Heartwarming / My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Friendship Games

The girls have a new friend who’s new to the magic of friendship, just like Princess Twilight was from the beginning.

The Movie

• Rainbow calling the gang to the school... because she wanted to give the Crusaders a concert and her string broke. Also, that every single one of the girls dropped whatever they were doing (it's explicitly mentioned that Fluttershy was taking care of the animals at the shelter and Rarity was in the middle of work) to go aid Rainbow Dash in what they thought was an emergency.
• Sunset taking AJ's comment about evil beings coming out of the portal well. Since AJ was obviously making a joke, instead of being Innocently Insensitive like the previous film, the event has come to reference how Sunset became their friend instead of the "raging she-demon" thing.
• Rainbow's pep rally getting Canterlot High motivated for the games.
  • Considering the animosity between the two in the previous movie (even if part of it was due to the Dazzlings' spell), Trixie smiling when Rainbow puts the Wondercolt ears on her was absolutely adorable.
• The ending of Twilight's song, "What More is Out There?" After singing about how she's an outcast at Crystal Prep and feels empty despite all her achievements, Twilight reveals that she is still looking at the future with hopeful eyes. She knows that there is something out there that will fill the emptiness inside her heart. She welcomes the mystery, knowing that someday she'll find the answer.
• Dean Cadance, despite not having been Twilight's babysitter (at least as far as we know), still does her best to look out for her and care for her, and is a Reasonable Authority Figure in general.
• Shining Armor gets distracted while Cinch is talking, because he's busy staring at Cadance adoringly. It's a small moment, but it's cute. Doubly so given since Cadance is staring right back the same way, even if she recovers first.
• The movie shows that Twilight absolutely adores her world's version of Spike. She even has a picture of him as her desktop theme on her computer. Spike also displays plenty of affection for Twilight, including sitting on her lap, keeping her company, and growling because he didn't like the idea of Twilight going to CHS alone (as mentioned by Twilight herself). Twilight's love for Spike is what saves the day when Midnight Sparkle is about to defeat Sunset. Seeing Spike look up at her with his wide puppy dog eyes, sad to see what Twilight has become, is what momentarily brings back Twilight's sanity, giving Sunset the chance she needed to defeat Midnight Sparkle and save Twilight.
  • As stated in the novelization itself during the climax: The sight of her beloved dog was more powerful than anything.
• While pretty much everyone at Crystal Prep shuns or insults Twilight, there are ones who don't:
  • Lemon Zest, Crystal Prep's answer to Pinkie Pie, who exudes just as much friendly energy and enthusiasm, willingly interacts with Twilight, trying to share her love of music. Even if Twilight doesn't exactly appreciate it at the time, the gesture is genuine and has no dark undertones.
  • Indigo Zap also doesn't do much to Twilight except be a bit obnoxious about her excitement for the Friendship Games, and even then that's more of a friendly gesture than anything. She was just trying to get Twilight pumped for the Games. She even comes to Twilight's defense in the gym when Sunset tries to interrogate her.
• After Pinkie improves the party in the CHS gym, Lemon Zest can be seen interacting with Vinyl Scratch in a friendly manner. And in the end credits, when we see a montage of pictures, one of those pictures is of her, along with another Crystal Prep student, dancing and enjoying themselves.
  • They can be seen hanging out in the background together while Twilight talks to Dean Cadance about transferring schools, suggesting that the two neon-haired music lovers have bonded.
• All of the CHS students happily greeting human Twilight. True, they've mistaken her for "Princess" Twilight, but it was still nice to see.
• "Don't you remember, darling? What we needed to defeat [the Sirens]... was you." Awwww.
• When the Shadowbolts arrive at Canterlot High, Cadance and Luna embrace and crack a few jokes together, to the jawdropped shock of the Crystal Prep students. Despite the animosity built up between the schools, Cadance genuinely seems to be friends with Luna and Celestia, and it's nice to see someone take the "friendship" part of the Friendship Games to heart.
