Friendship is Card Games: The Cat Came Back

Back to IDW, and we transition from dogs to cats as we turn to another branch of Twilight’s diplomatic outreach program. Let’s see what’s been going on in the strangely litigious kingdom of Abyssinia.

Issue #96

Capper slicing open a picture of the Mane Six while they look on excitedly does feel like an apt metaphor for the movie.

Good establishing shot to remind us who’s in these delegations. (For reference, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Discord, Trixie, and Capper are our focus for the arc. Rainbow Dash, Lyra, Bonbon, Trixie, Spitfire, and the parrot pirates, en route to wherever the local aven come from, are providing their transportation.)

Apparently the various ambassadorial parties have all been keeping in touch. Well, Spike’s still in Canterlot, so Twilight getting messages to the others is certainly simple. And Rainbow Dash apparently has the stamina to zip back and forth between the airship and Canterlot. Handy.

I can understand wanting to play down the local chaos entity’s capabilities during a peaceful mission. “We have an ally who could turn your entire nation into a baked potato” isn’t the friendliest approach. But the rationale for it makes no sense. The Storm King didn’t use magic in his assault on Abyssinia, just overwhelming air superiority and yetis with battering rams. Indeed, he came looking for magic.
Moreover, I understand that they’re trying to spin the wider world as less magical than Equestria, but the only time this entire nation that’s built on trade has ever seen magic was during a hostile invasion? Really? As linked above, the Bearers have been to Abyssinia before. This feels like the forced excuse to keep Discord from solving the problem with a literal snap of his fingers that it is. I know that’s necessary when he’s in a story, but don’t warp history to make it work, especially when those prequel comics have the same writer as this issue. This will be especially frustrating later.

And Dash’s message from Twilight will go unheard until it’s plot relevant, which won't be for several issues.

Ooh, nice bit of Trixie-Capper interaction. Nightmare Knights was a great side story… and also written by Jeremy Whitley. Huh.

“As somepony with a long list of places to which I am not welcome to return, I know that look on your face.”
There are several stories there.

Ooh, more backstory… and a group of six, because while Harmony works in mysterious ways, it rarely works in subtle ones.

Going by the body type variety seen in Max and Molly, my hypothesis that Abyssinians are similar to Khajiit when it comes to variable breeds seems to hold water.

“We discovered this whole system of tunnels under the city.”
Those are sewers, Capper.

Of course Trixie thinks of the others as her entourage. Why wouldn’t she?

“No outsiders” seems like a very bad policy for a trade-focused nation.

Going by all the airships, I see Abyssinia took the lessons of the Storm King’s invasion to heart.

Oh, Fluttershy. She means well.

… Okay, the police overreaction and abuse of power feels more than a little uncomfortable.

I swear, antimagic capabilities are more common than magic in this setting at this point.

Again, the Storm King showed no sign of being inherently magical. He was collecting magic items to claim power for himself, power which he presumably didn’t already have.

Of course, now we’re getting propaganda rather than sincere efforts to retell the past. Saying that the Storm King was “allowed” in is… Well, honestly, if there are any veterans of that conquest, I’m surprised they don’t want to see how many ways there are to skin King Meowmeow. The fact that he immediately suspects that random outsiders plot to take his throne speaks of trauma at best and paranoia inspired by illegitimate rule at worst.

Love how Capper undoes his handcuffs during his impassioned speech. And how said speech completely failed to work.

“I’ve never lost my magic before.”
Really. Really. You really put those words in Discord’s mouth when something disempowering him is practically a trope in its own right.
… Okay, thank you, Fluttershy. Though they appear to be leaving out the raid on the changeling hive. That definitely counts as Discord doing something stupid because he cared about somepony.

That black streak’s the slowest moving fast thing I’ve ever seen, going by the amount of dialogue that fit into its panels.

Oof. The editor missed a fat-finger “m” instead of a comma.

Discord being able to fly without magic feels wrong on so many levels.

You know, if yarn and lasers work this well on Abyssinians, I’m honestly not surprised that the Storm King conquered this place.

Chummer lives! They never did find the body.

Issue #97

There are a surprisingly high number of non-anthropomorphic cats in the underground. Also, how did the airship crew get back down here between issues?

Ah, these are kittens. Unclear whether their spines will adjust as they age.

“Let the Cunning and Brilliant Admiral Fluffington get that collar off you.”
Oh no, there’s two of them.

And Trixie ensures deus ex draconequus gets delayed for another few pages. She acts in service to the narrative, and it thanks her for her sacrifice. (I don’t, but that’s neither here nor there. )

Yeah, Fluttershy has little patience for whining adventurers. Whatever you’re feeling, she’s been through worse.

