MY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS

Executive producers: Stephen Davis, Chris Bartleman, Kirsten Newlands

Produced by Sarah Wall, Devon Cody

Written by Meghan McCarthy

Directed by Jayson Thiessen

Transcribed by Alan Back (ajback@yahoo.com)

Notes: The breaks between acts are somewhat arbitrary, and have been chosen so that

each act (or the prologue plus Act One) has approximately the same running time

as a typical episode.

All background lyrics are in square brackets; any marked with exclamation points

are shouted rather than sung.

Prologue

(Opening shot: fade in to the moon hanging big and bright in the night sky. Most of it is covered in a faint shadow, leaving a bright crescent around one edge. Three stars twinkle prominently near it as the camera slowly pivots downward through a sky in which the sun is sinking toward the horizon. It passes an overhead shot of the Crystal Empire, then moves on to the road leading through the grassy outskirts and finally stops on the train station. A train chugs up and hisses to a stop; cut to the platform. Excited murmuring can be heard in the distance, its source revealed when the train pulls away—Twilight Sparkle, her friends, and Spike following the path toward the glimmering city.)

(Cut to a close-up of them passing along one of its streets, with only Rainbow Dash flying overhead and Spike towing a wheeled suitcase. Applejack walks alongside Twilight as the others spread out.)

Applejack: Hoo-wee! Your very first Princess Summit. You must be over the moon, Twilight.

Twilight: Oh, I am excited—but to be honest, I’m a little nervous too. (Pinkie Pie shoves her head into frame, startling them both.)

Pinkie: You’re nervi-cited! (jumping high, echoing) It’s like you want to jump up and down and yell, “YAY ME!!” (small voice, curling into herself, rocking back and forth) But you also want to curl up in a teeny tiny ball and hide at the same time.

(The split-second emotional shift ends as she gets herself upright again, works out all the kinks, and zips over to Twilight.)

Pinkie: We’ve all been there. (She gives a noogie to the dark blue mane and zips off.)

Fluttershy: I’m there almost every day.

Applejack: You got no reason to fret, Twi. Everythin’s gonna be just— (Rarity, on the edge of total panic, races up to Twilight.)

Rarity: Twilight! (calmer, touching Twilight’s face/bending her head down) Oh, sorry, darling, but I just realized you’re not wearing your crown. (She looks Twilight in the eye.) You haven’t forgotten it back in Ponyville, have you?

Twilight: It’s in my bag. (Spike pats the suitcase; Rarity backs off.) Just feel a little self-conscious about wearing it.

(Her wings—newly acquired as of “Magical Mystery Cure”—suddenly spread upward, and she eyes them with visible trepidation.)

Twilight: (flapping a bit) Haven’t really gotten accustomed to these yet, either.

(A bit more wing work causes her to hover lopsidedly just above the ground for a few seconds, after which she thuds down on her belly.)

Rarity: You are a princess now, Twilight. Embrace it. I’m telling you, if I had a crown like that, I would never take it off. Why, I’d sleep in the thing.

(The holder of said crown allows herself a slightly exasperated smile. Dissolve to a close-up of two closed doors, which swing open to reveal the throne room of the Crystal Castle. Armored crystal ponies standing guard on either side of the pink-carpeted aisle blow a fanfare, and the other three Princesses stand before the throne. Celestia is in the center, Luna and Cadence to her right and left, respectively. Of the visitors, the most taken aback by this greeting is Twilight, who advances wonderingly along the carpet. Not paying attention to where she is going, she veers off and bumps into a pegasus guard stallion whose yellow-tan coat is nearly the same shade as the gold armor he wears. His tail and helmet crest exhibit two shades of deep blue, and his eyes are a lighter but still vivid blue.)

Guard: Her Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle!

(Giggling, Cadence steps across to her, with Celestia not far behind; the sisters-in-law nuzzle happily.)

Cadence: Twilight! I haven’t seen you since the coronation. (Luna joins them.)

Celestia: We have so much to discuss— (Twilight’s friends step in.) —but it can wait until tomorrow. You all look tired from your journey. Now off to bed, all of you.

(They exit amid a flurry of chatter and a few excited outbursts from Pinkie. Dissolve to Twilight and Spike in a bedroom lit only by a lamp on a nightstand and a broad shaft of soft moonlight through the windows. She is using her magic to unpack her suitcase, while he makes up a small bed in a basket that sits on the floor not far from hers. A stack of books is first to go in a drawer; next she levitates out her tiara and regards it worriedly for a moment. A quick spin puts it the right way around, and she settles it on her head and ponders her reflection in a mirror. Her sigh prompts Spike to pause in making his bed.)

Spike: What’s wrong, Twilight?

Twilight: I don’t know, Spike. I’m just…worried, I guess. (turning to face him) Princess Cadence was given the Crystal Empire to rule over. What if now that I’m a princess, Celestia expects me to lead a kingdom of my own?

Spike: (crossing to her, emphasizing every word) That would be awesome!

Twilight: (mimicking him) No, it would not! (stepping past, normal tone) Just because I have this crown and these wings, it doesn’t mean I’ll be a good leader!

(During this second sentence, she flares her wings and floats the tiara off her head, the camera cutting to a close-up as it comes to rest on her nightstand. Back to her, now sitting on the edge of her bed, and Spike.)

Spike: (crossing to her) Aw, sure you will, Twilight. Now come on. (He tucks her in.) You should get some shut-eye. (turning to lamp) Big day tomorrow.

(A click, and the lamp is out to darken the room. He drops o.s. toward his bed with a contented sigh; cut to an overhead shot of the entire room, the silence punctuated only by a bit of wind whistling past the window. The winged unicorn moans softly to herself as she settles down, and the camera cuts to an extreme close-up of the snoozing Spike’s face. His trip to dreamland ends very suddenly with the sound of a rustle and groan.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) Can’t…

(He sits up and looks toward the bed, the camera panning to frame both it and one occupant whose wings steadfastly refuse to behave themselves, no matter how she wrestles with them.)

Twilight: …tuck…

(She flips onto her side with a groan, only for one feathered appendage to spring out from under the blanket.)

Twilight: (sitting up, shoving it down) Just trying to get comfortable!

(She lies down, the camera zooming in slowly—and then it quickly zooms out to frame both wings popping away from her flanks and dumping the blanket over her in an untidy heap. A fed-up groan issues from beneath the cloth. The entire view fades to black except for the six-pointed star jewel in her tiara, which slowly floats to the right as the credits begin.)

OPENING CREDITS

Act One

(The credits end with the movie’s logo displayed against a starry night sky. Tilt down from this past the moon and its three bright stars, and stop on the exterior of the Crystal Castle. All is peaceful in these streets; dissolve to a corridor within, where a unicorn guard is on patrol with his horn illuminated as a flashlight. As he passes out of sight, the camera zooms in slowly on a pair of double doors at the corridor’s end behind him; in close-up, a burst of magic flares behind the keyholes and one door creaks partway open. Cut to the other side, a long shot of the departing guard, seen through the half-opening, then to another corridor. A shadow works its way along the wall, but stops short of the circle of light cast by the now-approaching unicorn. He stops, flicking the spot side to side, but does not notice the shadow’s source—a hooded and cloaked figure—steal past behind him.)

(Away he goes, shadow and intruder hurrying along the passage; cut to the sliver of light cast underneath a door into a darkened room. Hooves stop on the other side, and the camera tilts up in time to catch the glow of magic being applied to the door handle. As soon as it fades away, the black screen snaps to a close-up of Twilight—now sleeping comfortably—as a widening shaft of light from the opening door falls across her face.)

(A brief overhead shot frames the entering interloper, headed straight for Twilight’s bed; at ground level, the figure passes the heartily snoring Spike and closes in on the tiara. Its eyes can now be seen as a pale blue-green, and its horn glows to lift the tiara off the nightstand—but in doing so, the lamp topples away as well. A last-second telekinetic grab keeps it from shattering on the tiles, and neither Princess nor dragon does much other than stir a bit. Just enough light now falls on the face to reveal the thief as a yellow-orange mare. The lamp goes back in place, and the trespassing unicorn shifts Twilight’s tiara into the cloak’s folds and brings out a not-quite-identical copy to settle on the nightstand. Once it is in place, she turns to exit the room, but trips on Spike’s tail when he inadvertently flicks it over the side of his basket. A tumble o.s., a thud, and he sits bolt upright.)

Spike: Huh? What?

(The unauthorized unicorn comes up to a half-slump in the light from the doorway, and the cloak has shifted to expose a fringe of red mane streaked with yellow. Now Twilight sits up with a sleepy moan and glances toward the mare; the camera catches a flash of light from the exposed star jewel of her tiara, then zooms in quickly to a close-up.)

Twilight: (now o.s.) My crown! (Back to her.) She’s got my crown!

(The thief bursts out through the doors and into a full gallop before Twilight can do much more than get her head out.)

Twilight: Stop! Thief!

(Now she gets her legs in gear and gives chase as the other five ponies put their heads out from their own bedroom doors.)

Twilight: She’s stolen my crown!

(Various sleepy/confused mutterings from the others as Spike races after Twilight, who warms up her horn and teleports ahead of the fugitive.)

Twilight: Stop!

(Not a chance; she teleports away, leaving her cloak to billow into Twilight’s face, and materializes directly behind her so that she is seen in full for the first time. Sunset Shimmer’s red/yellow mane and tail are done in curling waves, her cutie mark is a yellow/red sun with flames issuing from it, and she wears a pair of saddlebags. Throwing a cocky glance over her shoulder, she sprints off down the corridor, only to find all six Ponyville mares hot on her trail a moment later. Twilight snaps at Sunset’s tail, gets only air, then tackles her to the floor. However, their combined momentum carries them through a set of closed double doors and into a room filled with various artifacts as the others hurry to catch up. Most prominent among the lot is a large mirror set in a frame styled as an upside-down horseshoe, mounted on a small round platform.)

(The stolen tiara flies out of Sunset’s saddlebags, ricochets around the room, then sails toward the mirror. Instead of shattering the glass, though, it passes right through and leaves a pattern of glowing ripples that soon fade away in a shower of sparks. Gasps from all but Sunset, who merely smirks as Twilight rounds on her.)

Twilight: What did you do with my crown? (Sunset’s voice drips with malice.)

Sunset: Sorry it had to be this way… (She teleports over to the mirror.) …Princess. (She dives through; another round of gasps.)

Fluttershy: Who was that?

(Dissolve to a long shot of the throne room; it is now the following morning. Cadence sits on the royal seat, while Celestia and Luna stand one level down to her left and right, respectively. All six mares and one dragon are lined up on Celestia’s side of the carpet, paying close attention. Zoom in slowly.)

Celestia: Sunset Shimmer, a former student of mine.

(Cut to a slow pan along the row, front end to back, where Twilight and Spike are standing.)

Celestia: (from o.s.) She began her studies with me not long before Twilight. But when she did not get what she wanted as quickly as she liked, she turned cruel and dishonest. (Back to her.) I tried to help her… (Cadence steps closer.) …but she eventually decided to abandon her studies and pursue her own path. (Cut to Twilight and Spike; she continues o.s.) One that has sadly led her to stealing your crown.

Spike: (holding up the fake) She replaced Twilight’s with this one.

Celestia: (studying it, then pacing) I suppose Sunset Shimmer thought you wouldn’t notice right away that this was not yours, and by the time you did… (Twilight catches up.) …it would be too late to go after your crown and Element of Harmony.

Twilight: But I don’t understand! Where did she go? (All others follow them.) Where did she take the crown?

Celestia: You’ll soon know more about this place than even I do.

(Dissolve to a close-up of the mirror and zoom in slowly.)

Luna: (stepping into view before it) This is no ordinary mirror. It is a gateway to another world—a gateway that opens once every thirty moons.

(One bright pink hoof reaches into view and taps the glass, creating the same phosphorescent ripples that occurred when the tiara passed through it.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) Sparkly!

(The dark-coated sovereign rolls her eyes disgustedly, using her magic to push the limb back. Cut to a longer shot of the relic collection; Cadence is here as well, along with the six mares and dragon.)

Luna: It has always been kept in the throne room of Canterlot Castle. (Cut to a slow pan across the seven; she continues o.s.) But when Princess Cadence took over the Crystal Empire, we sent it here for her to watch over. (Celestia enters behind them with a heavy sigh.)

Celestia: I had always hoped that Sunset Shimmer would someday use it to return, to come back to Equestria seeking my guidance. (bitterly) Obviously, this is not what has happened.

Cadence: (from o.s.) Twilight… (Step forward; cut to her.) …you must use the mirror to go into this other world and retrieve your crown. Without it, the other Elements of Harmony have no power and Equestria is left without one of its most important means of defense.

(Cut to Twilight, steadily approaching the mirror, on the end of this. She stops to give it a searching, unsure gaze; her friends and number-one assistant trade fearful looks among themselves. The camera then cuts to Twilight, Luna, and Cadence and zooms out slowly from them and the glass as Celestia steps toward them.)

Luna: Your crown does not belong in the place Sunset Shimmer now calls home. And in her possession, your Element of Harmony will no doubt be used to bring harm to the inhabitants of this other realm. (Cut to Twilight, eyeing the mirror; she continues o.s.) They will not have the power to defend themselves.

(A pair of saddlebags is floated onto her back and one open flap is closed—by Rarity, judging from the color of the aura moving them.)

Celestia: (stepping up behind) You understand the importance of your task?

Twilight: Of course.

Celestia: Good. Then you must go at once.

(The purple eyes narrow in sudden determination and she takes a deep breath, letting it out as she steps toward the mirror. Before she can even get a hoof onto its mounting platform, however, Rainbow swoops down and lands squarely in her path.)

Rainbow: Whoa, whoa, whoa. (extreme close-up, grinning fiercely) She’s going? (Zoom out; the other four mares stand with her, smiling.) We’re going with her. (Big squeaky grin from Pinkie.) Right, girls?

Pinkie: (giddily) Oooooh! I’m so nervi-cited!

Applejack: You do realize that’s not a real word, right?

(Cut to a close-up of Twilight, who smiles warmly at this show of dedication. On the start of the next line, one gold-shod hoof lands on her shoulder and the camera zooms out to frame Celestia alongside.)

Celestia: I’m afraid I can’t let you go. (Shock all around.)

Rainbow: What?!? (stomping a hoof) Why not?

Celestia: Sending all of you could upset the balance of this alternate world… (Cut to a slow pan across the other five; she continues o.s.) …creating havoc that would make it impossible for Twilight to get the crown back from Sunset Shimmer. (Back to Twilight and Celestia.) This is something Princess Twilight must do alone.

Luna: Time is of the essence. On the third day, when the moon reaches its peak in the night sky…

(On the end of this, the camera tilts up from her to an image she has conjured up: the moon slowly shifting position in said sky as the shadow covering most of its surface moves to leave only a ring of light around the periphery. It covers one of the three stars, flaring up brightly ,and the shadow fades away.)

Luna: (from o.s.) …the gateway will close. And once it does… (Overhead view of the entire group; the picture vanishes.) …it will be another thirty moons before you will be able to use it to return.

(Ground level; Twilight moves toward the portal as the other five voice assorted words of support. One light violet hoof touches the surface in extreme close-up; in a longer shot, she pulls it away from the simmering magic and looks back over her shoulder. A gentle but firm nod from her mentor gives her the steel she needs to make herself step through and disappear from sight. Spike, though, gives in to his nerves and races through the knot of ponies, too fast even for Applejack to intercept.)

Other five: SPIKE, NO!!

(His perspective on this second word, barreling toward the glass and making contact in a flare of white that fills the screen. Fade in to a tunnel of pastel-colored streaks flashing past the camera; Princess and dragon tumble screaming into view and toward the far end, their bodies elongating to an impossible degree as if made of taffy. After both have disappeared into the brightness at that far end, the view snaps to black.)

(The darkness splits lengthwise and parts slowly as if it were an eye blinking open; the view, slightly out of focus, is that of a ladybug crossing a patch of cement. Twilight’s weary moan is heard, marking this as her perspective.)

Spike: (from o.s.) Uh, Twilight? (Her vision begins to clear.)

Twilight: Huh? (She looks to her right.) Spike?

(Her focusing blink is followed by the approach of a light violet dog with light yellow-green underbelly and darker, floppy ears that strongly resemble his normal bat-wing ones. Around his neck is a blue studded collar with a gold tag marked by a pink heart; on the next line, she lifts her head slightly to take in the changed face, which still has his original green eyes.)

Twilight: You’re not supposed to…

(Her eyes shift to his paws, then ears and tail. A few pale spots mark his rear end.)

Twilight: Spike? (Back to his face.) Are you a… (Blink; zoom out to frame all of him.) …dog?

(Yes indeed; he even has a tuft of green fur on top of his head to resemble the spines that grow up there. He is standing on a sidewalk in a typical-looking suburban neighborhood during the day. The ladybug is crawling past him, and he circles in place, trying to chase his tail.)

Spike: (hesitantly, wagging it) I think so, but…I have no idea what you are!

(Two light violet hands are raised into view just in front of the camera, their outlines slightly blurred for the moment. The focus shifts to them as she turns them about.)

Twilight: Huh?

(Cut to an extreme close-up of a mouth screaming with her voice and zoom out. The figure using that voice is that of a teenage girl, with Twilight’s purple eyes and long, straight, dark blue hair that bears one streak each of dark violet and deep pink. One lock hangs down in front of each ear. She is dressed in a light blue, short-sleeved blouse with a pink bow at the collar, a pleated purple skirt bearing her cutie mark, purple argyle-patterned boots with pink leg-warmer tops and dark gray/black toes and soles, and the straps of a blue backpack run over her shoulders. Equestria’s newest princess has just switched species.)

(She is kneeling on a patch of concrete that surrounds the marble base of a statue directly behind her, with Spike sitting alongside. The polished vertical surface suggests that it is the other end of the portal. She claps her hands to her mouth to stifle her scream, then takes them away and wiggles her new forearms increasingly frantically—one set of fingers at first, then that wrist, and finally all the joints. As she works her way toward full-on hyperventilation, Spike just scratches at one ear; when he stops, she is still trying to figure out exactly how her limbs work.)

*** Until further notice, all pony characters appear in human form. Unless otherwise noted, skin tones are pastel shades of their normal coat colors, and hair is the same color and style as their manes. Eyes retain their original colors; those of females are shadowed either not at all or in a slightly darker shade than their skin unless noted. ***

Spike: Twilight, you have to get it together!

(She snaps out of the fit, takes a deep breath, and lets it out while leaning her weight forward to rest on her fists and knees.)

Twilight: (barely in control) What does the rest of me look like? (Cut to Spike near her.)

Spike: Um…like you, only not you. Your muzzle’s really small. (Tilt up to a profile close-up of her.)

Twilight: My muzzle?!?

(The touch of fingers against the very tiny nose on her face starts her freaking out all over again, but Spike claps paws over her mouth before the whimper coming out of it can get any louder.)

Spike: Are you gonna scream again?

(She shakes her head; he removes his paws, and both look off in the same direction. Cut to an overhead shot of the two and the statue base and zoom out. They are indeed in a subdivision, the statue on the base is that of a rearing horse, and a sign on the lawn nearby has the shape of a horseshoe with ends up and a small C set inside. Since the pair are behind the sign, which is meant to be seen from the street farther behind them, the C appears backwards from this angle.)

Spike: Where are we? (Close-up of the statue base.)

Twilight: (walking to it) I don’t know. (She pushes a hand through the surface; the ghostly image of a hoof appears beyond.) But that must serve as the gateway back to Equestria. (Pull away; shake head clear.) We need to find my crown as soon as possible and get back there.

(She turns away resolutely. Cut to just behind her, framing the new place she is now facing: a two-story red brick building with two wings framing a central courtyard where the main entrance is located. The roof above these doors is set with a glass dome topped by a small flagged clock tower that would not look out of place in Canterlot, and a sculpture of a crowned gold horse head stands atop each corner facing the street. Two windows are mounted directly above the doors, an eight-pointed star on the first story and a rearing horse on the second, and a third gold horse head tops the roof above them. Tilt down slightly to frame Spike at her side.)

Twilight: I suggest we start searching the castle first. (Profile of the two; she has dropped to her knees again.)

Spike: Works for me.

(He hops onto her back as she goes to all fours as before; a moment later she is “galloping” toward the doors as quickly as her new anatomy will allow. However, the new canine’s puzzled aside glance and poke in the back bring her to a halt, and she follows his gaze across the sidewalk. A teenage boy has his own dog on a leash and pauses in the middle of walking it, and both are greatly flummoxed by this unorthodox display of pet exercise technique.)

Spike: Yeah, I don’t think that’s how the new you is supposed to—

(She snaps up to vertical with a sheepish grin, pitching him off her back; the boy continues to give them a very funny look until his dog pants and whines a bit. A slightly annoyed finger-point gets the walk going again; meanwhile, Twilight is having great trouble figuring out the fine art of bipedal motion. A few wobbly, off-balance steps and yelps bring her to the flight of steps that lead up to the doors.)

Twilight: (grabbing handrail, half-hauling herself up) Come on, Spike. I do not want to be like this for longer than I have to. (He darts up past her and o.s.)

Spike: (from o.s.) Well, look on the bright side. (Cut to him.) You don’t have those pesky wings to worry about anymore.

(Having reached the top, she glares down at him, steps over to the doors, tosses her head imperiously—and walks face first into the glass. After she backs away, she rubs her forehead for a moment.)

Twilight: Hm.

(In close-up, a quick bit of concentration gets her nowhere, as if trying to cast a spell with the horn that is no longer there. She pulls in a short, quiet, shocked gasp.)

Twilight: My magic…it isn’t working!

Spike: (from o.s.) Makes sense. (Cut to him.) You don’t exactly have your horn.

Twilight: What?!? (She pulls fretfully at her hair; tilt down to Spike at her feet.)

Spike: (walking to doors) We really need to find you a mirror.

(A push from his paw opens one of them; cut to the other side as the two peek in, then to a long shot of the building’s interior as they enter. They are inside a school, with trophy cases in the front lobby and banners/signs decorated with horses’ heads and C’s attached to the second-story balcony. They advance cautiously, the camera cutting to just behind them and panning to frame the decorations visible from this angle, all with blue backgrounds: some showing a yellow C, the others depicting rearing horses to either side of a yellow horseshoe superimposed on crossed lightning bolts. The C’s in all of these banners/signs are styled as sideways-facing horseshoes.)

(Zoom in on a plaque resting in a trophy case to their right; Twilight steps up to it and presses both palms against the glass.)

Twilight: (over her shoulder) What do you think, Spike? (Cut to inside, pointing out at them and panning slowly along the shelf.) Other artifacts she’s stolen from Equestria?

(Outside again. She gets a good look at her own image for the first time and recoils with a soft gasp as the camera zooms out slightly.)

Twilight: (eyeing herself from all angles) What am I?

(She has barely enough time to pick at her teeth before the bell rings and the halls flood with students of all make and model. Both normal skin tones and pastel shades of other colors are represented. They stream past Twilight and Spike, paying no mind even though he has jumped up into her arms out of sheer fright. As Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon pass, the former gestures carelessly with her cell phone and knocks the two new arrivals to the floor, where a dropped soda can bounces off Twilight’s head.)

Twilight: Huh? (Feet and a basketball barely miss them.) Ooh!

(She tries to crawl through the forest of legs and winds up at its edge, near a boy with spiky hair in two shades of deep blue who is reaching for something in his locker. He wears sneakers, jeans with turned-up cuffs, and a dark gray jacket with one stripe each of red and white on the back and each sleeve. Spike is first to get clear of the throng and doubles back to yank her out; a stuck foot comes loose and she tumbles against the boy’s legs. He turns to face her, exposing vivid blue eyes. This is Flash Sentry.)

Flash: Whoa! (Cut to her; he continues o.s., extending a hand.) You okay?

(His voice bears a strong similarity to that of the pegasus guard she ran into in the Crystal Castle. She tentatively places a closed fist in his palm, then slowly uncurls the fingers so he can hoist her up. Now he can be seen wearing a white T-shirt under the jacket, with a torn collar and a yellow lightning bolt overlaid on a two-tone blue shield, and he has closed his locker. Twilight answers his question with a silent nod, and he goes on his way, books tucked under one arm.)

Spike: (uneasily) I don’t think this is a castle.

Light melody of acoustic guitar and pizzicato strings, brisk 4

(F major, shifting to C major once the lyrics begin)

(Dissolve to Twilight and Spike proceeding nervously down a busy hall. One of the students they pass is a fully geeked-out Featherweight: button-down shirt with bow tie and pencils stuffed in the breast pocket, calculator in hand, pin showing a heart within a square-root sign.)

Twilight: I’ve never seen a place that’s quite like this

Everything is turned around, this crazy world is upside down

(She stumbles and falls as a football jock walks by.)

Getting on my feet, it’s the hand that I was dealt

(Standing up, she studies her fingers and curls them with determination.)

But I don’t have much time with them, got to learn all that I can

Drums, electric guitar in

(The screen snaps to black and tiles itself in with two shots that each fill half of it; this procedure occurs four times altogether. First: Twilight and Spike peeking around the end of a row of lockers, and two hippie-dressed students playing hacky-sack. Second: she leans intently ahead, while a boy reads from a book to two seated girls as if rehearsing a play scene and bows. Third: extreme close-ups of her staring eyes and of a couple’s clasped hands. Fourth: profile close-ups of her single-minded expression and an ear attached to the head of a boy wearing glasses. The first two of these pairs are split vertically, the last two horizontally, and Twilight’s position changes as follows: left, right, bottom, top.)

(After this sequence ends, cut to an extreme close-up of a bright pink hand writing on a classroom chalkboard as Twilight, outside, risks a glance through the door’s glass window. A cut to her side reveals this individual as Cheerilee: flowered green skirt with lighter green ruffle at hem, brown leather boots topped with light green, red-brown vest over a white blouse with sleeves rolled up. Her two-tone reddish-pink hair is several shades darker than in Equestria.)

Twilight: They don’t use any magic or fly with any wings

(She turns away from the door and regards her skirt with puzzlement; in the foreground, a boy and girl talk animatedly.)

I don’t get these funny clothes, skinny legs or tiny nose

(In another hall, DJ P0N-3 dons a pair of headphones as she strolls along. White zip-up shirt with two-tone blue sleeve/waist stripes to match her hair, pink arm warmers, violet shades, two eighth notes on her white skirt. Zoom out slowly, framing another couple talking in the stairwell.)

Everything’s confusing when it seems so new

(Back to Twilight, who catches sight of Photo Finish on her way to class and is nearly run over by Scootaloo on her scooter. The near miss spooks Spike into jumping up to her arms.)

But I look a little closer and it starts to feel familiar too

(Right behind the young speed demon come Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle; new girl and canine stare after them, then at each other—“did I really just see that?” From here, dissolve to a close-up of a bathroom door, seen from inside. It swings open as Twilight and Spike peek in; from this angle, the room is empty.)

Twilight: What a strange new world [what a strange new world]

(Eagerly approaching the mirror above the sinks, she presses a palm to the glass and experiences a bit of surprise when it does not pass through—no magic portal here. Behind her, a stall door opens and a boy steps out, to the shock of both; he ducks back in and slams it shut.)

I’m trying to make heads or tails of this strange new world

[What a strange new world]

(Outside; she and Spike race out and o.s., the swinging door clearly displaying the pictorial sign for the boys’ room. Dissolve to a close-up of her standing in the hall, trying to look inconspicuous as Spike huddles at her heels. Zoom out slowly as other students pass.)

Sorting through the small details of this strange new world

What a strange new world

Song ends

(Dissolve to the two on their way down the hall. The sound of a familiar soft, timid voice brings Twilight’s feet to a halt and one hand up to her ear, cupped for a better listen.)

Fluttershy: (from o.s.) Oh, I’m really sorry. I-I just found it and-and I thought I should give it to her.

(Cut to the junction between this hall and a side passage; Twilight and Spike peek in around the corner.)

Fluttershy: (from o.s.) I didn’t know you had dropped it.

(On the end of this, zoom out quickly to frame part of a female figure in the fore. Shocking pink shirt, dark gray leather jacket, orange skirt with one stripe each of yellow and pink, light yellow-orange skin—and a cascade of long, unruly red/yellow-streaked hair that can only belong to Sunset. Cut to just behind her.)

Sunset: Well, I did, and I was about to get it before you swooped in and ruined everything!

(As she speaks, the camera pans slightly to frame a greatly abashed Fluttershy standing before her, then cuts back to the gobsmacked Twilight. The humanized pegasus wears a sleeveless white top, a light green skirt trimmed with white-dotted pink lace that bears three pink and white butterflies, a white butterfly hair clip above one eye, and light green boots with white-dotted pink socks and white lace trim. Yellow backpack straps run over her shoulders. After Sunset finishes this line, cut to a close-up of Fluttershy’s face, a lock of pink hair falling loose from its clip and over her face; she pushes it back during the following. This shot is close enough to pick out the pink eyeshadow she wears.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) You shouldn’t pick up things that don’t belong to you.

Fluttershy: It…it doesn’t really belong to you either. (Sunset leans into her face, still seen from behind, and slams both palms against the lockers to hem her in.)

Sunset: Excuse me?!?

Fluttershy: (whimpering, sliding to floor) Nothing. (Back to Twilight, now plenty steamed.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) That’s what I thought. (Tilt down to a growling Spike.) It’s as good as mine, and you know it.

