My Little Pony: Friendship is Parodied

In the past.

Celestia is sitting on her throne in the newly rebuilt Canterlot, a regal city surrounding a resplendent castle. A royal guard enters the throne room.

Royal Guard: Your highness, a zebra waits outside.

Celestia: A zebra?

Royal Guard: He wishes to speak to you right away.

Celestia: Very well. Send him in.

With a bow, the royal guard exits the throne room, and a zebra, draped in a mysterious cloak, enters.

Celestia: It is not often we see visitors from your lands. I am Princess Celestia. It is my great honor to welcome you to Canterlot.

The zebra lowers his hood.

Zebra: Such enthusiasm will fade, my dear princess, for what I tell you will bring much distress.

Celestia: Excuse me? What are you playing at? Who are you?

Zebra: Zahasrala is my name; the words I speak are part of no game.

Celestia: Do be aware I don't take kindly to threats. So explain yourself quickly before I have your striped, impossible to pronounce flank thrown out of the city.

Zahasrala: There is but one throne where once there were two; it would be foolish to threaten you. But princess of both sun and moon, your ascent transpired much too soon.

Celestia: What are you talking about?

Zahasrala: It was ordained in ancient times, that zebras must always speak in rhymes. But in those same scrolls of prophecy, came tales of Equestrian royalty. Two sisters, one of light, the other dark, on a quest of leadership would embark. Yet strife would erupt between the two, growing well beyond the point of a simple feud.

Celestia (defensive): Kind of a strained rhyme there, don't you think?

Zahasrala: The ideals of her sister the younger would adopt, to begin a reign of terror incapable of being stopped.

Celestia: That's not true! You... you know the story. All of Equestria does...

Zahasrala: What Equestria knows is a well-intentioned lie; Nightmare Moon still resides in the nighttime sky.

Celestia: Which is part of the story!

Zahasrala: Your leadership was far worse than the prophecies foretold, Luna got fed up much too quickly; your antics grew old.

Celestia (looking at the floor): I don't even care how you know all this. Don't you think it's bad enough having to live with the guilt? I've done everything in my power to be the ruler Luna wanted. I've changed! You can't deny that. Unless you're expecting me to free the dragons or something, in which case you may as well turn around; I will forever stand behind the entire war!

Zahasrala: The dragons are none of my concern; princess, there is still much for you to learn.

Celestia: About your timetable, right? About how I screwed things up too quickly? You'll forgive me, Zahas... whatever, for not adhering to prophecies I've never even heard. So why don't you just cut to the chase. Is this blackmail? What are you after, exactly?

Under his breath, Zahasrala mutters an incantation, and an intense green light shoots out from the throne room, covering all of Equestria, before gradually fading away.

Celestia: What was that? What did you do?

Zahasrala: Nightmare Moon you could not slay, nor could any pony alive today. But in many hundreds of years, will be born a unicorn, wielding untold magic in her humble horn. When Nightmare Moon made her first attack, this unicorn was to gather the Elements of Harmony and strike back. Yet here we stand, with the unicorn yet unborn, because of your corruption, we were not forewarned. She was, and is, to be your student, my dear princess; to be trained for the battle with the villain she exists to best.

Celestia: But... the Elements-

Zahasrala: The Elements may have abandoned you, but when the times comes they will reappear, for true. But if, and only if, the unicorn is taken under your care, taught to control the magic only she can bear.

Celestia: But why me? There are more qualified teachers out there!

Zahasrala: I do not write the prophecy; I merely relate what the ancients did see. But you must train her to make up, in part, for the sins and the guilt that weigh heavy upon your heart. Nightmare Moon will reign eternal unless to the unicorn you are a figure most maternal.

Celestia: Seriously, you can drop the rhyme scheme. I know it must be annoying.

Zahasrala: I cannot. It is the zebra's lot.

Celestia: OK... just tell me this: how am I supposed to know who this unicorn even is? I can hardly keep tabs on all of Equestria!

Zahasrala: A valid query, one I would ask too, but have no fear, the fabled one will come to you. Her birth will pass quietly, nothing at all out of the ordinary. But to save Equestria from certain doom, look for the pony whose powers awaken at the sonic rainboom.

Zahasrala pulls his hood back over his face and begins walking out of the throne room. Celestia, lost in thought, quickly comes to a realization.

Celestia: Wait! You never answered me! What was that green light?!

Zahasrala: Changing the story for your subjects was a decision most wise; armed with the truth, against you they would most certainly rise. The zebras cannot allow events to unfold in that way; you still have an important part to play. My magic affected the memory of each and every single pony. To them, a legend Nightmare Moon will truly be, a figure of ancient history. The story you created is the one they believe; yet your part in the tale they cannot begin to conceive. The princesses of yore are both long dead; your resemblance to one not reality, but coincidence instead. The recency of events they have forgotten completely; as such, they will never question your royalty, nor to Equestria, your loyalty.

Celestia is visibly taken aback.

Celestia: Th-thank you, Zahas... esteemed guest. I had no idea zebras wielded such power.

Zahasrala: My strength is nothing next to what the fabled one will bring.

A cloud of green smoke suddenly envelops Zahasrala, and he disappears from the throne room. His voice, however, still rings in Celestia's ears.

Zahasrala: Do not presume so quickly to thank me, for you are not getting off completely scot-free. From the beginning, your reign was founded on lies, now, Celestia, you truly will control the skies; the sun and the moon for you alone will rise. Day and night are your responsibility; your debts repaid with natural servility.

Celestia (shouting at no one): That’s just part of the legend; it’s impossible! You can’t change the laws of physics just like that!

Zahasrala: Your subjects believe it, which makes it so; hone your magic, your highness, in time your skill will grow. For now, I anticipate tonight’s sunset, and the magnificent splendor your magic will no doubt beget.

Celestia: No, I didn’t ask for this! Reverse the spell!

There is no response from Zahasrala.

Celestia: Come back here!

There continues to be no response from Zahasrala. Sighing, Celestia curls up on the floor in front of her throne.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Parodied

Episode 2: Elements of Harmony

In the present.

In the pavilion.

Mayor: Seize her! Only she knows where the princess is!

Nightmare Moon: In place of a princess you now have a dark queen!

Pinkie: Ooh, paraphrasing! I love paraphrasing! My turn! Let’s see… “Luke, I am your father.” Do you get it? See, I took a common misconception, played it straight, and-

As Pinkie Pie rambles, three Canterlot Pegasus knights fly toward Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon: Stand back you foals!

Spike: Really, “foals?” What is it with you ponies and your puns?

Nightmare Moon casts lightning at the knights, sending them rocketing across the room. Laughing maniacally, she transforms into a shroud of purple smoke and flies out the doors of the pavilion. Rainbow Dash finally frees herself from Applejack’s grip and chases after the smoke.

Rainbow: Come back here!

Nightmare Moon, however, moves much too fast, and Rainbow Dash can only hover in the air above Ponyville watching her fly away.

Rainbow: Nighttime… forever?

As Rainbow Dash ponders the ramifications of a world without sunlight, she sees Twilight, with Spike in tow, galloping out of the pavilion.

Rainbow: Where’s she going?

At the library.

Spike: I mean, don’t get me wrong. I get the wordplay. It’s not particularly subtle. But the actual definition of “foal” makes no sense in that context. It’s not even clever!

Twilight, obviously not listening, rapidly summons books from their shelves and casts them away just as quickly.

Twilight: Elements, elements, elements… Ugh! How can I stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?

Rainbow Dash flies into the room, with the other four members of the mane six trotting behind her.

Rainbow: And just what are the Elements of Harmony?! And how did YOU know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy?!

Fluttershy: Oh my goodness… a s-s-spy?

Rainbow: Just give me ten minutes alone with her. After a taste of my patented rainboarding, she’ll spill all her secrets!

Applejack: Now Rainbow Dash, I approve of your methods, but y’all gotta remember, we got a liberal in office. At least I think she’s still in office. The point is, so long as that’s true, there’s certain “civil liberties” we have to uphold. Democratic red tape. Won’t be any such thing once Rarity’s in charge, ain’t that right, Rarity?

Rarity: Um… torture will be not only permitted in my empire, but mandated of all prisoners. So long as no blood gets on any pony’s fabulous ensembles.

Rainbow: Done and done.

Fluttershy: Torture is only justified when it yields scientific gain.

Twilight: Girls! We don’t have time for this!

Applejack: Oh, we got nothin’ but time. In the literal sense, there ain’t even gonna be a tomorrow, least as I understand it.

Spike jumps up on a table.

Spike: All right, now every pony take a deep breath. Tensions are obviously high; we’re all still a little miffed by Nightmare Moon’s terrible “foals” pun, I get that. But think about it. I’m a perpetually prepubescent dragon-

Fluttershy: A perpetually adorable dragon.

Spike (reigning in his frustration): I’m a dragon who’s endured unspeakable crimes against nature. I’ve got plenty of reasons to want Celestia gone. But Twilight? Why would she come to Ponyville to help overthrow the princess she’s served her entire life?

Rainbow: How about she tells us!

Pinkie: Ooh, she’s a regular Benedict Arnold!

Twilight: Pinkie, that’s a faulty analogy.

Spike: All she’s talked about all day is how to STOP Nightmare Moon!

A momentary silence hangs over the library.

Applejack: He’s right, y’all. I’m so sorry we flew off the handle like that, Twilight. We’re all just mighty confused right now. Especially Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow: Hey, it was just one burlesque show with Gilda, that’s it!

