Pie in the Sky
- Story by Christina Rice, Art by Agnes Garbowska
"Pinkie Pie finds out a secret about Rainbow Dash... she hates pie! Will Pinkie be able to show Dash the wonders of pie, or will Dash turn the tables on her?"
This issue provides examples of:
- An Aesop: Just because someone likes something you don't like, that doesn't make them wrong. Ironically, Pinkie spouts this aesop to Rainbow in-universe, but doesn't get it herself until Rainbow brings up her dislike of pies.
- Armor-Piercing Question: After Pinkie admonishes Rainbow for making her sit through her favorite hobbies (which she doesn't like) and spouts An Aesop about how someone disliking something doesn't automatically make them wrong, Rainbow Dash replies, "You mean how I don't like pie, but you do?" Pinkie is first left stunned, then realizes how her force-feeding Rainbow pies to make her like them is a wrong thing to do to a friend.
- Bait-and-Switch: After Pinkie finally accepts Rainbow's dislike of pies, she and Rainbow give away the pies to the residents of Ponyville. Pinkie announces that she's made something for Rainbow in thanks. Rainbow is worried for a moment, but it turns out to be a chocolate cake.
- Comically Missing the Point: Shown during the montage of Pinkie having Rainbow "test" various pies.Pinkie: Subject's aversion to pumpkin pie is less pronounced than previous pies.
Rainbow: It's because I can't feel my tongue.
Pinkie: Noted! - Continuity Nod:
- Granny states that Pinkie is "practically an Apple". Pinkie learned that she may or may not be related to the Apple family in "Pinkie Apple Pie".
- Rainbow liking to "chillax" was first mentioned in "Every Little Thing She Does".
- Determinator: Pinkie is absolutely driven on making Rainbow like pies, so much that she's willing to force-feed Rainbow multiple pies. It's deconstructed as this makes Pinkie completely ignore Rainbow's feelings and protests, and both Applejack and Twilight agree that Pinkie is being insensitive. It's not until the end that Pinkie realizes her mistake and is genuinely remorseful for her behavior.
- Does Not Like Spam: Pies for Rainbow, as continued from the prequel episode "Secrets and Lies". While played for laughs, it's also played for drama as the main conflict comes from Pinkie essentially using peer-pressure and force-feeding to make Rainbow like pies. Accepting that Rainbow's dislike of pies doesn't automatically make her wrong is part of Pinkie's character development.
- Force Feeding: Deconstructed. Pinkie constantly forces Rainbow to eat her pies so she'll like them. This later angers Rainbow enough to make Pinkie sit through her favorite pastimes just to give A Taste of Their Own Medicine. Pinkie doesn't get the message until Rainbow gives her an Armor-Piercing Question, finally making Pinkie see what a jerk she was in completely ignoring her friend's feelings and invalidating her wishes for disliking pies.
- Hidden Depths: A lot of Rainbow's favorite pastimes (reading, relaxing, drills) involves a lot of patience. Something that the hyperactive, fun-loving Pinkie Pie couldn't stand when she's forced to go through them.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: After Pinkie forces Rainbow to try numerous pies, Rainbow, on a suggestion from Twilight, makes Pinkie sit through some of her favorite activities, such as "chillaxing", reading Daring Do books, and practicing her Wonderbolts drills. Eventually, Pinkie gives in and tells Rainbow she can take no more.
- I Do Not Like Green Eggs and Ham: Invoked. Pinkie believes that if Rainbow tries her pies, she'll come to like them... so she resorts to what is essentially Force Feeding Rainbow multiple pies. This understandably makes Rainbow angry and, on Twilight's suggestion, gives her A Taste of Their Own Medicine by making Pinkie sit through activities that she likes, but Pinkie doesn't. Pinkie doesn't get it until an Armor-Piercing Question finally makes her realize what a jerk she was in completely ignoring Rainbow's feelings about pie, and she make amends with Rainbow in the end.
- Jerkass Realization: Rainbow's Armor-Piercing Question finally makes Pinkie realize what a jerk she was in Force Feeding her pies and pressuring Rainbow to like them. She asks Rainbow for forgiveness (which Rainbow does), and makes amends by giving away all the pies she made for Rainbow and making her cake instead.
- Long List: Pinkie runs off a very long list of different pies while trying to figure out if there are any that Rainbow might actually like.Rainbow: Are you done?
Pinkie: Well, we haven't explored the savory pies, but I think we're done for now.
Rainbow: Hooray... - Must Make Amends: After realizing how insensitive she was to Rainbow about pies the entire time, she makes amends with her by giving away the pies she made for Rainbow to those who actually like pie, and making Rainbow some chocolate cake instead.
- My God, What Have I Done?: After Pinkie spouts the story's main aesop about liking/hating different things, Rainbow asks if it also applies to her dislike of pies. Pinkie is stunned as she realizes how completely insensitive she was to Rainbow all this time and is genuinely remorseful for it.
- Sequel Episode: This issue follows on from the events of "Secrets and Pies".
- Shout-Out: Pinkie giving a Long List (see above) of different types of pies is reminiscent of the montage in Forrest Gump where Bubba tells Forrest all of the shrimp recipes he knows.
- A Taste of Their Own Medicine: Twilight suggests Rainbow do this in order to show Pinkie how she's being insensitive towards her pie aversion. Rainbow does just that and makes Pinkie sit through some of her favorite activities, such as "chillaxing", reading Daring Do books, and practicing her Wonderbolts drills. Pinkie is driven absolutely stir-crazy, but doesn't quite get the message until Rainbow Dash brings up her dislike of pies, upon which Pinkie realizes her mistake.
