Friendship is Card Games: Sunset's Backstage Pass! · 11:02am Jul 28th, 2019
This week, the MLP Time Loops become that much closer to canon, albeit with a much shorter loop time. Let’s get this rondo rolling.
So why is it the Starswirl Music Festival specifically? We’ve seen that human Starswirl was apparently a bathrobe-wearing astronomer. Was there another, more musically inclined one? (Hopefully not in the same sense as the sirens’ Fiendship comic.)
It’s certainly interesting to see Sunset and Pinkie be the foci of this one. They haven’t all that much interaction in the past as compared to some of the other couples in the group. Still, the combination works, especially the contrast between joyous chaos and reformed villainous mastermind that drives the plot for most of the narrative.
One does have to wonder if Supernova Zap has any relation to Indigo. Doubtful, especially given the naming conventions involved, but still.
I’m going to have to think carefully about Dash’s accessory. Rod of Spanking is already a Magic card.
I wonder how they’re going to localize the “fan with three eyes” pun for other languages. Especially ones that use different alphabets.
Nice continuity with “Five Lines You Need to Stand In.” Pinkie is unreasonably excited about… well, a lot of things, but especially waiting for things. Still, for her, they’re a chance to socialize. See also the line for Tirek’s Revenge back in ”A Fine Line”
I do appreciate the amount of background Wallflower Blush in this special, especially her interacting with Best Human near the end.
I did get spoiled on the basic premise of the special, which meant I recognized the “bevy of disasters the time looper can fix later” trope.
Ah yes, the James Woods school of Pinkie wrangling.
As stated previously, Sunset is a reformed villain, which means that excessively elaborate plans and limited patience with incompetent underlings are both issues she still struggles with. This special did some excellent work in counteracting the impression of excessive perfection she’s given in some recent shorts. She’s still learning and growing, as are we all.
Puffed Pastry and Pinkie Pie just don’t mix well nine times out of ten. Doubtless the universe trying to protect itself from the two joining forces.
One question that’s never addressed is why Sunset keeps her memories of each loop. My best guess is that it’s a previously unknown part of her power suite. Or taking a direct blast from the Memory Stone rendered her immune to any further mental tampering because reasons.
As others have noted, the time loop means that, technically speaking, every option in the music festival multiple-choice shorts is canon. Just not necessarily in the same iteration.
I’d like us all to just take a moment and appreciate the Cheshire Ponk.
I do have to appreciate consulting not one but two Twilight Sparkles (or Twilights Sparkle) on how to escape a time loop, because Hard Reset. Also, I appreciate how Sci-Twi continues the time honored tradition of scientist characters explaining exotic time-space concepts by folding things.
The girls have a point; between the mirror dimension, the memory wipes, and the fact that they’re best friends with an extradimensional unicorn, they’ve definitely encountered stranger.
Okay, Dash getting creeped out by Sunset apparently being way too into the accidental hit was funny, I can’t lie.
It is heartwarming to see that a tandem bicycle doesn’t compare to seeking out Sunset as far as Pinkie’s concerned. If only it weren’t for those churros…
Huh. I’m pretty sure Sunset speaking to the universe is the closest thing we’ll get to prayer in G4.
Nice foreshadowing with the minor flubs during the PostCrush performance.
Oof. Pinkie never deals with isolation well, but this… well, it’s actually precedented with MAdame le Flour et al., but that doesn’t make it any less creepy.
Nice touch with Twilight pointing out how Pinkie should be a consideration. Your friendship student is trying to tell you something, Sunbutt Jr., and not just “Maybe don’t hijack the van while we’re all asleep.”
Okay, seriously, why does the Time Twirler have an eye? Is it alive? Is it self-aware? Note that the two are not mutually inclusive.
Also, I do have to wonder how the thing made it into the human world. Probably Star Swirl’s fault, directly or otherwise. Generally a safe bet when chronomancy’s involved. Given the device’s ability to actually change the timeline, he probably tossed it through the mirror once he realized how dangerous it was. Mind you, that doesn’t explain how it wound up on a riverbank, but given its horrific cyclopean stare, it’s probably one of those artifacts that wants to be used.
