Friendship is Card Games: Nightmare Rarity · 10:50am Jun 26th, 2016
At least, I think that’s the name of this storyline. The PDF I’m reading from doesn’t actually name it; it just gives chapter headings. In any case, the second comic storyline delves into another lingering question of the show: What is the Nightmare?
Chapter 1
The funny thing is how many parallels this has with episodes of the show, some of which aired after it was published. The first and most obvious is “Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?” After all, we immediately open with Spike sleeping well and Twilight exhausted from a nightmare involving a dark cloud, followed by all of the Mane Six being equally tires, including an apparently exuberant Pinkie Pie.
Ponyville apparently has a Starbucks. You’d think Twilight of all ponies would own her own coffee maker.
Huh. Looks like Twilight repurposed her self-designed dress from “Suited for Success” into a sleeping bag. Or just commissioned something with similar constellatory accuracy.
It’s interesting that nopony thinks of contacting Luna at first. Of course, there’s some temporal confusion on display. More on that in a bit.
I have to say, the image of black energy emanating forth from and crawling upon the moon is wonderfully creepy and menacing.
The nightmares all play into the ponies’ special talents, save for Twilight’s. She finds Celestia’s scorn even worse than losing her magic.
It makes sense that Rarity would first succumb to the Nightmare Forces. Not only does she provide luxuries that need the approval of others to have any worth, her emotional weak points are very vulnerable. Even her Element implies an exploitable weakness. The others have some purpose on an individual basis, but Generosity is meaningless if no one wants what you can give.
Your heart’s in the right place, Twilight, but Fluttershy is not well suited for a high-speed rescue.
I really don’t get why Luna is in her Season 1 form. This just flat-out does not make sense. If this story is meant to take place before “Luna Eclipsed”—though it has to take place after “Secret of My Excess,” given the fire ruby—nopony recognizing Luna during the following Nightmare Night beggars the imagination. If it takes place after that point, her apparent regression demands an explanation that we never get. If her physical form is tied to her state of mind, then she likely would’ve shrunk during the Nightmare Night debacle.
I realize I’m overthinking this, but a transparent setup for a dramatic third-act moment of triumph shouldn’t take priority over basic logic.
“Nightmare Dreamscape” and “surface of the moon” are apparently synonyms. I don’t get it.
“What evil could still exist after you were freed?” I like how Twilight implies that Nightmare Moon was the source of literally all evil.
Gotta love those ancient legends no one mentions until they’re dramatically relevant. Of course, the show began with one of them. 
Applejack! Language! You can't say "flying feather" when Spike is right there!
Dash has a point. The Mane Six are pretty darn extraordinary. If they weren’t, the Nightmare Forces wouldn’t have targeted them.
Also, I do have to appreciate Dash brainstorming ideas that Pinkie finds reasonable.
Chapter 2
There are so many things wrong with the “lasso the moon” scene, I don’t even know where to begin. Seriously, this entire thing has me twitching in impotent rage. I know Equestria’s celestial mechanics are more than a little wonky, but come on.
Okay, one thing: Apparently the solar lasso has the tensile strength necessary to hold the moon in place—never mind that it should be headed towards the planet now—so long as it’s tied to a stump, but an armored dragon bouncing on it? Oh no, that’s out of the question.
Why, exactly, can’t Twilight grab Spike in her magic? Besides the manufactured drama, I mean?
The Nightmare Energy became the Nightmare Forces over a given Nightmare Displacement.
(I’m enforcing physics somewhere in this mess, damn it.)
Poor Rarity. One crack is all a gas needs to leak in.
And we get another episode parallel, this time “The Crystal Empire.” Of course, there are only so many ways one can present the “trapped in your worst fears” concept.
I do have to love how over-the-top Twilight’s nightmare is. Freundschaft ist tot. I also love the way the nightmare panels crumble as ponies gather their resolve.
Pinkie Pie needs little encouragement to free herself from fear. She is the ghosty-giggler. She is the madcap madmare She is Laughter, that which mocks the darkness. And she is freaking awesome.
I have to love how well the direct approach works on Applejack. “Stop being scared!” “Okay!”
“Goth” is apparently a thing in Equestria, and not just as a tribe of barbarians who sacked ancient Roan.
The story plays up Luna’s deception a lot, but we never really do find out just what she’s lying about. Presumably, it’s tied to her FIENDship is Magic comic, but here, it’s just a menacing-sounding plot thread that never goes anywhere.
