Friendship is Card Games: Tempest's Tale · 12:53pm Feb 24th, 2019
Kind of funny how Tempest’s story consists of a movie bookended by comics. Time to look at her personal third act.
Yeah, the grizzled, scarred war veteran who still prefers her nom de guerre to her actual birth name doesn’t quite fit in in Ponyville. And if anyone can understand traveling somewhere else to find oneself, it’s Twilight.
Oh hey, the mare who single-hoofedly ensured that Equestria would have a hope of defeating the Storm King. Also Sweetie Belle and Pinkie Pie.
I’d ask why Applejack is building this many barns, but the answer is clearly for them to act as insurance for when disaster inevitably strikes.
Don’t bother those stallions, Tempest. They’re on a mission from Faust.
Oh, hello, King Aspen. Can’t say I’m surprised that he’s suspicious of Tempest. Or, you know, literally anypony. Frickin’ xenophobic elves with antlers…
“I helped anyone that needed it. Not just friendship problems, but real problems.” Wow. Shots fired. Also, very interesting to see Tempest managing to telekinese. It clearly isn’t easy for her, but it appears she can magically manipulate objects without immediately destroying them. I suspect Twilight had a hoof in helping her get that level of refinement with her magic.
I mean, if Tempest really wanted an adventure, she could’ve just waited in Ponyville. Still, the Crystal Empire’s a good backup disaster magnet.
“I still don’t understand how the princess thing works.” We’ve been theorizing for almost a decade, Tempest. You’re in good company.
I do love Cadence’s anxious expression as she tries to wait for Tempest to conclude her inner monologue.
I imagine anyone who spends enough time around Twilight develops a lecture sense.
I actually have made a princess of military air supremacy, Princess Mi Milite Vigilanza. The Storm King is actually the exact sort of threat Vigilance would spot and intercept from her post in geosynchronous orbit (as opposed to those threats that lie in her aunt’s statue garden, impersonate her cousin, or otherwise refuse to engage in conventional warfare.)
My old OCs aside, it’s kind of frustrating to see Tempest’s critiques when the deck was so unfairly stacked against Equestria in the movie. The Guard just didn’t seem to exist for its purposes, including Shining Armor.
Flurry Heart is best Princess of Explosions.
It is nice to get some insight into Cadence from her own perspective.
Patrolling the untamed north does seem right up Tempest’s alley.
The Empire is well aware of their climate control’s single point of failure, Tempest. Now consider the logistics of transporting the entire city-state’s population to somewhere more hospitable.
“What have you been up to?” asks Glitter Drops. After saying that Cadence told her all about Tempest. I have to wonder what that briefing entailed if she can even think asking that question is a good idea. Nostalgia might have overruled common sense there.
“Today: Yet Another Fair!” Heh. Ponyville in a nutshell.
It really says something about Tempest’s mindset that she saw those little socialization opportunities as “friendship traps.”
Protip: Do not mock the broken-horned unicorn with an attitude problem.
What exactly is the purpose of Icy Shanks’s place? The only kind of produce this area seems suitable for is rock farming., and even then I’d expect him to clear off the snow.
Tempest has an air of the kind of D&D player who zones out until the next combat encounter, though she does have her reasons beyond boredom.
Brilliant work in undercutting the drama with that fish.
Very nice work with the surreal transparency of the Ursa.
“Her light is blinding. Even with my eyes closed, I see it.” Yes. Just look at those obviously shut eyes. 
Tempest’s dignity couldn’t take the one-two punch of ursaphobia and one of the ponies who she blames for ruining her life saving it. Then came the apology for that moment, and she just didn’t know what to do.
… Oh. Or she never even thought about blaming anything but fate and the Ursa. With that kind of knee-jerk heroism, who knows what Fizzlepop might have become if she hadn’t faced that tragedy?
Huh. On the one hand, I’m surprised Twilight didn’t catch up Tempest on all the invasions prior to her own. On the other, I can see why Twilight wouldn’t want to focus on that sort of thing.
I do like the conflicting priorities of Tempest the soldier and Glitter the ranger. Different jobs need different skills.
“If he stays out in this, he’ll freeze.” Given that we’re talking about a physical manifestation of starlight, I find that very hard to believe.
Ooh, nice. I always like seeing illusions used well. Especially since I tend to underestimate them when making D&D casters and gravitate towards just blowing things up.
Tempest’s epiphany was well done, even if it was more told than shown. There are a few real monsters out there, but it’s still great to see her open herself up like this.
Heh. Ponies not writing to their friends at home after going to Celestia’s School does seem to be a theme.
Very interesting touch to have Glitter Drops and Spring Rain in the same class as Sunset Shimmer. Not sure if that raises or answers more questions about the timeline. Still, big fish leaving their small pond definitely explains why Tempest lost touch with her friends.
Also, whatever did happen to Spring Rain?
“Crystal Kingdom City Limits” If a member of the Guard put up that sign, Shining probably still has them running laps.