(Profile close-up of Fluttershy; now Sunset’s chin and mouth are barely in view, sneering down at her.)

Sunset: You really are pathetic. (pointing) It’s no wonder your best friends are all stray animals.

(She strides away, the nature lover sliding a bit lower, and the camera cuts to Twilight’s end of the hall, pointing toward the face-off. The two purple-booted legs slam down in the fore.)

Twilight: How dare you speak to her that way!

(Sunset straightens up a bit and turns toward the camera, revealing a yellow/red sun on her shirt that matches her pony form’s cutie mark.)

Sunset: What did you say? (The two slowly close in; a bystander eases out of striking range.)

Twilight: I said, “How dare you speak to her that way!”

(Now nose to nose, the two glare daggers at each other for a long, tense moment; Sunset breaks with a nasty smile and straightens up.)

Sunset: (flicking Twilight under the chin) You must be new here. (walking on) I can speak to anyone any way I want.

(The boy who edged away from the face-off has half-tucked himself into an open locker for cover, and a glare from her is all it takes for him to yank the door shut behind himself. Twilight thinks about her own sudden burst of defiance as Fluttershy gets up.)

Fluttershy: I can’t believe you did that!

Twilight: I couldn’t just stand there.

Fluttershy: Well, it’s just that nobody ever stands up to Sunset Shimmer.

Twilight: (surprised) Sunset Shimmer?

(The purple eyes flick back along the hall, just in time to catch sight of the grump and thief and bully rounding the corner, and the boy in the locker peeks out cautiously.)

Fluttershy: You’ve heard of her?

Twilight: Sort of.

Fluttershy: I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. Did you just transfer to Canterlot High from another school?

Twilight: Um…

(Cut to frame both girls and Spike. Now Fluttershy’s boots can be seen in full detail, with the green giving way to white at the toes.)

Twilight: (smiling nervously, fidgeting a bit) …yes! Another… (Chuckle.) …school. My name’s Twilight.

Fluttershy: (dropping to whisper) I’m…Fluttershy.

Twilight: (hand to ear) Sorry, what was that?

Fluttershy: (even softer, backing up) It’s Fluttershy.

Twilight: It sounds like you’re saying “Fluttershy,” but…how can that…

(The camera cuts to a close-up of the uneasy girl on the mention of her name, then to her perspective—peeking out through the pink curtain of hair and fixing on Spike. Back to her, instantly breaking into a huge smile.)

Fluttershy: (darting over to kneel by him, almost bowling Twilight over) Oh, my goodness! Who’s this sweet little guy? (Cut to Twilight, regaining her balance, on the end of this.)

Twilight: That’s Spike. My, uh…dog.

(Fluttershy has now set her bag down; it bears the three pink butterflies of her pony self’s cutie mark.)

Fluttershy: (petting him under the chin) Oh, he’s so cute! (She pulls out a dog biscuit and offers it.) Go on. Eat up, little pup. (He takes a nibble…)

Spike: (surprised) Huh? (…and wolfs down the rest.)

Fluttershy: Oh, wouldn’t you just give anything to know what they’re really thinking?

Twilight: He usually just tells me.

(Fluttershy glances over her shoulder toward Twilight in a very confused way, so that she misses Spike’s frantic gesture of pulling a paw across his throat—“shut it!”)

Fluttershy: Oh, wh-what do you mean? (She turns back; now Spike barks and wags his tail.)

Twilight: Oh, uh, nothing. (Chuckle.) Never mind. Sunset Shimmer said you’d picked something up, something that belonged to her. It wasn’t a crown, was it? (Fluttershy stands up to face her.)

Fluttershy: How did you know?

Twilight: Uh, lucky guess? (eagerly) Do you still have it?

Fluttershy: (shaking head) Mmm-mmm. (Twilight’s face falls, but perks up quickly.)

Twilight: But you know what happened to it.

Fluttershy: (nodding) Mmm-hmm. (Cut to frame all three and zoom in.) This morning, I was passing out flyers for the animal shelter like I do every Wednesday.

(A wavering dissolve takes place near the end of this line; after which the remaining words are delivered as a voice over. The scene, now rendered in soft focus, has shifted to Fluttershy in front of the school statue, holding out a flyer from the stack she carries.)

Fluttershy: Canterlot’s animal shelter needs more volunteers. Won’t you help an animal that can’t help itself?

(As she speaks, a knot of students walks by the statue, paying her no mind whatsoever. The lack of response unhinges her knees and she sinks dejectedly to the sidewalk, the flyers sliding from her grasp and showering the concrete around her. One piteous little whimper later, Twilight’s tiara comes sailing out of the portal in the statue’s base and bonks her in the head.)

Fluttershy: Ow!

(She picks it up and regards it bemusedly, and a WD back to the present begins.)

Fluttershy: (voice over) I have no idea how it got there.

(She is now sitting on the floor and petting Spike’s head.)

Fluttershy: But I didn’t want anything to happen to it, so I decided to give it to Principal Celestia.

Twilight: (puzzled) Principal Celestia? She’s the ruler here? (Fluttershy stands up, her backpack on.)

Fluttershy: You could say that. Technically, I guess she and Vice-Principal Luna do make the rules.

Twilight: Where is she now?

Fluttershy: Probably in her office.

(Twilight and Spike run off in opposite directions, then come walking slowly and sheepishly back a moment later.)

Fluttershy: (pointing past Twilight) Third door on your left.

Twilight: (running off with Spike) Thank you!

Fluttershy: Oh, wait! (They peek back from the corner; she points down toward Spike.) You’re not really supposed to have pets on school grounds. Might want to tuck him into your backpack. That’s what I do.

(The flap on hers opens up and three animals emerge: a bird, a kitten, and a white rabbit that is a dead ringer for Angel. She sits and gathers in the last two as the bird roosts on her head.)

Fluttershy: They just get so lonely when I’m at school all day. (Spike glowers at the idea of being called a pet.)

Twilight: Oh…okay! Thank you! (Bell rings; Fluttershy stands up, the bird flying off.)

Fluttershy: Oh, no! I’m late for class!

(One swift, fluid motion later, and she has gathered the three critters into her backpack, zipped it up, and slung it on her back before running down the hall. Dissolve to the interior of a room, the camera placed just inside a closed door whose window is covered by a shade. A knock from outside is answered by the businesslike voice of an older woman.)

Voice: Come in.

(The door swings open to expose Twilight, who is pushing it with her head instead of using the knob. Zoom out to expose more of this room: bookcase by the door, desk with intercom and telephone, and a person sitting behind this. Although partly obscured by the back of the chair, the pastel colors of the long hair give her away as Celestia. Very light pink skin, violet slacks, light yellow shoes, and a light tan sleeve can be seen, and she is looking at some photos in a file folder. Twilight straightens up partially into a semblance of a bow before the camera shifts to a head-on view of the principal, who glances over the folder’s top edge without lowering it right away. The sleeve is attached to a blazer.)

Celestia: How may I help you?

(The new student stands up, shoots a quick look back at Spike—who is now peeking out from her open backpack—and sets the bag on the ground. It is now seen to bear a copy of her cutie mark.)

Twilight: Um, uh…

(She lets out the breath she has been holding, and Celestia lowers the folder to aim a quizzical glance across the desk. The blazer has a sunburst pin on one lapel, matching her Equestria counterpart’s cutie mark, and is buttoned over a magenta/white-striped shirt or blouse. A “get on with it” gesture prompts Twilight to wipe the placating grin off her face and shake her head clear. Celestia wears a violet-banded wristwatch and a bracelet in the same color on her other wrist.)

Twilight: My name’s Twilight Sparkle. I’m new here and, well, I understand that Fluttershy found a crown this morning and gave it to you.

Celestia: (standing up, crossing to put files in cabinet) Yes. I’ve had Vice-Principal Luna put it somewhere for safekeeping. (closing drawer) No idea how it ended up on the front lawn. Were you interested in running for Princess of the Fall Formal this year?

Twilight: Uh, no, not exactly. The truth is…well, the truth is, I…you see… (Celestia crosses behind her.) …the crown is actually… (The latter’s words sink in.) …Princess of the Fall Formal?

(At the other side of the office, Celestia has stopped at a dry-erase board on the wall to mark an X in a box on its grid.)

Celestia: It’s Canterlot High’s big fall dance.

Twilight: Like the Grand Galloping Gala.

Celestia: Uh…Grand Galloping Gala? (Spike peeks out from Twilight’s bag.)

Twilight: (shoving him back in, trying to play it off) Oh, uh, it was a big deal at my old school.

Celestia: And was there a Princess?

Twilight: Yes, but she wasn’t exactly a student.

(Cut to a close-up of a framed photo on the wall: a younger Sunset, positively ecstatic in a white dress with a gold sash at the waist, wearing a gold flowered tiara. The camera pans slowly along the wall, revealing two more photos in a row with the first; each of these shows a slightly older and cockier Sunset, in a different dress and a more ornate crown.)

Celestia: (from o.s.) Here at Canterlot High, the students select one of their peers to represent them. She receives her crown at the Fall Formal. (Back to Twilight on the end of this; she scratches her chin and thinks.)

Twilight: Hmm.

(Cut to the reception area outside Celestia’s office. Twilight steps out, backpack on, and aims her words over her shoulder at Celestia, who stops at the doorway.)

Twilight: You asked me if I was interested in running for Princess. Can anyone run?

Celestia: Yes. (Twilight stops.) You just need to let the head of the Fall Formal Planning Committee know you’d like to be on the ballot. Was there anything else?

Twilight: (forcing a big smile) Um…nope, that was it.

Celestia: Well, if you do need anything else, my door is always open.

(She gives the lie to that last bit by slamming it shut, just in time to miss Spike putting his head up from the backpack to trade a very puzzled look with Twilight. Cut to an empty stretch of hall outside the office as she emerges.)

Spike: Twilight, why didn’t you just tell her the crown was yours and ask for it back?

Twilight: Oh, I was going to… (They stop in the lobby; her agitation builds.) …but imagine if one of them showed up in Equestria saying they came from a place filled with tall, fleshy, two-legged creatures with these! We’d think they were crazy!

(During this line, the camera cuts to a male science geek with taped-up glasses walking the hall, then to just behind his shoulder as he stops and gets an eyeful of her mini-freakout. On “these,” she holds her hands out at arm’s length to make the point; after she finishes speaking; the boy backs slowly away, having gone unnoticed.)

Spike: Hmph. You make a good point.

Twilight: (working her way to a huge grin) Looks like if I want my crown back, I’ll have to become Princess of the Canterlot High Fall Formal. So that’s what I’m gonna do!

Spike: And how exactly do you plan on doing that?

Twilight: (still grinning) I have no idea!

(The bell chooses this moment to butt in on her enthusiasm, and she cringes away from the tide of high school humanity that instantly fills the halls.)

Act Two

(Dissolve to the exterior of Canterlot High, zooming in slowly, then cut to the packed cafeteria and pan across the tables. The students have sorted themselves into their own particular groups, as is often the case in a school setting like this. Up at the counter, Fluttershy picks up a tray and works her way along to pick up items; Twilight follows her lead a bit awkwardly. The former has shed her backpack.)

Twilight: I know we’ve just met, but I was wondering if you might be able to help me with something.

Fluttershy: Of course!

Twilight: I’ve decided to run for Princess of the Fall Formal, and—

(This announcement throws the yellow kid for such a loop that she sucks in a frightened gasp and drops the bowl of salad she holds. Cut to Twilight, whose clothing takes the hit as a little yelp floats her way, then back to a flustered Fluttershy.)

Fluttershy: Oh, gosh!

(She looks frantically about; cut to a stack of napkins on the counter as she grabs them all.)

Fluttershy: (from o.s.) Sorry, it’s just… (The pair again; she scrubs furiously at the mess.) …oh, running for Fall Formal Princess is a really bad idea. (She gets Twilight cleaned up.)

Twilight: Why? (Fluttershy stands up.)

Fluttershy: (throwing napkins away) Sunset Shimmer wants to be Fall Formal Princess… (hushed) …and when she wants something, she gets it.

(Cut to a close-up of her tray, with a replacement salad, being held out across the counter and zoom out. Working the cash register on the other side is Granny Smith, who wears red apple earrings in addition to her shawl; she places an apple on the tray during the following.)

Fluttershy: (from o.s.) She’ll make life awful for anyone who stands in her way.

(Cut to frame all three; now Twilight gets one added to her lunch.)

Fluttershy: (walking o.s., Twilight following) Just ask the girl who ran against her for Princess of the Spring Fling. (Twilight hurries to catch up as Fluttershy crosses the room.)

Twilight: I have to try!

Fluttershy: Oh, I don’t think you understand. You’d have to convince everyone here to vote for you instead of her.

(Cut to a slow pan across a group of jocks—male and female—goofing around at/around a table. As Fluttershy names each successive group, the camera cuts to a table full of them and pans slowly.)

Fluttershy: (from o.s.) The athletes…the fashionistas…the dramas…the eco-kids…the techies…the rockers…

(Fashionistas: stylishly dressed. Dramas: reading and acting from scripts. Eco-kids: hippie types eating fruit and playing bongos. Techies: nerds, including Featherweight, reading science books and using computers. Rockers: two boys—one of them being Flash—lounging on a table and playing electric guitars as a third pounds drumsticks and their friends watch and cheer.)

(Back to Twilight and Fluttershy; they stop in the middle of the floor.)

Twilight: Why’s everypony— (Spike peeks out of her backpack, whaps her upside the head, and ducks back in.) —uh, every body separated this way?

Fluttershy: (crossing to a free table, sitting) Maybe it was different at your old school, but at CHS, everybody sticks to their own kind. One thing they do have in common— (Twilight sits down opposite her.) —is that they know Sunset Shimmer is gonna rule this school until we graduate. (She glumly eats a bite of salad.)

Twilight: Not if I can help it!

(That determination carries over into the first bite of her own apple—but instead of picking it up, she bends down and snatches the whole thing in her teeth. Her new friend pauses in mid-chew, hopelessly perplexed, and it takes Twilight a second or two to catch on and remove the fruit from her mouth.)

Twilight: So, uh… (Nervous chuckle.) …where would I find the head of the Party Planning Committee?

(She stitches a big grin across her face, catching her bottom lip in her teeth to hide her jitters. Dissolve to a close-up of a pair of closed double doors and zoom out as Twilight enters from the other side, with Spike following. Pumpkins rest on the floor to one side, and a table decorated with balloons and a cornucopia is on the other.)

Twilight: Fluttershy said she’d probably be in here.

(Long shot of the entire room—the school gymnasium—on the end of this. Assorted tables and decorations have been set up around the perimeter, a disco ball hangs from the center of the ceiling, and balloons and streamers festoon the stage at one end. No one else is present at the moment, but the next voice Twilight and Spike hear tells them this is about to change.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) INCOMING!!

(A hail of streamers pours down from somewhere above; biped and canine alike duck and cover as they fill the screen, liberally covering both. After this brief onslaught, they extract themselves from the multicolored fallout for a look around, and the camera cuts to Pinkie, seen from behind as she throws a handful of confetti into the air. When she turns around, her clothing from head to knees is revealed: bright pink skirt with the three familiar balloons, white blouse with a pink heart on the front and violet collar trim, sleeved blue shawl covering her shoulders, violet sash at her waist, a blue bracelet on either wrist. She proceeds to yank one of the balloons off her skirt and blow it up as Twilight walks over to her, demonstrating that the pink party planner can demolish the laws of physics no matter what form she takes.)

Twilight: Hi. My name’s Twilight Sparkle, and—

(She gets no further before ducking to avoid being hit by the balloon as Pinkie swivels to face her. Recognition hits her like a ton of bricks.)

Twilight: (flabbergasted) Pinkie Pie?

(The girl with the fluffy magenta hair forgets to blow, allowing the balloon’s air to blast back into her face until it has deflated. Cut to Twilight, watching with disbelief; she is thus completely unprepared for Pinkie’s sudden approach from behind. She finds herself being grabbed and spun in place to stare into the blue eyes. The balloon Pinkie removed from her skirt has reappeared.)

Pinkie: (gasping) Are you psychic?

Twilight: Uh, no. I don’t think so— (smiling) —unless, of course, that’s something you can do here. (Pinkie drops her and sighs.)

Pinkie: Not usually.

(She steps away, stretches out a fresh balloon, and starts blowing as Twilight gets upright. The image of the pink face is comically distorted by the inflating rubber in front of it.)

Twilight: Fluttershy said this was where I’d find the head of the Fall Formal Planning Committee.

(Cut to behind Pinkie on the end of this; she turns around, her bubbly demeanor instantly giving way to bitterness.)

Pinkie: (stretching balloon neck) Fluttershy, huh? (She ties off and lets go; it floats away.) Don’t let the whole shy thing fool you. She can be a real meanie.

(Cross to Twilight, grinning hugely and walking backwards with her head bent back to point straight at the new girl.)

Twilight: (incredulously) You two aren’t friends? (Pinkie straightens up to face her, all happy.)

Pinkie: Waited a bit to get your name on the ballot, huh? Dance is day after tomorrow.

Twilight: I’m brand new here.

Pinkie: Ooooh! (The grin yields to a searching stare.) I thought you didn’t look familiar.

(Here she comes again, getting way too close and giving a clear shot of her footwear for the first time: white-laced boots in the same shade of blue as her sleeves, each topped by a pink bow.)

Pinkie: (eyeing Twilight from every angle) Though now that I’m really looking at you… (She backs off.) …do you have a twin sister who lives in the city, has a pet dog named Spike that looks just like that one?

(On the end of this, she points off to one side and the camera cuts to a close-up of Spike, who looks up eagerly from worrying at a balloon.)

Twilight: (shrugging, smiling nervously) Uh, maybe?

Pinkie: Thought so. (pulling a clipboard out of her hair, holding it out) Anyhoo, just need to fill this out and you are officially up for the coveted Princess of the Fall Formal crown.

(Three camera cuts during this line as follows. One: close-up of Twilight, her eyes fixing on the board. Two: Pinkie fishing around in her hair again. Three: Twilight, smiling as the pink hand brings out a pen. Pinkie returns the smile, but the light violet face shifts into a puzzled frown after a long, silent moment; finally she grins big and clamps her teeth on the non-business end. Pinkie’s smile never falters even as Twilight racks her brain on how to use this device—but she does eventually pluck it out of her mouth and clumsily scrawl something on the clipboard. When the party planner turns it around for a look, what she sees is enough to make the board pop briefly out of her grip.)

Pinkie: Wow! You have really bad handwriting. It’s like you never held a pen before.

Twilight: (chuckling nervously, dropping it/scratching head) Is it?

(The sound of an opening door interrupts the graphanalysis, and the next voice—female, with a thick Southern accent—gets their attention in a hurry.)

Applejack: (from o.s.) Somebody order a dozen cases of fizzy apple cider?

(Cut to just behind Twilight and Pinkie on the end of this, the camera pointing over their shoulders toward the door. Applejack is visible only as a silhouette, carrying a box and wearing her trademark hat; she turns off to one side.)

Pinkie: (waving, running across) Ooh, ooh! Me!

(Close-up of the box, actually a crate of bottled cider, as it is set down on a chair. Zoom out to frame Applejack from the knees up: same hair tie, hat, and birdcatcher spots—or in this case, freckles—as her pony self. Taking off the hat to wipe her forehead, she sports a white Western shirt with green collar/shoulders and rolled-up sleeves, a blue denim skirt hemmed with white lace, and a brown belt with a red apple buckle.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) Me, me, me! Me! Yeah! Uh-huh! Me!

(Twilight is taken aback by the new arrival, who puts her hat back on. This next shot exposes her boots as brown, with red apples up the front and lighter brown accents at the toes and tops.)

Applejack: Can you bring in the rest?

(In walks a male figure whose head and upper body are almost entirely hidden by the four stacked crates he is carrying. Blue jeans, a rolled-up red shirt sleeve, and a shock of short orange hair can be seen, along with red sneakers and a brown band on the wrist not hidden by the load—but the voice instantly gives away his identity.)

Big Macintosh: Ee-yup.

(His skin is a very light reddish-pink, and his laconically smiling face stands exposed—freckles and all—once Applejack takes the top crate off his stack. Like his sister, his shirt is a Western-style one, but with brown fabric at shoulder and collar. Pinkie jumps excitedly at the sight of the other three cases. Pan slightly away from the tableau to frame Twilight watching Applejack, who stops short.)

Applejack: Hey, I know you!

Twilight: You do?

Applejack: (setting crate on table, pulling a bottle) Sure! You’re the new girl who gave Sunset Shimmer the what-for today.

(Popping the cap with her teeth, she spits it aside and takes a swig as Pinkie leans into view.)

Pinkie: Twilight Sparkle here is gonna run against Sunset Shimmer for Princess of the Fall Formal.

(The mouthful of cider Applejack is working on finds its way back out at Mach 1; meanwhile, the pink party-lover blows up the balloon in her hand and floats up o.s. with it—heart-shaped.)

Applejack: (to Twilight, warningly) I’d think twice about that. (Pinkie drifts past, her feet at head level.) Oh, sure, she’ll probably approach you all friendly-like…

(She yanks Pinkie back to the floor, grabs the balloon from her mouth, and starts drawing on it while the latter goes to work on a fresh round one. Cut to a point a few feet above the floor; the heart balloon is held up into view, now bearing a rough sketch of a beaming Sunset.)

Applejack: (from o.s., high-pitched) “I sure am lookin’ forward to some friendly competition.”

(Her other hand hoists the second one, decorated with Twilight’s face.)

Applejack: (from o.s, different pitch) “That’s so good to hear.” (normal voice) But then… (She turns the Sunset balloon around, showing a pin taped to that side.) …here comes the backstabbin’!

(One quick jab, and Twilight’s avatar has burst into a scatter of rubber scraps; the stunned real one watches as they drift down around her. Applejack lets go of the Sunset balloon, but a quick jump and mouth-grab by Pinkie save it from the rafters.)

Applejack: About the only girl at this school you can trust less than Sunset Shimmer is Rainbow Dash. (Cut to Twilight and Spike.)

Twilight: Rainbow Dash? (Zoom out slightly; Pinkie bounces past on a gigantic balloon, having ditched the Sunset one.)

Pinkie: She’s the captain of, like, every team at Canterlot High. (Now o.s.; crash from her direction.)

Applejack: She’s also the captain of sayin’ she’s gonna do somethin’ for you, and then turnin’ around and not even botherin’ to show up! (Twilight hurries across to her.)

Twilight: Thanks for the advice, Applejack, but this is something I really need to do.

Applejack: Hmph. Suit yourself. (suddenly suspicious) Hey…how’d you know my name was Applejack?

(To her, a fair question, since she never did introduce herself. The slip-up throws a real scare into Twilight, who thinks fast.)

Twilight: Um…I, uh… (forcing a chuckle, blushing) …didn’t you say?

(Over by the door, Macintosh brings in a crate of cider to stack on top of the other four he carried earlier. His red/brown shirt is now exposed more fully—unbuttoned, with a white T-shirt underneath and a green apple half under the collar on each side—and Pinkie leans against the stack and uncaps a bottle using her forelock.)

Macintosh: Nn-nope. (Pinkie drinks.)

Twilight: (hastily, shaking Applejack’s hand, waving to Pinkie) Well, uh, it was sure nice meeting you both. (backing out with Spike) I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around!

(A quick half-turn allows her to face forward as the two clear out of the gym. Applejack mulls over these developments as Pinkie pops up alongside.)

Pinkie: That one’s trying to hide a secret, but I am totally on to her. (whispering loudly) She’s psychic!

Applejack: Uh-huh. If you say so.

(Comes now the sound of a door being thrown open; both turn toward it, and the camera cuts to ground level just in front of it and tilts up on the start of the next line. Three students have just come in: Sunset, Snips, and Snails. Sunset, standing point, wears black boots with long licks of magenta flame covering the toes and insteps. Snips: heavyset, blue jeans, green sneakers with yellow stripes and red laces, black T-shirt marked by a white pair of scissors. Snails: skinny, light yellow slacks, red loafers, red T-shirt under a green pullover marked with a snail, freckles under eyes.)

Sunset: This looks terrible! (She strides to center court; the boys follow.) There should be more streamers near the stage and fewer balloons!

(One hard finger poke bursts a couple near Pinkie, who soon finds Snips holding up a length of streamer.)

Snips: Yeah! Streamers! (He rips it in two and walks off; here comes Snails, squeezing a huge balloon.)

Snails: And fewer balloons! (He falls over; it floats up out of his grip.)

Sunset: (holding up a bottle in close-up) Fizzy apple cider?

(Zoom out; she holds it at arm’s length with two fingers and makes a face.)

Sunset: Ugh! This is my coronation, not a hoedown!

Applejack: (needled) Well, now, it ain’t necessarily gonna be your coronation this time around. (Sunset whips over into her face; Pinkie, thrown off balance, totters away.)

Sunset: Oh, is that so? (turning Applejack’s hat backwards, pulling it over her face) You country folk really aren’t that bright. (walking away) Must be why the other students say such awful things about you.

(The crown flips up to expose a pair of indignant green eyes and a circle of face that has gone red and steaming with fury. A barely suppressed growl floats up through the opening; across the way, Sunset approaches the stage.)

Sunset: Obviously it’s gonna be my coronation. (Snips and Snails fall in behind her.) I’m running unopposed.

Pinkie: (holding up clipboard with Twilight’s “signature”) Not this time! The new girl just signed up.

Sunset: What?!?

(The board is swiftly handed across; cut to a close-up of the incumbent, her face hidden by it.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) I know. (laughing) Her handwriting is really bad. (Board down; zoom in slowly.)

Sunset: (levelly, but menacingly) Where is this Twilight Sparkle?

(Looking around herself, she realizes that she is getting a bit too much attention from Applejack and Pinkie and quickly shifts gears with a laugh. Applejack has her hat back on the right way around, crown and all.)

Sunset: I’m looking forward to meeting the competition.

(Party organizer and country girl exchange a slightly bewildered look. Dissolve to Twilight walking down a hall, Spike out of sight, and pan to follow her past a few lockers and students. From here, cut to an adjoining hall, some of whose lights are flickering or burned out. She steps into view to regard a dim dead end as Spike peeks from her backpack and one open locker door creaks on its hinges. Cut to an extreme close-up of the staring purple eyes.)

Sunset: (from o.s., contemptuously) Can’t believe I didn’t recognize you earlier.

(A slight pan shifts the camera angle enough to frame the dimension-jumping thief, leaning against the lockers just behind Twilight. Cut to frame both as she strolls up.)

Sunset: Shoulda known Princess Celestia would send her prized pupil here after my crown— (jabbing a finger at Spike) —and her little dog too.

Twilight: It’s my crown!

Sunset: Whatever. (circling around her) This is just a minor setback for me. You don’t know the first thing about this place, and I already rule it.

Twilight: If that’s so, why do you even need my crown? You went to an awful lot of trouble to switch it with the one that belongs here. (Sunset stops facing her.)

Sunset: Pop quiz. What happens when you bring an Element of Harmony into an alternate world?

(Twilight turns this query over a few dozen times, but has no immediate answer.)

Sunset: You don’t know? Seriously? (Derisive giggle.) And you’re supposed to be Princess Celestia’s star student? (Close-up of Twilight’s deflated/sullen expression; she continues o.s.) Then again… (Back to her.) …what were the chances she’d find somepony as bright as me to take under her wing after I decided to leave Equestria? (Step to/past Twilight.) Bit embarrassing that you were the best she could do.

(She is barely past the edge of the blue backpack when Spike lunges halfway out of it to snap at the yellow-orange face.)

Sunset: (scratching him under the chin) Oh, and I’d keep an eye on your mutt. Hate for him to be…taken away from you.

Spike: (shaking a curled-up paw) Is that a threat?

Sunset: (falsely cheerful) Oh, of course not! (He barks at her; she puts a finger to his lips and drops the tone.) But I’d cut down on the chatter if I were you. (Twilight backs off.) Don’t want everyone to know you two don’t belong here, now, would you? (Close-up.) You want to be a princess here? Please. (walking out from dead end) You don’t know the first thing about fitting in.

(She passes o.s., leaving the two dejected new arrivals under an overhead light that stutters fitfully before burning out for good. Dissolve to another T-junction, the camera positioned in the branch and pointing toward Sunset as she walks leisurely along the straight run. She stops short, surprise registering on her face as Snips and Snails lurch into view—each of them heavily wrapped in streamers of all colors like Technicolor mummies. When they are within arm’s reach, the boss grabs a free end on each and delivers a swift yank, unwinding them in a split-second but leaving them very dizzy. Cut to a close-up of the three and zoom out slightly.)

Sunset: (softly) I want you to follow her. Bring me something I can use, just like you did with that last girl who thought she could challenge me. (She get a double salute.)

Snips: You got it, Sunset Shimmer!

(Head-on view of the three, with Sunset in the fore; zoom in slowly on her face to an extreme close-up, shadows playing sinisterly across it.)

Sunset: When the crown and its power are mine, Twilight Sparkle will be sorry she ever set hoof into this world—not that she would have been much safer if she’d stayed in Equestria.

(Laughter from her two henchmen startles her out of this reverie; zoom out to frame them.)

Snips: Yeah, in Equestria. (She rounds on them.)

Sunset: What are you still doing here?!? Go!

