Friendship is Card Games: A Matter of Principals and The Hearth's Warming Club · 11:48am Aug 5th, 2018
Ugh, completely forgot this week was going to have a double feature. Maybe I should’ve just gone with the Australian release…
In any case, precedent says the protocol here is two episodes, one blog. Tiime for some serious quality time with the Student Six.
A Matter of Principals
I know it won’t happen, but I’m still disappointed that this episode won’t involve human Celestia and Luna.
It’s nice to have another adorkable horse, bug or otherwise.
For heaven’s sake, Twilight, you don’t have to throw card ideas at me in batches like that! (Also, dare I ask how Celestia got her hooves on all of these other cultures’ artifacts? Sure, they could’ve donated them, but I’m skeptical of that. No wonder the seaponies cracked down on Twilight so hard when she went for the pearl. Her mentor’s practically a Blood Raven.)
Also, further evidence that Clover the Clever existed, which again raises the question of how he and the Pillars fit together in the same timeline.
Also also, the Helm of Yickslur? As in Yickslurburtfest? Huh. Interesting bit of yak culture there.
I’m honestly not sure how much a prize of walking around a library with Celestia would appeal to most of the student body. To Twilight, yes, but her students?
Oh hey, it’s the exact thing Chancellor Neighsay was worried would happen. Coming from the object that inspired the School of Friendship in the first place. It’s almost like Twilight completely misinterpreted the meaning of the expanded map. (Granted, that may not be the case given the later reveal, but it sure feels like it.)
In any case, based on the movie map, looks like the Mane Six are headed for the Storm King’s homeland. A shame we didn’t get to see any glimpses of the place.
I can actually imagine what friendship quilting entails. It does seem like a good exercise.
Of course Twilight has a plan for this eventuality. I don’t know why I expected any less.
Oh good, we’re not getting a redo of “Princess Spike.” Even Spike doesn’t want that, which I deeply appreciate.
It really says something when Discord repeats one of Pinkie’s gags, doesn’t it?
Has there been a baccalaureate for Discord to not attend? That comes at the end of the year. Of course, it’s Discord, so who can tell?
I’d ask why that marmoset has hooves, but again, Discord. Also, it’s probably meant to be a pony wearing a costume.
The funny thing about the twittermites in Discord’s office is that I’m still not sure if they exist normally. I could see him borrowing the idea from Apple Bloom’s subconscious.
… Were they seriously going to wait to hire substitute teachers until the next day of class? The more I see of this school, the better Neighsay looks. The EEA does exist for a reason.
Who else wants Iron Will to demand to know why there aren’t any minotaur students at the school?
I have the distinct sense that Cranky is revenging himself on Pinkie by proxy here. Still, call in Matilda and this particular problem is easily solved.
Huh. Another “Princess Spike” call back. Still, it’s actually a good use of continuity. Also, why do I get the feeling that the dragonsneeze tree meant to be Fluttershy’s substitute? (Also also, I can definitely see Discord creating the species in the first place.)
Discord, all Starlight will have to do is blame you. Coercion only works if your victim can’t get back at you.
The “trickster mentor” fig leaf doesn’t cover the degree of collateral damage Discord is causing here.
Huh. Looks like Starlight’s met Spitfire since “No Second Prances.” I can only imagine how Spitfire feels about this posting.
Discord has been obnoxious and a half this episode, but that “How do you do, fellow kids?” moment was exquisite.
No Raffi references in class, Discord. (Also, d’aww, Fluttershy packed his lunch.)
A flying pig and Best Pony? I don’t care what you were going for, Trixie, you’ve already outdone yourself.
Oh. Oh. That’s honestly rather cruel given Trixie’s history with Ursae.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that end bit was a 0G Network Coverage reference.
No one tell Bonbon about this PE course. She doesn’t need the stress.
Oh hey, the track encircles a buckball court. Nice touch.
And for a moment, Discord channeled everyone who still has issues with Starlight.
Dang. I wonder how long Starlight’s wanted to do that to someone since the time battle.
Yes, Starlight. “Banished.” Just like all those characters on Dragonball Z who got sent to another dimension.
(Also:
“You blasted me! Twilight never blasted me!”
“I’m not Twilight.”
“Indeed not. You’re much easier to provoke. How fortunate for me.”)
Spike’s right. Literally all of Starlight’s difficulties—with the possible exception of waiting way too long to arrange substitute teachers—are Discord’s fault.