Fantastic denouement. Cadence clearly learned a thing or two from her aunt when it comes to teaching practical lessons to antisocial unicorns. The funny thing is, even with literal pony Aphrodite bringing them together, I don’t really sense any romantic chemistry between Tempest and Glitter Drops. Though given Tempest’s past, it’ll probably be months if not years before she’s even ready to think about that kind of thing. She’s barely begun removing her emotional armor, to say nothing of her physical armor.
This feels a little lightweight for a two-issue story, especially the back half, but it’s still a great way to bring Tempest some genuine closure for the events that led to her self-imposed isolation. Cut the introduction and compress some of the longer scenes in the second half, and I could see this being a fantastic (if admittedly rushed) Friends Forever issue. Even as is, it’s still some great work.
Now, let’s just hope I don’t accidentally trigger anyone’s childhood trauma with these:
Divine Mission 1W
Instant
Target creature gains first strike, lifelink, and indestructible until end of turn.
Those directed by a higher power pay no heed to any lesser authority.
Impenetrable Equation 1U
Instant
Counter target spell with a numeral in its text box. (Number words aren’t numerals. A creature’s power and toughness aren’t in its text box.)
“Nopony said there would be math!”
Canterlot Instructor 2U
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
Spells you cast during other players’ turns cost 1 less to cast.
“Now, who would like to help me during the countermagic demonstration?”
1/3
Curse of the Protagonist 4U
Enchantment — Aura Curse
Enchant player
Players may pay 0 rather than pay the mana cost for spells they cast that target enchanted player.
“‘Interesting times’ is putting it mildly.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Friendship Overload B
Instant
Destroy target creature if that creature’s controller controls more creatures than any other player.
Tempest had faced untold legions, forgotten magics, and monstrosities from out of legend. She lasted about a month in Ponyville.
Subdue the Populace 5B
Instant
Destroy target creature an opponent controls. Each other creature that player controls gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
“One quick example and the Storm King has a new batch of loyal subjects.”
—Commander Tempest Shadow
Headstrong Charger 1R
Creature — Unicorn Warrior
Trample, haste
Heroic — Whenever Headstrong Charger becomes the target of a spell you control, it gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is that spell’s converted mana cost.
Not all unicorns hole up in libraries and boutiques.
1/1
Tempest’s Fury 1RR
Sorcery
Tempest’s Fury deals 2 damage to each creature. Whenever a creature dies this turn, Tempest’s Fury deals 1 damage to that creature’s controller.
“If my magic can only destroy, then I will be the best weapon I can be.”
Royal Blastseeker 4R
Creature — Wizard
Alicorn (This card is also a Pony Pegasus Unicorn.)
Flying
Hoofcraft — Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, if you control three or more Ponies, Pegasi, and/or Unicorns, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
3/3
Northern Homesteader 1G
Snow Creature — Pony Citizen
T: Add one mana of any type that a land you control could produce.
”Anyone who claims earth ponies have no magic is welcome to try farming tundra themselves.”
—Cadence, Princess of Serenity
1/1
Alpine Ranger 2G
Creature — Unicorn Scout
Whenever Alpine Ranger deals combat damage to a player, look at that many cards from the top of your library. You may reveal a creature card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
3/2
Personal Odyssey 2G
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature you control
When Personal Odyssey enters the battlefield or at the beginning of your upkeep, enchanted creature explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
Skeptical Elk 3G
Creature — Elk Shaman
Whenever an Elk you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent control, create a 1/1 green Elk creature token.
One moment of collaboration was far from enough to get King Aspen to trust the outside world.
2/4
Unimpeachable Ursa 3G
Enchantment Creature — Bear
Bestow 6G (If you cast this spell for its bestow cost, it’s an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it’s not attached to a creature.)
Hexproof
Enchanted creature gets +3/+3 and has hexproof.
3/3
Friendship Trap 4GG
Instant — Trap
If the number of creatures attacking you and planeswalkers you control is greater than the number of untapped creatures you control, you may pay 2G rather than pay this spell’s mana cost.
Create three 2/2 green Pony creature tokens.
Traveler’s Guide 2
Artifact
When Traveler’s Guide enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, return Traveler’s Guide to its owner’s hand.
“Don’t panic.”
—Guide cover inscription
Horrific Injury WB
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -2/-2 and its activated abilities can’t be activated.
Wounds inflicted by starbeasts are the will of the heavens, which no mortal medicine can question.
Backup Barns RW
Enchantment
1, Sacrifice a noncreature permanent: Target permanent that shares a card type with the sacrificed permanent gains indestructible until end of turn.
”You start seeing the pattern after the first fifty disasters.”
—Applejack, Bearer of Honesty
Astral Figment 1GU
Creature — Bear Illusion
Whenever Astral Figment becomes blocked, it gets +4/+4 until end of turn.
Whenever Astral Figment deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.
If you don’t believe it, it’ll learn what you will.