Hmm. A mysterious door with a tree shape on it. I’m sure it’s nothing. Also, Abyssinians do seem to begin life in a more familiarly felinoid form.

Ah. These are ancient sewers. Panthera is mostly built on itself, it would seem.

The king seems to have changed his name from Meowmeow to “King Cat” between issues. Or that’s just what the resistance calls him.

Bit of a word balloon whoopsy with Chummer asking himself how he survived.

Huh. Chummer rescued by Diamond Dogs. I’m as surprised as Capper. Though the flashback doesn’t explain how he lost that eye.

A plan that hinges on Trixie, Discord, Pinkie Pie, and the local demolitions expert.
I see no way this could possibly go wrong.

Ooh, Dr. Strange-esque entrance from Discord. I like it.

This is a legitimately good bit of plan/counterplan.

Okay, Sombra sneak-attacking a Tree of Harmony is bad enough. Some random cat’s claws being able to scratch one is just ridiculous… though if the hardness of a Tree depends on the strength of friendship in the area, that might work.
(On the other hand, if he strikes it down, it shall become more powerful than he can possibly imagine.)

… Oh, okay. There are two adjoining pages with panels stretching from one to the other, and it makes it very confusing to read on a PDF.

Aww, Discord can sense when Fluttershy’s in peril.

… You’re telling me one good, solid blow was all it took to snap that collar in two. Max, the oversized muscle of the resistance, probably could’ve gotten it off pages ago. Ah well. Again, service to the narrative.

So… where’d the king get that axe?

“It doesn’t have to have a meaning. It’s chaos. And he’s my best friend!”
Fluttershy is best cultist.

I can appreciate a good makeup hug, but I never got the impression that there was any lingering resentment between Capper and Chummer in this whole arc. Maybe it’s more a matter of their respective internal doubts.

Once again, we hit the problem of insufficient time spent establishing character leading to “Sure, I guess” assignment of Elements. The aforementioned demokitty being Laughter, that works. The extraction specialist as Kindness seems more surprised than I am. Even their Honesty just shrugs and rolls with it. That said, I do appreciate how Magic isn’t always the main focus. The fact that cats and dogs both had heavier focus on Generosity and Loyalty is a pretty amusing parallel, all told.

One of the cloud gremlins is visible in a panel of magic flooding through Panthera, because Tony Fleecs.

And this is why all that revisionist history is so frustrating. We get a deep cut all the way back to issue #24 and Baast. The Abyssinians are apparently the descendants of those ancient Egyptian nekomata... which actually gives some precedent to Element Bearers among them. (Presumably the first fight against Cosmos happened at some point between then and now, only then followed by feline magic being sealed and forgotten.) This is a legitimately fascinating callback, and it’s sullied by the insistence that no, the Storm King was totally magical, guys, we swear.

Still, a race of bipeds reawakening magic they didn’t know they had? I have to appreciate that on principle.

I do have to wonder why the guard suddenly turned against King Meowmeow. It feels like the only reason they’re taking him away is because the story’s over. I would've loved to see him be one of the transformed Abyssinians, just to rub his anti-magic rhetoric in his face.

“And you think—this is a friend who will go through anything for me. Maybe even my BEST friend.”
I’m not saying this is the point where Fluttershy’s relationship with Discord took a turn for the romantic. If anything, it probably happened earlier. But this may be the point where she decided to start hinting at it to her friends.

And now there are four lights. One to go… and, assuming fractal logic applies, these five awakened Trees will unlock a sixth. The question is why these "Knights of Harmony" find that so concerning.

Some good stuff, but underdeveloped and shaky in its continuity. Which is sadly par for the course with Season 10’s overarching storyline. I can appreciate the intent, but there’s just not enough time and space to establish five (or even six!) new characters enough for us to appreciate them as Element Bearers. And the inevitable big finale will only make this messier.

But for now, let’s see what I can do with this:

Antithaumic Collar 1W
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature or planeswalker
Enchanted permanent’s abilities can’t be activated or triggered.
1W: Attach Antithaumic Collar to target creature or planeswalker.
Nations less magical than Equestria long sought ways to level the field.

Resistance Retreat 1W
Enchantment
Revolt — At the beginning of your end step, if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, create a 1/1 white Cat creature token with lifelink.
2W: Exile target creature you control, then return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control.

Insular Policy 2W
Enchantment
Players can cast spells and activate abilities only during their own turns.
Meowmeow’s fear and hatred led to efforts to isolate Abyssinia from the rest of the world.

