- Written by Thomas Zahler, Art by Agnes Garbowska
Rainbow Dash receives a message to come perform at a distant kingdom, and she eagerly takes off despite the warnings of her friends. She is surprised to find that the kingdom is one run by Diamond Dogs, though much more refined than the trio she had met before. Rainbow is taken to their new queen that had sent for her - Trixie. After dismissing her staff-in-waiting, Trixie anxiously begs Rainbow for help, as she only became queen after the Diamond Dogs found her looking for prop jewels in a mud pit believing that she was gifted in dousing for gems. Though initially thrilled to be treated as royalty, the Diamond Dogs won't let her leave, hoping Rainbow can help her out before they find she really can't douse for gems.
Rainbow tries the straight-forward route - flying Trixie out of the kingdom - but they find her crown is really a collar that magically prevents her from leaving. Rainbow manages to coax information from some of the Dogs that they've gone through a lot of rulers, and the collar they gave Trixie will keep her in only as long as they believe in her abilities. Rainbow and Trixie scheme a plan to weaken the trust the Dogs have in Trixie - as Rainbow performs an aerial show for the gathered populace of the kingdom, Trixie suggests that they give Rainbow the entire treasury of gems as respect. The Dogs begin to doubt Trixie, long enough for Rainbow Dash to pull off a Sonic Rainboom, and in its wake, fly Trixie off and leave the collar behind. Trixie thanks Rainbow for her help and promises not to get into any similar jams.
This issue provides examples of:
- 0% Approval Rating: It turns out that the only way to get the crown off is to invoke this and make it so that the Diamond Dogs don't want Trixie as their Queen anymore by making them lose faith in her.
- Ain't Too Proud to Beg: Trixie for Rainbow's help escaping.
- Batman Gambit: Trixie called Rainbow Dash to perform at the party because she wasn't sure the pegasus would come help her if asked, but knew she'd come if her ego was appealed to.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Trixie enjoys being Queen at first, but it loses its appeal when she realizes that she's been Kicked Upstairs and isn't allowed to leave.
- Call-Back: The kingdom is called Dimondia, the kingdom of the Diamond Dogs.
- Character Development: Trixie is still a Large Ham, but she isn't afraid to ask Rainbow to help, and drops her Third-Person Person act when she's alone with Rainbow Dash. She also works surprisingly well with Rainbow Dash and is quick to compliment her for her part in the plan.
- Continuity Nod: The events of "A Dog and Pony Show" are explicitly discussed, with the more "civilized" Diamond Dogs having long kicked out the three, Rover, Fido, and Spot, that tormented Rarity.
- Dogs Are Dumb: Civilized or not, these Diamond Dogs still aren't very bright. A good portion of them are illiterate and they easily fall for Trixie's Hurricane of Excuses.
- Drama Queen: Trixie's just as bad as Rarity.
- Gilded Cage: The Diamond Dogs fall for Trixie's bragging and make her the queen of their kingdom. She relishes in her new position...until she realizes that not only is she not allowed to leave, she cannot leave at all because the crown she wears is enchanted specifically to keep her from leaving and cannot be taken off normally.
- Hidden Depths: A few Diamond Dogs have surprisingly varied vocabulary. One moment, they'll be talking about how half of them can't even read, the next moment they're talking about how executive power is derived from the people.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Trixie got herself into this whole mess with her usual bragging.
- Hurricane of Excuses: What essentially kept Trixie from having to reveal that she can't find gems. These include anything from "The stars are out of alignment" to "I don't work on Sundays". It helps that the Diamond Dogs are dumb enough to fall for them every time.
- My Species Doth Protest Too Much: Jim tells Rainbow that the "A Dog and Pony Show" Dogs were rougher than these dogs, and were kicked out of the pack a while back.
- No Kill like Overkill: Part of the plan is for Trixie to rile up the Diamond Dogs so that they don't accept her as their queen anymore, which will disable the crown. The problem is that she riles them a little too well and keeps going even as the dogs form an angry mob. It's probably a good thing Rainbow got her out of there when she did.
- Restraining Bolt: Trixie's crown, which prevents her from leaving. It was created specifically because their previous rulers quickly left not long after being recognized by the Diamond Dogs.
- Covers Always Lie: The summary claims that Trixie has a hidden agenda, and that Rainbow Dash might not want to help her once she finds out. Trixie doesn't. She genuinely just wants to escape, simple as that.
- Unreliable Narrator: Trixie's story of how she ended up as Queen, as expected of her Large Ham nature. Luckily, we get to see what really happened.Trixie's narration: I was bearing the situation with my usual grace and poise, of course.Trixie: (In her Flashback) Why? Why do these things always happen to me?!