Also also, Princess Twilight has apparently developed a rectangular-select copy-paste spell designed to work with the journal. I can’t say I’m too surprised, but that’s still unexpected. Especially getting GIFs to work with a book.
I figured the Dazzlings would be a red herring, though it’s nice to get some closure for them. Though it must be deeply frustrating for them to play at a music festival named after the pony who stranded them here.
Also, interesting to see that Canterlot High students still enjoy their music, even after the Battle of the Bands. I suppose the school really has learned a lesson of forgiveness, even if the former sirens haven’t.
I do appreciate Adagio closing the show by muttering “human scum.” Says a lot, doesn’t it?
… Thinking about it, has anyone used the term “human” in EqG canon before now?
Heh. Snips and Snails, eternal fanboys.
“The weak will crumble before me!” Glorious.
I can’t help but imagine Pinkie’s attempts to probe the security guard in the vein of a tabletop RPG.
“Okay, so I connect with him.”
“How? You’ve never met this guy before today.”
“But my bard knows everything about everyone!”
“Yeah, in a given community. This isn’t CHS.”
“Oh. Okay, I roll Bluff. He knows what he did…”
“It’s not my job to not start fires.” Huh. I didn’t think Aria took the “Blaze” part of her name so literally.
Nice to get some further context for “Find the Magic,” complete with Adagio coming out and saying that the lyrics refer to the Dazzlings trying to find a direction in life after the Battle of the Bands. Yes, they’re Auto-Tuned. Yes, they’re trying their best to live through the day-to-day drudgery of a magicless existence. No, they’re not even remorseful, much less repentant. And interestingly, no, they don’t even seem aware of the portal back to Equestria. That kind of leverage might get them to reform… though there is the question of what they’ll become on the other side.
Adagio actually has a point. Sunset has to be the change she wants to see; it’s not like anything else is going to be different.
So, after all’s said and done, does Sunset ever get that kitten to the guard? That was reset as well, after all.
Heh. No matter the world, Pinkie enjoys eating rocks. Especially cinnamon-coated rocks.
Ah, yes. Sunset’s not used to other loopers. It makes sense that she might not realize they’ll remember her.
This might be Sunset’s last shot at closing the loop personally, but not overall. If she explains things to Dash or Twilight, a little super-speed or telekinesis will work wonders.
Huh. I mean, yeah, the churro crowbar might work. I suppose exploding the door isn’t as desirable an option when you’re trying to get this timeline to stick.
Or the guard can help. I really do appreciate how much the special did with that guy. Everyone has hidden depths.
Nice touch with the Skullcrusher poster beneath the stage. If you haven’t seen “The Road Less Scheduled,” well, you’ll understand in time.
It’s honestly kind of funny how the Time Twirler can turn anyone into Nightmare Moon. “The concert. Will last. Forever!”
Sunset Shimmer struggling with a bunch of other people to claim an artifact of Equestrian magic at the climax. Truly, we have come full circle.
Crushing a chronomantic artifact beneath your heel… That could have gone so much worse. Still, nice to see a break from the “Everyone hold hands and blast the problem” formula. Though I can’t imagine Princess Twilight will be pleased when she hears that a priceless lost magical item was destroyed rather than added to her collection.
And yeah, it makes sense that the confrontation with PostCrush was resolved quickly. That wasn’t the real focus. Sunset’s struggle with herself was.
I have to appreciate the crowd cheering through the entire “lesson learned” denouement. “Woo! Personal growth and accepting your limitations as a flawed being! Rock on!”
Also, I get the sense that “PostCrush” is meant to contain the same subtext as a band named, say, “Queen.”
Given all the talk of perfection and mistakes, I can’t help but think of Coloratura. Though “I am just a human” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
Hmm. We know her human analogue is famous enough to show up in the gossip rags. Do you think she performed at this festival?
