| My Little Pony: Tournament of Mysteries | |
|---|---|
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| Published: | April 30, 2025 |
| Writer: | Stephanie Williams |
| Artist: | Asia Simone |
| Letterer: | Johanna Nattalie |
| Editor: | Bixie Mathieu |
| See also | |
| Credits • Gallery • Allusions | |
| Issue guide | |
| Previous N/A |
Next N/A |
My Little Pony: Tournament of Mysteries is a special-edition Generation 5 comic released by IDW Publishing. In this comic, a famous Pegasus athlete mysteriously disappears during a high-flying tournament in his honor, and the ponies attempt to piece together what happened and who is behind it.
Summary[]
At the Cloud Coliseum in Zephyr Heights, hundreds of ponies - including the Mane 6 - have gathered to watch renowned Pegasus athlete/movie star Airen give a high-flying aerial performance. As Airen amazes everyone with his flying and performs his signature move, the "Zephyr Comet", the sunlight bounces off his wings and creates a blinding light. When the light fades away, however, Airen has mysteriously vanished. Later, as reported on by news reporter Sky Scoop, Airen's disappearance has turned into a full-blown mystery as to his whereabouts. Sky Scoop asks each of the Mane 6 for any insight about the day's events.
Hitch Trailblazer explains that he was in charge of security for the coliseum event. While helping one of the spectators locate their lost ticket to the venue, he noticed Airen going into his dressing room, followed by his neurotic personal assistant. The PA ordered Hitch not to bother Airen for any reason for the next two hours. Some time later, he helped a nervous stand vendor find his lost all-access badge. Sunny Starscout explains that she was working at her smoothie truck when Hitch passed along Airen's PA's orders about not bothering Airen for the next two hours. After a brief encounter with the same stand vendor looking for his lost badge, two hours passed. Sunny approached Airen's dressing room with a smoothie delivery, but the PA intercepted her, took the smoothie, and quickly sent Sunny away.
Izzy Moonbow explains that, after getting her face painted for the event and noticing the same stand vendor from Hitch and Sunny's stories, she explored the coliseum grounds and came across some empty feather sacks near Airen's dressing room. Misty explains that, during the coliseum event's pre-show parade, she struck up a conversation with a Pegasus stallion in a cap and sunglasses. As Misty expressed her excitement over watching an entire event dedicated to Airen, the stallion said "celebrities are just regular ponies at heart". Upon seeing another pony in the near distance, the stallion suddenly left.
Pipp Petals explains that she had a one-on-one interview with Airen a few hours before the event started, during which Airen told Pipp "today's performance will be unlike anything you've seen before". When Pipp asked Airen about his future projects, Airen's PA sharply interrupted. Lastly, Zipp Storm explains that she also talked with Airen before his performance. As one of his biggest fans, Zipp asked him a couple of performance-related questions, and Airen said "sometimes the greatest performances are the ones that leave a lasting impression".
Having questioned all of the Mane 6, Sky Scoop notices multiple ponies angrily accosting Airen's personal assistant and demanding answers about Airen's whereabouts. After getting the PA alone, the Mane 6 ask him if he knows anything about Airen's disappearance. The PA is vague with his answers, saying Airen has reasons for everything he does and that he has been under a lot of pressure recently from his constant performances and the expectations of his fans.
As the ponies go over everything they know so far, Zipp recalls Airen's words about "leaving a lasting impression", Hitch recalls Airen's PA telling everyone not to enter Airen's dressing room, and Izzy recalls the empty feather sacks she found near the dressing room. With all the clues piling up, the PA finally confesses that Airen's disappearance was planned from the beginning, and he agrees to take the Mane 6 to where Airen is. Through a secret passage under Zephyr Heights, the PA leads them to where Airen and his girlfriend Bailey have been hiding.
