My Little Pony: Friends Forever

Friends forever!

My Little Pony: Friends Forever was an on-going comic book series by IDW Publishing that lasted for a total of 38 issues, making it the second longest running Generation 4 comic book series and the longest running spin-off of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Like My Little Pony: Micro-Series, it was an anthology series with each issue focusing on different characters, though as Micro-Series was based around individuals or groups, Friends Forever follows two different characters each issue.

Featured pairings tended to fall into three categories; characters who never or rarely interacted, but share common attributes, like Trixie Lulamoon and Rainbow Dash (extravagant and bigger-then-life personalities), Spike and Zecora (both feeling like outsiders, despite being adored by their community), and Maud Pie and Rarity (both being associated with gems). The second being for characters regularly interact, but never have a deeper dive into their personalities and dynamics, as seen with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. The last of the typical story types would be issues where a character teams up with a one-shot or rarely appearing character whom they are associated with, typically used to expand on the backstory of said character, as seen with Fluttershy and Iron Will, Rainbow Dash and Little Strongheart, and Applejack and Cherry Jubilee.

Despite focus on duos, a number of characters associated with together strangely do not have their own stories, like Derpy and Dr. Hooves, Lyra Heartstrings and Bon Bon, Octavia Melody and Vinyl Scratch, and Snips and Snails, among other less blatant examples.

The tone of the series like Micro-Series was typically very lighthearted; steering away from any of the more upsetting aspects found in Friendship is Magic and later Legends of Magic, and instead kept stories to be about friendship and forgiven typically. That said, the series did steer into deeper territories on a few instances. Issue 14 for example was clearly a metaphor for institutionalized racism and police corruption, and issue 20 was a surprisingly bittersweet character study on Discord and his friendships with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Fluttershy, both issues feature Luna, coincidently.

Continuity and chronology

Continuity is aligned with the IDW Publishing continuity, which differs from the TV shows continuity in various ways but also follows it, in various ways (continuity is a mess, seriously), as such, comic exclusive characters and places show up from time to time, including Tiberious and Crystal Mountain respectively.

