@Marusame  
That makes perfect sense when you remember that the writers can’t read fanfics and whatnot but really nothing is stopping the executives from following fandom stuff and mining general ideas from it. As long as the writers aren’t working directly from any specific piece of fan work there’s not a legal issue there, and translating it through the execs gives that needed layer of seperation.

@Background Pony #685A  
I love you for that.
 
In a friendly kind of way, that is.

@Marusame  
Hehe, yeah! Hearing that a lot of it was Hasbro’s responsibility is not only somewhat surprising but also makes quite a lot of sense (heck, I find it funny that M.A. Larson was pushing them not to make ‘Slice of Life’). Hence, any drastic change to the LyraBon status quo is going to come from higher up (but again, I see that as highly unlikely and I fully admit that even though I ship them both to hell and back).
 
I personally find all this to be fascinating and I love their acknowledgement of the sheer insanity that is this fandom. I fully understand that ‘pandering’ can go too far, but I don’t think that’s happened (‘Slice of Life’ was a one-shot and practically one big ‘thank you’ to the fandom in my eyes).
 
Even in ‘Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep’, the sillier elements had the excuse that it was, y’know, a dream. I honestly felt the show was referencing itself in that episode (call-backs to previous episodes etc.) more so than ‘pandering’ to the fandom. Yeah, there was probably a lot of influence from what they saw as popular in the fandom, but that’s been happening since Season 2.
 
I wonder what those people who got pissy at the LyraBon moment (or any moment in that episode; Giant Derpy/Muffins, Flutterbat, BeefSpike etc.) would’ve thought if ‘Slice of Life’ never happened. Or even Derpy’s cameo in ‘The Last Roundup’. Hasbro and/or DHX picked up on the love for Derpy/Muffins, Lyra and Bon Bon since around Season 1 & 2 and then we saw all those moments with them throughout Season 2 itself (I know we had the whole ‘censoring Derpy’ controversy, but that’s kind of irrelevant, though still unfortunate).
 
Heck, I remember the explosion of excitement with Derpy’s little moment in ‘The Last Roundup’. And now we’re getting annoyed at stuff like that? Perhaps I’m exaggerating or the people who dislike it all are a vocal minority. Or perhaps I’ve just been more ‘immersed’ in this fandom and its people in recent times (Season 2 was my first ‘as-it-was-airing’ season and back then I was pretty much just talking about it among friends).
 
Or maybe I just let some people’s contrary opinions get to me. It’s probably that…
 
Still, I’ve remained hugely positive about this show for as long as I first started watched it. I’m probably even more obsessed with it in recent times. The fact that my love for the show is being acknowledged means a whole lot, and nobody should be allowed to take that feeling away from me or anybody who feels the same.
 
_{I probably said a lot more here than I needed to, but I guess I needed to get some stuff off my chest. Sorry for the wall of text again.}

@Marusame  

 
Good. You’re not the only one who can troll, Mr. Larson.

@Manual_Monaro  
If you watch the MA Larson panel of the 100th episode, you find out that MA Larson did NOT put like 90% of those references in, putting lyra and bon bon together, vinyl and octavia, and a whoooooole bunch of other fandom stuff was given to him FROM people in hasbro to put it in as he was writing it. So the idea that some higher ups are paying attention is totally a thing.
 
I know that we bronies are making them a ton of money so im not sure the basis of their interests but they are not only fully aware, but are being active in putting in this stuff and are more aware than even the WRITERS.
 
So lyra and bon bon isnt really a writer thing right now, its ideas being given to the writers from higher ups lately. I dont know why hasbro is being so on top of this its weird to see company higher ups relish every input they get to have and seeing a reaction. I think we are going to see more lyra and bon bon as “close friends” more and more as hasbro gets more and more comfortable with doing crazier shenanigans with the franchise.
 
They are certainly riding this fandom wave out in a positive way right now i think compared to just about any other fandom.

@Phantom Rider  
I had Twilight on my mind primarily due to the Amending Fences revelation that Lyra was one of Twily’s old Canterlot friends (I’m still holding out for something, even a background scene, showing Twilight friend’ing it up with Lyra in the show!). But in the end it doesn’t even matter it feels like a scenario that has as much to do with friendship as it does with love and romance.
 
