The Magic of Friendship writes yet another chapter in this thirteenth season featuring Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends from Equestria!
As Grogar and his Legion of Doom make their move on retaking Equestria for themselves, sacrifices will be made, friendships will be tested and life lessons will be learned in the ultimate defense of magic and friendship!
Continuation of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 10, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 11 and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 12
Chapters (35)
Wow??!! How long does this take to FINALLY BEAT/KILL Grogar, Megatron, and their Evil Army ALREADY???!!!
Oi!!!!!!!!!
No Offense, Author.
Starting to read this new season there.
I liked that Spike is actually included in the meeting and was part of the main decision there on what would the lockdown would be.
I was afraid Spike would have been excluded yet again there. But glad that didn't happen here, hopefully he's part of the other meeting discussions the girls will have about Equestria and part of the voting there.
Honestly about the references to your story about Tempest's Redemption stuff, I wished you could keep your fics that you made before the projects began out of the projects. Since the readers would have to go and having to read a separate story to get full info on something(an issue the show had with having to rely on the comics to give a backstory instead of showing it in the show) and also its impossible to tell which other fics you had are linked too.
Speaking of Tempest there, I feel like deep down Luna has some issues given how she nearly died at the Storm King invasion(she was turned to stone in mid-air and could have shattered) and it was one of her biggest failures. But also the fact a proper "rematch" is impossible due to Tempest reforming, the Storm Guards reforming and Storm King dying(twice). I just feel like Princess Luna should have some issues deep down due to that stuff.
I really hope this doesn't mean Luna and Celestia are actually sidelined here. Its bad enough they got taken out by Megatron in the season 11 finale, but the fact they are forcibly sidelined takes steps back even further for the sisters.
I was hoping they would have a proper rematch against Megatron to win against for the humiliating lost the sisters suffered due to Megatron, not being forced by Twilight to stay behind at Canterlot pretty much and sidelined from fighting Megatron. Twilight needs to be harshly called out on this since the sisters have been screwed and/or sidelined too much.
The sisters should be there with her, not being forced to stay behind like that.
Even if other Predacons are attacking Canterlot, the sisters could have gotten to go to Ponyville to fight Megatron instead of being sidelined like that.
Speaking of the sidelined thing, I feel like Luna should be more upset about it than Celestia. Celestia managed to protect Equestria on her own for a 1000 years, Luna didn't. Since Luna came back from the moon, its either she FAILS or is forcibly sidelined too much(mostly due to Celestia not letting her fight the threats, all for the sake of "teaching" Twilight there).
In fact it bugs me that Luna is less bothered about having to follow Twilight's order like that than Celestia, Luna really shouldn't be fine about retiring. The fact she barely ruled and now has to follow Twilight is kind of a problem, but the fact Twilight sidelined them like that I feel like should cause issues for Luna deep down. The show writers really screwed Luna over due to the whole retirement stuff..
Those are the thoughts I have so far.
I hope it wasn't really bothersome..
Meanwhile, the Crusaders?
Thanks very much for getting the first two chapters of the Season Opener up. Again, you did a really good job on the exchanges, characterizations and future chapter set-up in all the right places. Really appreciated the work that went into the dialogue between the Predacons and Grogar's forces as well as the vote concerning the lockdown (yeah, I can see where Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy might think the lockdown is excessive, but Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack and Spike had good points about how it IS necessary in this situation. Also enjoyed the Council being defiant concerning Megatron's demands.
On to the next chapter.
Again, the exchanges, characterizations, action and future chapter set-up in all the right places. Really understood the efforts to keep the force field around Ponyville up, even if the Predacons are already making headway on it. Also appreciated the concerns at the Friendship School. At least Grogar's forces are providing some distraction for Megatron. Yeah, Celestia and Luna needing to stay in Canterlot right now might be rough, but at least they've got a decent chance against the mook Predacons that are going to be attacking Canterlot (definitely a much better chance than the royal guards), so they might NOT be complaining about getting sidelined for long. Protecting the innocent is MUCH more important than revenge.
