Review: The Moonstone Cup, by: Cyanide

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Twilight Sparkle gets invited to attend the most prestigious magical tournament in the world.

What? You need more of a description then “Twilight Sparkle in a magical tournament” to want to see more about it? It’s Twilight ‘Element of Magic’ Sparkle dueling some of the greatest magicians, wizards, and other magic users in the world. What more do you need?

Well okay, there is the fact she can’t go anywhere without being mobbed by fans, or having to hear endless rumors about her that vastly exaggerate everything. Or the fact one of the judges seems to have a some personal issues with the young unicorn, plus that annoying blue mare that seems to be treating Twi as her mortal enemy, Tracky, Tricky, something like that. Some minor one shot character from the show that was really forgettable.

So how well does the story live up to the promise just the premise alone makes?

Story: The answer to that question? Remarkably well. Looking just at the tournament matches themselves? They are incredible, everything you could possibly want from this concept. Even the preliminary trials were amazing. Showing a wide range of magic types, all that make sense in the setting, can be extrapolated from what we have seen, and actually giving Twilight some challenge, while still showing why she’s the Element of Magic. Bringing up some classes of magic she really has never done much in, having her struggle to come up with something, and still performing amazingly well as much due to quick thinking as outright magical power.

And then we get the actual duels themselves. The story manages to make every one of them unique, inventive, present their own challenges to Twilight. Requiring her to come up with different tactics each time. Be smart, skilled, not just rely on raw power. Everything we see in the tournament is just so damn good and one of the best possible applications of the concept I can think of.

Not to say there aren’t a few issues with how the story presents it, but more in the organization behind the tournament, then the duels and trials themselves. All more issues with the writing then the story. failing to fully think about the implications of things in the larger world, how these ideas would work beyond just how they serve the narrative. For as large as the tournament is, as big a deal as it is, the size of the crowd, the prestige, three days seems rather short, and there were far to few overall matches to really make this feel QUITE as epic as it’s made out when you think about it. Yet it does make sense, it keeps things from dragging out to long, allows each fight to be all the better, all the more grand and unique by having fewer. Added to that, there are three judges for the tournament, and only three, yet they oversee everything? Each match has one of those three attending it? Seems to stretch them a bit thin. Though it is possible that there are other lesser judges, with those three being the ones with final say should a disagreement take place, and it was only because of Najstariot’s issues with Twilight it was one of the main three at each of her matches.

Plus one early issue that makes no sense at all. Yeah it’s the story trying to get right into the action, and narratively, it does work well for the flow of the story, but it makes no sense, at all, in anyway logically. Twilight is told by Luna she would be invited to attend the tourney this year, much to Twi’s surprise, and she would be receiving the official invitation in the mail tomorrow. Okay, that works, that is really good. Cut to the next day, Twi getting the official invitation with the mane 6 all around to congratulate her. Again works, she told them it was coming, so they all came by. Then she teleports all of them right to Canterlot where the tournament is already getting into gear with the opening ceremonies that night.

So..... this major, massive, international tournament, only tells it’s competitors they are invited to compete, the day it starts? They get the invite and are supposed to drop everything and show up that day? Not only that, but even with invitation itself makes that idea ludicrous, given the invitation out right asked Twilight to confirm whether or not she would attended, and declare how many guests she is bringing with her. Yeah, I get why it happened like that, but it makes no damn sense at all and is just the writer trying to get things going as quickly as possible without thinking about how it makes zero sense in the least.

But minor issues, especially since it’s only part of the story. Not only does it manage to do an amazing job at handling the whole magic tournament stuff, but even the plot elements outside of that are great. Twi’s uncomfortability with all the praise she is getting, and the massively exaggerated rumors about her. Trixie’s entire little mini-arc. And especially everything with Najstariot. They well work well, they are all done great, and all truly enjoyable.

The only issue I could have them, is a few minor plot threads that feel like they went nowhere. Like the whole deal with how Trixie’s dispelling ability feels wrong, dark, almost unnatural to Twilight, and a few other bits that make it look like there should have been more, like Trixie was using some way to cheat, to enhance her power. But it’s never touched on more. Or the whole “Spike learning more about himself from another dragon thing comes out of nowhere, and then is never mentioned again. More a plot hiccup then plot point. It wasn’t bad, does make sense for the setting, but feels tacked on and poorly integrated with the rest of the story.

Characters: As I already said, this story did a remarkable job handling Twilight. Balancing her self-confidence and her nervousness. Her reaction to being so well known and having so many people eager to watch her perform in the tournament. Overwhelmed by it, but not ever letting it stop her from going out and doing her best. Uncomfortable, but also a little flattered, managing to keep a very believable mixture of emotions going and doing so in a way that is easy to both understand and relate. And not just her initial reaction, but how she grows and develops through the tournament. Trying to come to grips with the cultural clashes between how ponies and Gryphons view necromancy. Gaining a better understanding of her own powers as she taxes them to their limit. Just all around an amazing use of the character that feels new and different, while still fitting in perfectly with the Twi we know.

