Much Ado About Friendship
MAAF Part 2: The Elements of Harmony
ACT 1
SCENE 1, a town hall
Enter MAYOR, TWILIGHT, SPIKE, NIGHTMARE, RAINBOW, Guards, Crowds
MAYOR
Oh seize her fast who hid our Princess! Guards!
The guards approach her
NIGHTMARE
A foal’s courage, so misguided. Stay back!
Exit NIGHTMARE in a cloud of smoke
RAINBOW
Return! Nighttime? And forever?
Exit TWILIGHT and SPIKE
You go?
Exeunt
SCENE 2, a library
Enter SPIKE and TWILIGHT
SPIKE
She must be stopped…
TWILIGHT
You have not slept, my Spike.
A babe you are, despite the task at hoof,
So rest, infant. [Aside]
Exit SPIKE
Now, elements, I need…
She scans through the books on the shelves
Oh elements, oh elements, where found?
How shall I stop that Nightmare Moon without
The Elements of Harmony in hoof?
Enter RAINBOW
RAINBOW
What are the Elements of Harmony?
Wherefore you know of Nightmare Moon, lady?
Might do you spy for such wicked forces?
Enter APPLEJACK
APPLEJACK
Make no false witness, Iago!
This mare is no spier, but, perchance,
She knows what passes in these dark days.
Could you say you did, madam?
Enter PINKIE, RARITY, and FLUTTERSHY
TWILIGHT
I read foretellings all about that mare,
The Nightmare Moon of legends many made.
These so named Elements of Harmony,
Objects of mystery, are needed things
To subdue her. I yet know not of them.
What is their nature? Where are they? More still,
What point they serve? Only reference have-
PINKIE
She points out a book
“Elements of Harmony: Reference”
Just the same you make reference hereby?
TWILIGHT
How do you make objects appear like that?
PINKIE
Index! Know that? See, the “E”s had it here.
TWILIGHT
Oh. [Aside] Yet she sings to mock me. Why so cruel?
She reads from the reference guide
“The Elements of Harmony are six,
Though only five are known by name; these are
Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generous
Enactment, followed by Loyalty. Last,
The sixth, is known by none. Their place of rest
Was in the ancient castle where once lived
The royal pony sisters, in what’s now…”
ALL
The dark and dreaded Forest Everfree!
Exit all
Enter NIGHTMARE
[Aside] This information very much intrigues.
Oh curse the weakened state that I am in.
These ponies might precede me there. For that,
I shall lay traps to halt them on their path.
Though tortoise true I be, our hero shall
Soon see how slow great Achilles can go.
Exeunt
SCENE 3, the Everfree Forest
Enter TWILIGHT, PINKIE, APPLEJACK, RARITY, RAINBOW, and FLUTTERSHY
PINKIE
Whee! Let slip the dogs of hunt against her!
TWILIGHT
Hold fast! I am obliged that you would try,
Yet it behooves me not to acquiesce.
I rather must undertake this task alone.
APPLEJACK
We must deny that request, Sweet.
That you are our friend, we mustn't part
In this dark time and this dark place.
Like honey upon an apple's skin,
Or honeys upon their honey’s skin,
It is become for us to stay with you.
PINKIE
More especially should there be honey
Glazed upon an apple's skin. ‘Tis lovely.
Exit all but TWILIGHT
TWILIGHT
[Aside] The time since feasting certain longer be,
Yet talk of food is still affront to me.
Exeunt
ACT 2
SCENE 1, the forest
Enter TWILIGHT, PINKIE, APPLEJACK, RARITY, RAINBOW, and FLUTTERSHY
TWILIGHT
I hoped that one from out the lot of ye
Would have a knowledge of this place in least.
RARITY
By heaven, no! Fair not to know such dread!
APPLEJACK
Nature herself dare not enter.
Her very will becomes contorted.
TWILIGHT
Contorted will? What measure finds that so?
RAINBOW
No measures took. No facts are known. And why?
APPLEJACK
Oh hold your tongue, Rainbow! Try not to cause a fright.
RAINBOW
For none who enter ever have returned!
Enter NIGHTMARE, invisible
NIGHTMARE
[Aside] Then none shall take issue with your demise!
An earthquake breaks off four from six, to leave
But two, as once there were, to take our prize.
Now fall, my ponies earth and unicorn,
And leave but pegasi to trap besides.
The ground shakes
RAINBOW
Haste, Fluttershy! Take hold of one to save!
Exit RAINBOW, pulling aside PINKIE
FLUTTERSHY
Oh goodness, swift I must decide to grab one.
Exit FLUTTERSHY, pulling aside RARITY
The rest fall down, TWILIGHT does so over the edge of the stage
APPLEJACK
I happened upon a branch, and so am well.
Are you well below, Twilight?
TWILIGHT
Oh, nay! I fear I shall soon fall to death.
APPLEJACK
Keep hold! I will come down for you.
APPLEJACK slides over to hold on to TWILIGHT
TWILIGHT
What action could correct my course from this?
APPLEJACK
Simply you could be released at this time.
TWILIGHT
You say that? Have you lost your reasoning?
APPLEJACK
On my honor, I guarantee your salvation.
TWILIGHT
Your honor set aside, your words are false.
APPLEJACK
Doubt truth to be a liar, but doubt not this:
I tell you truth! Fall, and you will be safe.
TWILIGHT falls off stage
Exeunt
SCENE 2, a darker forest
Enter RARITY and PINKIE
RARITY
I hope our new acquaintance has survived.
