Friendship is Card Games: Friends Forever #26 & #27 · 12:58pm Feb 25th, 2018
It’s back to the sequential grind for the next four weeks. Funnily enough, Season 8 will start just before I get to the first comic storyline that ties in with Season 7. For now, though, we have a pony thanklessly dealing with a demanding, cantankerous soul. Also Shining Armor and Prince Blueblood.
Friends Forever #26: Shining Armor & Prince Blueblood
We open on the younger pair of royal siblings being supportive siblings together, and I love it. We so rarely get to see Shining and Twilight interact without the world being at stake. (Thought the nature of that support… Well, I’ll get to that.) Also, interesting to note that they don’t have some kind of predetermined noble line they can cite, at least not in a tribal context. Given Canterlot, one can never be sure who’s whom.
That said, stomp both feet? I’m surprised Yakyakistani tradition doesn’t call for fourfold stomping.
Nice continuity nod to “neigh anything…”, especially how Twilight’s perspective at the time colored her recollection of Shining’s time in high school.
Going by Shining’s uncertainty in both diplomatic and economic matters, it looks like his responsibilities begin and end with the military. I hope he broadens his horizons in time.
A four-princess emergency? It’s either the end of the world or a drain stopped up with ethereal tail hair. Which may or may not lead to the end of the world.
I see Blueblood’s mark adjustment surgery we saw at the Equestria Games didn’t stick.
Yup, that’s Blueblood alright. I have to love the expression on his unwilling mirror. Though credit to Bluey, he does pay Shining a compliment. He’s clearly happy with having another male royal to talk to, regardless of said royal’s more common origins.
Huh. I actually have to agree with Blueblood. You’d think they’d pick out something sturdier for furniture. Of course, brittleness is often a concern with crystals. You can only do so much against crushing force with them.
Double huh. We get a bit of background on Cadence’s history. An orphan who Shining… apparently fell in love with before she was coronated? That doesn’t really seem to line up with what we’ve seen. I have to think Blueblood’s misremembering things, because his statement just doesn’t make sense. I mean, if nothing else, she was an alicorn by the time she got to Canterlot.
Heh. Shining glaring through his snow goggles gives him a bit of a Batman look.
Earth ponies for the win, apparently. Compare how Blueblood’s servants and Pinkie Pie handle the trek to Yakyakistan to Shining’s struggle. Of course, when Pinkie’s involved, it’s never a fair comparison.
I have to assume the pony who answers Blueblood’s question has been on palanquin duty before, given that he isn’t now.
Also, does a fireplace in a palanquin strike anyone else as a terrible idea?
Practically the only princes in Equestria? I wonder who else they count among their ranks.
I like how we immediately see Blueblood’s diplomatic skills the second he meets the yaks. Putting positive spin on Shining’s exhausted responses and offering something to put on the negotiation table. Sure, trading a few days sounds like a joke, but with pegasi, it may actually be feasible.
Also, note how one of Blueblood’s first priorities is arranging the best lodging he can get for the ponies who got him here. He even calls them his “personal friends.” I love this interpretation of him more the more I see of him.
Depending on how you interpret the term, ponies do have tribes, though not in the sense Rutherford means.
Hoo boy. Like sister, like brother. I know sanity isn’t exactly strong in Twilight’s family, but Shining is literally trying the same thing over and over—the same thing Twilight tried, no less—while expecting different results.
I’m not sure if a smash-centric culture having hooficurists is surprising or appropriate. You have to keep those hooves in top smashing condition, after all.
Huh. Blueblood can magically lift Shining. Stronger than he seems.
Giving weapons to a nation that declares war at the drop of a hat doesn’t seem especially wise, but I’m not a seasoned diplomat.
A yak named Leroy. I can only assume the Jenkins tribe has served the yak royal line for generations.
In all, this does a lot for Blueblood, but I feel it does so at Shining’s expense. Yes, he doesn’t have any diplomatic experience, but I would at least hope Twilight would share the lessons from her own experiences with Rutherford, especially with regards to trying to copy his culture to please him. Still, good to see why Celestia puts up with the original prince… though I do still want to know what that four-princess emergency was.
Friends Forever #27: Pinkie Pie & Granny Smith
Take note: Yee haw is an exclamation of enthusiasm. Hee haw is a donkey impression. This distinction apparently escaped both Christina Rice and this issue’s editor.
There’s that Apple family stubbornness. Applejack came by it honestly.
The dialogue and expressions don’t seem to synch up at the hosiptal. Granny sounds desperate but looks petulant.
