Friendship is Magicite? Let's Play Pony Fantasy 6!

Local gossip all points to that giant mansion up on the hill. I wonder if that's important... Unlike FF6, "little girl" could refer to just about anypony in our group.



Letter: Just spent an absolute fortune. It's my largest painting yet, so I won't be able to put it with the others. I'll decide later where to display it.
Page 2: An artist came from Las Pegasus. He wanted me to see his work. What a waste of time.
Page 3: Bought a new stairway lamp at the Item Shop. Expensive, but one flip of the switch and everything's bright and cheery.
Page 4: I invited over an artist from Coltlingen. About as talented as a bucket...
Page 5: Something happening to me. It started when I had that picture painted... And I've started hearing odd noises coming from downstairs.
The diary ends here...

Okay, we've got our clues. Who's up for a game of Mansions of Madness?



As always (at least in my experience), lack of attention to the intro story wastes Fluttershy's first turn. Hopefully the Keeper can't pull off anything too game-breaking very quickly.



But she remembers that bit of NPC dialog from earlier and grabs a Clue!

Letter: The treasure is hidden where the mountains form a star...

... I'm thinking this Clue is from another scenario. Guess that's another wasted turn!



Giving the Keeper enough Threat to attack the Investigators with pretty flowers!



Ouch! That puts a serious dent in our Sanity!



We don't even have time to catch our breath between living painting attacks!!



The Keeper saves up Threat while the Investigators wander lost in the confusing mansion, only awakening one more painting monster. It's not too bad, which makes the Investigators even more nervous about what's coming up...



OH GOOD LORD WHAT IS THAT THING? And that's not even the monster?!

Owzer: Yes... And now it's nearly impossible to get it to show itself...
Sweetie Belle: Ahhhhh!!
Owzer: Sweetie Belle! We can't attack this masterpiece! It would be inexcusable!
Chadarnook: G'fu, fu, fu... Who're these numbskulls? No one... NO ONE... is going to remove me from this fine new painting!!



Gah! Not a fun fight at all! I hate timing-based bosses. If Pinkie Pie went uncontrolled like Gau, I'm not sure I'd be able to do it with her on the team. Instead she fire-catscratched every time Cadarnook was out and ate apples the rest of the time. Fluttershy threw the last of our Flame Sabres to nice effect.



Sweetie Belle: Huh?! What are you talking about?
Party: Now... what was a monster doing in that picture?!
Owzer: It all started when I bought a stone at the Auction House. I took one look at it and suddenly felt I needed a portrait of Starlet. I asked several artists, but none could muster enough skill. It was then that I heard about Sweetie Belle's amazing ability. I brought her here and put her to work. But while she was painting, that thing came along... It must have been enticed here by that stone.
Party: Where is the stone...?
Owzer: The stone? Over on that bookshelf.



Scenario complete! Hooray for lots of healing magic!

Sweetie Belle: I have to go! But fear not, I'll be back to finish this painting!
Owzer: I'll be waiting for you!

And hooray for another mage! Who has almost no spells. I'm not sure it's worth training her up right away, despite liking her as a character. Probably when I need her for picking up Lores.

Speaking of Lores...



Sweetie Belle: Of course! I started looking right away, but it's tough going out here!
Rarity: Oh my goodness, I simply did not know what to do without you! I know we fight sometimes, but just the thought of losing you was too much to bear...
Sweetie Belle: Oh c'mon Rarity, I'm a crusader remember?! There's no way I'd give up!
Rarity: Sweetie, believe me when I say you're the most beautiful thing I've seen in a lifetime!
Sweetie Belle: C'mon stop embarrassing me! Let's get going!
Rarity: Of course darling! Just let me at that ruffian Discord, I'll show him just what a "lady" can do!

Next time: Another Cutie Mark Crusader joins the fray!

Rarity being involved in a cult isn't strange at all when you consider Friendship is Witchcraft.

Another CMC? Dunno whether to root for Scootachicken so we can see a hidden char or Appledoom because, well, doom...

