Friendship is Card Games: Wacky Wingday, Part 2 (and Black, White & Blue) · 1:22pm Dec 31st, 2023
We return to the comics, where a conveniently timed one-shot helps me schedule the five-issue Milkyway storyline. Let’s see just what how we're closing out 2023.
G5 Mainline, Issue #18
I don’t know if this cover is an intentional allusion to The Shining, but I’m definitely getting “elevator full of blood” vibes from it. And it wouldn’t be the first time My Little Pony’s referenced the film. Not even the first time in this generation.
I do like how the shape of the Pegasus Crystal is worked into Zipp’s headset. That shape has defined pegasus culture for generations; it should be everywhere.
Sunny drumming continues to be mildly bizarre, not least because the flagrant display of magnetic hooves with the drumsticks.
… Okay, Zipp tripping over a loose, on-stage electrical cord isn’t a problem with her, it’s a problem with the stage design. Seriously, if you’re going to put wires on the stage itself, at least tape them down. Better yet, employ actual cable management.
“If it’s too dark for anypony to see you fall, did it ever really happen?”
Oh dear, Izzy’s delving into epistemology. Someone get the spray bottle.
“Pipp doesn’t think I have what it take to be an influential pop star, and if I fall at the show tonight, I’ll prove her right.”
I honestly kind of like how Zipp’s all but forgotten the whole “wishing nymph” issue. This isn’t a matter of getting her mark and life back. This is a matter of not letting her little sister get one over on her.
I also appreciate how Sunny is immediately concerned by the idea of letting ponies watch them rehearse.
Yeah, you know it’s bad when the three fillies whose sole personality trait is “Pipp Zipp fangirl” pass up an exclusive show.
Also, even the park benches in Zephyr Heights have those art deco wings. Again, lovely touch.
Pipp, meanwhile, is about to learn that you can’t please all of the ponies all of the time, and trying to cater to the tastes of an entire city at once…
Yeah, I believe I see how we end up at the cover.
I’m going to assume that Zipp and company are in front of either the home of Glory (the pegasus Zippsqueak) or a hotel, since they’re still in Zephyr Heights.
Ah, the double-edged sword. Pipp’s constant checking of social media feeds may be a bad way to prepare for a state dinner, but it’s essential for knowing when her rivals are dragging her name through the mud, and to cut off flagrant lies at the pass before they get ingrained in public awareness.
Also, I’m pretty sure there are some lèse-majesté laws Zipp could dust off to get Carotang banished and/or beheaded. Nothing of value would be lost.
And rather than simply counterpost with eyewitnesses reporting the truth complete with physical evidence, Zipp decides to go for a confrontation and interrogation. Because it’s not like Carotang hasn’t already demonstrated his ability to control the narrative.
“I know how to confront a situation head-on, and that’s the bravery it really takes to be an influential pop star.”
I’d ask if Zipp listens to herself when she talks, but we all know the answer to that one by now.
… Huh. I was half-joking about exercising royal authority. Though, while Carotang does do a good job of covering the hot mike for most of Zipp’s spiel, she is talking directly into it when she says he’s lying… though, on closer inspection, it’s possible that her own hoof is covering the mike at that point.
Yeah, just let him get the last word, Zipp. It’s not like you can’t talk to the podcasters who are literally standing twenty feet in front of you. (Yes, there’s the fear of digging herself in deeper, but she can at least make the effort.)
Ah! As Zipp is preoccupied, Hitch has been doing the investigative legwork in the background. Good on him. And apparently the royal sisters represent Milkyway’s first big wish. She only took low-scale, low-risk wishes in the past to avoid any chance of failure, but now her confidence is high enough to making a name for herself.
Yeah, when you’re dragging a Ferris wheel into the royal ballroom, you’ve probably gone too far. (There’s also the question of who Equestria’s answer to George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. was, but that’s another matter.)
I do appreciate how Pipp is literally tracking mud in the palace as she talks about how the actual dinner part of the royal dinner had to get thrown out to make room for all of her ideas. After all, she wasn’t the one raised to concern herself with the kingdom’s deep history and tradition; she was the wire-harness songbird keeping the peasants pacified while Zipp was groomed to take Haven’s place in time.
And, naturally, that selfsame carelessness leads to the first indoor mudslide in the history of Zephyr Palace (I assume.)
And we close the issue with both sisters having massive messes on their hooves, digital and physical. It’ll definitely be interesting to see how both climb out of the hole they’ve dug, but that’s what the wings are for. For now, let’s take a look at that one-shot.