I am a little disappointed by the name “Nightmare Rarity.” With Nightmare Moon, the name worked on multiple levels, since even when not corrupted and crazy, she’s still the mare of the night. With Rarity, it just feels like she got a D&D monster template… which, admittedly, she kind of did. Still, I’d expect her to better brand herself. Dark Allure. Polished Obsidian. Black Velvet.
Wait, no, that last one would probably work better for Twilight’s mother.
Chapter 3
Wow. This appears to be a two-Doctor emergency.
Nightmare Rarity’s dialogue makes it clear that she’s a spiritual parasite. Fascinating, though it does raise the question of how the Nightmare Forces originated.
Ah, the power of love.
And now shades of “A Canterlot Wedding.” The Bearers are good, but they just couldn’t win when so drastically outnumbered.
The comic relief nightmare appears to have mouths above his eyes as of this issue. It’s cool, but more than a little disturbing.
Twilight questioning the magic of friendship is probably meant to represent a dramatic low point, but phrased as it is, it just feels too forced and maudlin to convey the proper sense of rock bottom depression. The next panel, with Spike unresponsive, carries the sense of a narrative nadir far more effectively with no dialogue at all.
Rarity had a “deep, dark secret”? What, that she was afraid her friends didn’t appreciate her? Not exactly earth-shaking shame there.
I do love how Spike gets to shine here. Recuperation, determination, infiltration, overcoming temptation… All kinds of wonderful -ations. He doesn’t triumph yet, but we still have a bit to go before we reach the climax.
Chapter 4
Mention that the Crusaders’ sisters risked their lives right in front of the fillies. Smooth, Luna.
I’m pretty sure “dinguses” is the accepted plural of dingus. My spellcheck agrees.
And Twilight recovers her faith in friendship… by her friends being obnoxious. Okay then.
Also, even Dash knows Spike has a crush on Rarity. Dang.
So, after scoffing at the idea of Spike ever being able to help her… Nightmare Rarity decides she has use for him yet. Well, no one said shadowy mind parasites were the model of logic and sanity.
Spike, save the theme song for when you’re not infiltrating the enemy base.
Apparently, it was too dark to see in the dungeon before the Bearers lit up the place with their friendship. Thank goodness for night-vision comic panels.
Dance pickpocketing is the best pickpocketing.
Scratch that, three-Doctor emergency. Baker has joined Tennant and Smith, though now I don’t see hide nor fez of the latter.
And, once more, elements of “Do Princesses Dream,” with Luna trying to solve the problem herself before letting all of Ponyville help. Also Trixie, some royal guards, the Wonderbolts, Sailor Mars…
Huh. Call me crazy, but it looks like one of the nightmares possessed Diamond Tiara. There’s a potential story.
Okay, I am clearly missing something. Nightmare Rarity claims that Luna, quote, “betrayed you and let your town be destroyed.” When did that happen!? The whole storyline has been talking up Luna’s dark secrets and betrayal of everyone she knows without ever actually explaining or supporting those claims.
… Oh. Okay, we get one throwaway reference to Luna abandoning the denizens of the moon, which is never elaborated on for the rest of the storyline. This is not how to convey dark secrets, guys.
Why, exactly, does Nightmare Rarity get a second wind against the friendship onslaught? There’s some awesome stuff going on, but it’s about as coherent as… well, a dream. That being said, Spike’s love reassembling the fire ruby and purging Rarity of her Nightmare was very nicely done.
“We’ll have so much fun with our new baby.” Did… did the comic just imply that Larry and Jerome are a couple?
Okay, Rarity and Spike are adorable in that last panel. No amount of nitpicking will change that.
In all, this was interesting, but poorly organized. Significant parts plot either went nowhere or came out of it. The whole thing doesn’t fit in anywhere in the timeline, and points don’t even seem to fit with each other. It feels like some important plot points were left on the proverbial cutting room floor, leaving a bunch of sound and fury to signify not all that much.
Still, plenty of room for card ideas:
Motivating Drummer 1W
Creature — Pony Shaman
1W, T: Untap all other creatures you control.
Armies march in time with her rhythm.
1/1
Overcome Fear 2W
Instant
Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains indestructible until end of turn.
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Terror only rules over those who let it.
Siege Preparations 2W
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, bolster 1. (Choose a creature with the least toughness among creatures you control and put a +1/+1 counter on it.)
There was little for Celestia to do. Ponyville was already ready for almost anything the Nightmare Forces could throw at it.
Ditzy, Warrior of Light 2WW
Planeswalker — Ditzy
+1: Up to one target creature gains indestructible and vigilance until your next turn.
