Friendship is Card Games: The Sound of Silliness · 12:53pm Feb 28th, 2021
Sorry to disappoint anyone expecting a full card blog based on what little we know about G5. Instead, we return to Season 10 with a look at how Li’l Cheese was made.
Well, the groundwork, anyway. The actual construction’s a bit outside of the comic’s age range.
Also, spoilers, I guess? The second half of this plot came out only a few days ago, so that does apply to anyone who's tracking the comics and hasn't read this one yet. I’m still not used to commenting on something so soon after its release.
Issue #94
I’ll be honest, I’m not seeing the problem with the ice sculpture. If anything, the huge Celestia edifice to the left seems more off-model when compared to her actual face.
And even after taking the throne, Twilight still hasn’t taken Celestia off her pedestal. Heck, she’s commissioning somepony to put her on a new one. But it does make sense. We’re exactly a year after “The Summer Sun Setback,” which means we’re less than a year into Twilight’s reign. Sure, the diplomatic outreach program may be going well—it must be if Pinkie’s back from Abyssinia—but she’ll likely still compare herself to her predecessors for years to come. And there is some nice symbolism in that sculpture being ice instead of stone. Twilight’s current state of mind is only temporary.
Also, Vinyl and Octavia handling the audio for the festival. Neat.
Shield Horse is presumably about Shining Armor. I find myself wondering whether it’s an autobiography.
I’m not sure what I love more here, Pinkie’s balloon-framed reading glasses or Twilight quite clearly making hayburgers a key part of the festivities. I wholly support that particular proposed parallel.
Appleoosan throat singers. Huh. Now I’m imagining Braeburn harmonizing with himself. “AAAAAAAAAppleoosa!”
And here we see Twilight in her element. She’s at her best when she’s working with others, both in terms of cooperation and getting the right pony for the right job. I do hope she remembers she’s Princess of Friendship more often in the coming years.
Also, Twilight Shipper. And Pinkie and Cheese’s mutual respect cycle. You love to see it. At least, I do.
I am glad they immediately addressed the absurdity of Discord taking the train. Though since it still gets him places without physical effort on his part, I can understand why he’d like the concept. Probably best to keep him away from the engine, though. All that regular, cyclical motion…
Ye gods, but these two are cute.
Nice detail with the glow from the stiltwalkers only coming from the horns inside the princess-length one.
Heh. Pinkie’s imagination is running away from her again. And this time it’s coming back with more than cake.
Ooh, nice detail with the sinkhole. We’ve known about the caverns since the royal wedding. It stands to reason that there are hollow spots underneath Canterlot.
Also, I do appreciate the pony explaining all of this wearing an “Expo Position” shirt. Better than a bare bulb.
Bass boosting collapsible caverns doesn’t seem like the best idea…
Ah, tying it into Starswirl’s Batcave from the Reflections arc. Interesting choice since so much has changed about him since.
I freely admit that part of me is shipping trash, that part is loving this.
I’m not sure what I love more, that Discord is playing chess with a raccoon, or that the raccoon appears to be winning.
And Fluttershy continues to teach her own student. Lovely little moment.
Huh, Twilight-marked reflecting pool. Well, the accession has been in the works for a year and change. Plenty of time to make that happen.
“I love rocky road!” And there’s our obligatory Weird Al reference.
Pinkie just doesn’t have a good track record with mirror pools. Though her anxiety here does make sense. She’s always been a creature of extremes. When she takes something seriously, she takes it very seriously.
Heh. You can almost make out what Pinkie’s saying in one panel thanks to the letters pressing against the edges of the word balloon.
And a final page with a great demonstration of the Golden Spiral. Looking back, you can see how Cheese first brushed up against the moss in the cave, and how it’s been spreading since they got back to the surface.
Also, nice touch with even the “To be continued…” getting the whiteout treatment.
Issue #95
And we have a name for our culprit: the Muffletta. Not to be confused with the Muffuletta, which is a kind of sandwich. (And yes, it does have cheese.)
Between The Troof! and Ye Olde Tome, Pencils continues to have inordinate fun with book titles, and I wholly approve.
This is some fantastic expressive work. Silent movie logic applies: Emote like your lives depend on it!
Also, holy crap, the moss has grown enough to consume a sonic boom.
Very interesting that Fluttershy was able to get her point across to her animals. Clearly more than just audio goes into her communication abilities.