Consolation Prizes 2W
Instant
Exile target nonland permanent. That permanent’s controller creates a Clue token, a Food token, and a Treasure token.
“Sorry I transformed your castle. Actually, no. No I’m not.”
—Discord

Meowmeow’s Sentinels 2WW
Creature — Cat Soldier
Vigilance
Permanents can’t transform.
The royal guard fought ferociously to preserve the status quo.
3/4

Meowmeow the Xenophobe 3W
Legendary Creature — Cat Noble
When Meowmeow the Xenophobe enters the battlefield, you become the monarch.
Non-Cat spells cost 1 more to cast. As long as you’re the monarch, those spells cost an additional 1 more to cast.
“Abyssinia will only flourish when cleansed of foreign influence.”
2/3

Panthera Police 3W
Creature — Cat Soldier
When Panthera Police enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls until you control no Cats.
“Suspect is resisting. Requesting backup.”
3/2

Aerial Commerce 1UU
Enchantment
Whenever one or more creatures with flying you control deal combat damage to a player, draw a card for each of those creatures, then discard a card.
Abyssinia’s trade ships plied the skies once more, but the merchants were never quite the same.

Aerial Surveyor 2U
Creature — Pegasus Scout
Flying
When Aerial Surveyor enters the battlefield, look at target player’s hand.
“Most creatures never think to look up.”
2/2

Message Relay 2U
Sorcery
Draw a card.
Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)

Trixie’s Entourage 2U
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
Magecraft — Whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell, target creature you control gains hexproof until end of turn.
“Trixie would prefer Starlight, but she’ll take what she can get.”
—Trixie Lulamoon, traveling performer
2/2

Sewer Stray B
Creature — Cat Rebel
Sewer Stray can’t block and can’t be blocked.
3, T: Search your library for a Rebel permanent card with mana value 2 or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
Every revolution starts somewhere.
1/1

Bone Dry Homesteader 2B
Creature — Dog Peasant
When Bone Dry Homesteader enters the battlefield, if you control a Desert or there is a Desert in your graveyard, return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
“Out here, we’ve got to look out for each other.”
2/2

Captain’s Privilege 2B
Sorcery
You become the monarch.
Raid — If you attacked this turn, other players can’t become the monarch until your next turn.
“A captain serves her crew, but you do get a few perks.”
—Captain Celaeno

Never Found the Body 2B
Sorcery
Exile target creature card from your graveyard. At the beginning of your next upkeep, put that card onto the battlefield.
“Should’ve known. Take your eyes off Chummer, you get what you deserve.”
—Capper Dapperpaws

Adopted Recruits 3B
Creature — Cat Rebel
Whenever another creature you control dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Adopted Recruits.
When Adopted Recruits dies, create a number of 1/1 white Cat creature tokens with lifelink equal to its power.
2/2

Resistance Sapper 2R
Creature — Cat Rebel
Revolt — When Resistance Sapper enters the battlefield, if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, Resistance Sapper deals 3 damage to any target.
Some fought for justice. Others for survival. Some just liked explosions.
3/1

Mad Scramble 5R
Sorcery
Demonstrate (When you cast this spell, you may copy it. If you do, choose an opponent to also copy it.)
After your next postcombat main phase, there is an additional combat phase. At the beginning of that combat, untap all creatures that attacked that turn.

Exploit Instincts 1G
Instant
Each player chooses a creature type. Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures of a type chosen this way.
Shadow was astonished by the outsiders’ wills. Neither yarn nor lasers made them so much as blink.

Memory of Anugypt 2G
Creature — Cat Spirit
When Memory of Anugypt enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Eternalize 4GG (4GG, Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that’s a copy of it, except it’s a 4/4 black Zombie Cat Spirit with no mana cost. Eternalize only as a sorcery.)
2/1

Resistance Muscle 4G
Creature — Cat Rebel
Trample
Whenever Resistance Muscle deals combat damage to a player, you may put a Rebel permanent card from your hand onto the battlefield.
Nothing helps recruitment like seeing a guard get punched across town.
4/4

Resistance Airship 4
Tribal Artifact — Rebel Vehicle
Flying
Revolt — At the beginning of each combat, if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, you may have Resistance Airship become an artifact creature until end of turn.
Crew 3 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 3 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)
5/3

Clean the Streets 1W(br)
Sorcery
Destroy all tokens.
Meowmeow’s draconian policies sent all undesirables to either the prisons or the underground.

Crack the Puzzle Lock 1WU
Legendary Enchantment
When Crack the Puzzle Lock enters the battlefield or at the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card, then exile a card from your hand. Then if there are four or more card types among cards exiled with Crack the Puzzle Lock, transform it.
Palace Temple of Harmony
Legendary Land
T: Add one mana of any color.
1WU, T, Exile the top card of your library: Put a card you own exiled with this permanent into your hand.
Forgotten wisdom now fills Panthera’s streets.

