History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E6SurfAndOrTurf

** Twilight of a sort to the CMC, not only acting as chaperone but gently leading them and helping them when they need it. Much like in "Twilight Time", it's clear the CMC are close friends with her.

When they arrive, they meet Terramar, Silverstream's brother, who helps to bring them to his father, Sky Beak. Twilight and the [=CMCs=] are impressed with how revitalized Mount Aris has become, and they have arrived just in time for one of their celebrations. While Twilight goes off to enjoy the festivities, the [=CMCs=] continue to talk to Terramar about himself, learning that while many of the hippogriffs returned to live at Mount Aris, some, including his mother Ocean Flow, opted to remain in Seaquestria; fortunately, with the help of the shards of the magic pearl they each wear as necklaces, they can go back and forth between land and sea. However, Terramar is stuck trying to decide to stay with his father or mother, and the [=CMCs=] discover that Terramar is the problem they need to solve.

While exploring Aris, Sweetie Belle comes on the Harmonizing Heights, a valley with musical-like properties that enthralls her. She decides to start to make a checklist of the benefits and downsides of Mount Aris, but Scootaloo point out they haven't seen Seaquestria yet. When Twilight is ready to get Ocean Flow's signature, Terramar uses his necklace to transform all of them into seaponies. Scootaloo is quick to love swimming as it feels like flying to her, but Sweetie Belle is far less impressed. After they meet Ocean Flow and Twilight leaves to join her for some other activities, Terramar shows the [=CMCs=] around Seaquestria. Scootaloo identifies several positive elements of Seaquestria over Mount Aris. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo start to argue about which place is better, and Apple Bloom is unable to come to a decision. Terramar, frustrated that the [=CMCs=] have ended up arguing among themselves instead of helping him decide, runs off.

Apple Bloom tries to bring Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo back on talking terms, while Twilight joins up with them on the beach. As they talk about Terramar's situation, both the hippogriffs and the seaponies arrive, looking to offer Twilight more opportunities to try their cultures. This gives Sweetie Belle an idea. The [=CMCs=] go off to find Terramar, who has given up hope in trying to choose, and they suggest there's a better way. By the time they bring Terramar back to the beach, there is a large picnic-like gathering of both hippogriffs and seaponies set up by Twilight and the [=CMCs=]. Sky Beak and Ocean Flow both apologize to Terramar, as they never wanted to make it sound like he needed to choose one place or the other, but instead assure him he has the freedom to go back and forth, and they will love him the same. Pleased that he doesn't have to make a decision, Terramar thanks the [=CMCs=] and happily joins his family, while the [=CMCs=] find their cutie marks glowing again, indicating their mission was a success.

* TheoryOfNarrativeCausality: It's a Map episode. Apple Bloom brings up the idea that the Crusaders are the right ponies for whatever friendship problem they were called to solve, but it could have been a little more specific about where they need to go.

* GoingNative: {{Downplayed}}. Twilight indulges in the hippogriffs' festivities, but only under the justification of cultural "research".

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: When they arrive at Mount Aris, Sweetie Belle wonders aloud what kind of cutie mark-related friendship problem they have to solve. Twilight quickly points out that Hippogriffs ''don't have'' cutie marks.

** Terramar is in a situation where his father has returned to surface and become a Hippogriff while his mother opts to stay in sea as a Seapony, with him torn between the two places. This situation could easily compared to a kid whose parents are divorced.

* EasilyImpressed: The Crusaders become excited when they find out they've arrived at Mount Aris for the "Glad to be a Hippogriff Festival". Turns out the Hippogriffs do this every weekend.

* HoldYourHippogriffs: Literally. The Hippogriffs use terms like "everygriff" and "anygriff" to refer to each other.

* LikeADuckTakesToWater: Replace "duck" with "fish" and it's a LiteralMetaphor. Everypony easily takes to swimming as a Seapony, but Scootaloo in particular enjoys how it "must be just like flying!"

* NeverMyFault: After Terramar runs off out of frustration, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle blame each other for it.