(Which they do, but not before running smack into each other and knocking themselves silly for a moment. Dissolve to a vending machine in the hall; Twilight walks up, eyes the treats on display behind the glass panel, and licks her chops. Spike has tucked himself away in the backpack. Juice boxes and packs of crackers get her attention, but she finds herself at a loss for a way to get them out. A bit of shaking does no good; ditto for a prolonged heave against the housing. Her next idea is to get down on all fours, facing away from the machine, and lift her legs for a backward kick to shatter the glass. In close-up, though, a new pair of booted feet steps into view before she can strike—blue, with starred blue-violet toes and a yellow stripe around the top. The almost inaudible sound of a scoff floats down, whereupon the camera tilts up to frame the wearer—Trixie. Blue-violet skirt decorated with the familiar stardust-spreading wand and more dust along the hem, blue zip-up sweater with yellow edging at cuffs/waist and lighter blue stars on elbows, blue-violet shirt underneath this, star hair clip. Unlike the two-tone light blue coloration of her pony counterpart’s mane/tail, her hair is pale blue and white.)

Trixie: Excuse me.

(She walks up to the machine; cut to behind the glass, framing her as she goes into her full hammy wind-up.)

Trixie: The Great and Powerful Trixie… (normal tone, producing a coin in one hand) …needs some peanut butter crackers.

(Close-up of the coin slot; the money goes in, the crackers come out, and she holds them up.)

Trixie: Voilà!

(Off she goes, leaving one confused and downcast student to eye Spike as he looks out.)

Twilight: Sunset Shimmer is right. (trudging away) I don’t know the first thing about this place. If I’m gonna really fit in and win votes… (confidence returning) …we need to do some research.

Spike: Research?

Twilight: This place has a school. I have to believe it’s got a…

(On the end of this, cut to just inside an open doorway; she comes up to this and stops dead upon looking in. Shelves of books are visible and more volumes litter a nearby table, and the camera zooms out quickly to frame much more of the…)

Twilight: (smiling) …library!

(Two stories, no less, shaped as a rotunda topped by the school’s rooftop glass dome. Outside again; she bounds in joyfully, her motion revealing a large central table set with computer terminals and topped by a large wooden horse-head bust, not too different from the one in the Ponyville library. After she has gone, Snips peeks out from behind one of the open double doors.)

Snips: (whispering across the way) Got your phone?

(Snails puts his head around the edge of the other door and holds up a cell phone with a smirk. Cut to his perspective as he lifts it to frame his partner in crime for a camera photo.)

Snails: (whispering) You got yours?

(Snips pulls it out and snickers. Inside; he whips past the door and starts to edge sidewise past the circulation desk, while Snails drops onto his belly and literally worms his way across the floor. At the center table, Twilight sits down at a computer but can do little except blink and stare uncomprehendingly at it. Her backpack rests on the floor next to her chair, and Spike has climbed out; meanwhile behind her, Cheerilee is re-shelving a cartload of books. Under each eye is a small cluster of freckles, not visible in Act One due to the reflection of the glass in her classroom door.)

Twilight: So I just push the letters here… (Cheerilee winces noticeably, trying to keep her cool.) …and then the words and moving pictures will come up here?

(Accompanied by the following gestures, in order: pointing at the keyboard on the first “here,” banging on it with a fist, lifting the monitor off the table on the second “here.” The slightly frazzled teacher takes a deep breath, gets a bright grin plastered onto her face, and turns toward Twilight.)

Cheerilee: (guiding monitor back down) That’s right. (Twilight taps a key.)

Twilight: (to herself) Maybe this place does have magic.

(Cheerilee rolls her eyes and the cart, exposing Snips and Snails crouched down behind it with phones in hand. They slip away as she tries out a couple of other keys, but before she can get into full research mode, a snatch of guitar-heavy rock destroys the quiet. Back comes Cheerilee, who puts a fed-up hand to her forehead; cut to another computer, where the Cutie Mark Crusaders are grooving hard to the beat. The tune is that of their song in “The Show Stoppers.”)

Scootaloo: (on computer) When you’re a younger—

(Down comes Cheerilee’s hand to switch off the speaker; she sighs loudly.)

Cheerilee: (voice down) Girls, what are you doing?!?

(Across the way, unnoticed by the four, Twilight is working the keyboard with her knuckles, the hands closed into fists as if she still possessed hooves.)

Sweetie: We’re just seeing how many hits our new music video has gotten.

(Close-up of the speaker; now Bloom turns it on in time with an angry shudder from the o.s. Cheerilee.)

Scootaloo: (on computer) So the three of us fight the fight

(The group again; the adult briefly covers her ears against the ruckus.)

There is noth—

Cheerilee: (over end of previous) No. Just… (Power off.) …no! (carrying speaker away) The school computers are for research purposes only!

Bloom: (to the others) It’s just as well, y’all.

(Cut to just behind her, framing the screen; displayed on it is a YouTube-style video window that shows the trio’s faces.)

Bloom: (scrolling down with mouse) Some of the comments about our song were really awful. “Epic fail”… (The three again.) …”funniest thing I’ve ever seen”? (Zoom out to frame Twilight watching from her side.)

Sweetie: (smiling) Funniest thing they’ve ever seen, huh?

(The other two young brains quickly tune in on her wavelength, but Twilight has a much more concerned reaction.)

Twilight: (waving for attention as they run past) Uh, I don’t know that that’s what you should take from…

(Realizing that the cause is well and truly lost, she turns her focus back to the computer and nudges the monitor about with one finger. In the foreground, Snails’ phone is lifted into view and his finger taps the button to snap a picture of her. Camera shift: he is kneeling on the other side of a study table, clicking away as Twilight puts balled-up knuckles to keys. He and Snips, now hunkered down alongside, share a muffled snicker.)

(Dissolve to a close-up of a stretch of very full bookshelves. Twilight’s hand reaches up to grab a couple of volumes and add them to a growing stack; in a longer shot, she totters across the floor, trying not to dump the lot on her own head. A few cries of panic accompany the effort as Spike walks behind her, but eventually gravity gets the upper hand and she winds up buried in the literature.)

Cheerilee: Shhh! (Twilight sits up.)

Twilight: (sheepishly) Uh…

(She ducks away with a giggle to start cleaning up, just in time not to see both boys’ hands and Snails’ face push their way out of the stacks. They take pictures and stifle a fresh guffaw. Down below, Twilight and Spike each have a book in their teeth; he points at hers and lets his drop, and she quickly takes the hint. Zoom out slightly as she throws a furtive look in all directions and goes back to gathering the dropped books; he picks his up again.)

(Dissolve to an extreme close-up of some translucent surface, which proves to be the glass of a photocopier once the lid is lifted. The camera is inside the machine and aimed up at Twilight, who has just come up; it then cuts to behind her and Spike. Snips’ phone is lifted up to get a clear snapshot of her confusion, after which she puzzles over the control panel for some seconds and presses a button. The flare of light from inside the copier startles her backwards so that she falls into the stacked books on the floor, and Snips and Snails trade a high five from their vantage point behind others.)

(Dissolve to a close-up of a wall-mounted loudspeaker and pan/tilt down toward floor level.)

Voice on intercom: The library will be closing in five minutes.

(Stop on a yawning Twilight, seated at a table amid way too many books to count. Fatigue gives way to a soft gasp, and she bends down to address the floor.)

Twilight: I hadn’t even thought about where we’re gonna sleep tonight! (Spike is down here, reading.)

Spike: (walking out) Way ahead of you.

(Dissolve to a now-darkened area of the library; a tall stack of books stands on the floor, and a second has been covered over with a tarp. Spike stops next to this, facing one rather confused student; she is carrying a book.)

Spike: It’s a little…

(He pulls the tarp away, throwing up a screenful of dust and making himself cough. When the view clears on the start of the next line, the covered stack is revealed to be actually several short ones pushed together in the general outline of a bed.)

Spike: …dusty, but it doesn’t seem like anybody comes up here. (Twilight sits on it and smiles.)

Twilight: It’s perfect, Spike.

(His happy little whine earns him a pat on the head, and he cheerfully keels over at her feet.)

Spike: So how did your research go?

Twilight: (gesturing with her book) I found this book. (pointing to cover) It’s called a yearbook.

(The motion picks out the yellow horseshoe-C on the cover, the same as those on the banners in the lobby. Close-up of her lap as she sets the volume down on it for Spike to get a closer look.)

Twilight: (from o.s., opening it/turning pages) It seems to be something they use to keep a record of things that have happened at the school. (Back to her.) Look. That’s Pinkie Pie…

(Close-up of a photo on one page: five girls gathered on/near a bench, three of them being Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie. The one with the near-white skin, elegantly curled purple hair held back by a blue three-jewel clip, and pale blue dress with darker blue ribbon tie and violet shoulders/hem can only be Rarity. Off at one end is a smirking girl with light blue skin, unruly rainbow-striped hair hanging down her back, rolled-up blue jeans, suspenders, blue boots, and a magenta shirt with a cloud and red/yellow/blue lightning bolt—Rainbow. She has a soccer ball tucked under one arm. All five are roughly the same age, a bit younger than the three Twilight has already met.)

Twilight: (from o.s., pointing them out) …Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and… (Back to her and Spike.) …I’m gonna bet the girl on the far right is Rarity. (He perks up and grabs the book away.)

Spike: There’s a Rarity here? (catching himself) Uh…I mean, uh… (He gives it back with a chuckle; she smirks at him.) …interesting photo.

Twilight: (a bit puzzled) It’s interesting because they look like they’re friends.

(Close-up of the photo again.)

Spike: (from o.s.) They do look like our friends. (Back to the pair.) But I thought we’d figured that out already.

Twilight: No, I mean… (eyeing book closely) …they look like they’re friends with each other. (lowering it) But it doesn’t seem like they’re friends now.

Spike: Not so much.

(She flops down to the “bed” on her back, holding the book over her chest; her head lands on some open pages, throwing out dust.)

Twilight: I just can’t help but get the feeling that Sunset Shimmer had something to do with it.

Spike: (crossing to fallen tarp) I wouldn’t put it past her.

(Nipping one edge in his teeth, he quickly pulls it up to cover Twilight.)

Spike: But she wanted your crown ’cause she’s planning on doing something even worse. (Overhead shot; slow pan. He circles in place before settling down.) If you’re gonna stop her, you have to focus on making friends here. You can’t worry about why these girls aren’t friends anymore.

(Cut to just behind her head; she lifts the yearbook into view, open to the photo.)

Spike: (from o.s., yawning) Even if they…do remind you of your Ponyville friends. (Back to the pair on the end of this; she smiles gently.)

Twilight: (arm around him) You’re right, Spike. (Contented sigh; cut to behind her.) Eye on the prize.

(Tilt up slowly to frame the crescent-shadowed moon and three stars in the night sky, seen through the library’s glass-domed ceiling, then dissolve to the exterior of Canterlot High at sunrise the following morning. Zoom in slowly.)

Celestia: (on intercom) Good morning, students, and happy Thursday. (A few walk along the sidewalks crossing the lawn.) Just a reminder to pick up your ballots for the Princess of the Fall Formal today. (Just inside the front doors; others make their way in.) They are due by the time the dance starts tomorrow night, so don’t forget to turn them in and make your voice heard.

(Cut to an uninhabited bit of the library.)

Twilight: (walking into view, book in hand) Fluttershy said I’d need to win over all those different groups if I want to become Princess of the Fall Formal— (Close-up; she hefts a sheaf of pages.) —so I’ve compiled a list of talking points.

Spike: (from o.s., laughing) You made a list? (He catches up to her; she stops, annoyed.) That’s so unlike you!

(The dirty look she throws down at him is enough to shut him up and stop him cold, and her next gesture—brandishing her open backpack and pointing emphatically toward it—is the capper. He can manage only a weak chuckle.)

Spike: Uh, please, continue. (Twilight stands up; he is now in the bag.)

Twilight: I’ll start introducing myself… (walking toward doors) …sprinkle in some things I’ve learned about their world into the conversation, show them how I fit in here.

(Stopping just short of the exit, she takes a deep breath and lets it out.)

Twilight: Okay, Spike.

(Extreme close-up of the handles; she reaches into view to push them open, revealing a very busy hall.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) Time to make a good first impression on my fellow students.

(Cut to her and zoom out as several of said students go about their business, then cut back to her.)

Twilight: The whole world sort of depends on it.

(So she puts on a cheerful grin and strides out into the hall—and the whole place goes deathly quiet.)

Boy: (whispering to a girl) Hey, look.

(A wave of barely suppressed laughter and a round of derisive stares come next, sapping the new girl’ self-confidence with amazing speed.)

Twilight: Why is everybody looking at me funny?

(A pale hand lands on her elbow and yanks her away, hard.)

Twilight: Whoa!

(She fetches up in a classroom, banging into the front desk and knocking its books off.)

Twilight: What are you—

(Turning around, she finds that the perpetrator has a very familiar head of elegantly curled purple hair.)

Twilight: Why did you—

(Rarity slams the door and turns to face Twilight, the camera zooming in. Purple boots topped with magenta trim and a blue gem, lighter purple skirt decorated with the three blue lozenge-shaped gems, a gold bracelet on each wrist, light blue short-sleeved blouse, narrow black belt, same pale blue eyeshadow as her pony alternate.)

Twilight: (stunned) Rarity?

(Spike peeks out, equally dumbfounded. The fashion-minded teen whips over to her, dropping a handbag on the floor so that it falls open and plying a measuring tape on one leg. This is swiftly tossed aside so she can check a few other body parts at warp speed. Backing off for a moment’s thought, she gets an idea and goes digging in her bag. A couple of garments are flung out, after which she holds one up—three-tone green, with a light blue belt marked by a gold starburst clasp.)

Rarity: Perfect!

(It is shoved down over Twilight’s head: a short-sleeved blouse/skirt combo, with matching boot covers and a blond wig with teased-out bangs. Rarity regards the effect critically.)

Rarity: (pacing around her) Oh, yes, this is good! No one will recognize you.

Twilight: Why wouldn’t I want to be—

Rarity: (turning to Spike) And we’ll need a disguise for your dog— (stroking his cheeks; hearts in his eyes) —which is too bad. He really is so adorable. (all business again; soft gasp) You know, with a little work, I think I could make him look like a rabbit instead.

Spike: Huh? (He falls to the floor.)

Twilight: A rabbit? (Applejack opens the door and walks in.)

Applejack: There you are, Twilight!

Rarity: (contemptuously) So much for the disguise.

Applejack: (walking in) I’ve been lookin’ all over for you. (Fluttershy peeks in around the frame.)

Fluttershy: Me too. (Pinkie puts her head down from above.)

Pinkie: Me three! (She ducks in and runs an eye over Twilight.) I like your new look.

Rarity: I do have an eye for these sorts of things— (dismissively) —not that you seem to care.

Pinkie: What?!?

Twilight: Why do you think she doesn’t care? (Pinkie starts to boil over; Applejack gives her the “cut it out” gesture.) No, never mind. (pulling wig off) Why were you all looking for me? What’s going on? (Others cringe.)

Fluttershy: (to the others) Oh, she hasn’t seen it yet.

Twilight: Seen what?

(Cut to a close-up of a desk. Pinkie sets a laptop down on it and opens the screen; cut to the five standing/sitting around to watch. Twilight is in the desk’s chair.)

Pinkie: (pressing a key) Oh, it’s really not that bad. (Uneasy chuckle.)

(Close-up of the screen, zooming in: the same sort of video-viewing service the Crusaders were using. This time, though, the window shows Twilight puzzling over the library computer and banging her knuckles on the keys.)

Sunset: (voice over, ominously) Twilight Sparkle wants to be your Fall Formal Princess.

(Extreme close-up, zooming in as the action freezes and the color scheme switches to a photographic negative of itself. Next shot, normal color: having gone to the floor with her pile of books, she regards them with frustration.)

Sunset: (voice over) But what does it say about our school— (Twilight grabs a book in her teeth.) —if we give someone like this…

(Another freeze/zoom/color flip, followed by a normal shot of her being scared backwards by the copier.)

Sunset: (voice over) …such an important honor?

(Freeze/zoom/color flip, after which the camera cuts to the five girls at the laptop. Twilight, hands pressed to cheeks, can only get out a couple of half-hearted whimpers before she closes the screen. The overall atmosphere of the video is that of a political attack ad.)

Pinkie: I take that back. It’s pretty bad. (Cut to just behind Twilight.)

Twilight: (turning to face others) But this all happened yesterday, at the library! (She sinks down in her chair.) Has everyone in the school seen this? (Applejack gives the smallest of nods.) Is that why they were all looking at me that way?

Applejack, Pinkie: Mmm…

Twilight: What am I gonna do? No one is gonna vote for me after seeing this!

Fluttershy: Not that it’ll make any difference, but I’ll still vote for you.

(The newly christened social wipeout lets her head bang onto the desk.)

Fluttershy: You were so nice to stand up for me when Sunset Shimmer was picking on me yesterday. (Twilight raises her head just a fraction…)

Pinkie: If you still want to run, maybe there’s something I can do to help. (…then a little more, and smiles.)

Fluttershy: (to Twilight) Word of advice—don’t accept her help. She doesn’t take anything seriously.

Pinkie: (angrily, stammering a bit, stomping one foot) Why do you have to be so awful to me? (Rarity crosses to her.)

Rarity: Oh… (A string of disdainful noises.) …don’t play innocent, Pinkie Pie! You are no better than she is!

(A cut on the end of this line reveals that the “she” and accompanying finger-point are directed at Fluttershy. Next, two pink hands clamp onto the arms in the light blue sleeves and shove them back; the next words come with enough force to blow the purple hair back hard.)

Pinkie: And what is that supposed to mean? (She lets go.)

Rarity: (stepping past her) I am happy to offer up my assistance as well— (pointedly, to Pinkie) —to someone who would appreciate what I have to offer!

(These two and Fluttershy waste no time in getting into a lively shouting match—perhaps too lively for Spike, who dives into Twilight’s dropped backpack and zips it shut. As Twilight sits forgotten amid the tumult, the camera zooms out to frame the edge of the front desk and one of Applejack’s legs hanging over it.)

Applejack: (from o.s.) Listen to y’all carryin’ on! (Cut to her, having just finished an apple.) Get over it and move on!

(She drops the core over the side into a trash can and crosses her arms to mark the last word in this dispute. Or it would be, except for Rarity stepping up with an accusing finger.)

Rarity: You mean like how you’ve gotten over what happened with Rainbow Dash? (That hits a nerve or four.)

Applejack: She said she’d get the softball team to make an appearance at my bake sale. I tell everybody they’re comin’, and then not one of ’em shows up! She made a liar out of me! That’s different.

Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rarity: Is not!

Applejack: Is too!

(The argument starts all over again, the camera zooming in toward the violet-skinned girl caught at the center of it all. Despondency slowly shifts into fed-up frustration, followed by a leap to her feet and a quick zoom out.)

Twilight: STOOOOP!! All of you! (Close-up of her backpack; she continues o.s.) I want to show you something.

(Spike unzips it from inside and holds up the yearbook she found in the library; it is lifted away and the camera cuts to a close-up of it being opened to the photo.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) You were friends once. (Close-up of it, zooming in slowly.)

Applejack: (from o.s., softly) Hmph…the Freshman Fair. (Cut to her and Pinkie.) Y’all remember?

(Pan to Fluttershy and Rarity; they and Pinkie nod and voice their assent quietly. Cut to Twilight, seen from shoulders to waist.)

Twilight: (closing yearbook) But something happened. (Tilt up to her face.) I think that something was Sunset Shimmer. (Rarity moves over to her.)

Rarity: Well, it’s a nice theory, darling, but Sunset Shimmer had nothing to do with it.

Fluttershy: She’s right! Sunset Shimmer isn’t the one who ruined my silent auction for the animal shelter by bringing fireworks and noisemakers. (Angry sigh.) It was supposed to be a serious event, and Pinkie Pie ruined it!

Pinkie: What are you talking about? (holding out her cell phone) I got a text from you saying that you didn’t want a silent auction, you wanted a big party! (Surprised noise from Fluttershy.)

Fluttershy: I never sent you a text.

Pinkie: You didn’t?

Rarity: You don’t think she’s the one who’s been sending me those emails, do you? Every time I volunteer to help with the decorations at a school function, I get an email from Pinkie Pie saying she has plenty of volunteers. (Close-of Twilight, starting to figure something out; she continues o.s.) And then I find out she’s done everything herself! (Zoom out to frame Pinkie, checking her phone.)

Pinkie: I never sent you any emails. (Now Applejack steps up.)

Applejack: Maybe she’s the reason Rainbow Dash didn’t show up for my bake sale.

Twilight: Didn’t you ever ask Rainbow Dash why she didn’t show up?

Applejack: (very embarrassed, removing hat) Heh…I guess I kinda stopped talking to her at all after that. (Twilight approaches her.)

Twilight: Maybe now would be a good time to start.

(She sets the hat back on the blond head and gets a small but genuine smile in return. Dissolve to a row of soccer balls on an athletic field. It is now later in the day. A foot in a blue boot styled after an athletic shoe, with white trim and laces, swings into view and kicks one ball. Tilt up to frame all of the modern-day Rainbow: same long unruly hair, red/yellow/blue stripes on socks and wristbands, white T-shirt with cloud/lightning-bolt mark under an unbuttoned blue outer shirt, white/magenta striped skirt over dark gray shorts. She stares intently after the shot, which lands neatly in the goal at the end of the field, and the camera then cuts to a long shot of her and Applejack by the row of balls. Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity watch the conversation from the sidelines; no words can be heard, but the gestures suggest a lively exchange. When Twilight is next seen in full, she will be back in her usual ensemble.)

Rarity: They’re actually talking! That’s a good sign!

(Applejack breaks into a smile, then Rainbow, and they embrace several seconds later.)

Pinkie: Hugs! Ooh, hugs are always good.

Applejack: (walking over to group with Rainbow, who carries a ball) Somebody, and I think we can all guess who, told Rainbow Dash that my bake sale had been moved to a different day. Dash showed up with all the softball team and thought I’d canceled on her.

Rainbow: (crossing to Twilight) So you’re looking to dethrone Sunset Shimmer and become Princess of the Fall Formal, huh? (A sheepish nod; she bounces her ball on one knee.) Gotta say, I’d really love to see that happen. (Ground level; she plants it under one foot.) I’ll totally help you out. All you gotta do— (Close-up.) —is beat me in a game of one-on-one.

(Back to Twilight on the end of this; her elation gives way to total shock.)

Twilight: What?!? (The ball; zoom out as Rainbow works it up toward her head.)

Rainbow: First to five goals wins.

(A backflip, one foot up, and the ball is suddenly rocketing straight and true toward the goal. A lick of fire briefly splits the air in its passage before it hits the net.)

Rainbow: One-zip!

(Cut to a close-up of Twilight’s dumbfounded face, zooming in on her eyes, then wipe to Rainbow’s feet dribbling downfield. At the goal line, Twilight has taken up a defensive position—not a very sure one, based on how badly her knees are shaking, and it is useless against the spin-kick shot that comes right at her head. The unlikely goalie hits the dirt, saving her face but giving up a goal, and Rainbow pumps a fist before running in to get the ball. On the sidelines, Pinkie has set up a scoreboard—blue placard for Rainbow, pink for Twilight—and she changes the score to 2-0.)

(On the field, a cocky Rainbow carries the ball out and drops it at Twilight’s feet, one of which draws back for a kick. Before it can touch the sphere, though, Rainbow nudges it away with her own foot, pops it up, and bangs it over both their heads for another goal. As she raises both hands in triumph, Pinkie puts the point up on the board, looking a bit glummer than before. Dissolve to Twilight dribbling her way toward the line, which is undefended—but then Rainbow swoops in from the side to steal the ball away. Twilight skids to a stop and can only watch helplessly as her opponent makes a fast break to put it in the net one more time. A double fist-pump, and a downcast Pinkie records the fourth goal.)

(Dissolve to Rainbow, bouncing the ball on her knee as a befuddled Twilight watches. The athlete back-kicks it up overhead, then lets it bounce off Twilight’s face and down to the grass at her feet. Realizing that she has just caught a huge break, the bookworm dribbles ahead to the spectators’ great excitement. She pulls back her foot for a mighty kick—and the sole of her foot skids off the ball, pitching her flat on her back. It rolls to a stop in front of Rainbow, who just happens to be standing at the goal; instead of nudging it in, though, she uncorks a blast that sends it all the way into the opposite net. Pinkie sadly flips the placard to show a 5-0 score.)

(Cut to Rainbow, jumping in place with arms raised to mark her victory, and zoom out to the sound of winded panting. Twilight is still laid out in the grass, heaving for breath; cut to her upside-down perspective of Rainbow’s face leaning over her with the ball.)

Rainbow: That’s game! (The others gather around.)

Rarity: (trying to sound supportive) I really thought you were gonna pull it off there in the end.

(Her feeble attempt at a chuckle dies under the withering glares of the other three girls who saw the debacle. Cut to Twilight as Rainbow kneels down to her.)

Rainbow: So what’s the plan? (extending hand; Twilight takes it) How can I help you be Princess instead of Sunset Shimmer? (Pull upright.)

Twilight: (still out of breath) But…I…lost!

Rainbow: Of course you lost. I’m awesome. But I’m not gonna help just anybody try and beat Sunset Shimmer.

(Extreme close-up of Twilight’s wondering expression, panning slowly across; the next words cause her pupils/irises to grow in surprise and bring a smile to her lips.)

Rainbow: (from o.s.) The Fall Formal Princess should be someone with heart and determination. (Both girls again; she nudges Twilight in the shoulder.) You proved that you got ’em both.

(Zoom out to frame all six as these two hug and the others talk excitedly, then pan to the end of the sideline bleachers. Sunset, Snips, and Snails are hiding here; the two boys snicker over their phones, but their leader gazes worriedly over their heads and toward the field. She throws a hard glare when they hold the phones toward her; after a second or two, a predatory grin comes over her face and her eyes flick upward in sudden devilish inspiration.)

(Dissolve to the uppermost story of a building on a city block and tilt slowly down to ground level. The edging at the roof calls to mind the texture of the gingerbread-house roof on Sugarcube Corner. Sidewalk tables mark it as perhaps a coffee shop or restaurant, and a cut to the interior supports the former. Twilight, at the counter, watches eagerly as a pair of light blue hands adds whipped cream to a mug and drops in some sprinkles.)

Twilight: And can I get mine with extra oats?

(A head-on view discloses that the blue hands belong to Mrs. Cake, who wears a light yellow dress under a frilly white apron decorated with her three-cupcake mark. The request catches her very much off guard.)

Mrs. Cake: Oats?

Twilight: (backing off a bit) Uh, scratch that. However you normally make it is fine.

(She gets the drink passed across the counter, accompanied by a cocked eyebrow. As she turns to leave, she runs flat into Flash, who has come in to stand just behind her. Beverage, cream, and sprinkles describe a Rorschach blot on his shirt and jacket; the mug clatters on the floor, and she aims her panicked purple eyes up into his surprised blue ones. To his credit, he recovers his composure in record time.)

Flash: Whoa. (He brushes himself off a bit; she kneels for the mug.) We’ve got to stop bumping into each other like this.

(Down he goes as well, his hand latching onto it as well and brushing against hers. They smile at each other—Twilight nervously, Flash calmly—and she pulls her hand back so he can pick up the mug. She is first to stand up.)

Twilight: You know me. (Chuckle; she pulls at her hair as he stands.) Always trying to make a big splash around here…’cause my drink kinda splashed…on the ground. (Chuckle.)

(His cool little smile stays firmly in place.)

Twilight: (backing up toward counter) I’m gonna go over there now.

(Running into it with her back, she does an about-face and hurries away. Cut to Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Rarity on a couch; the first two have drinks in hand, while the third has Spike in lap. Twilight sits on the arm at Rarity’s end and blushes a bit while playing with her hair in close-up; zoom out to frame the up-and-coming style maven.)

Rarity: Don’t even think about it. You’re already trying to get her crown. Who knows what Sunset Shimmer would do if you ended up getting her ex-boyfriend too?

(She drops to a whisper on the end of this line. Longer shot of the area; a table is in front of the couch, and Applejack and Pinkie have pulled up chairs at it.)

Twilight: (flustered, standing up) I’m not trying to…I don’t even know…we just accidentally… (Close-up, hunching over.) …ex-boyfriend?

Fluttershy: (from o.s.) Flash Sentry broke up with her a few weeks ago. I can’t believe she hasn’t done something awful to him yet.

(On the start of this line, cut to the counter, where he buys a new drink and heads for the seats, getting a wave from Mrs. Cake. Cut back to the six on the end of it; he strolls casually past and tosses Twilight an over-shoulder smile. She straightens up and the camera zooms out to frame more of the couch, table, and counter; now both Mr. and Mrs. Cake can be seen at work.)

Twilight: Maybe she’s just waiting until she has the power to do something really awful. (Applejack stands up.)

Applejack: All right, girls. (Overhead view; zoom out/pan slowly.) Dance is tomorrow night, and we still don’t know how we’re gonna get Twilight the votes she needs to be named Princess. (Back to the couch; she starts pacing.) Right now, folks only know the Twilight from the videos Sunset Shimmer posted online. (Stop behind Twilight; grab her upper arms.) We need to help ’em see her differently.

(Sotto-voce, puzzled mutterings from the other four. The quiet is shattered when Rarity shoots to her feet.)

Rarity: I’VE GOT IT!

(That gets the attention of every patron and a passerby or two, and her gigantic grin and flushed face evaporate in an instant. She clears her throat demurely.)

