Friendship is Card Games: My Little Pony: The Manga, Ch. 3 & 4 · 11:23am May 17th, 2020
Next week, I’ll begin delving into Friendship is Forever, the clip show closing out G4. For now, it’s time for more of the manga.
Chapter 3
So… if this letter is so important, why doesn’t Spike just burn it to the recipient?
Heh. Even in the comics, Vinyl doesn’t get to speak. Such is the power of Nowacking.
Yeah, anything can wait for a Sugarcube Corner cake pop. (What? No, they’re not paying me to say that. Free samples don’t qualify as payment.)
Ah. Spike already belched up this letter and needs to ensure its intended recipient actually reads it. And given that it’s Rarity and she’s in the throes of creation, personal delivery makes a lot of sense.
“What is it this time? Did Twilight need to learn the true meaning of Hearth’s Warming?”
Hey, you save the world for long enough, you start to become genre savvy.
Rarity needing to spruce up just in case the letter can judge her outfit is delightful. As is her running commentary on the letter.
Sweetie’s comment about the hazards of another Rarity reminds me, I do have an Oversaturated World story on the subject in the works. I need to make sure I account for pony Sweetie in there.
Rarity, you just asked Sweetie Belle to use your kitchen. Whatever happens next is your fault.
Burning cucumber sandwiches? Relatively mild as far as Sweetie cuisine goes.
Rarity’s treatment of Spike is not at its finest here. She does tend to be at her least considerate when someone dangles a quantum leap for her career in front of her.
No one said anything about that maid costume. Until I saw Spike’s tuxedo, I’d thought that was Sweetie’s own initiative.
The Smooze looks weirdly naked without a hat and bowtie.
The Smooze was at the Gala as Discord’s plus-one, and was announced as such. Still, Rarity could’ve easily missed that particular introduction. Also, interesting to see oil barons are a thing in Equestria. Not exactly a lot of heavy industry, aside from Cheese Sandwich’s factory. The fossil fuel of choice still seems to be coal.
Oh goodness, it’s overflowing the panel borders. That can’t end well.
“The customer is always right” hits its limit when the customer is a pile of sludge and the merchandise is easily stained. (That said, Rarity has plenty of experience with getting her hooves dirty when she’s mining raw materials.)
Wait, when you’re measuring the Smooze’s waistline, how do you know when to stop tightening the measuring tape? I mean, yes, ideally before you’ve carved the thing in half, but when before that?
… and they make that very joke on the next page. Ah. Well then. 
Sorry, Sweetie, the Smooze prefers its carbon more carefully arranged on the atomic level.
Sweetie casually and innocently taking a sledgehammer of reality to Rarity’s aspirations is a wonderful thing.
Ooh, that actually does look good. As much a feat of material science as of fashion.
And of course Discord set this up. Who else? If he can hack the Cutie Map, spoofing Celestia’s d-mail address should be a snap. No pun intended.
Oh wow. Turns out Rarity really did go multiversal! Though I imagine this isn’t quite what the Infinite Carousel usually has in mind.
But hey, customers are customers. Even if they’re chaos aberrations that feed on and/or assist mailponies.
Chapter 4
Huh. Preparing for a holiday with no sign of Pinkie. That just feels surreal.
Interesting to see Fluttershy recognized as Ponyville’s resident animal expert when one considers Dr. Fauna. Of course, this does tie in nicely to my headcanon that Fluttershy’s official job title is “ecosystem manager.” That ties in nicely to why the mayor is asking her to give a speech… though Mayor Mare clearly doesn’t know Fluttershy that well if she thinks mentinoing the size of the audience will encourage her.
Yeaaah, bit hard for Fluttershy to hide when so many creatures want to make sure she’s okay and refuse to leave her alone out of concern.
To be clear, Fluttershy does not actually say “Stay out of my shed.” But one of the pages is still entitled “Fluttershed.” One has to wonder how much influence Max Gilardi may have had on this one.
Pinkie keeps sacks of beavers stashed all over Ponyville, for bea—
Actually, I’m not going to finish that sentence.
Ah. There’s the line.
I do adore Dash’s definition of “finesse.” I’m also impressed the sturdiness of the shed.
I’m not sure what I like most about one page: The fact that they put Dash in time-out, the Peanuts-grade Twilight scream, or the fact that it’s entitled “A Sequins of Unfortunate Events.” I do have a weakness for wordplay.
Dash having arachnophobia doesn’t quite scan, but I can appreciate the gag. Though I do like the idea of her having lingering wariness about the ground in general.
Okay, I want to hear more about Great-Uncle Apple Torte versus the rampaging badger horde. That is a story just begging to be told.
Given the assumed nudity taboo, I think Twilight accidentally referenced a book from the human world. Or one written by a Canterlotter who never got out much.
Also, given Fluttershy’s concerns about indecent hatlessness, she’d make a great TF2 player.
Pinkie is simultaneously too silly and just silly enough in this story, and I’m not sure how to feel about that.
I too would like to hear more about the continuing adventures of Captain Angel.
