It was Summer of 2011 for me; I had just noticed small bits, pictures, and gifs around Funnyjunk and the like. Then I saw Fluttershy’s scream clip and compared the animation to Total Drama Island.
 
Some time after, my friend and I swallowed our pride and watched ‘Green isn’t Your Color’ on Youtube. Needless to say, the episode had its moments, but I remained steeled.
 
Of course, this was where the five stages of loss began…
 
I was in a state of denial, still claiming that it wasn’t all that good, even though I caught some of MLP Tales as a child. I was fine for a while.
 
Then came anger…I was angry because I was somehow compelled to watch yet another episode after the ponies invaded my mind. I compared them to the Grigori from Star Ocean: The Last Hope due to their seemingly corruptive influence that’s slowly spreading within myself.
 
That’s when I bargained to watch a couple more episodes and see if I couldn’t quit cold turkey like someone out of rehab. Of course, I ended up being the average addict; the kind that claims they’ll quit, but will just keep on going.
 
I grew desperate, thinking I’ve lost more of myself due to what was considered a travesty that threatened the resignation of my precious man card. But did I hold onto that concept for long?
 
No, because I came to accept the ponies, and soon enough, I skimmed through most of Season 1 in no particular order before waiting for Season 2 and integrating myself into the brony fandom. Back then, my brothers wondered why, and I was nervous at first before I said ‘Eh, I like it.’ (Although, I DID act like Egoraptor playing Animal Crossing at one point XD).
 
It wasn’t until January of 2012 that I decided to contribute to the fandom through shoddy fanfiction, and thus, my transformation was complete.
 
Yes, there are multitudes of drama here and there, but I stayed because the potential within this fandom excited me, especially how far their influence has spread throughout the world.
 
I’m happy to have let ponies within my life.

@Background Pony #45E8  

 
… are you me from another dimension? because that was my exact path.

I got in about a month before season two started, I noticed references to MLP here and there but didn’t really pay any attention to it, thought it was just a running joke that I didn’t get
 
Somewhere along the line I stumbled across a discussion thread somewhere, and people were just so excited for season 2 of my little pony, what the hell?
 
Finally looked up full episodes on youtube… oh my god, this isn’t bad. I expected a 20 minute long commercial for toys and vapid characters only toddlers could relate to! Who made this? Oh hey Lauren Faust produced it I liked watching powerpuff girls as a kid… shit, did I just watch the entire first season in a week?
 
Then I stumbled across EQD looking for information on season 2 and long story short here I am some years later looking at happy pretty pony pictures in the morning with coffee instead of the bullshit news, and relaxing in the evening by reading some popular pony fanfic on fimfiction on my tablet
 
I love you guys
 

 
I still ain’t wearing pony merch in public though

@Psychopomf  
“Descent”? Descent is when you leave, ascent is when you join.
 
@Background Human  
I binged season 1, it was fun. I wish I could do it again one day. But alas, I already know and remember what happens in every episode, so it wouldn’t feel the same.

I’m just glad I got on the hype train early. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the people who had to marathon a full season or more. That much pony at once cannot possibly be healthy.

I remember my descent.
 
I saw it posted online and thought people were just joking about how good it is to get a rise out of people. Then a friend and I watched it on a whim (friend said he’d owe me a favor too and those are notoriously hard to get out of him) so I thought “Fine I’ll watch two episodes to see how dumb it is” and kinda liked pre-Friendship Twilight during the opening.
 
By Dragonshy I was like “Fuck”

And, the you get up too Feeling Pinkie Keen, and Party of One. Only to realize that Pinkamenia is the One TRUE PONY!