I did a bit of research on what opaline is, and a few things jumped out at me:
- opaline is an artificial crystal
- it’s a “stone of love”
- it’s prismatic
Make of this what you will.
Fantastic catch. I’d be more surprised at this point if Opaline turned out to not have a connection to the Crystal Ponies.
This finding shows that all references that can be used as a basis for future G5 episodes and the upcoming lore can be found in the movie, which should be studied in detail to find out more. It was in TYT that Opaline’s cutie mark is revealed, and it demonstrates that she may have had an important role in the post-G4 era as she is connected to the Crystal Empire, and that Argyle had researched her in his time.
Opaline was first interpreted as a corrupt Fluffy Heart, partly because the setting in C1 seemed to be taken from the Crystal Empire. But in the IDW comics and later in TYT and MYM it was revealed that she is an original pony who may have been a unicorn.
The heart around her cutie mark suggests that Opaline may be reformed during G5. But this also means that she is corrupt - or pre-corrupt in her magic. And since typical signs of magical corruption are not seen on her, that means she is in a pre-corruption state. So Opaline may one day completely lose it like Luna and Stygian, and let the corruption overtake her. It will possibly happen in S2 or S3, and maybe for the final showdown with Sunny for the right to take over Equestria after Twilight Sparkle. In her remarks from the end of C2, it’s clear that Opaline intended to surpass Twilight.
At least we know that Opaline will lose. But as in the manga “One Punch Man” when Saitama and Garo fought, the corrupt Opaline can become as terrifying and strong as the “Awakened Garou”, so Sunny must bring out all her powers and get all the help from her friends. It will make the victory more complete, and could “finish” G5 if things go badly for Hasbro.
The connection with the Crystal ponies - her home base was probably her prison - brings up the Sombra theory, if she is in cahoots with the evil king. All indications are that she was young when she first appeared, and her accent could suggest that she had spent a lot of time in Canterlot. It is possible that she could be Sombra’s daughter with Radiant Hope as her mother. Twilight and her friends may have accepted Opaline into their company at first.
The last time Sombra was seen was when he was taken away from Cybertron in a magical cage, as the transformers and the ponies know they couldn’t just kill him for fear that he will return. He has a rather annoying habit of returning from the dead. Possibly because he is an umbrum as described in the IDW comics. Twilight may have tried to reform him, only to realize that the proud and arrogant king will never allow himself to be reformed. So he could have been sent to Tartarus.
If Opaline is Sombra’s daughter or descendant who will free Sombra, that could explain why Hologram-Twilight made warnings that the fire alicorn is going to open “something”. It may be the gate to Tartarus which may also have housed the hordes of monsters Grogar had created. Because not a single monster has been seen so far in G5.
I think the first clash between Opaline and Sunny will be over control of magic and Equestria, when the ponies learn the truth about the alicorns. The second clash could be when Opaline tries to free Sombra only to be stopped for good by the Mane 5/New Mane 6. The third clash could be the last, when the corrupted Opaline and Sunny (who can enter the Luna mode as implied in TYT with the blanket) fight all-out with each other over the Ponykind’s future.
But the movie shows that Opaline can be reformed and join Sunny as a friend with a new cutie mark, and Misty can get back the mother she probably never had. Because it is possible that a much greater threat exists; Grogar’s bell is more prominent than the image of the cutie mark found in a drawing. Perhaps Opaline had more than just lust for power and possible kinship with Sombra as her motives for taking all magic and becoming sole ruler of Equestria.