Every pony stares at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow: Ohhh… you meant the other confused. Yeah… Nightmare Moon really threw things out of whack… and stuff.

Pinkie: I don’t really see what’s so bad. Eternal nighttime? No glare on my monitor… ever? Sign me up!

Applejack: She doesn’t mean that.

Pinkie: Sure I do! There’ll be parties ALL the time! The night is always young. Can you imagine how much fun that’ll be?

Applejack: What Pinkie Pie’s tryin’ to say is... can you ever forgive us, Twilight Sparkle? And come back to the Apple family? I added that last part.

Twilight: Of course I forgive you.

Rarity: My dear, do tell us what you know about this horrid creature.

Twilight: Well… I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon. Some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her. But I don’t know what they are… where to find them… I don’t even know what they do!

Pinkie: “The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide.”

Twilight bolts over to where Pinkie Pie is standing, pushing her out of the way.

Twilight: How did you find that?!

Pinkie (jumping and using a singsong voice): It was under “E!”

Twilight (embarrassed): Oh.

Pinkie: Of course if you’d get with the times and use the Dewey Decimal System, things would be even easier to find around here!

Twilight: Yes, this library is rather outmoded. Spike! Start rearranging every book according to decimal classification.

Spike: Are you serious?

Rarity: And I’ll just… sit over here and watch you and your big, bulging dragon biceps work!

Spike: Are you serious?

As Spike begins the arduous task of reorganizing the entire library, Twilight opens the reference guide and begins reading.

Twilight: “There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known. Kindness, laughter, generosity, honesty, and loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now the Everfree Forest.”

As Twilight reads, Nightmare Moon’s purple smoke hangs outside the window, and upon hearing the location of the elements, flies away toward the forest.

At the Everfree Forest.

The six ponies are standing apprehensively at the edge of the tree line.

Pinkie: Whee! Let’s go!

Twilight: Not so fast! Look, I appreciate the offer, but I’d really rather do this on my own.

Applejack: No can do, sugarcube. We sure ain’t lettin’ any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone. Besides, I’ve got a feelin’ this whole adventure’s gonna be great inspiration for my next movie. We’re stickin’ to you like caramel on a candy apple.

Four of the ponies trot into the forest, but Pinkie Pie lingers behind.

Pinkie: Especially if there’s candy apples in there.

Twilight stares at Pinkie.

Pinkie: What? Those things are good!

Sighing, Twilight follows Pinkie into the forest.

Later, after the ponies have walked a fair distance.

Twilight (trying to hide her nervousness): So… none of you have been in here before?

Rarity: Oh, heavens no! Just look at it. It’s dreadful. Why, my very first decree as queen will be to tear down this entire forest. A shopping mall would do nicely in its place.

Fluttershy: Um… Rarity… that actually leads me to something I’ve been meaning to ask. If it’s all right with you…

Rarity: Why do I want to help stop Nightmare Moon, when she and I share the same goal of taking down Princess Celestia?

Fluttershy: …yes.

Rarity: I was wondering when some pony would ask that. It’s really quite simple. Nightmare Moon is simply dreadful… and she seems much too dangerous. I would far rather Celestia have the throne until my army is ready.

Applejack: And as an admiral in that army, you can rest assured I’m strictly trainin’ my regiment each and every week.

Twilight’s Mind: Irrelevant banter detected! Scanning reference library for appropriate distraction… scanning… scanning… result found: “Newtonian Mechanics: As Easy as Apple Pie.” Error! Too relevant to Applejack’s interests. Scanning…

Rarity: Um… yes, you see Applejack… you’re really more of a… general.

Applejack: What?! You get a top-notch director to enlist, and you won’t even make her admiral?

Rarity: I hardly think having one failed horror movie to your name qualifies you as a “top-notch director.”

Applejack: Hey now! Sweet Apple Massacre was a masterpiece of psychological terror! It ain’t my fault the general public prefers the cheap thrills of Paranormal Activity year after year. Oooohhh… the sheets moved. How scarrry!

Fluttershy: One time, my sheets moved on their own. So I burned them.

Twilight’s Mind: Scanning… scanning… result found: “Deviant Sexuality: Nothing, and everything, to do with deviantART.” Error! Too relevant to Rainbow Dash’s interests.

Pinkie’s Mind: I wouldn’t say that out loud, though. She gets preeettty upset about that sort of thing!

Twilight: AHHH!

Twilight jumps into the air.

Rarity: Is something the matter, darling?

Rainbow: Guess the forest got to her. She’s just easily spooked. Spies typically are.

Twilight: I’m sorry… false alarm. I… thought I saw something. Let’s just keep moving.

Twilight’s Mind: Pinkie! You can read minds?!

Pinkie’s Mind: Well, not usually. Just yours! Isn’t this exciting?! I’ve never had a telepathic bond with anyone before! This is gonna be so much fun!

Twilight’s Mind: This wasn’t happening until we came to the Everfree Forest. There must be some correlation. This certainly bears further study.

Pinkie’s Mind: Yes… study. Hey, speaking of unnatural, have you SEEN how many books you’ve got in your head?! It’s like there’s a whole library stuffed in there.

Pinkie: Twilight, that’s it! We should start a book club, since we both love books so much! We’ll start with The Handmaid’s Tale; it’s, like, a REQUIREMENT that every book club reads it!

Rainbow: Pinkie Pie… you are so random.

Twilight: Has anything… supernatural ever been reported in the Everfree Forest?

Applejack: Hon, this whole place is unnatural. Folks say it don’t work the same as Equestria.

As Applejack speaks, Nightmare Moon’s purple smoke seeps into a cliff wall the ponies are walking toward.

Twilight: What does that mean, exactly?

Rainbow (in a creepy voice): No pony knows.

Rainbow lands on the ground and exaggeratedly creeps toward the other ponies.

Rainbow: You know why?

Applejack: Rainbow, quit it!

Rainbow: ‘Cause every pony who’s ever come in has never… come… OUT!

Upon saying “OUT” Rainbow Dash jumps into the air to startle her audience. However, this has the unintended side effect of bringing down the entire cliff they’re standing on. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy fly into the air; the other four ponies scream as they slide down the cliff.

Rainbow: Fluttershy, quick!

Fluttershy: Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.

Rainbow catches Pinkie Pie as Fluttershy catches Rarity. Applejack manages to latch herself to a branch, slowing her fall. Only Twilight is left sliding all the way to another cliff, which she hangs on to for dear life.

Applejack: Hold on, I'm a'comin'!

Applejack gently slides down to Twilight.

Twilight: Applejack! What do I do?

After looking around the environment for a moment, Applejack finally answers.

Applejack: Let go.

Twilight: Are you crazy?!

Applejack: No I ain't.

Twilight: This isn't a movie, Applejack! Just "letting go" doesn't work in real life!

Applejack: Now listen here, I know what I'm sayin' is as clichéd as the Confederate flag bed sheets I sleep under, but it's the honest truth. Let go, and you'll be safe.

After a brief pause to look into Applejack's eyes, Twilight closes her own and lets go. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy gently catch her as she falls. Smirking, Rainbow lets go, sending Twilight plummeting again until she swoops down and catches her mere inches from the ground.

Rainbow: Sorry, my hoof slipped.

Twilight: Of course.

Rainbow Dash sets Twilight on the ground with the rest of the group. Nightmare Moon's purple smoke flies ahead, turning into an enormous thorn on the ground.

Later, as the ponies continue walking through the forest.

Applejack: Anyway, it's true what Rainbow Dash was sayin'. No pony who's ever come into this forest has ever come out.

Pinkie's Mind: Sort of like Rainbow's closet.

Without thinking, Twilight chuckles at Pinkie Pie's mental joke.

Rarity: Did I miss something comical?

Rainbow: Ponies disappearing in the Everfree Forest, dying undoubtedly gruesome deaths. Tonight's comedy brought to you by Twilight Sparkle, and her boss, Nightmare Moon. She's here till sunrise, folks. Settle in.

Twilight: First of all, black humor is a perfectly viable form of comedy. Second of all, once again, I'm not a spy! Third... I was just chuckling to relieve the tension.

Pinkie: You know what really relieves tension? A back massage!

Twilight: Not that kind.

Applejack: Anyway, none of this matters, seein' as we aim to applebuck the trend. I have every intention of makin' it back to Sweet Apple Acres alive. I'm expectin' a phone call from a certain Miss Paltrow any day now, after all.

As Applejack speaks, the manticore leaps out in front of the group.

Twilight: A manticore!

The manticore roars ferociously.

Twilight: We have to get past him.

The manticore leaps into the air and swipes at Rarity, his nearest target. She dodges and kicks him in the face.

Rarity: Take that you ruffian!

Applejack jumps on top of the manticore and attempts to corral him away.

Applejack: Yee haw!

Fluttershy: Wait...

The manticore, in a stunning display of wordplay, bucks Applejack away. As she sails through the air, she flies past Rainbow Dash.

Applejack: All yours, partner.

Rainbow: This'll be easy.

Fluttershy: Wait...

Rainbow creates a rainbow tornado around the manticore. The manticore, however, seeing the obvious flaw in Rainbow's strategy, thrusts his tail into the tornado, sending Rainbow careening away from him. Finally fed up with the attack, the creature begins charging toward the ponies, who, seeing no other alternative, charge as well. Fluttershy, having other ideas, leaps between the two parties.