It’d be a darn shame if a pony changed their hairstyle between Twilight making the list of partners and the actual spellvenger hunt.
Anyone else mildly bothered by Twilight’s telescope-equipped panopticon?
Huh. Looking back at the transcript for “The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone,” it only says that Grover used the Idol of Boreas to unify the griffons. Becoming king could very well have involved a different artifact. Though now I’m starting to wonder just how much of his rule was based in wisdom and charisma and how much was his collection of mind control devices.
Fascinating portraits of the various holders of the artifacts. Also the only way to tell that Aurora was the hippogriff and Mirage the changeling.
Apparently Knuckerbocker’s Shell is a reference to the Daring Do novels. Neat.
I can definitely see where they’re going with the resolution, but I don’t see Discord learning the right lesson from this. He’s not going to get “communicate your problems.” He’s going to get “wreak enough havoc and ponies will knuckle under and give you what you want.” And that will only confirm what he already thought.
… Huh. Discord can simulate friendship missions? Really not sure what to think of that one, though it’s a far better example of the trickster mentor in action since it only inconvenienced the ones being taught a lesson. Think of this as a preparedness test, girls.
Also, as with “P.P.O.V.”, ponies apparently don’t bathe as they return from unpleasant trips.
In all, this was an episode past its time. If we’d had something similar in place of “Every Little Thing She Does,” it could’ve been quite fun. As is, they turned up Discord’s jerk knob way too far. He’s definitely going to be paying for this one. No Tuesday tea for a month, mister. 
The Hearth’s Warming Club
They only met once, but it…
Wait, scratch that, they’ve met plenty of times before now.
Sandbar’s attempt to get everyone to join in the carols was endearingly dorky.
The gift-receiving part of Hearth’s Warming does seem like it’d appeal to dragons. Gift-giving less so.
Interesting touch to have a miniature Fire of Friendship on the tree. I don’t believe we’ve ever seen that before. I know it’s for the plot, but it’s still a neat touch.
Hmm. What do you think the odds are that Twilight didn’t get Spike a book this year?
Uh, girls? Telekinesis? Supersonic reaction speed? Something other than standing there gormlessly and watching the perpetrator get away?
I do appreciate how it’s the changeling checking for cheaters during the attempted eyes-closed confession. Ocellus may play the straight and narrow, but she still easily sees how to cheat.
I know it’s for a dumb joke, but it is nice to see people actually respect Twilight’s authority.
It is just plain weird to see changelings having nuclear families. Especially when we’ve seen them hatch in communal clutches of eggs. I have to think there was a massive wave of adoptions after Chrysalis was deposed. We see here how eagerly they adopt pony holiday traditions; it makes sense that they’d imitate other aspects of Equestrian culture as well.
Also, Ocellus’s younger siblings sit in a fascinating state of ugly-cute that’s simultaneously appealing and repelling.
I see Yona is the rebel of her family, what with leaving her eyes exposed. Such a terrible influence on her little sister.
I do appreciate how Yona emphasizes that every aspect of Snaildarfest is perfect. Yak culture in a nutshell.
Huh. A story competition? We’d do better in dragon society than I thought.
Seems like that bygone dragonlord was living in the same cave Torch was back in the tale of Flash Magnus. Yes, this is a work of in-universe fiction, but I like spotting repeated set pieces.
I’m kind of surprised Ember let a story of seizing power from the acting dragonlord win the Feast of Fire, especially given her policies on international relations. On the other hand, the dragonlord in the story might have had the option of binding Scales with an order of nonviolence before allowing her into his home. Plus, dragon law may dictate that only a dragon younger than the acting dragonlord may challenge them for their position, thus letting Scales secure her position for a time. Or dragons just don’t think about what happens after the end of a story. Hmm. A lot of ways to look at this bit, actually.
I swear, every member of Sandbar’s family looks stoned, save for his little sister.
I really never expected to see the Storm King on the show.
Did not see that reveal coming. This actually does quite a lot to flesh out Gallus’s character. And, for that matter, the attitude of Griffonstone towards the School of Friendship when Twilight asked for the exchange student: “Throw an orphan at her to shut her up.”
Also, apparently Gabby is related to Gilda? And the holidays bring out the worst in even her.