Enter TWILIGHT, being carried in by RAINBOW and FLUTTERSHY
FLUTTERSHY
I’m sorry for my weaker flying, maiden.
At most I usually carry rabbits.
RAINBOW
We were a vision! We had perfect form!
Once Pinkie, Rarity, then finally,
Through feats unknown to acrobatics, WHAM!
You thus were saved. Without a moment spare!
TWILIGHT
You say as though I was not present then.
I’m ever grateful, yet we must proceed-
Enter a Manticore
A manticore! He blocks the way from us!
They fight
FLUTTERSHY
[To the ponies] Oh, wait. Hark wait. Oh simply listen. Wait!
They stop fighting
[To the Manticore] No need to stir, ‘tis well. Present thy ills, dear.
The Manticore presents the thorn in its paw
You poor and little infant babe.
RAINBOW
How “little”?
FLUTTERSHY
Now trust my medicine. A moments pain pass…
She removes the thorn, the manticore roars in pain
TWILIGHT
[Aside] Observe, it roars to strike against our kind
Compatriot who served to doctor him!
The Manticore embraces and grooms FLUTTERSHY in thanks
Foretelling now has failed again, it seems.
FLUTTERSHY
No lionheart are thee, but lambkin kitten!
Oh yes you are, oh yes you are, my lambkin!
Exit RARITY, RAINBOW, APPLEJACK, PINKIE
TWILIGHT
You well foretold a thorn inside his paw.
How came you such a sight?
FLUTTERSHY
No vision had I.
There comes a time when kindness must be paid so
To all, those big or small, sweet or fearsome.
Exit FLUTTERSHY, TWILIGHT
Exeunt
SCENE 3, a forest, darker still
Enter the six
RARITY
My eye grows weary viewing scenes as these,
And yet I do despair to see it fade.
TWILIGHT
In darkness such as this our goal could meet,
Yet still we would not know the truth of it,
Quite even if we were facade to face.
They stumble in the dark
RARITY
I saw thee not, my error please forgive.
RAINBOW
Right here. No error made in voice. ‘Tis heard.
APPLEJACK
My hoof is besmirched with something unknown to me.
Enter NIGHTMARE, hidden as a cloud of smoke
NIGHTMARE
[Aside] A manticore will look upon as friend
The one who does him kindness howe’er small,
Yet woods shall look upon any act made
And register no help nor injury.
Hereafter, let them fall into the shade
Of death, to fear my evil, sans their sun!
Enter fearful Trees
APPLEJACK
Fluttershy, look not in fear, ‘tis only mud or such.
All cower in fear of the Trees but PINKIE, who laughs
TWILIGHT
[To PINKIE] What foolery is this? Oh run away!
PINKIE
Ha! Oh girls, but don’t you see solutions?
Sings
When I was a little filly and the sunsets looked so fair
TWILIGHT
Pray, tell me that she does now not-
PINKIE
Sings
The darkness and the shadows, they would fain make me despair
RARITY
She doth.
PINKIE
Sings
I’d hide beneath my pillow
From what I thought was truth
But Granny Pie said that wasn’t the way
To counter fear, forsooth
RAINBOW
You have some sounder known? What is this way?
PINKIE
Sings
Quothe she, “Pinkie, thou must maintain thy ground,
Lean to face thy fears.
Thou shalt see that they are harmless
Just laugh and they most shan’t appear.
Lo I gave a merry chear: ha ha ha!
Exit a fearful tree
The rest gasp in amazement
So, muse about the moan-y’s
Take joy in the groan-y’s
Crack up at the creepy
Make merry with the weepy
Chuckle at the crazed
Heckle at the raised
And tell that unsightly fool to banish himself and leave you to your own affairs and if he thinks he can frighten you then he has another fate pending and the mere idea of such an altercation just gives a pony such as I such rousing cause to...
Laugh!
Exeunt
Enter
SCENE 4, a river
Enter the six
PINKIE
Fair maids, though I lead thee without fear long,
Now we are left facing something harsher.
Now how shall we make way through this river?
Enter DRAGON, weeping
DRAGON
Oh, I am fortune’s fool!
TWILIGHT
Why do you weep?
DRAGON
In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.
I merely sat a moment's idleness,
With thoughts about my days befitting works,
When came an ugly purple haze of smoke,
And, although smoke it be, it made a tear,
Thus rending twain the beard upon my lip.
My outward visage thus is rendered so,
I seem a horrid sight to look upon.
RAINBOW
This fateful journey have I tired not.
And yet I find this story most exhausts.
APPLEJACK
It is much to do about this?
RARITY
And well he would be troubled by this fate!
Are now thy senses fit for mutes alone?
Oh, look upon those scales so luminous!
DRAGON
No flattery is this, but truth, I know.
RARITY
Thy hair made up with such deliberate care!
DRAGON
What care I know about the best of all.
RARITY
Thy nails, honed more for beauty than for war.
DRAGON
Thy vision grants thee truth in abundance.
RARITY
And yet thy lip, half-bare, becomes thee not.
DRAGON
The truth is evident! I’m hideous!
RARITY
A crime so witnessed my correction begs!
For one of thy own skales, I shall return
Myself a piece in greater scale indeed!
DRAGON
Wherefore hast thou done that while I despair?
TWILIGHT
I too am lost to your intent Rari-
RARITY removes her tail with the scale and offers it to DRAGON
DRAGON
With that is my visage restored again?
Thy arts are wonderful in their result.
RARITY
It smites a ladies heart to look upon.
TWILIGHT
But even at the cost of your own tail?