Returning to where everything started: the miserable city of Neighshe. It's gotten worse since the end of the world, enough so that nearly everypony has abandoned the place.



You can't exactly fly either, kid.

Scootaloo: She seems lonely, it wouldn't be right to at least tell her I'm going. We need to find her! If I ask her to come with us she won't have to stay here alone.



By the way, the dance names were changed a lot. The one with "trot" is the only real "pony" change. I guess the names give a better idea of what element to expect from them?



Not that we're going to be fighting random monsters very much anymore. Best part about Scootamog joining the team!



Tritoch: I sense war and destruction... Could that stupid war possibly have lasted a thousand years? I can tell that you want to put a stop to the madness... Let's see if you are worthy!
[Received the Magicite "Tritoch!"]

Tritoch's speech feels like it should go before the battle instead of after, especially ending with such a "Bring it!" line.



By the magic of editing, we hop directly into the den of somepony we'd like to recruit!



More delicious magicite!



Note: If you see Princess Luna, please tell her to meet me where the mountains meet the sky... ~D

Wait... that's not how it goes!! How dare the romhackers actually change something!! So... any clue where that description indicates? Because I'm not sure. I'll see if I can scrounge up some Flutterdreams for next time as well.

Hmm... It's been a while, but maybe Mt. Colts?

You'll find the hidden one... *Turns into Discord* Back where you began
... If you still can't get it after that, shoot me a PM lol

Time for a peaceful night's rest...



It's dream time!!

Oh, it's over already?



This is Pip, for the record. Pipsqueak showed up in the Halloween episode, dressed as a pirate and being adorable.

Posey is one of the previous-gen ponies Fluttershy is based on, an earth pony who was into gardening.



Derpy Hooves: The world used to be... so peaceful...
Party: We're trying to restore that peace! Will you come with us?
Derpy Hooves: Yes, I will not hide in the background any longer... I swore an oath to my king, I would sooner die than dishonor his memory... I'll go with you, and help dethrone that lunatic once and for all... My soldiers used to call me "Hurricane"... but my real name is...



Yep, it's Derpy Hooves. Surprise!

Derpy Hooves: A gift, from Luna's father, King Nebula... I was tasked with her safety, but she has grown beyond the need of my care... Indeed the very earth itself cries for protection now, we must answer its call! Together, Discord shall fall, and Equestria WILL prevail!

I don't know what crazy fanfiction this is based on and I don't think I want to know. A lot of people like to theorize who or what came before the immortal alicorn princesses so there are a lot of different ideas out there. The ones I've run across are very similar to Greek and other similar mythologies.



Meet Derpy Hooves, also known as Ditzy Doo or "San Diego Comic Con 2012 Exclusive" or "She Who Must Not Be Named." Her weird eyes were originally an animation error but she kept showing up that way in the background of many episodes. Bronies adored her and eventually she got actual dialog!

Which is where the horsehocky hit the fan because Rainbow Dash referred to her by her fan name, Derpy, without anyone on the show looking up the word and considering the implications. Pretty soon that scene was redubbed and her name removed. More details can be found for those who care. Personally, I'm just annoyed this controversy took attention from the only Applejack-centric episode that wasn't about apples. Poor girl never gets any breaks!

I do want to point out the note in the Neighshe caves said for Luna to look for her and there's no special dialog for bringing Luna along. Trickier to program? Perhaps. Still should have made it happen!



Derpy Hooves gets Soar like Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo and Zecora/Leo's Shock. Equipped with the Derp Ring, Attack has a chance to hurl allies Umaro-style.



Posey: I can't believe we saved all those animals!
Pip: So, I was thinking of names...
Posey: For...?
Pip: C'mon, don't be so shy about it!
Posey: ...
Pip: Anyway, I'd pick... Fluttershy! Not bad, huh?

I guess Posey and Pip were eco-terrorists.



Who'da thunk?