So… how long were Twilight and Dash standing there, anyway? And what made them suspect Gallus? (Well, the culprit could fly, was longer than they were tall, and was larger than Ocellus. That would leave Gallus or Silverstream. Yeah, pretty easy deduction from there.)
“Professor Applejack” still sounds really freaking weird.
Dining with the teachers. Yeah, that won’t be awkward at all… though Pinkie can probably alleviate the situation.
In all, this one was a fascinating pile of world and character-building fluff with an unexpected impact at the end. Definitely preferable to Discord at his worst.
Now, we have a lot of cards to get through. Let’s get started:
Magical Meltdown W
Sorcery
Destroy target enchantment. For each other enchantment with the same controller as that enchantment, destroy that enchantment unless that player pays 1.
A little goop powder can go a long way.
Lame Ass 1W
Creature — Donkey Citizen
Lame Ass can’t attack or block unless you tap three other untapped creatures you control. (This cost is paid as attackers or blockers declared.)
“You mean I have to walk that whole way? Ugh, fine.”
5/5
Yickslur, the Pacifier 3WW
Legendary Creature — Ox Warrior
Vigilance
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to Yickslur, the Pacifier.
Whenever damage is prevented, you gain that much life.
Such was his dignity that all who met him laid down their weapons in awe.
3/4
Near Miss UU
Instant
Target permanent you control gains hexproof until end of turn.
Draw a card.
It may not make for as exciting a story, but it ensures somepony lives to tell it.
Discorporation Beam 2U
Instant
Exile target creature. That creature’s controller creates a token that’s a copy of it, except it’s 1/1, it’s a Spirit in addition to its other types, and it has flying.
Discord lost a body but won the argument.
Hippogriff Skydancer 2U
Creature — Hippogriff Citizen
Flying
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, you may switch Hippogriff Skydancer’s power and toughness until end of turn.
Physical malleability has infused every aspect of hippogriff culture, including artistic expression.
1/4
Gravity’s Whimsy 3U
Instant
Assist (Another player can pay up to 3 of this spell’s cost.)
Any number of target creatures gain flying until end of turn.
”It’s a very forceful personality, but I can make anything smile.”
—Discord
Mount Aris Tourism Board 3U
Creature — Hippogriff Advisor
Flying
Whenever another Hippogriff or Merfolk enters the battlefield under your control, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card.
“We have to reconstruct our economy somehow.”
—Queen Novo
2/2
Singing Whale 5UU
Creature — Whale
At the beginning of your end step, untap all nonland permanents you control.
Sirens scatter before the ocean’s greatest performers.
6/6
Limburger Infusion 1B
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has wither. (It deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.)
“Milk can travel down dark paths, same as anything. Beware the cheesemaker without scruples.”
—Cheese Sandwich
Looming Threat 2B
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are four or more creature cards in your graveyard, sacrifice Looming Threat. If you do, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Even now, hippogriffs shudder to imagine the Storm King returning to Mount Aris.
Rafter-Perch Saboteur 3B
Creature — Griffin Rogue
Flying
When Rafter-Perch Saboteur enters the battlefield, target player loses 3 life unless they sacrifice a nonland permanent or discard a card.
”A little torment builds character.”
2/2
Giant Cave Worm 4B
Creature — Worm
Menace
Giant Cave Worm can’t block.
Its senses are nearly nonexistent. It consumes whatever it encounters as it tunnels beneath the Storm Lands.
6/4
Discord’s Office 1R
Enchantment
At the beginning of each player’s draw step, that player discards a card at random, then draws an additional card.
”Come in, come in! Pardon the neatness; I keep meaning to disorganize the place.”
Perpetual Regift 1R
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant permanent
Enchanted permanent has haste.
At the beginning of each player’s upkeep, that player untaps and gains control of enchanted permanent for as long as Perpetual Regift is on the battlefield.
Rampaging Yak 2R
Creature — Ox Berserker
Trample
Rampaging Yak attacks each combat if able.
”Iron Will has never been so proud.”
—Iron Will, master motivator
4/2
Chaosgeist 2RR
Creature — Spirit
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a nonland card, then put those cards into your graveyard. Chaosgeist gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the nonland card’s converted mana cost.
1/1
Feast of Fire 2RR
Sorcery
Each player discards their hand. Each player who discarded the card with the greatest converted mana cost or tied for greatest draws seven cards. Each other player draws three cards.
Storytelling dragons compete to tell the tale most full of conquest, grandeur, and flame.