* UnderwaterCity: Seaquestria, a seapony city built in a flooded cavern beneath Mount Aris. The buildings of the city itself are seemingly made of glass, and hang from the roof of the cave like lanterns.

* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The hippogriffs all wear fragments of the Pearl so they can change into Seaponies and back at will.
* WorldBuilding: The Hippogriffs' society is shown in more detail, with Harmonizing Heights introduced. A new train line for the Friendship Express has also been constructed, allowing the denizens of Equestria to travel all the way to Mount Aris.

* DramaticallyMissingThePoint: When they arrive at Mount Aris, Sweetie Belle wonders aloud what kind of cutie mark-related friendship problem they have to solve. Twilight quickly points out that Hippogriffs ''don't have'' cutie marks.

* TheGhost: Queen Novo is mentioned but is never seen in either Mount Aris or Seaquestria.

* VegetarianCarnivore: Averted. The hippogriffs enjoy salmon juice, and Ocean Flow offers Twilight and the Crusaders a cup of fish oil tea.

* BehindTheBlack: Twilight pulls her trophy from the ring toss booth in from stage left. Then, just as quickly, it dissappears back into hammerspace.

* TellHimImNotSpeakingToHim: Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo briefly come to this over their differing opinions regarding Harmonizing Heights and Seaquestria, using Apple Bloom as an intermediary.

* BlatantLies: Apple Bloom mention that Applejack defeated the Storm King by herself, which she says makes the story more exciting.

* UnderwaterCity: Seaquestria, a seapony city built in a flooded cavern beneath Mount Aris. The building of the city itself are seemingly mad of glass, and hang from the roof of the cave like lanterns.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything:

* RealityEnsues: Part of the reason why Twilight is accompanying the Cutie Mark Crusaders on their mission is because they’re still too young to go on an international trip all by themselves.

* RealityEnsues: Part of the reason why Twilight is accompanying the Cutie Mark Crusaders on their mission is because they’re still too young to make an international trip by themselves.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Terramar is in a situation where his father has returned to surface and become a Hippogriff while his mother opts to stay in sea as a Seapony, with him torn between the two places. This situation could easily compared to a kid whose parents are divorced.

* TakeAThirdOption: After Terramar's parents hear about what he's worried about they tell him he doesn't need to choose where to live and can keep doing what he has been doing, traveling back and forth between both places and enjoying them both.
** Before that, when he gives up over both places, he compromises by climbing up a tree.

* UnderwaterCity: Seaquestria, obviously.

* CallBack: Mount Aris and Seaquestria, first introduced in [[Film/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017 the movie]], serve as the main settings of the episode. The plot itself is driven by the consequences of the movie's resolution -- since the hippogriffs no longer have to hide underwater and can return to their old home, but have already made themselves a home in Seaquestria as seaponies, some of them can't choose whether to stay as seaponies or return to being hippogriffs.

* LikeADuckToWater: Replace "duck" with "fish" and it's a LiteralMetaphor. Everypony easily takes to swimming as a Seapony, but Scootaloo in particular enjoys how it "must be just like flying!"

Apple Bloom tries to bring Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo back on talking terms, while Twilight joins up with them on the beach. As they talk about Terramar's situation, both the hippogriffs and the sea ponies arrive, looking to offer Twilight more opportunities to try their cultures. This gives Sweetie Belle an idea. The [=CMCs=] go off to find Terramar, who has given up hope in trying to choose, and they suggest there's a better way. By the time they bring Terramar back to the beach, there is a large picnic-like gathering of both hippogriffs and seaponies set up by Twilight and the [=CMCs=]. Sky Beak and Ocean Flow both apologize to Terramar, as they never wanted to make it sound like he needed to choose one place or the other, but instead assure him he has the freedom to go back and forth, and they will love him the same. Pleased that he doesn't have to make a decision, Terramar thanks the [=CMCs=] and happily joins his family, while the [=CMCs=] find their cutie marks glowing again, indicating their mission was a success.

* Main/AwesomeMusic: In-universe; a big reason Sweetie Belle adores the aptly named Harmonizing Heights is the musical ambiance.

-->Written by Brian Hohlfeld