On to the next secret character! I'm surprised that didn't get changed to "Nom nom nom." I would have done it.



Derpy shows off her smooth moves. I'm not sure how many times I got knocked down off the floating platforms. Ten maybe. At least I didn't get flattened in the next room.



Oh HORSEFEATHERS! Fooled again!!



Pip: You don't have to pretend. I know. I've lost... too much blood. Get going! I'm gonna slow you down.
Posey: But...!
Pip: You wanna get caught?



Oh that's going to happen.

Pip: I don't want to go through that. Do me this favor. Are you... shaking? I can't believe it! You're acting like a coward! Come on, you weakling! Grab a knife and...
Posey: I CAN'T!
Pip: Posey!!!



Another grim end for a little colt from the show.



Wait, who's this?



Our missing pony!! It's the pony avatar of Lauren Faust, creator of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic!



Back to the story of pony creation myths, Lauren Faust's pony self is sometimes depicted as the creation goddess on the tier above Celestia (sun), Luna (moon), and Discord (chaos) in the pony pantheon. This is also a good excuse to depict those three as babies, with Faust watching over them. Very cute.

Lauren Faust developed and ran the show first season, then had a little input early in the second season, easing her way out. She has no involvement in the third season and has instead been working on adorable Supergirl/Batgirl/Wondergirl shorts.



Faust: What?! She's gone? And Discord is ruining the world? I... see... She was my friend, too... I'm going with you, it's the least I could do!

Well if you insist!



She's got the same setup as Gogo, with Mimic and blank spots for whatever you want. Despite Derpy having Shock, it's not on the list of commands she can equip. Celestia's Summon and Fluttershy's Stare are, the only other moves not normally available.

FWIW, Faust's ponysona was something she actually made herself.

I was pretty sure that was the case but wasn't 100% sure. If she hadn't made it, there'd probably be a lot more variants out there.

And a lot less porn. Incidentally, Faust has said porn of her own ponysona is the only kind she has a serious problem with. Not that it stopped anyone...

To those wondering about Derpys old portrait, it's mostly the same, but I put it up here if you're interested:
http://i.imgur.com/ZArZs.png
Faust is also the most broken and fun pony I swear it
You forgot to grab the holy avenger from Zecoras grave, but it's debatable whether you want to use it since it sucks MP so fast

I never really understood Derpy's popularity.

Only Derpy I like is the one who teams up with Doctor Whooves in occasional animated shorts. Otherwise... meh. If she ever gets a proper size toy I'll probably get it anyway (I picked up Lyra the other day.)

I don't show all the loot, but yes I did get distracted with needing to check Faust's stats and didn't pick it up. It's probably not bad, since so many characters don't actually USE their MP.

Which is one of the many reasons she is awesome. By the way, is there anywhere where I can find that statement online?

LTTP, but what would you say are the prerequisites for enjoying this game? Obviously, a thorough familiarity with both FF6 and MLP:FM is ideal, but could you get away with just one or the other? I'm not committing to playing, just curious.

If someone doesn't know FF6, it might be a little harder, especially when the game starts expecting everyone to have magic. Nothing a little extra grinding can't fix.

If someone doesn't know MLP, they'll miss out on a lot of references but otherwise wouldn't suffer much. It might even help to not get frustrated over certain choices like Apple Bloom and Applejack not knowing each other.

I wonder how you got to see Fluttershy's dreams. I rested at the same town, bot nothing happened. Would be great to know, thanks in advance.

moved to 'On Hiatus'

Kinda expected. I got my computer set up so I can work on it again so hopefully it'll change back soon. Computer problems: The bane of LPing.

This is the best news. I'm sure there's several (hundred) appropriate .gifs for the occasion, but I'm too lazy to look for them.

After far too long, it's time to bring back the Sparkle!



But first: Awkward questions about how a mare in a village of nothing but mares and children got pregnant. Horse gestation averages 340 days so blaming some stallion lost when the world got torn up seems unlikely. Perhaps some travelling salespony is the culprit. Or maybe Iron Will did more than just stomp around during his visits...