Weird to see the rest of the main cast now. I suppose it’s part of the ripple effect of how things played out this time around.
Even weirder to have flashbacks to events that happened in the same hour-long special. Even I have to recognize how they’re pushing Sunpie of all ships. Not my thing, especially with the multiple Purplesmarts knocking some sense into Baconhair, but it’s clearly there, what with them bonding in front of giant animated heart screens.
In all, this was some quality time loop content. Not quite bashing in changeling skulls, but still eminently watchable. Plus, there’s two weeks worth of loops that we never got to see, which makes for plentiful story fodder. Who knows what Sunset got up to? We can decide!
For now, I’m deciding to share some cards:
Plaintive Prayers 2W
Sorcery
You can’t cast this spell if you’ve cast another spell this turn.
You gain 10 life and can’t cast spells until your next turn.
“I don’t know what gods this world has, but hopefully they’re listening.”
—Sunset Shimmer
Triclopean Fan 2W
Creature — Human Scout
Vigilance
Lieutenant — As long as you control your commander, other creatures you control have vigilance.
Some open the third eye as part of a quest for enlightenment. Some do it to spot their idols more easily.
2/2
Dedicated Guard 3W
Creature — Human Soldier
Flash
Vigilance
When Dedicated Guard enters the battlefield, attacking player chooses an attacking creature they control. Exile the rest. At the beginning of the next end step, return the exiled cards to the battlefield tapped and under their owners’ control.
3/2
Neon Maze 1U
Instant
Tap up to two target creatures.
Metalcraft — If you control three or more artifacts, those creatures don’t untap during their controllers’ next untap steps.
Strobing lights and twisting tunnels leave you both delighted and disoriented.
Paint Lobber 1U
Creature — Human Citizen
T: Target creature becomes the color or colors of your choice until end of turn.
”Now hold still. Better yet, don’t. It should make for a nice smear effect.”
1/2
Pursue Perfection 1U
Sorcery
Scry 2, then draw a card.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have no cards in hand, return Pursue Perfection from your graveyard to your hand.
An uphill climb with no peak to reach.
PostCrush, Echoing Duet 1UU
Legendary Creature — Human Band
Finale — Whenever you sacrifice a Song, copy target activated ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Their voices resonate in the listeners’ memory until moments seem like weeks.
2/2
Indefinite Hiatus 2U
Instant
Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner’s graveyard. As long as it remains exiled, it has “Pay this card’s mana cost: Return it to your hand from exile.”
“You can get back to that later.”
Precognitive Witch 2U
Creature — Human Wizard
When Precognitive Witch enters the battlefield, scry 2.
2U: Exile Precognitive Witch, then return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control.
“In order: Yes, yes, no, Tuesday, and you’re welcome.”
1/3
Protean Emulator 2U
Creature — Human Ooze Wizard
3U: Adapt 1. (If this creature has no +1/+1 counters on it, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on Protean Emulator, you may have it become a copy of target creature, except it has this ability.
2/2
The Time Twirler 3UU
Legendary Artifact
3UU, T, Put The Time Twirler into its owner’s library third from the top: Take an extra turn after this one. End the turn. (Exile all spells and abilities on the stack. The player whose turn it is discards down to their maximum hand size. Damage wears off, and "this turn" and "until end of turn" effects end.)
Skullcrusher Specter 3B
Creature — Specter
Flying
Whenever Skullcrusher Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player loses 3 life unless they discard a card.
Bone or brain, it leaves no head untouched.
2/2
Dazzlings Reprocessed 3BB
Legendary Creature — Human Band
Finale — Whenever you sacrifice a Song, return target creature card from a graveyard to the battlefield under your control with a verse counter on it. If that creature would leave the battlefield, exile it instead of putting it anywhere else.
2/4
Pitiless Warlord 3BB
Creature — Human Warrior
At the beginning of each player’s upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature with power 2 or less.
”The weak serve no purpose but bothersome clutter. Let them crumble and give the deserving room to fight.”