-2: Exile target creature. Its controller may draw a card.
-6: You get an emblem with “During combat, your opponents can’t cast spells or activate abilities that aren’t mana abilities.”
3
Celestia’s Dismissal 3W
Sorcery
Exile target creature.
”Even my patience has limits. You have found them. Get out of my sight.”
Ponyville Militia 3W
Creature — Pony Warrior
Ponyville Militia’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns you control.
Ponyville Militia has flying as long as you control a Pegasus and has first strike as long as you control a Unicorn.
*/*
Lunar Slugs 2U
Creature — Slug
1: Lunar Slugs becomes the color of your choice until end of turn.
U: Counter target spell that targets Lunar Slugs if Lunar Slugs shares a color with that spell.
The Nightmare Energy couldn’t subsume that which it couldn’t find.
1/3
Sanity Siege 1B
Sorcery
Target player discards a card.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if an opponent has four or more cards in hand, you may return Sanity Siege from your graveyard to your hand.
The Nightmare Forces tormented the Bearers every night… until one succumbed.
Nightmare Mist 2B
Creature — Nightmare Elemental
Nightmare Mist can’t block and can’t be blocked.
As formless and inescapable as your own shadow.
2/1
Localized Famine 2BB
Sorcery
Creatures target player controls get -2/-2 until end of turn.
”Knowing I haven’t done my duty would be almost as bad as seeing ponies starve.”
—Applejack, Bearer of Honesty
Luna, the Regretful 2BB
Legendary Creature — Avatar
Alicorn (This card is a Pony Pegasus Unicorn.)
Flying, indestructible
Whenever Luna, the Regretful becomes the target of a black spell, it loses indestructible until end of turn.
1W, T, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Transform Luna.
2/2
Luna, the Light in the Dark
(WB) Legendary Creature — Avatar
Alicorn
Flying, indestructible, protection from black
Whenever another creature you control becomes the target of a spell or ability you don’t control, that creature gains indestructible until end of turn.
4/4
Rule Through Fear 3B
Enchantment
At the beginning of each opponent’s upkeep, if that player has less life than you, he or she discards a card.
”I never expected ponies to welcome me. Mad as I was, I thought to make them do so.”
—Princess Luna
Repellant Aspect 3BB
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted creature’s controller, that player sacrifices another creature.
”Was it something I said?”
Cycle of the New Moon 4BB
Sorcery
Return all Nightmare creature cards from your graveyard to the battlefield and all other creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.
”Give me werewolves any day of the week.”
—Ditzy Doo
Nightmare Forces 5BB
Creature — Nightmare Horror
Menace
Whenever Nightmare Forces becomes blocked by a creature, that creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
There is everything to fear in fear itself.
5/5
Enticing Dreams RR
Sorcery
As an additional cost to cast Enticing Dreams, discard X cards.
Untap X target creatures. Gain control of them until end of turn. They gain haste until end of turn.
Spike dreams of love reciprocated.
Enlarging Ray 1G
Instant
Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is that creature’s power.
”Told you it would work.”
—Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty
Cavalry Hare 3G
Creature — Rabbit
Whenever Cavalry Hare blocks, you may put any number of creature cards with converted mana cost 3 or less onto the battlefield from your hand.
Morph 3G (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
1/1
Ancient Master 4G
Creature — Pony Elder Monk
Ancient Master’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand.
Hoofcraft — As long as you control three or more Ponies, Pegasi, and/or Unicorns, Ancient Master’s power and toughness are instead each equal to twice the number of cards in your hand.
*/*
Bedazzled Saddlebags 2
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +1/+1.
Untap equipped creature during each other player’s untap step.
Equip 3
”Can’t argue with shiny.”
—Pinkie Pie, Bearer of Laughter
Fire Ruby Amulet 3
Artifact
T: Add R to your mana pool.
R, T: Each player gains control of all creatures he or she owns.
All such gems carry in them a spark of Loyalty.
Heavy Armaments 3
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +3/+3 and loses flying.
Equip 3
”Whoever wrote those stories never tried taking off while covered in steel plate.”
—Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty
Infinite Lasso 3
Artifact
4: Tap target permanent.
Never before had Applejack been so impressed by alicorn magic.
Grounding Molt BG
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature loses flying.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creature.
”They’re called blood feathers for a reason.”
—Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty
Drowsing Daze 2(ur)
Instant
If U was spent to cast Drowsing Daze, creatures target player controls get -3/-0 until end of turn. If R was spent to cast Drowsing Daze, creatures target player controls attack this turn if able. (Do both if UR was spent.)