Yep. Awkward.



Lyra's been holding up pretty well considering. I mean you're supposed to be her Super Special Somepony but you're carrying a half-minotaur foal?!



Soap opera! Still wish they'd changed his name to Iron Will.



I absolutely brought along as much of the Mane 6 as I could. Just imagine Rainbow Dash is napping on a cloud somewhere nearby, being the Element of Loyalty and all.



She's got a magic and a fire Iron Will's never seen before. She's got the ability to morph that should even up the score. Nopony will ever keep her down. The power of friendship lies on her side. Go go fire pony! Go go fire pony! Go go fire pony! You mighty morphin' fire ponyyyyy! I may have taken that too far...



Extra warm hugs all around!



This is kind of a mashup of several of Twilight's friendship lessons from the series. Though being "best at something" in this case means "killing stuff with magic" not doing various magic tricks. But everybrony knows that's what she means either way.



She said teacher! She said teacher! Yaaaaay! Now just drop that "mama" nonsense and rewrite the script around using "teacher."

Kids: "Mama... I'm not gonna cry!" "Me either!"

dammit

Twilight Sparkle: I'll be back soon, keep studying until then! Thank you so much everypony! The truth is, I didn't know what friendship could be, until you all shared its magic with me! Zecora, Celestia, and all of you, you've shown me that magic isn't something to be ashamed of. I'll fight to protect these fillies! As a great general once said, "If you want peace, you must prepare for war!"

And thus Twilight Sparkle rejoined the party. Glee.



Only one recruit remaining! Next time: Apple Bloom!

This, Ghost Lion and Live-A-Live are all back? It's like Christmas!

I'm excited to see some of the later WoR sidequests.

I'm so happy to see this make a comeback!

It's time for the Phoenix Cave, team! Our two Cutie Mark Crusaders make up one team, equipped with the Scooter to avoid all that random encounter nonsense. The other team is comprised of ponies who might have something to say and ponies relevant to Apple Bloom in the show. There is no overlap between those columns.



It's rather impressive how many times Final Fantasy 6 manages to use the split party mechanic. This time we get puzzles!



Dammit.



The Phoenix Cave has lava!



Dammit. Dammit.



And water!



Dammit.



And switches that combine the two to make steam!



Dammit.



New relic! The Wonderbolt Badge is the Dragon Horn, aka Jump x4. Since Jump is an innate command instead of being tied to a relic, somepegasis has a bonus relic slot when using this.



Oh hey there, Apple Bloom, fancy meeting you here! Now about all those empty treasure chests...



Dibs!

Apple Bloom: Exactly! Supposedly, this is the Phoenix itself... It was turned to stone so it couldn't revive itself, and became magicite instead. It looks cracked though, I hope it still works...
Trixie: Apple Bloom... That's for Scratch, isn't it...?
Apple Bloom: I wasn't able to save her... Ah can never forgive mahself... She had her whole life ahead of her. If it wasn't for me... she'd still be alive.
Party: Will you come with us? Only as far as Coltlingen...

Okay fine, but when you're done with that...



Such a negative nancy! Of course when you're on retainer keeping a corpse nice for years and years, the chance of that ending probably seems like a bummer. Also just imagine what her resume must look like.



Apple Bloom: Scratch!!!
Scratch: Apple Bloom, sorry we have to meet again like this...
Apple Bloom: Scratch...
Scratch: The Phoenix is so weak, I can't stay... for long...
Apple Bloom: ... ...
Scratch: Apple Bloom, we had some really good times together... When the Empire came and started pushing us around, I finally remembered everything, about how you wouldn't take that lying down! Guess I said the wrong thing to the wrong soldier though, look where it got me...

This scene was originally all love and bittersweet goodbyes. Without the love angle, Scratch is shown to be an idiot that started mouthing off at occupying soldiers and got herself killed. It's hard to see but Scratch does have the Brony assigned eye color, red.