RARITY
It is the fashion of the season, dear.
And sooth, ‘tis hair, such will return with time.
RAINBOW
Of him, the Dragon, could one say the same.
TWILIGHT
The time has come to ford the flowing straight.
DRAGON
Oh let my hide provide a bridge to thee.
Exeunt
SCENE 5, A felled bridge
Enter the six
TWILIGHT
Our journey here has born us fruit at last.
Those ruins hence are said to hold our aim,
Those Elements of Harmony. We’re there!
APPLEJACK
Hold your excitement and permit us to keep your pace.
TWILIGHT
Why hold when we have nearly… plummeted.
RAINBOW
To fall from cliffs is thy design? Or not?
PINKIE
Yet another impasse blocks our journey.
How in timely fashion do we cross this?
RAINBOW
Need I explain? I lift to fast the bridge!
She flies to the other side.
PINKIE
How? With what? Oh yes, thy wings. Obvious.
NIGHTMARE
[Aside] The weakest mind has left from out the herd,
And so shall fall into my trap by means
Of foalish, wasted, sweet ambitions. Lamb,
Come now and join your flock of tricks and lies!
Enter Shadowbolts, 1, 2, and 3
SHADOWBOLT 1
Rainbow...
RAINBOW
Who’s there?
SHADOWBOLT 1
Rainbow…
RAINBOW
I fear thee not!
Reveal yourself or face my ire, coward!
SHADOWBOLT 1
We mean no harm. We want to meet with she
Who flies the best in all Equestria.
RAINBOW
And that is who?
SHADOWBOLT 1
Why you, of course.
RAINBOW
Really?
That is, indeed, the truth. I am the best.
Mahaps you could relay the news to those
Who call themselves the Wonderbolts, would you?
SHADOWBOLT
That’s not our aim, Rainbow Dash. We want you
To join with us, the Shadowbolts. We are the best
Of those who fly in Everfree Forest,
And soon in all Equestria. Yet first
Do we require a voice to lead. The most
Magnificent-
RAINBOW
‘Tis fair.
SHADOWBOLT 1
And furthermore
The swiftest-
RAINBOW
Yes.
SHADOWBOLT 1
And bravest flyer known!
RAINBOW
I must confirm, this is the truth in full.
SHADOWBOLT 1
For this we now request your joining us.
RAINBOW
Oh joyous day! Relay my full consent.
I leave at once with you. That is, but wait,
For first I must make haste to tie this bridge.
SHADOWBOLT 1
Nay, stop! It’s them or us! You must decide.
TWILIGHT
Rainbow, what has bewitch-ed you? Oh no.
Do not believe the words they say to you!
SHADOWBOLT 1
[To RAINBOW] And so?
RAINBOW
[To the SHADOWBOLTS] To you... Thank you! To offer so,
I mean, and yet I fear I must decline.
She fixes and crosses back over the bridge
Exit SHADOWBOLTS 1, 2, 3.
See that, Twilight? I’ll not abandon friends.
Exeunt
ACT 3, SCENE 1, a ruin
Enter the 6
APPLEJACK
Do not hesistate now, Twilight. Is this not what you had anticipated?
TWILIGHT
The Elements of Harmony, at last.
They have been found. Take care in moving them.
PINKIE
Counting one, then two, then three, then four, yet…
Numbers fail to reach above but five here.
RAINBOW
Where’s six?
TWILIGHT
To quote the book, when five are here,
A spark alone shall make the sixth appear.
APPLEJACK
By the fruit of the afterlife, what does that mean?
TWILIGHT
I am not sure, yet wager this idea.
Some distance make you from this place, pray thee.
I do not know what trouble may unfold.
APPLEJACK
Come, friends. Leave her to a hermit's focus.
NIGHTMARE
[Aside] For all the efforts I have spent, has been
This just some jest? They all arrived, but then
Depart from that which they protect. Alone,
Her power only pales against my own!
She steals the elements away in a tornado
Exit
TWILIGHT
The Elements! I must save the from her!
She jumps in the tornado
Exit
ALL
Twilight!
APPLEJACK
Twilight! Where art thou Twilight?
RARITY
But soft, what light from yonder tower breaks?
APPLEJACK
Let us make haste to her side!
Exeunt
SCENE 2, the tower
Enter TWILIGHT, NIGHTMARE
TWILIGHT
[Aside] I have been blown aground to stranger points,
And now the point of Nightmare’s horn does bode
A wicked fate, yet I must not succumb.
A harsher fate than that may fall my state
Should I permit her wicked hooves to break
Or use against the rest those instruments,
The Elements of Harmony themselves.
I make a joust against her, feigning that,
That I might fain take back my hope again.
NIGHTMARE
You jest in aiming so. Oh please do not
Disgrace thyself in playing not the fool!
They joust, but Twilight slips behind her
TWILIGHT
A single spark alone should break the seal.
My magic should not fail, but once at all!
A spark, a spark, my kingdom for a spark!
NIGHTMARE
Oh no! With this the foal could yet prevail!
TWILIGHT
What wicked light of Zeus! My mane doth stand!
And yet there is no mean result at hoof!
NIGHTMARE
She destroys the elements beneath her hooves
You little foal! Had you some hope at fruit?
The East shall bear no fruit as well. The sun
That was consum-ed by the West shall have
No resurrection ever, nor shall your princess
See mercy nor redemption for her acts.
Enter the five ponies
THE FIVE
Anon shall we beside you be, Twilight!
TWILIGHT
[Aside] And so I see the light at last. Eureka!
