Background Pony #8DB3
"[@M-DitzyDoo":](/images/2142090#comment_8565181
)
You make some good points. I would point out three things though.
First Gabby's close to Gilda in size, and while size doesn't determine age, Glida grew up along with Rainbow Dash who's an adult. Glida has her only life in her village and is implied to be a model of an adult griffin. At max Gabby has to be at the same age or slight younger than Glida. At minimum Gabby would at least fit into the student six age range (any younger wouldn't make sense given Gabby's size and freedoms). And while there's no straight answer to the S6's ages Sandbar gives us an idea age wise where they might be: older than teenage ponies (see teen AJ's built) but not yet adults.
Second there is no link between molting, cutie marks and human puberty. With cutie marks a pony can go their entire life without getting one and is it's tied to their magical being. And with nothing to prove molting = wings or the presence of any younger, smaller dragons like Spike you can't tie molting to an aging stage (like 13) and not something Spike experiences uniquely given the right circumstances (like dragon greed).
Third the age gap 12-13 between Spike and the mane 6 is waay too much. That would make Twilight a teenager when she met Spike and even older when her and Shining Armor played around with their brother sister completion. And why would Twilight need a babysitterif she wast that oldage? Why does Spike need to make meals and take care of Twilight years later and why does Twilight need to be provided housing if she's at graduating age?
You make some good points. I would point out three things though.
First Gabby's close to Gilda in size, and while size doesn't determine age, Glida grew up along with Rainbow Dash who's an adult. Glida has her only life in her village and is implied to be a model of an adult griffin. At max Gabby has to be at the same age or slight younger than Glida. At minimum Gabby would at least fit into the student six age range (any younger wouldn't make sense given Gabby's size and freedoms). And while there's no straight answer to the S6's ages Sandbar gives us an idea age wise where they might be: older than teenage ponies (see teen AJ's built) but not yet adults.
Second there is no link between molting, cutie marks and human puberty. With cutie marks a pony can go their entire life without getting one and is it's tied to their magical being. And with nothing to prove molting = wings or the presence of any younger, smaller dragons like Spike you can't tie molting to an aging stage (like 13) and not something Spike experiences uniquely given the right circumstances (like dragon greed).
Third the age gap 12-13 between Spike and the mane 6 is waay too much. That would make Twilight a teenager when she met Spike and even older when her and Shining Armor played around with their brother sister completion. And why would Twilight need a babysitter