I can appreciate helping the crying baby, but I’d think that mother would also be concerned about the moss rapidly consuming her kitchen.
Oh. Huh. I’ve always associated Laughter with black mana, but I never expected it to kill plant life.
It’s hard to make out most of the books in Twilight’s research pile, but I’m seeing cookbooks, Smoke in the Water, Lord of the Things II, and what seems to be a Hulk trade paperback. The moss may be big and green, Twilight, but that one seems like a stretch.
Poneslayer’s Tome: Hell on Equestria
Okay, that raises a number of questions.
… Oh. Oh. I was going to question the use of Comic Sans, but it’s on a panel where Twilight’s mathematically determining the effects of laughter on the Muffletta. It does work.
Also, “maybe a lot of fire!?” Twilight was legitimately considering burning Canterlot to the ground, and I’m not sure if I’m more amused or horrified. Presumably she’d evacuate the city first.
Spike does make for one heck of a PA system… though I have to wonder how the notices are sticking to the walls.
And it is nice how Twilight adds a “please” to her order to attend the performance.
And there’s the inevitable Twilight monologue.
Given what we’ve seen of his attempts to help, it’s probably better that Discord let everypony handle this on their own.
At the risk of tooting my horn, this ending seems familiar:
[Pinkie and Cheese] did have an understanding, but not even they understood what that understanding actually was. As such, it was an un-understanding, or simply a derstanding, as per the principle of double negatives. This made perfect sense to them, and that was all that mattered.
Mind you, they may have a better understanding of their understanding now, but this was still a delight to see. The romance didn’t feel overplayed, and the magical mishap was well-presented indeed. Lovely stuff throughout, though it likely helps that I’ve shipped this pairing for years.
Now, let’s see how I can remix this:
Captain’s Memoirs 2W
Artifact
1W, T: Create a 1/1 white Unicorn Soldier creature token.
2W, T: Soldiers you control get +1/+1 and gain vigilance until end of turn.
Tap two untapped Soldiers you control: Untap Captain’s Memoirs.
Wonderbolt Aerobats 3W
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying
Boast — 1W: Create a 1/1 white Pegasus creature token with flying. (Activate this ability only if this creature attacked this turn and only once each turn.)
“Everything with wings wants to be a Wonderbolt.”
2/2
Purging Sunfire 3WW
Sorcery
Choose one. If BR was spent to cast this spell, choose any number instead.
• Destroy all artifacts.
• Destroy all creatures.
• Destroy all enchantments.
• Destroy all planeswalkers.
The Slayer’s Testament 3WW
Enchantment — Saga
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — Destroy all tapped creatures.
II — Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
III — Put a +1/+1 counter and a double strike counter on up to one target creature.
Idle Fancy 1U
Instant
Counter target spell. That spell’s controller creates an X/X blue Illusion creature token, where X is the spell’s converted mana cost.
“Mama, you’re getting distracted. I don’t even exist yet.”
—Li’l Cheese
Polyphonic Training 1U
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Whenever an ability of enchanted creature is activated, if it isn’t a mana ability, copy that ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Most forms of harmony need multiple people, but there are always exceptions.
Inevitable Speech 2U
Enchantment
At the beginning of your end step, if you have no cards in hand, sacrifice Inevitable Speech. If you do, draw three cards.
With Twilight Sparkle, the question is always when, not if, she’ll pontificate on friendship.
Self-Reflection 4U
Creature — Reflection
Self-Reflection’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand.
When Self-Reflection enters the battlefield, draw a card.
When the answer lies within, it’s wise to bring it out.
*/*
Plume of Seltzer XU
Instant
When you cast this spell, copy it X times. You may choose new targets for the copies. (They have the same value of X.)
Target creature gets -X/-0 until end of turn.
Party ponies always bring enough for everyone.
Withering Mirth 1B
Instant
Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. If that creature has three or more counters on it, destroy it.
It is a jester’s duty to tear down what pomposity builds up.
Gallows Humorist 3B
Creature — Pony Rogue
Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters the battlefield. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.)
Whenever another creature dies, if Gallows Humorist is paired with a creature, put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures.
2/2
Urban Sinkhole 1RR
Sorcery
Each player sacrifices a nonbasic land.
Between natural caverns, old crystal mines, and Star Swirl’s personal catacombs, Canterlot’s foundations are more air than rock.