Scratch: You believe in something truly beautiful, and you're not afraid to share it with the ones you love! You've got your own life to live, don't you dare give up on it! ... ... Phoenix! Be reborn again!! And give your power to my friend, Apple Bloom!!



That phoenix never stops being awesome. Sorry, hard to respect the drama when I don't care about Vinyl Scratch and she has nothing to do with Apple Bloom.



Apple Bloom: I'm glad y'all were there to see that... Ah thought that day would haunt me forever... But from now on, I'm gonna be all right!

It's cool. Everypony has dead people in their backstory.



Like...



TREASURE!! I feel the Phoenix Cave treasure is a bit underwhelming, considering all the empty chests you have to suffer through along the way.

Apple Bloom: Right, let's roll out! We have an appointment with Discord!

By the way, season 3 introduced yet another character who would be better suited than Vinyl Scratch for the Rachel role:



Babs Seed is Apple Bloom's cousin from Manehattan. She's introduced in an anti-bullying episode but by the end she's the leader of the Manehattan branch of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Her "bully" side would be an interesting take on amnesia-Rachel, making you dislike Babs rather than just her dad during that scene.

Note: When I mention things from season 3, I certainly don't expect the romhack to be rewriting itself as new cannon is introduced. Just stuff I hope romhackers think about next time a project like this is attempted (next gap between seasons, I imagine.) Though this hack HAS gotten updates and I'll be using the latest version starting next update. Many changes may be in our past now but the one thing I do know: Phunbaba's name was changed to Iron Will. Victory!

The strangest thing about this hack is how the original game had so many little love subplots and this uses an almost entirely female cast. And it does it without tons of out-of-place lesbian shipping!

Huh? When did I switch to grayscale? And terrible resolution?



Oh. Oh right! Flutterdreams. I guess that other pony is Rarity but without color most ponies look the same.



And that's it. Most disappointing dream ever.



I throw a bunch of money at the Baltimare inkeeper but fail to get another dream to trigger so we'll move along. By the time we return, that inn may have a new addition under construction.



The Cutie Mark Crusaders have new character portraits thanks to the latest version of the romhack. They're supposed to look older to better suit the plot. Apple Bloom's the only one who could use it but Sweetie Bell doesn't have anything keeping her Relm's age and they might as well all match. I guess Scootaloo's ability to Soar would indicate she's older as well.

Sweetie Bell matches the popular assumption of what she'll look like grown up. Her curly mane now looks intentional and her eyelashes are overly made up like Rarity's. I'm not sure the show will ever let them grow up but if so I hope the eyelashes thing doesn't happen.



The girls head to Neighshe for some looting. It must be hard to pick locks with hooves. Of course the same could be said for swords and crossbows... Best not to think about it.



I hate this decision! I want both! Or I want to trade in the magicite later to get the sword. For once I listen to all the guides and take the sword.



Because this is the first time I'm actually going to decurse the shield.



Hundreds of laps around the Solitary Island and dozens of spells learned later, it's done. I learned how to increase the emulator speed specifically to get through this mess. But I really want Ultima before going through too many more sidequests and my unicorns got good use out of those 256 magic points.



Let's check off one more quick objective.



Luna: Greymane... I'm so glad you're safe!!!
Greymane: Whoa?! Luna, this can't be... Tears??
[Greymane jumps on the roof.]
Greymane: Wa, ha, ha... Nothing happened to me! The earth yawned right open to take me but I scrambled to safety! Luna!! It is now time to complete your training. Use these new skills to smash Discord! Put 'em up!

Doesn't look like anything has changed from the original actually.



They jump up on the roof and Greymane tickles Luna incessantly until they go flying up in the air.



B-but that's not a horse pun!!

Greymane: Go! Give Discord the boot!



So pumped! We'll get right on that! ... in another half dozen updates? At least?

Rarity and Sweetie Bell return home for a little R&R.