Fluttershy: WAAAAIIIIIT!!!!!!!!!!!

Fluttershy gently walks toward the manticore, who lets out another ferocious roar.

Fluttershy: Shhh. It's ok.

Fluttershy muzzles up to the beast, who outstretches his paw, revealing a giant thorn protruding from the direct center.

Fluttershy: Aw, you poor, poor little baby.

Rainbow: Little?

Fluttershy: Now you just let Doctor Fluttershy take a look at that. I'll make it all better, I promise.

Fluttershy more closely inspects the manticore's paw.

Fluttershy: Oh dear. It's worse than I feared. This thorn was infected with dark magic. You've developed gangrene. It's serious.

The manticore lets out a confused grunt.

Fluttershy: Oh, this would be so much easier back at my lab. But there's no time. We simply can't allow the disease to spread.

Fluttershy frantically looks around the forest. Spotting a moderately sized log, she flies over and brings it back to the manticore.

Fluttershy: Here. Bite into this.

The manticore does as he is told.

Fluttershy: Now this might hurt for juusssst a second...

Fluttershy pulls out a chainsaw and, in one fell swoop, severs the manticore's paw. Blood paints the nearby dirt a hideous shade of maroon as the beast's ear-curdling scream is muffled by the log Doctor Fluttershy mercifully provided.

Fluttershy: There. All better. Now, you just keep pressure on that wound, and put that paw on ice. Once the gangrene's died out in a couple days, stop by my lab and we'll see about reattaching it.

The manticore nods through the pain.

Fluttershy: And, since you've been such a good patient, I've got a treat for you: a wollipop.

Fluttershy pulls out a lollipop. The manticore's eyes light up.

Fluttershy: Unfortunately, the other animals took all the good flavors. All that's left is butterscotch.

Dejected, the manticore takes his revolting lollipop and hobbles away from the ponies. Shrugging, the mane six continue forward.

Twilight: ...where did the chainsaw come from?

Nightmare Moon's thorn, unexpectedly separated from its host, transforms back into purple smoke and follows the group.

Later, the ponies are still walking.

Rarity: Ugh, my eyes need a rest from all this icky muck.

As if responding to Rarity's words, the foliage suddenly grows much thicker, casting the ponies in near pitch-blackness.

Rarity: Well I didn't mean that literally.

Twilight: That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn't even know it.

Ironically, as Twilight speaks, the purple smoke flies right in front of her face. And she doesn't even know it. It proceeds to curse one of the nearby trees as its next target.

Applejack: Consarn it, I think I stepped in something.

Fluttershy screams at the top of her lungs.

Applejack: It's just mud.

Applejack notices the ominously glowing ghost tree in front of her.

Applejack: AHHH!

Ghost trees surround the entire group. Five of the ponies emit terrified screams. Pinkie Pie, instead, starts giggling.

Twilight: Huh?

Pinkie makes faces at the ghost tree nearest her.

Twilight: Pinkie, what are you doing? Run!

Pinkie: Oh, girls, don't you see?

Background music inexplicably cues up as Pinkie Pie moves to the rhythm.

Pinkie (singing): When I was a little filly and the sun was going doooowwwnnn...

Twilight: Tell me she's not.

Pinkie: ...the darkness and the shadows they would always make me frrrooowwnn...

Rarity: She is.

Pinkie: I'd hide under my pillow, from what I thought I saw. But Granny Pie said that wasn't a way to deal with fears at all.

Rainbow: Then what is?

Fluttershy: Chainsaws?

Pinkie: She said "Pinkie, ya gotta stand up tall, learn to face your fears, you'll see that they can't hurt you just laugh to make them disappear."

Pinkie jumps up to a ghost tree.

Pinkie: Ha. Ha. Ha.

The ghost tree does not disappear.

Applejack: Um... Pinkie...

Pinkie: Sooooo... giggle at the ghostie-

A ghost tree bends down and devours Pinkie Pie whole.

Twilight: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Its corporeal appetite sated, the ghost, and all its followers, disappear, leaving only traditional Everfree Forest-grade spooky trees in their place.

Twilight: AHHHHH!!!

Twilight looks around at the remaining ponies, who seem more relieved by the ghosts' vacating than they are disturbed by Pinkie Pie's death.

Twilight: AHHHH... why am I the only one freaking out?!

Applejack: Well... what's there to freak out about?

Rarity: Indeed. The specters are gone.

Twilight: Yeah, but they ATE Pinkie Pie!

Applejack: Oh. That. I already forgot you're new in town. See, Pinkie Pie's always gettin' herself killed in some way or another. Then before ya know it, she'll come boundin' right back and she won't even remember how she died. She's just rippin' off South Park if ya ask me, but I'll be darned if no pony can figure out how she does it.

Rainbow: Like her birthday party last year!

In the past.

Inside Pinkie Pie's house.

Doctors have herded the partygoers into a corner of the room, away from Pinkie Pie, who lies dead on the floor. Though inebriated, every pony is remarkably calm.

Ponyville Doctor: I've never seen anything like it. Her blood has literally turned into alcohol. How did this even happen?

Rarity: She kept taking shots and shouting "You only live once."

Ponyville Doctor: And you let it happen?!

Rarity: I suspect she meant it ironically.

In the present.

Rainbow: That was the doctor's first night in Ponyville. Boy was he in for a surprise.

Applejack: And there was the time she marathoned all eight seasons of 24.

Twilight: That killed her?

Applejack removes her hat.

Applejack: Took her own life halfway into season six. That brave soul.

Fluttershy: Um... what about when she played Russian Roulette with Derpy Hooves?

In the past.

Pinkie Pie lies dead on the ground, a bullet through her skull.

Derpy: Oh yeah... you're just supposed to load ONE bullet into the chamber.

In the present.

Applejack: The point is, this is hardly the first time Pinkie Pie has left the land of the living. We just gotta press on without her for now. She'll catch up when she catches up.

The ponies press forward. Left with little alternative, Twilight follows. Eventually their path leads them to a violently raging river, outstretching as far as the eye can see. A faint, flamboyant crying can be heard in the distance, but no pony pays it any mind.

Twilight: How are we going to cross this?

Rainbow: Duhh.

Rainbow Dash flaps her wings theatrically.

Rainbow: Didn’t we JUST establish I could carry you guys during that freak rockslide?

Twilight: Oh yeah.

Rainbow Dash makes three trips across the river, carrying a pony each time. Once Fluttershy has flown across, the five continue onward.

Rarity: Well, that was easy.

After yet more monotonous, uneventful walking, the ruined castle of the royal pony sisters finally looms on the horizon. In front of the castle, spanning another cliff face is a bridge, quite unmistakably broken-down.

Twilight: There it is! The ruin that holds the Elements of Harmony. We made it!

Succumbing to her excitement at the prospect of saving Equestria and returning to the intimacy of her library, Twilight gallops forward, paying no heed to the terrain beneath her hooves.

Applejack: Twilight! Wait for us!

Twilight: We’re almost there!

As she speaks, Twilight stumbles, almost falling headfirst over the cliff. Rainbow Dash, in the nick of time, catches her by the tail and pulls her to safety.

Twilight: Thank you, Rainbow Dash. It would seem I owe you my life once again.

Rainbow: Don’t mention it.

Twilight (after a long pause): I know we’ve had our differences, but I would like to-

Rainbow (interrupting): -Just… don’t mention it.

Twilight sighs to herself. Eventually the other ponies catch up to her and Rainbow.

Applejack: Now what?!

Rainbow: Duhh. Again.

Rainbow flaps her wings theatrically.

Applejack: Oh yeah.

Before Rainbow Dash can take off, Pinkie Pie jumps back into the group.

Pinkie: Hey girls! What’d I miss?

Twilight: Pinkie! It’s… it’s actually true…

Rarity: How ever did you get across the river?

Pinkie (animatedly moving her hooves): Well, the river was roaring real fast, like WHOOSHH! I didn’t know what I was gonna do. But then I heard someone crying, and I felt sad because who likes crying? I don’t like crying! So I followed the sound to the absolute sweetest, most wonderful sea serpent in all of Equestria. His name was Steven Magnet.

Twilight (dryly): Steven Magnet?

Pinkie: Yup. Pretty wild.

Applejack: It just don’t sound like-

Pinkie: -At least, I THINK that’s what he said. His accent was so thick; I had to turn on subtitles just to understand him.

Twilight: Subtitles?

Pinkie: The way I see it, Twilight, they wouldn’t even build the fourth wall if they didn’t expect me to break it down. Not like any pony sees it anyway!

Applejack: We all know your stance on wall demolition, Pinkie Pie. How did “Steven” help you cross the river?

Pinkie: Oh, right. Well, turns out he was causing the river to move so fast, ‘cause he was thrashing around ‘cause he was so upset that this purple smoke had whisked past and chopped off half his moustache. So I did what I do best: I threw a party to cheer him up!

Rarity: Did it work?

Pinkie: He passed out head-first on the other side of the river. I hopped across his body, and here we are.

Applejack: Makes sense.

Fluttershy: You know… sea serpents are just one teeny DNA strand away from full-blown dragons. Was he properly neutered?

Pinkie: Can’t say. Didn’t get a chance to ask!

Fluttershy pulls out her chainsaw.

Fluttershy: I’ll get right on that.

Applejack: Now hold on a second, Fluttershy. You know we ain’t got time for that.