Counterprankster 2R
Creature — Pony Rogue
Soulbond
As long as Counterprankster is paired with another creature, whenever either of those creatures becomes the target of a spell, that creature deals 2 damage to that spell’s controller.
3/2
Locomotivator 4R
Creature — Chimera Pilot
Whenever Locomotivator crews a Vehicle, you may put that Vehicle on the bottom of its owner’s library, then reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a creature or Vehicle card. Put that card onto the battlefield and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. It gains haste until end of turn. If it’s a Vehicle, it becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.
3/3
Magus of Harmony 1G
Creature — Pony Wizard
When Magus of Harmony enters the battlefield, if you control two or more Gates, you gain 3 life.
T: Add C.
T: Add one mana of any type that a Gate you control could produce.
Canterlot’s geomancy was already well suited to its new ruler.
1/2
Twilight’s Summons 1G
Sorcery
Kicker 1G (You may pay an additional 1G as you cast this spell.)
Search your library for a Pony card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library. If this spell was kicked, instead search your library for a creature card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Regal Stiltwalker 2G
Creature — Unicorn Citizen
2G: Regal Stiltwalker gets +2/+2 and gains alicorn and reach until end of turn. Activate this ability only once each turn. (It becomes a Pony Pegasus in addition to its other types.)
The festival celebrates everything about the erstwhile diarchs.
3/3
Think Hard 3G
Sorcery
Distribute X +1/+1 counters among any number of target creatures, where X is the number of cards in your hand as you cast this spell.
Everything earth ponies do, they do powerfully.
Ye Olde Tome 2
Artifact
3, T: Draw a card. Then discard a card unless you exile a card with the original Magic card frame from your graveyard. (Cards printed before Eighth Edition have the original frame.)
“Back in my day, books were brown!”
—Granny Smith
Celestia’s Monument 3
Legendary Artifact
White creature spells you cast cost 1 less to cast.
Whenever you cast a creature spell, put a +1/+1 counter on up to one target creature.
“All are worthy who come into the light.”
—Monument inscription
Muffletta Moss GW
Creature — Plant
At the beginning of your end step, put a +1/+1 counter on Muffletta Moss.
Activated abilities of permanents with converted mana cost equal to or less than the number of +1/+1 counters on Muffletta Moss can’t be activated unless they’re mana abilities.
1/1
Muffled Malaise 1WB
Sorcery
All creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn. Those creatures’ activated abilities can’t be activated this turn.
No shout, no crash, no desperate cry could break the silence. It was as though the world itself had stopped listening.
Winter Artisan 1GU
Snow Creature — Pony Artificer
2S: Put two +1/+1 counters on target noncreature, non-Aura snow permanent. You may have that permanent become a 0/0 creature in addition to its other types until end of turn. (S can be paid with one mana from a snow source.)
2/2
Hypersonic Pegasus 3RW
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying, first strike
Boast — 3RW: Hypersonic Pegasus deals 3 damage to each other creature.
“Sound ‘barrier’? Good one.”
3/3
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Reminder text has no rules weight to the point of Extort famously causing a Commander rules malfunction, so Regal Stiltwalker's doesn't need to mention that it also becomes a Unicorn if it somehow isn't one anymore.
Inside Baseball Alert: "Magus of X" started as a series of cycles in Time Spiral block to come as close to reprinting Reserved List cards as they could without getting sued. Each of the three sets had a cycle that did so with a different card type, and this one slots into Planar Chaos' Magus of (land) cycle.
Inside Baseball Alert: Granny Smith is properly Ye Olde; artifacts are steel-grey in the modern frame and rust-brown in the original one. However, Protection From Editors Alert also applies to the card; even if Time Spiral and its upcoming Remastered counterpart didn't exist, Old Fogey would still demand the reminder text be rewritten to account for him.
Inside Baseball Alert: As a mere Physical Goddess, Celestia's Monument can only inspire existing creatures instead of pulling new ones from the aether. I don't even know whether the parallel was meant to go that far, but I don't care.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Lands have a converted mana cost of 0, so Muffleta Moss will start affecting them immediately. Most lands only have mana abilities, but the exceptions... Well, it's another accidentally appropriate interaction that it stops a cosmic horror from being summoned even if they're trying to play it fairly for some reason. Less appropriate is how most tokens are also CMC 0 so it will automatically prevent you from eating Food.
