History ComicBook / MyLittlePonyLegendsOfMagic

!!This series provides examples of these tropes (for individual issues, please also visit the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyLegendsOfMagic recap page]]):

!!This series provides examples of these tropes (for more, please also visit the [[Characters/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic character]] guide):

* NeverTrustATrailer: Despite what the summery says, "The origins of cutie marks," be they individual marks or cutie marks in general, never come up.

** [[spoiler:Issue #7 introduces Stygian and the appearance of the Sirens, and was published about two weeks prior to the Season 7 finale in which their relationship with the other Legends is described.]]

* EarlyBirdCameo: These issues were released before the Season 7 episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E16CampfireTales Campfire Tales]]", the adventures that originally made Rockhoof, Mistmane and Flash Magnus famous are recounted. Likewise Somnambula's story makes up part of "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E17DaringDone Daring Done?]]" and Mage Meadowbrook in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E18AHealthOfInformation A Health of Information]]" (although she was initially name-dropped during the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E1TheCutieMapPart1 Season 5 premiere]]).

* WorldBuilding: The series is built on the premise of exploring Equestria and its historical figures' backstory.

* WorldBuilding: The series is built on the premise of exploring Equestria and its historical figures' backstory.

!!Tropes applying to Individual Issues:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Issue #1: Starswirl the Bearded]]
-->Written by Jeremy Whitley, Art by Brenda Hickey, Coloring by Amy Mebberson

Princess Celestia offers Sunburst access to Star Swirl's private study for his research. There, he reads about one of the most difficult tasks that Star Swirl had to do: making Celestia and Luna come to appreciate each other.

In flashback, before Luna became Nightmare Moon, Star Swirl teaches the two about magic, but Celestia is clearly more powerful, and taunts her younger sister. Looking to try to gain Star Swirl's favor, Luna tries to cast powerful magic without luck. Celestia appears and starts to tease her, only making Luna more frustrated as she tries to cast the most powerful spell out of a book. The spell opens a portal to an alternate dimension that draws Luna in before Celestia can stop it. Horrified at this, Celestia races to get Star Swirl's help.

Star Swirl re-opens the portal, and he and Celestia enter the alternate dimension, one of many that Star Swirl is aware of. He opts to use caution to track Luna by magic, but Celestia races ahead to save her sister. She finds Luna held in place by tiny golems, trying to fit a helmet on her as they sense a dark power within her. Celestia quickly puts an end to their threat, but this reveals that a much larger golem, the one calling out to Luna, is waiting for them. Star Swirl appears in time and tells the sisters to run back to the portal while he deals with the golem. The sisters make their way back to their world. Celestia apologizes to Luna for being mean and always taunting her magic for being weak, knowing she had no right to bully her for what she said and promises to be a good and more better big sister and encourages Luna to keep on try and use her magic to be more better at how hard she tries and make sure the portal stays open to allow Star Swirl's return. The sisters embrace each other, just as Star Swirl tumbles out of the portal safely. Star Swirl's epilogue notes that the sisters learned the importance of having each other. Sunburst returns the book too Celestia next morning and as she and Luna laugh at their past, Sunburst grabs another book about another pony's history.

----
!!Tropes:

* CallForward: The story makes references to Luna becoming Nightmare Moon, such as hearing a voice that tempts her to turn against Celestia and fitting her with armor she would wear while in the persona.
* ContinuityNod: Luna is in her regular blue mane rather then the glittering star one she normally has, a sign that she hasn't reached full princess status yet. Likewise Celestia's mane isn't flowing as it normally does when she was younger.
* CharacterDevelopment: When Celestia was young, she was snobby, rude, boastful and treated Luna unfairly for her poor magic. But when Luna opens a portal and gets sucked in, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone she blames herself and becomes remorseful for teasing her one and only sister]]. After rescuing her, [[TookALevelInKindness Celestia becomes nicer and promises to teach Luna how to be better at magic]].
* HypocriticalHeartwarming: When Celestia charges in to rescue Luna from the golems, she does so while declaring "Only ''I'' get to pick on my sister!"
* MomentKiller: Just as Celestia and Luna reconcile and hug after escaping the dark dimension, Starswirl comes barreling through the portal right in between them. He even admits he ruined the moment there.
* {{Retcon}}: Celestia reveals Starswirl disappeared before Luna's banishment, decanonizing the "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWIssue17To20 Reflections]]" story arc which showed, even requiring, him being around afterwards.
* StartOfDarkness: Luna's attempt at a portal spell lands her in AnotherDimension, where she has her first encounter with the Nightmare (a.k.a. the thing that'll turn her into Equestria's {{Bogeyman}} for over a millennium).
* TemptingFate: Near the end of the story, Starswirl writes that seeing the sisters reconcile that the two have overcome their differences and nothing will split them up again. Of course as we know that wouldn't be the case after he disappeared, at least not for a few millennia before the Mane Six fixed things.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Issue #2: Rockhoof]]

-->Written by Jeremy Whitley, Art by Brenda Hickey, Coloring by Heather Breckel
Sunburst continues his studies, this time prompted by Princess Luna to read to her the story of Rockhoof, a mighty warrior.

Rockhoof had saved his local village from an erupting volcano with nothing but a shovel. Though the leader of the Mighty Guard, Steela Oresdotter, offered Rockhoof a reward, all he wanted was to be a member of the Mighty Helm, which she granted. Due to his past daily routines that kept him in shape and fit, he clearly outmatched the other Mighty Helm members, but even with his skill, the other members offered to celebrate with a feast. Deciding that one day off his routine wouldn't hurt, he spent the night celebrating with his new friends. Unfortunately, this continued for several nights, and soon he became out of shape, even though he still trained better than any other member of the Mighty Helm.

One day, the volcano showed signs of eruption, and Steela sent Rockhoof along with two Helms to investigate. Eventually they struggle to the top and find that a cherufe has taken residence in the volcano, throwing lava rocks around. Because of his lack of fitness, Rockhoof is unable to fight it off and only serves to make it more angry, and the trio retreat back to town. Steela reprimands Rockhoof, and she sets off alone to try to deal with the cherufe, but Rockhoof insists he must do it, but only after he gets back into shape. After several days, Rockhoof has returned to his former glory, and travels to the volcano with Steela. As Steela prepares to attack it, Rockhoof recognizes the cherufe is throwing rocks at a single spot, and he gets the idea to dig out the spot. Under the soft rock they find an infant cherufe, happily reunited with its parent. The pair return to the village to report their success, with Rockhoof recognizing the need for him to balance his routine and the opportunity to be with friends.

As Sunburst finishes the story, Luna realizes she can take the same lessons Rockhoof learned for her own duties.