Sweetie Bell: Sis! Oh no, Rarity! Charity's hurt!
Rarity: Ch... Charity?!

Rarity's forgotten who that is too. She's Rarity's friend/rival who was found hanging out in Thamaresa after our plot-required visit but before the end of the world.



Also token black pony.

Rarity: You actually fought that wretched creature...?
Charity: Oooh... cough, cough...
Rarity: Ch... Charity?!
Charity: Rarity... Please... you must avenge me... Oooh... cough, cough...



Rarity: It'll ruin my perfectly styled mane! Charity... you'll owe me a day at the spa for this!

Rarity gets all the best scenes. She's so different from Strago that a complete rewrite is necessary to make it work.



Rarity: Sweetie I understand that, but it's too dangerous! Only a Unicorn Knight like moi has the style and panache to defeat such a beast and master its secret magics.
Sweetie Belle: But Rarity, I'm your sister! That means "I'M" a Unicorn Knight too! You're my big sister! And sisters take care of each other!
Rarity: Sorry, Sweetie Belle. I keep forgetting how much you've grown up... We'll go to the Hidon's cave and show him what for! Let's do this...



Aww.

Rarity: Next stop, Ebot's Rock.
Sweetie Bell: Phew.



Ugh it's one of THOSE dungeons. It's not terrible since every room is very small and easy to navigate but the inconsistency bugs me. We get full range of vision in every other dungeon except this one.



Treasure: I liek to eat "Coral"! Have any?
Hoof over some "Coral"?
>I don't think so.
Treasure: Skinflint! Git outta here!

The teleporters cycle you through the same three rooms until you talk to the chest. What a jerk.



I am blessed with many 5-Coral chests and few 1-Coral chests (and just one 3) so the process is fairly painless. I still savestate before hoofing it over, just in case I overestimated my collection.



Treasure: Oh, yeah, you wanna pass through here, right? Eh!! What the...!

It hops away. And gets punished for its gluttony? I don't know.



Woo hoo boss time!



I don't know what the Hidonites even do because Rarity knows Ultima and screw you Hidon. I probably shouldn't have bothered healing after GrandTrain because some Wonderbolt Badge Soars and castings of Fire 3 finished him in ten seconds flat. No of course it took longer than that, this is an RPG, Dashie!



The Thamaresa sisters keep pushing their way into endgame level awesomeness.



Sweetie Bell: Oh Rarity... ...

Rarity would love to be in some Harvest Moon romhack. Heck, I'd make her the bathhouse girl assuming there's no location similar to her clothing boutique.



Rarity: It was unbelievable, I hunted down Hidon, he's done for!
Charity: Wait... WHAT? There's no way you're a better hunter than I am!
Sweetie Bell: It's true, we beat him. But it didn't matter if we won, it was so much fun!
Rarity: Now now, Charity, a lady is NEVER jealous.
Charity: I don't believe this. This has to be a joke!
Rarity: Mua ha ha!! ...by the way, how are your wounds healing, Charity?
Charity: Eh? Oh, they're fine...



Rarity: Low and high! High and low! Finally, I found him! I stared Hidon straight in the eye and said "What's the matter, afraid to get DIRTY?!" Hiya!! Aikiba!! Fusrodah!! I had to teach that beast some manners! And then I... ...



A lady does not get drunk and pass out like certain old men.

Charity: Phew... Let's leave her be! She's nice and... quiet... Now, about my "wounds"...
Sweetie Bell: Thank you so much! You gave Rarity a chance to stop worrying about how "uncouth" everything is and go have an adventure! Even if YOU were faking, that creature meant business!
Charity: You two really are great sisters.
Sweetie Bell: And you were such a great actor! Rarity was totally fooled!
[Sweetie Bell races off for some reason.]
Charity: What the...!

And now it's level grinding time. Even with Ultima, level 30 isn't cutting it. Partly because most of the boss strategies have been broken by the romhacker. Jerk.

I'm curious what the bosses do now that tossing Ultima at it doesn't take care of.