• The fact that Sunset actually considered returning to Equestria, just to talk to Princess Twilight in person.
• Flash Sentry once again proves himself to be a Nice Guy, when he genuinely congratulates Human Twilight for her victory in the first round of the Friendship Games, despite the two playing on opposing teams. It's a complete reversal to how he acted under the Dazzlings' Hate Plague in Rainbow Rocks, where he gave Twilight the cold shoulder for entering the Battle of the Bands against him.
• Also, when Base-Breaking Character Flash Sentry felt sad from Twilight running off (who he doesn't realize is NOT the Twilight he's had a crush on), who comforts him? Fan-favorite Derpy Hooves. This is a character that most Bronies hate being comforted by a character most Bronies love! As if Derpy was saying to the Broken Base, "Just because you hate him and love me, doesn't mean I should hate him, too."
  • Speaking of Derpy, her being chosen for the academic decathlon; not just due to her being an Ensemble Dark Horse, but consider the fact that some believe she, shall we say, is quite "slow", means that she (or at least her CHS doppleganger) must be reasonably smart to be picked for such an important position.
• Flash helping Twilight get her glasses. Even those who hate him being shipped with Twilight let out an "Awwwww."
• The meeting between the Wondercolts and Shadowbolts is rather... tense. Then Pinkie Pie enlists Human Twilight's help in making it more of a party. For about a minute, the two schools mingle together and actually get along: talking, and dancing together. It's a nice moment, up until Cinch ruins it.
• Even though Celestia and Luna's speaking interactions throughout the three movies are limited and strictly professional, this one gives them some pretty cute silent scenes together:
  • They stand right next to each other (and close to their students), smiling, as Cadance is giving the opening speech before the Academic Decathlon. Especially notable in contrast to Cinch's isolation and sour expression.
  • Just before the second event, as Cinch is walking to her seat in the VIP box, the Principal Sisters lean closer to each other, as if to chat.
  • And there's the smile on Celestia's face as she watches Luna lightheartedly jam to some music in one of the final credits picture.
  • The cake feast, caught on camera!
• Fluttershy showing some well-needed kindness to Twilight, helping her cheer up. Twilight even questions it, since Fluttershy's team just lost the Academic Decathlon, and she's their opponent. Fluttershy only says that Twilight looked like she needed it, and they bond over both Spike and Fluttershy's various pets.
• After Twilight's repeated failures to land a bulls-eye in archery and the Shadowbolts mocking her for it, Applejack gets fed up and comes over to give her some advice. She doesn't care if it's a competition and she doesn't know this version of Twilight, she helps, when her actual teammates just hurl insults.
  • Before that, in a blink-and-you miss moment, when Sugarcoat tells Twilight she sucks, you can see Sunset and Rainbow Dash giving the former a Death Glare.
• And after she hits the target, Applejack holds her hand out for a high-five. What does Twilight do instead? Hugs Applejack. She is surprised at first, but then hugs back, saying, "See? I was telling the truth." Daaaawww. Sure, the moment gets ruined a few moments later, but Twilight is just relieved.
• Rainbow using her "pony-up" wing power to defend everyone else (including Shadowbolts) from the vines, instead of using it to win.
• Why is Sunset so harsh with Twilight? Besides her bottled-up frustration at being unable to figure out the magic in the human world, there's also the fact Twilight's device, although accidentally, almost seriously hurt her friends and other innocents.
• Principal Celestia has never interacted with Sunset Shimmer on good terms in the previous movies. They have no scenes together in Equestria Girls, and the Principal is under an evil spell in Rainbow Rocks. In Friendship Games, the two share a moment that is brief but shows that, like her Equestrian counterpart, Celestia cares about Sunset in spite of what she has done wrong in the past.
  Principal Celestia: It's not your fault, Sunset[...]. It doesn't matter what Principal Cinch thinks.
• Luna also seems to trust Sunset now, since she gives her the task of making sure their magic doesn't affect the games and lets her participate in them.
• Even after discovering that Human Twilight has been stealing their magic, the Humane Five understand it's not something she can control and feel sorry for her.
