@CronoM
 
@Exedrus  
Thanks for the clarifications. You’ll get no further argument from me!

@Darth Sonic  
Hmmmmmm, I don’t think morals are quite what Kkat had in mind when it came to the things they’d have to sacrifice. When I said “Some heroes give up the ability to look at themselves in the mirror and consider themselves good”, I more so meant that the characters often tried to live up to high standards of goodness. The sort that usually didn’t fit well with the need to lie and steal and kill to help and/or protect others. This was often coupled with the emotional baggage that came with all those sorts of actions. Between those two, the characters were often left with a great deal of mental distress that they worked through so that they could be helpful to others.

@Darth Sonic  
A true hero knows when to weigh the morals they keep for themselves over the safety and happiness of others. Morality and willpower needs a struggle so it can grow, small ‘abandonments’ of their initial morality is fundamental for a hero.
 
A person who never abandons their morals for anything, in any sense, isn’t a hero at all, but a zealot. And it seems MLP’s has finally had its fill of zealot main characters.

@Exedrus  
Rebuttal: If they abandon their own morals, then how can they be heroes?

Are you going to make one for all of the mane six?

@FanOfMostEverything  
Heh, that reminds me of a thing Kkat once said about the nature of what makes heroes: that heroes are the sorts of people who are willing to give up the things that make them happy for the sake of others without expecting anything, not even recognition, in return. And these things can be physical as much as emotional or mental. Some heroes give up the ability to look at themselves in the mirror and consider themselves good. Others might give up cherished tenants of their beliefs (which could be seen as being disloyal to themselves, perhaps?).
 
Eh, just a thought.

@FanOfMostEverything  
Principles like RD’s that are grounded and flexible enough to serve the wants and needs of the group. But that doesn’t apply to everyone in the group. Characters like Fluttershy and Twilight tend to have very inflexible morals that don’t adapt well. Adaptability and strength of will are important factors for principles within a group.

Be true to yourself but keep your friends close.

What about when you’re forced to betray your own principles to serve the needs of the group?