4/3
Acausal Crush 1R
Instant
Activated abilities of this spell’s target can’t be activated.
Destroy target artifact. If U was spent to cast Acausal Crush, counter all abilities from that artifact and destroying it this way doesn’t cause abilities to trigger.
”This ends now.”
—Sunset Shimmer
Careless Mosher 1R
Creature — Human Warrior
Whenever Careless Mosher attacks, it deals 1 damage to target attacking creature.
Wide swings and a long reach can be a dangerous combination.
3/1
Hungering Puddle 1R
Instant
Hungering Puddle deals 4 damage to target creature without flying.
A twisted ankle and a ruined boot will be the least of your worries.
Glamorous Plunderer 2R
Creature — Human Pirate
When Glamorous Plunderer enters the battlefield, create a Treasure token. (It’s an artifact with “T, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.”)
Glamorous Plunderer’s power is equal to the number of Treasures you control.
*/3
Warranty Voider 3R
Creature — Human Artificer
R, Sacrifice an artifact: Warranty Voider deals 1 damage to each other creature and planeswalker.
In her spare time, she writes destruction manuals.
2/3
Irresistible Kitten G
Creature — Cat
All creatures able to block Irresistible Kitten do so.
“I don’t understand the idea of cat people or dog people. Every creature in nature is a precious gift, and we should appreciate all of them.”
—Fluttershy
1/1
Paradoxical Packcaller 2G
Creature – Human Spellshaper
2G, T, Discard a card: Create a 2/2 green Wolf creature token named Lone Wolf. It has “You may have Lone Wolf assign its combat damage as though it weren’t blocked.”
2/2
Tandem Bicycle 2
Artifact — Vehicle
Whenever you crew Tandem Bicycle with two or more creatures, Tandem Bicycle gains menace until end of turn.
Crew 2 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 2 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)
4/3
Cinnamon Crowbar 3
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature can’t be blocked and has lifelink.
Equip 2
“Remember, only eat your tools after the mission.”
—Nefara, Dimir agent
Blazewatch Shimmannequin 4
Artifact Creature — Scarecrow
Blazewatch Shimmannequin has haste as long as you control a red creature.
Blazewatch Shimmannequin has vigilance as long as you control a white creature.
No instance of Pinkie Pie deals with isolation well.
3/3
Throwing Shade BG
Creature — Shade
1(bg): Throwing Shade gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
When Throwing Shade dies, it deals damage equal to its power to target creature an opponent controls.
Those who say shadows have no substance never got concussed by one.
1/1
Karmic Defender 1WU
Creature — Human Soldier
At the beginning of combat on your turn, if a creature dealt combat damage to you since your last turn ended, target creature you control can’t be blocked this turn.
“Security is an art. I am a critic.”
2/3
“True Original” 1UR
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on “True Original”.
UR, Sacrifice “True Original”. Scry X, where X is the number of verse counter on “True Original.” Then exile the top card of your library. You may play it this turn.
Leave in the Lurch 2WB
Instant
Cast this spell only during combat.
Attacking player sacrifices an attacking creature and a nonattacking creature.
Some friendships end gradually as people drift apart. Some end with one person stranded at the festival grounds.
Sucrotechnics XRW
Instant
Sucrotechnics deals X plus 1 damage divided as you choose among any number of targets. You gain X plus 1 life.
Pinkie’s powers, like the girl herself, seem simple but possess surprising depth.
Predictive Intelligence
Conspiracy
(Start the game with this conspiracy face up in the command zone.)
You may look at the top card of your library any time.
Plotting’s easy when you’ve already seen how it plays out.
Have to see this new special (completly different from Sunset Backstage Pass 1) but, sadly,here's what I only focus on...
Maybe the last time we might ever see Sunset Shimmer...
https://twitter.com/EquestriaDaily/status/1155236549690347522?s=19
Perhaps it's actually named after Ziggy Starswirl, who in turn took the name from the astronomer
The special was quite good. Damn shame it's apparently the last we'll see of Sunset
About the Skullcrusher, it's nothing important, I mean, we just just have to wait "The Road Less Scheduled" to be released instead of those who already have watched it on the application, so I'm not bother about "in time".
