Friendship is Card Games: My Little Pony: The Manga, Ch. 3-1 & 3-2 · 11:58am Mar 21st, 2021
This week, we return to sequential art with the third volume of the MLP OEL manga. Let’s see what wonders await in the 4koma’d land of Equestria.
Lovely art to begin with. A very promising start.
Chapter 3-1
As before, chapter counts don’t carry over between volumes, so we’re going by Mario level numbering. Hopefully I won’t have to account for chapters 3-A, 3-🍄, or 3-(Bowser emblem).
Heh. When the guests aren’t ponies, Fluttershy does throw a pretty good party. Though it’s clear she still took some pointers from Pinkie going by the Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Rainbow-Dash in that first panel.
Also, I quite appreciate that spider in a top hat.
That’s quite the scavenger hunt. There’s some fairly straightforward items like a quill, hoe, watering can, and bag of seeds. The garden gnome and lava lamp are a bit more unexpected. But then we get to Cobra Commander’s helmet and the Matrix of Leadership. IDW did have that Transformers crossover, but I get the feeling those weren’t actually on Fluttershy’s list.
“What’s the point of having reality-bending powers if you can’t use them to get cake faster?!”
I mean, as far as Discord goes, that’s almost responsible. Still a jerk move, but at least he isn’t dealing sanity damage or destabilizing the country.
Whatever happens next, it’s partially Rainbow Dash’s fault. Don’t make wagers with Discord. It never ends well.
“Several moons later.”
… Uh, we’re post-timeskip at this point. Hilarious as it is to imagine the Mane Six hitting middle age like they ran facefirst into a brick wall, Li’l Cheese implies it took a few more years than that. I know I’ve said that ponies seem to age like Pokémon, but this is ridiculous. That or “moon = year” for the purposes of this storyline, which makes those Apple family reunions even more ridiculous.
That said, Discord remembering and following through on a bet decades after the fact is wonderfully in character for him, and I do appreciate the character in the movie reacting to his sudden appearance. Though hiding the Elements again? I suppose it’s been long enough that he can repeat himself the once.
… Remember that bit I said about not destabilizing the country? Yeah, about that. 
Kind of wish we could Starlight’s reaction to this alteration to the timeline. Also, of all the times to yoink the Elements, Discord had to pick the worst one. When aren’t they in the same place at the same time, you noodle?
… Okay, fine, the first Equestria Girls movie. But other than that.
Also, the “ponyverse” is apparently a thing. I’m choosing to interpret that as the MLP-flavored portion of the greater multiverse, whether that’s the planes of Dominia, potential timelines branching off from the central point of Zacherle saying “let there be pony,” or just all of fiction.
I do have to wonder why changelings appear to be working for the Nightmare. Did she strike a deal with Chrysalis or just smite her in the name of the Moon? there’s also the question of that random stallion hauling a wagon full of crystals. Is Sombra involved as well?
Interesting how the only bat wings among the oppressive army seem to be as real as those of a Polish hussar. (Add Sabaton references to taste.) The actual pegasi still have feathered wings. Most curious.
Huh. A blend of Back to the Future and Benjamin Button as the main cast’s pasts get unwritten. I have feel especially bad for Spike. He only got to appear in his adult form on two panels.
Of course. The only rules Discord has to follow are his own.
“When I ‘accidentally’ altered history.”
Interesting use of quotes there. Did Discord mean for this to happen or not?
… What year is it!? Twilight definitely doesn’t look like she’s any older than before the timeskip. If I had to guess, I’d suspect that the comic writer hadn’t actually seen the finale, but the artist had.
Eh, given what Discord’s done, I shouldn’t be surprised that space is warped and time is bendable at the moment.
Yeah, if Nightmare Moon banished the sun to the moon, I probably shouldn’t be taking this too seriously. 
So… It is strongly implied that the rest of the Mane Six are dead in this timeline. That or Twilight has no hope of leaving her current imprisonment. Or both.
Twilight may have had the friendship epiphany, but it’s still been NaN years of hard labor since she saw her friends. She’s going to have some issues remembering names.
Perhaps the first time anyone has ever sincerely called Discord “reliable.” In a positive sense, anyway. He’s definitely a reliable source of headaches.