Media

Issues

Cover	Issue	Description	Release date
	#1	Introducing a brand new ongoing series! Dedicated to exploring the magic that arises from the friendship of two different ponies, prepare for anything in this fun-filled team-team up comic! Our first pony pairing features none other than Applejack and Pinkie Pie! When the two enter a baking contest, you can bet the culinary hijinks are going to get messy!	January 22, 2014
	#2	The Cutie Mark Crusaders have done everything they can think of to get their cutie marks. But there’s one creature of chaos who might have some ideas they would never think of… Discord! When our pint-sized heroines start working with the unpredictable trickster, the results are bound to get unusual! Will Ponyville be able to survive their friendship?
	#3	Featuring the unlikely duo of Princess Celestia and Spike! In need of the birthday present for Twilight, Spike enlists Celestia on an adventure! What seems to be a harmless journey quickly turns into danger for even the mightiest of ponies! Who will save whom??	TBA
	#4	Twilight Sparkle plans to spend some much needed quality time with her brother, Shining Armor, in the Crystal Empire. However, when a mysterious ghost starts haunting the castle, the siblings will have to use all of their combined monster knowledge to save the day!	TBA
	#5	Fluttershy and Zecora take the spotlight in the new fan-favorite series! Fluttershy wakes up one day to find that all of her animal friends can talk to her! But what secret are they hiding? It will be up to everyone’s favorite rhyming zebra to determine the nature of this strange occurrence!	TBA
	#6	The newest Friends Forever features Trixie & Rainbow Dash! Trixie finds herself the queen of a new kingdom and calls on Rainbow Dash to wow her subjects with some amazing flying stunts. However Trixie has a hidden agenda. When Rainbow discovers the truth, just how much of a friend will she want to be?	TBA
	#7	Princess Luna faces her greatest challenge yet… making jokes in public! Luna turns to Pinkie Pie, the master of merriment, to help her find her funny bone. If Pinkie’s teachings backfire on Luna, there might be very few laughs to be found in Canterlot!	TBA
	#8	It’s road trip time with Applejack and Rarity! When the two friends discover they are headed to the same destination, they naturally decide to ride together. A seemingly easy trip turns disastrous when calamity upon calamity interrupts their journey! Will Applejack and Rarity’s friendship… or sanity… survive the trip?	TBA
	#9	Granny visits an apple convention and is dismayed to see the Flim Flam brothers are up to their old tricks. Only the two are no longer working together… something has divided the brothers! It will be up to Granny to mend hurt feelings. But will she want to?	TBA
	#10	Fluttershy gets an unexpected visit from the most aggressive guy around, Iron Will! Can Fluttershy teach the minotaur the benefits of a more gentle demeanor?	TBA
	#11	Rainbow Dash is overjoyed when Wonderbolt Spitfire invites her to a special training camp. However, Spitfire is hiding a secret that she is ashamed to admit. Will Dash be able to help before the camp turns into chaos?	TBA
	#12	Pinkie Pie meets her match… in the form of delicious, irresistible snacks called PheNOMNOMenons! With Pinkie helpless to resist the tasty treats, she enlists help from her friend Twilight! Will Twilight be able to help her friend or will she succumb to her sweet tooth as well?	TBA
	#13	When Sweetie Belle gets sick, it’s up to big sis Rarity to entertain Babs Seed on a visit to Manehattan. The only problem is the two seemingly have nothing in common! Will the two find a way to overcome their differences and find a way to have fun in the big city?	TBA
	#14	When a dragon problem in Fillydelphia threatens to get out of hand, Luna enlists Spike’s help to find a peaceful solution. There are many suspects and no easy answers as both Spike and Luna must admit to personal shortcomings in order to find the true culprit.	TBA
	#15	After getting an erroneous citation, Applejack goes to Ponyville City Hall to set things right! She soon finds herself swept up in the chaos of city government thanks to none other than Mayor Mare! Will Applejack be able to escape with her sanity intact?	TBA
	#16	When Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon see those obnoxious blank flanks, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, threaten to win a school contest, they decide go all out to make sure the best ponies win! (Being themselves, of course!)	TBA
	#17	Twilight Sparkle is feeling overworked and stressed out! She decides to visit the most Zen pony she knows—Big Mac! But Mac is feeling less than communicative, so Twilight will have to go where no pony has gone before—inside Big Mac’s mind!	TBA
	#18	Everyone’s favorite pegasus pair Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash star in this issue! Dash is excited to go to the Cloudsdale school reunion—but Fluttershy is harboring some bad memories and fears!	TBA
	#19	Rarity has a genius idea to expand the Cake’s business! However, Rarity’s big dreams may overtake the Cake’s sanity before the new venture can even get off the ground!	TBA
	#20	Discord has been having trouble sleeping. And bad sleep for Discord means trouble for anyone around him! Princess Luna delves into Discord’s chaotic slumber to try and identify the source of the problem.	TBA
	#21	A strange flu has descended over Ponyville! Only two friends find themselves immune… Spike and Zecora? Will the unusual pair be able to find a cure?	TBA
	#22	Celestia is planning a party for her sister Luna, and she needs the perfect cake! The Princess enlists Pinkie Pie’s help, but Pinkie may be in over her head with this royal order!	TBA
	#23	Applejack and Fluttershy go camping! The serenity of nature is ruined when ponies travel from all over Equestria to catch a glimpse of the legendary Pigasus that is rumored to be in the area! Will our two ponies be able to get to bottom of the mystery… before pigs fly?	TBA
	#24	Rarity has found a very difficult client in the form of Gilda the Griffon! Gilda demands the perfect uniform for a new sports team in Griffinstone. Rarity travels to the desolate kingdom and realizes there is more than fashion to be accomplished in the home of the Griffons!	TBA
	#25	Rainbow Dash wakes up to discover that here wings have VANISHED! It’s up to the relatively newly-winged Twilight to help her friend find out the source of the mysterious occurrence..	TBA
	#26	Shining Armor will have his hooves full when Prince Blueblood gets involved in a sensitive diplomatic mission. Will Shining Armor be able to make use of the Prince’s unique talents?	TBA
	#27	It’s cider season and things are busy at Sweet Apple Acres! Unfortunately, Granny has broken her hip and Pinkie Pie is called in to look after the cantankerous elder! Will Pinkie’s optimism triumph over Granny’s stubbornness?	TBA
	#28	The Cutie Mark Crusaders visit Canterlot. When their appointed guardian is summoned away, it’s up to Princess Luna to watch over the precocious fillies. Luna can’t be that bad with kids, right?	TBA
	#29	When Rarity meets Maud Pie at a gem convention the two seemingly have little in common. But when Maud comes across an opportunity to make a name for herself in rock academia, Rarity may be just the pony to help Maud discover her inner enthusiasm.	TBA
	#30	When Twilight visits her sister-in-law Cadance in the Crystal Empire, she’s surprised to find that something is bothering her sister-in-law but she won’t say what! Twilight must find the reason behind Cadance’s loss of self-esteem before the Empire itself becomes imperiled!	TBA
	#31	Little Strongheart asks Rainbow Dash to go on a quest with her… one that may save the Buffalo! Who, or what, is the Great Crow?	TBA
	#32	The shiest pony who’s ever shied, Fluttershy, meets the most adventurous adventurer ever: Daring Do! When the two embark on a perilous journey together it may be up to Fluttershy to teach Daring Do the meaning of bravery!	TBA
	#33	When a traveling rodeo come to town, Applejack must discover the secret history of Cherry Jubilee!	TBA
	#34	Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich get trapped in a magical house that loves to party! But will it ever let them leave?	TBA
	#35	Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer tidy up the library in the Castle of the Two Sisters. What begins as a friendly activity soon turns into magic-based battle of egos and starts to transform the castle into a very dangerous place!	TBA
	#36	Rainbow Dash travels to a remote and dangerous location and finds her fellow Wonderbolt, Soarin, is about to undertake a dangerous mission. Will Dash be able to get over her ego help her fellow Pegasus?	TBA
	#37	Rarity is excited to work on Sapphire Shores’ next big concert! What should be a dream job could turn into a nightmare when Rarity discovers that she’ll need to work closely with a pony with a checkered past… Trixie!	TBA
	#38	A minor squabble between Princesses Celestia and Luna turns major and the two decide they need some time apart. When they divide Canterlot castle between the two of them, will the leaders of Equestria find a way to live harmoniously	TBA