Fluttershy: I’m very efficient…

Pinkie: Anyway, that’s the whole story.

Pinkie Pie takes an awkward pause before asking her next question.

Pinkie: So… how did I die this time?

Twilight: We were being attacked by apparitions, and you broke out in song instructing us to… laugh at them.

Pinkie: Right. I wrote that one for just such an occasion!

Twilight: Well, during your little number, one of the ghosts leaned down and just… devoured you, mid-sentence.

Rarity: It may have been a critique of your performance, more than anything. Your timbre was all over the map, no offense.

After processing the information, Pinkie Pie falls to the ground laughing.

Rainbow: It’s not THAT funny.

Rarity: Indeed. Music, notably well-performed  music, is an integral component of high society.

Pinkie (gasping for air): No, no, it’s not that! It’s just… I sing about how ghosts aren’t dangerous at all if you just laugh at them, and then what happens? I get eaten. By a GHOST!

Pinkie laughs uproariously once again.

Pinkie: It’s ironic!

Twilight: In the loosest sense of the word, maybe.

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie jumps back to her feet, all laughter having subsided.

Pinkie: Did I taste good? Tell me I tasted good!

Applejack: We… didn’t really get a chance to ask, either.

Pinkie: Oh, I’d hate to think I wasn’t tasty! What if I’m butterscotch flavored?! I’d owe that ghost a huge apology.

Fluttershy: For the last time, I didn’t have any other lollipops.

Pinkie: I hope I’m chocolaty! Or cupcake-y. Delicious, pony flavored cupcakes!

Rainbow: Eww.

Twilight’s Mind: Resuming previous scan. Scanning… scanning… result found: “Exotic cupcake flavors: From Butterscotch to Zucchini.”

Twilight: Are you serious?!

Rainbow: You… LIKE pony flavored cupcakes?

Twilight: No, I just… picked a book that wasn’t distracting at all…

Every pony stares at Twilight.

Twilight: …it was too pertinent! Look, we’ve dawdled outside the castle long enough. We need to find the Elements!

Pinkie’s Mind: I understood, Twilight. Really, what kind of book skips the letter “A?” Apple flavored cupcakes are still pretty exotic, if you ask me!

Twilight hangs her head as Pinkie Pie bounces ahead of the rest of the group. She stops at the edge of the cliff.

Pinkie: How are we gonna cross this?!

Rainbow (exasperatedly): Yet again…

Rainbow flaps her wings theatrically.

Pinkie: Oh yeah.

Rainbow Dash takes off into the air.

Rainbow: Why does every pony keep forgetting I can fly?

Rainbow dives downward, picking up the broken edge of the bridge with her teeth and flying it to the other side of the cliff. She lands, but before she can tie the bridge to the nearby post, a mysterious voice calls out to her.

Voice: Rainbow.

Rainbow: Who’s there?!

Voice: Raaaiiinbooow.

Rainbow: I ain’t scared of you. Show yourself!

Voice: We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria.

Rainbow Dash takes to the air in excitement.

Rainbow: And you have found her! You really think I’m the best flyer, though? You don’t need a… demonstration, or anything?

Voice: But of course. Your unparalleled prowess is known throughout the Everfree Forest.

Rainbow: Unparalleled… hey, uh, you wouldn’t mind telling the Wonder Bolts that, would ya? ‘Cause I’ve been trying to get into that group for, like, ever.

Voice: No, Rainbow Dash, we want you to join us-

Three ponies, in Shadow Bolt garb, gallop in front of Rainbow Dash, appearing from out of the thick fog surrounding the castle. The female Shadow Bolt continues talking.

Shadow Bolt: -the Shadow Bolts! We are the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest. And soon we will be the greatest in all Equestria. But first, we need…

The Shadow Bolt flies in close to Rainbow Dash and whispers seductively in her ear.

Shadow Bolt: …a captain.

Rainbow Dash muffles a squeal of excitement.

Shadow Bolt: Someone to lead us with her strength, her grace-

Rainbow (interrupting): Her unparalleled prowess?!

Shadow Bolt: Precisely.

Rainbow: Woo hoo! Sign me up! Just let me tie this bridge real quick, and then we have a deal.

The Shadow Bolts fly in front of the bridge.

Shadow Bolt: No! It’s them or us!

Twilight (from across the bridge): Rainbow! What’s taking so long?

The female Shadow Bolt’s eyes glow and an even thicker fog covers the bridge, muffling Twilight’s voice.

Rainbow: Why? Why should I have to choose between you and my friends?

Shadow Bolt: We have been watching you, Rainbow Dash. Watching very closely. Your friends weigh you down. Our captain cannot carry such a burden.

Rainbow: You’re wrong. Friends are never a burden.

Shadow Bolt: Yours are. Think about it. Who is it, exactly, you travel with? A farmhand who fancies herself a filmmaker? Who would never approve, might I add, of what she would call your “lifestyle choices.”

Rainbow: It was just one Playboy when I was a filly. It’s not a lifestyle.

Shadow Bolt: Or perhaps the tailor, with delusions of monarchal grandeur? The scientist, too timid to speak her own name, yet willing to commit heinous atrocities in the name of her work? The earth pony, too broken to ever reveal her true personality?

Rainbow: Pinkie Pie isn’t broken. She’s just Pinkie Pie!

Shadow Bolt: You tether yourself to a band of misfits, themselves inextricably tethered to Ponyville, or all places. They will take you nowhere in life. Relinquish their hold over you, and join us. Equestria will long remember the name…

The female Shadow Bolt leans in and whispers against the back of Rainbow’s neck, sending chills down her spine.

Shadow Bolt: Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow shakes herself out of her momentary trance.

Rainbow: You forgot one.

Shadow Bolt: Excuse me?

Rainbow: You were rattling off my companions. You left one out.

Shadow Bolt: Twilight Sparkle? The Canterlot unicorn? You don’t even like her.

Rainbow: Maybe not. But they do. Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy… they’ve all accepted Twilight, despite her failings. Just like they accept each other, and just like they accept me. Maybe I’m too arrogant, maybe I’m too combative. Maybe I’m too proud to apologize to Twilight for starting things off on the wrong hoof. But those ponies, across that cliff, see beyond that.

Shadow Bolt: You bicker perpetually. You cannot last five minutes without conflict arising.

Rainbow: You say we’re a band of misfits. I say that’s all any friends are. Misfits by some pony’s standards, brought together by chance, but held together by something much stronger. Casual disagreements are meaningless. At the end of the day, I have the best friends a girl could ask for. And Twilight.

Shadow Bolt: You lacked a true support network at home, so you cling to the first group that will take you! Willful ignorance of the perniciousness of your friends does not make them any less so!

Rainbow Dash closes her eyes momentarily before responding.

Rainbow: You're just getting desperate. You have absolutely no right to lecture me about my friends. I'll never join the Shadow Bolts.

Rainbow Dash finishes tying the bridge. The female Shadow Bolt lets out a frustrated grunt, and the three ponies turn into purple smoke, which flies toward the castle. The fog clears, and the rest of Rainbow's group comes running across.

Applejack: You did it! I knew we could count on ya!

Rainbow: I'd never leave my friends hangin'.

Twilight smiles to herself.

Inside the castle.

In the first large room the ponies come across, they discover a monument housing the stone Elements of Harmony.

Rainbow: Whoooaaa.

Twilight: The Elements of Harmony. We found them!

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy delicately remove the Elements from their pedestals and lay them on the ground in front of Twilight.

Pinkie: One, two, three, four... there's only five!

Twilight: The book said when the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed.

Applejack: Ya coulda' told us that part.

Pinkie: I'll fetch some flint!

Twilight: No need. I have an idea what to do... but you should probably stand back. I don't know what will happen.

Twilight begins focusing magic in her horn.

Pinkie: When that doesn't work, who wants to help me find some flint?

Rarity: A fair request. The five of us can cover more ground than just one.

The remaining five ponies walk out of the room. As Twilight focuses, Nightmare Moon's purple smoke forms a small tornado, which sucks up the Elements. Twilight, reacting quickly, jumps in after them, and the tornado disappears.

Outside the castle.

Applejack: Ya know, now I think about it, if this were a movie, it'd be an awful plot contrivance for the five of us to leave Twilight alone like that.

Pinkie: I prefer TV.

Applejack: Same difference.

The sound of the tornado reaches the ponies outside the castle.

Applejack: Twilight!

The ponies run back inside, but Twilight, and the Elements, are nowhere to be found.

Fluttershy: Oh, where could she be?

Rarity: Look!

Rarity points out a nearby window, drawing attention to a tower emanating a bright white light.

Inside the tower.

Twilight appears on the ground, coughing. When she looks up, Nightmare Moon towers over her, the Elements of Harmony surrounding her. Without a word, Twilight charges at Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon: You're kidding, right?

Nightmare Moon bolts directly for Twilight. Before they can collide, however, Twilight casts a spell and appears behind the dark princess, where the Elements lie on the ground. The spell having drained her of energy, Twilight emits a weak groan.

Twilight: Just one spark...

Twilight summons all her strength to cast another spell on the Elements. Nightmare Moon, however, having other ideas, teleports in front of Twilight and violently kicks her away.

Nightmare Moon: Did you really think to defeat me? With these rocks?!

Nightmare Moon stamps her hoof on the ground, and the Elements shatter to pieces before Twilight's eyes. Nightmare lets out a vicious laugh, enjoying the drama of the moment.

