Ponymania XXIX note (a.k.a The Twin Cherry Smackdownnote )
- Story by Ted Anderson, Art by Jay Fosgitt
The Mane 6 are attending a wrestling match in Manehattan when Rarity happens upon Cheerilee, who reveals one of the wrestlers is actually her twin sister, Cherry Blossom. Rarity sees that Cheerilee is nervous and learns that there's a rift between the sisters, and arranges for a tea party, along with fellow wrestler Cloverleaf. Cherry Blossom is only happy to meet with the others, but when Cheerilee arrives, they argue until the latter storms out. Cherry Blossom tries to catch up to her, but trips up on a step and strains a leg, which leaves her out of commission for 6 weeks. With the championship only days away, Cherry Blossom proposes a plan, to train Cheerilee to take her place in the ring, as in costume, she will be indistinguishable from Cherry Blossom.
Rariy and Cloverleaf help Cheerilee get used to wrestling, learning that while a sport, they are more about performance than hurting their opponents. It takes some time, but Cheerilee gets used to the moves. Suddenly, they are introduced to the competitor in the big bout, Iron Hock, who appears as a formidable opponent. Cheerilee starts to fear the match, knowing that she is far less aggressive than her sister, but Rarity realizes that both Cheerilee and Cherry Blossom share the common love of helping to cheer up young fillies and colts by their own unique methods. After a bit of revitalization with Cherry Blossom's young fans, Cheerilee is ready for the match.
Iron Hock proves as formidable as she made herself out to be, and Cheerilee struggles to stay in the match, but finds the right opening to use a special move she was taught, and wins the match. Thinking the championship is over, Cheerilee is stunned to learn that this was only the one-on-one and now must finish the tag-team match with Iron Hock and her huge partner Steel Buns. Fortunately, Rarity shows up as "Diamante Elegante" and before Cheerilee knows it, the match is over with Cheerilee and Rarity the victors. Cheerilee and Cherry Blossom reunite, making up for their lost years, when Iron Hock reveals herself to have been Cloverleaf, part of a plan to help the sisters mend their past. Cheerilee thanks the others for their help.
This issue provides examples of:
- Adaptational Badass: Cherry Blossom was based off of a G3 toy, and her bio card presented her as basically a Pinkie clone. Here she's a successful pro-wrestler.
- Aerith and Bob: Of the characters introduced in the issue we have Cherry Blossom, Cloverleaf, and... Pete, the "Sneaky" part only being part of his stage name.
- Always Identical Twins: Cheerilee and Cherry Blossom are identical twin sisters.
- Chekhov's Gunman: Cloverleaf. She's introduced early as one of Cherry Blossom's friends and is there in the initial parts of Cheerilee's training, but is suspiciously absent when Iron Hock is introduced. It doesn't take much to recognize the coat color under Iron Hock's costume matches that of Cloverleaf.
- Crazy-Prepared: Rarity made herself a wrestling costume just in case she needed to go into the ring to help Cheerilee out.
- Face: Cherry/Mystery Mare is one.
- Finishing Move: It's wrestling, so naturally their are some. Cherry's is the 'Spinning Appleloosa Roll', basically a spinning elbow drop from the top turnbuckle.
- Flat "What": Cheerilee's reaction after "Diamante Elegante" helps her defeat both Iron Hock and Steel Buns in a matter of seconds.
- Funny Background Event: At the end of the story Pinkie can be seen mimicking some wrestling moves on a clearly unamused Applejack.
- Gratuitous Spanish : Rarity's wrestler name is Diamante Elegante ("Elegant Diamond").
- Heel: Sneaky Pete plays one in the ring, but is actually a nice guy and one of Cherry's friends outside the ring. Iron Hock is another one, but seems to also be a jerk outside...except that's also an act, she's really Cloverleaf. She was just trying to help drive the two to be sisters again.
- Hidden Depths: Rarity as a wrestler, given how efficiently the tag team match finished off (as well as her Crazy-Prepared-ness with the wrestling match).
- Identical Twin ID Tag: Cherry Blossom's cutie mark is three cherry blossoms on a branch, and her hair is spikier than Cheerilee's, but they're otherwise completely identical.
- It Runs in the Family: Cheerilee is shown to have natural talent for wrestling, if only physically.
- Kayfabe: A quite realistic depiction, with the wrestling characters being fake, but the sport still requiring a good deal of athleticism and training, plus the matches aren't scripted.
- Mean Character, Nice Actor: In the ring both Sneaky Pete and Iron Hock/Cloverleaf are presented as dirty rivals to the Mystery Mare/Cherry Blossom. Outside of it, both Pete and Cloverleaf are both quite pleasant and good friends of Cherry's.
- Mythology Gag: Cherry Blossom was one of the G3 pony toys. While the two weren't sisters, Cheerilee's toy was the successor in the line to Cherry's.
- Noodle Incident: We don't get much information on how exactly Cheerilee and Cherry fell out, except for their differing personalities.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Rarity is able to get Cheerilee to see that despite their different ways of doing it, in the end both she and Cherry do their best to make other ponies happy.
- Off Screen Moment Of Awesome: The Tag Team Match between The Mystery Mare (Cheerilee) & The Glamorous Diamante Elegante (Rarity) against Iron Hock (Cloverleaf) & Steel Buns (Pony Unknown).
- Parts Unknown: Where "Diamante Elegante" hails from.
- Pro Wrestling Is Real: Played with. Kayfabe is in effect and no one is trying to hurt each other, but the matches aren't scripted and the outcomes are decided in the ring.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: Cherry is a wrestler while Cheerilee is a school teacher. Also, Cheerilee described Cherry as naturally aggressive in her youth compared to herself who was shyer.