Apparently calling in honorary Apples is only an option when cider season involves outproducing fast-talking scam artists. Seriously, there’s no reason given why AJ can’t call in her friends. Thank goodness one of them volunteers.
Also, that is a bizarrely little Mac in that last panel.
Ooh, data on Pinkie’s grandmothers. Not sure if it’s Granny Pie or Nana Pinkie who can smash rocks with her teeth, though it’s entirely possible that the answer to that question is “both.”
Yeah, Pinkie does not have a good track record with applebucking. At least she didn’t dislocate anything this time. I just hope she isn’t also subconsciously trying to terraform the orchard into a rock farm.
I hope Granny has those secret spices written down somewhere. I assume she made sure of that after the events of this comic. She may be a big believer in family secrets, but even she doesn’t want to take a recipe with her to the grave.
Apparently Applejack has never heard of wheelchairs. That or Granny’s dignity won’t accommodate one.
You know it’s bad when the characters in the comic point out the continuity errors the writer’s crowbarring in for the sake of drama.
Okay, I’ll admit, Apple Bloom’s offscreen disgruntlement was funny. As is Granny demanding her dignity back. Though you’d think Apple Bloom’s potion stuides would teach her to identify common spices.
Smiling and nodding is one of the better ways to get through an older family member’s ranting.
… The heck are “almond beans”?
Granny’s right. Injury isn’t sickness.
Forget why Granny’s sitting in the dark, how is she sitting in the dark in the Apples’ kitchen in the early morning?
The first tree of Sweet Apple Acres offers an interesting glimpse at the Ponyville curriculum, to say nothing of the symbolism a piece of living history still doing productive work. Granny probably sees a lot of herself in the old thing.
Silly Applejack. Some people enjoy complaining about everything. Just look at Internet critics.
Bit of a hackneyed way to get Granny to see things from the other side, though it does have some amusing parallels with Applejack and Strawberry Sunrise.
Speak of the Pinkie and she will appear. Wearing a pie. She does that.
“Hearing you complain about everything I did reminded me of growing up on the rock farm. I felt right at home!”
That’s… actually quite sad. Rather paints the comic in a starker light.
And so it ends on Driving Mrs. Smith. Works for me, though I can’t help but wonder how Pinkie’s settled matters with the Cakes while helping Granny.
This was… odd. Some of it worked, yes, but other parts felt like a rehash of “Applebuck Season” blended with generic old people scenarios and massively overplaying the “Yes, Granny!” exchanges. Definitely pales in comparison to the previous issue.
In any case, the servants have arrived with this week's cards. I am, of course, offering them as a gift.
Princely Doves 1W
Creature — Bird
Flying
Princely Doves can’t attack unless you control a Unicorn.
Blueblood’s attendants come in all shapes, sizes, and species.
2/2
Mineral Bath 2W
Sorcery
You gain 2 life for each Mountain on the battlefield.
”It’s astonishing, really. They could corner the market on bath salts and they don’t even know it.”
—Prince Blueblood.
Blueblood, Charming Scion 2WW
Legendary Creature — Unicorn Advisor
Parley — At the beginning of your end step, each player reveals the top card of his or her library. Until your next turn, creatures can’t attack you or a planeswalker you control unless their controller pays X for each of those creatures, where X is the number of nonland cards revealed this way. Then each player draws a card.
2/3
Applecart Chauffeur 3W
Creature — Pony Pilot
When Applecart Chauffeur enters the battlefield, you may have target Vehicle become an artifact creature until end of turn.
Ponyville is far too small for professional taxi service, but that doesn’t stop some ponies.
3/2
Palanquin Bearers 4WW
Creature — Pony Soldier
When Palanquin Bearers enters the battlefield, return target creature card with power 2 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
”Just drop me off here, lads.”
—Prince Blueblood
3/4
Positive Spin U
Instant
Change the text of target spell or permanent by replacing all instances of - with + until end of turn.
Draw a card.
”With the right words, you can make a silk purse out of anything.”
—Prince Blueblood
Mirror-Plate Elite 2UU
Creature — Pony Soldier
Whenever Mirror-Plate Elite becomes the target of an instant or sorcery spell, you may copy that spell. If you do, you may choose new targets for the copy.
The crystal ponies quickly adapted Shining Armor’s specialty to their own magic.
2/3
Trade Negotiations 3U
Sorcery
Parley — Each player reveals the top card of his or her library. You draw a card for each nonland card revealed this way. Then each player draws a card.