Of the canon pairings, Pinks x Cheese are probably my favorite after Good Sombra x Celestia (yes, it's comics only canon, but it still counts as far as I'm concerned), and dead even with Lyra x Bon Bon. I just really enjoy the dynamic between the two, y'know. Sometimes its contrasts that make a pair, and sometimes, its commonality.
I love that Pony's coloration. Super pretty
Does that mean that if Pinkie can break the fourth wall, Li'l Cheese can break the fourth dimension?
I think "PEPs" is supposed to be a Funko Pop!s referenece. But I don't think it's worth giving that reference the attention it's craving.
Cheese says "what the heck is that?!" at one point. Did the cartoon ever establish a precedent on that particular minor expletive replacement? Using the word "hay" feels so much more organic.
I was a little worried about the story getting sidetracked when the comic gave two pages to Fluttershy and Discord in the middle of the Pinkie/Cheese shipping story. Looking back, there didn't seem to be much purpose to their appearance -- it wasn't even tied in to the CHAOS that Twilight observed from her balcony before sending her friends off to help. Was it just filler, or is something being set up for later?
(Also, the view from Twilight's balcony in that panel implies that directly next to the castle is a small residential area with maybe some businesses nearby. Canterlot zoning is weird.)
I did notice them landing in the moss initially, although I didn't catch the continuity of some sticking to his right front leg until I looked back from the "to be continued." Note that when Cheese helps Pinkie climb out of the sinkhole, the moss has been colored orange like his coat so as not to tip the reveal early.
With a loving smirk on her face, Applejack nudges Rainbow Dash awake, as there was one ship tease introduced in "The Last Problem" that hadn't been addressed yet.
According to Twilight's presentation, the muffleta multiplies in the presence of sunlight and water. Sunlight I see, but how damp is Canterlot that the moss was able to spread so rapidly?
After a while, I started imagining some of the second issue's more expository action words appearing fullscreen in the 1960s Batman TV series. EFFORT! SAD! COMFORT!
The face that Pinkie makes during the INTENSITY panel is never not funny on one of these characters.
I liked the ending -- they were both able to reveal their feelings toward one another in their own way without ever needing to come out and overtly say it. That's a solid foundation upon which a relationship can be built. And because I too have always been in favor of this ship, I heartily approve.
Well, while I'm very much not a fan of this pairing, I'm happy to hear this story gave satisfaction to those that are. I've no intention to read it myself, but I'll assume from your praise that it shipped the pair better than the finale did. Then again, if you ask me, it would have been an incredible achievement to do it worse.
5463880
I took it as setting up the explanation at the end where he said why he didn't just step in and fix things. Which I don't think was really needed: it's only for real apocalypse-level disasters that The Problem of Discord really needs addressing. This wasn't on the scale of a season-ending two-parter so I don't think it was really necessary, but I guess it also provides that kind of explanation preemptively for other similar events later in the series.
Fun commentary as always, FOME; I'm particularly grateful for you pointing out the use of Comic Sans and why it was appropriate
I’m going to look stupid saying this but really?! I somehow didn’t pick up on this after... years... of observation. I’m curious about the rationale here, but mostly just sheepish.
5463636
Ah, but you noted that reminder text has no rules weight two alerts up.
This is about as rigorous as the metareminder text on Just Desserts.
And it is kind of funny how the moss won't let you eat Food or examine Clues, but will let you spend Treasure and Gold. Though if it grows on everything, you'd care a lot more about it covering your meals than your money. Also, the evidence is too covered in moss to get anything useful out of it, I guess?
5463741
Indeed. They're fun together, and let everyone around them have more fun on top of that. And again, incredible amounts of respect for one another.
5463774
Pencils is very good at coming up with OC designs, yes.
5466734
I actually wrote a blog on the subject several years ago. See here.
5463880
There's no evidence against it.
Alternate possibility: The royal balcony is a scrying platform that can bend space to see over any part of Canterlot.
There are visible puddles in some panels, so it may have just rained.
And yes, between the unsound effects and the subtle connection between two very unsubtle ponies, that was a fantastic ending.
5466931
But I suppose this is ultimately why we have The Joker, or Kefka, or a zillion other laughing-mad types in media.
I hate how much sense that makes, and I wish I could substantially disagree with you.
(I might also have to share that link next time someone takes issue with a certain interpretation of Cheese Sandwich that I once wrote...)
I mean, considering how we know her reign ends, this doesn't surprise me, but it does go some way towards explaining the situation in G5.