Nightmare Moon: I have suffered your impudence long enough. You will swear fealty to me now.

Twilight: Never!

Nightmare Moon: Little foal! You have no choice. The night shall last forever! You shall see neither the sun nor your beloved princess ever again!

Celestia: You're wrong, Nightmare Moon!

Princess Celestia appears in the tower.

Nightmare Moon: Ah, Celestia. I was wondering when you would arrive. I was concerned my message went unreceived.

Celestia: I am not here for games, Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon: Oh, no games, I assure you. It was a legitimate concern. I fear my telepathy has deteriorated somewhat during my millennium in the moon.

Celestia: If you think-

Nightmare Moon (interrupting): I worry the nuance of what I just said was lost upon you. One thousand years IN the moon. Not on.

In the past.

Nightmare Moon is inside the moon. A living, integrated component of the celestial body's solid core, she is unable to move, and able to breathe only through magic.

Nightmare Moon: Hmm... I have to relieve myself. This may prove problematic.

In the present.

Nightmare Moon: Want to know what a millennium's worth of atrophy feels like?!

Celestia: Really, I'd assume there's a point of diminishing returns.

Nightmare Moon: About five hundred years in, to be honest. But still!

Nightmare Moon casts a spell and sends Celestia hurling into a nearby wall.

Nightmare Moon: Half a millennium's worth of atrophy is nothing compared to what I have in store for you!

Twilight: Actually, if the point of diminishing returns is at five hundred years, then your cleanly rounded statement, while convenient, is factually incorrect.

Nightmare Moon hurls Twilight into the wall as well.

Celestia: Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student, your devotion to your studies is admirable, but you need not join this conversation. I am trying to distract Nightmare Moon, affording you time to summon the strength to defeat her.

Twilight: But princess... I can't. She destroyed the Elements. You have to do something!

Celestia: You are wrong, Twilight. I have played my part. The power rests within you, as it always has.

In the distance, Twilight hears her friends calling out to her, rapidly approaching the tower. Celestia rises to her feet.

Nightmare Moon: Your sun will not rise, Celestia. The solar tyranny is at an end. Never again will Equestria disrespect the night!

Celestia is visibly taken aback.

Celestia: Wait... you believe that was the cause of all this? Jealousy?

Nightmare Moon: Jealousy is a gross oversimplification! Our subjects revered you, showering praise upon you for raising the sun, yet shunned me; my equivalent task drawing nary a response. But Equestria can no longer ignore its true queen!

The remaining five ponies run into the room.

Applejack: Stop right there!

Rainbow: Stay away from the princess!

Rarity: Your insurrection has gone far enough!

Pinkie: This tower is tall!!!

Fluttershy: Um... could we please defeat you...? If it's not too much to ask...

Nightmare Moon: Ah, look. More visitors, come to witness the end of days.

Celestia: Stay away from them!

Pinkie's Mind: Hey Twilight!

Celestia casts her most powerful spell at Nightmare Moon, which the dark usurper casually absorbs.

Nightmare Moon: Really now, Celestia, it's time for the games to end. I'll have no more outbursts like that.

Celestia begins charging another spell.

Pinkie's Mind: Twilight!!!

Twilight's Mind: Not now, Pinkie Pie!

Nightmare Moon: I SAID no more outbursts!

Nightmare Moon flies into the air, lightning surrounding her.

Nightmare Moon: You will learn your place, sun princess. Control yourself, or your subjects will die. Beginning with one of the ponies you so vehemently wish to protect.

Pinkie's Mind: We couldn't find any flint, Twilight! I'm sorry. But I did find a lighter, so maybe we can get a spark from-

Pinkie Pie's Mind cuts out as the full force of Nightmare Moon's lightning strikes her. She dies instantly. A silence hangs over the room, punctuated only by Nightmare Moon's sadistic laugh.

Rarity: Well...if she HAD to murder someone, tactlessly, might I add, at least it was-

Applejack: TWILIGHT!!

Every pony looks at Twilight, who inexplicably lies dead on the ground.

Celestia falls to her knees.

Celestia: No...

Nightmare Moon: The kills have been doubled! Witness my true power!

Fluttershy buries her face in her hooves.

Fluttershy: What do we do, what do we do?

Celestia takes a long pause.

Celestia: ...nothing. There is nothing we can do.

Rainbow: No! There's always a way... isn't there?

Celestia shakes her head.

Nightmare Moon: Yes! Yes! The throne is mine. Come, let us return to Ponyville. The night, after all, is young.

In an unknown plane of existence.

Twilight opens her eyes. She finds herself floating in an endless white abyss, stretching as far as the eye can see.

Twilight: What happened?! Where am I?!

There is no response, just the echo of her own voice.

Twilight: Am I... dead? Did Nightmare Moon kill me?

There continues to be no response.

Twilight: Great. The afterlife is boring!

Twilight paces around.

Twilight: No, no. Logically speaking, something could still happen. I JUST got here. This is no time to be getting impatient with eternity.

Twilight sits down.

Twilight: I can wait.

Twilight waits, but the same amount of nothing continues transpiring around her.

Twilight: That's it! I need something to pass the time.

Twilight looks around for distractions, but, unsurprisingly, finds none.

Twilight: Well... I guess I could always recite pi...

Twilight sighs.

Twilight: Three point one four one five nine two...

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie's voice rings out throughout the abyss.

Pinkie: Twilight!

Twilight: Pinkie! You're here too? Where are you, I can't- hold on a second... six five three five...

Pinkie: I don't know how you got here, Twilight, but you need to listen. Everything starts soon.

Twilight: ...eight nine seven... Look, just let me do this real quick; I'm a complete failure if I can't at least make it to two hundred digits. My record is two fifty-six!

Pinkie: The last digit of pi is negative one! There. Now listen to me.

Twilight: That doesn't make any sense!

Pinkie: Exactly. Why do you think no one ever counts that high? Now pay attention. For whatever reason, you're here, which means you're gonna see some things. I wish it could be avoided, but... just... please don't think of me any differently after this. Find me at the end if you want to get out of here.

Twilight: Where are you?!

Pinkie Pie does not respond.

Twilight: Pinkie?!

The infinite whiteness around Twilight begins to take coherent form. She finds herself in the crowded hallway of an elementary school.

Twilight: What's going on?

Twilight walks toward the nearest student.

Twilight: Excuse me, I seem to be lost... odd as it may sound. Can you help me?

The student, without acknowledging Twilight's presence, walks right through her and continues on his way.

Twilight: OK...

Behind her, Twilight hears Pinkie Pie's voice. She turns to find a very young version of her friend talking to a fellow student.

Pinkie (stifling tears): I am NOT a red-neck! It's pink! Just look at it.

Clover Bloom: It's not literal! It means you're one of those freaks from the rock farms outside of town. I guess it's true what they say; you guys really aren't that bright. Pushing boulders with your head all day does that to you.

Pinkie: I AM bright. I taught myself to read. My mom says I'm the smartest pony she knows.

Clover Bloom: You live on a rock farm. She doesn't even know anyone outside your family!

The bell rings, and all the young students walk to their classrooms.

Clover Bloom: And we ALL taught ourselves to read. Just stay away from me.

Hanging her head, Pinkie Pie shuffles into her classroom. Twilight follows. Pinkie sits in the middle of the room, and all eight desks surrounding her remain suspiciously empty. The teacher begins the day's lesson, with Pinkie taking the most diligent notes of the whole class, which makes Twilight smile. After a brief while, another young filly , a light blue pony with a dark blue mane, walks into the room.

Teacher: Class, we have another new student today, fresh from Fillydelphia. Please welcome Starry Gaze.

Starry Gaze smiles at the whole class, then sits down at the desk immediately to Pinkie's right.

Star: Hi, I'm Starry Gaze, but you can just call me Star!

Pinkie: I'm... Pinkamena.

Star: It's great to meet you, Pinkie! Can I call you Pinkie?

Pinkie: Um... sure. Are you sure you want to sit by me? Everyone calls me a redneck...

Star: Well that's dumb. Your neck looks pink to me! I was a little late to class 'cause the principal took FOREVER showing me around the school!

Pinkie lets out a small smile as she hands Star her notes. As she does so, the classroom dissolves away, and Twilight finds herself in a cafeteria, one corner of which is occupied by Pinkie Pie eating alone at a table. Starry Gaze sits at a table surrounded by more popular ponies, including Clover Bloom. After a brief stint in the cafeteria, the scene fades to Pinkie Pie's house on the farm.

Mrs. Pie: How was your first day of school, Pinkamena?

Pinkie: Terrible! I'm never going back! They all called me a redneck and acted like I'm stupid!

Mrs. Pie: Aw, kids are just like that, dear. They need some time to get used to you, but in a few weeks, you'll be friends with the whole school!

Pinkie: I don't WANT to be friends with them!!

Pinkie storms to her room and slams the door. Twilight phases through the wall to follow. The young Pinkie cries to herself before picking up a book and attempting to read. Her peace, however, is interrupted by a knocking at the door.

Mrs. Pie: Pinkamena, dear, you have a visitor!

Pinkie opens the door.

Mrs. Pie: Your friend is here.

Starry Gaze hops through the door.

Pinkie: Star?

Star: Pinkie Pie! There you are! I didn't see you all afternoon!

Pinkie: You were sitting with Clover Bloom at lunch. I thought... you were done with me.