Draconequine Headmaster 4R
Creature — Chimera Advisor
Draconequine Headmaster can’t be the target of spells your opponents control unless that target was chosen at random.
Each instant, sorcery, and Aura spell with a single target has chaotic. The chaotic cost is equal to its mana cost reduced by up to 3. (If it’s cast for its chaotic cost, its controller chooses its target at random.)
3/3
Ambidextrous Marmoset 1G
Creature — Monkey
Whenever you cast an Aura spell that targets Ambidextrous Marmoset, create a token that’s a copy of that Aura attached to Ambidextrous Marmoset.
”It’s not like Twilight has settled on a mascot anyway.”
—Discord
2/1
Celebratory Smash 2G
Sorcery
Choose one or both —
• Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
• Put a +1/+1 counter on each Ox you control.
Yak joy and yak fury are nearly indistinguishable.
Amulet of Aurora 3
Legendary Artifact
2: Choose one —
• Target creature’s power becomes equal to its toughness until end of turn.
• Target creature’s toughness becomes equal to its power until end of turn.
Her beauty and skill in sharing it were matched only by Mistmane.
Fire Totem 3
Artifact
T: Add R.
3RR: Fire Totem becomes a 5/4 red Elemental artifact creature until end of turn.
Living in a massive organic construct meant that changelings had no hearths to warm. They improvised.
Talisman of Mirage 3
Legendary Artifact
3, T: Target creature becomes a copy of another target nonlegendary creature until end of turn.
The true reasons for Mirage’s notoriety have been quietly forgotten, but all still acknowledge her flawless shapeshifting skill.
Crown of Grover 4
Legendary Artifact
You may choose not to untap Crown of Grover during your untap step.
6, T: Gain control of target creature for as long as Crown of Grover remains tapped. This ability costs 3 less to activate if it targets a legendary creature.
Knuckerbocker’s Shell 4
Legendary Artifact
7, T: You may put a permanent card from your hand onto the battlefield. This ability cost 1 less to activate for each opponent.
While made for summoning dragons, it can reach out to just about anything.
Smashing Log 4
Artifact
2: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. Sacrifice Smashing Log.
Every winter, Mudbriar felt a crippling spike of anxiety. Only when Equestria opened relations with Yakyakistan did he learn why.
Yak Song GU
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Yak Song. If you do, draw a card.
When Yak Song is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return it to its owner’s hand.
Yaks respect lyricists far less than yovidaphonists.
Scavenging Historian 2WB
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
When Scavenging Historian enters the battlefield, return target historic card from your graveyard to your hand. (Legendaries, artifacts, and Sagas are historic.)
Every ancient site offers something to learn, especially if you don’t respect national borders.
2/2
Dragonlord Scales 2BR
Legendary Creature — Dragon
Flying, first strike
BR, Sacrifice another creature: Creatures you control get +2/+0 until end of turn. If a Dragon was sacrificed this way, those creatures gain trample until end of turn.
”The weak should fear the swift.”
3/2
Twilight’s Observatory
Land
Twilight’s Observatory enters the battlefield tapped.
When Twilight’s Observatory enters the battlefield, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
T: Add U.
oh my god
If yaks were interesting, that is. :B
#NeighsayWasRight2018
I had the horrible thought of "What if the final episode is Twilight going, 'Yup, the School of Friendship was definitely a mistake, time to reinstate the status quo!' and all these terrible episodes were bad and stupid on purpose?" D: I think I would an hero, that's just too much cognitive dissonance to live with.
That was when I clocked out. >.<
A reference to the novels? Shit. o.O I'd forgotten about that one.
Just think about what the kids will learn!
Ah, so they're bad at imitating family structures as well, is what you're saying? :D
I was going to call lazy writing on this, but given that we get confirmation that Grandpa Gruff, also at the table, is no one's actual grandpa, it may just be some changeling-esque imitation of family that Gallus doesn't get to participate in because he sucks. :V
I figured it was Ocellus because she didn't want to miss out on the pony celebration or something. I was more or less right on the motive, but way off on the culprit. :B
Yak Song is great. XD But I think it's spelled "yovidaphone".
Also Chaosgeist and Feast of Fire have some stuff in the type line that I know are going to make my parser choke. Are those meant to be there?
I'm not complaining. It fits with my new headcanon.