Ah. Nightmare Moon did ally with Chrysalis. She did seem to notice Discord in the showdown at the Castle of the Two Sisters; she may be gathering forces for whatever she thinks he has planned for her down the line. Still, I do have to wonder who will backstab the other first.
… For crying out loud, Celestia, this is why people mock you. Though I think that’s evidence that we’re even further back in the past than I thought. This is why I don’t let Discord time travel.
Wow, Discord. Additional jerk move. Spike’s going to have to sit this one out. Hopefully he doesn’t get used as a hostage again. This especially has to sting after getting de-aged.
Chapter 3-2
Fascinating glimpse of multiversal travel. Unsurprisingly, it resembles transit through the mirror portal, but without the spaghettification that comes from getting your body reshaped to fit in with the locals.
Poor Fluttershy. This is even worse than an objectively horrifying timeline. She’s still a celebrity here.
Specifically a celebrity singer. Interesting. As is the presence of smartphones in this timeline. And yet they’re still riding in a four-pony carriage. Ah, Equestrian schizotech.
(Also, I hadn’t thought about it, but we’re going to see a lot of self-ponidoxes, aren’t we? 
)
The local Fluttershy has more pressing concerns than an inexplicable clone of herself popping out of nowhere.
So the local Celestia is still an alicorn, but is a record producer rather than a god-empress/celestial mechanic. I have a number of questions.
An electric personality and magnetic charisma? There’s a Maxwell’s equations joke in there somewhere, especially when dealing with a pegasus.
Moonlit Records, eh? I suppose if Celestia’s a producer, Luna would be as well.
Fluttershy twisting an ankle while trying to outdo Pinkie’s choreography does make sense.
So a Bearer has to win a competition because her Element is the grand prize, and she never considers just stealing the thing. It’s not just the travel that’s similar to Equestria Girls.
I have to say, Fluttershy does look good in a braid. Also, the jumbo box of leg warmers amuses me more than it probably should.
Heh. Callback to the first volume of the manga with Fluttershy performing in a shed. Which was onstage at the time. Look, no one said mindhacks were always elegant.
… such as literally doing the routine blindfolded. Hey, if it’s stupid and it works, it isn’t that stupid.
Also, if that face is what the public wants, are changelings an option? Shapeshifting celebrity impersonators feeding on fans’ adoration seem like a viable ploy… though given how much those celebrities are in the public eye, it’s not a viable long-term strategy. Yeah, that pans out.
Okay, Pinkie’s Fluttershy’s rival, but there’s no sign of Twilight in this worldline.
Heh. Even her backup dancers are blindfolded. Also, nice to see that at least Fluttershy’s songs have a connection to cute animals.
Good thing the local Fluttershy was wearing the same outfit.
And unlike Twilight (and since we have five more Elements to recover,) Fluttershy ends up going for the direct approach. Whatever works! Though I do have to wonder how everypony reacted to the trophy vanishing along with the “stunt double.”
And Zecora has a talk show in this universe, while still speaking in rhyme. Definitely didn’t expect that. I wonder if she’s given everypony in the audience a free cart.
Fair warning, given the sheer quantity of content coming down the line, I’m only doing one manga blog per month from now through June. Settle in for this one, folks. Now, let’s see what I can do with the beginning:
Wardrobe Malfunction 1W
Instant
Unattach any number of target Auras and/or Equipment.
Draw a card.
“You wouldn’t think it would matter much when the audience isn’t wearing anything. You’d be wrong.”
—Celestia, record producer
Blind Idol 2W
Creature — Pegasus Band
Flying
Blind Idol can’t attack alone.
Finale — Whenever you sacrifice a Song, create a 1/1 white Pegasus creature token with flying, then put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
1/1
Sunbathing Princess 2W
Creature — Noble
Alicorn (This card is also a Pony Pegasus Unicorn.)
Flying, lifelink, vigilance
Sunbathing Princess enters the battlefield with two defender counters on it.
WWW: Remove a defender counter from Sunbathing Princess. This ability costs W less to activate for each defender counter on Sunbathing Princess. Activate it only any time you could cast a sorcery.
4/4
Sunbeam Records Producer 3W
Creature — Advisor
Alicorn
Flying
Band and Song spells you cast cost 1 less to cast.
Alicorns don’t inspire reverence in every timeline, but executives do.