Black, White & Blue
The absence of an Oxford comma bothers me. It will continue to bother me until I post this blog, and likely for some time afterwards. Also, there’s a joke here about Esper, but I’ll hold off on it for now. Still, I find myself hoping there aren’t many red or green ideas for this issue.
The cover is rather amusing since the plot has to disregard (and was likely written before) Misty’s redefining mane dyeing. Also, I have to object to Hitch’s mane and tail not getting rendered monochrome. That’s definitely more on the green side of things. (I suppose printing the cover solely in black and cyan would have been a bit much.)
Ah, we’re well before the new mane. Misty still hasn’t gotten her mark yet. Also, this may be Opaline’s first bit of dialogue in the comics.
Also, we now know Opaline’s castle has a cellar—it’s presumably somewhere around the dungeon—but it is interesting to think about what ancient artifacts might be lying around the place. And now I’m thinking about all the history and knowledge that were mulched when her Together Tree had its explosive growth. An acceptable loss, yes, but still regrettable.
Ooh, nice Raiders of the Lost Arc feel with all the unmarked crates. Opaline does have her top mare on it… it’s just that she’s also her only mare.
Yeah, I can definitely believe that Opaline would fill her castle with illusory walls. Though the self-aware crystal ball is a surprise. Honestly, we’re two pages in and this issue has done more with the concept of “ancient alicorn’s dark castle” than the show ever did.
I’m not sure why Misty would think that vaguely key-shaped crystal assemblage would be a magic remover, but it’s funny how she predicts Opaline’s ultimate plan.
As the cover promised, we have the return of Violette Rainbow the piebald unicorn and her friend Skye the zebra. Also an unexpected reference to Bewitched of all series, though here the focus is less on a witch grappling with the cultural expectations of the US in the 1950s and more on a pair of twin witches getting into assorted hijinks… which raises its own questions. They’re apparently one of Izzy’s cherished childhood favorites, which implies that both the Bridlewood had a movie studio and that the concept of magic was simultaneously taboo and acceptable enough to make a film franchise out of it. (Izzy says it’s a series, Violette says they’re movies. I suppose I shouldn’t look too deep into this when the comic can’t keep its facts straight across four word balloons.)
Also, at some point after the fall of Old Equestria, ponies lost the technology for color film.
“Can you believe these older shows have no singing? No wonder it was cancelled.”
I do appreciate how this concept is utterly alien to Pipp.
Ah, it’s more of a Wonder Twins situation. Also, either the artist missed the memo about the twins being unicorns or those manes are even more voluminous than they look.
Heh. Doodling on your friends’ faces is a lot nicer when the doodles are on easily removed gag masks.
Did someone trademark “pillow fight”? Is the word “fight” too intense for Standards & Practices? I have no idea why they went for “pillow toss.”
Ah yes, Misty having the time of her life, then sneaking away and apologizing as she reluctantly performs unspeakable evil. I’m glad we’re out of this loop. Especially when three pages ago Misty was afraid of her friends getting upset at her for the gag masks. Stealing magic’s a bit worse, dear.
Ooh, very nice two page spread with prismatic mist wafting off of everything and getting siphoned into the plot device.
Ah, and Zipp continually suspecting Misty and grudgingly backing off. Another loop I’m glad to leave. Heck, despite Zipp’s accusation, Misty has been affected; her irises got grayed out.
I do like Hitch’s plan, but I have some questions about why the Pippsqueaks’ parents are okay with letting them spend the night with their favorite Internet celebrity. Equestria is a kinder place than here, I suppose. (Also, Maretime Bay apparently has a town hall. News to me.)
Misty’s theory is interesting. Did the device specifically use her coat color as the criterion for what not to remove, or is it just ancient magic that she shouldn’t have fiddled with? Also, I hope she moved the thing before the morning; a massive hunk of crystal just outside of the Brighthouse will probably raise suspicions otherwise.
As far as plans go, “bring color back by having so much fun that a miracle occurs” isn’t the worst, especially given how little information the ponies are working with… and how the closest thing to a reasonable adult in the room is Misty. No, Izzy doesn’t count.
I feel like Izzy would have introduced Misty to unicycling much earlier than this.
“Some sheriff Hitch is. He doesn’t even know why this is only affecting Maretime Bay?”
On the one hand, good to know that the device has limited range. On the other, how exactly does that mare expect Hitch to know anything about this phenomenon? Especially given that he and Zipp both seem to feel that the key to figuring it out is to look at windows with magnifying glasses.
