Friendship is Card Games: Friends Forever #17 & #18 · 10:35am Jul 23rd, 2017
Greetings from Brooklyn! Visiting my sister for the weekend, so there may be some Group Precipitation delays. However, I made sure to get the card blog ready over the week, and she and her wife are much later risers than I am.
In any case, I was more right than I knew about the EQG specials mitigating the hiatus. They covered half of it! New pony’s coming with the new month, but we’re still a ways away from then. For now, since I’ve already done the full run of the Micro-Series and FIENDship is Magic, it’s time to double up on Friends Forever comics. I’ll keep this up for the remainder of their run before transitioning to Legends of Magic. Now, to business
Friends Forever #17: Twilight Sparkle & Big Mac
Twilight really should've been more careful with what she wished for. She's gone from smiling and waving to making a new throne out of her in box. Also, lovely callback to her Micro-Series issue with the mane chewing. It still feels very suitable for the character.
Oh, and note how multiple people have sent missives to Twilight via messages in bottles. Apparently the ocean currents around Equestria are controlled enough that they've been conscripted into the postal service.
It's a good thing Spike came in when he did. Twilight was probably seconds away from plucking her own wings bare just so she could have more quills to chew on.
I love Spike's expression in the last panel here. He is fully aware that this won't end well, but he has to hope for the best, because Twilight's taking the best option available and saying something will send her spiraling down a more stressful path. This is definitely a situation Spike has been through before.
That is an unfairly cute napping Dashie. I mean, she's so cute, she has me calling her Dashie.
Applejack's going to be gone all week... on a trip to Canterlot. Because she's hauling freight. To Canterlot. On hoof. 
I sincerely hope this is a hiccup and not a sign of things to come; I've been enjoying this issue. I suppose she might be giving a guest lecture while she’s at the Culinary College, but still.
Applejack may be talking up her brother just a touch, but he does make the difference between a normal applebuck season and... well, "Applebuck Season."
I love how Twilight's perennial inability to draw is a thing. See also the covers of her field guides to griffins and dragons.
Don't worry, Twilight. I'm sure this isn't the first time somepony's spied on Big Mac while he was working.
Heisenbronc rather than Haysenberg? Interesting choice.
That said, that isn't how the Uncertainty Principle works. That would only apply if Twilight was trying to determine Big Mac's position and momentum to ludicrous degrees of precision. She just wants to avoid contaminating the experiment.
Big Mac is very Zen. Do not think about the work; simply do it.
That's odd. I thought Mumbo Jumbo specialized in transformation spells.
There's something hilariously adorable about Twilight shouting "SWOOP!"
Well, at least she got consent before using mind magic on him...
Ooooh... 
I am a huge sucker for mindscapes. This is an especially beautiful one.
Big Mac's tiny talkative side takes on some new layers after "Where the Apple Lies."
Personally meaningful symbolic representations of abstract processes... Yes, I am a happy FoME right now.
Twilight x Big Mac's intellect OTP
Curious Mac popping off Twilight's horn and leaping inside her mind... I am equal parts amused and nauseated. I seriously don't know if I want to laugh or puke.
Yeah, you know it's bad when Twilight Sparkle's mind has gotten disorganized.
At the risk of taking this in an unintended direction, what would've happened if Twilight hadn't ended the spell? Both to those aspects of Big Mac caught in the wave and to Twilight herself?
This feels very true to life. I know I do some of my best work after I've walked away from a problem. (Of course, when it comes to work, that means I usually end up having epiphanies on the drive home. 
)
Also, Spike is so happy in those last panels. And why shouldn't he be? The one he loves most is happy again.
Friends Forever #18: Rainbow Dash & Fluttershy
I don’t focus on covers very often, but I want to draw attention to a few things on this one. Firstly, confirmation that Strawberry Sunrise did exist before Rarity needed a practical demonstration in “Honest Apple.” Secondly, what precisely is in Fluttershy’s cocktail weenie?
Ah, Jay Fosgitt. It’s going to be weird seeing a school reunion when the characters look younger than usual. Also, nothing conveys a sense of speed like the focus character gradually making her way through a three-panel landscape.
Huh. A white rabbit with a watch. That may be a very off-model Angel Bunny, but I appreciate the possibly unintentional Wonderland reference.
A flight camp reunion? Wouldn’t that be like a reunion for an elementary school? I suppose they have to have a story somehow.