3/2
Crystal Miner 1U
Creature — Unicorn Serf
T: Add U. Spend this mana only to cast a noncreature spell.
Put a -1/-1 counter on Crystal Miner: Untap Crystal Miner.
“The beatings will continue until production improves.”
—Nightmare Moon
0/2
Ode to Springs 1U
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on Ode to Springs.
U, Sacrifice Ode to Springs: Untap up to X target creatures, where X is the number of verse counters on Ode to Springs. Those creatures gain flying until end of turn.
Temporal Ripple 1U
Instant
Nonland permanents enter the battlefield phased out this turn. (They’re treated as though they don’t exist and don’t cause abilities to trigger as they enter. Each phases in before its controller untaps during their next untap step.)
Slingback 2U
Instant
Return up to two target attacking creatures to their owners’ hands.
Each Fluttershy’s struggles made the recoil that much worse.
Celebrity Lookalike 2UU
Creature — Shapeshifter
You may have Celebrity Lookalike enter the battlefield as a copy of any legendary creature on the battlefield or any legendary creature card in the command zone, except it isn’t legendary.
“I just have one of those faces.”
0/0
Nowhere to Run 1B
Instant
Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the number of black creatures you control.
As Discord scattered the Bearers across probability space, Spike was left to fend for himself in the Nightmare’s dystopia.
Dark Alliance 2B
Sorcery
Up to two target creatures each get +2/+1 and gain menace until end of turn.
“Alone, we are formidable. Together, we can rule for eternity. The choice is clear.”
—Nightmare Moon, to Chrysalis
Hope Gorger 2BB
Creature — Nightmare Shapeshifter
When Hope Gorger enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a creature card from it. That player discards that card and Hope Gorger becomes a copy of it.
“Behold your savior.”
2/2
Ponyville Enforcer 3B
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under an opponent’s control, that player loses 1 life.
In a land of eternal night, curfews are enforced only by soldiers’ sadistic whims.
2/2
Banish the Sun 4BB
Sorcery
Destroy all creatures that are neither black nor colorless.
“Those who do not embrace my night are welcome to join my sister.”
—Nightmare Moon
Pronking Performer 1R
Creature — Pony Band
Finale — Whenever you sacrifice a Song, double Pronking Performer’s power until end of turn.
After countless ruined practice sessions, her choreographer told her to do whatever she wanted. Her record sales skyrocketed.
2/2
Retconjuration 1R
Instant
Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.)
Destroy target artifact.
For want of a crown, the kingdom was lost.
Drilling Draconequus 1RR
Creature — Chimera Rogue
Drilling Draconequus can’t be blocked by creatures with flying.
When Drilling Draconequus dies, each player sacrifices a land.
“Was any of that bedrock load-bearing? Asking for a friend.”
3/2
Rampaging Fans 4R
Creature — Pony Citizen
Trample
Whenever Rampaging Fans attacks, choose one —
• Rampaging Fans gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each legendary creature you control.
• Rampaging Fans gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each legendary creature defending player controls.
4/4
Explore the Ponyverse 2G
Sorcery
Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal three land cards. Put those cards into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
“There’s always more there out there.”
—Discord
Fluttershy’s Guests 5G
Creature — Beast
Whenever you gain life, distribute that many +1/+1 counters among any number of target creatures.
Fluttershy can find the good in anything, even her time with Pinkie Pie’s cutie mark.
4/4
Gnomoplex 2
Artifact — Fortification
Fortified land has “2, T: Create a 1/1 colorless Gnome artifact creature token.”
Fortify 1 (1: Attach to target land you control. Fortify only as a sorcery.)
There’s no place like gnome.
Celebrity Carriage 3
Artifact — Vehicle
Celebrity Carriage gets +2/+2 for each legendary creature you control.
Crew 4 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 4 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)
4/4
Furnace Totem 3
Artifact
T: Add R.
2RR: Furnace Totem becomes a 2/2 red Dragon artifact creature with flying until end of turn.
R: Furnace Totem gets +1/+0 until end of turn. Activate this ability only if Furnace Totem is a creature.
Hoofheld Omnislate 5
Artifact
T: Exile target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard.
X, T: You may copy a card exiled with Hoofheld Omnislate with converted mana cost X. If you do, you may cast the copy without paying its mana cost.
