Although I did not catch the Royal Sisters at first when they flew up to help the pegasi, it looks like they are not flying as fast as the pegasi are in reaching the cloud…
 
My guess: They were being cautious. You want your beloved sovereigns putting themselves in harm’s way to save your life?
 
They probably got to the cloud just when Spike called out to clear the area as he was going to torch it himself, then they quickly kicked in the speed as they retreated to the ground and met up with Cadence, Twilight, and the Mane Six. All doing this off-camera.
 
I can’t tell…The perspective of their distance to the cloud compared to Rainbow and several pegasi who were already there makes it so that either they were going slower than the pegasi, or were farther away than we could tell…
 
Either way, they made the right choice retreating when Spike said to withdraw: All that steam that was generated could have re-condensed on their wings and soaked them so badly, they could have been unable to remain airborne, fallen, and been seriously injured.
 
But that proves that the Royal Sisters don’t just sit around when their citizens are in danger, especially right in front of their eyes.
 
Sorry we could not see what you did with Rainbow and the pegasi, Your Majesties.

@Background Pony Number 17  
I like to imagine it wouldn’t be as effective, while it still fluids in a creature the creatures body fluids is warmer than a cloud.

@Ping_chan  
This scene contains a lot of recycled animation from the tornado scene in Hurricane Fluttershy, where she is mostly absent (some parts are used in Rainbow Falls, too), and, checking the adjacent crowd shots in addition, I would say no. Someone can probably correct me on that, though.

I’m curious if anyone can see if Derpy showed to help with the other pegasus?

Celestia and Luna sure is taking their sweet ass time saving everyone. Well at lest THIS time Celestia actually attempts to do something.

@RaineV1  
The pegasus military in Equestria has always been bad-ass. Having the ability to drop cloud-sized hailstones on their enemies just makes them more so.
 
Also, ice arrows have got to be friggin’ dangerous weapons to use as sporting equipment. If they can do that to a cloud, imagine what they could do to a flesh-and-blood creature?

@JP  
Judging by what’s seen it creates a magical barrier around the unicorn’s horn when they pass through the barrier. So in order for someone to have it removed it would require breaking the enchant or having someone else pass through it and rush in to cast magic.
 
OR a more likely idea is there’s a central power stone or gem powering the spell on every pony in the area. In order for the spell to be broken it must lose power or the pony under it’s effect goes out of range for a short time. Either way the spell naturally fades away once it’s no longer powered.

@DoomPony  
Depends on how it works. The suppressor itself appears to be magic, so maybe there is a unicorn hiding somewhere who will disable it if ordered to do so.

@DoomPony  
Longer then it takes for a glacier to fall from the sky. So about 5 minutes maybe?

@dynamicv  
Oh please. They’d only say Celestia is useless because double standards

@JP  
I wonder how long it takes for them to turn off the magic suppression spell.

No Lightning Dust to help save the day?
 
I am disappoint.

@JP  
Good thing there’s no such thing a dangerous pegasi or Earth Ponies…right?

@PonyPon  
With the Equestrian top and elite trapped inside, powerless…
 
LET THE GAMES BEGIN

@JP  
yeah.
 
They don’t even have a ceiling….

@dynamicv  
OH! I see I didn’t think about that.
 
I’m not really complaining here honestly just wondering.
 
Either way, Spike be a badass!

@RIG  
Even the alicorns?
 
This is a HUGE hole in the security. Seriously. Any villain could have just waltzed in, bypassing the magic suppressors. Carnage ensues.

@Number1pegasus  
that was before the games started… as soon as the events went on they started blocking magic

@Number1pegasus  
That was during the opening ceremonies, before they turned on the blocking spell.

@RIG  
Ummmmm, I don’t know? How did Twilight do her magic thing then if she was nullified?
 
Plus why would they think the Princesses would Cheat?

@RIG
 
Can’t let anyone have magic, lest the polititans rig the games in their favor I guess.
 
If Twilight can cast a “secret spell” without alerting anyone else, it makes sense that they would ban all magic. Olympics are super strict about cheating.

@Number1pegasus  
every unicorn and alicorn had they magic blocked, including the princesses.

@dynamicv  
It’s still amazing when you think about it.
 
Celestia Controls the fucking Sun which is Extremely hot!
 
And you mean to tell me she couldn’t just you know, Vaporize the thing?
 
Hell, Twilight during this episode did some Magic ho ha and Just MADE FIRE APPEAR FROM NO WHERE.

@JP  
In fairness, I don’t think they counted on a pony firing the arrow nearly straight up in a freak accident. Though considering that they can do stuff like this, I gotta say, ice arrows are pretty powerful weapons.

@dynamicv  
Ha.
 
You child.