Irresistible Kitten: *exists*
Everyone: You're a kitty!
(This joke brought to you by Randall Munroe)
Well, if you stop and think about it, when she got hit my the Memory Stone, she seemed to be holding out against its power for a while to the point of grunting in pain. Maybe she's got a stronger mental defense compared to most people cuz of her superpowers?
This was one of the better specials - not as good as "Forgotten Friendship," but much better than "Spring Breakdown." The friendship conflict felt like a natural clash of personalities that didn't seem too forced (or like the writer gave one of the characters the Idiot Ball). In a way, it reminded me of some of the better episodes from the first two seasons of MLP in that it took a classic formula and put its own spin on it. The solution to the problem might have been to just smash a magic artifact, but Sunset also had to learn to focus on those around her, especially Pinkie, instead of making everything just the way she wanted it, similar to what Phil learned in Groundhog Day.
I don’t know what that means, and I still have no idea what “Post Crush” signifies.
Wait wait wait... we get Sirens and time travel shenanigans in this one?!
Dangit, gonna have to find somewhere to watch this now.
I’ve struggled to stay current with EqG since Forgotten Friendship. In some ways that could have been a lovely send-off, and I’ve been less sure about how much I needed the more social-media-influencer-ish stuff that seems like it’s been floating around EqG since then. But for Sirens and time travel... I will get back on the horse again.
What about looping in other places as well? Maybe not just in that side, but in Equestria and beyond!
I think she was almost next to it when Post Crush first activated the looper. That's apparently the best explanation we gonna get.
5095485
"Post-Crush" sounds like it should be a genre/movement, dunnit?
Anyway, being Post-Crush would either mean you've gotten over your infatuation, or entered a relationship, wouldn't it?
I feel justified in having Sunset destroy the amulet in my story, she just doesn’t think it’s worth keeping these things around.
I'm sticking with:
My theory that this was the same artifact Starswirl gave Clover the Clever in horizon's "Time Enough for Love." They're just spinning it the other way here.
Mike
Hey, folks! If you've ever wanted to see Rainbow Dash spank Sunset Shimmer with a large paddle, do we have the special for you!
I had been wondering when the end of Equestria Girls content was coming. It would be weird if shorts kept trickling out after the mothership series ended, so I'm fine with this.
I appreciated that this special didn't take the lazy, easy way out by making the ending "Sunset enjoys the festival as Pinkie's friend, thereby magically ending the time loops." Instead, there was an actual reason time was looping, and Sunset had to actively find and stop that reason.
Although I was disappointed that during the first do-over, Sunset didn't make any effort to change Pinkie's interaction with the churros. All of Pinkie's other sidetracking may have been annoying, but the churros were the only thing that kept Sunset from enjoying the PostCrush performance.
One plot hole: Sunset and Pinkie found out that PostCrush had been causing the time loops because when the two delivered the churros, Supernova Zap accidentally revealed that the "usual delivery guy" was now two girls. But the delivery guy quit because he was sick of his golf cart breaking down. Wouldn't that have already happened in every loop? Was there some other delivery guy who filled in for the one who quit, or did Sunset and Pinkie do something to break the golf cart that we didn't see?
My favorite line: "...churros! Get them while they're marginally fresher than a little bit!" And then the hardness of the churros nearly came into play again later in the episode. I feel bad about the trauma Whitney Ralls apparently once experienced with festival churros, but that was a nicely observed, recurring detail.
5095371
Possibly the last long-form EqG piece. Definitely not the last overall.
5095372
I thought Ziggy Starswirl was just one of David Bowwow's stage names...
5095434
Possible. While Wallflower's earlier erasure of Sunset's memory took place in a jump cut, we don't know how much Sunset struggled during the deleted scene.
5095445
Agreed. The way Sunset had to get over herself before she could even think about addressing the true issue was very nice indeed.