----
!!Tropes:
* {{Acrofatic}}: ZigZagged. Rockhoof shows off some athletic prowess saving two Helms and running down the mountain but other than that his weight gain impedes his ability to deal with the cherufe on the volcano.
* BadassBeard: Rockhoof was one of the mightiest and strongest earth ponies in Equestria's history, having once managed to divert a volcanic eruption using nothing but a shovel. Fittingly, he sports one of the bushiest and fullest beards in the franchise.
* {{Bifauxnen}}: Captain Steela, to the point where she could even be mistaken for a BigBeautifulMan.
* BigEater: Rockhoof takes this to comical levels -- most of his nights out are spent taking on one eating challenge after another, ranging from scarfing down bowls full of oats and mountains of bread to literally eating his way out of a pit full of corn. Deconstructed when destiny calls and his eating habits have caught up to him.
* BoisterousBruiser: Rockhoof is almost always posing, yelling his dialogue, eating and drinking to excess, and kicking ass.
* BraidsOfBarbarism: Everywhere. Rockhoof has a particularly impressive one.
* CantGetAwayWithNuthin: Despite his friends also taking part in the festivities, only Rockhoof pays the price for his actions.
* TheCaptain: Captain Steela commands the Mighty Helm, and does a pretty good job of it. It’s her admonishment that convinces Rockhoof to get it together, and she easily keeps up with him on the trip up the mountain.
* CoolHelmet: The Mighty Helm's distinctive winged helmets are so cool that they named themselves after them.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Rockhoof's first feast has all the ponies chanting "Chew! Chew! Chew!" as he downs some oats. The next morning, he wakes up weakened from having eaten so much.
* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The earth ponies among whom Rockhoof lives share more than a few characteristics with ancient Germanic cultures. Their cutie marks are often inspired by Nordic runic designs (Rockhoof's in particular is a Valknut, a knotted design associated with Odin) and their clothing and helmets resemble (popular depictions of) those that Germanic barbarians would have worn. They also seem to use {{UsefulNotes/patronymic}}s, best seen with the Helm's captain Steela Oresdotter.
* FatComicRelief: What Rockhoof becomes after his partying gets the best of him.
* HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic: Averted, as all the characters wear them whenever they’re in combat. It’s a fair way into the story that Captain Steela is seen without hers.
* HotBlooded: Both Rockhoof’s greatest strength and his FatalFlaw. His tendency to launch himself into everything he does with all his heart is clearly what made him a hero, but it also leaves him with little sense of proportion.
* TheLoad: Rockhoof's friends mean well, but they convince him to start his partying lifestyle, continue to enable it long after it starts to affect his health, and spend the entire mission with him worrying and complaining.
* MonsterIsAMommy: The cherufe that has been causing the volcano to grow unstable is in fact a mother, and the earthquakes were caused by her attempts to dig her way to her child, who had remained trapped behind a pile of rocks. The two cherufes leave peacefully once they are reunited.
* MrViceGuy: Rockhoof is a genuinely brave and heroic character, but gluttony and pride nearly prove his undoing.
* NoNameGiven: Rockhoof's friends are never actually named.
* PeekABangs: Captain Steela covers her right eye with her mane. The scar there suggests she may have actually lost it.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Rockhoof when the cherufe overpowers him the first time.
* SeldomSeenSpecies: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherufe Cherufes]] are actual, if very obscure, mythological creatures from the mythology of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapuche Mapuche]] people of Chile and Argentina, where it is described as a humanoid creature made of rock and magma that causes earthquakes and eruptions, much like the monster in the comic. The ones in this comic may very well be the first cherufes to appear in western media.
* ShoutOut: The mailpony is a dead-ringer to the Postman from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess''.
* {{Squee}}: Princess Luna’s reaction when Starburst begins reading Starwirl’s account of Rockhoof’s adventures, a sequel to Luna’s favorite myth that she didn’t even know existed.
* StoutStrength:
** Downplayed with most of the Helms who are on the beefy side, including Rockhoof.
** When Rockhoof crosses the line into outright fat, it's averted and it seriously impacts his speed and stamina.
* SpoofAesop: Luna points out that the Aesop appears to be "partying is evil", and that the story then breaks it further by mentioning that Rockhoof promptly became LonelyAtTheTop. Sunburst then hastily finishes the tale, which goes on to say that Rockhoof eventually learned to practice moderation by taking ''some'' time out to enjoy himself with friends, which Luna deems an acceptable moral.
* AWeightyAesop: Rockhoof learns to control his gluttony the hard way.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: The other villagers laugh at Rockhoof when his partying takes a toll on him.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Issue #3: Mistmane]]

-->Written by Jeremy Whitley, Art by Brenda Hickey, Coloring by Heather Breckel
Sunburst next opts to read the legend of Mistmane, but a spell cast on the book by Star Swirl forces him to read it in the beauty of the Canterlot gardens.

Mistmane, as she is traveling the world, comes upon a construction site, finding that Star Swirl had order a giant castle to be built for the two Princesses. The construction ponies are having problems as their work seems to be undone each night when they leave each night. Mistmane, having an idea what is going on, offers to guard the castle site for the night.