Rarity: (stepping o.s.) I mean, um, perhaps I have a solution.

(Cut to a close-up of her bag on the floor next to the couch.)

Rarity: (from o.s., opening it/fishing around) Now this may be an absolutely preposterous idea, but… (Back to her.) …what if we all wore these as a sign of unity?

(“These,” held up at the right moment, are a pair of yellow pony ears on a blue headband and a blue/yellow tail on a sash meant to be tied around the waist. The other five give her a round of bewildered stares, but she quickly gets the tail in place.)

Rarity: (donning ears as well) Freshman year, they were very, very popular. A way for everybody to show their school spirit! (jumping in place) You know, “Go, Canterlot Wondercolts!” (She lets her enthusiasm drop and clears her throat.) I haven’t sold any in ages.

(Mr. Cake passes along the counter behind her.)

Rarity: (retrieving/passing out five more sets of ears) I mean, the five of us are obviously very different, but deep down we’re all Canterlot Wondercolts.

(She moves o.s. on the end of this as Pinkie dons her ears and grins. Cut to Fluttershy and Rainbow being handed pairs of their own and putting them on.)

Rarity: (from o.s.) Sunset Shimmer is the one who divided us. (Overhead shot of all six; she holds one last pair.) Twilight Sparkle is the one who united us. (putting them on her) And we’re gonna let everyone know it! (Pause.) What do you think?

(A cut to Applejack, Pinkie, and Rainbow frames three uncertain expressions that shift into approving smiles and grins, accompanied by a thumbs-up from the apple expert. Pan to a grinning Fluttershy; one lovestruck little puppy pops up into view, hearts in eyes. Rarity hugs Twilight gleefully from behind, a purple-eyed wink telling her that everyone is on board with this plan.)

(Dissolve to a slow pan across the packed cafeteria, then cut from one social group to another. It is now lunchtime of the following day Flash, at the rockers’ table, is cleaned up and fooling with his guitar. Stop on the fashionistas’ table as Rarity takes a seat with her lunch tray. She has put on a blue sweater with the school’s C-logo; the yellow pony ears are not in evidence, but she quickly dons a pair, tail already tied on. Cut to Rainbow taking a seat with the athletes, then to a pan across the line and stop on Pinkie. Each has a sweater and tail in place and slips on the ears in turn.)

(The peppy pink one picks up her empty tray and starts to bang it on the counter in a four-beat rhythm. Bang…silence…bang-bang…silence. Rarity joins in, stomping the same rhythm, and adds handclaps on the second and fourth beats. Bang…clap…bang-bang…clap. Cut to a close-up of two empty glasses being struck against a table with the trays/stomps, and zoom out to frame them in Fluttershy’s hands. She too has a sweater, tail, and ears. Cut to a slightly confused Macintosh, who wears a brown band on each wrist instead of just the one seen when he made the cider delivery earlier in this act, and pan along his table to stop on a fully kitted-out Applejack. Her contribution is to hit the table with her palms in time with the trays/glasses/stomps, and clap on the other two beats. Rainbow is next, banging her tray, and Spike chips in by reaching out from Twilight’s backpack to switch on a nearby radio hooked up to an MP3 player. A synthesizer chord begins to fade up.)

Synth chord melody with bass drum/handclap percussion, slow 4 (E major)

(One by one, the five boosters get to their feet and high-step around the room.)

All five: Hey, hey, everybody, we’ve got something to say

We may seem as different as the night is from day

Bass guitar in

(The others gather with Rarity to form a line.)

But you look a little deeper and you will see

(turning to each other in pairs)

That I’m just like you and you’re just like me, yeah

Synth/bass/percussion out for two bars; electric guitar in

(The view cuts to a close-up of two smiling girls—Applejack in close-up, Rainbow relaxing a bit farther back. Next an upside-down Pinkie and a correctly oriented Rainbow trade smiles; Fluttershy and Pinkie shake their tails at each other, and now all five get back into it.)

Synth/bass percussion in with thumping beat; guitar shifts to rhythm; slightly faster

(Applejack and Pinkie run past the tables, hand in hand, then Fluttershy and Rainbow.)

All five: Hey, hey, everybody, we’re here to shout

(Rarity sidles up to a male fashionista and makes him forget the phone in his hand, and Fluttershy tips a wink to the camera.)

That the magic of friendship is what it’s all about

(They stop between tables and lean out to both sides.)

Yeah, we thought we were different as the night is from the day

(DJ P0N-3 nods her head faintly to the beat, then gets her shades yanked off by Applejack; surprise gives way to a smile.)

Until Twilight Sparkle helped us see another way

(Now lined up, they dance and twirl in unison.)

All five: So get up, get down if you’re gonna come around

We can work together, helping Twilight win the crown

(Rainbow jumps onto a chair and plants a foot on its back; it topples over, but she lands upright, appearing on a cell phone video.)

So get up, get down ’cause it’s gonna make a sound

(Rainbow and Rarity sweep over to a techie filming the scene on his phone, and Applejack and Fluttershy dance.)

If we work together, helping Twilight Sparkle win the crown

Synth and all percussion but bass drum out; rhythm guitar only

All parts gradually come back in by the start of the next chorus

(The view is swiftly pushed away by Pinkie as if it were a sliding door; next she sings to one girl through a megaphone while upside down, blowing her hair back.)

Pinkie: Hey, hey, hands up now, we’re sending a message to the crowd

(She raises and lowers a boy’s arms in time, then twirls near the counter.)

Hands wave up, then come down, we party together all around

(Cut to a close-up of Rarity, which slides away and is replaced by each of the others as their Elements are reeled off.)

Rarity: Generous, honesty

Applejack: Laughter, kindness, loyalty

(Fluttershy pulls Applejack and Pinkie in close.)

Fluttershy: Twilight helped us each to see

(Rainbow lands in front of them.)

Rainbow: All that we can be

(They high-step around the tables and fall in a line.)

All five: So get up, get down if you’re gonna come around

We can work together, helping Twilight win the crown

(Fluttershy and Pinkie run ahead, and Applejack playfully tips a girl’s chair back.)

So get up, get down ’cause it’s gonna make a sound

(They head for the doors, and Pinkie and Rarity pull them open.)

If we work together, helping Twilight Sparkle win the crown

Lighter percussion with handclaps; guitar out

(Twilight is out here, dressed as the others.)

Twilight: I’m gonna be myself, no matter what I do

And if we’re different, yeah, I want you to be true to you

(By this point, she has passed the rocker table; Flash strikes a chord on his guitar.)

If you follow me, we’ll put our differences aside

(She hops onto a table and winks.)

We’ll stick together and start working on that school pride

All instruments out except handclaps

(Six-part unison choreography to fit the next line, including a spin that sends Applejack’s hat flying off her head and falling back onto it.)

All six: Jump up, make a sound [Hey!] stomp your hooves, turn around

Start now, make a change, gonna come around

Bass drum and rhythm/bass guitars in

(Pinkie eases one of the dramas out of her seat; Applejack and Fluttershy surprise a fashionista; Pinkie happily watches two feet start to stomp; Rainbow twirls a tray on one finger.)

All six: Jump up, make a sound [Hey!] stomp your hooves, turn around

Canterlot Wondercolts, help her win the crown

(The drummer of Flash’s clique sits behind a handy kit and adds a beat, and Flash puts his six-string to work in earnest as Pinkie hurls an armload of ears and tails into the crowd.)

Handclaps out; all other parts and guitar solo in

All six: Jump up, make a sound [Hey!] stomp your hooves, turn around

(Silver puts on ears, Diamond ears and a tail which she waggles for the camera.)

Start now, make a change, gonna come around

(In no time flat, students from all social groups are celebrating with one another.)

Jump up, make a sound [Hey!] stomp your hooves, turn around

Canterlot Wondercolts, help her win the crown

(Another rocker joins in on guitar.)

Jump up, make a sound [Hey!] stomp your hooves, turn around

Start now, make a change, gonna come around

(Among the dancing students is DJ P0N-3, seen only from the waist up in previous shots. Now the lower half of her outfit is fully visible: magenta leggings with jagged pink slashes, and blue boots edged in white at soles and tops, with a light blue patch above the heel. Each is marked with a magenta star trailed by a light blue lightning bolt. Sunset can be seen just outside the doors, glaring through their full-length glass panes. Cut to her; looking back past herself, then to Snips and Snails dancing up a storm in the hall. They too have procured some of Rarity’s ears and tails.)

All six: (muffled) Jump up, make a sound [Hey!] stomp your hooves, turn around

(Zoom out to frame the edge of Sunset’s face.)

Sunset: Take those off!

(They stop getting down and sheepishly follow orders; now the lyrics can no longer be heard. Close-up, zooming in slightly.)

Sunset: (smirking) I have something I need you to do.

Music fades into the background score

(The smug expression settles in a bit more firmly as she aims two narrowed blue-green eyes back over her shoulder. Fade to black.)

Act Three

(Opening shot: snap to a close-up of the ringing school bell, then cut to several students going about their business. Every one of them sports ears and a tail, and Twilight and her friends are still in their Canterlot High sweaters.)

Rarity: (giggling) Doesn’t everyone look just fabulous?

Twilight: It was a great idea, Rarity!

(Applejack’s smile runs away from her face; cut to Sunset, Snips, and Snails strolling up.)

Applejack: (from o.s.) Don’t know what she’s smilin’ about. Twilight’s the one that’s gonna be Princess of the Fall Formal.

(The unholy trinity moves along, with Snips flicking fingers from the end of his nose to point at them and Snails stifling a laugh. A collective glance off down the hall shows the girls that they have stopped before a closed door. After Sunset knocks, the camera cuts to a close-up of a woman’s head and shoulders emerging as it opens—Vice-Principal Luna. Hair in two shades of blue, pale blue skin, blue-green eyes, magenta top with a white collar marked by a dark blue crescent moon.)

Sunset: (from o.s., on verge of tears) Vice-Principal Luna! (Cut to her, kneeling with hands clasped.) Something terrible has happened!

(Wipe to the gym, where the decorations for the Formal have been well and truly wrecked, and zoom out to frame the two watching from the end opposite the stage.)

Sunset: Isn’t this just awful? And after Pinkie Pie worked so hard to make things so perfect!

(Head-on shot of them on the end of this; Luna’s top is a short-sleeved blouse circled by a dark blue belt with a white buckle. The sight causes her eyes to pop; cut to Sunset.)

Sunset: Why would Twilight Sparkle do something like this? (Pan to Luna.)

Luna: Why would you think Twilight was responsible for something like this?

(Cut to behind them; Sunset holds up a file folder. Luna wears purple slacks and low-heeled white shoes.)

Sunset: Because I have proof.

(Zoom out slightly to frame Flash, who is watching from the doorway and going quite unnoticed. The circumstances do not sit right in his mind, and he backs quietly away. Fade to black.)

(Fade in to a pan across Luna’s darkened office and stop. Twilight sits in front of her crescent-moon-marked desk, while she stands at the window, folder and photos in hand. The blinds are closed, and none of the lights are on. Twilight has removed her ears and tail and changed back into her light blue blouse.)

Twilight: But…but I don’t understand.

(Close-up of the desk surface; the folder is tossed down in front of her, falling open so that the photos inside are exposed to her view.)

Luna: (from o.s.) This is clearly you in the photographs, is it not?

(Cut to a pan across them on the end of this. They present three slightly blurred shots of Twilight kicking over chairs, booting a backdrop to kindling, standing and grinning by the shattered disco ball. She grimaces mightily and tries to shrink into herself a bit.)

Twilight: Yes, but… (Luna is back at the window.)

Luna: (peeking through blinds, leaning over desk toward Twilight) I think it should be fairly obvious that the school cannot let someone who would do something like this compete for the Fall Formal crown.

(Scared purple eyes stare up at stern blue-green ones…and Twilight covers hers in silent resignation…and then comes a knock at the door. Zoom out slightly as it squeaks open, a rectangle of light cutting across the floor from outside. The shadow of Flash’s head is visible.)

Flash: (from o.s.) Vice-Principal Luna. (Cut to him, holding some documents; he steps in.) I found these in a trash can in the library. (He hands them over—more photos.) I thought you should see them.

(As she lifts them up for a closer inspection, a hole can be seen cut out of one page. Cut to her perspective of an uncut image—Twilight kicking the backdrop apart—then pan to the cut one on the next line. Taken during the one-on-one soccer game against Rainbow, it has had the new girl’s figure cropped out of it, an exact match for her in the other. Luna slides them together and apart.)

Flash: (from o.s.) Someone obviously combined these photos to make it look like Twilight was the one who trashed the gym. (Cut to him and Luna.)

Luna: (crossing office) I appreciate you bringing this to my attention, Flash. (sitting at her desk to address Twilight) In light of this new evidence, you may of course continue your bid to be crowned the Princess of the Fall Formal.

(Cut to Twilight on the end of this; she instantly brightens at the news and races across to grab the budding sleuth up in a hug. The window blinds snap upward, letting in sunlight to brighten the dim room.)

Twilight: Thank you! You have no idea how important this is to me. (She backs off, blushing slightly, and gets a small smile.)

Flash: What was I gonna do? Not prove your innocence? Wouldn’t be much of a Canterlot Wondercolt, would I?

Luna: (standing up) I am afraid enough damage has been done to the gym that we will have to postpone the dance until tomorrow night. (The open door; she continues o.s.) If you will excuse me… (stepping into view toward hall) …I need to let my sister know about this latest development.

(The two teens shift their attention to each other as her footsteps die away.)

Flash: So, uh, I was wondering…if you aren’t already going with somebody… (Close-up; zoom in.) …want to go to the Fall Formal with me tomorrow night?

(A fresh tinge of red colors the violet cheeks as she looks up at him with big adoring eyes, and she leans her head gently on his chest.)

Twilight: (whispering) That would be… (Sudden panic; she backs away as if shocked.) …tomorrow night? No! No-no-no-no-no, no, no, no! No! No-no-no-no-no!

(During the machine-gun fusillade of rejections, the camera cuts first to his surprised expression, then to Spike tucking himself inside her backpack just before she sweeps it up, then to outside the office as she barrels away.)

Twilight: I can’t…the portal…that’ll be too late! (Flash steps out, closing the door.)

Flash: (calling after her) One “no” would’ve been fine!

(Off he goes. Dissolve to the exterior of a girls’ fashion shop, as evidenced by the sign above the door depicting a dress, purse, and hearts. The overall décor bears a passing resemblance to that of the Carousel Boutique, in fact. Zoom in slowly as Twilight makes a beeline for the front door, then cut to a shoe display inside. She races past Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity and into a dressing room, where she sets down her carryon number-one assistant and leans against a wall to catch her breath. All six girls have changed into their usual clothing and ditched the ears and tails. Cut to Rarity.)

Rarity: Everything okay in there?

Twilight: (from inside) Yes! (Back to her; she lowers her voice to address herself.) Only it’s not okay. It’s not okay at all! If I don’t get my crown tonight, I won’t be able to go back to Equestria for another thirty moons!

(She sinks to the floor with a forlorn little sigh, covering her face, as Spike steps a bit closer, now out of the bag.)

Twilight: What are we gonna do? (He keeps his voice down as well.)

Spike: Hmmm…we tell them the truth. Let them know what’s really at stake if you don’t get the crown tonight. They’ll help us figure something out. (Twilight lowers her hands.)

Twilight: But what if they won’t? (She turns to a mirror.) What if when they find out just how different I really am…?

(Her reflection wavers a bit and shifts into the original equine version, eyes quivering with fear and indecision, and she cannot bring herself to finish the sentence.)

Spike: Twilight, these girls rallied around you ’cause they saw what was in your heart. They aren’t gonna feel any differently about you when they find out you’re a pony princess in Equestria.

(During this line, the camera cuts back to her mirror image, which is soon joined by his own before reverting to her bipedal variant. Twilight mulls this over for a second or two that feels like a week, then turns away to pet him with a smile.)

Twilight: I’m glad you followed me here, Spike.

Spike: Me too—unless, of course, we get stuck here for another thirty moons.

(Cut to just outside the dressing room and zoom out quickly as Twilight yanks the curtain aside from within. Four resolute eyes, two purple and two green, stare straight ahead at her five new friends, interrupted in the process of checking out or trying on new duds.)

Applejack: You okay?

Twilight: The Fall Formal isn’t happening tonight.

Pinkie: What?!?!?

Twilight: It had to be postponed because Sunset Shimmer had Snips and Snails ruin all of Pinkie Pie’s decorations.

Pinkie: What?!?!?

Twilight: But the Fall Formal has to happen tonight.

Pinkie: Wha—

(This exclamation gets cut short by Applejack’s hand clamping itself over her mouth; two green eyes shooting her a “don’t even think about it” look before cutting back toward Twilight. The latter lets out a heavy sigh and gets ready to lay it out.)

Twilight: You see—

(The second Applejack lowers her hand, it is as if the pipe connecting Pinkie’s brain and tongue has burst.)

Pinkie: (rapid fire) You’re from an alternate world and you’re a pony princess there and the crown actually has a magical element embedded in it that helps power up other magical elements and without it they don’t work anymore and you need them to help protect your magical world, and if you don’t get the crown tonight, you’ll be stuck in this world and you won’t be able to get back for, like, really, really long time!

(She cranks off the biggest, squeakiest grin of her life, in this world or the other, and none of the four alongside her quite knows what to make of this verbal tsunami. Twilight, on the other hand, lets her jaw hang full open in undiluted shock, her eyes bugging out as a donkey’s bray echoes in the shop. Spike is not faring much better with the realization that Pinkie has drilled a bullseye, but Rainbow is completely unfazed and scratching the back of her head.)

Rainbow: Yeah. I’m pretty sure that isn’t the reason.

Spike: Nope, she’s pretty much spot on.

(Now Rarity gets into the act, so gobsmacked by this last that she claps hands to temples.)

Rarity: He can talk?!?

Spike: (walking to her) Oh, yeah. And back where I come from, I’m not even a dog! (standing up on hind legs) I’m a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon!

(As he throws off a cocky little smile, Fluttershy shoves Pinkie and Rarity aside in her eagerness.)

Fluttershy: (giddily) This is so amazing! (kneeling down to him) Tell me, what are you thinking right now?

(The oddness of this particular question leaves him at a loss. Cut to his perspective of the ear-to-ear-smiling yellow face pushed up into his own, accompanied by a shudder from the o.s. Rarity, and pan to the latter. Witnessing his power of speech has left her completely dumbstruck; at ground level, he eases his way over to her leg.)

Spike: Sure would love a scratch behind the old ears. (Rarity mumbles incoherently.) Uh…maybe later.

Twilight: (to Pinkie) How did you know all that?

Pinkie: Just a hunch.

Applejack: Wait a minute! Let me get this straight. You’re a pony?

Rarity: You’re a princess? (Fluttershy straightens up partway.)

Fluttershy: You’re from another world?

(Now fully bowled out, Twilight can do little but scratch the back of her head and offer a shaky, blushing smile.)

Twilight: (swallowing hard, nodding) Mmm-hmm.

Rainbow: (levelly) That…is… (beaming) …awesome!

(The others voice similar opinions as they gather around the out-of-towner.)

Spike: See? Told you.

(Dissolve to the six girls and one dog standing inside the gym door and zoom out slowly as they survey the devastation.)

Rarity: I simply cannot believe they did all this!

Pinkie: If I only had some kind of party cannon that could decorate everything super-fast.

Twilight: I know it seems impossible, but… (She turns to face the others.) …maybe if we all work together?

Light electric guitar/percussion melody, brisk 4 (D major)

Applejack: (winking) Now that’s the kinda can-do spirit I’m lookin’ for in a Fall Formal Princess. (She holds a hand out, palm down.) Let’s do it, y’all!

(Close-up of that hand; one by one, each girl adds hers on top of it in turn. The next four lines are all delivered from o.s.)

Rarity: Absolutely!

Rainbow: Rock on!

Pinkie: Yes indeedily!

Fluttershy: Yaaaay.

(The five look expectantly toward Twilight, who smiles gratefully and adds her own hand on top. Zoom out to an overhead view of the six as they raise these hands toward the ceiling.)

Twilight: It’s time for us to come together

(She opens a closet, finds pushbrooms, and brings out them out while Spike carries a bucket.)

It’s the only way that things’ll get better

(Brooms are thrown to the others. Rainbow catches and twirls one, Applejack holds hers at the ready, Rarity holds hers disgustedly in two fingers, Pinkie jumps up to catch hers, and a scared Fluttershy gets hit in the head with the fifth.)

It’s time for us to take a stand

So come on and lend a helping hand

(Debris is quickly swept away; Rarity keeps her broom at arm’s length as an infatuated Spike keeps after her.)

More guitar in with backing synth

All six: Fix it up, yeah, it’s all right

(Three pairs of broom heads push their junk piles together.)

We’ll get it ready by tonight

(Snap to a dark gray ground, which backs up from the camera and resolves into a full trash bag held by Applejack.)

Mix it up, yeah, help a friend

(Toss to Fluttershy, then Rarity, then a hasty heave to Rainbow, then a neat lob into the can Pinkie is holding.)

We’ll come together in the end

(Two athletes pass by the gym and spot Twilight struggling to drag a broken table off the floor. They back up to watch, one cocking an eyebrow at the other; one shared shrug later, both are on their way in to help.)

Guitar drops back, but slowly builds up again

Pinkie, Rainbow: It’s time to show that we’ve got school spirit

(They pick up the ends and haul away.)

Raise your voice and let everyone hear it

(Right behind them comes Applejack, carrying a second table under one arm and moving faster than these two.)

Applejack, Rarity: It’s time to show that we’re strong

(Pinkie charges across the floor, using her head instead of her broom to clear the trash.)

So come on, everybody sing along

(Even though she comes up with all manner of dirt and debris matted into her hair, she still cranks off a giggle.)

(Streamers are thrown over the rafters; tilt down to frame Fluttershy and Rarity on this job as two fashionista girls walk by.)

All six: [Look] Look how we’ve all come together

(They take notice, as does a third, and walk in through a sudden rain of streamers. When the view clears, they are slinging a few of their own.)

[Things] Things are only just starting to get better

(One of the eco-kids catches a flying roll and is welcomed in by the three, one of whom ties a streamer around her forehead to match his own headband.)

[Look] Look how we’ve all come together

(An athlete and a techie carry a speaker and spot Featherweight up on the stage, trying to hang a spotlight while standing on a very tall ladder.)

[Things] Things are only gonna get better, better, better, better

(In close-up, he starts to totter back and forth but stops suddenly; tilt down to frame a newly arrived athlete bracing the ladder. Smiles from both ends, and Featherweight gets a thumbs-up before setting the light in place.)

Synthesizer in

Background lyrics are sung under the main line that follows them

All six: [We will] Fix it up, yeah, it’s all right

(Twilight surveys the work in progress with a satisfied half-smile.)

[Come tonight, tonight] We’ll get it ready by tonight

(Dissolve to Flash and a couple of other rockers warming up on the stage: guitar, keys, drums. They glance off to one side; pan to a techie at that end, running the soundboard.)

[We will] Mix it up, yeah, help a friend

(The techie slides one fader control all the way up and gives a thumbs-up; onstage, Twilight walks backwards, pulling her broom, and bumps into Flash.)

[Come together, together] We’ll come together in the end

(Confusion over the collision turns into a pair of warm smiles and a blush on Twilight’s end.)

[We will] Fix it up, yeah, it’s all right

(Dissolve to an archway being set up as a picture backdrop, with balloons and autumn product and leaves for decoration.)

[Come tonight, tonight] We’ll get it ready by tonight

(Zoom out slightly; Photo is setting her camera up on a nearby stool.)

[We will] Mix it up, yeah, help a friend

(Dissolve to a long shot of the entire gym, seen from the stage, and pan to follow Applejack as she crosses from one end to the other. She and Twilight meet and are soon joined by Rainbow, resting arms across each other’s shoulders as they watch the finishing touches. Dissolve to a head-on view and zoom out to frame a line of six very happy and satisfied friends. Pinkie’s hair is now free of the crud she swept up into it.)

[Come] Come together, together now

Song ends

(Dissolve to the upper reaches of the fully festooned gym and tilt down to floor level.)

Pinkie: (struggling to contain herself) This…looks…sooo… (jumping happily) …good!

(The sound of one pair of hands clapping is heard; cut to the gym door. Celestia and Luna have entered, the former using her palms and the latter holding a locked box.)

Celestia: All right, everyone, Fall Formal is back on for this evening. (Cheers.) So you better get out of here and start getting ready. Oh, and don’t forget to cast your ballots for Fall Formal Princess on your way out!

(Cut to assorted students on their way to the door after the second sentence, then to the two officials and finally to a close-up of Luna during the third. As each one leaves, he/she drops a marked ballot into the box.)

Fashionista boy: You got my vote, Twilight.

Athlete girl: Mine too. (Close-up of the box as more ballots go in.)

Other girls’ voices: Mine too…Mine too.

(Cut to within a darkened space, the camera positioned just behind Sunset and aimed over her shoulder. A door opens in front of her, letting in light and revealing the students lined up to cast their votes—she is hiding in a closet of sports equipment—and a head-on view points up her supreme vexation. She turns away from the door to focus on Snips and Snails, who are sitting in here as well; Snips has put on a football helmet, while Snails tosses a baseball idly.)

Sunset: You’re lucky she was able to pull this off. Next time I ask you to make a mess of things— (Cut to the two boys; she continues o.s., one hip barely in view.) —try to show a little restraint! (To her again.) I need this formal to go on tonight just as much as she does.

(The door slowly swings closed to hide her from view. Dissolve to the exterior of the fashion shop and zoom in slowly toward the door.)

Fluttershy: (from inside) I still can’t believe we pulled that off!

Rainbow: (from inside) I can.

(Cut to all but Rarity inside, walking through the place.)

Rainbow: We’re awesome! (Zoom out slightly as they stop; Rarity stands facing them.)

Rarity: Enough chatter, girls. We need to get ready… (She yanks a rack of dresses over.) …and we need to look… (tossing a handful of them across) …fabulous!

Synth/drum pop melody, brisk 4 (E flat major)

(Once the gale of finery settles, Fluttershy holds a strapless gown in shades of green and tan in front of herself, and Pinkie does a couple of quick changes through various outfits.)

All six: This is our big night

(Rainbow finds herself in a pink/yellow dress with extremely puffy sleeves, to her surprise.)

We’re getting ready and we’re doing it up right

(She throws a dirty look to Rarity, who grins nervously and shoves her o.s.)

This is our big night

(Wipe to a profile close-up of Applejack and zoom out. She has found a simple, full-length green dress marked with three red apples. Rarity, wearing the same style of reading glasses favored by her pony self while working, gets an idea and whisks in to bring the hemline up to knee level.)

Friendship survived, now we’ll start it out right

(The farm girl seems rather less than pleased at the alteration. Cut to a blank mirror, where Pinkie—back in her usual outfit—pops up with her hair fluffed out to ridiculous proportions. A few quick cuts take her through other styles, the last of which is completely straight but poofs back up on its own into her usual hairdo.)

All six: The time’s right, gonna make it last ’cause it’s the first night

That we’re ever gonna start to just have fun together

(This one does the trick for her, and a balloon drifts down over the screen. Behind its trailing edge, wipe to a swath of pink hair and zoom out. Fluttershy is brushing it out, with help from Angel and the bird she hid in her backpack.)

We’re so glad, so happy, we could never be mad

(Pan to Spike, who tries on some false mustaches in front of a mirror.)

Did it right, now this is our big night, now

(Dissolve to Rarity, painting her fingernails at a vanity—to the point that each one clearly shows her winking reflection—and applying mascara and blush. She has shed her glasses.)

All six: Six friends on the way up now

(Extreme close-up of her mouth as she plies a lipstick on it, then dissolve to the others at the vanities. They are all back in their street clothes now; Twilight is combing out Rainbow’s hair, and Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie primp a bit.)

Six friends here to show you how

(They are interrupted by the return of Rarity, who opens the small chest she carries to reveal a vivid assortment of jewelry. Faces light up at the display, and she heaves the contents upward so that they fly in all directions.)

All six: This is our big night

(The background behind a three-balloon earring dissolves to become the lobe of Pinkie’s ear, to which it is now attached. Zoom out; she beams at the accessory, and Rarity clasps on a gold necklace set with small blue lozenge-shaped gems.)

We’re getting ready and we’re doing it up right

(A winged red/pink boot with white laces is pulled on by two light blue hands now clad in magenta arm warmers.)

This is our big night

(Now a brown ten-gallon hat with a red rose on its brim comes down on Applejack’s head; she sports gold bracelets on both wrists and a white scarf. Five girls then gather in their formalwear choices.)

We made it happen, now let’s party all night

(Applejack: strapless blue denim dress with red belt and apples at the hem, two-tone brown boots each marked with one apple at the top, the new scarf/hat/bracelets. Fluttershy: strapless light blue gown whose skirt opens in front to expose a yellow under-layer, light blue boots with pink/yellow accents, white/pink butterflies on waist and boot tops. Pinkie: strapless pink gown with violet shawl/sash and yellow bow around the waist, violet boots with pink/yellow accents and small pink bows, blue bracelets, small blue top hat with yellow band. Rainbow: red/orange/yellow/green-striped top over a red-hemmed blue skirt with purple belt sporting a gold cloud/lightning pin, the previously seen arm warmers and winged boots. Rarity: sparkly one-shoulder dress in light blue, her gold bracelets, white boots each set with one blue gem. Of the five, Fluttershy’s hemline is the only one that stops below the knee.)