Lunar Imprisonment 2WB
Enchantment
When Lunar Imprisonment enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls for as long as Lunar Imprisonment is on the battlefield.
At the beginning of your upkeep, the exiled card’s owner loses 1 life.
Light of Friendship 3GW
Instant
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn for each creature you control.
The Bearers don’t always need the Elements to perform miracles.
Be Forgotten 4(wu)
Instant
Put target creature on the bottom of its owner’s library.
”There is no worse fate for an artist or a friend.”
—Rarity, Bearer of Generosity
Nightmare Rarity 4WB
Legendary Creature — Nightmare Unicorn
Vigilance
During each of your turns, you may cast one Aura or Equipment card from your graveyard.
Whenever a creature you control that’s enchanted or equipped deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card.
3/5
Shadowfright, Worst Fear 6UB
Legendary Creature — Nightmare Horror
Shadowfright, Worst Fear enters the battlefield tapped and doesn’t untap during your untap step.
Sacrifice another creature: Untap Shadowfright.
Whenever Shadowfright becomes blocked by creature, gain control of that creature at end of combat.
Whenever Shadowfright deals combat damage to a player, you control that player during his or her next turn.
3/8
Yeah, that's a made up term that makes no actual sense. Plate, or mail. Pick one.
I rather like both the first two arcs. Sure, they have issues, but there is nothing really awful like the Cassy issue, or, heaven help us, the Cattle Rustlers.
In all, a pretty cool arc.
After a strong first storyline, the second never really worked for me. Admittedly I don't mind a lot of the things that you object to most strongly, like lassoing the moon. My big objection is that making the Nightmare a separate entity from Luna completely reimagines Luna's character arc for the worse.
No longer is she a character who went from being a defender of Equestria to succumbing to jealousy and turning against what she had previously protected; who turned against her sister and broke apart the supreme force that held the world together; who was sealed away in absolute solitude for a thousand years before the world could be set right again; and who now struggles to rebuild herself and overcome her guilt.
Instead she is a pony who caught a malevolent magical cold. Nothing personal, could have happened to anyone.
Le sigh...
The next collection is some of my all-time favorite issues though, looking forward to seeing what you think of them
4049512 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plated_mail you mean this stuff?
4049537
Lauren Faust once stated that that's exactly what happened, that Luna was corrupted by dark magic. The fandom has since quietly ignored her on that front because, I agree with you, it's much more fascinating to have Luna be the source of her own downfall.
I think the current showrunners also agree, since we've gotten things like "Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep" and all the filly dream episodes.
I found this arc had a few interesting ideas, but ultimately forgettable. I mean, the most I've ever seen from this arc is Nightmare Rarity herself because her design is so cool. I've yet to see anyone use the Nightmare Forces in any of their fics.
That was a cool fight sequence, though.
I thought the lassoing the moon thing was pretty neat. It has this weird fantastical nature to it that feels very different from more normal fantasy.
Really? That's what most confuses you about the chronology? That it comes before Luna Eclipsed but after SOME? Shiiiiiiiiiet, I almost feel bad now that I have to point out that Babs is also in this comic. And man, just wait until Zen and the Art of Gazebo Repair. If you don't spot the timeline problem there yourself, I'll point it out, because it's given me many sleepless nights, and maybe if I inflict my misery on you then the demons will stop tormenting me in my dreams.
4049524
The Cassy issue? You mean the one with the pets? Because I didn't think that one was so bad. I didn't like how quickly the villain was forgiven either, but the rest of it was pretty good.
4049747
It wasnt just the easy forgiveness, although that did not help. The forgiveness issue can be excused, to an extent, by the lack of space and a desire to end on a positive note.
Rather, it was the combination: how horribly over powered she was, how her justification was such bullshit in comparison to what she wanted to do, how she not only got off scot free, but was ultimately rewarded for her efforts.
It isn't completely without good points, and I can understand why someone would enjoy it.
Unlike the Cattle Rustlers arc. That one really is beyond defending.
4049768
Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of defending the castle rustlers arc.
You make good points. Personally, though, I mentally roll all those issues along with the easy forgiveness into one big "the ending was bad" point, and for me, I don't think that alone can ruin it. Most of it was, after all, just a story of the pets having an adventure and trying to stop a villain, and most of it was handled well. On balance, I think it's far from the worst thing the comics have done. I don't think it's even the worst main series oneshot. I'd say #29 has that honour (mostly because of Fosgitt's art, which I have never been able to get over).