And in the end, a perfectly workable compromise. If Mohammad won’t come to the mountain, move his shed to it. Or something.
Also, “not all critters are as solid as a pony’s mane” raises some fascinating questions about the consequences of mane prehensility. Having hair fibers behave like muscle fibers does imply some considerable durability. Might even justify the whole “anti-magic mane” issue a bit.
Delightful goofiness throughout these two stories. Continuing to dig into this will be a lot of fun. But next week, we’ll look into those clip shows. Now, officially, I can’t tell you where to find them, but I’m sure you can find pony footage in the series of tubes if you look. But that’s a matter for next week. For now, let’s see what I can make from the manga:
Snack Break W
Instant
Prevent all damage target creature or planeswalker would deal this turn. Create a Food token. (It’s an artifact with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
“Okay,” Bloodgnasher told himself, “just one cupcake.”
Nurturing Guidance 1W
Instant
Escalate W (Pay this cost for each mode chosen beyond the first.)
Choose one or more —
• Put a flying counter on target creature.
• Put a first strike counter on target creature.
• Put a lifelink counter on target creature
Critter Expert 2WW
Creature — Pegasus Advisor
Flying
Whenever you create a creature token for the first time each turn, draw a card.
“There’s really not much to it. You just have to pay attention to how they feel.”
2/2
Messenger’s Urgency U
Instant
Target creature gains hexproof until end of turn. That creature can’t be blocked this turn.
A dragon at a dead sprint outranks everypony.
Muse’s Grip 1U
Sorcery
As an additional cost to cast Muse’s Grip, tap X untapped creatures you control.
Draw X cards.
Inspiration strikes harder than a dive bombing pegasus.
Maddening Gyre 4UU
Instant
Tap all creatures target player controls and untap all creatures that player doesn’t control.
Chaotic 1UU (You may cast this spell for its chaotic cost. If you do, choose its target at random.)
Twilit Kraken 4UUU
Creature — Kraken
Alicorn (This card is also a Pony Pegasus Unicorn.)
Other Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns you control are blue in addition to their other colors.
Nonblue creatures without flying can’t attack.
7/7
Hedgehog Privateer 1B
Creature — Beast Pirate
Raid — When Hedgehog Privateer enters the battlefield, if you attacked this turn, you may destroy target creature that was dealt damage this turn.
Efforts to hook their quills have yet to pay off.
2/1
Chic Monstrosity 2BB
Creature — Horror
Flying
B, Sacrifice an enchantment: Chic Monstrosity gains indestructible until end of turn.
“I love seeing return customers, but not when they’ve eaten their purchases.”
—Rarity, Bearer of Generosity
3/2
Peculiar Recluse 4B
Creature — Pegasus Citizen
Flying
When Peculiar Recluse enters the battlefield, put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard, then return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
“The shed is off limits.”
2/2
Explosive Influx 2R
Sorcery
Each player draws seven cards, then discards seven cards at random.
“Discord sending a bunch of scrolls at once is bad, but the way he flavors them is the worst.”
—Spike
Kitchen Carbonizer 4R
Creature — Unicorn Shaman
When Kitchen Carbonizer enters the battlefield, destroy all artifacts. For each Food destroyed this way, Kitchen Carbonizer deals 2 damage to that Food’s controller.
“Okay, the extinguisher’s on fire. Now what?”
3/2
Smooze Burst 1G
Instant
Create a 0/0 green Ooze creature token, then put X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is 1 plus the number of cards named Smooze Burst in all graveyards.
As messy as Discord’s whimsy.
Smooze Everywhere 2GG
Enchantment
All creatures have shroud. (They can’t be the targets of spells or abilities.)
“The worst part isn’t the smell or how it stains. The worst part is how there’s simply no way to clean it with magic.”
—Rarity, Bearer of Generosity
Clan of Badgers 3G
Creature — Badger
Vigilance, trample
Whenever Clan of Badgers blocks, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
“Don’t go bothering badgers. They don’t forget grudges and they always pay them back in time.”
—Applejack, Bearer of Honesty
2/2
Sunbathing Spider 3G
Creature — Spider
Reach
Sunbathing Spider has vigilance and lifelink as long as you control a white permanent.
Depending on the viewing angle, its webs may glitter like crystal or look completely transparent.
2/4
Fluid Dignitary 4GG
Creature — Ooze Advisor
Council’s dilemma — When Fluid Dignitary enters the battlefield, each player votes for bulk or spread. Put two +1/+1 counters on Fluid Dignitary for each bulk vote. Each opponent sacrifices an artifact or enchantment for each spread vote.
2/2
Sack of Beavers XGG
Sorcery
Destroy X target artifacts and/or enchantments. Create X 2/2 green Beast creature tokens.
Pinkie makes sure to match party guests with their favorite treats, even when the treat is the venue.
Security Shed 3
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature has defender, hexproof, and indestructible.
Equip 3
Breaking line of sight can do wonders for a pony’s confidence.
Processor Slick BG
Creature — Ooze
T: Exile target land card from a graveyard. Add one mana of any color.