[To NIGHTMARE] The Elements of Harmony o’erthrown
With ease that one might break a brittle branch?
What hubris! These were not but vessels here
Which you have crushed as pots of kilned clay.
Forsooth, the soul of virtue lives in us!
NIGHTMARE
What?
TWILIGHT
Applejack silenced my doubt, and so
Befits the very soul of Honesty.
Maid Fluttershy has tamed a manticore
Without the use of force, and so she best
Befits the very soul of Kindness too.
Pinkie Pie banished our fear with mirth,
And so befits the element of Laughs.
Rarity has calmed a woeful beast
Through charity and heart, and so befits
The very soul of Generosity.
And Rainbow Dash retained our company
Despite her greatest wants, and so befits
The very soul of Loyalty. At last,
The souls of these five ponies saved
Against every design you had for us!
NIGHTMARE
Whether your claim can hold or not, you’ve failed!
You still are left with want for number six.
Your spark has not caught flame from this kindling.
TWILIGHT
The fire rises! Not from my magic,
At least apart from that I understood.
[To the five] I felt this flame at once when I felt joy
From hearing, seeing, caring for you mares.
The spark caught pitch when I felt sure at last...
That you are all my friends! You see, Nightmare,
When Elements ignite through contact with...
The spark within the soul of each of us,
It burn but not consumes. Instead, increase
Abounds by this, the sixth of elements
Appears: the Element of Magic!
NIGHTMARE
No!
NIGHTMARE is transformed in a rainbow tornado into LUNA
SCENE 3, still the tower
RAINBOW
The lights have strained mine eyes and pained my head.
APPLEJACK
Does anypony harbor a greater injury?
RARITY
So not, but au contraire. My tail regrown!
FLUTTERSHY
Without compare, oh Rarity, ‘tis lovely.
RARITY
Forsooth, I hope we shan’t part ways again.
FLUTTERSHY
My aim was on the jewelry you wear.
It most resembles well your cutie mark.
RARITY
I’d yet to make a note… yet so does yours!
PINKIE
Look! I wear the same! I wear the same!
RAINBOW
Oh joyous pendant! Lightning like myself!
APPLEJACK
By the first letter of a name, Twilight!
I was sure that your musings were but playful fantasies
Or veiled deceit, but hereupon I am struck with the reckoning of a greater destiny;
Forsooth we are each the patron of an element from friendship.
Enter CELESTIA
CELESTIA
In truth, I would have told you just the same.
TWILIGHT
It is the east, the princess of the sun!
CELESTIA
Twilight Sparkle, faithful student mine,
I knew you could do this for all this time.
TWILIGHT
But you dissuade my studies that lead me hence.
CELESTIA
I did persuade that you had need of friends.
Thy studies held no bare upon the ends.
I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return,
And knew that you would greater magics learn,
If you let these friends into your heart.
Another here must play a matching part.
[To Luna] These thousand years have been in great despair,
So sister, take our throne again to share.
TWILIGHT
What, so these warring rulers…
RAINBOW
...sisters were?
CELESTIA
May we be friends once more, little sister?
LUNA
I’ll fain repent what I have done before,
If now I need not miss you anymore.
CELESTIA
Forsooth, I missed thy warm embrace as well.
At last I hold thee, free of envy’s spell.
PINKIE
Cries, then suddenly stops
[Aside] Do you know what now becomes?
SCENE 4, Ponyville
Enter ALL
PINKIE
A party!
CELESTIA
[To TWILIGHT] Do not today despair my clever one,
Thou shouldst be glad to see thy task is done.
TWILIGHT
Ay there’s the rub: that now I do possess
A group of friends, and all the same I must
Return and be without their company.
CELESTIA
Oh Spike, I ask that you prepare a note.
I, Princess Celestia have wrote,
That Twilight Sparkles mission has been changed,
To study friendship’s magic, so arranged
That she shall send to me so oft a letter,
While she’s to stay in Ponyville for better.
TWILIGHT
Oh Princess, for this thank you ever the more!
I shall take steps to learn as ne’er before!
Exit all but Pinkie
PINKIE
[Aside]Isn’t this exciting? Be you roused, for
Cause I am fain roused, I’ve never been
Just so excited, save that hour she
Entered into town and let I one gasp,
Truly, though-
Exeunt
Author's Note
This half required a little more creativity, as there's no really Shakespearean way to portray a cloud of black smoke doing everything, so I had to give Nightmare some evil monologues to the audience to explain what she was doing. I probably won't continue this, but I am very happy with the results.
Oh, and one Shakespearean thing to note about this episode: when Luna is in Ponyville, she is given a wreath of red and white flowers. The Tudors used those flowers as a symbol of peace, specifically an end to the civil war that had previously raged in England, the War of the Roses (white against red). It's a neat bit of symbolism for the two sisters, and certainly within Shakespeare's wheelhouse to have made if he actually were to write this in his day.
Stay tuned for:
The Master of Tickets
Apple Harvest’s Tale
A Friendship Gilded in Error
Boasted and Bested
Taming of the Dragon
Dispatched in Sleeping
Gossip in Bridledness
The Swarm
Winter’s End’s Tale
Much Ado About a Cutie Mark
The Friends of Fall Weather
Fitting for Fittings
The Comedy of Senses
The Rainbow of Loudness
The Master of Stares
The Ceasing Players
A Pony Fit for Hounds
The Unseemly Hue of Green
The History of Thunderhoof, Chief of Buffalo
The Tragedy of Philomena, Bird of Celestia
The Cutie Mark Tales
Owl’s Well that Ends Well (How do I make a Shakespearean pun out of a Shakespearean pun?)