Please, we all know Fluttershy will SAY that but then she'll cave and they'll have tea the next day anyway if Discord looks sufficiently sad enough.
Yeah, why aren't there any minotaurs? Iron Will is just one, and there's no way that he represents them all. And now I demand a Map episode featuring the Minotaur homeland and culture.
Considering the history behind Hearth's Warming, it'd actually make more sense to stick a little fiery heart ornament on top than a star. They obviously wouldn't be all magical like Twilight's, but nice, well-made trinkets to remind ponies of how their nation began.
Hah! Does that mean Starlight would make the most badflank starship captain of them all? Hmm.
Yeah, same here. Kinda expected the magical artifact spawned from the Tree of Harmony not to be something Discord could simply hijack just like that.
I wonder what "Little Tree" has to say about Discord messing with her map?
That's... low, Discord.
Careful, your old habbits are showing.
And here I thought Discord would get along better with the younger generation. Yet, apparently, they are simply "outside his circle of friends" and thus valid targets.
Yeah... this seems awfully reminiscent of that time Discord sent Twi-twi and Caddy off to collect some flowers for him. (And that was before his "true" reformation.)
For example, I can't imagine the episode playing out with Twilight and Discord as opposed to Starlight and Discord. Twilight would instantly see through Discord, and be some mix of annoyed and disappointed he didn't learn his lesson from last time.
...That reminds me of that time in Dragonball GT, where the literal gates of Hell opened to release all of Goku's previously defeated opponents. So, the afterlife is kind of like another dimension there, I guess.
Only, the thing was, all I got to see was the censored child-friendly version of Dragonball GT, which was a horrendous mess, deciding to keep the whole build-up to the big climax in... and then just cut out the entire fight. So for multiple episodes it had all the villains cracking their knuckles in preparation, and the heroes preparing for the arrival of the big bad... then a giant hole opens in the sky, lots of monsters fall out, there an explosion or two... and then suddenly the good guys are standing on a cliff laughing and Goku is eating cake. Whut.
I don't even know where I'm going with this in relation to MLP, it's just such a blatantly ridiculous example of censorship I'll never forget it.
I was just glad this didn't turn into a "musical episode"; songs are well and good, but not, if they go on so long they take away from the actual episode. *Cough*, Magical Mystery Cure, *cough*
She might not be, since "Grandpa Gruff" is also in the picture, just as Gallus clarifies "He's no one's grandfather, that' just his name".
I'm... going to take a guess and assume it's a nickname. Naming your kid "grandpa" would be patently ri-di-cu-lous.
"Isn't that right, Granny Smith-who-is-clearly-named-after-a-type-of-apple-by-the-same-name?"
After seeing her portrait, I really wanna know more about her and changeling-lore in general.
Uh, I hate be the bearers of.... err, news, but it's a tripple feature technically, since Australia already released next week's episode also.
I suspect we'll have two episodes a week from Australia; at least that isn't as bad as having 6 episodes and an Equestria Girls special AND a full-time motion picture all dropped on you in the span of 1 1/2 weeks like last season. Or like the daily-new-episode marathon at the end of season 6 from some children's TV-channel not knowing what they were doing.
I'm just glad it works out with my timezone, I was freaking out a bit realizing that "Sunday morning 8:30AM" in Australia equals 12:30AM past midnight on Monday here, and quite frankly, I wouldn't have had the time to deal with any "episode might get deleted before I can get to it" business on a weekday. Buuuut turns out they changed it to something like "Friday and Saturday Morning 8:30AM each" (Australian Eastern standard time), which in the US should be 3:30pm on Friday and Saturday respectively,... and for me it just means whenever I get up on Saturday and Sunday the episode will be up and probably still be there.
It certainly feels that way, doesn't it? The Student Six aren't as bad as I thought, especially in this most recent episode, but the School of Friendship is still a dumb concept, and it's gratifying to imagine that even the Tree of Harmony might be shaking its metaphorical head at it.
I am firmly convinced that the whole reason Neighsay is written as a racist is so that the audience will look past the fact that he's right about pretty much everything else. We can't be having anyone agreeing with the villain, after all. Don't want to get off-message.
I enjoy Discord being a dick, so I enjoyed most of this episode, but I agree, after Discordant Harmony, this does seem like major character regression. I wouldn't mind if he at least had a good reason to be testing Starlight, or if indeed it actually was a test at all, but this is just jealousy and petty revenge, and it's like the fourth time he's done this. Discord should be past this by now.