During that night, young Luna comes by, first accusing her of slowing down the construction work. However, Mistmane assures her she knows who is doing it, and shows her that the animals of the local forests are wrecking the havoc. Luna is initially frightened of the angry critters, but Mistmane tells her to relax and pay attention to what the animals are doing. Through Mistmane's guidance, Luna comes to see that the animals are fearful that the huge castle will ruin their forests, costing them their homes and destroying the beauty of the forests. As Mistmane quitely disappears, Luna drafts out a new design for the castle, one that respects the forests and enhances their beauty, which the animals appear to agree to. Luna presents this to Star Swirl the next day, and construction on the new castle beings, eventually becoming what is known as Canterlot, incorporating the various gardens to help provide more homes for the animals. Mistmane is pleased with the results, and affirms from the animals that they promise not to get in the way again.

As Sunburst finishes the book, he thinks he catches sight of Mistmane in the gardens, but she disappears before he can confirm.

----
* AnimalTalk: Mistmane can do this, and teaches Luna the same. It's noted as not being based on speech, but in the ability to read body language and think more deeply about context.
* ContinuityNod: The original design for Canterlot looks a lot like the Palace of the Unicorns and the Castle of two Sisters, that both predated it. And again like Issue 1 Luna and Celestia both use their younger designs.
* HoldingBackThePhlebotinum: It's noticeable that despite being a unicorn with a very prominent horn, Mistmane never uses her magic. She even holds off from using telekinesis, preferring to manipulate objects with her own hooves.
* MilesGloriosus: Luna talks big and repeatedly uses her status as Princess to intimidate, but the moment it looks like she has a fight on her hooves she ends up a quivering mess spitting increasingly lame threats.
* PerceptionFilter: It's uncertain if it's by magical means or if she's just easy to overlook, but Mistmane easily sneaks up on teams of guards and Luna completely forgets to mention her involvement at first.
* PrincessClassic: Star Swirl initially tries to set up Canterlot Castle as a fortress fit for TheEmperor simply because he believes that would be the best way to keep the sisters safe and their reign secure. Luna's new, Mistmane-inspired design for Canterlot and the tone of their rule instead moves far more in this direction, and Star Swirl realizes the love and support this would win would keep them far safer than any fortress.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Issue #4: Flash Magnus]]

-->Written by Jeremy Whitley, Art by Brenda Hickey, Coloring by Amy Mebberson
Sunburst is about to start on Flash Magnus's legend when Starlight Glimmer arrives from Ponyville, having planned a lunch date with Sunburst earlier. When he balks, she decides that she can read her Flash Magnus' story, so that they can both enjoy it.

Flash Magnus' tale as he has risen in rank in the Royal Legion. The Legion hears word of an accident at the weather factory, creating a freak storm at the border of Equestria that has crossed over into the Griffon lands, and they set off to try stop the storm. Near the border they encounter a squad of griffons, who think the ponies sent the storm purposely to harm the griffon lands, and ignore the Royal Legion's explanation. The griffons try to stop the storm themselves but are quickly overwhelmed, and fly off to recover. Flash Magnus sees that a griffon village across the border is unprepared and not ready to evacuate, and asks Captain Ironhead to save them, but Ironhead refuses, given that ponies have been at war with the griffons and that they cannot cross the border. Refusing to let the innocent griffons get hurt, he convinces the rest of the squad to help save the griffons, against Ironhead's orders. Once the griffons are safe, the ponies, led by Ironhead, then set off to disrupt the storm. Back at their headquarters, Ironhead praises Flash Magnus' actions despite going against orders, as it has help to set a positive direction for future pony/griffon relationship.

With the story done, Sunburst and Starlight decide to set off for dinner.

