Fallout Equestria/Headscratchers


 * Where did Velvet Remedy get the door access code to leave Stable 2? It's shown to be on her PipBuck and encrypted, but how did it get on there and how did she read in the first place?
 * It was Rarity who made that recording, and Velvet is a direct descendant of Sweetie Bell. So probably a family heirloom or something.
 * Actually it was one of the CMC's that made the recording of the access code, but yeah, they sent it to Sweetie Belle who was the Overmare at the time. Then she must of either forgot about it or just left it there. Does seem kinda weird that they'd pass the same Pipbuck down that many generations though.
 * This all seems very unlikely. There's no reason to think PipBucks are handed down. Seems like they're issued by the Stable. Maybe the file itself was passed down, instead of the hardware, but then what would make Velvet Remedy sit on the code for years before she finally left? Audio recordings can exist separate from PipBucks, and I think can be downloaded onto them, so maybe the recording... I don't know... fell behind a table in the family's quarters or something.
 * Re-reading chapter 14 I realize it was Apple Bloom who made the access code "CMC3BFF"
 * The latest chapter reveals that the Overmare of Stable 2 gave Velvet all of Sweetie Belle's old stuff, which apparently contained Applebloom's file containing the access code. Apparently the Overmare didn't think Velvet would use it.
 * Why in Luna's name is there so much angst and character conflict centered around ?
 * Before, things were pretty black and white for LittlePip. however showed that not everything is as clear cut as it seemed, and that sometimes actions done in the name of good can backfire greatly.
 * The citizens were murderers and Equestria was better off with them dead. This was not established with certainty until after they were killed. Also, they were killed in front of the children, which was not necessary.
 * Could somepony explain to me what the big deal is about ? If I recall the situation well enough, only needs to last a year. And she needs to get out  spell anyway. Yeah,, but surely there's a way to make proper arrangments.
 * Actually the plan was to keep the clouds clear permantly, and they estimated that the pegasi would have only a year before their food supply runs out; which is why the needs to be cast within that timeframe. LittlePip doesn't have to be the one to cast it, and
 * But the whole thing about the cloud cover in the first place was because the Pegusi left the factories on. Can't they just turn them off, or barring that blow a few up?
 * That would still allow the pegasi to maintain the clouds themselves.
 * This fanfic postulates that "the Spark" and the Element of Magic are not the same. "The Spark" is the thing which reveals who the Elements are. Twilight Sparkle was the bearer of the Element of Magic, her epiphany about her friends was The Spark, revealing to her that her friends were the proper Bearers and that the spirits of those virtues rested inside them. Remember how Nightmare Moon said "The spark didn't work!"? She was as confused as Twilight. But Celestia and Luna found the Elements of Harmony and used them before. If the spark had always been an epiphany about friendship, or even always been connected to the Element of Magic, then Nightmare Moon should have known better. To explain this apparent inconsistency,
 * A slightly different version: Why couldn't LittlePip leave and visit Homage from time to time, or take shifts with somepony else? Why couldn't she reconnect the computer, so could control it? She wouldn't think of that because she's a Martyr Without a Cause, but that doesn't explain why nopony else talks some sense into her.
 * Souls. They make anything invulnerable, except for ponies, where it would actually be useful. It's assumed that possessing a computer with an upload running on it would have the same effect on the computer as it would on a flesh-and-blood pony, rather than doing nothing, or crashing it completely, the almost-certain result of any change whatsoever. Why are souls associated with consciousness?
 * Why are the uploads assumed to be imperfect? There doesn't seem to be any given examples of them testing it. It may have been obvious to the ponies designing it, which would explain how Rainbow Dash knew, but not the later ponies. Also, they're assumed to not be the same as the pony being uploaded, which is a deep philosophical question.