F major

(Twilight and Spike both smile at the sight, and Rarity pushes the girl into a changing room and hands her a dress.)

All six: This is our big night

(The others and Spike gather closer as the camera zooms in slightly.)

This is our big night

(The curtain opens to give an extreme close-up of two blue-soled, white-toed, bright pink boots styled after ballet slippers. Tilt up to frame all of the aspiring Princess: strapless, ruffled, bright pink dress with white/blue sash and a pair of matching pinstripes, just a bit of makeup to put a faint sparkle around all of her. She smiles demurely over her shoulder and turns to face the camera, exposing three white/blue starbursts on the front of her skirt and a white bow securing the sash.)

All six: This is our big night

(The others are positively floored at the effect and move in for a closer look.)

This is our big night

Song ends

(Dissolve to the moon and three bright stars hanging low in the evening sky, then tilt down to the statue outside Canterlot High. Students in their best duds are on their way into the building, and in short order an incredibly long stretch limousine pulls up. One rear door opens, disgorging the six laughing girls and Spike, who has procured a red bow tie and black top hat for the occasion. He and Twilight are the last ones out of the limo, just in time to see a dark gray sportscar roll to a stop at the curb. Its hood is set with a giant copy of the shield/lightning-bolt emblem from Flash’s shirt, marking this as his set of wheels, and a jagged yellow bolt runs along the driver’s side. He pops his head up over the opening door to wave, exposing a dark gray suit jacket with a red flower in the lapel, a violet vest, and the unbuttoned collar of a white dress shirt.)

Flash: Uh, Twilight! (She stops short; he runs up to her. The pants/shoes are coordinated with his other clothing.) Look, I know you said no about going to the Fall Formal with me, but…would you reconsider and at least have one dance? (He scratches the back of his head, blushing, and she smiles.)

Twilight: I didn’t say no. (Pause as she remembers.) I mean, I did, but… (placing a hand on his chest) …I didn’t mean no…to you. (blushing) I was…well, what I mean is…yes. I’d love to dance with you.

(He tucks one arm behind his back and bows to her, and she takes the other arm so they can enter the school together. When they get to the doors, though, he runs flat into a closed one with his face and gets knocked silly for a moment, just as Twilight did when she first entered the building in Act One. To be on the safe side, he makes an “after you” gesture toward the open door next to the one he hit and follows her through it.)

(Dissolve to a close-up of the new disco ball, now sparkling in the lights that hit it from below, and tilt down to the strains of a lively rock tune. The floor is packed with dancing students; even the Crusaders are here to get their groove on. Bloom’s outfit: pink with white trim; Scootaloo’s, purple and red; Sweetie’s, red with white/yellow trim. Pan from them past Diamond and Silver, then stop on the girls and Spike and cut to the stage; Flash is up here with his buddies to provide the music.)

(Pan quickly from the band back to Twilight and Rainbow, both raising their voices to be heard over the speakers.)

Twilight: Anybody seen Sunset Shimmer?

Rainbow: Maybe she was too embarrassed to show. She’s gotta know you won by a landslide.

Twilight: (not convinced) Maybe.

(Up on the stage, the band finishes and the camera pans to Celestia walking on from the wings. The techie at the soundboard turns down the volume and everyone clears off as she steps up; even without a microphone, her voice easily carries over the crowd, which falls silent.)

Celestia: First off, I want to say how wonderful everything looks tonight. You all did a magnificent job pulling things together after the unfortunate events of earlier. (gesturing to one side) And now, without further ado…

(Pan to that end of the stage, where Luna steps into view carrying a wooden strongbox.)

Celestia: (from o.s.) …I’d like to announce the winner of this year’s Fall Formal crown.

(The lid is opened on the end of this, revealing Twilight’s genuine tiara inside. She and Rainbow watch with wide eyes—the former apprehensive, the latter smiling—and Luna hands an envelope to Celestia.)

Celestia: The Princess of this year’s Fall Formal is… (Cut to a slow zoom in on the group; a round of excited gasps.)

Rainbow: (under her breath) Oh, man, this is so awesome!

(The seal is broken and a card withdrawn.)

Celestia: …Twilight Sparkle!

(There follows a round of hugs among the six and cheers from all present, during which Snips and Snails sneak into the gym. Both have donned black top hats; Snips wears a tuxedo-patterned shirt, Snails a giant red bow tie over his usual outfit. Twilight crosses the stage to Celestia, who takes the tiara from Luna’s box.)

Celestia: (lowering it toward Twilight’s head) Congratulations, Twilight.

(Close-up of it on the end of this, settling onto the dark blue hair, then zoom out as the jewel twinkles under the lights. Her five friends can barely keep their emotions in check, and Twilight waves gratefully to them and everyone from the stage. The noise dies off abruptly.)

Spike: (from o.s., panicked) Twilight! (Zoom in quickly.) HEEELLLP!!

Twilight: Spike?

(The growling-mad little dog is now in the grip of Snips, who tips a nasty wink before he and Snails clear out. To Spike’s credit, though, he nearly gets loose, losing his hat and tie, and has to be briefly restrained by both boys as they go.)

Twilight: (jumping off stage, running across gym) They’ve got Spike!

(Bursting out into the hall, she follows the two delinquents through one turn, but skids out on the next and hits the lockers. A quick look back tells her that the rest of the crew is on the way, prompting her to get back in the chase. Snips and Snails race past Trixie at the vending machine, the six girls barely missing her as they charge by, and make it out of the building. Outside, Twilight bursts through the fire doors, catches sight of the dognappers rounding a corner, and follows them across the lawn. Cut to ground level, the camera positioned next to the base of the statue, as Snips and Snails come around the final turn and head toward it. When Twilight and company start to close in, though, Sunset’s flame-tipped boots plant themselves firmly next to the masonry. Tilt up to her waist, framing the end of a handle or shaft in one hand, then cut to the girls—including a suddenly surprised Twilight.)

(A head-on view of Sunset tells the story: the handle is that of a sledgehammer, which she hefts over her shoulder in preparation to swing at the portal leading back to Equestria.)

Sunset: That’s close enough!

(All stop dead. Overhead view of the standoff, panning slowly from the six to Sunset, then cut to the boys and Spike.)

Spike: Twilight! (Snails clamps a hand over his muzzle to silence him.)

Twilight: Don’t hurt him!

Sunset: (smugly) Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it. I’m not a monster, Twilight. (to the boys) Let him go.

(That order earns a couple of puzzled glances, but they follow it and put Spike on the grass. He runs off; cut to the girls as Twilight kneels to pick him up.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) You don’t belong here. (reaching into view) Give me the crown, and you can go back to Equestria tonight. (Cut to her on the last word.) Or keep it, and never go home.

(She gets ready for the strike, prompting a gasp from the newly crowned Princess.)

Sunset: Tick-tock, Twilight. We haven’t got all night. The portal will be closing on its own in less than an hour.

(On the second half of this line, tilt up to the moon and stars, putting her o.s. The view then shifts to directly behind her heels, framing the scared/nervous/hacked-off girls between them.)

Sunset: (menacingly) So, what’s your answer?

(Twilight cradles Spike for a moment…then slowly reaches up and removes her tiara…then narrows her eyes in an extreme close-up.)

Twilight: No. (Same shot of Sunset.)

Sunset: What?!? (Longer shot.) Equestria! Your friends! Lost to you forever! Don’t you see what I’m about to do to the portal?

(Now Twilight stands up; zoom out slowly to frame the entire group. Applejack has removed her hat.)

Twilight: Yes. But I’ve also seen what you’ve been able to do here without magic. (Spike jumps down.) Equestria will find a way to survive without my Element of Harmony. (Cut to a suddenly unnerved Sunset; she continues o.s.) This place might not, if I allow it to fall into your hands. (Back to her.) So go ahead. Destroy the portal. You are not getting this crown!

(And with that, she plunks it firmly back on her head. One beat of dead silence.)

Sunset: Fine. (raising hammer) You win.

(Instead of swinging for the fences, she lets it drop backwards over her head, barely missing Snips’ and Snails’ feet and carving a deep divot in the lawn. The tension in Twilight’s mind gradually relieves itself as Rainbow rushes up to her.)

Rainbow: You are so awesome! (Here come Applejack and Rarity; the former has her hat back on.)

Applejack: (thumping Twilight on the arm) Can’t believe you were gonna do that for us.

(Cut to a sulking Sunset, with Snails standing glumly behind her.)

Rarity: (from o.s.) It’s no wonder you’re a real live princess.

(Those words set off a quiet growl whose frustration translates into words all too soon.)

Sunset: Oh, yes, she’s so very special!

(She dives across, tackling Twilight to the ground, and the tiara bounces away as the two struggle to reach it. Spike watches it roll past him; Sunset is first to make a grab, but Twilight drags her backwards and the dragon-turned-dog jumps on her head, snatches it in his teeth, and darts away.)

Sunset: (over her shoulder) Grab him, you fool!

(Cut to Snips and Snails on the end of this, they charge after him, but she outpaces both and shoves them down, Snails losing his hat. They get up and resume pursuit, being chased in turn by the girls, and Spike beats paws up the front steps. However, he is stopped short by the closed doors, whose handles are too high for him to reach, and he finds Sunset’s shadow and savagely grinning visage leaning over him.)

Rainbow: (running up, waving arms) SPIKE!! SPIKE!!

(He quickly catches her drift and heaves it to her, but Snips promptly tries to snatch it away. There follows a brief tug-of-war, which ends with the tiara in her hands and him falling on his face, and Snails’ attempt at the steal only earns him a palm shoved into his face to keep him at bay.)

Rainbow: (throwing tiara) Fluttershy!

(Across the way, it bounces off her back, then into her hands when she turns around. Here come the three miscreants straight toward her, throwing her into a panic; Applejack responds by pulling out a coil of rope and lassoing her away so that Sunset grabs nothing but air. The yank causes Fluttershy to lose her grip on the tiara, and Snips is there to make the catch and hold it overhead. His victory is short-lived, though, as Pinkie reaches from behind him to pick it away and hand off to Applejack, who throws it to Rarity, who slings it to Twilight. Her victory lasts just as long; Snips and Snails rush her, causing her to throw the prize backwards out of reflex. Cut to a close-up of it being caught by Sunset.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) I’ll take that! (Ground level, framing her legs in the fore; she straightens up and laughs softly, madly.) At last.

(Spike has all his teeth bared and is ready to go on the offensive, but Twilight scoops him up.)

Sunset: More power than I could ever imagine!

(Once she nestles the tiara among the red/yellow-streaked locks, its jewel starts to hum with black magic and emits a field that courses down over her body. It consolidates into a blue-green pillar of energy, coupled with black bursts issuing upward from the ground, and slowly lifts her clear of her feet as all shield their eyes. Applejack’s hat is blown off by the shock wave. One by one, the girls risk a look at the cataclysm; a few students venture out from the front entrance and gasp softly as well. By now, Sunset has been carried almost to roof level, and in close-up, she opens her streaming eyes to reveal pure white light glowing behind the lids as the tiara blazes madly. Piece by piece, her body reconfigures itself: reddish-pink hide, dark gray jagged-heeled boots, a plume of straight red/yellow hair that begins to wave crazily under the force field’s influence. One final burst whites out the screen.)

(Fade in to a close-up of the new footwear and tilt up. Sunset’s dark gray boots now sport red trim at their tops; she wears a raggedly cut strapless dress slashed with red and yellow and a black belt; her hair is swept up into a fireball-like mass, with a long tail emerging from under the dress; in addition to the red-pink skin, she also sports tattered, two-tone red bat wings and is a good bit taller than before. Her eyes open, revealing black pupils and whites to set off the pale blue-green irises, and laughs wildly upon running them over her new form.)

(She gathers power into her hands and the tiara and lets it blast into Snips and Snails, turning them into demonic creatures similar to her and sending Snips’ hat flying. Each one ends up with a shredded dark gray shirt and boots, both marked with flames to match their new upswept hair; Snips’ is blue, Snails’ orange. In addition, they acquire nasty sharp pointy teeth and forked tongues, and Snails tries his out with an experimental hiss.)

Snips: This is gonna be so cool!

(Everyone but Twilight backs slowly away from the pair’s advance, Rainbow ready to throw some hands. As Applejack trips and tumbles to the grass, Twilight voices a quiet, infuriated growl, having turned her attention elsewhere. The sound of distant screaming snaps her back to the moment; cut to a long shot of the front entrance, where a knot of students has taken cover and others are running for it. The clamor draws Sunset’s gaze, though, and when the camera cuts away from her, they think better of it and race back in through the doors, pulling them shut. Her shadow casts itself across the steps, wings flapping with slow, terrible deliberation; cut to her, landing, on the start of the next line. There is a slight reverberating undertone to her words now, somewhat like that of Queen Chrysalis in Part Two of “A Canterlot Wedding.”)

Sunset: I’ve had to jump through so many hoops tonight, just to get my hands on this crown. (Close-up of the students, seen through the glass; pan as she continues o.s.) And it really should have been mine all along.

(Back to her, one eye twitching above her fang-filled, snarling grimace; suddenly she breaks into a very unsettling smile.)

Sunset: But let’s let bygones be bygones. (tiara powering up) I am your Princess now… (ditto one hand) …and you will be loyal… (Her perspective of the entrance; she closes that hand into a fist.) …to me!

(The gesture envelops the doors in a magical aura and crushes them to rubble, which she whisks away with an easy sidewise flick. Now only a gaping hole stands at the top of the steps, making easy targets of the students who took refuge in the lobby, and they scatter screaming as she swoops in after them. Rather than attack, she puts fingertips to temples and summons up a spell that causes her eyes to burn pure white before manifesting hypnotic spirals and licks of blackest flame. The magic pours down onto the students’ heads to stop them cold, and they turn to present blank white eyesockets to the camera. One after another, Sunset’s thralls begin to moan and shamble zombie-like toward her. She addresses Snips and Snails, now also inside the building.)

Sunset: Round them up and bring them to the portal.

(They salute and run off to do so; she steps out only to find Twilight waiting at the bottom of the steps. The forcibly dethroned Princess is good and sore, and the five friends backing her up are not too happy either.)

Sunset: (aside) Spoiler alert. (to Twilight) I was bluffing when I said I was going to destroy the portal. (Zoom out slightly.) I don’t want to rule this pathetic little high school. (leaning down in close-up) I want Equestria! (gesturing to the students) And with my own little teenage army behind me, I’m going to get it!

(On the end of this, pan away from her to frame them, with her two flunkies hovering above. Flash slogs far enough toward the front of the crowd to give Twilight a good view of him. In close-up, her expression melts into one of purest horror, but shifts into steel-belted resolve just as quickly.)

Twilight: No. You’re not.

(As a chill wind begins to blow around her feet, zoom out to frame Sunset’s hovering pair just above ground level. Cut to a head-on view of her on the start of the next line.)

Sunset: Oh, please. What exactly do you think you’re going to do to stop me? I have magic, and you have nothing!

(She emphasizes the last word by leaning over her adversary and letting her hair briefly flare up into a ball of flame. On the next line, cut to the other five stepping up and ready for a scrap, Applejack settling her hat back in place.)

Rainbow: She has us!

(Twilight grins hugely back at them, but Sunset adopts a snarling grimace and lets one eye start twitching again. All six fall in line amid the swirling winds as the demon’s contemptuous laughter drifts down to them.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) Gee. (Long shot of the face-off.) The gang really is all back together again.

(A fresh bout of the giggles leaves her wiping a tear from one eye; it ends as if slashed off with a knife, and she conjures a ball of energy between her hands as her eyes go pure gray.)

Sunset: Now step aside. Twilight has tried to interfere with my plans one too many times already! (Zoom out quickly; it grows several sizes and she hoists it.) She needs to be dealt with!

(Here comes the pitch, the camera shifting to ride with it straight toward Twilight’s head—but the other girls dive into view around her, ahead and behind, and take it on the chin. The screen flares red and clears to give a close-up of Sunset’s gloating countenance, then zooms out as she laughs wildly. Her eyes have resumed their blue-green/black appearance. Exultation turns into hopeless confusion just before a second, quicker zoom that frames Twilight in the center of a huddle of all five friends. Not only are they completely unharmed, they are in fact being protected by a magenta aura that has sprung up out of nowhere.)

Sunset: What?

(The others step back a pace from Twilight, exposing the hands they have linked to encircle her, and she and they react with no small degree of wonder at this mighty save. She is first to figure it out, having seen it firsthand in Equestria on multiple occasions, and aims a confident finger up at her nemesis.)

Twilight: The magic contained in my Element was able to unite with those that helped create it!

(Cut to Sunset on the end of this; she lowers the hands she has clapped to the stolen tiara, and a beam of the magenta energy lances out from its jewel. It descends to the sextet, having grown so intense that it has partially gone white, and lifts them off the grass. A flare of white fills the screen, and a tumble of apples turns the background to orange-tan. Applejack’s head rises into view, a pair of pony ears materializing under the brim of her ten-gallon hat; tilt down as her tied-back blond hair lengthens nearly to the ground and forms a long tail-like braid. A burst of light and apples around her red silhouette clears to show her standing against a backdrop that depicts a single giant red fruit and four smaller triplets. Each of Twilight’s next five lines is delivered as an echoing voice-over.)

Twilight: Honesty!

(A swarm of butterflies boils up past the lens, the background going yellow behind them, and Fluttershy rises into view. The emergence of her own new ears catches her off guard, followed by a pair of wings sprouting from her back and a tied-off extra length of hair. Her silhouette, pink, is enveloped by a light/butterfly burst; when the view clears, she stands against a giant pink butterfly and three small trios.)

Twilight: Kindness!

(A mass of balloons surges past, the background going pink behind them, and now it is Pinkie’s turn to get her ears and tail-like hair extension. She has a bit of fun by bending over to stare at its trailing end through her legs, then does a quick cartwheel to come up as a magenta silhouette. Light and balloons flare around her and subside, leaving her in a joyful pose against a single huge yellow balloon and many blue/yellow triples.)

Twilight: Laughter!

(Blue gems rain down; behind them, the backdrop goes light blue and the camera shifts to an extreme close-up of one of Rarity’s newly forming ears. She glances warmly back over her shoulder, her hair extending and acquiring a jeweled band on the extra length, and twirls it around herself as a purple silhouette. Blue gems fly everywhere, then a blast of light, and she stands in front of a giant one and many small threes.)

Twilight: Generosity!

(Here comes a rainbow surge; the background goes a darker blue, and Rainbow earns her ears, wings, and extended hair. Her dark blue silhouette executes a spin kick and comes up into a half-crouch as light bursts forth amid a shower of cloud/lightning-bolts. She comes out in front of a huge one surrounded by smaller copies.)

Twilight: Loyalty!

(Rainbow flies o.s., and Twilight’s cutie mark appears at center screen and grows outward to fill the view. Fade in to a close-up of the last girl, rising slowly through her own nimbus of light and with her own new pair of ears.)

Twilight: (echoing) Magic!

(Here come her wings and added hair. Cut to three silhouetted pony girls—Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, a flare of magic burning at Twilight’s forehead—and zoom out slowly to frame all six.)

Twilight: Together with the crown, they create a power beyond anything you could imagine! (Cut to a recoiling Sunset; she continues o.s.) But it is a power you don’t have the ability to control!

(Now all six appear in full detail, the screen split into six vertical panels that show their respective cutie marks. Their outfits have taken on a little extra sparkle.)

Twilight: The crown may be upon your head, Sunset Shimmer— (Close-up.) —but you cannot wield it, because you do not possess the most powerful magic of all! (Zoom out to frame all six; she takes Rainbow’s and Rarity’s hands.) The magic of friendship!

(Now they all join hands to form a heart, the spark at Twilight’s forehead winking out, and a double helix of rainbow beams—red/orange/yellow and blue/green/violet—rips upward from them toward the heavens. The free ends meld into a ball of blinding white light, from which a complete rainbow thunders down toward Sunset.)

Sunset: No!

(She trails off into yells and grunts as the light wraps her up, starting from the toes.)

Sunset: (with effort) What is happening?

(Sparks of all colors rocket up out of the multi-hued tornado that now hides her from sight. Cut to an extreme close-up of one of Twilight’s wings and pan/zoom out to frame the girls floating against an emanation of pure white light. She has closed her eyes and is separate from the other five.)

Twilight: Here and in Equestria… (Eyes open, glowing white.) …it is the only magic that can truly unite us all!

(The rainbow energy boiling around them shoots past Sunset and scores a bullseye on Flash’s forehead, spreading from student to student in a chain reaction and snapping them out of their trance. Its final targets are Snips and Snails, who end up caught in their own tornadoes. Next Twilight closes her eyes and floats tranquilly backwards, letting the brilliance around the group grow to fill the screen.)

(Fade in to a long shot of what used to the front entrance of Canterlot High as the newly recovered students gather cautiously at the top of the steps. From here, cut to a very long shot of the moon and tilt down to the statue and the lawn. The girls are sprawled out and mostly semiconscious, Applejack’s hat having fallen loose. Twilight is completely out, but the o.s. jingle of Spike’s collar marks his approach and he is soon on hand to lick her cheek, waking her up. Once she works herself to a sitting position, she smiles hugely and holds out her arms so he can jump up for a hug.)

(Zoom out slightly as the others gather around; Applejack has her hat back on, and Rainbow flies over. These five stare past Twilight in confusion mixed with a shot of fear; after a moment, she and Spike follow their gaze and have the same reaction. Cut to above the group and zoom out to frame a very large, very fresh, and very smoking crater right in front of them. After a searching gaze into the murk, the camera cuts to Twilight’s perspective as she moves closer to the lip. Her shadow, cast ahead of her, stretches over the form of a once-again-human Sunset crumpled at the bottom.)

Twilight: You will never rule in Equestria!

(Cut to just behind Sunset and tilt up slowly to frame the group.)

Twilight: Any power you may have had in this world is gone! (gesturing to one side; camera pans that direction) Tonight, you’ve shown everyone who you really are.

(The motion frames several students, including Flash and the Crusaders, as they gather at the crater lip.)

Twilight: (now o.s.) You’ve shown them what is in your heart.

(Down below, Sunset straightens partway up, framed in an extreme close-up and looking much the worse for wear. Tears stream from both eyes and over the badly scratched cheeks; she is no longer wearing the tiara.)

Sunset: (softly) I…I’m sorry. (Overhead shot of the lip, panning slowly to frame her.) I’m so sorry. I didn’t know there was another way.

Twilight: The magic of friendship doesn’t just exist in Equestria. (She turns to her friends and smiles.) It’s everywhere.

(Cut to these five. Pinkie takes this statement as the ideal cue to jump up and sweep Fluttershy/Rainbow/Rarity into a gleeful, double-armed headlock.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) You can seek it out. (Back to her, face hardening a bit.) Or you can forever be alone. (addressing the crater) The choice is yours.

(One jacket-clad arm reaches shakily into view and gets a grip on the turf so Sunset can haul head and shoulders up to ground level.)

Sunset: But…but all I’ve ever done since being here is drive everyone apart. I don’t know the first thing about friendship.

(One violet hand reaches down to grip the yellow-orange one, and Twilight braces herself and pulls the repentant teen out of the hole.)

Twilight: (gesturing to the others) I bet they can teach you.

(Applejack has doffed her hat in this shot. Close-up of Spike at several students’ feet.)

Spike: Those are my girls! (standing on hind legs, clapping) Woo-hoo! (Tilt up; the teens react with understandable surprise. One is the drummer in Flash’s band.)

Drummer: Did that dog just talk? Whoa! Weird.

Spike: (a bit snarky) Seriously? The talking dog is the weird thing about all this?

Rarity: (from o.s.) I, for one… (She reaches into view and picks him up; cut to her.) …think you’re adorable. (He gets a hearty scratch behind the ear.)

Spike: (dreamily) Oh, yeah.

(Cut to Twilight, her shining-eyed attention fixed in his direction. Celestia steps up behind her and holds up the tiara, drawing the winner’s attention when she speaks.)

Celestia: I believe this… (Close-up of it, gleaming at chest level.) …belongs to you. (Cut to frame both; Twilight kneels as she continues.) A true princess in any world leads not by forcing others to bow before her…

(Close-up of the bowed head.)

Celestia: (from o.s.) …but by inspiring others to stand with her. (She crowns Twilight; pan to frame the other five as well. Applejack’s hat is back on.) We have all seen that you are capable of just that. I hope you see it too… (She kneels down and gently lifts Twilight’s chin.) …Princess Twilight.

(The junior Princess thinks this over for a second, then smiles and nods.)

Twilight: I do.

(The moment they stand up, cheers erupt from the crowd, startling her almost to the point of jumping clear of her new wings. Cut to just behind her.)

Flash: (from o.s., extending a hand toward her back) Would now be a completely awkward time to ask you for that dance?

(She turns around, finding the guitarist holding out his palm and chewing his lower lip to keep his raging case of nerves in check. He gets it under control and offers a warm smile; the faintest blush comes over her cheeks, but she quickly cuts her eyes away from him to glance skyward. The sight of the moon and three stars gives her pause—but she lets Flash take her hand and voices a tiny giggle while playing with a lock of her hair. He pulls her close to himself, then lets her twirl across the open space.)

Same melody as in the fashion shop, but with a more prominent drum beat

Brisk 4 (E flat major)

(As she whirls past the camera, the view wipes behind her to a gym once again filled with happy dancing students.)

All six: This is our big night

(Pan to Applejack and Macintosh getting down, then to a conga line that includes Pinkie and Rarity.)

We made it happen, now let’s party all night

(Elsewhere, as the Crusaders groove, a multicolored flash whisks Scootaloo away.)

We’re here now, and we worked so hard to make it come around

(Fright turns to elation when the youngster realizes that Rainbow has grabbed her up by the wrists. The athlete swings Scootaloo up onto her back and flashes past the disco ball, grazing it and throwing colored reflections everywhere.)

To tonight, so let’s try to make it last forever

(On the floor, Twilight is dancing in a way that recalls her pony version’s herky-jerk attempts at the art form in “Sweet and Elite.”)

The school lights so bright, beat is pumping through the night

Party’s starting, DJ’s got the music just right

(Flash notices, to his befuddlement, that her moves have shifted distinctly toward the quadrupedal variety, but he just smiles and lets her keep doing her thing.)

All six: Six friends on the way up now

(Cut to an extreme close-up of her beaming face and zoom out; he is now duplicating her style, and DJ P0N-3 is keeping busy at the turntables.)

F major

Six friends here to show you how

(Photo beckons and lifts her camera, and six pony girls and one dragon dog gather in close. Rainbow has let go of Scootaloo.)

This is our big night

(The flash fills the screen and clearsto show the picture. Zoom out slowly and rotate just a bit.)

This is our big night

This is our big night

(As they hold the last note, the view dissolves the six sharing a group hug on the lawn.)

Song ends

(The tableau breaks amid a babel of happy squeals and giggles, leaving Twilight holding Pinkie’s hands.)

Twilight: You’ll look out for her, won’t you?

(Cut to the ruined front entrance, where Sunset stands alone and rests her hands on the exposed, broken stonework.)

Rarity: (from o.s.) Of course we will. (Back to her and Twilight.) Although I do expect some sort of apology for last spring’s debacle.

Twilight: (from o.s.) I have a feeling she’ll be handing out a lot of apologies.

(Rarity’s words suggest that she was the one who got trounced by Sunset at the Spring Fling mentioned in Act Two. During this line, the camera zooms out slightly to frame a stern-faced Luna approaching from behind Sunset. The vice-principal produces a masonry trowel from behind her back and hands it over; pan quickly to her other side as she glances back. Here come a very penitent Snips and Snails, their humanity restored; Snips carries a trowel of his own, and Snails pushes a wheelbarrow full of bricks. These three have evidently drawn building-repair duty as punishment for trying to enslave the student body.)

(Cut to Spike at Twilight’s feet.)

Spike: We better get going.

Twilight: I know we’ve only been friends for a short time—

(During this line, cut to a slow pan across said friends, mingled happiness and sorrow on every face.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) —but I’m gonna miss all of you so much.

(Back to her. The smile stretched across her own cheeks has a quality that suggests she is only using it to keep from crying. She holds it for a long second or two, then lets it go with an exhalation from the bottom of her lungs and turns toward the school statue. As she walks slowly toward it with a more tranquil smile, Spike scurries up to keep pace.)

Spike: That crown really does suit you… (winking) …Princess Twilight.

Twilight: You know what, Spike? I am starting to feel a little more comfortable wearing it. (They stop at the portal.)

Spike: And the wings?

Twilight: (a bit snarky) I’ve been walking on two legs and picking things up with these!

(She holds up both hands, fingers splayed out, on that last word.)

Twilight: Wings? (They step a bit closer.) I’m thrilled that’s all I’ll be dealing with back in Equestria!

(Spike leaps through the magic surface and Twilight follows. A flash, and it is utterly untroubled again, the camera tilting up to frame the slowly drifting moon. Just as in Luna’s Act One demonstration, the shadow over it has drifted to the center to leave a bright ring and the entire moon moves to blot out one of the three stars around it. Dazzling rays shine out around the circumference, and the shadow fades away. On the lawn, the five friends Twilight has just left behind lose their ears, tails, and wings; the change catches Rainbow flat-footed, as she is hovering at the time and thumps heavily down to the grass. Pinkie runs toward the portal, hits it face first, and only succeeds in knocking herself back to the sidewalk. She lifts her head woozily as the other four gather around.)