Party As You Like It
and
Best Night
Coming out probably never
Much Ado About Friendship Part 1: The Mare in our Moon
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Much Ado About Friendship
Much Ado About Friendship Part 1: The Mare in our Moon
ACT 1
PROLOGUE
CELESTIA
Two sisters, both alike in royalty,
In fair Equestria, where lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where sister’s strife makes sisters hooves unclean.
One blessed us with day, that most revered
Of times, so she too fain in thought was kept;
One blessed us with night ponies so feared,
for this the younger sister nightly wept.
Resentful then became she, so she did
Deny her duty and refuse her name;
Her sister's words unheeded, true self hid,
Through “Nightmare Moon” she cursed pitious fame!
Eclipsed was dawn and day to draw, yet our
Celestia, choice made reluctantly,
Took arms with things that ponies say held power,
Harnessed, “The Elements of Harmony!”
Thence twas that “Nightmare” locked long in her own
fair moon, lost permanently royal post,
And ponies seldom even make a moan
Of her among the daily horde or host.
“What then became of her position?” ask.
The eldest, rightful on the throne and right
To bring about the sun, took up the task
Of raising her lost sister’s moon at night.
TWILIGHT
Hark, tis familiar, yet I do not know
Where, by curiosity, I shall go…
SCENE 1, A Bridge
Enter TWILIGHT right, TWINKLESHINE, LEMON HEARTS, and MINUETTE left
TWINKLESHINE
There you are, Twilight! We pray you to join
Moon Dancer and ourselves in the courtyard.
A get together, nothing more. Prithy come?
TWILIGHT
Oh, sorry, girls... I have a lot of care
To give to these, my studies mine, forsooth.
[Aside] “The Elements of Harmony” I know...
Exit TWILIGHT
TWINKLESHINE
Lo, tis a common scene. For her intents
In going back to school in her tower,
It is most retrograde to her friendships.
Exeunt
SCENE 2, Twilight’s Tower
Exit SPIKE, with a present. Enter TWILIGHT, cutting the exit of SPIKE, slamming the door in his face.
TWILIGHT
Oh, Spike! Where art thou Spike? Oh, there thou art.
Make haste at once! Predictions and Prophecies
Is just the thing I need and you must find...
Prithy, that box?
SPIKE
A gift. At least, it was.
TWILIGHT
Oh, Spike! Our hours are best not spent on frills.
SPIKE
But we are said to be at rest!
TWILIGHT
She shuffles through the books
Nothing.
Nothing! Nothing. Nothing will come of nothing!
Ugh, Spike!
SPIKE
Merry, tis o’er here!
TWILIGHT
Ah, Elements…
Aha! The Elements of Harmony!
“Thou seeketh ‘Mare in our Moon’, scholar!” The same?
SPIKE
The Mare in our Moon? That old pony’s tale?
TWILIGHT
Aha! The Mare in our Moon, eureka!
To quote the book:
“The Mare in our Moon
Is a myth of times long since past,
A pony of great and terrible powers
Whose intent on empire was
For not, for she was bested by the
Elements of Harmony. The moon
Was made her prison, yet on the
Day most lasting of the year
Fifty score hence, the mare will
Be loosed of her bridle, and her
Time nocturnal will be made
Perpetual. The stars will aid
in her escape, and she will bring about
an everlasting night.”
My Spike, you know the rub?
SPIKE
Not I, lady.
TWILIGHT
Then scribe my words as I do dictate them.
To her, our princess, this note goes.
SPIKE
Ready!
TWILIGHT
My dearest teacher, studies continued
And knowledge sought have led me to a dire
Discovery. To this precipice, toward
Disaster, we-
SPIKE
Nay, hold! Preci-?
TWILIGHT
Threshold?
SPIKE
Thresh-
TWILIGHT
Brink?
Simply... that something wicked this way comes!
In truth, “The Mare in our Moon” masks the name
Nightmare Moon, who is prophesied to bring
Night to no end. To action, I plead, make haste
To make assured this terror goes undone!
Thy quick response is my humble request.
Thy faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. Spike,
yet finished?
SPIKE
“Twilight Sparkle”… finished ma’am!
TWILIGHT
Tis well! Away with it!
SPIKE
At once?
TWILIGHT
Of course!
SPIKE
I dare not, Twilight! Princess Celestia
Makes preparations for the Summer Sun
Hours of Merriment. The days are twain.
TWILIGHT
Ay, there’s the rub! The days are twain and so
The years are counted at one-thousand all!
It is imperative she know at once!
SPIKE
Imper… imper…
TWILIGHT
Important!
SPIKE
Oh! Fair.
It is sent. Hold not thy breath long.
TWILIGHT
No doubt!
No doubt have I for my princess, nor her
For me. Our faith is undeterred.
How now? Has she replied so soon? What haste!
SPIKE
Huh. Quote the princess: “My most dear student,
Twilight, my dusk, my dawn, my faithful one,
I prize thy diligence, my trust complete,
But those old books corrupt thy reasoning.”
Exeunt
ACT 2
SCENE 1, Ponyville
Enter TWILIGHT, SPIKE, and two charioteers, with a chariot
SPIKE
“My dear Twilight, thou need to know my thought:
A young pony’s hours are precious gems.
Thou cast too many at swine o’er studying.
Thou fail to rest, then be my agent, yet,
Though thy task is preparation made
For Summer Sun day yet to come, instead,
Consider thee thy mission to be thus:
That Ponyville is thy ends, go make friends!”