Certainly looking forward to more of this.
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I am actually not liking that the sisters are forced to be sidelined by having to stay at Canterlot and dealing with only the mooks instead of getting to have a proper rematch against Megatron. This felt like things are taking steps backwards for the sisters due to they are essentially sidelined again.
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I kind of agree, I was expecting this to end at season 12. I think this has gone on long enough. I'm ready for the war with Grogar to end. Hope that's gonna happen this time.
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That's how it is ALL THE TIME. I agree with you that they deserve more chances to save Equestria though. Wish Celestia and Luna did have a chance to shine in that regard rather than just being the past protectors that are pretty much useless in this day and age now. I don't believe in Alicorns being all powerful, maybe just a bit of an increase in their magic power, along with the addition of wings or something. Just because they are alicorns doesn't make them invincible or whatever, the elements of harmony (or just the magic of friendship) is what really keeps the balance. Though Twilight said they didn't the Elements anymore and they were just symbols, the real magic was about her and her friends. If that's true why didn't Celestia and Luna ever get the chance to do the same? Wow they really get the short end of the stick in protecting Equestria. I would have liked to see them get a chance to actually do something useful in that regard.
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The fact its been happening all the time doesn't make it ok for it to keep happening honestly.
Alicorns were regarded as among the most powerful magic in Equestria(especially natural alicorns). Tirek went through so much trouble to get it(hell, the combined magic of 4 alicorns was able to stand up enough to stalemate against the equivalent raw strength of all of the magic of all other beings in Equestria including Discord's raw magic added to the mix that is Tirek). So its not just a "maybe a bit increase in power", alicorns(especially natural-born such as Luna and Celestia) are treated as a serious deal in the show.
If it was just sort of above average powerlevel of a pony, then characters like Tirek are in for massive disappointments if they finally taken said magic from the Royal Sisters.
And yet the show writers made the Royal Sisters look pathetic by being unable to stop any threats at all in the show, either being sidelined(due to apparently powerless or choose to not go) or get taken out if they do get involved. Apparently Luna and Celestia must get worf-effected or sidelined due to no longer being allowed to fire a rainbow laser of doom at baddies anymore.
Its like Celestia and (especially) Luna must be failures now no matter how hard they try to prop up the "chosen one"(Twilight Sparkle, the "real" ruler and hero of Equestria)
They had so much potential in terms of power and just what they can do but instead the show writers squandered it and made them not live up to how powerful alicorns(especially natural-born) are viewed to be.
And Luna suffers worse due to she returned from the moon only to fail and FAIL again or be sidelined. Celestia at least managed to maintain Equestria on her own for a 1000 years and most likely stopped some threats, but Luna has none of that.
Speaking of the rainbow laser, it was surely more salt added to the wound when Luna and Celestia weren't included in the final rainbow laser. Even though they are no longer connected to the Elements, Twilight should have included the sisters anyway.
They used the Elements before and their Cutie Marks were on the damn tree of harmony. And yet apparently losing the Elements mean all of that is nothing.
Discord's plan just added insult to injury by showing Luna and Celestia that no longer being connected to the Elements means that's it for them, they're NOTHING. Just placeholders tossed aside due to the "real heroes" have arrived.
..I really want to vent that out a bunch..
I wished the show had the sisters(or at least Luna due to Celestia did managed to handle on her own for a 1000 years) actually stop some bad guys much more often. Not some mooks but the actual main bad guy of what current crisis is happening right now.
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I can't argue with any of that stuff on alicorns as you are right when you talk about Twilight having the powers of the other three being equal to a large percentage of the magic of ponies and Discord in Equestria. I forgot about that. So yeah, its more than just slightly more powerful, probably a lot more powerful. If alicorns are that powerful they should have been able to do something during all those times rather than looking useless. The same thing can apply to the Royal Guard in this universe. So yeah, the writers can be a bit (or even really) dumb sometimes if not very often, like with the Discord is Grogar twist, I heard Shining Armor was said to have been planned for a while yet he didn't appear till the Season 2 finale, the Cutie Mark Crusaders hugging each frightfully in the first appearance of Nightmare Moon yet not knowing each other in their main debut episode, Twilight's Canterlot friends being older than her the time she first saw Celestia raise the moon. So yeah the writers look like idiots the more you think about it.