1/1
Startling Flare 2WU
Instant
Return all tapped creatures target player controls to their owners’ hands. Then tap all creatures that player controls.
The light is laced with a subtle suggestion to go bother somepony else.
Canterlot Air Marshal 3URW
Creature — Soldier
Alicorn
Flying, first strike, menace
At the beginning of each combat, choose flying, first strike, or menace. Other creatures you control gain that ability until end of turn.
4/4
Salvage the Wreckage XBG
Sorcery
Exile up to X target cards from a single graveyard. Distribute X +1/+1 counters among any number of target creatures.
The Storm Fleet provided many of the resources used to rebuild after its attacks.
Long-Night Copse
Snow Land
Long-Night Copse enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add B or G.
”The sun has left. The shadows blend.
Too dark to find a single friend.
And cold continues without end.”
—The Dynasty of Winter Princesses
Ah, see that's where Tempest gets you. Her eyes are actually closed, but to keep her troops in line she had eyes tattooed on her eyelids so they would think she never even blinked much less slept!
Tempest's character arc was interesting in this story. One thing I found interesting was precisely what she said to Glitter when she was at her angriest -- "you do not get to save me now". The "now", especially. After all, as she saw it, Glitter and Spring Rain caused the whole tragedy by letting her go into the cave and then abandoning her -- if they weren't there for her then, when she needed them, Glitter certainly doesn't get to swoop in and play the hero now, after Tempest put so much effort into becoming someone strong who will never be hurt like that again. It would feel like adding insult to injury to Tempest -- "first you cost me my horn in the first place, and once I become someone capable of protecting herself you act like I'm still a helpless child who needs a hero to save her from trouble?"
Of course, this all hinges on Tempest's own recollection of events, and memory is far less reliable than people tend to assume. Tempest's personal narrative was very dependent on Glitter Drops and Spring Rain being selfish jerks who would leave their friend to be mauled and then leave her behind when her injury started to hold them back, in order to justify how far she went in abandoning her old life and values. Glitter Drops being genuinely apologetic, still trying to be friends and still regretting what she'd caused... it must certainly have rattled Tempest's worldview.
EDIT: On a somewhat unrelated note: I don't recall details very well because I haven't read this in a while and my copy of iBooks is currently on the fritz, but I do remember that Tempest's argument with Icy Shanks bugged me a fair bit. What I mean is that I think that the story was trying to use it as an example of how Tempest tends to be overly aggressive and to set it against Glitter Drops' more diplomatic approach, but the way I read it the argument turning as sour as it did seemed largely Icy Shanks's fault -- first he took a disproportionate amount of insult at Tempest pointing out that his fence was busted (because... he was offended that someone implied his house was less than flawless?) despite it being very visibly broken, then escalated things by bringing in Tempest's horn, which to be honest had nothing to do with what they were saying, it was uncalled for, and Tempest was... kinda right at being pissed off for it. Imagine if they were humans, Tempest had some other form of physical disability, and Icy Shanks used it in the same manner for a cheap comeback -- it wouldn't work very well, I suspect.
There was something of a disconnect between the way that incident was meant to come across and how it did come across, I think. Mostly since both Glitter Drops, Icy Shanks and the story by extension treated the whole thing as Tempest's fault.
My own excuse for the royal guard is that their default doctrine, when facing a new enemy with unknown capabilities, is to retreat and counterattack once they know what they're facing. But then someone didn't pass along that the Princesses got stoned and they found themselves at the rally point with a hostage situation.
Tempest can be Princess of Explosions some day, she's already got fireworks down...
5019274
So she's not from Ponyville?
Would make her about forty five. She did strike me as older, in the film.
There's a lot to unpack and think about here. Good to know Tempest got some decent closure.
I'm sorry, but at first I read that as Icy Skanks.
I haven't read any of the movie tie-in comics, but the Tempest arc sounds like it's worth checking out.
This is the kind of Cady content we need in the show proper.
Another one of the arcs I actually picked up and read. I don't think Tempest was exactly a great character, but she was definitely one of the better parts of the movie, and she really needed a lot more closure than she got. Her character arc in the movie itself ended in a nice enough way, but I hated how season eight just abruptly dropped her with a throwaway line of dialogue just because they couldn't afford to get her voice actress back. So I really appreciated this comic story for doing what the show couldn't, and giving her some sense of closure and an actual place in Equestria. She's also since reappeared in the Nightmare Knights series, and I've been really enjoying that as well so far, since it's just such a bizarre series and premise.
Although yes, I agree, it's frustrating how the movie completely ignored the existence of the Royal Guard, and then we have this movie character coming along and criticising Equestria's lack of proper defences.
Yeah, this was a fun duo of issues. While it did seem a little long in places, I liked how it examined Tempest's deeper trauma and showed exactly how awkward it would be to be stuck with somebody you blamed for ruining your life. All in all, it was heavy narrative stuff done pretty well.
He's running laps around the Crystal Kingdom City Limits and he's running them until he figures out himself why he can stop.