4049512
Adjustment made, though I have to wonder if Dash would know the difference. Or care.
4049537
It does cheapen Luna's start of darkness... though it could be that the vague secret Shadowlarry was dangling over her head was that she'd created the Nightmare Energy. A sort of spiritual sibling to the Tantibus, if you will.
4049548
It was a nice fight scene. I always like seeing ponies other than the main cast step up to the plate and be significant.
4049727
I know too much about the physics involved, at least as it would apply to our moon. Equestria's is clearly very different, but by the time Celestia secures the moon by tying the lasso to a stump, I'm all but foaming at the mouth.
4049747
Sharing continuity demons will not alleviate your suffering, only spread it. That said, let's see if I'll notice it or not. Should be fun!
As for Babs, I admit, I hadn't noticed her. And that is quite the problem. The Equestrian school year would have to start before the Summer Harvest Festival in order for that to make sense, to say nothing of the interseasonal shuffling involved.
4049886
We really do need to actually compare timeline notes one of these days.
I see what you did there with its last ability.
Not quite sure where the white Derpwalker came from in this case. Did Ditzy have a role in this comic arc?
I always assumed that the moon lasso trick worked not by actually dragging the moon closer to the planet, but by magically making the two locations "closer" without changing their positions; if that makes sense. Sorta like getting to the spirit world by taking a random branch of a crossroads at midnight or something. In a world with as much magic as equestria, a metaphorical closeness is enough.
4049958
I was going to be a little more subtle and call him "Shadowfright, Darkest Fear," but I wasn't sure if that would comfortably fit on a name line with three mana symbols. Thus, direct reference it was.
Meanwhile, Ditzy was part of the Ponyville militia. It seemed like an opportune excuse for an especially militant version of her.
4050019
That... actually makes a lot more sense. Not a physical bridge, but a ritualistic and symbolic one. The ponies apparently straining to tug the moon closer make it feel a bit less likely, but I still like the idea.
4049545
That is probably where the term came from, but plate mail is usually used erroneously to refer to a suit of full plate armour.
Though it feels a little nitpicky to get upset over it, as the term is so ubiquitous in fantasy games, correct or not.
I started to read the comics and then found I just couldn't over look the little nit-picks of bad writing. Maybe some day i'll get back to them but it really hurts when they take a really good premise and then just ignore a lot of what can be done with it because of the intended audience.
Same can be said for a lot of the show eps as well. There's a reason I haven't really gone past what I have seen, though again, at some point I am going to catch up with all of the stuff I've missed.
Anyways... .
And Motivating Drummer gives us an unlimited untap combo in White now. Always fun.
Love the play on the common phrase in Nightmare Forces flavor text.
Enlarging Ray: "Make my monster grow!"
Welp, Cavalry Hare is just a nasty surprise. Lot of good utility creatures it can get out for free.
Bedazzled Saddlebags: *In monotone voice* "Pretty pretty, shiny shiny."
As for the lasso and this:
The physical strain could just be the representative of them adding in their own spiritual energies. It could also be a case of "you don't need to understand how this works to help make it work" and Celesta can't fully explain it to them and just lets them assume it's a physical exertion. It'd fit with her "trickster mentor" persona she tends to be slapped with most often.
4050238
I think them straining still makes sense. Moving the moon still takes strength, even if it's only metaphorical. I'm also reminded of the myth of Thor drinking from the cup that was also the sea.
I actually thought the Mane 6 nightmares in the comic had a lot more thought put into them than the ones in “Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?” I like how they relied more on existential horror, instead of something that looks scary and chases ponies, like the flying books with teeth.
I like “Dark Allure” for Rarity's Nightmare identity.
Despite its problems, I enjoyed this comic more than most of the others. Maybe it's because Spike was so well-written. Now I want to reread it to see if it still holds up for me. The inconsistencies may bother me more on the second read.
The whole story would work so much better if it was explicitly a dream episode. That would explain the anachronisms, the weirdness of the lassoed moon, the plotline's oddities etc., and it would be perfectly appropriate.
I never read any of the comics but this issue is notorious for its problems. One point about Rarity's dark secret is that either it doesn't qualify or it hasn't been revealed and therefore doesn't exist. This review shows there are even more inconsistancies than I was already aware of.
You read from a pdf? I usually read them from Chronoshenron's YouTube channel.
4112964
There was a huge Humble Bundle of them for sale some time ago. For these, I wanted to go legit... though given some of the later ones, that may be giving them too much respect.