(especially natural-born such as Luna and Celestia) are treated as a serious deal in the show. How so? They are royalty and have both horns and wings as well as major amounts of magic power above other ponies. Also how do you know that they themselves are natural born alicorns? I've heard the Journal of the Two Sisters (which I used as a way of forming my own headcanon on the true reason for the immortality of the sisters) established that, though that could go in the same vote as the comics or pretty close since some parts of it were contradicted by later seasons.
So you're right about the sisters being passed over all the time and them being more than just a bit more powerful than a standard pony. I kind feel similar to you in that regard and feel they should have had a chance to do something but I'm not anywhere near as strong about it. I accept the way things are even if I might not like them. However, I do not and never will see immortality as a gift like you apparently do. The chance to experience a great deal of what life has to offer means nothing to me. While I do feel sorry for Luna spending a thousand years imprisoned on the moon, and for her and Celestia not getting a chance to really do anything while the real heroes do everything. I don't want her to suffer through a curse like being forced to watch people/ponies she cares about age and die. Celestia no doubt watched that during the time Luna was on the moon, generations of students and other ponies passing away while she remained trapped in time. But we don't know her opinion on immortality as a gift or curse as she has never talked about it. Her smile could easily be an act just like mine is and she is suffering inside from all the loss she faced. I know how deeply loss can effect a person, I lost my biological mother and that is a wound that has affected me deeply.
The writers handled both the sisters and their royal guard in a rather (not even rather, very) poor way, along with Grogar, and probably a lot of other things. They're not very smart I can probably say for sure now. But I think you really need to move on here, you've been complaining about this for a long time. My headcanon story that solves my issue for Twilight outliving her friends is done, I've done what I can to cheer up those who feel the same way as I do. I'm just glad it was left open ended. So you can just imagine Luna doing something heroic, retaking her throne after a few years or whatever and living for a happy thousand years. But you really need to LET IT GO.
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They are treated like serious deals due to how powerful they were supposed to be. Everyone kept looking up to them and such(heck, apparently they kept saying stuff like "Oh my Celestia!" or stuff like that). And the fact the sisters lived over a 1000 years too shows they got something under their belts there.
As for the Royal Guards, they just not equipped to handle super-villains rather than average criminals but the writers should have them be more better at when dealing against armies such as changelings and Storm Guards but sadly they were overwhelmed badly with the former and were just absent for some reason during the latter.
The sisters should be handling the serious threats like major villains such as Tirek while the guards should handle the mooks(such as nameless changeling soldiers or Storm Guards) and do crowd control and provide numbers.
The Journal Of the Two Sisters had some bits used in the show such as the whole play referencing the unicorns losing their magic when moving the sun and moon. Said journal stated the sisters are natural alicorns(as for Flurry Heart, the sisters are referring to how after the two showed up and Equestria formed, no other natural alicorn popped up or was born after Equestria was formed, till now).
And also stated the natural alicorns aged differently, most likely it takes longer for them to grow to full-size and then stay that way(maybe even another transformation happens for them if they are still alive, as in not killed by trauma. They really need to explain alicorn biology given how Twilight turned Celestia-size after 20 years but it being unknown if Luna did or not. Heck I remember Faust mentioning Luna hasn't "fully grown" yet, maybe she could be growing into Celestia-size too but not at the moment due to the NMM fisaco halting said growth till after she got off of the moon.)
It would have been more better if the sisters lived for a 1000 more years to make up for lost time before apparently "giving up" immortality. Luna barely enjoyed life off of the moon(without death by aging looming over her) compared to how many years she lost due to the NMM fiasco. At least the two have each other now.
If its even possible to dump immortality to someone else.
I freaking can't let it go ever. I just freaking can't.
