- Written by Christine Rice, art by Agnes Garbowska
Fluttershy's friends are alerted that Iron Will is back in town and looking for her, and they race to her cottage to help protect her from him. However, Fluttershy is more than happy to see what Iron Will wants, where they learn that he's been kicked out of his labyrinth by his wife for being too assertive and is looking for Fluttershy's help to calm down. She is happy to help, and tries to put him through several situations to help learn patience and understanding: feeding her animals (until it comes to Angel Bunny), helping at Sugarcube Corner (until Pinkie has a bit of Insane Troll Logic that throws him off), and even helping at Sweet Apple Acres (until he tries to harvest apples by ramming a tree directly and knocking himself out). Fluttershy suggests a bit of time at the spa but when Rainbow Dash comes in and teases Iron Will for finding his "inner pony", he storms off to Everfree Forest.
Fluttershy follows the minotaur to the forest, where he reveals that the reason he was kicked out was that his son, whom he is proud of, has been taking too many of his assertive mannerisms and has been using that against his mother and his teachers at school. Fluttershy helps to remind him that while being assertive can be good (and for Iron Will, his source of income from his seminars), that there's a time and a place for it, and if he can show more care around his family, his son will pick up on his good habits as well. Iron Will is impressed by this advice, and before he goes, treats Fluttershy and her friends to a meal (revealing he is a gourmet chef).
This issue provides examples of:
- An Aesop: Iron Will learns that there is a time and a place to be assertive.
- The Cameo: Twist and Gizmo/Poindexter make appearances as customers at Sugarcube Corner.
- Classical Mythology: The fact that Iron Will, a minotaur, actually lives in a labyrinth, is consistent with the Greek mythology detailing the Minotaur living in a maze under the palace of Crete.
- Continuity Nod:
- This issue marks the first appearance of Twilight's new castle that debuted at the end of "Twilight's Kingdom", making it the first post-Season 4 comic.
- Angel's reaction to Iron Will's salad mirrors the same gag from "Putting Your Hoof Down", the very episode Iron Will made his debut.
- Curse Cut Short / Never Say "Die": Iron Will starts one of his mottos after Angel throws a salad onto his head, but is cut short by Fluttershy before he can finish.Iron Will: Put food on my head, consider yourself d—
- Exiled to the Couch: What Iron Will is going through until he can control his assertive manners.
- Hidden Depths: Iron Will is a gourmet chef. Who knew?
- Jerkass Ball: The Mane 6 sans Fluttershy are surprisingly hostile and unwelcoming towards Iron Will despite the fact that he was fairly reasonable with Fluttershy during their last meeting (most damage he did was rip off Fluttershy's barricade and that was her own doing to protect her friends after going overboard with her newfound assertive-ness), especially Rainbow Dash who only serve to make fun of him of his "inner-pony" when he was starting to calm down, thus not helping the situation.
- Real Men Cook: Iron Will appears to be an excellent cook.
- Stock "Yuck!": Rainbow Dash hates brussels sprouts.