Star: I couldn't FIND you at lunch. Clover Bloom scurried me off before I had the chance. She's all right, I guess, but you're way cooler!

Pinkie: Really?

Star: For sure! But hey, you forgot to get your notes back!

Star hands Pinkie her notes.

Star: I found these after school, and I just got so sad, 'cause I know how much you love to study, and how can you study without your notes? So I came all this way to deliver them!

Star smiles radiantly.

Star: Nice place you have, by the way. I've never been to a rock farm before!

Pinkie: They're not that interesting...

Star: Everything's interesting, if you know how to look!

Star bounces to Pinkie's window.

Star: So many rocks, and they all have to be rotated in JUST the right manner... it's incredible how much work goes into it! I'd love to help out around here sometime!

Pinkie: You want to... hang out with me?

Star: Absolutely positootly!

Pinkie: Well... how about tonight? Can Star stay for dinner? Please Mom?

Mrs. Pie beams from the hallway.

Mrs. Pie: And dessert, too!

Star: Ooh, do you have chocolate? I just love chocolate! We could make chocolate!

Pinkie's house dissolves away, and Twilight finds herself back in the school cafeteria. Pinkie is, once again, sitting by herself, but Starry Gaze walks to her corner.

Star: Hey Pinkie, don't sit over here. Who wants to eat lunch by themselves? Come sit at my table!

Pinkie: But... what about Clover Bloom?

Star: She feels terrible about how she's treated you. She'd love the chance to get to know you better!

Pinkie: You mean that?

Star: Why would I lie to you, silly? Now come on, time's-a-wastin'!

Star hops back to the popular table. Pinkie follows, a newfound spring in her step. As she walks, the scene dissolves back to Pinkie's house.

Pinkie: She's coming, she's coming!

Mr. Pie: Settle down, Pinkamena. It's a long day ahead of us; I doubt Star will still want to help out once she realizes what the work entails.

There is a knock at the front door. Mrs. Pie opens it to find a sullen Starry Gaze as well as, unexpectedly, her parents.

Star: Come on, Pinkie. Let's get out of here!

Star grabs Pinkie and runs to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Star: Parents ruin everything!

Pinkie: Mine aren't so bad...

Star: Not yours. Mine. Specifically.

Pinkie: What do you mean?

Star: They came all this way just to talk to your parents. They're not gonna let me work.

Pinkie: Why not?!

Star: Because... because they just don't understand! They say it's too hard, too dangerous, that I shouldn't be straining myself like that! But I don't CARE that it's hard work! It's productive; it accomplishes something. I get a chance to leave my mark!

Star gazes forlornly out the window.

Star: They don't know what it's like. They never will.

Pinkie: Well... maybe you could explain it to them! Could I help?

There is a soft knock at Pinkie's door, and her parents solemnly enter the room.

Mrs. Pie: Pinkamena, dear, why don't you and Star just... play, for today. Your father and I can take care of the farm.

Pinkie: But she's ready to work!

Mrs. Pie: The workload isn't as heavy as we thought. It's under control. Show Star around the farm, all your favorite little spots. Just enjoy yourselves. Promise me you'll have fun.

Pinkie is visibly confused.

Pinkie: All right Mom... we'll have fun.

The walls melt away, and Twilight finds herself standing with Pinkie Pie and Starry Gaze in front of an abnormally tall rock.

Star: You weren't kidding! This rock is huuuuge! I've never seen anything like it!

Pinkie: Watch this!

Pinkie makes a series of calculated jumps, and rapidly reaches the top of the rock.

Pinkie: Highest spot on the whole farm. Even higher than my roof! Wanna try getting up here?

Star: Do, or do not. There is no try.

Pinkie: You know I'm more of a Trek pony! Nonetheless, fitting quote!

Star: Let me just find my balance...

As Star prepares to make the first jump, a deafening explosion can be heard in the distance. A circular rainbow blasts across the sky, causing a mild earthquake. The quake would be harmless, were Pinkie Pie not standing atop a very tall, very precarious rock.

Star: PINKIE!!

Screaming, Pinkie Pie does her best to maintain her balance, but to no avail. She tumbles off the rock and freefalls to the ground, landing directly on her spine with a sickening crack.

Star: PINKIE!!

Star, after momentarily freaking out, runs back to Pinkie's home. The sun jumps halfway across the sky, and Twilight finds Pinkie's family huddled around her mangled body, sobbing. Suddenly, Pinkie sits straight up, gasping for air.

Pinkie's Entire Family: AHHHHHHH!!!!

Pinkie: Hey, guys. What happened? Where's Star?

Pinkie's Sister: She's a zombie!!!

Pinkie's Other Sister: Kill it with fire!!!

Pinkie: A zombie? I'm not a zombie! At least, I don't think I am. I'm not hungry for brains or anything.

Mrs. Pie (with trepidation): ...Pinkamena? Is it really you?

Mr. Pie slowly approaches his potentially undead daughter.

Mr. Pie: We'll know soon enough.

Mr. Pie's voice takes on a more menacing tone.

Mr. Pie: If you're a zombie, I won't hesitate to put you down myself.

The scene changes to a doctor's office. Pinkie Pie is inside, along with her parents. The door opens, and the doctor walks in, holding a covered silver platter.

Doctor: Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Pie. Says here you suspect your daughter of being a zombie?

Mr. Pie: That's correct.

Doctor: Yes, yes, a very common concern. Fortunately, there's a very simple, scientifically sound test to decisively prove whether your daughter is, in fact, among the walking dead.

The doctor removes the lid from the platter.

Mrs. Pie: Good heavens!

Doctor: As you can plainly see, this platter holds two objects: a perfectly preserved equine brain, and a butterscotch lollipop. Pinkamena, you must eat one or the other before you will be allowed to leave this office. Do you understand?

Pinkie Pie gags.

Pinkie: But I don't want either one...

Doctor: You can legally be detained in this office on the grounds of public safety concerns. I will exercise this right if you don't eat.

Mrs. Pie: This is torture! What does it prove?!

Doctor: If your daughter is a common zombie, she will choose the brain, and that will be that. If, however, she was infected by one of the more virulent strains, as is often the case, she may yet possess the cognitive awareness to choose the NON-cannibalistic option, thereby throwing us off her unholy trail.

Mrs. Pie: This is legitimate medicine?!

Mr. Pie: He's the best doctor in Equestria for a reason, honey. Let him work.

Doctor (continuing as though uninterrupted): You see, intelligent zombies will be society's undoing. But they cannot fully fight what they are. Pinkie Pie may wish to avoid the brain, obfuscating the fact that she is nothing more than a candy-colored corpse, but no pony, living, dead, or living dead, can stomach butterscotch. Even the most astute zombie, caught between a brain-shaped rock and a butterscotch-flavored hard place, will succumb to her most... innate cravings.

Mr. Pie: Sounds reasonable.

The doctor thrusts the platter directly in front of Pinkie Pie's face.

Doctor: Now, Pinkamena... eat.

Pinkie Pie slowly reaches for the platter.

Pinkie: Does it prove anything if I throw up?

Doctor: Only that your bill will be higher.

Pinkie Pie hesitantly picks up the lollipop and, wincing, takes one lick. Gagging, she throws up inside her mouth, but keeps it down.

Pinkie: There. I chose the lollipop. Can I go?

Doctor: No! You must eat the whole thing.

Pinkie: But-

Mr. Pie: He has your best interests at heart, dear. Follow the doctor's orders.

The doctor's office melts away, and Twilight finds herself back in Pinkie's room, along with Pinkie Pie and Starry Gaze.

Pinkie: And then he had the nerve to give me a lollipop, for being such a "good patient!"

Star: What flavor?

Pinkie: It was one of those "mystery" lollipops.

Star: Well what flavor was THAT?

Pinkie: Brain. It was a leftover from Nightmare Night.

Star: Kind of ironic, when you think about it.

Pinkie Pie laughs to herself.

Pinkie: Yeah... I guess it is!

Star: Anyway... you know you're the talk of the town now, right? You came back from the dead like nothing ever happened!

Pinkie: I don't even remember falling off that rock!

Star: Some ponies are afraid of you. They say you're cursed; that there's black magic involved.

Pinkie: Well I'm not! There's no witchcraft, no gypsy magic, nothing of the sort! It just happened. I can't explain it!

Starry Gaze walks to the window, and stares out it once again.

Star: I believe you. I think it's a gift, myself. I mean... you can't die, Pinkie Pie. At least, not for good. It's just... not even a factor for you. There's no weight on your shoulders...

Pinkie: Maybe it was just a one-time thing. Maybe I just didn't die... but I still can!

Star: Look at your front right hoof.

Pinkie: Huh?

Pinkie raises her hoof, and discovers a sharp tack stuck to the bottom.

Star: You stepped on that tack a little while ago. I watched it happen; you didn't even react. You didn't feel a thing, did you?

Pinkie Pie frantically removes the tack from her hoof.

Pinkie: What... what's going on?

Pinkie jabs the tack into her legs, her cheek, and her stomach.

Pinkie: It's... ok... I'm... it's bleeding, I'm bleeding, but I don't feel it!

Star: Which is good.

Pinkie: What's happening to me?!

Star: I think that rainbow did something. Obviously you could feel pain before, but now you've come back from the dead, and you can't. It's incredible, Pinkie. You're meant for something incredible.

Pinkie Pie, with measured insanity, picks up a pair of scissors sitting on a nearby desk.