Twilight is a Fire-Keeper, CONFIRMED. Fire Burning is now canon.
I was surprised by how much I loved this. Smolder's story in particular had me in hysterics. This show doesn't do dark comedy often, so it always catches me off-guard when it happens. And Gallus actually had character development, holy shit. I was just expecting the Student Six to stay bland and uninteresting forever. Instead, only Sandbar is bland and uninteresting!
So I'm curious if there's a reason the sacrifice isn't a cost along with the mana. Is it so you can put the ability on the stack, then do some kind of blink shenanigans?
4914797
The more time passes, the more I suspect this as well. It also doesn't help that there is absolutely no need for the school to have this many facilities and space for only like thirty students.
You know who else has roughly that many students? Cheerilee. Cheerilee who is still stuck in a one-room schoolhouse teaching on her own. The school can't even afford to replace a window and across town, the friendship school has two stories, dorms, and an outdoor fountain.
4914681
The Q quote was too perfect to not reference.
I was going to say I was grandfathering in "euvitaphone"... but it turns out I never actually used it in any of the cards for "Yakity-Sax," presumably to hedge my bets on the very likely chance I got the spelling wrong.
Chaosgeist and Feast of Fire have been fixed. Those were basically expansion symbols to help me keep straight which cards came from which episodes and to make sure I was keeping them in some degree of balance.
4914675
Or a dramatization in the memory of the Poor Little Matchgriff.
Also, I personally believe that it's more a matter of no one wanting to admit that they're related to Gruff.
4914736
Oh? Do tell.
4914762
I don't know. Fluttershy seems to be harsher with Discord than, say, Angel. Presumably because the former can cause slightly more damage if allowed to deviate from the straight and narrow. Slightly.
4914767
I second this motion.
And yeah, hearts certainly make more sense than stars as Hearth's Warming Tree toppers. Definitely one of the more palatable retcons in Equestria.
Discord's episode was okay, but he definitely went too far. An episode better for laughs than morals. At least we got some worldbuilding for all the species.
Speaking of worldbuilding, HOLY CELESTIAL SUNFIRE that was a good Hearth's Warming episode. Not only do we get to see the holiday traditions of the different species, but Gallus gets ALL the character development and feels! I literally almost teared up at that scene. I'd put this one up there with A Hearth's Warming Tail in terms of quality, maybe just a hair lower.
4914797
I find myself hoping that Twilight and Neighsay put their differences aside and team up during the finale. Given what glimpses I've seen, that doesn't look terribly likely, but darn it, I can hope.
And at least the show is making self-aware fun of Sandbar's dazed milquetoastiness.
4914813
Blink shenanigans are optional. The Log functions similarly to Goblin Cannon. Because the sacrifice is part of the effect, you can activate the ability a bunch of times at once. Once the log is smashed, it's smashed, but how much smashing you can get out of it depends entirely on how much mana you spend.
4914856
Now I find myself hoping that the School of Friendship was actually an elaborate money laundering scheme to renovate Ponyville's existing education system that went horribly right.
("You said the school would be closed in a week! The school was closed in a week!"
"Nopony told Starlight the plan! She can be very persuasive!")
4914891
Luna's musical number pushes "A Hearth's Warming Tail" higher on the list for me, but yeah, that was some great world building.
4914786
I think the banishing beam made it clear than no one should mess with the Glimmer.
"Mooom! Discord's messing with my stuff!"
"Then let the Bearers know."
"Right! I'll just... uh... how do I do that? There's no big mission I can actually send them on right now."
"Oh, Junior, you know I'm no good with these modern techno-organs."
"Mooom..."
So yeah, blame the Mane Six being away for so long because the Palace-Tree was digging through options menus.
I actually do have a story idea exploring this, among other ideas. We'll see if it goes anywhere.
I have my own hypothesis there.
And yes, I was aware of the other early airing even before the site post went up. Derpibooru filters up, fingers in ears.
4914901
New fanfic idea:
After Neighsay and Twilight reconcile their personal differences, Neighsay learns the true value of friendship, and he comes to understand that it should be extended to all creatures, not just to ponies. After making a heartfelt apology to Twilight and all the students, he offers to give the School of Friendship a second chance, and Twilight gladly agrees to let him conduct a new inspection.
And then he fails the school again, because it still isn't up to code.