Her royal highness, et cetera, end.
Take brighter view, Twi. Thank Celestia,
Thy living space shall be a library.
May thou be mirthful?
TWILIGHT
Yea, I may. And why?
Because I’m right! The preparations swift
Shall be done, then the library with haste
To find some proof of Nightmare Moon’s return.
SPIKE
Prithy... and making friends?
TWILIGHT
Duty only.
These preparations need check from me,
Celestia’s student I am, yet this
Consideration over making friends
Holds not Equestria in sway of fate.
[To the charioteers] O, farewell, honest souldiers, duty done.
Exit soldiers, Enter PINKIE
SPIKE
[To TWILIGHT] Perchance these ponies speaketh well.
TWILIGHT
[To PINKIE] Um… hail?
Exit PINKIE with a gasp
TWILIGHT
Tis diverting for certain well enough.
Exeunt
SCENE 2, in Sweet Apple Acres
Enter TWILIGHT and SPIKE
SPIKE
Our Summer Sun Day letter of request
At once requires a trip to make notice
Of Sweet Apple Acres banquet prepared.
Enter APPLEJACK
APPLEJACK
Hey, nonny nonny!
TWILIGHT
[Aside] O, Mercy, may this be most brief… Good day,
And you may give my name as Twilight Spar-
APPLEJACK
Well, hail and good morrow, Maid Twilight!
Tis a jolly acquaintance made!
I am Applejack, sincerely yours!
Not only I, but each of us at this
Sweet Apple Acres are anxious to become friends.
TWILIGHT
My friend? To this I am most contrary-
APPLEJACK
What ask you of I, your humble servant?
TWILIGHT
Well, I am fairly here to ensure your
Readiness made for Celebration hence,
Of Summer Sun, to be on mark as well.
And you are charged to ready food, Maiden?
APPLEJACK
No less than truth, as sugar’s sweet.
And sugary sweets are our provision
Which will prove it to be true, and no less.
We could lick our own hooves,
Or give you some to judge yourself!
TWILIGHT
May Brevity invited be, tis well…
APPLEJACK
Everypony, come in from thy labors!
For festive treats in festive flavors!
Enter BIG MACINTOSH, APPLE BLOOM, GRANNY SMITH, and assorted apple family members
It is my honor and custom to introduce
My kinsmares to thee. Tis well I do, savy?
TWILIGHT
My thanks, and yet for haste necessar-
APPLEJACK
May I present: Apple Fritter. Apple Bumpkin.
Red Gala. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious,
Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart,
Baked Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp...
[Aside] I catch my breath, but these three you must know….
Big MacIntosh, Apple Bloom and Granny Smith.
Rise from thy slumber, Granny Smith,
And break thy fast with these strange folks we host.
GRANNY
What? Supper this hour? I draw near to take my place…
APPLEJACK
Stranger though thou be, thou are as kin already!
TWILIGHT
Alright, tis well, the realm of food is fair,
Tis best that we should journey on our way.
BLOOM
Prithy, thou will not stay to eat?
TWILIGHT
Oh, sorry, yet our labors beckon us...
[Aside] What mournful cry they make… oh fine, we stay!
Exeunt
SCENE 3, Ponyville
Enter TWILIGHT and SPIKE
SPIKE
Food is readied, then next is storm.
TWILIGHT
Oh, pain!
That pie should go from sweet to sow despair…
SPIKE
A pegasus pony, Maid Rainbow Dash,
Is said to cast away the clouds.
TWILIGHT
‘Tis said,
And yet I see these vapor puffs of white
That do corrupt the air; how banished they?
Enter RAINBOW, colliding with TWILIGHT
RAINBOW
[Laughing] Uh, kindly pardon me? Too late for that?
TWILIGHT
[Aside] Though I am coated with this mud, I feel
So strangely lighter than I was before.
RAINBOW
So how about you let me help.
SPIKE
[Aside] Observe!
She pours forth rain from out a cloud.
RAINBOW
[Laughing] Now wet? I over showered you, it seems.
No worry! I shall string you up with my
Own “Rain-Clothes-Line.”
She causes a tornado over Twilight
No thanks do I desire.
‘Tis well. Oh, any time would I… your hair… [Laughter]
TWILIGHT
I do presume to address Rainbow Dash.
RAINBOW
The same. And me so much renowned to you?
TWILIGHT
“Renowned” for task assigned to clear the sky.
Renowned is she the Princess, by her reign
I, Twilight Sparkle, oversee your work.
RAINBOW
Simplicity itself. A moments work.
For now, I practice.
TWILIGHT
Practice? Why? What for?
RAINBOW
The Wonderbolts! I mean to impress them
During the Celebration soon to come.
TWILIGHT
The Wonderbolts?
RAINBOW
The same!
TWILIGHT
Equestria’s
Most skilled of all who fly in t’air?
RAINBOW
The same!
TWILIGHT
I scoff at this! Your work remains undone.
They can not trust the greatest work to one
Who fails to even clear the sky all day.
RAINBOW
Let turn the minute glass! Let fall the grains!
You mark when one of six have fallen down.
The sky at then is cleared!
TWILIGHT
You say, then act.
RAINBOW
She clears the sky
With ease, I cast away these clouds from sky!
The time I gave myself sufficed in flat.
Deny I Ponyville its light? Never.
Your face is struck with awe, Twilight Sparkle.
What jest! Your company I’ll ever enjoy.
Exit RAINBOW
SPIKE
I will admit to awe.