Shut up, Posey. This kind of behavior is why you’re karma’s chew toy.
Ah yes, a Kris Kross reference. A timely choice for the child to make in 2023.
Again, I feel like Izzy and Misty would have already had this conversation before, but it is one Misty needed to hear. Perfection is impossible, and mistakes are rarely ever irreparable.
… I was not expecting a Peanuts reference. Certainly not to Lucy’s psychiatric help booth.
“I don’t like it when ponies I don’t know look at me. It makes me nervous.”
When she’s only known one other pony for as long as she can remember and getting that one’s attention is never a good thing, who can blame her?
I do appreciate Izzy’s direct approach. If it’s hard for Misty to put herself out there to make friends and have fun, then Izzy’s happy to help her go out and do it.
“Where are we headed?”
“To the only place in Maretime Bay that has more blue than you can imagine.”
Of course. The ocean’s full of blue mana. 
Ooh, mancala. Well, ponycala. Still, nice to see one of the oldest board games.
Sunny wearing her satchel in the water feels ill-advised. Izzy and Misty holding cardboard boxes full of junk even more so.
Ah. Izzy forgot she was holding them. That’s honestly fair. We’ve seen how strong that mare is, and I’ve had similar moments.
“I don’t understand why you aren’t yelling at her and making her feel worthless.”
Misty in a nutshell. It took quite a while for her to internalize that Opaline is the exception and not the rule.
When in doubt, smash the thing to pieces. The flood of color splashing out behind Misty is another lovely touch.
In all, this is high-quality fanfic, which is really all I ask of the comics. Some great Izzy-Misty interaction with a cute if largely inconsequential B-plot. I would have liked to get some answers about what the device was, what it was meant to do, how it ended up in Opaline’s cellar… but that isn’t really the point of the story. (Still would have been nice to get a little background on it to make it seem like less of a naked plot device. Likewise that cracked crystal ball. And hey, it’s better than throwing poor flyers in the Pegasus Device.)
Now, let’s see how all this mayhem translates to the tabletop:
Baseless Accusation W
Instant
Target creature you control gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn. Investigate. (Create a Clue token. It’s an artifact with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
A pointed hoof can be a confession in its own right.
Psychiatrist for Hire 2W
Creature — Unicorn Advisor
Whenever another creature with power 2 or less enters the battlefield under your control, that creature connives. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.)
A sympathetic ear, available by the hour.
1/3
Statue Gardening 2WW
Enchantment
When Statue Gardening enters the battlefield, put a petrification counter on each creature.
Each permanent with a petrification counter on it is an artifact with no abilities.
Tap two untapped creatures you control: Remove a petrification counter from target artifact. Any player may activate this ability.
Exercise Authority 4W
Sorcery
Exile target creature. You become the monarch.
“I know my girls had to leave the nest eventually. I’m still managing the big decisions, the ones that have lives hanging in the balance, one way or another.”
—Queen Haven
Mirror Maiden 1U
Creature — Unicorn Warlock
Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost 1 less to cast.
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, you may pay 1U. If you do, create a token that’s a copy of Mirror Maiden.
Twins share incredible magical potency. Many want to push it even further.
1/1
Beachcomb 2U
Sorcery
You may mill four cards. Then return up to two artifact cards from you graveyard to your hand.
Whether the wreckage of bygone kingdoms or interesting seashells, Izzy loves what she finds at the beach.
Magus of the Sky 2U
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
As Magus of the Sky enters the battlefield, choose a color.
All nonland permanents are the chosen color.
“If the pegasi won’t reclaim mastery of their domain, I’ll do it for them.”
2/3
Cable Mismanagement 4U
Instant
Affinity for artifacts (This spell costs 1 less to cast for each artifact you control.)
Tap up to two target artifacts and/or creatures. Put a stun counter on each of them. (If a permanent with a stun counter on it would become untapped, remove one from it instead.)
Slander the Crown 2B
Sorcery
Target player discards two cards. If that player is the monarch, instead they reveal their hand, you choose two cards from it, and they discard those cards.
Earlier princesses would have Carotang clapped in irons or hurled off the mountain. Zipp still considered both.
Opaline’s Cellar 2BB
Legendary Artifact
When Opaline’s Cellar enters the battlefield, each player mills four cards. Then exile all artifact cards from all graveyards until Opaline’s Cellar leaves the battlefield.