”The goal of diplomacy is for everypony to win, and for you to win the most.”
—Prince Blueblood
Twilight’s Review 3U
Sorcery
Return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand, then draw a card. Exile Twilight’s Review.
”I’m not sure how we went from yak history to vanilla bean cultivation methods, but I’m not complaining.”
—Shining Armor
Dark Deliberation 1B
Enchantment
If you would draw a card, you may pay 1 life. If you do, instead scry 1, then draw a card.
Some thoughts are best contemplated away from the sun.
Independent Elder 1BB
Creature — Elder Pony Citizen
Independent Elder can’t be the target of spells or abilities you control.
The habits of a long life of self-sufficiency are never easily forgotten.
3/3
Broken Hip 2B
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -0/-3.
”Get any closer and I’ll bite that dumb look off your face.”
—Granny Smith
Seasoned Rockbiter 3R
Creature — Elder Pony Shaman
T, Sacrifice a land: Add CC to your mana pool.
”Nanna Pinkie always told the best ghost stories. You ever hear the one about the Nothing?”
—Pinkie Pie, Bearer of Laughter
2/2
Zealous Yak 4R
Creature — Ox Warrior
Trample, haste
When Zealous Yak enters the battlefield, target opponent creates two snow 1/1 blue Elemental creature tokens.
Yaks are forever at war with winter. Some more literally than others.
7/2
First Tree of the Acres 1G
Creature — Plant
T: Add G to your mana pool.
Persist (When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)
As tenacious as the mare who planted it.
0/2
Destructive Disdain 2G
Sorcery
Parley — Each player reveals the top card of his or her library. Each opponent sacrifices an artifact or enchantment for each nonland card revealed this way. Then each player draws a card.
Yakyakistani diplomats are infamous for their aggressive negotiation strategies.
Season to Taste 3G
Sorcery
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control, then draw a card for each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it.
Only Granny Smith can find the blend of spices that best fits each year’s cider apple harvest.
Supportive Steed 3G
Creature — Pony Citizen
Vigilance
When Supportive Steed enters the battlefield, untap another target Pony you control. It gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
”Get on. I won’t tell anypony if you won’t.”
3/3
Yakyakistani Hooficurist 4G
Creature — Ox Citizen
2G, T: Bolster 2. (Choose a creature you control with the least toughness among creatures you control and put two +1/+1 counters on it.)
“I’d say her talents are wasted here, but the yaks so desperately need them.”
—Prince Blueblood
2/4
Guardians of Yakyakistan 3
Artifact Creature — Ox Golem
Defender, protection from snow
The histories speak of two rival sculptors, each one striving to make something the other could not smash. In truth, they worked together to create wonders neither could alone.
0/5
Dire Hour (wb)(wb)
Sorcery
Search your library for a card with alicorn, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
”A potentially world-ending catastrophe? Is it Tuesday already?”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
The Blueblood story sounds interesting. I'd like to see an episode like that in the show, and I rarely say that about the comics. There's got to be more to his personality than "ungentlemanly."
Pinkie is OP even for an earth pony. But only when it's funny.
Either as court jester or leader of
suicide missions"Dungeon Raids" with opposing nobles/political rivals.Yeaah, sounds about right...
You know, cards like this one make me wish I would have read those comics, even with their bad reputation.
Oh, how I love cards like this...
How fitting. Hmm, I will need to look through the other cards. Are there really no alicorns that are neither black nor white?
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Agreed. Seeing some greater depth to him would be much appreciated.
4805136
The really weird thing is how so many of them end in the yaks getting mobbed by dragon hatchlings. Even when they were just attacking a Diamond Dog burrow!
At least they have sour potatoes.
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Sadly, the doves are only there for one panel, but oh what a panel it is.
Funnily enough, Twilight herself. (At least when she isn't a cookie zombie.) I made Dire Hour white-black since black gets all search effects and white gets the occasional "find a specific kind of creature" one.
Shining Armor & Blueblood's issue is one of my favourites out of the Friends Forever series. We get plenty of issues with secondary or even tertiary characters as one half of the pair, but very few with both protagonists being secondary characters. It's quite unique, and especially so for featuring Blueblood. I believe this is his only starring role, not just in the comics, but in the franchise in general, and it does a lot to flesh him out from his more one-note introduction in the show. Plus, fanfics have been doing interesting things with Blueblood for years, but even with all that, this premise and character pairing still stands out, which I think is really commendable from a creative perspective.