2: Untap Hoofheld Omnislate.
Fate Unwound UB
Sorcery
Remove up to three counters from target creature. Then if that creature has no counters on it, put it on top of its owner’s library.
The spell makes decades melt away. The trick is not melting all of them.
Lord of Serpents 1BG
Creature — Naga Warrior
Snakes you control and other Nagas you control get +1/+1 and have deathtouch.
Beneath the ignorant surface, the serpentine races lurk and plan for another day in the sun.
2/3
I don't know the context since I haven't read the OELM, but anyone making a bet with Discord is just asking for trouble.
Oh my gosh, I love the manga so very much.
Seeing Celestia sunbathing during a crisis is definitely something. Not sure whether or not I should be laughing about it, though
This is why everyone loves you, FOME
Inside Baseball Alert: Oh Serra, Serfs. That was before my time, but between it and the roughly-contemporary also-token-exclusive Citizen I'm not sure why they bothered inventing Peasant.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Remember, "a card exiled with Hoofheld Omnislate" is Magic-ese for "a card exiled with one of the other abilities of this card, not including other instances or abilities granted by other cards. Not even if they're represented by the same physical card". Yes, this annoys Johnnies every time it comes up. (And yes, the combination in his flavor text goes infinite.)
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: The Lord of Serpents obviously created a world-and-his(s)tory-spanning Conspiracy in order to benefit from his own ability (naming Snake). (There are other cards that do it cheaper because it was Mercadian Masques, but this one's in his colors and also enables that pun.)
Finally, we get somewhat-official art of ponies in swimsuits, and it's Celestia no less.
If I activate Sunbathing Princess's ability for W to remove one of the two defender counters, then somebody plays an instant or uses an ability in reaction, can I then use the Princess's ability a second time and remove both defender counters for a total cost of WW?
Also, it strikes me that Hoofheld Omnislate plus a ritual-type spell potentially enables infinite mana generation (the spell has to generate a minimum of X+3 mana, where X is its CMC).
5480120
The moral of the story, honestly. Don't provoke the local Q.
5480140
Once I saw the opportunity, I couldn't resist.
5480146
My personal guideline is that Serfs are for oppressive regimes, Peasants are for feudal but relatively hospitable societies, and Citizens are for urbanized areas. If Eldraine had come out before "Hearth's Warming Eve," several of the pre-Exodus cards would be Peasants. Especially the earth ponies.
5480150
To be fair, we've had official images of Celestia in a swimsuit before.
5480385
... Shoot, you don't even need someone else to do something. You can just respond to the first activation with the second. Well, a quick patch will take care of that. Good catch!
Remember how your blog is where I drop random MtG-related things? Well, I sure hope the story writer knows enough about the card game to realize that they won't be able to hide Professor Onyx's identity.
Why do I still have hope for the story after Forsaken?Argh! You're reviewing/carding this before the physical book comes out! I have to either double-purchase, or not get the paper one (but my kids like reading it), or... read the FICG before the book?!... or come back here in 2 months' time once the paper one ships and the discussion is all over...
5483203
Don't worry. Starting this week, I'm doing a four-step content rotation of Friendship is Witchcraft, IDW comics, the manga, and Season 2 of Pony Life that will last for months. I won't get to the final chapters of the manga until June.
The print manga finally came out! I'm eager to read it mainly so I can catch up on FOME card blogs
And yes, as of two chapters in it seems pretty clear Discord chose the universes in order to suit each pony, but it's still 50/50 on how "accidental" his altering the timeline was.
I'm not sure how I feel about Discord having time-travel powers, to be honest: given his track record for not really thinking things through I'd expect the whole of history to be fluctuating on a rather frequent basis. I guess that makes for a canon-but-still-entirely-unsatisfying justification for any bits of Canon Discontinuity that we see in the series proper.
As for the cards: I'm not entirely keen on the amount of mana cost bypassing going on here. Celebrity Impersonator seems a shoo-in to any part-blue commander deck with a commander costing 5 or more, and just excessive as a way to get, say, Jin-Gitaxias on turn 4. Hope Gorger is a bit more forgivable as it depends on the opponent, but it's notable that Valki made you pay the creature's mana value to become a copy of it, where this doesn't.