Pinkie: (moaning sadly) Bummer!

*** From here on in, all characters appear as their normal pony selves. ***

(Dissolve to the room in the Crystal Castle that houses the magic mirror. Twilight’s five friends are waiting here nervously, along with Celestia and Cadence, with Rainbow pacing and the others sitting/standing/lying nearby. A whole lot of nothing happens for several seconds; then the looking-glass blazes white in close-up and a pair of violet rear hooves steps out. Tilt up to frame their owner in full—back in equine form and straining mightily to keep her balance on only those two limbs. Gravity finally wins out over learned behavior, and her front hooves come down safely on the floor. Smiles all around.)

Fluttershy: Twilight! (Rainbow flies over to her.)

Rainbow: Ah, you’re back! (Here comes Rarity.)

Rarity: You’ve got your crown! (A strangling hug from Pinkie.)

Pinkie: I knew you could do it! (Applejack wipes away tears in close-up.)

Applejack: Oh, we were so worried!

Celestia: (from o.s.) Sunset Shimmer. (Pan/zoom out slightly to frame her.) Is she all right?

Twilight: I think she’s going to be fine. (confidently) I left her in good hands. (Rainbow and Rarity trade a puzzled look.)

Rainbow: (shrugging) What are hands?

(Another flare from the mirror, and Spike comes flying out as if shot from a cannon. Restored to dragon form, he slams into Twilight’s rump and tumbles to the floor. Looking himself over to make sure this is genuine, he exchanges an ecstatic look with her. Dissolve to the Ponyville seven and Cadence walking along a corridor.)

Fluttershy: Where did you stay?

Rarity: What did they wear?

Pinkie: Did you have fun?

Applejack: What’d you eat? (Rainbow does a loop-the-loop overhead.)

Rainbow: Would you say she’s just as awesome as me? (Twilight sighs heavily.)

Twilight: I want to tell you everything, I do. But I’m just so exhausted from all the dancing.

Other mares, Cadence: Dancing?!?

(In close-up, the tuckered-out Princess runs flat into the chest of a yellow-tan, gold-armored guard, prompting a yelp from her and a grunt from him. When she looks up from her half-prone position, she finds the face of the stallion she ran into in the prologue, the eyes displaying a very familiar shade of vivid blue. Combined with the now-familiar male voice, this is enough to confirm that he is Flash’s pony counterpart.)

Flash: (helping her up, walking on) We’ve got to stop bumping into each other like this. (His passage earns approving glances from all the others.)

Twilight: (half-dazed, crossing to them) Who is that?

Cadence: He’s a new member of the castle guard. Flash Sentry, I think. Why? (a bit teasingly) Do you know him?

Twilight: (coyly) Not exactly. (She starts down the corridor, the others following.)

Applejack: Ooooh! Somepony’s got a crush on the new guy.

(Cut to Twilight during this line; Rarity catches up to her.)

Twilight: (hastily) No. No, I don’t. (She gets cut off.)

Rarity: (gasping) She does! (Twilight blushes.) She absolutely does!

Twilight: (pulling ahead) Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t even know him. (smiling nervously) He just— (Now Pinkie bounces up, circling her.)

Pinkie: (rapid fire) —totally reminds you of a guy you met in the other world who played guitar and was in a band and helped prove you didn’t destroy all the decorations for a big dance, so you could still run for Princess of the big dance, and then asked you to dance at that dance?

(During this line, the camera cuts back and forth between the two; both stop, the winged unicorn falling into hopeless confusion as she tries vainly to figure out how Pinkie could possibly be dead right in two worlds. The pink wacko finally stops to pull in a 55-gallon drum of air, the camera cutting to just behind her head.)

Pinkie: Right? (Twilight glances briefly at Spike; no help there.)

Twilight: How did you know that?

Pinkie: Just a hunch.

(Here comes a big squeaky grin, and here goes Pinkie, bouncing merrily off down the corridor. Two pegasi, one unicorn, one orange-tan earth pony, and one Crystal Princess look resignedly among themselves; pan to Twilight and Spike standing nearby. She rolls her eyes and smiles at this latest example of the bizarre wisdom that is Pinkie, then puts a foreleg around Spike’s shoulders. Both gaze calmly up toward the ceiling as the camera tilts up to follow. Dissolve to the exterior of the Crystal Castle, framed against a clear blue daytime sky, and tilt up to the light gleaming off its topmost spire. Fade to black.)

CLOSING CREDITS

Bouncy pop melody with backing vocal accent rhythm, fast 4 (D flat major)

A cappella for first line, then bass drum under the second

Vocals by Jerrica Santos

Santos: A friend for life, that’s what you are to me

A friend for life, that’s what you are to me

Light percussion and guitar; accent rhythm out; half-time feel under the lyrics

Santos: I couldn’t see what was right there in front of me

Turned my back and my mind off track, yeah

You saw a world, there was something new entirely

Helped me to see all the possibilities

Percussion builds; bass line in

Oh, like a star in the daylight

Or like a diamond at night

Your light was hidden

From my sight

Original time with accents and full percussion; synthesizer in

Santos: A friend for life, that’s what you are to me

A friend for lif e, that’s what you are to me

Bass/synth/guitar out; same feel as first verse, but original time continues

Santos: Every friendship is tested

You say you’re sincere, but it’s all unclear now

But with a word, everything changes

And just like that, you and I are right back

Percussion builds; guitar/bass in; half-time feel

Oh, like a star in the daylight [star in the daylight]

Or like a diamond at night [diamond at night]

The light will shine

When the time is right

Original time with accents and full percussion; synth in

Santos: A friend for life, that’s what you are to me

A friend for life, that’s what you are to me

Half-time feel under lyrics; guitar/bass out

Santos: When I put my hand out

And I thought I would fall

You knew what I needed

And you came around to fix it all

Guitar/synth out; original time, a cappella, with vocal accent rhythm

Santos: A friend for life, that’s what you are to me

Half-time bass drum in, transitioning to original time

A friend for life, that’s what you are to me

All parts in

A friend for life, that’s what you are to me, oh

[A star in the daylight]

A friend for life, that’s what you are to me

[A diamond at night]

All parts out except vocal accents

Santos: That’s what you are to me

Final note held as song ends

(Near the end of the credits, a human Derpy Hooves appears, dancing in place. Short-sleeved light violet blouse with darker trim at collar and cuffs, yellow necktie, green skirt, white belt, yellow-trimmed white socks with sandals—and, of course, crossed amber eyes and a muffin in her hands.)

MY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS—RAINBOW ROCKS

Prequel Shorts

Written by:

“Music to My Ears” Cindy Morrow

“Guitar Centered” Amy Keating Rogers

“Hamstocalypse Now” Josh Haber

“Pinkie on the One” Josh Haber

“Player Piano” Amy Keating Rogers

“A Case for the Bass” Natasha Levinger

“Shake Your Tail!” Amy Keating Rogers

“Perfect Day for Fun!” Daniel Ingram, Amy Keating Rogers

Directed by Ishi Rudell

Transcribed by Alan Back (ajback@yahoo.com)

Notes: These shorts all occur in the human world that served as the setting for the bulk of

Equestria Girls, and all characters appear as their human versions.

The above list is in chronological order by release date.

Notes at the end of each transcript indicate details that carry over into Rainbow

Rocks; however, they have no effect on the plot.

Although the shorts are set chronologically before the film, this set of transcripts

and the one for the film can be read independently of each other without any loss of continuity or detail.

“Music to My Ears”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to a stoplight showing red during the day. The sounds of passing traffic and honking car horns float up from below, and the light goes green as a bird perches on the support bar and flits away again. Cut to a busy intersection, then to a close-up of two sneaker-clad feet stepping into view next to a streetlight’s base. The shoes are blue with white soles and laces, trim in light blue and bright pink, and a light blue star on each tongue. A tilt up frames the person attached to these feet as DJ P0N-3, headphones around neck and MP3 player in hand as she waits for a break in the traffic.)

(She glances off ahead of herself, the camera quickly swiveling 180 degrees to a pedestrian signal showing the red hand for “don’t walk.” Cut back to her, looking off to one side, and pan quickly to a crosswalk down the block where a car is rolling by. Now she smiles and puts on the headphones, the ambient noise instantly becoming muffled as if it were what she is now hearing. A tap at the player’s controls starts up a thumping electronic beat; as if responding to the rhythm, the light goes yellow and then red, and two cars stop at the crosswalk, one by one.)

(DJ P0N-3 bobs her head slightly, eyes closed and hand tapping against her hip, and the pedestrian signal changes to show the “walk” icon of a green man. Cut rapidly back and forth between it and her, each raising a foot to move ahead; finally she struts into the crosswalk, a small shock wave spreading out from each footfall. The music kicks into a higher gear as soon as she begins to move. She is reflected in the stopped cars’ windshields and front grilles, and the headlights and wipers go in time to the beat.)

(Extreme close-up of one violet sunglasses lens, zooming in slightly by steps as a jagged yellow sound wave signal briefly dances across, then back to her. Once she reaches the other side, the Cutie Mark Crusaders run straight toward her along the sidewalk, Scootaloo on her scooter. She grooves and twirls past them, then spots a policeman directing traffic whose arm movements mimic hers closely. Down comes a bird, swooping past her and up again with a worm clamped in its beak. Zoom in to an extreme close-up of one end, the invertebrate gyrating like a sound wave, then tilt down quickly to a nest that contains two baby birds. They squawk in rhythm, first one and then the other, when the full-grown one lands to dangle the worm above their heads.)

(Zoom out quickly to show this tableau on a building ledge that faces an alley. DJ P0N-3 makes her way past the area, after which the camera cuts to a close-up of a cat jumping onto a car’s roof. Another zoom out, and it yowls and jumps away as the car’s alarm goes off and the music lover strolls down the block. At the curb, it lands in front of a second cat and the two trade angry hisses in a fast rhythm. Next a dog barks several times, dragging its owner past her, and she bumps fists with a teen lounging near a doorway. He whips out a pair of sunglasses, puts them on, and ducks into the building as she stops at a crosswalk; the “don’t walk” signal soon changes in her favor, and the green man flips onto his head and does a breakdancing spin.)

(DJ P0N-3 goes on her way, sound waves briefly pulsing in her lenses above a blissful grin; the other end of the crosswalk puts her outside this world’s version of Sugarcube Corner. The sun umbrellas on two sidewalk tables open and close in a staggered rhythm as she pushes the front doors open. Cut to inside as she steps in, momentarily silhouetted by the light from outside; the music becomes greatly subdued at this point. The action shifts to slow motion, and the view takes on a faint violet tinge and ripples slightly, cutting/panning here and there. Of note: Diamond Tiara checking her cell phone as Silver Spoon sips a drink… DJ P0N-3 sashays past a table, leaving a faint blurred afterimage behind herself, as a girl seated there squirts honey into her tea from a bottle…extreme close-up of the viscous golden flow…she passes Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity at a couch and chair around a table, all of whom wave to her…and finally she reaches the counter and lowers her headphones. Throughout all of this, Pinkie stands out as waving to DJ P0N-3 at normal speed, rather than slow motion with everyone else.)

(Normal color and speed resume when the blue-haired teen steps up to the register, and the music instantly gives way to the usual noises of the shop when the headphones come down. Mrs. Cake is on duty.)

Mrs. Cake: What can I get you?

(A pointed finger is her cue to grab a cupcake with a pair of tongs and drop it into a bag; money is laid down, the snack is picked up, and DJ P0N-3 heads for the street. Once she has the doors open, she gets her headphones back in place and the pounding electronic rhythm resumes. After the doors swing closed behind her, zoom in quickly to an extreme close-up of the handles, then cut to an extreme close-up of a different set and zoom out just as quickly. These are kicked open from the other side to reveal her silhouette and frame, in the background, the rearing-horse statue on the front lawn of Canterlot High School—she has arrived for class. The cupcake and bag have been disposed of.)

(As DJ P0N-3 struts across the lobby, the overhead lights pulse in time and the violet-tinged view resumes. Two students fall in behind her to either side, synchronizing their footsteps with hers, and a classroom door opens to reveal an irritable-looking male teacher who jerks a thumb over his shoulder to motion them inside. His hairstyle is a match for the dark toupee first worn by Cranky Doodle Donkey in “A Friend in Deed,” picking him out as that old jack’s human opposite number. The other two mosey in as DJ P0N-3 continues past; now three lockers are slammed shut, one by one, and she lets the sound wave play across her shades for a moment. Cut/pan to other activities: an athlete girl trying to shove a gym bag into her locker…one eco-kid goofing with a hacky sack as another applauds…Featherweight grinning over his calculator.)

(Cut to a darkened enclosure, the scattered books suggesting the interior of a locker. A door swings open—it is DJ P0N-3’s, and she grabs a book and slams the locker shut, the motion depicted in a quick series of freeze frames timed to a stutter in the music. Out in the hall, she dances in place for a moment before the school bell rings and everyone around her runs into the classrooms. Normal color resumes here, and the music instantly becomes almost inaudible as if being heard by someone not wearing the headphones.)

(She grooves backwards down the hall, alone and in the beat, and thus does not notice right away that a thoroughly disapproving Principal Celestia has planted herself in the path. DJ P0N-3 runs into the official, the headphones falling to her neck and going silent, and wheels to face front with an embarrassed grin. Celestia gives her a “hand them over” gesture, and she reluctantly surrenders the gear.)

(DJ P0N-3 hurries off down the hall at the emphatic pointing of Celestia’s free hand, but slows a bit to watch her head the other way toward a corner. Once the principal has made the turn, she stops, pulls out a set of small earphones, and socks them into her ears. The violet tinge resumes, along with the music, the sound wave on her lenses—and an ear-to-ear smile under a shrewdly cocked eyebrow. Zoom in by steps to an extreme close-up of that jittering yellow line, then snap to black.)

[Note: She will retain her sneakers during Rainbow Rocks.]

“Guitar Centered”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to DJ P0N-3 at a cash register behind a store display counter, listening to her MP3 player and doing nothing of importance. The headphones that Celestia confiscated from her at the end of “Music to My Ears” have been returned. Instruments and gear on the shelves behind her indicate that this is a music store. Zoom out.)

Rarity: (from o.s., affronted) Rainbow Dash!

(These two girls come into view, entering the store and followed by Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie. Rainbow carries a guitar case, and DJ P0N-3 stows the player under the counter.)

Rarity: I simply don’t understand why you can’t just play the guitar you have.

(The latter’s response is to set the case on the counter and open it. A close-up and zoom in show that the electric guitar inside is a wreck: scratches and nicks all over the body, one broken string, and a neck so badly cracked that the tension of the remaining strings has bent the end up. Another one chooses this moment to give up the ghost, prompting a gasp from Rarity.)

Rarity: Now I understand. (Pinkie zips into view behind them, holding up a blue one with black tiger stripes.)

Pinkie: How about this one?

Rainbow: No.

(Close-up of a banjo being held up in the pink hands.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) Looky here!

Rainbow: (from o.s.) No. (Pull it away; hold up a sousaphone.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) Super-groovy! (Back to the others at the counter.)

Rainbow: (exasperated) No, Pinkie.

Applejack: Well, what you lookin’ for?

Rainbow: That’s the problem. (pacing, smacking fist into palm) I need something that looks as awesome as I’m gonna make it sound.

(Feet stop short, eyes bug out, lungs suck in an incredulous gasp, and the camera cuts to her perspective and zooms in. Hanging vertically on the wall, directly in front of her, is a shiny red double-neck model with stars and lightning bolts adorning the body. Back to her briefly, the reflection shining in her pupils as she reaches forward, then to an extreme close-up of her hand grasping one neck. A very short pan brings the other neck into view, a differently hued blue hand taking hold of it, and the camera zooms out to frame its owner—Trixie. The two girls pull the guitar down from its mount and yank it back and forth in time with the next two lines.)

Rainbow: Hands off my guitar, Trixie!

Trixie: I touched it first, Rainbow Dash!

(On the start of the next line, cut to the other four girls, who have crossed the showroom floor to scope out the tussle.)

Applejack: Sounds to me like this is the makin’ for a nice friendly competition.

Rainbow: All right! Let’s see who plays best. (Close-up of Trixie, eyes narrowing.)

Trixie: A shred-off? (Now one of Rainbow.)

Rainbow: Shred on!

(The view briefly constricts to a narrow band that frames her eyes as she says this, then changes to fill the screen again. As soon as Rainbow lifts one open hand overhead, Pinkie hangs down into view with a light gray/white guitar for her to grab by the neck, then rises o.s. again. The sports nut lets go with a grinding riff, which Trixie counters with one of her own on a “Flying V” instrument she has picked up in the meantime. They trade figures again, the screen splitting diagonally for a moment to show both determined faces—Rainbow at top left, Trixie at bottom right—and all twenty fingers race across the strings.)

(The duel continues, with the background behind each girl now a single solid color—blue for Rainbow, purple for Trixie. The camera cuts to the latter and zooms in for a close-up, which turns into a three-way horizontal split screen: guitar head at top, her eyes in the middle, guitar neck/body at bottom. Her playing generates a sound wave that pushes Rainbow back a few steps, but the wild-haired instrumentalist just grimaces and strikes a new series of chords that sets off quite a change. Yellow energy crackles all over both her body and the guitar, her eyes glowing pure white, and the pony ears she sported during the final showdown against Sunset Shimmer in Equestria Girls manifest themselves. In addition, the guitar body and head turn a vivid shade of blue, and the neck goes red with yellow lightning bolts between the frets.)

(Trixie’s jaw drops at the sight, but Rainbow floats higher and higher as her hair elongates into a tail and wings sprout from her back to complete the transformation. She plunges downward while playing a final high-speed riff, one leg extended for a stomp, and hits the floor in a kneeling position. Out comes a rainbow-hued shock wave not unlike the one produced by her pony self when doing a Sonic Rainboom; it pushes Trixie back and throws up a dense cloud of dust.)

(As the view clears, the figures of the five friends gradually appear; the energy that surrounded Rainbow has dissipated. She grins up at their dumbstruck expressions and drinks in the round of cheers and applause that they send her way. Across the showroom, Trixie has lost her guitar and fetched up among the tumbled components of a drum kit; it takes her a second to recover her senses after pushing a loose snare away from her face. Rainbow stands up with the guitar as DJ P0N-3 walks over, carrying the double-neck.)

Rainbow: Check me out!

(She reaches to claim her prize, but pulls her hand back in hesitation and looks down at the one she has just played so well. Cut to her perspective, panning slowly from head to body as she tilts it to catch her reflection in the lustrous surface, then back to her.)

Rainbow: Uh, she can have it. (smiling, hugging guitar) Turns out this is the one that really speaks to me.

(Trixie stares across at her, jaw hanging slack, but returns to full ham mode as DJ P0N-3 crosses with the double-neck, no longer wearing her headphones.)

Trixie: (grabbing it away, holding it up) The Great and Powerful Trixie always wins in the end! (Giggle; Rainbow walks past her.)

Rainbow: (smugly) I doubt it.

(The violet eyes pop wide open at this crack; up at the counter, DJ P0N-3 is back behind the register. Rainbow walks up and hands over some cash, and the group is soon on the way out the door. Trixie glances down at the instrument she now holds; cut to a close-up of the price tag on the back, showing a one and a two and a comma and three zeros, then to her again—now absolutely dumbfounded at the figure.)

Trixie: Twelve thousand dollars?!? (Grimace, then point indignantly out the door.) You’ll pay for this, Rainbow Dash! (Pinkie pokes her head back into the store.)

Pinkie: No, silly. If you want it, you’ll have to pay for it.

(She winks to the camera. “Iris out” around her to black.)

[Note: Rainbow’s guitar will retain its blue/red color scheme throughout all subsequent shorts and Rainbow Rocks.]

“Hamstocalypse Now”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to a close-up of a wall light switch next to a door in a dimly lit room. The door opens and a hand reaches into view to turn on the lights; cut to a longer shot of the area, which includes a receptionist’s counter off to one side. The hand belongs to Fluttershy, and she and Rarity enter with their backpacks slung up. On the floor is a pet carrier with a covered birdcage resting on top. These items, and a basket full of blankets that serves as a bed for a puppy and kitten, indicate that the place is geared toward the care of animals.)

Fluttershy: Thanks for coming, Rarity.

(Close-up of the counter as the two packs are set down on it—yellow with three pink butterflies for Fluttershy, purple with three blue gems for Rarity—then cut back to the girls on the start of the next line.)

Fluttershy: The rescue center needs all the help it can get. (She crosses o.s.)

Rarity: (kneeling, petting puppy) Oh, but of course, darling. (lifting/nuzzling kitten, standing) Helping cute little puppies and kitties will never go out of style.

(Across the way, Fluttershy has come to a large, glass-walled enclosure in one corner. A door leads into a maze of translucent, multicolored tubing pieces and a cage equipped with a hamster wheel. Even from this distance, plenty of stains and splotches can be seen within the brightly hued plastic.)

Fluttershy: (excitedly, opening door) Once a year, a lucky volunteer gets to clean the hamster habitat. I signed up for it months ago to be sure I’d get it.

(On the latter part of the first sentence, cut to a close-up of the assembly and pan/tilt slowly through the filth that can now be seen in all-too-vivid detail. One or two of the little critters are crawling around inside. Cut back to her on the end of this line; she steps to a hatch and opens it as a noticeably unsettled Rarity reluctantly moves closer, having put down the kitten.)

Fluttershy: (calling into tube) Housecleaning!

Rarity: Ooh…uh, Fluttershy, darling…

(Cut to a close-up of a couple of hamsters negotiating a turn in the pipes.)

Rarity: (from o.s.) …aren’t hamsters, uh… (whispering) …rodents? (Fluttershy, kneeling, opens a hatch at floor level.)

Fluttershy: They sure are, but they’re cute and cuddly like bunnies.

(On this line, one of them peeks out and the camera cuts to a close-up of it sniffing the air and slowly emerging. Others soon follow suit.)

Fluttershy: Okay, every-hamster. Follow Rarity into the next room. (leading them out as Rarity cringes out the door) She’ll take good care of you while I give your home a nice scrub.

(The prissy teenager forces herself to give a small smile. Dissolve to Fluttershy plying a cloth on part of the habitat and zoom out to show that the whole rig is now squeaky clean; a bucket of soapy water stands on the floor by her feet. She straightens up and smiles at the end result of her efforts, but a loud pounding from o.s. shakes her out of this self-satisfaction. Cut to the source of the noise: Rarity, seen from inside and banging on the glass in a panic. She backs cautiously away before a salvo of very tiny articles of clothing that are flung up from below; cut to just outside the enclosure door as Fluttershy opens it and steps out, instantly registering shock.)

Fluttershy: Rarity!

(Zoom out quickly to frame more of the room. Hamsters are all over the floor, most of them wearing at least one item and arguing at the top of their squeaky little voices. One is even riding the kitten and twirling a lasso like a cowboy. Rarity is too scared to move amid the tumult or the scatter of other items that litter the floor.)

Fluttershy: What happened?

Rarity: Ooh… (Frightened squeal; jitter in place.) …well, uh…

(She picks up one rodent dressed in a jacket and tie.)

Rarity: …Carl Pettington’s coat just begged to be accessorized. But Amelia Furheart refused to be left out—

(Accompanied by the following. A close-up of this hamster, trying to shake loose; a cut back to her, grabbing up a second one in her other hand; a close-up of it, in a wig, dress, and high heels and blowing a raspberry at the first. The camera then pans quickly to the receptionist’s counter, where several have backed fearfully away from a beefy one chewing on a scarf, which it then imperiously wraps around its neck.)

Rarity: (from o.s.) —and got Curtis Pawpower to chew right through Carl’s little scarf, and before I knew it—

(Back to the scene of the madness.)

Rarity: —I had a habitat-wide feud on my hands! (Pause.) Also, I named them. (The squabbles continue; Fluttershy addresses the floor.)

Fluttershy: Ladies and gentle-hamsters, please!

(Close-up of one pulling at another’s vest on the end of this; they calm down, and the rest of the crowd slowly falls silent.)

Fluttershy: Now I know you’re all upset— (Rarity crosses to her, holding the first two—Carl and Amelia.) —but why don’t we head back into the habitat and talk it over?

(Close-up of the two critters on the end of this; Carl puckers up as if to kiss Amelia, only to get his tie ripped off instead. The brouhaha starts all over again, prompting a gasp from both girls, and Rarity dashes across to empty her backpack onto the counter. The menacing Curtis and a couple of his would-be victims squeal and clear out ahead of her advancing shadow; here she comes, swinging the open bag low to scoop him up into it. As Fluttershy dumps out her own pack, a tambourine falls free, rolling across the countertop and falling to the floor; it rolls a bit farther before dropping onto its side. The sound of its agitated jingles instantly pacifies and hypnotizes the little guys, and Fluttershy picks it up and begins to play, shaking and striking it against hand and hip. The mesmerized spiral in the hamsters’ eyes plays briefly across the whole screen as they begin to move toward her, totally stupefied.)

(One deft toss carries the tambourine almost to the ceiling; when the animal lover leaps to catch it in an upraised hand, her pony ears, wings, and tail come into being as a sparkly glow outlines her physique. She floats gently back down to ground level, shaking out a quiet rhythm as the aura dissipates and Rarity crosses to her with backpack still in hand. The hamsters move single file to re-enter the habitat’s floor hatch; once they are all in, she closes the door.)

Rarity: Huh. I never would have guessed hamsters could be so touchy about fashion.

(Zoom in quickly to an extreme close-up of the bag, from which Curtis smugly pokes his head out to snap his fingers three times while moving that forelimb in a Z pattern. Fade to black.)

“Pinkie on the One”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to Pinkie and Granny Smith in a room of Canterlot High. The lunch lady holds a bowl of batter in one arm and lifts a wooden spoon to it. Mixers on the countertop, and the cabinets mounted above, suggest that this is a home economics classroom.)

Granny: Just remember. (stirring) The most important things about sugar-butter-cocoa cookies is to fold your batter. (She passes the bowl to Pinkie.) Too much arm-turnin’ll make your cookies tougher than a lump of coal.

(She winks on the end of this, then walks away as Pinkie drops the bowl onto the table in front of her. A quick one-handed twirl of the spoon, and she is ready to start working the batter. Enter Rainbow.)

Rainbow: Come on, Pinkie. You’re supposed to help me find a drummer for my band. (Cut to Pinkie on the end of this, folding merrily away.)

Pinkie: I guess I could fold a little faster.

(A careless flick of the spoon sends a glob in Rainbow’s direction, after which she thinks for a second and then grins as a brainstorm hits. She quickly ducks down and starts rooting through the cabinets underneath the countertop, sending kitchen implements flying past Rainbow.)

Rainbow: Most people don’t know how hard it is to find someone who can use both hands the way a drummer does.

(Back to Pinkie on the second half of this; she has procured a second full bowl and spoon and starts mixing both at once.)

Pinkie: (lifting them off table, still stirring) I’ll bet!

(Now the spoons fly even faster, and the bowls sail up and over her head to barely miss one another in close-up. They fall o.s., a loud crash and splat marking their touchdown; cut to Granny, who glances back from a cabinet of supplies. Her eyes pop in surprise, and she manages a strangled cry of shock; across the room, one bowl lies on the table, the other upside down on Rainbow’s head. Both she and Pinkie are thoroughly splattered with the sweet stuff. Pinkie gives a big, squeaky, sheepish grin as Rainbow glares and growls at her.)

(Dissolve to a long shot of the pair, cleaned up and on the sidelines of the school soccer field, with a banner spread out on the grass. It is daytime, and a player jogs past in the foreground. As Rainbow speaks, cut to a close-up of her and Pinkie. The cloth is blank and white, weighted down with rocks at the corners, and a couple of small cans of paint are on hand, with Rainbow holding a brush.)

Rainbow: Now, it’s important that our banner look awesome. (dipping into can, starting to paint) So feel free to use as much glitter as you want.

(Pinkie looks off to one side, beams, and zips away. As the athlete continues, she returns just as quickly with a large shaker can.)

Rainbow: A drummer can’t just be anybody.

Pinkie: Oh, of course not!

(She inverts the container and begins to tap on its closed end with a palm, dispensing puffs of purple glitter from the holes in the lid. A couple of individual taps quickly transition into a rhythm of quick strokes, the can gripped under one arm as if it were a hand drum. Rainbow pays no mind.)

Rainbow: They need to have the right instincts, you know?

Pinkie: Totally!

(Pivoting in place, she faces away from Rainbow and aims the lid toward her, gripping the can between her knees. Only now does the wild-haired painter glance up to take in the spectacle of Pinkie dispensing both flurries of beats and clouds of glitter. One last thump produces enough of the sparkly particles to completely fill the screen; when the haze clears, the view has shifted to a close-up of Rainbow, irate and tinted purple from top to toe. Zoom out as she coughs up a little bit and glares daggers at an innocently smiling Pinkie, who has set the can on the banner upside down and knelt behind it, elbows on the bottom and head resting on palms. The banner—and several square feet of surrounding turf—are liberally covered with glitter, but Pinkie herself is entirely clean.)

(Dissolve to the cafeteria during lunch. Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Rarity are eating together, Applejack and Rarity across from the other two. Rainbow is once again clean.)

Rainbow: It’s gotta be someone with a lot of… (Close-up of the table; Pinkie squirts syrup from a bottle into her glass of milk.) …energy.