1(bg): Exile target nonland card from a graveyard. Put a +1/+1 counter on Processor Slick.
Everything rots eventually.
1/1
Captain Angel Bunny 2UBR
Legendary Creature — Rabbit Pirate
Whenever a nonlegendary Pirate you control attacks, create a token that’s a copy of that creature and that’s tapped and attacking. Exile the token at end of combat.
Whenever another Pirate you control leaves the battlefield, each opponent loses 1 life.
3/4
Engulfing Smooze 3GW
Creature — Ooze
Hexproof
When Engulfing Smooze enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls until Engulfing Smooze leaves the battlefield.
It won’t digest you, but it will detain you.
3/5
Skyscorcher Pyrefly 4BR
Creature — Elemental Insect
Delve Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for 1.)
Flying
When Skyscorcher Pyrefly enters the battlefield, it deals X damage to any target, where X is the number of cards that were exiled with its delve ability.
3/2
There's a totally not Sunset's Isekai ripoff story concept in there.
Who do you think designs wardrobes for fantasy villains? Hitler had Hugo Boss, Maleficent has Rarity?
I've also always wanted to do a Discworld crossover. The only real story beats I've got are "Rarity does Vetinari's wardrobe", "Ponder Stibbons almost cries at the rapt attention of the unicorn wizards", and "Pinkie almost pinkgasms at the mere concept of treacle mining".
I'd say that ponies haven't progressed to oil yet... but they have plastics... Possibly just a niche product or not as widely used because they use less electricity overall and more naturally-occurring generation sources, or magic is involved in the process to scrub out pollution?
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Peculiar Recluse doesn't target, so the second half of its ability can grab cards sent by the first.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Nothing bad happens to opponents who don't have enough sacrifices for Fluid Dignitary, so you probably shouldn't expect more than a 4/4 unless you tamper with the votes. (Also, note how the flavor text and the effect of the linked card interact.)
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Captain Angel Bunny's tokens getting exiled are in fact counted as another pirate leaving the battlefield. Oh, and it invariably triggers Raid abilities of the duplicated creatures. Hedgehog Privateer would rather wait until combat is actually over, but the boss is a jerk and won't let him.
5264097
It's an interesting reversal of our world, that the ponies haven't figured out how to use the byproducts of plastic production as fuel yet. It'll be one heck of a jump when Twilight thinks to ask about how human cars work.
I could buy Rainbow Dash being an arachnophobe, honestly. I can't imagine her being happy about flying through webs, and getting tangled up, even before one considers the size of the spiders in the Everfree.
The flavortexts here are on point.
Oh, I forgot to mention that MtG spiders specialize in killing fragile, reckless fliers like Rainbow Dash. Just pointing that out.
5264117
See... I think the mentioned but not seen tanks, the Storm King's air fleet, and vehicles like the cider-squeezy run on oil products.
Why? There's nothing in it.
5264342
Some of us don't have an irrational hatred for the show.
5264097
Hey now. Wanderer D didn't invent the omnicrossover. That said, I do love the idea of Rarity designing costumes for all manner of beings. (Though she has a special loathing for Final Fantasy characters.)
Also, good point with plastic and airships. Ponies definitely have some degree of petrochemical usage beyond trains. Though I imagine magic may be another potential airship fuel source. Or power source, really. Enchant the propellers to spin using the same "come to life" spell as Twilight tried in "Winter Wrap-Up" and it's functionally identical to a motor.
5264117
I do enjoy those little moments of gameplay-story integration.
5264123
I imagine Rainbow Dash had to work through a number of phobias when she first moved to a ground town. Fluttershy saw wonders, but let's not forget what qualifies as a wonder by her standards...
5264128
Glad to hear it!
5264342
For one, there is a bit of new content. For another, it's a chance to revisit old scenes with a fresh perspective, allowing me to both capture lost opportunities and make use of the mechanics that have come out in the...
Oh dear God, I've been doing this for six and a half years.
5264426
Equestrian airships probably run on... something... or the aforementioned cleaner burning engines.
The Storm King's airships though have very dark smoggy exhaust.
Yay, I continue to love the prompting to reread this manga. It's so delightfully silly.
I was about to wonder where on earth Twilit Kraken came from, and then I remembered that I also found the panel composition on that page made me do a double take.
Hedgehog Privateer is great. It's the most apt possible Raid trigger for the play pattern of "attack with a creature that won't survive combat just to get the Raid trigger".
Wow, Smooze Burst is a reference (complete with flavour text in the right template) to a cycle I haven't thought about for a long time. And yet instantly recognised. Funny how the brain works, isn't it?
I want several Security Shed. For like about half my commander decks.
From the name of Processor Slick, I was expecting it to move cards out exile, not into it. Instead is it a deliberate homage to Death-Rite Shaman?
5264097
What do you think of "The Fairy Queen comes to Equestria"?
By the way, this reminds me: Does anybody know any good crossovers with Order of the Stick? I would really like to see what happens if you put Varsuvius and Twilight into the same room...