Its not some damn switch that can be flipped and even if years past by, it will just ache whenever I remember how Luna got poorly handled like that deep down. Reading fics can at least sooth that ache but sadly there really isn't enough fics that addresses those specific issues(especially like if Luna comes back out of retirement), it aches more whenever I see really good fics ending up not addressing/fixing those certain issues though or just makes them worse..
Sorry for being so bothersome..
Hey there. Wonderful job on the exchanges, characterization, action and future chapter set-up in all the right places. Definitely had to respect the fight the heroes are putting up here (and also liked Luster and her friends jumping in during the strike at the Friendship School), giving ALMOST as good as they are getting, particularly with the attempts to make a stand in Canterlot.
On to the next chapter.
Great job on the wrap-up to the season opener. Love the work that went into the exchanges, action, characterizations and set-up for the rest of the season. REALLY enjoyed Spike getting in some good shots on Rampage AND helping Pinkie get into Sugar Cube Corner to check on the Cakes as well as Celestia and Luna getting some chances to get their shots in, the Maximals regaining their transmetal forms and Megatron refusing to surrender even when he knew he was outmatched. Well, Megatron and most of the Predacons have been dealt with now, but Grogar and his Legion still remain (even if they've been winnowed down enough for the heroes to stand SOME chance against MOST of them.
REALLY looking forward to the rest of the season.
Well Celestia and Luna finally did something. They deserved the chance to do that I'll say. They helped destroy Megatron! He's down now we will hopefully get to see Grogars defeat in this finale.
The Beast Wars have ended, but now the war against Grogar is going to heat up.
I am surprised Luna and Celestia actually made it like that. Though would they get a proper rematch there?
I really didn't like that Luna could have died to Rampage there and needed rescue like that. It really made her look weak and adds onto the list of embarrassments she suffered.
That was a sure end for Megatron there I think.
Spike also got some good shots in.
Glad I didn't let my nervousness made me delay in reading the chapters. I am not letting myself fall behind like what happened in the previous season there.
Loved seeing Luna and Celestia not sidelined and (sort of) fought Megatron, while they got in the final blow with the others, I still wished they did more damage to Megatron. And overcome that same trick that allowed Megatron to win the first time(getting distracted by Twilight being in peril and Megatron freezing the two. Like they get frozen but they break out on their own and continue fighting).
I feel like for Luna's case it got hindered due to two things. She didn't do much damage to Megatron compared to Celestia's case, which makes it feel like she's in Celestia's shadow again. And its really hindered on how she got jumped by Rampage and couldn't overcome that and needing to be rescued like that. It really made Luna look weak and adds another embarrassment. And then Rampage being killed off makes Luna's embarrassment solidified..
So this was a good premiere.
Though I feel like things are really bumpy for Luna and Celestia. Like really mixed.
Something is in the right direction that's for sure, but its pretty bumpy at the moment.
Why do you write like you're running out of time, running out of time, why do you write like you're running out of time~?
*Throat clearing sound* apologies. I watched Alexander Hamilton last night and it's stuck in my head, the Decleration of Independence references amplified it. Great chapter though!
Hey whatever happen to Cozy's parents? I mean you made them appeared in the 9th season but they've didn't appear later?
Really liked the bit of Luna helping out with organizing what the girls have written down and helped written the last bit of the declaration like that.
(Hope it even gets to a point where the girls have her sign something with them for something huge)
Loved Spike is also included in the decision making of this one as well(I think).
Hope he and Luna interact alot more.
Is Spike included in the engravings as well? Its hard to tell since given how the show kept excluding him from the girls alot, it usually makes the term "Twilight and her friends" just referring to the Mane 6. So its hard to tell if Spike is included too or not.
(Liked that Luna and Celestia were in the engravings too there)
Well we'll see how Grogar reacts.
Very little I can say that the other reviewers haven't already said better, but you DID do an excellent job on the exchanges, characterizations and future chapter set-up and will definitely be looking forward to more of this.
When did Twilight became a fascist dictator and legalizing a public execution? I thought this was Equestria! Oh and is it really in Spoiled Milk's character to be too violent like that? I've seen other fan comics that depicted here as to turning a new leaf and being a lot nicer to her daughter.