5095504
Say what you will, I love the idea of Sunset being a rage streamer, or a Game Grump, depending on how she's using the medium. Also the idea of actual dog Spike having his own vlog, because of how people likely assume Twilight's doing the whole thing, up to and including "angrily" walking in on him to preserve kayfabe.
But yeah, the time loop is quality stuff here. The Dazzlings are more of a sideshow both Watsonianly and Doylistically, but there's still some good siren content to be had.
5095518
That's a very interesting question, actually. It's not clear how far the influence of the Time Twirler extended, though given how no authorities or panicked agents descended upon the festival, nor did the planet find itself stranded in space, it's safe to assume it covers the solar system at minimum. As for whether it reached to Equestria...
Well, Sunset did say even drawings would be blanked out by the reset, but it's not clear if she was explicitly referring to lost entries in the journal or just extrapolating from other experiences. And if it doesn't reach Equestria, that leads to the question of what would've happened if Sunset had driven the van all the way to CHS, dove in, and waited a day. Maybe K-Lo would finally be satisfied. Maybe Su-Z would've rebelled and destroyed the device herself. Maybe there wouldn't be anything to return to.
5095528
I suppose that works, but I still like the idea of a niche aspect of Sunset's mental powers coming into play.
5095612
Don't get me wrong, I can't blame Sunset one bit for destroying the thing that had given her three weeks of hell on Earth. But just imagine Twilight's reaction when she learns that an ancient relic capable of magic undreamt of in the modern era was found... and promptly destroyed forever.
5095625
Probably a more advanced model. After all, that amulet doesn't have an eye. And no, I still haven't gotten over that. I don't like it when fish can still look at me from the other side of the meat counter; I'm definitely not in favor of artifacts gazing into my soul.
5095638
Going by how the churros seemed to factor into every loop, I think they were a fixed point. They had to happen somehow, and Sunset wasn't in a cooperative enough frame in those early loops to make them happen on her terms.
Counterpoint: In the previous, Pinkie wrecked the churro stand, likely enraging Puffed Pastry to the point where the delivery guy wouldn't dare infuriate her more, no matter how finicky his golf cart was.
Don’t normally comment on these, not being a CCG fan at all, but saw a few items I thought were worth bringing up—especially a couple I’m surprised nobody else picked up on.
Not sure I get this reference, truth to tell.
Sometimes things or events get named for odd or indirect reasons. He may have been an inspiration for one or more of the festival’s founders (as he is for Twilight Sparkle) even if he had nothing to do with music. Maybe he was a local figure, so gets lots of things named after him, relevant or not. The connection could be tenuous, through an idiosyncratic chain of logic. I’ve seen all those connections in real life, though of course I can’t bring any examples to mind right this minute.
Mainstream US television in general, and children’s television in particular, avoids religion like the plague and always has. I am reminded of the the deleted lemur-tribe scene of “Party Pooped”.
At least once, in Friendship Games, when Sci-Twi says, “Well, Spike isn't a pet, Dean Cadance. He's the focus of my research project—‘Human-Canine Cohabitation: Effects and Implications’.”
It’s possible nobody mentioned it to them. They may not even know Sunset or Princess Twi are from Equestria; if they do, they may figure Sunset was banished like they were, and Twi had her own individual means of getting back and forth. If they are aware, maybe they can’t go back, either because the portal won’t let them, or out of uncertainty or fear of what would happen to their magic-less selves upon return. All kinds of fan-fiction fodder in that one.
5095485
Freddie Mercury of Queen was famously gay—or bi, accounts differ. I suspect FOME may be referring to the possibility the members of PostCrush are, or were, a couple as well as a musical act. If not, I’m as baffled as you are.
5095794
https://twitter.com/dcon_34/status/1155537097958121472?s=19
5095851
Feel free to comment on the non-card game portion of things! This is meant as a review/riff blog as much as it is making cardboard out of cartoon horses and pastel stick figures.