----
* AnAesop: Heroism isn't just about strength, speed, or skill; it's inspiring others to do the right thing.
* FantasticRacism: Tensions between pegasi and griffons cause a lot of problems in this story; Blackbeak refuses to let the ponies onto griffon territory because he's suspicious of their intentions.
* FashionableAsymmetry: With the exception of Captain Ironhead, the pegasi warriors have armor over their left forelimbs but not their right.
* FlatEarthAtheist: After Sunburst finishes reading Magnus's story, Starlight debunks it as sounding too unrealistic -- yes, [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E25TheCutieRemarkPart1 Star]][[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E26TheCutieRemarkPart2 light]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E25ToWhereAndBackAgainPart1 Glim]][[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E26ToWhereAndBackAgainPart2 mer]] thinks it sounds too unrealistic.
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: After being ordered not to assist the griffons in dealing with the storm for fear of provoking war, Flash Magnus goes off to rescue them and his compatriots follow suit.
* ShipTease: The whole interaction between Sunburst and Starlight Glimmer. Starlight show up upset about his ignoring her messages and not spending time together then proceeds to park herself on his bed [[note]] [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything Starlight on her back on Sunburst's bed saying "You may proceed"]] [[/note]] . The story ends with the two going out to dinner together.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Issue #5: Somnambula]]

-->Written by Jeremy Whitley, Art by Brenda Hickey, Coloring by Amy Mebberson

Sunburst now turns to the tale of Somnambula, but before he can begin, runs into Pinkie Pie, who is preparing a birthday party for Luna's pet, Tiberius. Seeing that he's about to read the book, she offers to read it for him, including doing all the voices for it.

In Somnambula's tale, after helping to rescue Prince Hisan, the Prince suddenly calls for her as a giant snake had taken over his palance and engulfed all of his guards. Somnambula tries to go to talk to the snake, but the snake eats her whole too. Inside the snake, she refuses to give up hope and decided to venture further into the snake. She soon encounters the recently-eaten guards - still alive as they were just swallowed whole, and instructs them to wait at the snake's mouth as she continues deeper down the snake. On the way, she runs into a number of villagers who were all also eaten by the snake whole, and she similarly tells them to get themselves to the snake's mouth. Finally, she finds an old wizard who knows all about the snake and it's giant size. The snake had been one of the creatures he kept, but it got into trouble trying to eat too much, so he gave it a stone to make it think it was full. Too late, he realized he gave the snake a magic stone that would cause it to grow to that size, and soon he was eaten.

Finding the magic stone still inside the snake, Somnambula drags the wizard to the mouth where the others are waiting. Using a pole she brought with her, she and the others force the snake's mouth open, far enough so she can toss the magic stone out. Immediately the snake starts to shrink down, and all the ponies are quickly spat out, save and sound. Prince Hisan and the others all celebrate Somnambula as a hero for never giving up hope.

----
* AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever: The giant snake, which was turned by a cursed stone from a normal-sized animal into a constantly growing behemoth that, by the time of the story, is larger than Prince Hisan's palace.
* DeadpanSnarker: The old wizard. As part of his role as a cynical {{foil}} to Somnambula, he gets a few dry zingers to complement her cheerful forthrightness.
-->'''Somnambula''': Oh, there you are. Hey, you look like a wizard!\\
'''Old Wizard''': Wow, it's not just you necklace, you are bright.
* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Somnambula's home in the deserts of Southern Equestria is one for ancient Egypt, drawing inspiration from it from the appearance of the buildings to the clothing and kohl worn by the local ponies.
* {{Foil}}: The old wizard to Somnambula. He's cynical and ill tempered where she's bubbly and upbeat. Further, his defeatist attitude and desire to simply wallow in his guilt rather than try to fix his predicament contrast Somnambula's much more proactive attitude, as well as reinforcing her stories' message about not giving up on hope.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: The old wizard's reaction to having accidentally created the giant snake while trying to rid himself of a pest. He considers himself an old fool and failure, and wants to be left in the snake's gut to wallow in his guilt. He seems to get over his depression by the end, when Somnambula figures out how to shrink the snake back down and rescues the ponies trapped in its gut.
* PrehensileHair: Pinkie uses her front curl to snatch the book containing Somnambula's story from Sunburst, and continues to use it to hold onto the book while she reads it.
* SwallowedWhole: The snake's various victims -- Somnambula, the soldiers, an entire village, assorted other ponies, a large number of woodland animals and the wizard -- are all swallowed whole, and are found alive and well sitting in the beast's stomach.
* WizardClassic: The wizard wears a robe and a conical (but brimless) hat, both decorated with eye and star motifs, and a long beard. His flashback when he tells Somnambula where the snake came from also shows a preference for studying magic and potions in seclusion.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Issue #6: Mage Meadowbrook]]