Lyra would be (hypothetically) struggling with her feelings (that I personally believe she would have had even before Slice of Life) towards who she sees as her best friend. She wants to admit those feelings, but she doesn’t want that original friendship to be ruined because of it. And neither Lyra nor Twilight would know that Bon Bon/Sweetie Drops has had those exact same feelings for Lyra all along (though there would obviously be a bit of “but what if she loves you back? You never know!”).
 
Plus, if it’s an episode of the show (still hypothetically speaking of course), we kinda need to have one of the Mane 6 in there (and neither the Cutie Mark Crusaders or even Discord seem ideal). With Twilight not only an old friend, but also the Princess of Friendship AND a student of Princess Celestia who has spent all these years studying friendship in Ponyville, I can easily see Lyra approaching her for some advice and help on what the heck her feelings are doing (or even admitting it during an unrelated or semi-unrelated conversation). And unless Cadence has popped into Ponyville for some catch-up time with Twilight, I don’t see her being Lyra’s ‘guide’ either. Now, Cadence does have a history with Lyra, since Lyra was her bridesmaid and all, but the history between Twilight and Lyra appears more ‘tangible’ and relatable (and right now we know what that relationship is for absolute certain). Hence, I believe Twilight to be the best fit.
 
Though that’s just my opinion of course! :3
 

That’d be pretty awesome if anything even remotely like that happened. It doesn’t even have to be the premiere, it’d still be awesome to see.
 
Plus there’s certainly nothing that’ll stop these two being in future generations (short of, I dunno, controversy? Future show-heads/franchise directors gutting all ties to previous gens?). I mean there’s plenty of that in the franchise as a whole anyway!
 
And now G4’s built up an insane legacy, no doubt about it. I’m absolutely fascinated by what the franchise’s future holds with regards to the current generation and the amount of fame (and infamy) it’s garnered.
 
Um… Sorry about my wall of text again, guys and gals. X3

@Background Pony #21DA  
Well, “discussion in the comments” is a thing.

Should I add tag “article in the comments”?

@Manual_Monaro  
I would love that scenario, though I really can’t see Twilight as who you’d go to for romantic advice. Cadence would be optimal but she’s got an empire to run… wonder how Lovestruck’s schedule is looking?
 

 
…Okay, maybe not her.
 
I hold out hope for Lyra and Bon Bon’s wedding being the G6 or G8 series premiere. In the current series, this is probably as good as it gets. And it is cute, and it’s not like it’s every episode ever. I’d like them to do something like certain G3 moments (Toola-Roola and Starsong do the one-soda-two-straws bit; Star Flight and Heart Bright are seen turning in for the night in the one bed in the bedroom in the house they share, though we still hear what great ‘friends’ they are over and over) but of course G3 more easily got under the radar, being a series of direct-to-DVD thingies.

@Marusame  
To be honest, there’s some part of me that thinks maybe, just maybe, the people at Hasbro (and/or DHX) would like to make these two a couple (as per popular fanon), even if it’s just for brownie points. But, as much as North America and a lot of the West have made leaps and bounds in same-sex recognition and acceptance, I don’t believe Hasbro are prepared to do anything out of the ‘norm’ in the current world stage.
 
I’m by no means an expert in Hasbro’s business and revenue, and I don’t claim to be, but I believe that they’d most certainly need (or at least really want) a lot of overseas business with countries and cultures that are less accepting of non-heterosexual relationships and themes. Sure, maybe they could just ‘not show’ certain episodes in certain overseas territories? But even the fact that said episodes would exist as part of what, in the end, is an animated television show targeted at young children… That could potentially spark controversy. As much as I hate to say it, things like the ‘animation age ghetto’ and the ‘WON’T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN’ mentality are still rather prevalent in this current day and age.
 
Now, if you don’t mind indulging me for a bit, there is a lot of potential for if Hasbro ever decides to make that leap and just say, “y’know what, lads? Let’s just throw it in!” Again, even if it’s just for brownie points.
 