Pinkie: This is wrong... I'm not- I'm not supposed to be here. I am cursed, Star! Just... just...

With one smooth motion, Pinkie Pie uses the scissors to slit her own throat, crumpling to the ground. Star, unprepared for Pinkie's suicide, runs out of the room. Twilight follows her into the hallway, where the filly is talking to Mrs. Pie.

Mrs. Pie: What is it, dear?

Star: Pinkie just... Pinkie just slit her throat!

Mrs. Pie: WHAT??!!

Every pony runs back to Pinkie's room, where they find Pinkie on her bed, alive and well.

Pinkie: Hey guys, how did that blood get on the floor?

Mrs. Pie faints. Starry Gaze simply gazes starry-eyed.

Star: Every time...

The walls melt away, and a montage of Pinkie Pie killing herself in varying ways flashes before Twilight's eyes. An acceptance of her abilities can be seen gradually dawning upon Pinkie's face. Eventually, society at large begins accepting her again as well, the bravest of the brave even watching her acts of self-mutilation. After the montage stops, Twilight finds herself back in Pinkie's familiar bedroom with Pinkie and Star.

Pinkie: I think I'm gonna go back to school tomorrow.

Star leaps excitedly across the room.

Star: Really?! That's great! Every pony's sooo excited to see you! I've taken really intense notes, so you won't even be behind!

Both ponies share a laugh.

Star: You know what this calls for?

Pinkie: What?

Star: A back to school party!

Pinkie: I've never been to a party before...

Star gasps audibly.

Star: You haven't?! Never?! And you've been alive, repeatedly, for this long?!

Pinkie: I just never had the opportunity...

Star: Well, you'll see tomorrow! Parties are the absolute best thing on the whole entire planet! On any planet! The whole class will throw it for you! It's gonna be so much fun.

Pinkie: Do I need to bring anything?

Star bolts toward the door.

Star: Just yourself, silly! I'll take care of the rest.

The scene changes to the next morning. Pinkie Pie is heading for the front door.

Pinkie (yelling to her parents in the kitchen): I'm leaving early. I wanna drown myself before school. Never tried that one before.

Mrs. Pie (yelling back): Just dry off before your party, Pinkamena!

Before opening the front door, Pinkie grabs a present she made, with two blue balloons and one yellow balloon tied to the top. When she opens the door, however, she finds Mr. and Mrs. Gaze standing at the doorstep, both their faces covered with tears.

Pinkie: Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Gaze. What's going on?

Pinkie's parents run to the front door.

Mr. Gaze: It happened.

Pinkie's parents are crestfallen.

Mrs. Pie: Pinkamena, honey... you're not going to school today. How about you.... we have to show you something...

The scene changes. Pinkie Pie, with present still in tow, is standing numbly at the foot of a hospital bed. Starry Gaze weakly opens her eyes.

Star (coughing): Pinkie... you made it...

Pinkie Pie opens her mouth to speak, but cannot force a single word out. During her silence, Star notices the present she holds.

Star (with a weak laugh): Is that a present? For the party?

Pinkie: ...yes...

Star (still laughing): You don't bring presents... to your own party, you know.

Pinkie: It's for you... for accepting me when every pony feared me, and for... and for throwing my first party.

Pinkie Pie turns away, refusing to let Starry Gaze see her cry.

Star: Pinkie...

Pinkie Pie angrily turns back around.

Pinkie: What is it?! Why didn't you ever tell me?! I could have done something. There has to be something...

Star: I was born with Cushing's Disease. There's no cure, but I've been taking medicine to control it my entire life. Recently, though, I started to develop an... immunity to the medicine. That's why we moved here. We'd heard you had the best doctor in all of Equestria, and we hoped he could... but... there was nothing he could do. It was only a matter of time.

Pinkie (fighting tears throughout the conversation): But... but... you were always so happy!

Star: I wanted every pony to like me... so I could get as much of a childhood as possible before... before...

Pinkie: Don't say it!

Star: And maybe, if I made a true friend, I could... you know... leave my mark on this world. But you were an even better friend than I could have imagined.

Pinkie: That's not...

Star: You make me happy, Pinkie Pie. That's what you do. You make ponies laugh, and you make them happy. Even now. I can smell the cupcakes in that present, you know. Chocolate.

Pinkie: I would have gotten something better...

Star: They're perfect. But... can you do one last thing for me, Pinkie?

Pinkie: Of course.

Star: I'm scared of dying. It's gonna happen, but I'm... terrified.

Star's voice finally cracks, and she sobs softly.

Star: But you've died so many times, just tell me... what's it like? Does it hurt?

Pinkie: I never remember it.

Star: Lie to me. I don't want to do it blind.

Pinkie: It's...

Pinkie thinks for a long moment.

Pinkie: A bright light surrounds you. Soft, white; like a pillow. Everything melts away, and then all your memories surround you, but just the good ones. You can relive them, or you can make new memories. It's a scary leap, but once you make it... you're on to something so much better. And you never have to leave.

Star: That doesn't... sound so bad.

Pinkie: It's not.

Pinkie's face lights up.

Pinkie: But I've got an idea!

Pinkie looks around the room, eventually grabbing a scalpel from a cart near Star's bed.

Star: Pinkie?

Pinkie: Here. Grab my hoof.

Pinkie lowers her hoof into Star's.

Pinkie: I don't know how my powers work, but maybe... maybe I can take you with me. Don't let go, no matter what.

Star: Pinkie, I-

Pinkie (interrupting): No! Don't say anything. It'll work. We don't have to say goodbye.

With her other hoof, Pinkie raises the scalpel to her throat.

Pinkie: We'll never say goodbye, Star. I'll see you on the other side.

Pinkie slits her throat.

Star: ...goodbye, Pinkie Pie.

Day jumps to night, and Pinkie finally stands up. Starry Gaze is no longer in her bed, but Mrs. Pie is sitting across the room.

Mrs. Pie: Are you all right, Pinkamena?

Pinkie: Where's Star?!

Mrs. Pie: She told me what you did. Why you did it.

Pinkie: Did it work? I don't remember. Where is she?!

Mrs. Pie, lost for words, simply shakes her head. At this, Pinkie finally breaks down and sobs uncontrollably. Mrs. Pie hugs her daughter, and the two remain in the room until Pinkie regains her composure.

Mrs. Pie: She asked me to tell you something.

Pinkie (wiping a tear from her eye): What?

Mrs. Pie: She said never to stop making ponies happy. That's your gift, Pinkamena. Her final request... was for you to always remember that.

Pinkie shakily stands up, surveying the room. Her eyes land upon the present she made for Starry Gaze, still wrapped and sitting beside her bed.

Pinkie: I go by Pinkie now, Mom.

The two walk out of the room.

Pinkie: Call me Pinkie.

As she walks, Pinkie Pie's Cutie Mark, two blue balloons and one yellow, appears. Once again, the walls fade away, and Twilight is surrounded by the infinite white void.

Twilight: Pinkie...

Twilight wipes the tears from her face, then surveys the expanse before her. Finally, in the distance, she sees the real, fully-grown Pinkie Pie, sitting all by herself, and quickly trots over to meet her.

Pinkie: Hi, Twilight. I guess you made it.

Twilight: Pinkie, I'm so sorry... I had no idea...

Pinkie: It's ok. It's in the past.

Twilight: Do you see those events-

Pinkie: Every time. Since Star passed away, I've died more times than I can count, and I relive the memories every time.

Twilight: I thought you never remembered dying.

Pinkie: I remember while I'm in here. Always.

Twilight: But why... those memories? If you don't mind me asking.

Pinkie: Don't you see? Star was the first friend I ever had; the best friend I ever had. She made every pony happy just by being in the room with them. I have to live up to her example. It's what she wanted. It's how I got this.

Pinkie points to her Cutie Mark.

Pinkie: But every day, I have to live with the doubt. What if I'm not making ponies happy enough? What if I'm annoying them? What if they see right through me, to the fact that I'm just trying to be LIKE Starry Gaze... but I can't actually replace her. But I don't talk about that. I just put on a smile and push everything down... until I die, and it all comes out.

Twilight: Pinkie... of course you make every pony happy.

Pinkie: Oh really? I threw you a super humongous party, and what did you do? You locked yourself in your room all night.

Twilight: Well... I'm different.

Pinkie: Different how?

Twilight: I didn't know how to react-

Pinkie: -to a party?

Twilight briefly pauses.

Twilight: I've never had friends before! Princess Celestia told me to make some while in Ponyville, but I turned my nose at her request, because I had much bigger concerns. Like stopping Nightmare Moon! Which, by the way, was obviously a complete failure, so what does it even matter?

Pinkie: Well, at least you only failed half your mission.

Twilight: Huh?

Pinkie: The way I see it, in just one short day, you made enough of an impression on five different ponies that, when push came to shove, we were all willing to face unimaginable dangers with you. Together. Whether you think you did or not, whether you even wanted to, you made friends, Twilight. I won't remember this conversation, and you'll never see me this somber again, but there's no doubt in my mind the princess would be incredibly proud of you.

Twilight is momentarily taken aback.

Twilight: Pinkie...

A magical spark, ever so briefly, lights in Twilight's eyes.

Twilight: Of course.

Pinkie: Twilight?

Twilight: The Elements. They were with us the whole time!

A magical aura shoots from Twilight's horn, surrounding her entire body and creating a vortex in front of her.

Twilight: Come on, Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie: Where are we going?