3, T: Choose a card exiled with Opaline’s Cellar at random. Put that card onto the battlefield under your control. Activate only as a sorcery.
Unthinkable Scandal 3B
Sorcery
Target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn. That creature’s controller discards a card.
Carotang’s outrageous claims got the populace wondering, but it was Zipp’s rash response that confirmed them.
Minister of Festivities 4B
Creature — Pegasus Advisor
Flying
When Minister of Festivities enters the battlefield, you become the monarch. If you’re already the monarch, open two Attractions. (Put the top two cards of your Attraction deck onto the battlefield.)
“… and the arcade and the spa and the…”
3/3
Hot Microphone 1R
Artifact
Flash
T: Hot Microphone deals 2 damage to each opponent who cast a spell this turn. If a player was dealt damage this way, investigate. Activate only during your turn.
Deafening Drummer 3R
Creature — Pony Bard
Trample
Finale — Whenever you sacrifice a Song, target creature you control gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of verse counters on that Song.
Earth ponies treat tectonic plates as subwoofers.
3/3
Coursing Carnage 3RR
Sorcery
Coursing Carnage deals 3 damage to each creature. Whenever a creature dealt damage this way dies this turn, create a Blood token. (It’s an artifact with “1, T, Discard a card, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
“Cleanup on the second floor!”
Glorious Celebration 3RR
Sorcery
Create two 1/1 red Pony creature tokens. At the beginning of the next combat phase this turn, creatures you control get +2/+0 and gain haste until end of turn.
Miracle 1R (You may cast this card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it’s the first card you drew this turn.)
Hitch’s Assistants 2GG
Creature — Beast
Whenever another nontoken creature enters the battlefield under your control, investigate.
Hitch deputizes anything that can hear him.
4/4
Palace Mudburst 3G
Sorcery
Choose one or more —
• Destroy target artifact.
• Destroy target enchantment.
• The monarch sacrifices an artifact and an enchantment.
“This is coming out of your allowance.”
—Haven, to Pipp
Budget Overrun 2GGG
Sorcery
Open an Attraction. Attractions you control become X/X artifact creatures with trample and haste until end of turn, where X is 3 plus the number of Attractions you control. (To open an Attraction, put the top card of your Attraction deck onto the battlefield.)
There’s no boardwalk like overboard.
Dumpster Diver 5G
Creature — Unicorn Artificer
Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for 1.)
When Dumpster Diver enters the battlefield, return a card from your graveyard to your hand at random.
“Trash is another word for giving up.”
4/4
Cracked Guide-Crystal 2
Artifact Creature — Construct
When Cracked Guide-Crystal dies, each player may scry 1.
Guide-crystals once escorted tourists through Canterlot and the splendors of a united world. The few survivors still point out the most impressive nearby sights.
2/2
Prismatic Siphon 4
Artifact
T: For each of target creature’s colors, add one mana of that color. That creature becomes colorless until end of turn.
“A threat not just to our livelihood but our very culture. Burn the draft and shatter the prototype.”
—Dr. Atmosphere, research notes
Mud Baths
Artifact — Attraction
Visit — Choose one.
• Destroy target Aura attached to a permanent you control.
• Remove a counter from target permanent you control.
• You gain 2 life.
A welcome vacation from your vacation.
(3 lights)
Vox Populi RGW
Sorcery
Discard your hand, then draw a card for each creature you control.
“This is supposed to be for the common ponies, isn’t it? Then let’s see what they want!”
—Princess Pipp Petals
Sick 1B//Tired 2G
Sorcery//Sorcery
Sick: Up to two target creatures each get -1/-1 until end of turn.
Tired: Creatures with power 2 or less can’t block this turn.
Fuse (You may cast one or both halves of this card from your hand.)
Yeah, Izzy is the one who gives off drummer vibes.
And has telekinesis for that matter.
Gales are a windy thing, so you have a surprisingly convenient name for a pegasus inventor right there.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Due to the wording of Statue Gardening, the petrification counters only do anything while a copy of Statue Gardening is on the board. The even funnier part is that shroud will prevent its activated ability from removing the counter.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Noncreature artifacts can tap on the turn they enter the board. The flash therefore only really matters against combat tricks and end step shenanigans, even if it's mostly for flavor anyway. (It could have been acorn to take advantage of Cheatyface tech for the same flavor)
5761638
Ooh, a Pegasus inventing the ferris wheel also makes sense as a way to capture some feel of flight and being in the air in the time they were flightless. I'll bet roller coasters would have been popular too.