Dash’s contrail seems weirdly devoid of cool colors in this issue. As does her tail. Even the green’s only there intermittently. It's especially weird after "Parental Glideance" since it makes her look like her mother.
Uh, yeah, Dash. Remember why you had that race? Because the others were mocking Fluttershy. It’s not exactly a place filled with good memories for her. The best part for her came after literally dropping out of the camp.
… I don’t know how Dash talked Fluttershy into attending either. Apparently, neither does Dash herself. I can only assume that she showed Fluttershy the script of the comic and how she still had some appearances left.
Hoops. Dumbbell. She’s faster than you. Everyone knows she’s faster than you. You know she’s faster than you. Either let it go or ask her out already.
Actually, didn’t the bullies genuinely admire Dash by the end of “Sonic Rainboom”? I’m just going to assume they’ve since experienced about a dozen concussions. Each.
Huh. I guess for Cirrus Cloud, it really wasn’t just a phase.
For crying out loud, they couldn’t even get the taunting chant right. Also, the flight camp had an obstacle course made entirely of cheese. Why did the flight camp have an obstacle course made entirely of cheese?
Don’t worry, Fluttershy. Who’d go to the trouble of hauling buckets of pig’s blood all the way up to Cloudsdale?
Good to see Spitfire doesn’t have trouble talking to foals anymore.
… Oh my God. 
I was joking, but they actually made a Carrie reference.
Whoa. Fluttershy apparently just ran through a heavy industrial area while in the grip of an anxiety attack. She’s at least a little lucky to be alive.
Also, wearing piercings around an unshielded lightning generator seems like a terrible idea.
I don’t like seeing Fluttershy upset, but I do like the theme of her feeling alienated from other pegasi.
Also, Dash and Shy having a moment and saying “Who cares what they all think?” while Cirrus is desperately trying to give Fluttershy an award is pretty darn funny.
At the risk of being that guy, unless Fluttershy isn’t telling us something, she’s a flight camp alumna rather than an alumnus.
… Huh. That breezed by. Seriously, I got all of seven potential ideas while reading through this one the first time. I guess it’s kind of appropriate for an issue set largely in Cloudsdale to feel insubstantial, but this was really padded out. Rather like the last Fosgitt Friends Forever in that respect. At least the other issue’s amazingness makes up for it.
Now to give you all glimpse of my mind:
Quill Shortage 2W
Instant
Each opponent can’t draw more than one card this turn.
Draw a card.
Davenport lives in fear of the day Twilight Sparkle will realize that she can grow her own supply.
Beloved Champion 3WWW
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying, double strike
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Cloudsdale is still in some ways a warrior culture, lauding skilled fliers almost as much as the princesses.
2/2
Rainbow Runoff U
Instant
Target creature gets -4/-0 and becomes colorless until end of turn.
As the mix ages and its colors blend, it leaches the hue out of everything else.
Psychoactualize 2U
Instant
Draw a card. Target creature you control has base power and toughness equal to the number of cards in your hand until end of turn.
Overload 2UUU (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of “target” with “each.”)
Class Reunion 2U
Sorcery
Each player chooses a creature type, then draws a card for each creature he or she controls of that type.
”It’s surprisingly good eating if you like nostalgia.”
—Smug Superiority, identity juggler
Researcher’s Hideout 2U
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant land
Enchanted land has “T: Draw a card, then discard a card.”
”It’s not a nest. It’s an observation deck.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Loquaciousprite 2UU
Creature — Faerie Pony
Flash
Flying
At the beginning of each player’s upkeep, that player draws an additional card.
Deep inside every soft-spoken pony is a chatterbox trying to get out.
2/1
Anxietroph 3U
Creature — Elemental
When Anxietroph enters the battlefield, target player puts the top five cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Evoke U (You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it’s sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.)
3/3
Glyphic Flock 3U
Creature — Bird
Flying
1U, Sacrifice Glyphic Flock: Return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
”It’s the artistic temperament. They hate doing repeat performances.”
—Fluttershy, Bearer of Kindness
2/2
Wall of Cheese 2B
Creature — Wall
Defender
Whenever Wall of Cheese blocks a creature, put a -1/-1 counter on that creature.
Smell is tied to memory, making the wall an unforgettable experience.