-->Written by Jeremy Whitley

Sunburst, with Starlight's help, packs up to return to his duties in the Crystal Empire, but taking many of the books along with him. On the lonely train ride, he reads through the legend of Mage Meadowbrook.

Meadowbrook, after healing her own people, started traveling all over to help cure plagues and other diseases. Running short on supplies and caught in a rainstorm, she races into the town of Maredian, unaware of warning signs not to enter. The town seemingly is deserted, and she looks through the buildings until she comes across where all the ponies are at: they all are greenish and acting like flesh-eating zombies. Meadowbrook quickly races out of their grasp, trying to understand what's happened to them. She eventually finds safety in a storeroom, and discovers that local frogs are eating some of the grain supplies they have. Inspiration hits, realizing the ponies have been afflicted with a condition from the mucus from the frogs getting into their food supply. She quickly whips up the cure and administers it to the ponies. They turn back to normal and thank Meadowbrook for her help (though they can't offer her a celebratory feast since all of their food supply was affected), and she happily leaves on her next adventure.

Sunburst comes to the end just as the train comes to a hard stop at the Crystal Empire, spilling his packed books. As he picks them up, he comes across one he didn't recognize, but clearly had been written by Starswirl. He starts reading, and realizes something critical and that he must see Twilight Sparkle as soon as possible.

----
* RealityEnsues: PlayedForLaughs. The town tries to throw Meadowbrook a hero's feast upon being cured only to have nothing to eat since the source of the plague was their contaminated oats which they had to throw out after she told them about it.
-->'''Villager''': This is the worst feast ever.
* WhamLine: From Starswirl's Journal, casting a new light on the historic figures.
-->The best elements within us can spread light and virtue, and I know ponies who represent them all. [[PrecursorHeroes Strength, Bravery, Healing, Beauty, Hope, Sorcery.]]
* ZombieApocalypse: The ponies of Maredian, under the effects of the frog poison which contaminated their food, have turned a sickly mottled green and are reduced to shuffling mindlessly around town, moaning and gurgling and moving in a mob towards whoever catches their attention. While they aren't "traditional" undead zombies, they are certainly reminiscent of a typical zombie horde, and are referred to as such in the story.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Issue #7: Stygian]]

-->Written by Jeremy Whitley

Sunburst returns home after helping to rescue Starswirl and the other Legends, and is eager to document these figures properly, when there is a knock at his door. He finds no one there but a package, which turns out to be a book, left there by Stygian, who left it for Sunburst to offer his side of the story.

In his original time, Stygian was a studious pony across a vast number of areas. With his current interest in sealife, he went to the beach to collect samples when he encounters the sirens Adagio, Aria, and Sonata. Adagio asks Stygian if they could perform for his village, though she gives away too much that they seek to gain power by their song. Unsure what to do, Stygian races back home and studies what he can of the sirens, and know they could be trouble. However, he is too late to warn off his town, as they are entranced by the siren's song. Staying out of their spell, Stygian returns to his books and figures that if the sirens, which had been figures of legend, were real, perhaps the other legends are also real. He sets off on a quest across Equestria to locate them, first heading to Rockhoof's remote village.

----
* BigBad: The sirens (Dazzlings), who entrance the entire town and bring them under their control.
* ContinuityOverlap: The comic showcases the Dazzlings taking over Stygian's village right down to him fleeing said village for help.
* FailedASpotCheck: While the sirens entrance the entire town, they fail to account for Stygian being out of range, allowing him to flee the village and seek help.
* ForgoneConclusion: [[spoiler: We already know (thanks to a flashback in Shadow Play) that Stygian will succeed in bringing the Legends together.]] The following issues will simply detail his journey to find them.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Issue #8: Rockhoof & Mage Meadowbrook]]

-->Written by Jeremy Whitley

The group of legendary ponies continues to grow as Rockhoof and Mage Meadowbrook join the group! Each faces unique challenges that will require the help of their peers before disaster strikes!

