The moment where Spike stole all credit, for himself, despite all the hard work the Mane Six, Shining Armor, and Cadance had done. The rest of Mane Six, who kept the Crystal Ponies distracted as Twilight went to find the Crystal Heart, got no credit. Cadance, who provided a shield all over the empire the whole time and returned the Crystal Heart to its position, got no credit. Shining Armor, who saved BOTH Spike and the Crystal Heart from their fall, got no credit. Twilight, who figured out the Crystal Heart’s hidden location, found the secret passage to it, made it to the top with her upside-down magic, then risked herself failing Celestia’s test for the empire’s sake by forcing Spike to deliver the heart, got no credit. Spike, who ran a short distance to a ledge, fell, and almost shattered the Crystal Heart, got ALL credit just for THAT.

@Background Pony #9055 After last season I think we all are.

@cheezedoodle  
That makes no sense. You’re putting more thought into this than the showmakers are.

To inject some more headcanon, the Crystal Empire under Sombra might have been something like today’s North Korea - the military elite and Sombra’s cronies live relatively normal (if fearful) lives while the majority are subsistence farmers and a significant portion are enslaved in labor or re-education camps.

@Niggoslav_Krawczyk  
Oh, please, like I’m willing to believe Sombra was ruling the empire for 20 or so years. And what, all the ponies had their cutie marks changed. You have such ridiculous thoughts, and those cutie marks don’t look slavery- or mine-related.

@Background Pony #9055 It does make sense. Sombra probably put everyone in work groups and forced them all to do the same thing, so they just worked the mines or crafted stones until their cutie mark was forced (or else)

@QueenCold  
Holy shit, this song was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the pic XD

Give the dragon what he asks for or else he’ll eat you.

Spike, you little shit.

Crystal Ponies have a huge lack of variety of cutie marks.

I think the buffaloes gave spike more respect, this is just appeasement. Renown for his great deed that will soon be forgotten because “that one time we gave him gems an’ stuff”

@Background Pony #4A92  
Gotta admit the “with great power comes responsability” could be interesting in my opinion

what if this just Spike’s fantasy?

First you wanna kill me, now you wanna kiss me. Blow.

That crystal pony on the right has total bedroom eyes. I think she wants to rock the dragon.

@Background Pony #4A92  
Nothing wrong with getting pampered a bit.

@cheezedoodle  
@albert19  
What?

Why do I have a feeling that I might not like this episode?

@Background Pony #4A92  
You totally aren’t trying to start shit.

@Background Pony #4A92  

Hey, a new crystal pony color scheme!

Since when treat a character like a fatass hedonist who eats and sleep all day on a sofa is actually a way to show respect about him?
 
I bet the episode will teach as lesson “Great power comes with great responsibility”

YES! Finally got some respect for all the things he endures!

oh my god that’s right! he really helped save the crystal empire!!!
 
guess that might explain why he was never brought back there since then. keep this a surprise. GEIUS