TWILIGHT
[Aside] “I will admit?”
He has no qualm!
SPIKE
Hold fast, thy hair looks well!
Exhuant
SCENE 4, Town Hall
Enter RARITY, then TWILIGHT and SPIKE
SPIKE
Such decorations found! Beauty…
TWILIGHT
Indeed,
The decking carries on surpassing well.
Assuredly this will be done in brief.
So done, we take our leave to library.
Beauty indeed.
SPIKE
The decking? No! ‘Tis her!
RARITY
She examines fabric.
[To herself] With neither this, nor that, oh goodness no.
SPIKE
[To TWILIGHT] My spines had best be straight. Are they?
TWILIGHT
[To RARITY] Good day-
RARITY
A moment, prithy, as I do my work!
I am astray within the task at hand.
[To herself] Eureka! Sparkle always does the trick.
Not so? Oh, Rarity, a talent thee!
[To TWILIGHT] May, now, I help you- Fie! Oh stars, Darling!
Whatever happened that thy locks are so?
TWILIGHT
My mane? You might prefer I hold my tongue.
I’m merely here to look upon your work.
I’ll play the bat but briefly in your hair.
RARITY
A bat set on my hair, yet look at thine!
TWILIGHT
Nay, hold! Where do you shove me toward? Nay, help!
Exeunt
SCENE 5, Carousel Boutique
Enter RARITY, TWILIGHT, and SPIKE
RARITY
I’ll try to find the dress that suits thee best,
Yet each, it seems, carries some flaw against.
Too green, too gold, too puffed, too flat, too frilled.
Even thy name betrays this shininess…
Continue, dear. From whence came thee, prithee?
TWILIGHT
[Gasping for breath] I have been sent to here from Canterlot.
RARITY
Huh? Canterlot!? I sway with envy, dear!
What great allure, what cultural impart!
I lay my head to sleep and I am there!
We two shall be the best of friends indeed…
What? Emeralds? That will not do. Rubies!
Exit RARITY
TWILIGHT
Let us depart, before she paints my coat
In unfamiliar hues against my want!
Exeunt
SCENE 6, A Wood
Enter SPIKE and TWILIGHT happening upon FLUTTERSHY
SPIKE
I burn, I pine, I perish...
TWILIGHT
Romeo,
Prithee lose thyself in work as well.
What next have we to do?
SPIKE
Last is… music.
FLUTTERSHY
She conducts the birds
[To the birds] Oh my. Prithee, halt thy musings. Pardon me?
I don’t pursue injury on thy pride, but
Thy rhythm, by a hair's small width, is off, sir.
Onward, prithee to play to my instruction.
On count of one, of two, of one and two and-
TWILIGHT
Hello! Pardon the fright I gave your birds.
I am to judge your music, lovely sound.
I’m Twilight Sparkle. And your name is which?
FLUTTERSHY
I go by name of Fluttershy, my lady.
[Aside] Oh, no. I am too soft of voice. She’ll ask more…
TWILIGHT
Sorry, I heard you not. What was the name?
FLUTTERSHY
My lady, call me Fluttershy the pony.
[Aside] It is most retrograde to end our speech, yet
I can not summon strength to speak more loudly.
TWILIGHT
I do not catch your gab, I fear. Again?
[Aside] Oh, what a suttle shriek she maketh now.
I right shall say some parting words and leave.
Your birds return, so all is well for me.
Your work maintain and worries part for us.
[To SPIKE] Most well, ‘twas simple task for once at least.
FLUTTERSHY
Oh, do my eyes behold a baby dragon?
In all my life I never saw such sweetness!
SPIKE
What flattery...
FLUTTERSHY
Oh my, he speaks? I knew not
That dragons had the gift of speech. What wonder!
My words evade their use at this juncture.
TWILIGHT
‘Tis for the better that we do depart.
FLUTTERSHY
Less haste! What, may I ask, is his name given?
SPIKE
I’m Spike.
FLUTTERSHY
Hail Spike, I’m Fluttershy. Amazing!
How do dragons their words employ?
SPIKE
What questions
Might be desired to know?
FLUTTERSHY
All things absolute.
TWILIGHT
[Aside] Oh fie, this story too familiar is!
SPIKE
At first I was a green and purple egg…
TWILIGHT
[Aside] Oh let us close this act before that tale.
Exeunt
ACT 3
SCENE 1, A Library in a Tree
Enter TWILIGHT, SPIKE, and FLUTTERSHY
SPIKE
…And thus concludes the story of my life.
That is except today. Hear of today?
FLUTTERSHY
Oh yea, a pleasure it would be for certain
TWILIGHT
What pitiable luck: have we arrived?
This is my final stop, my dwelling now
And so my baby dragon’s resting place.
SPIKE
I tire not-- whoa!
Twilight subtlety knocks him over
TWILIGHT
Oh look, how sleepy he
Can not so much as stand on little feet.
FLUTTERSHY
Poor thing, he simply must be cast to cradle…
TWILIGHT
I shall accept your sage advice at once.
Goodnight!
Exit FLUTTERSHY
SPIKE
Huh. Rude performance, right?
TWILIGHT
Sorry,
And yet I need convince the Princess soon
That Nightmare Moon anon makes her return.
I need to be alone to study with
No interruption. Maddened ponies sue
For friendship, yet there is no time for that.
Prithee, the lights? This room is dark as pitch.
These words I say in confidence might be
Absorbed by sponges of the library,
But surely these few lights are from our eyes
And each for t’other. Where is light?