The other characters also come out very well done. Though there isn’t much focus on any of the other Mane 6, mostly just being there to support Twilight. They do all feel in character, as well a really nice section where we pretty much get a condensed version of each of them as seen through Twilight. Including Spike. Same for the Princesses. They feel in character, are well used, and one scene near the end is... simply a beautiful look at their... for lack of a better term... souls. As well as a great bit between Trixie and Celestia that I simply loved. Trixie is in need, desperate, at her lowest point since the whole Ursa deal, and Celestia helps her without ever being direct, without making it come off as pity. Letting Trixie keep her sense of self worth, her dignity. Subtly and quietly encouraging Trixie to reach out and try to make friends, to let more ponies in, without being overbearing about it. Not just giving Trixie some bits to help her out, but arranging a chance for Trixie to help herself, to prove herself and get her life back on track. Showing how much she really does care for all of her little ponies.

Speaking of Trixie, yet another great character that was well done. The same brash, arrogant, insufferable braggart, but now with power to back it up. (Again did feel like the story was setting up some big reveal about how she got so strong, but that never came up. I can just figure after her defeat and humiliation, she just did a couple dozen training montages to get ready.) Seeing her change, slowly get over her resentment of Twilight, accept help from others, all without losing her ‘Trixieness’ still being the same boastful mare with an ego the size of Canterlot, but getting just a few touches of humility, developing for the best, without radically altering who she was. A really great example of amazing character development done very well.

Finally, Nasjtariot. Yet another foe that I really can’t call a ‘villain’. Antagonist to be sure, but not really a ‘villain’. Her motives make sense, why she is acting how she is, why she distrusts Twilight so. It all makes sense and is rather tragic. Though can’t go to much into details without major spoilers.

Engagement: A true page turner. Between the shear epicness of the magic duels, the intrigue and mystery behind Nasjtariot’s interest in Twilight, even the intermittent Trixie subplot, there is always something going on in the story you want to see where it goes. While having enough down time, enough of just the mane 6 hanging out or helping Twilight relax from one duel or prep for the next to not burn you out. Leading an very well paced story that nonetheless is hard to stop reading.

Ponyness: Was this really written back in season 2? Because it would fit in just as good, if not even better given the season 3 finale and beyond. Now, admittedly it might be a tad hypocritical to say you can’t fault a story for going against canon that didn’t exist at the time, and yet praising a story for fitting in so well with future changes but... I’m going to do it anyway. While I by no means consider a story not fitting into future canon a flaw, it can take you out of it, at least just a little. While something lie this, fitting in not just as well, but even better with future canon just makes the story that much more immersive, feel that much more like it really is part of that world, that ‘verse.

Twilight using the whole butterfly wings just to pass one part of the trial was a nice callback (in fact the story has a lot of great callbacks to magical feats Twi has performed) her keeping them and using them for the rest of the tournament makes all the scenes of her flying around in combat all the more awesome given she can now do that all the time. Plus the whole “Telekinetic slap” idea. Which did make sense, is hard not to picture as the whole ‘unicorn magic laser’ thing we’ve seen them use more and more.

On top of that, just the entire arc for Twilight and her realizing more powers. The way Nasjtariot treats her, her abilities, all would fit in as great foreshadowing for eventual ascension.

Plus it’s not just the facts, the basic narrative that fits in well with Equestria, but the entire story. It’s not just a bunch of epic fighting and magic duels. there is the same heart, the same emotion as the show. It’s about the characters learning and growing from the experience, not just the experience in and of itself. This really does feel like an episode of the show. Well, alright it feels even more epic then anything in the show sans some two parters. Hell, I’d argue this would have made a better premier for Season 3 then The Crystal Empire, at least with regards to setting up the whole Twilacorn thing for the finale. So yes a very very ‘pony’ story, in the best possible ways.

Overall: Exemplary. Is anyone surprised given how much I praised it? That said, this was yet another story that I was on the fence about the final rating for (really need to get a more precise rating system) but what tipped it over the edge into best of the best territory was one line, and the everything that it meant, the entire exploration of character it caps, while being so simple and short.

She was afraid. Afraid for Twilight, afraid for Najstariot, for her sister, for Equestria. She was afraid for everyone except herself. Within Celestia's mind, Twilight found thousands of years of loss and pain, anger and regret. Unlike within Najstariot, however, the injuries had healed, one after another, and had only strengthened the princess' armor of endless love and endless responsibility. It was beautiful, far more than the lightning had been. Beautiful. Indestructible.

That look, that simple, deep, and utterly beautiful look at just how Celestia has held up all these years, suffered so much loss, so much tragedy, and yet still be the benevolent, loving character who despite being the ruler of the entire kingdom, still goes out of her way simply to help one single little pony down on her luck, without pity, without talking down to her, without taking what was left of her dignity with charity. Giving her a bit of guidance and a chance to help herself out. And what makes it all the more powerful is the contrast between Celestia and Nasjtariot. And even between Celestia and Luna. The Dragon Queen being controlled by her fear, unable to get over what had happened, fearing it’s repeat. It’s what makes me unable to see Nasjtariot as a villain. She is a rather tragic character. In the wrong, but for understandable reasons.

Yes the story does have a few issues, the ones I mentioned, a few other minor ones. But they all pale compared to what this story does right. To the shear beauty and epicness it has. All while feeling perfectly natural and fitting in perfectly with the world of Equestria. Truly an amazing story all around.