4914889
You'll find out in the next chapter of Fourteen Years Gone. But it might be a while.
4914889
I think no one wants to admit they're related to Gallus, either. :V
I actually managed to watch both of these episodes. I still haven't seen “Friendship University,” though. After skipping so many episodes, it feels weird to watch a leaked one.
I'm more curious about why Iron Will is even there. After the zeppelin incident, you'd think he'd want to steer clear of Twilight's school.
Yeah, it seems more like Discord is just lashing out because he's jealous that Twilight put Starlight in charge instead of him.
Maybe griffons just respect those who own shiny objects.
While I didn't think we needed yet another Hearths Warming episode, I quite liked "Hearths Warming Club." It had a lot of worldbuilding and some much-needed character development for the Student Six. And the friendship lesson and resolution were really sweet.
4914681
Forgot to mention my recommended play pattern for Yak Song:
First trigger: "Yaaak song"
Second trigger: "Ya-ak song!"
Draw step: "Not very long"
Recast on precombat main phase: "Sing again!"
Repeat until you choose not to play it or your opponent punches you, whichever comes first.
4914924
"Your Highness. Twilight. I would love nothing more than to give you the EEA's seal of approval, but we demand a shenanigan quotient of one point five at most. After all this place has gone through, it rates a fifty."
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Blue jays are massive jerks.
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Discord probably assured him that Twilight wasn't there, nor was anyone else who'd gone on the airship tour.
Arguably still a form of mind control.
Hawthorn already said everything that needed to be said, that quick bunny. Expect the total collector number on the cards I mock up for you to go up by two for Yak Song (the traditional immediate post-episode "What's Fan's card for that going to be like?" topic between me and The Phil-Wife; she wanted Evoke) and Yickslur, the Pacifier (because OMG it's harkening back to my second combo ever - Cho-Manno+Pariah - while boosting my Serra Avatar or Evra; or I could pair it with a Sanguine Bond in some sort of twisted WBG deck I'll name "Acid Fog...").
I really like how Yak Song doesn't do much, but when combined with effects that trigger off of a song being sacrificed, hoo boy!
While the idea of Celestia being a fucking magpie is just hilarious
, my personal headcanon is that many of the artifacts are basically spoils of war. the original owners attacked Equestria at some point, and had their magical artifacts confiscated afterwards. (most of the people in those pictures were not exactly very friendly looking)
It wouldn’t be unreasonable in a magical world for it to be customary for the defeated to hand over their magical artifacts to the victor when surrendering, assuming of course they were not already ripped out of the cold dead appendages of the loser. (having the artifacts ransomed back later may or may not be on the table)
There would have been plenty of opportunities for Celestia to seize artifacts, with Equestria is a deceptively soft looking target that she has been defending for over a thousand years.
All that is even before the possibility that Equestria could have been on the invading side at some point.
This might also explain why Celestia has so many dangerous artifacts in storage, she keeps getting new ones after some nutjob uses them on a power trip.
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Headcanon wholeheartedly accepted, not least because it gives Celestia a few wins that are less than a millennium old. Even if Chapter Mistress Celestia of the Bloody Magpies is still a wonderful mental image.
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It is sort of already there if you squint a little.
Like, Twilight taking custody of the Alicorn Amulet.
Twilight took the thing from a surrendering combatant, so she doesn’t have to return it to its owner or hand it over to the authorities. It’s basically hers now.
It could also explain the Inspiration Manifestation in the princesses’ old castle in the Everfree.
The thing could have been a confiscated artifact left behind when Celestia was forced to move to Canterlot.
I doubt the princesses would use something like that themselves when it makes people go crazy as a side effect. – although on the other hand, Luna playing around with things like that could have explained Nightmare Moon.
It is, isn’t it…
I could totally see Blood Raven Celestia trying to cram the Crystal Heart into her saddlebags while liberating the Crystal Empire from Sombra. – The thing was of course “donated” to her by the noble Crystal-Ponies to aid the fight for harmony.
Blood Raven Celestia also uses a similar thought process for choosing pupils as for acquiring artifacts. Cadence Has been trying her best to prevent Celestia from coming over ever since Celestia decided to adopt Flurry Heart as her newest pupil and tried to smuggle her out of the Crystal Empire in her saddlebags. – Turns out Twilight, Spike, Cadence, and Sunset all originally ended up living with Celestia for the same reasons.