Twilight: To finish the other half of the mission.

In Ponyville.

Inside the pavilion.

The stage, once adorned with colorful Summer Sun Celebration decor, now houses a gallows, which Spike is putting the finishing touches on. All of Ponyville is gathered in fear, with Nightmare Moon and Princess Celestia standing before them.

Nightmare Moon: Must you toil so slowly, dragon?!

Spike: This might go faster if I wasn't the ONLY one building it!

Nightmare Moon glances over the gallows and, deciding it's sturdy enough, casts a spell which sends Spike flying into the crowd of ponies.

Nightmare Moon: Citizens of Ponyville, your slave, torpid though he might be, has finished his work!

Spike: If Twilight's dead, shouldn't I technically be free?

Applejack: Shut it, Spike. Now's not the time.

Nightmare Moon herds Celestia to the gallows and fastens the noose around her neck.

Nightmare Moon: You sent six ponies into the Everfree Forest to defeat me. Unsuccessful, only four have returned. Your loyalty to your former princess is admirable, but will be tolerated no longer. I am Equestria's queen, and will be treated as such. But perhaps you still require a demonstration? Celestia's execution will be my first royal decree. Bear witness, Ponyville, and understand the cost of disobedience.

Nightmare Moon turns to Celestia.

Nightmare Moon (sardonically): I am, however, a merciful ruler. Address your subjects one final time... your highness.

Celestia looks out at the crowd. Many ponies have already averted their eyes.

Celestia: This is not how it was supposed to be. I have failed you, Ponyville, as I have failed Equestria, in more ways than you can conceive. I hope one day, you will come to place the appropriate blame at my hooves, rather than directing it all toward Nightmare Moon. For you see, she is not who you think she is. In reality, she-

A vortex violently rips open above the sea of ponies. Every pony screams.

Nightmare Moon: What is this?!

Pinkie Pie falls out of the vortex.

Pinkie: Wheeee!

Pinkie lands next to Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie: Hey Rainbow, what'd I miss? Why are we at the pavilion? I thought we were in the castle.

Pinkie gasps loudly.

Pinkie: Do you think the pavilion IS the castle?! THAT would be a surprise! The entire space/time continuum would be distorted!

Rainbow: I'll say this, you made quite the entrance this time.

Nightmare Moon: So the earth pony has returned to us, as I was told she would. Her showmanship is laudable, but she will not distract from the matter at hand.

Twilight's voice booms throughout the auditorium.

Twilight: There will be no execution, Nightmare Moon!

Every Pony: Twilight?!

Rays of intense light shoot from the vortex as Twilight descends to the ground, the magical aura still surrounding her. The dimensional rift closes behind her.

Celestia: Twilight Sparkle...

Nightmare Moon: Impossible!

Spike (monotone): Oh joy, Twilight's back.

Twilight: Your claim to the throne will not be recognized!

All other members of the Mane Six run to stand by Twilight's side.

Nightmare Moon: You may have cheated death, but it matters not! The Elements remain in pieces at the castle!

Twilight: You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that?

Nightmare Moon: Well... I did.

Twilight: You're wrong. Because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!

The shards of the Elements come flying into the pavilion, shattering a window in the process.

Nightmare Moon: What?!

Twilight: Applejack, who never hesitates to share her conservative opinions, whether solicited or not, represents the spirit of Honesty!

Rock shards encircle Applejack.

Twilight: Fluttershy, who severed the manticore's limb... with compassion, represents the spirit of Kindness!

Rock shards encircle Flutterhsy.

Twilight: Rarity, whose name rhymes with charity, represents the spirit of Generosity!

Rock shards encircle Rarity.

Twilight: Rainbow Dash, who threw away the career opportunity of a lifetime, represents the spirit of Loyalty!

Rock shards encircle Rainbow Dash.

Twilight: And Pinkie Pie, who always brings a smile to every pony's face, simply by being herself, not by emulating anyone else, represents the spirit of Laughter!

Rock shards encircle Pinkie Pie, who smiles at Twilight's description.

Twilight: The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us!

Nightmare Moon: You still don't have the sixth Element. The spark didn't work!

Twilight: But it did. A different kind of spark. I felt it the moment I realized what it means to have ponies that care about you, that love you, that would do anything for you. Even if sometimes your relationships got off to a bad start-

Twilight and Rainbow Dash make eye contact. Both smile in recognition.

Twilight: -and sometimes they aren't even aware of what they've done for you-

Twilight looks at Pinkie Pie, who smiles, not in recognition, but simply because she feels like smiling.

Twilight: -no matter what the complications, you get through them. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all are my friends!

Out of thin air, another rock, the sixth Element of Harmony, appears above Twilight, emitting a pure white light.

Twilight: You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the spark that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth Element: the Element of Magic!

Nightmare Moon (visibly desperate): You little foal! You really think a cheesy speech can help you defeat me?!

Spike (to no one in particular): There she goes with that foal stuff again. It just doesn't... wait, do you think she means that, since she's at least a thousand years old, we're all "foals" relative to her storied age?

Derpy, standing nearby, hears Spike.

Derpy: It makes sense to me.

Spike: Well... I'll take what I can get.

Magic shoots out of Twilight's horn, and the shards encircling the Mane Six take the form of pendants, each matching its respective wearer's Cutie Mark. Twilight's becomes a crown, from which a magical rainbow shoots forth, wrapping itself around Nightmare Moon and utterly absorbing the dark queen.

Nightmare Moon: NOOOOO!!!

Twilight opens her eyes, and their pure white hue fills the room, temporarily blinding every pony. When the light subsides, the Mane Six are all sprawled out on the ground.

Rainbow: Ughh... my head...

Applejack: Every pony ok?

Rarity: Oh, this necklace is just to DIE for! Figuratively speaking, of course!

Rarity models her pendant.

Fluttershy: It's so lovely.

Pinkie: Hey, it looks just like your Cutie Mark!

Pinkie looks at her pendant.

Pinkie: Mine looks just like MY Cutie Mark!

Pinkie looks at all the other pendants.

Pinkie: They ALL look like our Cutie Marks!

Applejack: Gee, Twilight, I thought you were just spoutin' a lot of hooey. But I reckon we really do represent the Elements of Harmony.

All of Ponyville cheers for the Mane Six. Celestia's voice booms out.

Celestia: Indeed you do.

The gallows having been disintegrated in the light, Princess Celestia stands up proudly on the stage. As she stands, the sun finally rises. Every pony bows before her.

Celestia: Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. I knew you could do it.

Twilight: But you told me it was all an old pony tale.

Celestia: I told you that you needed to make some friends. Nothing more. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return, and I knew, as I have always known, that it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her. But you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart.

Spike gags to himself.

Spike: Really? This is just getting treacly.

All surrounding ponies shush Spike.

Celestia: Now... if only another will as well.

Celestia turns to Luna who lies behind her on the stage.

Celestia (apprehensively): Princess Luna. It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Tell me... what do you remember?

Momentarily searching for words, Luna eventually settles on vocabulary somewhat less eloquent than might be expected of a princess.

Luna: I'm so sorry! I've missed you so much, big sister!

Luna runs over and hugs Celestia.

Every Pony in the Pavilion: Sister?!

Celestia processes her sister's words, then smiles, realizing the ancient zebra magic has extended even to Luna herself.

Celestia: Yes, good citizens. The average alicorn lifespan is... quite long. My sister was once consumed with jealousy, but now-

Celestia turns to face her sister.

Celestia: -it is time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister. And rule together we shall.

Every pony nervously looks around before cheering, with markedly less enthusiasm than before.

Celestia: Your apprehension is understandable, but I assure you, Luna and Nightmare Moon are NOT the same entity. She was corrupted, but no longer. It is cause for celebration, Ponyville. Equestria is whole again.

The auditorium erupts with cheers.

Pinkie: Hey, you know what this calls for? A party!

Later that day, Pinkie Pie's party has spread throughout Ponyville. Celestia and Luna arrive in their royal chariot, and every pony bows before them. Luna, looking quite nervous, is given a wreath of flowers by two young fillies, and manages a demure smile. Twilight, amidst all the festivities, looks dejectedly at the ground.

Celestia: Why so glum, my faithful student? Are you not happy that your quest is complete, and you can return to your studies in Canterlot?

Twilight: That's just it. Just when I learned how wonderful it is to have friends, I have to leave them.

Celestia: Spike, take a note please.

Spike sighs loudly as he pulls out a paper and quill.

Celestia: I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle shall take on a new mission for Equestria. She must continue to study the magic of friendship. She must report to me her findings, from her new home in Ponyville.

The Mane Six, even Rainbow Dash, run up and hug Twilight.

Spike: "The magic of friendship." I can't believe I'm writing this...

Twilight: Oh, thank you, Princess Celestia! I'll study harder than ever before!

Every pony cheers. Spike rolls up the scroll.

Celestia: There's more, Spike.

Spike unrolls the scroll once again.

Celestia: I also decree that Spike, her faithful slave- and I will be reading this, so don't even think about writing "indentured servant" instead- will remain in Ponyville as well, tending to her every whim, as his binding spell dictates.

Spike: You didn't need to remind me of that.

Celestia: I know. I just wanted it in writing, in case you tried to find some loophole. I know how sneaky you dragons are.

Every pony laughs uproariously as the royal chariot takes off, and Celestia and Luna fly back to their home in Canterlot. Twilight beams as she looks around at Ponyville, eager to start her new life.