Pinkie: (stirring) Absolutely!

(Once she has the syrup mixed in, she regards her spoon with a big smile and begins tapping out a fast rhythm against the rim of the glass. The fork is soon brought into play, but as before, Rainbow is oblivious.)

Rainbow: I mean, a lot.

(By now, Pinkie is on her feet and really getting into the impromptu percussion performance.)

Rainbow: Energy, enthusiasm…

(Which the magenta-haired goofball shows off by banging the table hard enough to shake all four girls’ trays out of place. Applejack makes a snatch to save her sandwich and milk, then kneels on the table to grab the ends of Pinkie’s utensils.)

Applejack: Pinkie!

Pinkie: Whaaaat?

(She goes right back to it as soon as Applejack lets go, then zips away from her seat.)

Rainbow: They have to be able to carry the whole band on their shoulders.

(Now Pinkie taps her way along the table’s edge, working her way up Rainbow’s left side, across her head, and down the right without missing a beat.)

Rainbow: (growling after her, standing up) PINKIE!

(Cut to the other side; Pinkie keeps going between Applejack—now seated again—and Rarity.)

Rarity: We have got to find an outlet for all that energy!

(During this line, the fork and spoon tap against the table, both girls’ trays, and their heads. Cut to Rainbow, whose fed-up expression shifts into a popeyed stare and then a huge grin as the camera zooms into an extreme close-up—inspiration has struck. From here, cut to Pinkie seated behind a drum kit and pounding away with gusto, the camera zooming out to frame the treble clef and musical notes on the wall behind her. This is evidently a practice room, and the kit’s bass drum displays a horseshoe with rainbow fire and stars shooting from its open end. The other three girls, now joined by Fluttershy, marvel at the speed with which her sticks range over the whole kit.)

(As she keeps cranking out faster and faster riffs, her entire body starts to sparkle and her pony ears emerge from underneath the mass of fluffy hair. The sparkle turns into a glow, and she rises partway off the stool as her hair extends into its long, tied-back tail to complete her half-pony transformation. Cut to a pan along the other four, who voice assorted exclamations of surprise, then back to the kit. One final twirl, one last turbocharged burst of strokes, and Pinkie lands back on the stool to hit both cymbals at once. The magic fades away, leaving her half-crazed, panting for breath, and with hair noticeably disheveled.)

Rarity: (to Rainbow) Whatever made you think of Pinkie for the drums?

Rainbow: I don’t know. Guess I just have a sense for these things.

(Pinkie plays a sting and grins broadly. Fade to black.)

“Player Piano”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to the front lawn of Canterlot High during the day. As students congregate at the front lawn statue and walk along the street, Rarity struggles mightily to push a grand piano along the walkway toward the school. Long scrapes on the concrete tell of her progress so far, which is painfully slow. Finally she stops to catch her breath, the camera cutting to a close-up that frames her badly disordered hair and the sweat running down her face.)

Rarity: Come on, Rarity! You simply must get this piano to band practice! (Another couple of heaves.) What kind of person doesn’t put a piano on wheels?

(On her next attempt, with her back against the instrument, she loses her grip and slides to the ground. She gets up with a piteous little whine.)

Rarity: (dusting herself off) Just look at me! I’m a mess.

(Cut to her perspective, panning across the grassy area near the front entrance. On the next line, the camera passes a trio of gray-skinned boys, one of whom is digging a hole with a shovel, then back-pedals and zooms in to a close-up. The vests, heights and builds, beady eyes with yellowed whites, and jeweled collars around the three necks mark them as human counterparts of the Diamond Dogs who figured in “A Dog and Pony Show.” A bowl filled with rocks sits on the ground nearby.)

Rarity: What I need is a bit more muscle! (Back to her; she calls to them, all come-hither.) Oh, boys…

(They look up to find her patting her hair back into place and aiming her most alluring smile at them. All three faces break into ear-to-ear grins, and all six pupils become blue lozenge-shaped gems that match the ones on her skirt. Wipe to a close-up of Rarity, framed from the shoulders up and moving down a school hall.)

Rarity: I simply cannot thank you enough.

(A longer shot reveals that she is now sitting on top of the piano, which is being carried by the straining Dogs.)

Rarity: And while I am a bit repulsed by your musky smell— (They smile up at her.) —I can appreciate that you are diamonds in the rough.

(The boys stop in their tracks, finding a dense crowd of students stretching all the way to the end of the hall, then proceed to bulldoze their way straight through. Teens go flying every which way as discordant random notes sound off due to the contact of bodies against piano keys.)

Rarity: Excuse me…Pardon me…Excuse me… (Head-on view of the crowd, she is carried toward the camera.) …Thank you!

(Fade to black as the face of the lead Dog fills the screen.)

(Snap to the practice room. Applejack sits on the risers at one side, a bass guitar in her lap—golden brown body shading to darker brown near the edges, with a light tan border. Fluttershy stands nearby, looking over sheet music on a stand; Pinkie sits on a bench, tapping idly at a snare drum. Rainbow stares at a wall clock for a few seconds, guitar slung up, then turns away from it with an irritated groan.)

Rainbow: Where is Rarity?

Applejack: That gal prob’ly just wants to make some sorta grand entrance.

(The doors burst open and the Dogs push the piano inside.)

Rarity: Ta-da!

Applejack: Told you.

Rainbow: Rarity— (Who hops down and brushes dust from her hands.) —couldn’t you have chosen a more portable instrument?

Rarity: Heavens, no. (walking back to piano) The grand piano is the most refined and elegant of instruments. (Chord.) With it, I will be able to express my full musicality.

(Before she can get her fingers onto the keys to make her point, the ringing of a kitchen timer cuts her off. Cut to a close-up of it in Pinkie’s hand, then zoom out to frame both her and Rainbow on the start of the next line. The drummer is now standing by a shelf, and the guitarist has returned her instrument to its case and is holding it.)

Rainbow: Well, our time’s up. (Pinkie tucks the timer away in her hair.) I guess we’ll have to move our practice to the gym.

Applejack: (to Rarity) Guess you’re gonna express your “full musicality” clear across campus. (She makes air quotes on “full musicality.”)

Rarity: Huh?! (Dejected moan; Pinkie jumps up to sit on the lid.)

Pinkie: Or… (holding up a keytar) …you could play this!

(Close-up of it, panning slowly from the keyboard portion to the controls on the neck.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) It’s part guitar, part keyboard. (Cut to her, with Rainbow in the background.) It’s a guitar-key! (Focus shifts to Rainbow.)

Rainbow: You mean a keytar. (Back to Pinkie.)

Pinkie: (shrugging) Po-tay-to, to-mah-to…

(Rarity takes hold of the instrument and begins to play a funky line.)

Rarity: Ooh! Ooh! Oh, my!

(As the Dogs watch entranced from the sidelines and the other girls gather around, she adds a lower harmony and twirls in place, her fingers now flying over the keys. A drum part comes in at this point. Shafts of golden light radiate out from under her touch, and a sparkly glow envelops her form to lift her clear of the ground. Her pony ears manifest themselves, then her tail, and now she is all the way into the groove. The others watch from the floor, having put their instruments aside. The next two lines overlap.)

Applejack: Will you look at that!

Rainbow: Cool!

(Rarity lands on the piano and slides across its lid on her knees to finish the solo, the corona fading away to nothing. The next two lines also overlap.)

Pinkie: Wowee!

Fluttershy: Oh, my goodness!

Applejack: Well, then. How ’bout you take that keytar and move your tail to our next rehearsal space?

Rarity: (rolling eyes) Fine, fine. (addressing herself o.s.) I don’t suppose…

(Cut to the Dogs on the receiving end of this last; they grin, nod, and zip to it, and the other girls can only stare in confusion as Rarity and the piano are carried out of the practice room. She whips off one last run of notes before the view fades to black.)

“A Case for the Bass”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to the exterior of a farmhouse and separate barn during the day, with assorted items spread out on tables and a rug. A yard sale is in progress, and the apples painted onto both structures mark the property as this world’s equivalent of Sweet Apple Acres. The driveway leading from the curb to the barn indicates that it does double duty as a garage. A couple of teens are looking over the wares, and Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Rarity are gathered around Granny, seated behind the central table. Zoom in slowly.)

Applejack: (wearily) Okay, Granny, one more time. (Close-up of the group; Granny puts money into a cash box.) When you accidentally sold my bass at the garage sale—

(She closes the box; cut to a close-up of the family matriarch.)

Applejack: (from o.s.) —who did you sell it to? (Granny thinks hard for a second.)

Granny: Yeah, I—I sold it to the owners of that new pawn shop, uh…uh, Flibbity-Flabbity, somethin’ like that.

(Dissolve to a close-up of a bell hanging above a closed door, seen from inside. It rings to mark an entrance; after the door closes, cut to the five girls now inside this place. Around them is a diversity of price-tagged items—this can only be the aforementioned pawn shop—and they look around with varied excitement, skepticism, and unease. All ten eyes pop wide open just before the camera zooms out to stop behind the heads of two men in blue/white-striped vests, white shirts, and dark gray bow ties. Their carefully styled red hair is streaked with white, and one man has a mustache—the human version of the Flim Flam Brothers. Flim, the clean-shaven one, speaks up; on the start of the next line, cut to a head-on view of the pair. The shirt sleeves are rolled up, and both wear white pants, gold-buckled belts, and two-tone shoes. Red belt and blue/white shoes for Flim, dark gray belt and red-white shoes for Flam. In addition, each wears a pin on his vest that matches his pony self’s cutie mark; Flim has a single apple slice, Flam an apple with one slice cut out. They do not wear the boater hats favored by their counterparts.)

Flim: Welcome to the grand opening of the Flim Flam Brothers’ Everything-Under-the-Sun Emporium!

Flam: If you want it… (Flim jumps into his arms…)

Flim, Flam: …we’ve got it!

(…then zips away. On the following lines, each speaker quickly procures and demonstrates/shows off the named item.)

Flim: Need a pogo stick?

Flam: A bowling ball?

Flim: A stuffed clown?

Flam: Whatever this is!

(“This” happens to be a metal helmet studded with lights and wired to a control unit.)

Applejack: (gesturing off to one side) I’d like that bass.

(Quick pan to her bass, on display with a keyboard and saxophone under a glittering disco ball. Flim quickly grabs it up as Flam tosses the helmet aside.)

Flim: I can give you this bass for a non-negotiable price of one thousand dollars. (Applejack is floored, Rarity indignant.)

Rarity: Why, you only paid Granny Smith two dollars for it!

Flim: (passing it to Flam) Yes, well, we have to cover our overhead and transportation costs.

Applejack: Listen. Granny never shoulda sold my bass. I’ll give you the two dollars back and we’ll call it even.

(Cut briefly to the fraternal hucksters on the end of this, then back to the girls. Applejack holds up the money as the others voice agreement.)

Flim, Flam: Likely story! (By now, Flim has taken the bass from Flam.)

Applejack: It is! That’s my bass!

Flim: (holding it up) And can you prove that this is in fact your bass?

Rarity: Her initials are monogrammed right on the strap!

(Back to the brothers during this line; Flam bends down for a closer look, and the camera zooms in quickly to an extreme close-up. Sure enough, a gold “A.J.” is stamped onto the leather. Cut to Flam, straightening up.)

Flam: That could mean anything! It could stand for… (Pan to Flim.)

Flim: …Aardvark Junior! (To Flam, popping up by Rarity.)

Flam: Anvil Jokers! (To Flim, leaning toward Fluttershy.)

Flim: Or Animal Jane!

Flam: Why, I’ll bet you don’t even play the bass, Applejack… (Cut to her, disbelieving, on this last; now he gets in her face.) …if that is your real name.

(She backs off just in time for Rainbow to take her place and back the mustachioed man down.)

Rainbow: Of course that’s her real name! (Pan quickly to Pinkie riding a rocking horse.)

Pinkie: And she does play the bass!

(The farm girl takes advantage of the momentary distraction to get it out of Flim’s grip and sling it up. Right fingers dance across the strings while the left ones race up and down the neck, cranking out a solo that would make any veteran bassist sit up and take notice and throwing out faint sound waves. Beaming smiles take hold on the faces of Fluttershy and Rainbow as she works her way up to a higher register; on the other hand, Flim and Flam look as if someone has just hit them upside the head with a two-by-four. One last attack on the strings turns the whole background red, leaving her visible only as a silhouette on which her pony ears and long tail-like braid appear. In addition, new white-glowing features appear on the body and neck of her bass and pulses of blue energy radiate in all directions.)

(Cut to Flim and Flam, in danger of having their faces and hair peeled off by the sonic blast. Normal color has resumed over here; when the view cuts back to Applejack and company, the red hue fades away here as well. The alterations to her instrument can now be seen in full detail: two F-shaped sound holes on the body, one above and one below the strings; an apple and decorative etching on the body; small apples between the frets. The other four stare incredulously for a moment before breaking into wild cheers.)

Flim: (cautiously) Perhaps this is her bass.

(And its owner smugly proffers the two dollars once again—but Flim just shakes his hair back into place and some sense back into himself, resuming in his usual fast-talking manner. As he speaks, Flam sorts out his own coiffure and straightens his mustache.)

Flim: But there are still the transportation costs and overhead.

Flam: Don’t forget the stocking fees! (Flim throws an arm across his shoulders.)

Flim: Wouldn’t dream of it, brother!

(Cut to a crestfallen Applejack; she sighs and drops her head, but the other four lean over in front of her, ready to throw some hands and/or very harsh words. The sight of such rancor—and the sound of a low growl from Rainbow’s throat—prompt the brothers to do a bit of very fast rethinking.)

Flam: Then again, I suppose we could make some sort of trade?

(Close-up of Applejack on this last word; she brightens considerably at the suggestion. From here, dissolve to a close-up of her—tired, out of sorts, and wearing some sort of tall yellow costume that extends above her head. Her half-pony transformation has been undone, and a slow walking bass line is heard. Zoom out as she speaks, revealing that she is wearing a banana suit over her usual clothes and playing on the sidewalk outside the pawn shop. Her cowboy hat hangs from the suit’s stem on the upper end. Granny shuffles slowly toward her, passing under the gaudy lights and stars that adorn the marquee above the entrance.)

Applejack: (woodenly, loudly) Come on down to the grand openin’ of the Flim Flam Brothers’ Everythin’-Under-the-Sun Emporium! (Granny stops short.)

Granny: Since when do you play the bass?

(Her granddaughter plays a quick flurry of notes, then claps a hand to her face in disgust. Snap to black.)

“Shake Your Tail!”

Note: The song in this short is the same as the one performed by the Rainbooms

during the first round of the Battle of the Bands, in Act Two of Rainbow Rocks.

Quiet electric guitar melody, fast 4, with bass drum/tambourine on 2 and 4 (D major)

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to the closed doors of the Canterlot High gymnasium, seen from inside. They swing open to admit Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Rarity, who survey the expanse of open floor and stage space. Twilight is carrying a clipboard.)

All six: We’ve just got the day to get ready

And there’s only so much time to lose

(Various thoughts run through the six heads, and Rarity uses her thumbs and forefingers to frame something in the distance and looks through them with one eye squeezed shut.)

Because tonight, yeah, we’re here to party

So let’s think of something fun to do

Synthesizer, bass, additional percussion in; tambourine out; intensity builds

Background lyrics in square brackets

(Pinkie runs across with an armload of flowers, some of which tumble loose to fill the screen. As they drift past, the view behind them wipes to show the other five dressed in flowers, leis, grass skirts, and sleeveless tops for a luau. They seem caught out at the quick change, which turns out to include a complete Hawaiian setting behind them when the camera zooms out. Twilight has been relieved of her clipboard. Pinkie emerges from the grass-hut backdrop, attired as the others and playing a ukulele.)

All six: We don’t know [we don’t know] what’s gonna happen

(She gets a bit too wild with her dance, knocking over the scenery; a round of unhappy shrugs, and she gives one of her own with a big silly grin.)

We just know [we just know] it’s gonna feel right

(Rainbow leans into view in the fore to blow a whistle; zoom out to frame a row of soccer balls on the floor and an archery target off to one side. She and Applejack are back in their normal clothes, as everyone else will be when next seen, and Applejack looks uncertainly at the basketball she holds. Across the way, Fluttershy and Rarity—in front of a soccer goal—get the cake and tray of drinks the hold thoroughly disrupted by a sudden barrage of goal shots. Twilight and Pinkie run flat into each other and fall to the floor while trying to catch the basketball—which bounces into the punchbowl. Applejack grabs a second one out of Rainbow’s grip and emphatically shakes her head no.)

All our friends are here, and it’s time to ignite the lights

Tambourine and full percussion in

(Cut to a microphone on a stand. Rainbow leans into view to sing, Twilight pops up with one of her own, and Rarity joins at one on a separate stand. Rainbow and Rarity have their instruments, and Pinkie, then Applejack, and finally Fluttershy get theirs working. All six are dressed in glittery outfits and are sporting their pony ears/tails/wings, with rainbow streaks of various colors in the extended hair. In addition, each girl has a single symbol from her cutie mark stenciled around one eye, with Rainbow showing only the lightning bolt from hers.)

All six: Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

(Cut to a pan through a gym full of grooving students, then to DJ P0N-3 working her turntables under the scattered light spots thrown by an o.s. disco ball, then back to the band.)

Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

Percussion drops back to bass drum/tambourine 4-beat pattern; guitar, bass out

(Fluttershy’s head rises into view in the fore, just in time to get a cowboy hat plunked onto it. Zoom out; the gym is now set up for a farm-style hoedown, and all but Pinkie are in view and wearing hats and cowboy boots. All are back in their street clothes, their transformations reversed, and none but Applejack are particularly happy with the new décor. The party planner leaps into view, kitted out as the others, and lands on a mechanical bull that pitches her over the others’ heads to crash o.s. She ends up on a stack of hay bales, pushing her hat back out of her face and cheering wildly.)

Twilight: So what, you didn’t get it right the first time

Pinkie: Laugh it off, no one said it is a crime

(Rarity’s eyes rise into view in extreme close-up, framed by a jeweled gold masquerade mask; zoom out to frame her wearing an extravagant blue/yellow gown. All but Pinkie stand here, surrounded by formal decorations, and regard the masks they have been given with great puzzlement. The hats and boots have been removed. Close-up of Applejack, panning down the line four as they put these on in time: apple for Applejack, butterfly for Fluttershy, stylized eyeglasses for Twilight, jeweled starburst for Rainbow.)

Rarity: Do your thing, you know you’re an original

Applejack: Your ideas are so funny that they’re criminal

All instruments in for next line

(The pan continues to frame a grimacing tiki mask, and the camera zooms out to show Pinkie holding it in front of her face. The sight of it scares the other four in the line off their feet and out of their masks, and Pinkie and Rarity glance confusedly down at the pile of friends, Pinkie grinning sheepishly.)

All six: Oh-h-h, ah

Same instrumentation and style as at start

(A book is slammed shut in the fore; zoom out to show Twilight holding it and standing in front of the stage, on which an equation-covered blackboard has been set up. Scale models of the planets are hung on the top edge. The rest of the surrounding area sports a plethora of library shelves and a study table. Eyeing the board, she pumps an enthusiastic fist as she turns to face the gym.)

All six: We’ve just got the day to get ready

(Her face falls; cut to a worried Rarity back in her school clothes and pan in steps to a bored Applejack, then Pinkie throwing a paper airplane. Follow the craft past a concerned Fluttershy and stop on Rainbow, sitting slumped over a desk and fast asleep as it nose-dives to crumple against her head.)

And there’s only so much time to lose

(A flock of planes sails past the camera; behind them, the view wipes to show the place now set up as a petting zoo. Every animal in sight is bedecked with party hats and lights, and Fluttershy strokes a deer’s chin while holding this world’s version of Angel, her pony self’s rabbit.)

Because tonight, yeah, we’re here to party

(Rainbow rushes by, chased by far too many birds for her comfort, and passes Applejack/Pinkie/Rarity at the refreshment table. Pinkie chomps from a trough of vegetables alongside a sheep, but the other two are having trouble wrangling the livestock and a chicken scurries past with Twilight in hot pursuit.)

So let’s think of something fun to do

Synth, bass, additional bass drum beats in; tambourine out; intensity builds

(Rainbow runs back the way she came; behind her, the view wipes to her and Twilight, sitting on the again-bare gym floor and looking down in the dumps. The athlete toys with a soccer ball in one hand, then tosses it to bounce past the others, each with a prop from her idea for the big party.)

All six: We don’t know [we don’t know] what’s gonna happen

We just know [we just know] it’s gonna feel right

(Rainbow gets a flash of inspiration and snaps her fingers, getting the others’ attention, then reaches up past the top edge of the screen and pulls a rainbow banner down into view. Behind it, the scene wipes to a long shot of the six in the gym, which has now been tricked out with elements from all of their plans. The rainbows are also in effect at every level from ceiling to floor. Zoom in slowly, then cut to a close-up of Rainbow getting a hearty round of congratulations from the others. She jumps nearly to the ceiling, a flash of light bringing about her half-pony change and putting her guitar and performance outfit in place.)

All our friends are here, and it’s time to ignite the lights

Tambourine and full percussion in

Background lyrics are shouted by Applejack and sung by other members

(By the time she touches down on the stage, the others have undergone their own changes and procured their instruments to play for a packed house. Twilight and Fluttershy throw armloads of blue/yellow Wondercolt pony ears and tails into the crowd—the ones they used to boost school spirit in Equestria Girls.)

All six: Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

(DJ P0N-3, wearing one of each, gets funky behind her decks.)

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

(Even old Granny does a little bit of dancing, with a couple of nearby students copying her.)

Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

(Apple Bloom, riding on the shoulders of Big Macintosh, bats a beach ball over the crowd.)

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

(Now everyone, both onstage and off, is well and truly caught up in the party atmosphere, with ears and tails in abundance among the crowd.)

Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

A cappella

(Cheers beneath the final line; Rainbow ends up on her knees alongside the others.)

Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

Song ends

(Balloons drift down from above in the foreground, the view wiping to black behind them.)

“Perfect Day for Fun!”

Peppy guitar/bass line with tambourine and bass drum beats, fast 4 (C major)
Drums sneak in just before first line

Words in capital letters are shouted rather than sung

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card. Three vertical panels slide into view from above and below to fill the screen: Twilight at center, Applejack/Rainbow at right, Rarity at left. The two lone girls are quickly joined by Fluttershy and Pinkie, respectively, and Twilight, Rainbow, and Rarity each pull out a cell phone and start typing. Close-ups of the three phones slide into view to fill the panels, each displaying a text message with the cutie marks of the pair using it.)

(The phones are pulled away to reveal a slow pan across a nighttime carnival in full swing on the Canterlot High lawn. Three text balloons appear, each first showing one pair’s marks and then changing to show the other four and a question mark—“we’re here; where are you?”)

All six: Oh, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-h-h, oh-h

Oh, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh

(The phones drop into view, then slide away to a quick tilt down from the upper reaches of a roller coaster. Twilight and Fluttershy walk past it, then race off once the bookworm checks her phone and points ahead with a grin. Elsewhere, Rarity runs an eye over hers and gets a surprise when Pinkie pops up alongside with two ice cream cones; she ditches these, and both hurry away. Next Rainbow looks at her screen and runs off, tossing aside the apple she is eating. She leaves Applejack to fish her head out of an apple-bobbing barrel, spit out the fruit she has snagged, and catch up.)

All six: Looking forward to some fun, knowing all our friends will come

’Cause we’re here to spend the day, everybody come and play

(Three-way split screen of the pairs, replaced by an icon of a photo booth. Three horizontal panels slide past, each showing two sprinting girls.)

Let’s all pick a meeting place, and we’re gonna have to race

(Behind them, the view wipes to an overhead shot of an unoccupied stage, with a poster set up at a front corner. The three duos charge past in different directions, barely missing each other.)

A cappella for second half of next line

Everybody follow me, this is where we’re gonna BE

(Zoom in quickly until the picture fills the screen and the image starts to move: all six girls performing onstage with their instruments, as well as the glittery outfits and rainbow-haired half-pony transformations from “Shake Your Tail!” Pan slowly across the ensemble.)

All instruments and synthesizer in

All six: With my best friends

Though we’re different

We feel like we still belong

(New panels slide in: one for each pair on the right half of the screen, a phone on the left. A quick series of texts pops up, to the effect that the girls agree to meet at the photo booth. They are back in their street clothes.)

And every day it makes our friendship strong

Synth out

(Off they go, the screen clearing to show a “high striker” game as Applejack and Rainbow hurry over to it. Rainbow is first to swing, then Applejack with a better effort; finally the weight hits the bell—and the farm girl realizes that Spike, in his dog form, has sneaked in to best them both.)

All six: Let’s go find more games to win, everybody’s joining in

’Cause we’re having such a blast

Applejack: (spoken) Hey, did I just come in last?

(Close-up of a Whac-a-Mole game in progress, then zoom out. Fluttershy has the mallet, but instead of pounding the critters, she pets one as it pops up from its hole. Twilight approaches with a Discord doll, only to be greatly surprised when the animal lover smacks it away.)

All six: Doesn’t matter, win or lose, when we always are amused

(Pinkie walks up to Rarity, who is about to get some cotton candy. The latter is surprised to see Pinkie holding a serving the size and shape of her own head and eating a hole through the center so she can see out. Both laugh at the sugary silliness.)

All instruments except bass drum out for second half of next line

My friends stand out in a crowd, having fun and laughing LOUD

(Cut to a cheering crowd and zoom out to put Twilight in the fore, at the edge of the stage. She and the rest of the band are tricked out and performing again.)

All instruments and synth in

All six: With my best friends

We can depend

(Zoom out from a close-up of her, Fluttershy, and Rainbow to put them on the screen of the center phone in a row of three. The others show empty stretches of stage, but Fluttershy and Rainbow move off to either side and appear on these. Pan away to show three more phones that individually display Applejack, Rainbow, and Pinkie, and a seventh showing the photo booth.)

They will always follow through

It’s the perfect day for fun when I spend it with you

(This last one stays at center screen as the others are pulled away, then drops out of sight to show the real thing—two of them, to be exact. Pinkie and Rarity rush into one, Applejack and Rainbow into the second, and neither pair sees the other’s arrival. Normal appearances have resumed again. Here come Twilight and Fluttershy, who find themselves at a loss, and the texts start flying again. Twilight says she and Fluttershy are present and wonders where the others are, and each pair signals which booth they are in. Both booths then send up a “???” message of surprise, and all six girls finally catch sight of each other once the occupants peek out.)

All six: Oh, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-h-h, oh-h

Oh, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh

(Twilight and Fluttershy run toward the booths; cut to inside one as the whole group crowds in. A series of flashes shows the results on a cell phone screen: Pinkie crowding to the front…Rainbow hogging the focus…Twilight pointing frantically at her own phone…her legs caught in mid-sprint away from the booth.)

Synth out

All six: Taking photos with my friends, never want this day to end

But the time is going fast, so come on and make it last

(The backstage area; they run up the steps, and the camera pans slowly across the front row—which includes an enthusiastic Granny. Curtain up to reveal the costumed and transformed band under multi-hued spotlights.)

Get the band up on the stage, doesn’t matter what your age

All instruments out for second half of next line; growing synth note

Hear the music, now’s your chance, everybody start to DANCE

All instruments and synth in (D major)

(Quite a few students shake their groove things, including the Crusaders.)

All six: With my best friends

Though we’re different

(Rainbow hops backward across the stage and very nearly falls off, but Fluttershy hooks her tambourine around the upraised foot to drag the guitarist back.)

We feel like we still belong

(Pan back across the stage to frame the others. Fluttershy’s free hand grips the neck of Applejack’s bass, and both Pinkie and Rarity have seized hold of the blond teen to anchor her. Twilight, meanwhile, stands back from them and captures the action on her phone.)

And every day it makes our friendship strong

(Flash; cut to a series of phone pictures, all of which show the girls’ normal appearance again, and shift from one to the next with a flash. Pinkie, Rainbow, and Rarity with their heads emerging from goofy human-figure backdrops…Twilight and Applejack dragging a wailing Fluttershy into a funhouse…these two bailing out in a panic…Fluttershy emerging with a nonchalant shrug…Pinkie/Rainbow/Rarity on the roller coaster, Rarity getting showered with the popcorn Pinkie has brought along…Twilight smiling at Rarity’s stunned reaction to her own distorted reflection in a funhouse mirror…Applejack and Rainbow looking totally baffled at Pinkie’s completely normal image in the same glass. In fact, the pink goofball has managed to obliterate the principles of optics, raising her arms and one leg and yet having her reflection stand perfectly still.)

All six: With my best friends

We can depend

They will always follow through

(The next picture shows Twilight/Pinkie/Rarity riding a carousel, after which one more flash clears the screen and six phones are thrown down into a pile, one by one. Each shows one of the girls, caught mid-performance.)

There’s a guarantee for fun when I spend it with you

(A flash, and the scene briefly shifts back to the stage before cutting to the girls’ perspective. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity each hold their phones into view and take a picture of the very happy crowd. The screen snaps to black after the camera flash, then tiles itself with three vertical panels of the pairs, again in street clothes. Now, though, the dividing lines are pulled away to form one continuous image and the six friends trade a round of smiles. Zoom out to show this scene as a picture on Twilight’s phone, which they are all looking at as they ride the Ferris wheel under a moonlit sky.)

Song ends

(Fade to black.)

