@Background Pony
That nicely sets up the jealousy that would be a good story driver for the core FIM message. (plus about a bazillion fanfics that would go well beyond that - shades of the Star Wars prequels, for example).
I doubt we’re getting her as a Mane 7 but as a recurring character like Cadance and Shining.
At first I was afraid that she was going to replace Twilight. However after several confirmations from Tara and Meghan and some other merchandise showing Twilicorn between her friends, I’m pretty sure she won’t be replaced. Now I’m actually curious about what part she might play in season 4 or maybe she’s just a toy after all.
@Background Pony
But (at least, so far) we haven’t seen any Twilight toy with the mask. Only SS and the Mane Five. Maybe this ‘Adventure’ two parter will be a Twilight-less one, for a change?
I’m casting a vote for her being perfectly happy and well-adjusted with no villainous feeling towards Celestia and company whatsoever. She asks Celestia for help in some problem she’s facing, and Celestia sends Twilight’s friends – and possibly also Twilight herself – as that help. In the process, they wear masks.
I’m envisioning her as being something of a gifted but lazy student. She shares Twilight’s magical potential, but preferred thrill-seeking to studying and learning magic.
Yeah, this pretty much clinches the idea that she’s going to be a character in season 4. The question now is “how.”
That ‘years ago’ thing makes her sound old, but Hasbro likes to keep their characters younger to be more marketable. My bet is that it’ll be some sort of Crystal Empire deal where she was sealed away and then comes back as if no time had passed.
If we take that Celestia has been looking for a pony powerful in magic for years, and took the most promising as her students to mentor directly, Summer Shimmer could easily be one of those.
Given that this is the Hasbro version, I can’t see it being villainous (eg think Twilight’s version of a Lightning Dust counterpart). Perhaps after Celestia was assured Summer wasn’t the powerful magic welder she was looking for, taught her well enough and sent her off on her own in a harmonious manner.
I’m sure the fanfic community will make her the evil displaced student come back for revenge, but I can’t see the show going in that direction. Though I can see some antagonism between her and Twilight that would lead to decent stories (better than the outright rivalry of Twilight and Trixie).
Okay, from that description, I’m near sure that she isn’t just some HasbrOC who will never appear in the show. She will almost definitely appear in season 4. Perhaps she will be a villian jealous of Twilight’s ascension to the throne?