• Contrary to a lot of previous villains, this one is not defeated with a blast of magical energy powered by friendship. After undoing the damage Twilight caused, Sunset blasts her with magic, and he pulls her into a White Void Room. There, Sunset just talks her down and convinces her to stop, and offers Twilight her hand in friendship, which she accepts.
  Sunset Shimmer: Take my hand, Twilight. Let me show you there's another way. Just like someone once did for me.
  • This scene is a lot more heartwarming when you remember Sunset angrily berated Twilight for messing around with magic, driving the latter to tears. Here, Sunset has understood that being angry was not the solution, and that showing Twilight kindness was what would save the day]].
• The Shadowbolts themselves get a somewhat subtle one (what with everything going to Tartarus): when Twilight turns into Midnight Sparkle, goes ballistic, starts actually destroying the human world by opening a bucket load of portals to Equestria, and generally being aggressive and scary, what do they do? Of course, flee for their lives like any reasonable person (especially if you helped cause the mess in the first place)... is not what they do. Even when Principal Cinch does so herself — and tells them to do so — they go out of their way to help the Humane Six, with Indigo Zap and Lemon Zest saving Rarity and another two students from falling into the void to Equestria.
  • Mixing the Heartwarming with Awesome is the fact that one of the students Rarity is trying to save from falling into Equestria is Fleur-Dis Lee, a Crystal Prep student. They are returning the favor.
• After all is said and done, Sour Sweet admits that all of the Shadowbolts are to blame for what happened, but it's still mostly Cinch's fault.
• It's nice to see that Flash Sentry, Micro Chips, and Sandalwood are still getting along. One moment being the three posing for a photo in the credits, and another when the latter two lose at birdhouse construction, and Sandalwood puts his arm around Micro Chips' shoulder to console him. After the Crystal Prep girls purposely bump into them and knock their birdhouse to the floor, Fluttershy and Applejack go up to them and put their hands on their shoulders.
• Sunset assuring a remorseful Twilight that based on her own experience, she'll eventually be forgiven.
• After Trixie's villainous role in the second film, this one simply has her in a minor protagonist role cheering along with Rainbow's song, and then enjoying the party Pinkie makes of the two schools meeting.
• In the cut duet, Sunset Shimmer expresses joy at how she's earned her popularity and the friendship of the students, without magic.
• Near the end of the film, in the background, Lemon Zest and Vinyl Scratch are trading headphones to share their music tastes.
• In a deleted scene, Sunset is pouring out all her homesickness to the Pony Twilight (who comes to the human world for another visit), and she gently puts her hands on Sunset's in a comforting manner. She then tells her that she is welcome in Equestria whenever she wants. Whether you think they have a thing for each other or not, you have to admit, it was a sweet gesture.
• Even though Sunset lost to Twilight during the first round of the games, what do her friends do? Congratulate her on getting very close to winning, complete with a group huddle. A sharp contrast to the tear jerking scene where the Shadowbolts don't even give Twilight a smile when she actually won the competition.
• Just before The Stinger, Principal Celestia brings the freshly-transferred Sci-Twi to the Humane Six^note Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Sunset Shimmer and asks them to "help [Twilight] feel at home". Cue Humane Seven group hug.
  • Also, the look on Twilight's face as she glances at her new principal. She already seems to feel safe with Celestia, despite not really knowing her that well yet and being a Wondercolt for no more than just a few minutes.
• The Rainbooms are shown practicing, and Sunset is on backup guitar. After spending most of Rainbow Rocks on the sidelines, it's nice to see her as part of the band.

Blooper reel

• When Cinch fails to do her Chair Reveal, she starts laughing, which makes her look like an actually nice elderly lady.
  • Not to mention Human Twilight's absolutely adorable laugh.
• Lemon Zest and Vinyl Scratch trading headphones and rocking out to each other's music.

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