An interesting thought/idea for a future episode (or even fanfic, heh) I’ve had would still retain the current canon, but then come out with LyraBon as a couple. Lurking through a couple of AskReddit threads lately, I’ve noticed there’s a surprisingly common scenario in real-life involving actual best friends who gain feelings for the other (or even each other). These people basically struggle with the idea that their feelings might not be reciprocated and they don’t want their current friendship to be ruined.
 
So, I had the idea of Lyra and Twilight together, maybe during a lunch or with Lyra purposefully approaching Twi, and Lyra admitting that she has feelings for Bon Bon. Twilight is the Princess of Friendship after all, so who better to ask for advice (especially since Twilight’s an old friend)? The episode would basically deal with that ‘having feelings for your BFF’ scenario, with all the shenanigans involved with Lyra trying to admit her feelings for Bon Bon. In the end, it would turn out that the feelings are reciprocated, and Bon Bon actually loves Lyra back! They were both beating around the bush and simply having trouble trying to admit their feelings to the other (so, essentially keeping a big secret… There could probably be some funny little link back to Slice of Life with the whole ‘keeping secrets’ thing too).
 
Unfortunately, I don’t think that will ever, ever happen, at least not until a future My Little Pony generation (and probably with a completely different pair of ponies, heh). But I can dream.
 
And I’m honestly super, super happy with all the Lyra and Bon Bon moments we’ve been getting in the show. I know some people are getting a little annoyed with it, and I can certainly understand why, but I personally love it all to bits. This Friendship Games short is no exception.
 
I’m so, so sorry for my massive wall of text. :P

@Marusame  
Meh. I’m never impressed when writers don’t even hint at a thing onscreen and then contradict their script on Twitter and then be like “me saying it makes it canon, so there! Now gimme my progressiveness points and be as impressed as if I’d actually done something brave!”
 
No, it doesn’t really take much courage to lie.
 
What does? To continue doing scenes like Lyra and Bon Bon are getting, that’s what.

Im waiting for that KorrAsami moment from the writers… DO IT!.. JUST DO IT!  
Heh, seriously I would like official announcements maybe from the writers. And yeah because gay marriage is legal in every state now thanks to people not being retarded for long enough to sign it this isnt as taboo as it was just a year ago even.
 
Other Countries though, idk just choose to not show a few episodes here and there and purposely include a lyrabon thing.

They are so lesbians.

i think this is the 4th time these two recently have been portrayed to be VERY close. I think its so on point that its possible that some over at hasbro are making sure everyone gets this crystal clear.

@Phantom Rider  
The license to kill as portrayed in fiction is largely a myth. Agents do not need a licence to kill as a spy’s primary job is to violate the law in other countries, and if an agent is compromised, he or she is at the mercy of the authorities of that country.

Lesbian and shipping tags stay.

@Background Pony Number 17  
That would be cool for Vinyl and Tavi.

Headcanon: They really are just best friends, nothing more. That said, everyone in Equestria (and Canterlot High) thinks they’re the Ambiguous Lesbian Duo, but they’re too polite to actually say anything. Which is a good thing, because Lyra and Bon Bon would be mortified if they knew that’s what other ponies/people thought of them.

@soundtea  
If you’re suggesting that because they spoil nothing, and they can usually be watched any time, they don’t really need to be spoilered in the first place, I would have to agree.

@Millennial Dan  
Except then you’d have spoiled shorts that were from years ago.
 
Plus they’re little 2-3 minute things. Not like any shattering plot revelations are in them.

@The Frowning Pony  
Maybe it would be better to give them a generic tag, like “spoiler:short” or something. I think the trouble with giving them the same tag as the movie is that it might give the impression that their content will show up in the movie, when in reality they’re meant to be watched beforehand.

@Millennial Dan  
Then we’d need spoiler tags for each mini episode. As far as I’m concerned they “pave the way” for the movie and reveal things about it, same as toys or random Hasbro posts and games, and those all get the spoiler tag as well.

@The Frowning Pony  
Oh? Considering that no part of the shorts will actually be in the movie, doesn’t it make more sense to treat them like mini episodes?

I’m considering these shorts to be spoilers for the movie.
 
As for the whole “best friends” shenanigans, I’m reserving judgement until I watch the clip myself, because this seems gay af.

@Phantom Rider  
Makes me wonder what exactly happened to the Bugbear and how they resolved the crisis.