That went dark. I mean since when Equestria do executions?
Nice to see what happens next for Diamond Tiara there.
I feel like its kind of a bad idea to kill off the rouge changelings though. Given how the show stupidly had it so apparently Chrysalis is the only changeling to not reform despite how ridiculous there's no other loyal followers(and the only non-reformed changelings in the show just reformed off-screen apparently), I feel like the rouge changelings could have been utilized a bit more to make up for that mishap of the show.
Unless you are planning on having Grogar revive them for Chrysalis.
In fact I feel like Twilight executing the rouge changelings is going to bite her in the flank hard regarding Chrysalis there.
No way in hell Chrysalis would feel fine that the only remaining loyal changelings that weren't "corrupted" are now dead. Especially the circumstances that Chrysalis lost everything due to the hive reforming into skittle bugs.
Its disappointing the rouge changelings and Chrysalis still don't realize that its ultimately Spike who caused the changelings to reform by befriending Thorax. Its a aggravating issue from the season 6 finale that the writers had Starlight essentially took full credit of the changelings reforming despite Spike befriending Thorax is what ultimately led everything to happen.
Wonder if we will see more in-depth reasoning on why Chrysalis rejects this new changeling way?
I see she believes it de-fangs the changelings badly along with they lose their identity and pride. Which all puts the hive in serious danger down the line.
I mean, look what happened with the changelings in To Change A Changeling, it was pretty awful how the changelings are all so.. hippies now. Like.. just wow, Chrysalis would lose her mind even more if she saw what happened to her hive. Such as the whole "feelings forums" crap.
The changelings has been de-fanged big time and ironically lost their identity as changelings. Solving the hunger problem is one thing but not eating love AT ALL anymore took away what made the changelings well.. changelings.
I can see Chrysalis uses what happened in the season 10 finale to support her case. A few rouge buggos subdued the entire reformed changeling hive with ease. Chrysalis would probably be proud of her few remaining changelings but at the same time embarrassed(and probably horrified) at how her entire hive was subdued like that, showing how badly de-fanged they are.
The reformed changelings can handle one dumb monster but I am pretty sure if they faced something that is smarter or at least multiple monsters, the reformed changelings will get massacred. That's probably why Chrysalis rejects this new way, she believes not only it tosses away their dignity and identity as changelings by turning into hippy skittle bugs, but it will also screw the hive badly in the long run.
Most likely if Grogar attacks the hive, the reformed changelings will get wiped out with ease before Twilight&co can arrive in time.
That's all the thoughts I got on this chapter.
atleast he dies in a quick and painless way
I really feel sorry for Spoiled. She was abused by her mother, treated her daughter the same because she thought it was normal, lost her wealth, husband and daughter, made a friend only for him to be taken away, and is stuck sitting in a dungeon scared of what will happen to her. I hope that she is able to get help and move on.
10802348 Done...
10796227 10797564 10796383 I intended to have the execution scene be removed, leaving Hopper's fate to be implied.
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Speaking of execution, I can see Twilight executing the rouge changelings is going to bite her in the ass hard honestly.
Like really going to backfire on her.
A few things.
Why was the title "Twilight's New Secretary" there even though its about them getting a new train engine?
I feel like Luna and Celestia should have been involved given how its the very train they rode for so long being retired.
Like even if they aren't princesses anymore(sadly for Luna's case since she barely ruled), they should still be there to give their thoughts and such.
Celestia rode the train for so long while Luna barely gotten to due to she barely ruled before retirement crap happened. So I feel like it would have been fitting to see the Royal Sisters' thoughts on that.
Still feels pretty odd about the whole sentient train engine thing honestly. Like everyone seems to act like its was there this whole time.
A good chapter anyway I think.
I think it's pretty weird with the sentiment train as well. I think you you might be putting in a few too many different things with these crossovers. And the title doesnt fit at all. Twilights New Secretery was used when Moondancer became her secretary.
