.

Indigo-Zap: Has loyalty but lacks the team spirit to go with it. Also forcibly competitive.

Lemon Zest: Just as fun-loving as Pinkie but very obnoxious in the process.

Sunny Flare: ...Apparently, she has Rarity's perfectionist tenancies but only helps out superficially. Though since she doesn't get any characterization, you wouldn't know that.

Now I admit, I was a little disappointing they didn't have a larger role after all that hype, but I also realize that they couldn't have carried the movie on their own. Cinch upped the stakes and made the conflict personal in a way that I don't feel they could even at their worst. Not without making them just as unlikable as Cinch. So where do we stand now. Even though the Shadowbolts turned on Cinch at the end of the film, I don't think that's the end of it.

Searing: After all, she's still the principal at the end of the day. And if I were her, I certainly wouldn't be feeling too happy that my own students turned on me.

Regardless, I feel the Psycho Six could still be used to threaten our girls on an individual level. Perhaps by making them Slice of Life antagonists instead. Or perhaps if we give them their own magic, they could challenge the girls as a whole. It's a thought.

Either way, I'd like to take a crack at writing them in the future.

Searing: As soon as he figures out how to write Anti-Rarity over there.