Enter PINKIE and a host of ponies hiding in the shadows
PONIES and PINKIE
Suprise!
TWILIGHT
[Aside] Oh fade to black again for mercy’s sake.
PINKIE
Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie! I brought this party
About just for you! Surprised? You are, huh?
Were you? Where you? Won’t you tell me so, huh?
TWILIGHT
Surprised, yea… libraries are quiet, true?
PINKIE
Well, that’s foolish! It’s a sorry party
With no ruckus and revelry. Bo-ring!
See, I saw you when you first arrived here,
Remember? You said “Um… hail?” I let a
Gasp, you remember? You see, I never
Saw you before. If I never saw you
Before then you’re surely new, because I
Know fain everypony Ponyville holds.
TWILIGHT
[Aside] Among such ponies these, I take to cups.
PINKIE
If you’re new, that meant you hadn’t met a
Soul quite yet, and if thus, faithfully, then
Loneliness you carry with you only,
So I much distressed was to think of,
So instead I had a thought that made me
Gasp, a great idea whose results you
See! A stately pleasure-dome decreed I,
Welcoming you alongside all ponies
Now made neighbor to you. Shall you witness?
Now you are possessed of friends, oh many!
Enter APPLEJACK, RAINBOW, RARITY, FLUTTERSHY
TWILIGHT
[Aside] Oh cruel bottle, thy taste is hot as fire!
APPLEJACK
Are you well, lady?
Exit TWILIGHT, full-steamed
PINKIE
In her joy, mistaken tears she let fall!
SPIKE
Mistaken she was, having drunk hot sauce.
Pinkie Pie eats the hot sauce on a cupcake
PINKIE
No objections shall I hear. ‘Tis good food!
SCENE 2, A bedroom
Enter TWILIGHT, half-enter SPIKE hovering in the entrance
SPIKE
Twilight, that pony Pinkie Pie has called
A game of “tails return to pony.” Play?
TWILIGHT
Nay! All the ponies living here are mad!
You know what hour it is, or do you not?
SPIKE
It is the Celebrations eve, Twilight.
We stay awake to watch the sun arise
With Princess guiding it, those resting miss.
Raise not thy ire so, Twilight. ‘Tis a fair!
Exit SPIKE
TWILIGHT
Ugh, here believed I that I would have time
To learn the Elements of Harmony’s
Significance, yet, fool I was, I found
The insignificance of friends acquired.
“The stars will aid in her escape, and she
Will bring about an everlasting night.”
I pray the Princess had the right idea.
I pray I am a fool to think it true.
Enter SPIKE
Onward, Twilight, the time has come to watch
The sun as it is made to rise today!
Exeunt
SCENE 3, A Town Hall
Enter crowd of ponies, including TWILIGHT, SPIKE, APPLEJACK, RAINBOW, RARITY, FLUTTERSHY, PINKIE, and MAYOR
PINKIE
Isn’t this exciting? Be you roused, for
Cause I am fain roused, I’ve never been
Just so excited, save that hour you
Entered into town and let I one gasp,
Truly, though, what claim could be the greater?
MAYOR
Fillies and gentlecolts, lend me your ears!
Fair Ponyville, I am thy mayor proud!
It is my pleasure great to declare start
To Celebration of the Summer Sun!
Our town shall witness sunrise, magic’s work,
And celebrate the longest day this year!
And now, it honors me to introduce
The ruler of our land, so good and wise,
The sun and moon her gifts to us each day,
The bringer of the harmony to all
Who live in peace in great Equestria…
FLUTTERSHY
[To the birds] Prepare thy song, my lovely ones, for here’s she.
MAYOR
Our Princess Celestia! [To an empty stage] Princess, your cue…
TWILIGHT
[Aside] Oh surely some misfortune hath befell.
MAYOR
Be not alarmed, everypony, for sure
It is to be reasoned and short explained!
PINKIE
Make a guess then? Does she hide in playing?
RARITY
Darlings, I fear she is simply gone.
PINKIE
Playing with such skill as that impresses.
Enter Nightmare Moon, at which all ponies gasp in fear
TWILIGHT
[Aside] ‘Tis Nightmare Moon! ‘Tis what I had so feared!
NIGHTMARE
Oh, my beloved subjects. Too long we have
Been kept apart, you who so loved the sun.
RAINBOW
What have you done? Our Princess make return!
APPLEJACK
Be restrained! My mouth I may employ
To hold thee back. It does no good to charge
Straight toward such wicked fate.
NIGHTMARE
I am not thought to be as royal? You’re
Too ignorant to know who I may be?
PINKIE
Make a guess again! How’s “Cleopatra”?
Cross that... try “Queen Mab”! Again not rightly?
Oh, right! “Titania”, “Titania”!
NIGHTMARE
These thousand years have tarnished black my crown?
You did not know the legend? Did you not see
The signs of who I am and what I’ll do?
TWILIGHT
I did. I know you are the Mare in our
The Moon. What’s more, you are the Nightmare Moon.
NIGHTMARE
Somepony who remembers well my name.
You must then know my cause in being here?
TWILIGHT
[Aside] I know, but speech has failed me at this time.
NIGHTMARE
Remember today, little ponies, well,
For ‘twas your last. From now until the end,
The sky turns not to day, the night shall stay!
Author's Note
For those who read this, I would like your opinion: should I continue to add to this series by adding more chapters to this work, or should I present each reworked episode as it's own entry? I learn toward the former, but I don't have to make the decision until after I post the next one (which might be in a long time, by the way, just a heads up) and I would like to get your opinion.