Airen reveals that he and Bailey have been planning a flight expedition around the world together, and he orchestrated his own disappearance from the public spotlight in order to accomplish this goal. The Mane 6 convince Airen and Bailey to reveal their plans to the public, believing Airen's fans will be supportive of his dream and deserve to know the truth about his disappearance. Two days later, with the Mane 6's help, Airen issues a public apology for his actions, and he and Bailey announce their around-the-world expedition with style.
Quotes[]
- Hitch Trailblazer: Let's keep it orderly and enjoy the show safely!
- Pipp Petals: This is so trending right now! #AirenAirshow is blowing up!
- Zipp Storm: Finally, some real action! I can't wait to see his signatures moves up close!
- Sunny Starscout: Wow, look how many ponies came together for this! Isn't it wonderful?
- Izzy Moonbow: Ooh! Do you think Airen would like my Airen-inspired face paint? I told the artist to use extra glitter!
- Misty: I've never seen anything like this before. It's all so...big and loud!
- Announcer: Feast your eyes on the Pegasus who's broken every aerial record in Zephyr Heights! The Pegasus who laughs in the face of gravity...Airen!
- Announcer: Wait a minute... Where's Airen? He should have emerged from the cloud by now! We seem to be experiencing some...technical difficulties.
- Sky Scoop: This is Sky Scoop reporting live from Cloud Coliseum, where a celebration has turned into a mystery.
- Airen's Assistant: Come on, Airen. We need to get you to the Green Room now.
- Airen: Yeah, sure... Whatever you say.
- Airen's Assistant: Listen up, security. No one, and I mean no one, enters the Green Room for the next two hours. Got it?
- Hitch Trailblazer: May I ask why, sir? It's important for security to--
- Airen's Assistant: Because Airen needs time to meditate before the show. It's part of his preflight routine. No exceptions!
- Sunny Starscout: One "Airen Zephyr Blast" coming right up!
- Airen's Assistant: What are you doing in here? Didn't you get the message about no interruptions?
- Sunny Starscout: I waited two hours.
- Airen's Assistant: Thanks for this, but Airen needs privacy right now. You need to leave immediately!
- Izzy Moonbow: Did you know that cotton candy was invented by a dentist? Isn't that hilarious?
- Misty: I can't believe somepony like Airen could have an event like this in his honor.
- Airen: Yeah, I suppose it can be pretty overwhelming. But you know, even celebrities are just regular ponies at heart.
- Pipp Petals: Any hints about your next big project?
- Airen: Well, I--
- Airen's Assistant: I'm afraid Airen can't discuss future projects at this time.
- Pipp Petals: Is it true Airen has a secret girlfriend?
- Airen: Sometimes the greatest performances are the ones that leave a lasting impression.
- Airen's Assistant: Airen, he... he has his reasons for everything he does. I've been with him for years. He's not just my employer. He's my friend.
- Pipp Petals: Wait, how long has this secret passage been here?
- Zipp Storm: I can't believe we never knew about this!
- Airen: We've been planning something amazing--an around-the-world flight expedition!
- Hitch Trailblazer: So, the disappearing act was meant to be your grand exit?
- Airen: Yeah, in retrospect, maybe not my best plan.
- Sunny Starscout: Why keep it a secret?
- Bailey: We were afraid nopony would understand--giving up fame and fortune for adventure.
- Pipp Petals: Think of the impact! #AdventurePegasi could inspire so many others!
- Airen: You really think ponies would support this?
- Sunny Starscout: Of course! This isn't about running away--it's about following your hearts!
- Airen: Thank you all for coming today. I owe you an explanation and an apology for my actions. I'm truly sorry for causing such worry and confusion. I should have been honest about my dreams and desire from the start. Meeting Bailey changed everything for me. She helped me realize that being true to yourself is more important than living up to others' expectations. I was afraid you wouldn't understand. That was my mistake. I should have trusted in your support.
- Pipp Petals: #AdventurePegasi is already trending!
- Airen: Sometimes the greatest adventures aren't about escaping your old life...
- Bailey: But about finding the courage to start a new one!
- Airen: Especially when you find someone to share it with!