Volumes

Cover	Issue	Description	Release date
	#1	Four tales dedicated to exploring the magic of friendship. First Applejack and Pinkie Pie enter a baking contest, then The Cutie Mark Crusaders team up with Discord, Spike enlists Princess Celestia to help him find a birthday present, and finally Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor chase down a mysterious ghost. Collects issues #1-4.	June 2014
	#2	Four more tales of friends and fun focusing on Fluttershy and Zecora, Trixie and Rainbow Dash, Princess Luna and Pinkie Pie, and Applejack and Rarity! Collects issues #5–8.
	#3	Four tales of friendship and fun! Contains stories involving Granny and the Flim Flam brothers, Fluttershy and Iron Will, Rainbow Dash and Wonderbolt Spitfire, and Pinkie Pie! Collects issues #9–12.	TBA
	#4	Four tales of friendship and fun! Contains stories involving Rarity and Babs, Spike and Luna, Applejack and Mayor Mare, plus Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara! Collects issues #13–16.	TBA
	#5	Twilight Sparkle looks to Big Mac for help feeling less stressed out. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy head to the Cloudsdale school reunion. Rarity has a genius idea to help the Cake’s business. And, Princess Luna tries to help Discord with his sleep problems. Collects issues #17–20	TBA
	#6	Friends Forever contains fours tales of friendship and fun! A strange flu descends over Ponyville and Spike and Zecora must work together to find a cure. Princess Celestia enlists Pinkie Pie’s help in making a cake for Luna’s birthday. Applejack and Fluttershy go camping. And, Rarity travels to GriFFVinstone to make the perfect uniforms for Gilda the GriFFVin’s new sports team. Collects issues #21–24.	TBA
	#7	Four tales of friends and fun! Rainbow Dash wakes up to discover that her wings have vanished, so it’s up to the relatively newly-winged Twilight to help her. Then, Shining Armor will have his hooves full when Prince Blueblood gets involved in a sensitive diplomatic mission. Plus, it’s cider season and things are busy at Sweet Apple Acres! Unfortunately, Granny has broken her hip and Pinkie Pie is called in to look after the cantankerous elder! And finally, The Cutie Mark Crusaders visit Canterlot. When their appointed guardian is summoned away, it’s up to Princess Luna to watch over the precocious fillies. Collects issues #25–28.	TBA
	#8	Five tales of friends and fun! Rarity tries to help Maud Pie discover her inner enthusiasm; Twilight visits Cadance in the Crystal Empire; Little Strongheart asks Rainbow Dash to go on a quest with her; Fluttershy meets the most adventurous adventurer ever: Daring Do; and, Applejack must discover the secret history of Cherry Jubilee! Collects issues #29–33.	TBA
	#9	Friends Forever celebrates the magic of friendship in these stand-alone tales featuring all of your favorite characters. Share adventures with Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich, Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer, Rainbow Dash and Soarin, and more. Collects issues #34–38.	TBA

Omnibuses

Cover	Issue	Description	Release date
	#1	Friends Forever celebrates the magic of friendship in these stand-alone tales featuring all of your favorite characters. Share adventures with Pinkie Pie and Applejack, Princess Celestia and Spike, Fluttershy and Zecora, Rainbow Dash and Trixie, Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor, and many more! Collects issues #1–12.	November 2016
	#2	Friends Forever celebrates the magic of friendship in these stand-alone tales featuring all of your favorite characters. Share adventures with Princess Luna and Spike, Applejack and Mayor Mare, Twilight Sparkle and Big Mac, Rarity and The Cakes, and many more! Collects issues #13–24.	May 2017
	#3	Celebrate the magic of friendship in these stand-alone tales featuring all of your favorite characters. Share adventures with Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash, Shining Armor and Prince Blueblood, Pinkie Pie and Granny, Princess Luna and The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Rarity and Maud Pie, Fluttershy and Daring Do, and more! Collects issues #25–38.	December 2017

Gallery

Main article: My Little Pony: Friends Forever cover gallery