0/4
Murderous Glare 3B
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Whenever enchanted creature attacks, target creature defending player controls gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
For alicorns, looks can kill.
Stubborn Challenger 1RR
Creature — Pegasus Warrior
Flying
Ferocious — Stubborn Challenger attacks each combat if able unless you control a creature with power 4 or greater.
Some pegasi are too proud to accept any defeat that doesn’t break bones.
3/1
Disheveled Shelves 2R
Enchantment
Your opponents can’t search libraries or scry.
Twilight’s horror at the state of her mind only added to the problem.
Generator Complex 2R
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant land
Whenever enchanted land is tapped for mana, its controller add RR to his or her mana pool and Generator Complex deals 2 damage to that player.
The concept of work safety was devised by earth ponies, adopted by unicorns, and largely ignored by pegasi.
Brief Conversion 4RR
Sorcery
Gain control of up to two target creatures until end of turn. Untap those creatures. They gain haste until end of turn.
Miracle R (You may cast this card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it’s the first card you drew this turn.)
Industrious Farmhoof 2GG
Creature — Pony Citizen
Vigilance
T: Add GG to your mana pool.
Some of the most magically potent earth ponies are unknown as such, content to spend their days leisurely doing the work of ten.
2/4
Eager Aide 3G
Creature — Pony Advisor
Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters the battlefield. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.)
As long as Eager Aide is paired with another creature, untap both creatures during each other player’s untap step.
3/3
Problem Pile 3
Artifact
Whenever one or more cards are put into an opponent’s graveyard from anywhere, put that many charge counters on Problem Pile.
4, Sacrifice Problem Pile: Target player puts the top X cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard, where X is the number of charge counters on Problem Pile.
Flight School Bully 1(ur)B
Creature — Pegasus Child Rogue
Flying, menace
”I’m still not sure how she convinced her parents to get her the nose ring.”
—Fluttershy, Bearer of Kindness
2/1
Wave of Stress 3WB
Sorcery
Destroy all tapped creatures.
”We alicorns must remain sane, lest our ponies pay the cost for our weakness.”
—Princess Luna
Conceptual Grove
Land — Forest Island
(T: Add G or U to your mana pool.)
Conceptual Grove enters the battlefield tapped.
Cycling 2 (2, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
I do like the Big Mac issue. Jumping right into a character's head and just looking at how the world looks from their perspective is kind of a thing for me. It could have been longer though
I don't have as much to comment on this week because both the comics were relatively light. The Big Mac one was fun, but I don't really care for any of the Fosggit comics. It's partly because of the Chuck Jones style character redesigns, but it never really feels like MLP:FiM.
I guess it could be soy. Typically the pony substitution for sausage has been carrots, though.
A week after than, she's plucked herself so much that everypony's wondering who the new batpony alicorn is.
The first thing I noticed on the linked cover was that Rainbow Blitz was on the "Mo(st) Popu(lar)" poster. Second thing was that that collar and jacket don't really go together for Dash, maybe just the jacket but the collar is a bit much. Third thing was that the mare in the background needs to be saved before she drowns. I mean, I can understand really needing a drink but has the punch even been spiked yet? Did she spike the punch just so he could have a drink? Fourth, Fluittershy has that "Could use more salt" look on her face.
The "becomes colorless" on Rainbow Runoff might actually matter in some cases. Not often, but it's a flavorful addition that has serious rules considerations.
It took me a moment to realize that "Smug Superiority" was a changeling.
On Researcher’s Hideout's flavor text: It's both Twilight, stop trying to fight your "new" birdhorse nature.
On Generator Complex's flavor text: When it comes to lightning I think pegasi find it more ticklish than dangerous, overly annoying at worst.
Also, I like this version of Red mana ramp, though I do like the flavor of "Rituals" more for Red Ramp this is a nice change that I think they could do at some point. It can also act as a sort of 'land locking', because while they might get two Red mana they'd also take two damage and that could cause them pause on tapping the land,.
Nice to see Miracle used again. I know it wasn't the most popular mechanic and isn't likely to return but it did make for some great 'Hail Mary" plays.
I like Problem Pile, it's a good spin on Fraying Sanity and I'm a sucker for mill. *Hides Dimir signet under cloak.*
I'd probably cost Wave of Stress at 2WB but it's a tough call. This effect is at CMC 6, with all cases being 4WW. But the most recent one is on a creature so you have a flying 4/5 to go along with the effect. The other two are older, and one gains you life, so for just the "destroy all tapped" effect I'd say CMC four is fair enough.
