So I was doing some musing, and it struck me that the embassy teams formed in the Season 10 comics are a bit strange. Not only is their composition unusual, but the selection of team leaders being sent to particular species is rather peculiar too. Confused? Well, hopefully I can explain myself.
The team that is least odd, funnily enough, is the last to reach its destination. Rainbow Dash, of all the Mane 6, had the best rapport with Captain Celaeno, and it thus makes perfect sense for the two of them to lead the mission to Celaeno’s home in Ornithia. Dash recruiting Spitfire, one of her fellow Wonderbolts, is also unsurprising. Her remaining two teammates are more of a puzzler, given that I was under the impression that Lyra and Bon Bon are supposed to be secret agents.
Fluttershy’s team and assignment are a bit more perplexing. Her recruiting Discord and Pinkie Pie, at least, makes sense. Discord is a powerful magic user and one of Fluttershy’s best friends, and Pinkie Pie’s energy and sociability are a good balance to Fluttershy’s shyness. However, I feel like Fluttershy probably has the best-or at least the most showcased-relationship with Zecora out of any of the Mane 6. It thus seems like she would have been the natural choice to lead the Farasi mission.
Instead, Fluttershy is sent to Abyssinia with Capper, who really feels like he should be accompanied by Rarity. The fact that Trixie is part of this group is also somewhat baffling. Then again, both Discord and Capper have worked with her before, the former in To Where and Back Again - Part 1 and To Where and Back Again - Part 2, and the latter in Nightmare Knights. Perhaps one of them nominated Trixie for their party, and the other seconded the proposal.
As stated previously, Rarity seems like she would have been the best option for the Abyssinia mission, given her relationship with Capper. Instead, she gets sent to a kingdom of Diamond Dogs, after being kidnapped by the last representatives of the species that she met. Granted, she had them pretty much begging her to leave by the time she was through with them. Perhaps Twilight figured Rarity could replicate that feat if need be.
Be that as it may, Rarity’s team may have the strangest composition of any of the embassies. Not only are they the only team without a native escort, but if Rarity picked the companions she did have then she either has uncanny intuition or is just plain eccentric. I mean, granted she knows Big McIntosh and Maud, and knows them to be capable of. But why would she pick Mage Meadowbrook over, say, Mistmane?
Applejack’s team is, for the most part, fairly practical. As stated before, it really feels like Fluttershy should be the one going to Zecora’s homeland. But whichever Mane 6 member goes, obviously Zecora has to go too. And since it’s Applejack, the inclusion of Rockhoof, her favorite Pillar, is likewise pretty obvious.
But why would Applejack have invited Tempest?