----
* BearsAreBadNews: A forest near Rockhoof's village is inhabited by lumber bears, aggressive bear-like monsters made of animated wood that can instantly regenerate after being destroyed as long as they're in the forest. They are apparently fearsome and dangerous enough that they are more than a match for even the warriors of the Mighty Helm, as long as they're in the woods.
* KillerRabbit: The herbivorous animals -- rabbits, deer, etc. -- in Meadowbrook's swamp have become extremely dangerous and aggressive as a result of a fungus that has been infesting the plants they eat. By the time that Stygian and Rockhoof get to the swamp (in time to be beaten up by a single berserk rabbit that Rockhoof tried to pet) the swamp's carnivores are reduced to hiding in terror in their burrows.
* {{Planimal}}: Lumber bears, similarly to the show's timber wolves, are living constructs of animate deadfall. They can also reassemble themselves after they've been destroyed, but only if they're in a forest.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Issue #9]]

-->Written by Jeremy Whitley

Tensions between new allies could unravel the great quest before it begins!

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Issue #10]]

-->Written by Jeremy Whitley

New dangers plague the legendary ponies, but with the help of a new member, they may be able to overcome the odds long enough to meet their true foe!

[[/folder]]

* GenreSavvy: Stygian doesn't trust the sirens right off the bat and hastily leave when their motives seem too suspicious.

* Planimal: Lumber bears, similarly to the show's timber wolves, are living constructs of animate deadfall. They can also reassemble themselves after they've been destroyed, but only if they're in a forest.

One day, the volcano showed signs of eruption, and Steela sent Rockhoof along with two Helms to investigate. Eventually they struggle to the top and find that a cherufe has taken residence in the volcano, throwing lava rocks around. Because of his lack of fitness, Rockhoof is unable to fight it off and only serves to make it more angry, and the trio retreat back to town. Steela reprimands Rockhoof, and she sets off alone to try to deal with the cherufe, but Rockhoof insists he must do it, but only after he gets back into shape. After several days, Rockhoof has returned to his former glory, and travels to the volcano with Steela. As Steela prepares to attack it, Rockhoof recognizes the cherufe is principally throwing rocks at a single spot, and he gets the idea to dig out the spot. Under the soft rock they find an infant cherufe, happily reunited with its parent. The pair return to the village to report their success, with Rockhoof recognizing the need for him to balance his routine and the opportunity to be with friends.

[[folder:Issue #7]]

[[folder:Issue #8]]

* RealityEnsues: PlayedForLaughs. The town tries to throw Meadowbrook a hero's feast upon being cured only to have nothing to eat since the source of the plague was their contaminated oats which they had to throw out after she told them about it.
-->'''Villager''': This is the worst feast ever.

[[spoiler:Sunburst returns home after helping to rescue Starswirl and the other Legends, and is eager to document these figures properly, when there is a knock at his door. He finds no one there but a package, which turns out to be a book, left there by Stygian, who left it for Sunburst to offer his side of the story.]]

[[spoiler:In his original time, Stygian was a studious pony across a vast number of areas. With his current interest in sealife, he went to the beach to collect samples when he encounters the sirens Adagio, Aria, and Sonata. Adagio asks Stygian if they could perform for his village, though she gives away too much that they seek to gain power by their song. Unsure what to do, Stygian races back home and studies what he can of the sirens, and know they could be trouble. However, he is too late to warn off his town, as they are entranced by the siren's song. Staying out of their spell, Stygian returns to his books and figures that if the sirens, which had been figures of legend, were real, perhaps the other legends are also real. He sets off on a quest across Equestria to locate them, first heading to Rockhoof's remote village.]]

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