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10806860 Apparently, my titles are saved by my computer and it must have filled in "New Secretary" when I wanted to put in "New Recruit." But, it's fixed now. Apologies!
Let's just hope Tilly doesn't end up becoming a target for Grogar's forces. After all, the Predacons launched an ambush of a train at Rainbow Falls, and it was only by a stroke of luck Twilight wasn't actually arriving there. With Tilly at the head of her royal train, she'll be announcing her presence wherever she goes unless Tilly becomes a decoy.
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While I think its cool about these crossover stuff(really hoping maybe Kamen Rider stuff is added in).
I feel like in some cases(such as the sentient train bit), they need a little something to make it click.
The Transformers one and Power Rangers one clicked here, but something is missing for the sentient train bit in this case there.
Not gonna lie, the sentient locomotive thing was unexpected.
Edit: Just realized that it's a crossover of The Little Engine that Could.
... Uh... Sorry but this chapter is awful.
oh no,a Weasel is hunting for food,now i must steal his prey,lock him into a cage and let him starve so he can't eat any chicken anymore
A pretty fine chapter I say.
Such as touching a bit on the rabies stuff. Though I can see Grogar twisting this to have this end up biting Fluttershy in the flank somehow.
Its pretty odd there's a talking chicken and weasel given how we saw chickens before and they don't talk.
Specifically how the characters are acting like this is normal or they saw that before.
Instead, maybe you could have had Fluttershy go "I never expect to meet a talking chicken before".
Like with the talking trains, its odd how there's talking chickens and weasels while everyone is acting like that is there this whole time and normal.
The crossover with Transformers Beast Wars and Power Rangers for the projects clicked but for the case of such as the talking train bit and talking chickens, they need a bit of info and tweaking so they click here.
For anyone wondering, this episode is a crossover of the South Korean animated film Leafie: A Hen into the Wild. It's a really good film and I'd recommend watching it.
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I've seen it, the original version. Not the edited US version. Can't believe Fluttershy would mess with the animal way of life. I mean I know she's an animal lover but is she cruel to stop predators from eating what they need to survive?
My question is where Spike overtime? I didn't see him in your S10 S11 and S12.
Kind of wonder if anyone else has alot of appreciation for Luna there.
Like enough to match the amount Celestia ha gotten as ruler. Sadly though the whole retirement stuff just.. screwed Luna over..
I really hope the retirement issue for Luna gets addressed eventually.
Anyway, a nice chapter there.
Wonder if Luna and Spike might team up for some stuff?
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I really dont understand your issue with Luna retiring. She wanted to do that. Everyone needs a break at some point. Celestia was ruling Equestria for 1000 years, while Princesses might get luxuries with their royal status but they also have to work a lot. The episode where Starlight goes to help them with their problems shows them dealing with each others jobs. I'd say they deserved a little vacation at least. I know you dont like my headcanon on them being dead but unless that happens in Gen 5 (which is confirmed to take place in the future of FIM universe) then you are free to headcanon whatever you want. Luna can go about a vacation for some time like 50 years or something then come out of retirement and join Twilight in ruling of Equestria or whatever. But repeatedly complaining about it is not gonna change anything. If it really bothers you so much just fix it in your headcanon through a story Luna Comes Out of Retirement or something. I've fixed my issues and problems.
I think maybe Princess Cadence should be brought in to help give "The Talk" if the students haven't already gotten it. In light of what happened with Gallus it's probably important that they understand what boundaries and displays of affection are appropriate.
Honestly I'm surprised that being a ruler wouldnt be enough to generate money for Flurrys future.
A pretty nifty chapter.
Liked seeing Luna showing up there and Spike being co-chief there.
I feel like Shining Armor should be allowed to pursue his passion for kart racing honestly.
Just him gotta make sure he doesn't let things slip up such as apparently his kart was terribly made.
10840087 Maybe after the war with Grogar and once Flurry Heart is a bit older.
I really don't understand Shining's logic here. It would be decades until Flurry Heart goes into college. What would even be the point of getting funds for something that's roughly 20 years away?