MLP Time Loops is a long-running collaborative project that resets the world to Twilight sitting under that tree in Canterlot and reading the Tale of the Two Sisters whenever the timeline reaches the latest point in the series. It has been doing this for uncounted trillions of iterations, so by this point, those aware of the loops are both capable of and willing to do some very silly things to stave of boredom. (Though never anything harmful. Just because everything resets doesn't mean they've lost their morals.)
Hmm. I had assumed Starswirl was a Renaissance figure, but he is holding a cartoon atom. I could definitely see him as part of the physics community around the turn of the century or the interwar period. It would fit nicely with his "older than the princesses" mystique, to say nothing of his potential involvement with the Manehattan Project syncing nicely with his pony analogue's use of magics that caused more problems than they solved. Knowing him, he might well have commissioned the observatory statue.
Good catch on the Friendship Games line, and good point with the Dazzlings' lack of portal awareness. It's actually an interesting question from a moral standpoint: Should they learn about it?
And yeah, that's where I was going with PostCrush. Especially given the reconciliation scene that seemed awfully close to Lyra and Bonbon in "Slice of Life."
Not sure what the first line of text does here. About the only way I see it doing anything is if the spell targets an indestructible artifact or one that regenerates, and it would only stop the use of the artifact after the spell resolves; the opponent could activate it in response.
Maybe you just want Split Second here?
Bringing up the Copy-Paste spell, there's the possibility of an interesting story. Did the spell already exist, or did Twilight come up with it herself? And if she did, was it after seeing someone do it with a computer in the human world?
In "Four (Or Five) Reasons for Kidnapping Tony Stark", scifigrl47 has Tony Stark monologue:
My interpretation of it was that she was the only person who woke up that morning inside the range of the Time Twirler, but was outside the range of the Time Turner (up on the hill) that evening when it was activated.
That was awesome. I wonder if it was inspired by her brief encounter with desktop publishing in the first two EqG movies?
Impressive. How come? Because of how early in the story (Act II) they were discovered?
Yeah, this was really interesting. Startling to see that the answer to "Can I find the beauty in the little things?" is an emphatic "No", at least for the moment.
Heh. Yes, I guess there is that element that makes this rather fitting as the (*sniff*) final EqG special.
Iiish. I think it was nodded to once or twice. But overall I didn't really get a shipping vibe from their relationships, just a "best friends" one. It's certainly nowhere near the level of Rollercoaster of Friendship.
5096153
It's meant to function while the spell is on the stack, like "This spell can't be countered". It might be slightly clearer with "While ~ is on the stack, activated abilities of this spell's target can't be activated", perhaps, but I thought it was OK as FOME wrote it.
5096973
Welp, that's an entire series of stories you just made me read. I hope your happy with yourself... I am!
5102041
Scifigrl's work is worth spending time on. Also, go read copperbadge's Foodieverse series. Everyone in the MCU a owns restaurants/food trucks.
The last time anyone trusted Twilight with ancient magical artefacts, it nearly ended all magic everywhere for everyone. So I think we can all agree that this was for the best.
Okay so I’m not the only one who noticed RD’s blush after the spanking bit. Those dirty animators. I’m impressed.
But what the hell was that thing for, anyway? Are the kids into canoeing these days or something?
I know I'm late, but I must comment. I've been waiting until the special got localized. Waiting in vain.
And I choose to blame this for it.
My first thought was something about her not being a native to that dimension keeping her only loosely connected to the rest of the time stream.
5269519
That's a really interesting take, and when considered in tandem with "The Cutie Re-Mark" and how it appeared to be happening at the same time as Friendship Games, it implies that Sunset is only loosely connected to any time stream. (Otherwise, she might have experienced altered memories every time Starlight sent Twilight to a new grim future.) No wonder Sunset only showed up in the last seconds of Friendship is Magic. Her existence was trapped in a state of quantum uncertainty until the end of the series set her free!
That or Starlight just branched off new timelines rather than overwriting a single one. Which is still horrible, but for different reasons that don't impact Sunset.