There is one Forest Island, three Forest Plains (the second of which is what 'ten card cycle' Conceptual Grove would be a part of), also three Mountain Forests and one Swamp Forest. Just got curious about it and wanted to share the results.
4609806
Oh goodness, imagine if it were some grand four-issue storyline with Twilight hopping through every mind in Ponyville trying to get back to her own.
Actually, thinking about it, someone could do something similar with Sunset Shimmer. She's entered at least one mindscape, though after the one she entered, she may not want to repeat the experience.
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I suppose forcing toothpicks through baby carrots is more trouble than its worth. Still, interesting that Fluttershy of all ponies would gravitate towards something trying to simulate meat... though I suppose she and Dash are the most likely to do so among the Mane Six. One had a griffin for a best friend and the other actively facilitates carnivory as part of her job.
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I think my favorite part about this comment is what it implies about pegasus wing anatomy and the specific mutations that distinguish bat ponies/thestrals/Nocturnae/chiroptera from more conventional flappy horses. It brings Tiny Sapient Ungulates to mind, and that's never a bad thing.
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I still like the idea of changelings communicating largely through modulated emotional signals, with their names in meatspeech being the feeling that, when combined with a self-indentity signifier, indicates a specific changeling. The "insect parts" thing does make sense and was established at the wedding with Chrysalis herself, but I'm grandfathering this one in from stuff I made prior to Thorax being a thing.
As for Wave of Stress, I'm very hesitant to print a one-sided wipe at the same cost as Wrath of God, even when adding another color. And let's face it, nine times out of ten, Wave of Stress won't touch a single one of the caster's creatures.
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Intresting changeling headcanon you have there, shame if someone was to steal it. (Ahh, memes.)
I don't think "Destroy all tapped creatures" could be a 1WW Sorecery, or even a 1WB Sorecery but at 2WB it fits well into both White and Black and how they operate, especially how they operate together. As a Sorecery it's easy enough to play around on the other side of it and at CMC four, with a two color cost, it's a bit of an investment for the caster.
It does ping Wrath of God and Damnation a little but the upside of those two is the single color.
I might be under estimating it but both White and Black already have a lot of one-sided board clears, especially if you don't even have any creatures when you cast them, so I don't see why it'd be that much more problematic.
Fun as always, though one of my persistent irritations about fanon popped up-- the Mysterious Cocktail Weenie.
...
Well, not the thing itself. It's just-- it's entirely possible that it flat-out is meat. Horses can eat meat. Sometimes to the extent of actually hunting it down, though it's one of those things where human mythology about the world gets in the way of science (don't get me started on how much of fight there's been over whether or not it's really obesity -> diabetes or propensity for diabetes -> propensity for obesity). It's rare, and based on my reading, if the killing doesn't come from careless play or defense, the eating is probably an opportunity thing or a reaction to missing dietary requirements, but it does happen.
As a result, in my AU, they both occasionally eat meat-- mostly a garnish and nutrient supplement-- and have small amounts of leather, though unless you're rather wealthy, it tends to be from multiple sources stitched together, so it doesn't really look like what we think of as leather. A cocktail weenie would... be about right, come to think of it.
Cursing my innate tendency to posit falsifiability, I do have to reluctantly note that the equinisms of the show are very much human-mythology equinisms; among other things, horses, like most herbivores, are a lot more pissy and territorial. So they might be pure herbivores from that point of view, which just reopens the question then...
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...and as if it wasn't enough that the sponge that is my worldbuilding-brain was soaking up vast quantities of your headcanon, you're now pointing me at yet more to reverse-engineer. Busy, busy, busy!
Twilight/Big Mac is probably the best story that Ted Anderson ever wrote. Normally, he's a subpar writer and recycles ideas from other stories and writers, so a comic like this from him, with an interesting new concept and a general lack of plot and character issues, is a rare treat. Its quality stands out especially when held against his other works. And indeed, when held against Dash/Fluttershy, which I don't think is horribly written, but... Fosgitt.
Actually, speaking of Fosgitt, I kept staring at Dash slowly moving through those three early panels... Did she look copy-pasted to you? She did to me. I can't tell for sure, but Fosgitt actually does copy-paste in his comics a lot, so it wouldn't surprise me.