Stealth Swindler 1UB
Creature — Cat Ninja
Ninjutsu (ub) ((ub), Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
Whenever Stealth Swindler deals combat damage to a player, draw a card, then discard a card. Then if there are five or more cards in your graveyard, transform Stealth Swindler.
2/1
Shadow, Scion of Baast
(UB) Legendary Creature — Cat Ninja
1UB: Shadow, Scion of Baast can’t be blocked this turn.
Whenever Shadow deals combat damage to a player, search your graveyard and/or library for a card and put it into your hand. If you searched your library this way, shuffle.
“Let’s see what we can do.”
3/3

Vortex Rider 2(rg)
Creature — Chimera Shaman
Reach
Whenever you cast a red spell, Vortex Rider deals 1 damage to each other creature without flying.
Whenever you cast a green spell, Vortex Rider deals 1 damage to each creature with flying.
2/2

Fluttershy, Caring Playmate 3RW
Legendary Creature — Pegasus Cleric
Partner with Discord, Playful Anarch (When this creature enters the battlefield, target player may put Discord into their hand from their library, then shuffle.)
Flying, vigilance
Whenever one or more loyalty counters are removed from a planeswalker you control, Fluttershy deals that much damage to any target.
3/3

Discord, Playful Anarch 4BR
Legendary Planeswalker — Discord
+2: Until your next turn, any number of target creatures your opponents control attack Discord each combat if able.
-X: Reveal the top X cards of your library. You may cast a nonland card with mana value X or less revealed this way. Then shuffle.
-X: Return a creature card with power X at random from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Partner with Fluttershy, Caring Playmate
Discord, Playful Anarch can be your commander.
5

Explosive Jailbreak 5BR
Sorcery
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. Explosive Jailbreak deals damage equal to that creature’s power to each opponent.
Chaotic 3BR (You may cast this spell for its chaotic cost. If you do, choose its target at random.)

Panthera Crossroads
Land — Plains Island Swamp
(T: Add W, U, or B.)
Panthera Crossroads enters the battlefield tapped.
Cycling 3 (3, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
The massive trade hub offers wonders and horrors from every corner of the globe.

Comments

[Nitro Indigo]

Maybe the Abyssinians didn't know where the Storm King's magic came from?

[The Voice in the Water]

To be fair, de-powering Discord does stop him from being a pure deus-ex-machina. Except they need a deus-ex-machina to de-power him in the first place. So, they're getting one either way.

[Herald of Opera]

The Storm King's sheer ignorance of how the world works has been used to argue that he's from another one. Presumably, he outright opened a portal right above them to send the airships through.

[iisaw]

Tempest used magical doo-dads to petrify the alicorns during the attack on Canterlot. Perhaps some similar use of artifacts happened in Abyssinia? Giant crystal vacuum cleaner, maybe?

5527137
But his home island is marked on the official map! It's far to the south in the polar sea, so that's pretty isolated. About as far from the rest of the world as possible, and enough to excuse a general ignorance thereof.

[_Undefined_]

Going by the body type variety seen in Max and Molly,

I suppose it's unavoidable, but that panel is giving me flashbacks to the 2019 Cats movie. I hope nobody's clamoring for the anatomically accurate cut of this comic.

[jqnexx]

Exploit Instincts 1G
Instant
chosen this way from their graveyard to the

Spare line of text?

[Elric of Melnipony]

Anybody else feel like Molly was a nod to Minnie May Hopkins from Gunsmith Cats? Both characters are small, cute, and good at blowing stuff up. Oh, and Molly's yellow fur could have been based on Minnie May's blonde hair.

[Herald of Opera]

Oh, almost forgot a...

Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Not all of the things that a layman thinks trigger actually do; replacement effects, which usually start with "if" and include an "additional" or "instead" somewhere, aren't stopped by an Antithaumic Collar. In addition to the obvious replacing-something-with-something-else use case, it's also used to keep doubling effects from triggering themselves in an infinite loop. (There are hundreds if not thousands of infinite loops anyway; the game ends in a draw if they're involuntary and don't progress towards a win condition)

[PhoenixFlambe]

Discord being able to fly without magic feels wrong on so many levels

Harsher in hindsight since flying is now considered tied to magic and not simply a physical feat.

I do have to wonder why the guard suddenly turned against King Meowmeow. It feels like the only reason they’re taking him away is because the story’s over. I would've loved to see him be one of the transformed Abyssinians, just to rub his anti-magic rhetoric in his face.

That would've been lovely since we had Sprout but during that time, people think there were too many reformations. Besides he's meant to be your typical evil king. In his case he was more corrupt 6ha than evil. Also Chummer most likely lost his eye during the initial coup against the king.