MY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS—RAINBOW ROCKS

Executive producers: Stephen Davis, Kirsten Newlands

Produced by Sarah Wall, Devon Cody

Written by Meghan McCarthy

Directed by Jayson Thiessen

Co-directed by Ishi Rudell

Transcribed by Alan Back (ajback@yahoo.com)

Notes: The breaks between acts are somewhat arbitrary, and have been chosen so that

each act (or the prologue plus Act One) has approximately the same running time

as a typical episode.

Background song lyrics are in square brackets; any marked with an exclamation

point are shouted rather than sung.

Prologue

(Opening shot: fade in to the full moon in a starry night sky. Tilt down slowly to street level, framing a city street corner where a restaurant stands. The brightly lit windows pick out the silhouettes of a roomful of customers, and their muffled, heated conversation is heard even at this distance. As the camera zooms in slowly, a set of female voices gradually makes itself heard, vocalizing a five-note phrase; dissolve to a booth inside, where a teenage boy and girl are arguing. Zoom out slightly and pan across other quarreling patrons to the tune of a second phrase, framing a greenish mist swirling at floor level, then cut to a long shot of a corner booth and zoom in.)

(The camera angle picks out one of the singers: a girl with pale yellow skin that bears a faint greenish tinge, her eyes closed and shadowed in a darker hue. She wears jeans and a sweatshirt whose hood is pulled up to cover her hair and cast her face in shadow, and her hands are raised as if to cover something on her chest as she rocks slowly back and forth. A second, similarly attired figure sits facing her; the table between them is the only one in the whole restaurant that is completely bare. As the voices repeat the two phrases, the camera cuts to an extreme close-up of the yellow girl’s chest; her hands partially cover a large red gem that hangs around her neck as a pendant. It glows feebly as the mist swirls up to it and is absorbed. A zoom out frames two girls sitting across from her—one with pale gray-violet skin, the other pale blue; each also wears eyeshadow in a darker tint of her skin color. All three have their hoods up and wear the red-gem pendants, and they rock in their seats while they sing.)

(The three jewels glimmer briefly as they fall silent; cut to the additional two girls’ side. The gray-violet one lowers her hood, exposing hair tied into two very long pigtails high on the back of her head with large star barrettes. Her hair is purple, shot through with streaks of light green. Two large purple eyes train themselves across the table as this girl—Aria Blaze—groans and speaks with a petulant, slightly congested tone.)

Aria: That was barely worth the effort, Adagio. (slumping down) I’m tired of fast food. I need a meal.

(During this line, the blue-skinned girl puts her own hood down, exposing a worried countenance marked by deep red-violet eyes and medium blue hair gathered into an equally long ponytail. Two streaks of dark blue run its full length, and her hairline is cut to descend from her temples to a low point over her nose. This is Sonata Dusk. Next the girl Aria has addressed, Adagio Dazzle, drops her hood to reveal a mass of fluffy orange hair marked by lighter highlights and held back by a spiked band, as well as eyes that are nearly the same shade as Sonata’s. Her voice is that of the girl who will brook no argument with her plans.)

Adagio: The energy in this world isn’t the same as in Equestria. (Zoom in.) We can only gain so much power here.

Aria: (groaning loudly) I wish we’d never been banished to this awful place! (Back to Adagio.)

Adagio: (smiling, with fake perkiness) Really? I love it here. (She drops the act with a grimace.)

Sonata: (from o.s.) For realsies?

(Her tone gives her away as probably not being the brightest bulb in the box; cut to her and Aria’s side again.)

Sonata: Because I think this place is the worst.

Aria: I think you’re the worst, Sonata.

Sonata: Oh, yeah? Well, I think you’re—

(Pan across to Adagio, who voices a fed-up groan and puts a hand to her forehead. A low rumble of thunder starts to build in the distance.)

Adagio: I’ll tell you one thing. Being stuck here with you two isn’t making this world any more bearable.

(The end of this line comes through gritted teeth; after she finishes, a great flash of white light erupts behind the hills outside and gives way to a column of energy pouring up toward the sky. Adagio turns to the window, the reflection of this phenomenon playing across her eyes as she opens them wide in surprise; cut to just outside the restaurant’s front entrance. She rushes out to the sidewalk, a sudden wind blowing past her as Aria moves to follow; the light column has subsided to a glow behind the hills, from which a double helix of rainbow light lances up into the clouds. Adagio can only stare openmouthed as a beam of this multicolored power shoots straight and true from the high end, connecting with a flash against something behind the hills and ricocheting into the heavens.)

(Fade to white, then in to a close-up of Adagio’s pendant. It gleams briefly, the camera zooming out to frame all of her, and she looks up with a gasp.)

Adagio: Did you feel that?

(Confusion gives way to a malicious grin; cut to frame all three girls now on the sidewalk.)

Adagio: Do you know what that is? (Shrugs and noncommittal noises from the others; she grabs Aria’s shirt.) It’s Equestrian magic!

Aria: (pushing Adagio’s hands away) But this world doesn’t have Equestrian magic.

Adagio: (walking away) It does now. And we’re going to use it to make everyone in this pathetic little world adore us.

(Her comments and the light show tell what is on the other side of those hills—Canterlot High School, at the moment of Sunset Shimmer’s defeat near the end of Equestria Girls. On the end of the previous line, she stops and rests one hand on her hip, the others moving up on either side and adopting smiles of her own. Zoom in slowly on Adagio’s pendant, the background fading away to leave only the red gem against a black field.)

OPENING CREDITS

Drum/handclap intro for four bars, moderate 4 (D major)

Swelling guitar chord on fourth bar, then out

Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity:

We used to fight with each other [oh, whoa, whoa-oh, whoa]

That was before we discovered [oh, whoa, whoa-oh, whoa]

Organ in

That when your friendship is real [oh, whoa, whoa-oh, whoa]

Yeah, you just say what you feel

And the music, yeah, the music gets us to the top

As we learn how the rainbow, rainbow rocks

Electric guitar, bass in; organ out

Applejack: You can pick up a bass [oh, whoa, whoa-oh, whoa]

Rainbow: And you can play the guitar [oh, whoa, whoa-oh, whoa]

Pinkie: You can bang on the drums [oh, whoa, whoa-oh, whoa]

Twilight: Or you can sing like a star

Organ in

All six: And the music, yeah, the music gets us to the top

As we learn how the rainbow, rainbow rocks

As we learn how the rainbow, rainbow rocks

Song ends

(Fade to black.)

Act One

(Fade in to a quiet morning sky and tilt down to frame the exterior of Canterlot High. A steady buzz of conversation is heard as students make their way toward the entrance; dissolve to a busy hall inside and pan to follow a couple of students—one of whom is Featherweight—to the door leading to the gymnasium. Both of them carry in loads of supplies, and through the doorway, assorted groups of students can be seen hunched down on the floor, hard at work making signs and banners. Cut to inside the gym and zoom in slowly on the stage at the far end, set up with a drum kit, microphones, and amplifiers as for a band performance. Among the design teams are the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Trixie, the latter of whom is working with two other girls. A series of close-ups frames one group, then another, then Apple Bloom and Scootaloo adding their own touches to the Crusaders’ banner. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle trade an approving smile, the latter holding a small can of paint with a brush resting inside.)

(A hand attached to an arm in a dark gray sleeve reaches into view to pluck the implement away, much to both girls’ surprise, and the camera cuts to the possessor of said arm—Sunset Shimmer. Her demeanor is very much changed from the one she displayed in Equestria Girls, though, in that she has put on a genuine smile and a helpful tone.)

Sunset: Want some help?

Bloom: Uh, no thanks. We’re good. (The other two nod uneasily.)

Sunset: (deflated) Oh. Okay. (She returns the brush to Sweetie’s can.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) SUNSET SHIMMER!!

(Cut to her, standing near the door and waving wildly, and zoom out quickly to frame Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Rarity working on a sign of their own.)

Pinkie: Over here!

(The sight of the five brings a smile back to the former aspiring tyrant’s face, but as she crosses the floor, the grumbling whispers from the other participants lowers her mood again.)

Sunset: (groaning, as she reaches the five, now all standing) I had no idea the whole school would be here.

(Fluttershy’s hand on her shoulder cheers her a bit; now Pinkie and Rarity trade a look and quickly hold up the group’s handiwork. Guitar, keyboard, drum kit, floating against a backdrop of night sky and stars with a musical staff and notes snaking across.)

Rarity: Quite the eye-catching advertisement, if I do say so myself.

(She pronounces “advertisement” in the British fashion, with the accent on the second syllable and a short I in the third.)

Pinkie: And it smells like cake!

Fluttershy: It does?

(As she sniffs in its direction, Pinkie demonstrates by shoving the sign up against her face for a moment, then backing o.s. It leaves freckles of glitter all over the yellow skin and a splotch of blue on the nose.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) I used frosting instead of paste!

Applejack: Uh, Fluttershy, you’ve got a little somethin’, uh… (She points at her own nose; Fluttershy brushes a little glitter off her cheek.)

Fluttershy: Did I get it?

Applejack: Heh…not exactly.

(Sunset comes to the rescue, plying a cloth to get the mess off Fluttershy’s face, as Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna enter the gym. The latter carries a book under one arm.)

Celestia: (voice raised; both crossing the floor) Good afternoon, students. I just wanted to tell you all how pleased I am that so many of you are going to participate in the first-ever Canterlot High School Musical Showcase. (Cheers from all sides.) This is a wonderful opportunity to raise money for all our after-school programs here at CHS. So keep working on those signs and posters. I think it’s going to be one of the most exciting events we’ve had at CHS— (Cut to the five friends and Sunset; she continues o.s.) —since the Fall Formal.

(The yellow/red-haired girl gets a round of dirty looks from the rest of the gym, prompting her to blush and lift one hand to shield her face. She follows this up with a grimace and a slow slide down the folded-away bleachers against which she is leaning, so that she ends up in a huddle of insecurity that would rival Fluttershy or Twilight.)

(Dissolve to a closed set of double doors, seen from the hall, and zoom in slowly; one of the quintet’s signs is taped up here. A dissolve shifts the view to the other side, in a large music practice room. Those five are all here: Applejack resting a bass guitar vertically against the floor, Fluttershy looking on from one side, Pinkie at a drum kit, Rainbow with an electric guitar slung up, Rarity at a keyboard in the back corner. Sunset is present as well, sitting glumly atop a grand piano. Pinkie’s bass drum is marked with a horseshoe, a stream of rainbow fire and stars issuing from inside its curve.)

Sunset: (sighing, head in hands) I am never gonna live that down.

Fluttershy: (getting a tambourine from a wall rack) You were pretty bad at the Fall Formal. (Cut to Rainbow and Sunset.)

Sunset: A demon. I turned into a raging she-demon. (Pinkie zips over.)

Pinkie: And tried to turn everyone here into teenage zombies for your own personal army!

(She emphasizes her words by briefly shambling around with arms outstretched, then finishes up with a big silly grin.)

Rarity: (from o.s.) Oh, darling… (Cut to her, now with a keytar slung up.) …you have us. And we’ve forgiven you for your past… (Clear throat.) …boo-boos. (All are now ready to play.)

Applejack: (tuning a string) To be honest, I’d say the whole experience brought everyone at Canterlot High closer than ever before. (Close-up of her on the end of this, then pan to Pinkie.)

Pinkie: (counting off with sticks) One, two, three!

Laid-back acoustic guitar/drum/bass melody with tambourine, bright 4 (D major)

Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity:

There was a time we were apart, but that’s behind us now

See how we’ve made a brand-new start, and the future’s looking up [oh, oh]

(The hall; students pass this way and that, one girl wearing the blue/yellow pony ears and tail given out to boost school spirit in Equestria Girls.)

And when you walk these halls, you feel it everywhere

(Two of the eco-kids put up a poster advertising the Musical Showcase and bump fists.)

Yeah, we’re the Wondercolts forever, oh yeah

Acoustic guitar out; electric guitar, synthesizer, full percussion in

(In the cafeteria, an athlete, rocker, and drama smile and wave to a techie getting her lunch; she gratefully moves to take a seat with them. The screen quickly tiles itself with vertical panels showing the five band members.)

Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity:

We are all together [oh, oh, oh-h-h, oh]

(Applejack’s hair elongates and braids itself and her pony ears appear, as they did during the face-off against Sunset in Equestria Girls, and Pinkie undergoes her own transformation as well.)

Now it’s better than ever [oh, oh, oh-h-h, oh]

(Rarity, then Rainbow, and last Fluttershy change, the last two of these gaining their wings.)

You can feel it, we are back

(under previous line) [You…can…feel…it]

And I’m so glad that we’re better

All instruments out; tambourine shake

Better than ever

Other instruments back in

[Whoa-oh, whoa-oh]

Oh yeah, we’re better than ever [whoa-oh, whoa-oh]

(Cut to the rearing-horse statue on the front lawn and tilt down to its base. The Crusaders sit/stand on its top edge, a slightly puzzled Big Macintosh finds himself on the business end of Photo Finish’s camera, and Trixie and Snips look on with amusement. Trixie’s zip-up sweater has changed slightly in that the stars that were formerly on its elbows have shifted up toward the shoulders. A flash, and the view clears to show a quick sequence of four photos being stacked one on top of the other. First: Macintosh alone. Second: he smiles slightly as Bloom sits on his shoulders and Scootaloo and Sweetie gather in. Third the smile grows as Snips and Snails join the tableau. Fourth: Trixie inserts herself in front of everyone, partially/completely blocking them from view.)

(From here, cut to Sunset now smiling and bobbing her head in time to the beat.)

Electric guitar, synth out; acoustic guitar in

Rainbow: There was a time we couldn’t see past the differences

Applejack: That separated you and me, and it left us on our own

(In the hall, students talk and laugh as they go about their business.)

Pinkie: But now you walk these halls and friends are everywhere

(An errant hacky sack knocks the Wondercolt pony ears off Featherweight’s head so that they land on an athlete he is walking past; they trade a funny look, then both laugh.)

Electric guitar in

Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity:

Yeah, we’re the Wondercolts forever, oh yeah

Acoustic guitar out; synth in

(The music room again.)

Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity:

We are all together [oh, oh, oh-h-h, oh]

(Sunset jumps off the piano and grooves a bit.)

Now it’s better than ever [oh, oh, oh-h-h, oh]

Now that we are back on track

(under previous line) [Now…that…we…are]

Yes, I’m so glad that we’re better

All instruments out

Better than ever

All instruments back in

(Fluttershy winks as she gives her tambourine a shake.)

Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity:

[Whoa-oh, whoa-oh]

(Applejack and Rarity lean in toward Fluttershy from opposite sides.)

Oh yeah, we’re better than ever [whoa-oh, whoa-oh]

(Sunset begins to clap along, now positively beaming.)

Oh yeah, we’re better than ever [whoa-oh, whoa-oh]

All instruments out

Oh yeah, we’re better than ever

Song ends

(As soon as they complete the last line, the pony features vanish to leave five more-or-less ordinary teenage girls. Pinkie twirls a drumstick as Sunset claps for the performance, and Rainbow removes her instrument, standing it upright on the floor.)

Rarity: (giggling) I still can’t believe that happens when we play. (She removes her keytar and props it against a piano leg.) Ooh! (pacing) I’ve got to look into some new accessories. Something that looks good in a longer ponytail. (Idea; she stops.) Ooh! Maybe some clip-on earrings for when I get those adorable pony ears.

(Cut to Applejack and Fluttershy, now sitting on the risers. The bass is supported by a stand.)

Applejack: I just wonder why it happens. Princess Twilight took her crown back to Equestria. Shouldn’t that mean she took all the magic back with her?

Rainbow: (laughing) Who cares why it happens? It makes my band totally awesome!

Rarity: (offended) Oh! (turning to Rainbow) Your band?

Rainbow: Duh! It was my idea to start the Rainbooms so we could be in the Showcase. (Pinkie wears one of her cymbals like a hat.) Plus I’m the lead singer and guitarist.

(Comes now a string of knocks at the door; the cause is Flash Sentry, who lets himself into the room. He is a bit flustered, but regains his composure as he speaks.)

Flash: Uh…heard you outside. (walking in) You guys are sounding really tight.

Rainbow: Uh, we’re getting there. Rarity’s still coming in a little late on the second verse, and Applejack’s bass solo could use a little work. (winking, crossing room) They’ll get it together in time for the Showcase.

(She completely misses the nasty looks that Applejack and Rarity shoot at her and each other, and all three of them pay no mind to Fluttershy’s uneasy efforts to scrunch down behind the tambourine she still holds.)

Flash: (scratching head, smiling nervously) Uh, I-I don’t suppose any of our friends from, uh…out of town might come? (hastily) Uh, it being a special charity event and all. (Applejack crosses to Rainbow; Pinkie has removed the cymbal from her head.)

Applejack: Sorry, Flash. I don’t think Twilight’s gonna be back at Canterlot High anytime soon.

Flash: (forcing a chuckle) Oh, yeah. Okay. I just, you know, thought I’d ask. (backing out toward door) Uh, keep on…rockin’ it!

(He misses the doorway, but not the wall next to it. One thump of spine against drywall, and he exits with a big dopey grin, a blush, and two index fingers pointed at the group. Cut to a worried Sunset and zoom out slightly to frame Rarity crossing to her.)

Rarity: (chuckling) Well, someone is quite the smitten kitten.

(She giggles to herself, but her words wound the three-time Fall Formal Princess noticeably. Rarity’s eyes pop as she realizes her misstep—that is, having so casually brought up the topic of Sunset’s ex-boyfriend as noted in Equestria Girls.)

Rarity: Oh, sorry. I always forget you and Flash used to be an item.

Sunset: (trying to play it off) It’s okay. Flash is a great guy and all, but I never really “liked him” liked him. I was just using him to become more popular. (Now her eyes pop; she puts a hand to her forehead with a sigh.) The old me really was just awful, wasn’t she?

(A round of varied assent noises.)

Pinkie: (over end of this) Yep!

Applejack: (crossing to Sunset) But the important thing is that you’ve turned yourself around.

Sunset: (smiling) Thanks, Applejack. (Smile fades.) But I’m not sure everyone else at CHS feels the same way. (The intercom beeps.)

Luna: (over speaker) Sunset Shimmer, please report to the main foyer.

Sunset: (walking to door) Gotta run. I volunteered to show some new students around the school. Thought it’d be good for them to get to know the new me before they heard all the stuff about the old me.

(A last half-smile over her shoulder, and she is gone into the hall. Rainbow turns to the other four.)

Rainbow: We’ve still got a few minutes before lunch starts. What do you say we do “Awesome As I Wanna Be”? (Cut to Fluttershy, now holding a notebook.)

Fluttershy: Um, Rainbow Dash? (lifting it) I was wondering if we could maybe play the song I wrote?

Rainbow: (waving her off) Uh, we’ll get to it.

(Up with the instrument, down with both the notebook and the timid girl’s spirits.)

Fluttershy: Oh. Okay.

(The wild-haired guitarist starts into a riff. Cut to Sunset, walking through the lobby with a hand raised in greeting.)

Sunset: Hi! Are you the girls I’m supposed to show around?

(The camera cuts to them—three in number: Adagio, Aria, and Sonata. They have shed their hooded sweatshirts and are standing in the partial shadows thrown by the light coming in through the front doors. Zoom out to frame all of them as they step into fuller light. Adagio: purple leotard-style garment with shorts attached and a short-sleeved, light violet shawl; purple boots with studded gold ankle bands; light violet fingerless gloves and matching tights, the latter marked with darker triangular patches; studded gold belt whose buckle is shaped like a large gem; each leg of her shorts set with a light violet treble clef and a yellow gem. Aria: pale yellow, fitted sleeveless top under an open, cropped green shirt whose sleeves have been ripped away; magenta tights with glitter down each hip; darker magenta boots and matching double belt with a star buckle; three bracelets in this color on each forearm. Sonata: short-sleeved, dark red-pink jacket with lighter-hued collar/cuffs/lapels and light blue front accents; pink skirt; knee-high boots in a lighter red-pink than the top with still lighter tops and toes; a spiked bracelet visible on the arm not held behind her back.)

Adagio: We are. (Long shot of the four; slow pan across the lobby.)

Sunset: Canterlot High is a great school. You’re really gonna love it. (She moves toward a side staircase; cut to the three.)

Adagio: Oh, yes. (They follow.) We really sense there’s something…magical about this place.

(All three smiles shift a few notches toward “sinister” with frightening speed. Dissolve to a hall, into which the four emerge from the upper end of the stairs. Both of Sonata’s wrists have the spiked bracelets, and the toes of her boots can be seen as white in full light.)

Sunset: (gesturing about) That’s the science lab…computer lab is in there…oh!

(She runs ahead and o.s.; as she continues, cut to a close-up of a Musical Showcase poster.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) We’re having a big musical showcase this weekend. (Zoom out to frame her; Adagio and company step up.) The whole school is pretty much rallying around it.

(Cut to Adagio, who gasps in fake surprise and glances toward her two colleagues.)

Adagio: A…musical showcase? (All three trade scheming grins.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) I’m sure since you’re new— (Back to her.) —Principal Celestia would let you sign up if you’re interested.

Aria: (bored sigh, inspecting fingernails) We have been known to sing from time to time.

Sonata: Hel-looo? We sing, like, all the time. It’s how we get people to do what we want.

(Mild grimace from Aria, total shock from Sunset, and a threatening snarl and “cut it” gesture from Adagio. The blue-haired teen remains completely oblivious to this colossal slip-up.)

Sonata: (shrugging) What—what’d I say?

(Now Adagio’s footwear can be seen in full detail, framing the gold studs that run up each of her boot heels.)

Adagio: What you meant to say was that being in a musical showcase sounds like a great way to meet other students.

Sonata: (laughing) Oh, yeah! What she said I meant to say, that’s what I meant. To say. (Big grin.)

Aria: (sighing disgustedly) And what you would have said if you weren’t the worst.

Sonata: (needled) You are!

Adagio: (to Sunset) You’ll have to excuse them. They’re idiots.

Aria, Sonata: Hmph!

(Their tour guide stares at them for a long moment, not sure what to make of this most unusual exchange, then leans forward as something catches her eye. Cut to her perspective of the three girls, framed from chin to waist; she has gotten an eyeful of their pendants, and the camera pans slowly from one to the next. Adagio fingers her gem idly as a gleam runs across all three. This shot frames a detail not previously seen in full near the right lapel of Sonata’s jacket: a blue eighth note with a jagged stem, overlaid on a pink heart.)

Sunset: (chuckling weakly) Those are pretty. (Back to her and Adagio; she reaches out toward it.) Where did you—

(Almost faster than thought, one hand in a fingerless glove flashes up to seize her wrist and prevent her from making contact. Adagio lets go a moment later, managing a sheepish laugh as Sunset massages the joint—evidently that grip has some steel to it.)

Adagio: Sorry. These pendants mean an awful lot to us. We’d just hate for anything to happen to them.

(Away she goes, Aria following; Sonata stays put, smiling at Sunset until the boss reaches back into view to grab a wrist and yank her away. The entire encounter does not sit at all right with the brain under the wild mass of red/yellow hair, if the facial expression attached to the front of that brain is any indication.)

(Dissolve to the cafeteria in the throes of the lunch rush, and pan slowly across the tables before cutting to a close-up of Applejack chowing down. The side of Rarity’s head is just visible to one side, and she looks to the empty chair on her other as Sunset sits down in it, without a tray.)

Applejack: So? How was the tour?

Sunset: (propping head in one hand, elbow on table) I don’t know. I mean, these girls, they were…

(Long shot of the table, seen from one end; all five are seated with her and eating lunch.)

Sunset: …there was something off about them.

Pinkie: Like, off like this? Or off like this? Or, oh, oh! Like—

(On the first “this,” she pulls a tuft of her own hair around to cover her face like a beard and mustache. For the second one, she switches to a pair of lettuce-leaf eyebrows and two carrots shoved up under her upper lip like tusks. Rainbow’s next words cut her off before the masquerade can get any sillier.)

Rainbow: Maybe we should just let her tell us? (One carrot falls back to Pinkie’s tray; cut to Sunset’s side.)

Sunset: That’s just it. I can’t put my finger on it. They just acted sort of…strange around me. (slightly alarmed) Maybe someone already talked to them—told them about what I did. (sighing) So much for making a good first impression.

(Head on table; concerned looks from all others except Pinkie, who is out of frame.)

Fluttershy: (suddenly smiling) Uh-huh. (Those looks transfer themselves to her.) Oh! That’s probably not it.

(Her fumble and lousy recovery do nothing to assuage Sunset’s gloom or get the rest of the gang off her case, so she slowly slumps down to leave only the top half of her face visible above the table’s edge. Cut to Adagio, Aria, and Sonata standing outside the cafeteria doors.)

Adagio: This is it, girls. The moment we’ve been waiting for.

Sonata: (eagerly) Lunch?

Adagio: (groaning wearily, hand to face) The chance to get our true Equestrian magic back.

Sonata: Oh. Right.

(As Adagio continues, cut to her perspective, looking through the doors’ glass panels and panning slowly across.)

Adagio: Our voices are just strong enough to make them want something so badly, they’ll fight to get it. (Back to her; zoom out to frame the others on the start of the next line.)

Aria: So we’re just gonna do what we always do? Stir up some trouble and then feed off the negative energy? (Adagio scowls at her.) Some plan, Adagio.

Adagio: It won’t be the same as the times before! (thumbing over shoulder toward doors) There is Equestrian magic here. (Zoom in slowly to an extreme close-up.) Their negative energy will give us the power we need to get this entire world to do our bidding.

Sonata: (from o.s.) But we can get lunch after, though, right?

(The narrowed red-violet eyes pop in surprise; cut to Sonata, who is absolutely mooning over a poster announcing that…)

Sonata: It’s Taco Tuesday! (Adagio gets in her face.)

Adagio: Just follow my lead.

Aria: Or my lead.

Adagio: (to her, menacingly, grabbing shirt front) My lead!

(That puts a good scare into the pigtailed upstart, but she quickly shifts back to her usual dissatisfied look upon seeing Sonata’s big dopey smile. Adagio, meanwhile, moves o.s. toward the doors; cut to inside the cafeteria as these are thrown open. The three girls stroll easily among the tables, vocalizing the same pair of five-note phrases as in the prologue, but with chord harmony and a bit of counterpoint added to establish the key as C minor. Pinkie has removed the rest of her vegetable disguise. Table after table turns its collective attention to the triumvirate. After two repetitions of the paired phrases, the melody begins.)

Simple, eerie electric guitar line, slow 4 (C minor)

Aria, Sonata harmonize behind lyrics; each line echoes slightly

Adagio: We heard you want to get together

(Sonata passes Flash, caressing the guitar slung on his back to draw the focus of both him and his table-mate.)

We heard you want to rock this school

(Adagio lets her fingers run along the heads of several students, entrancing them.)

We’ve thought of something that is better

Something that changes all the rules

Bass, closed hi-hat cymbal in; echoes stop

(Aria draws a few more eyes to herself.)

Adagio: Why pretend we’re all the same

(All three gather, back to back to back, and circle slowly; their pendants start to burn red.)

When some of us shine brighter?

Aria, Sonata: Shine brighter

(Fade to red, then zoom out slowly to show it as a reflection in Featherweight’s eyes; she leans over the back of his chair.)

Adagio: Here’s a chance to find your flame

Are you a loser or a fighter?

Bass drum in

(The math geek smiles thoughtfully to himself, and the singers gather near the doors again and point around themselves.)

Adagio, Aria, Sonata:

Me and you, you and me, why don’t we see who is better?

(Cut to a red/violet split screen, with Aria and Sonata leaning in toward other from these respective sides. They turn and face forward, their faces merging to form a single one split down the middle.)

We don’t have to be one in the same thing

(The halves slide apart to make room for Adagio against an orange ground; this image splits and slides away to show a rocker and eco-kid starting to eye each other with distrust.)

Oh, what’s so wrong with a little competition?

(Cut to Sonata, sitting on a chair by the windows with legs crossed, and zoom out to frame the other two posed the same way. One by one, they uncross their legs and give a thumbs-down.) Are you afraid of failing the audition?

Drums, synth in

(The image dissolves to an extreme close-up of Trixie’s star-shaped hair clip, which floats away from the camera to land in its usual place on her head. Zoom out; Adagio has made her way over to lift her chin.)

Adagio: You’re a star and you should know it

(Aria and Sonata take Adagio’s arms and lift her onto a table; she walks it like a runway.)

Yeah, you rise above the rest

(Kneel; stroke and flick a boy’s chin, making him forget his lunch altogether.)

It doesn’t matter who you hurt

(Back to the floor; she sashays down an aisle, away from the camera.)

If you’re just proving you’re the best

All instruments out except for a swelling synth chord (G major)

Adagio, Aria, Sonata vocalize a rise through its tones for two bars

All instruments back in afterward; harder rock edge (C minor)

(Sonata shoots a fist skyward, and Aria points at one knot of students to egg them on.)

Adagio, Aria, Sonata:

Battle, you want to win it

(Adagio raises a fist of her own.)

Let’s have a battle, Battle of the Bands

(Now Aria pushes her way through the Crusaders, Snips, and Snails.)

Let’s have a battle, we’ll go all in it

(Close-up of Sonata; her image shrinks away to make room for a panel containing Aria. Both recede to make way for Adagio’s panel in the center before the view cuts to an overhead shot of the three and zooms out.)

Let’s have a battle, battle, battle, Battle of the Bands

(The next line falls on the last beat of the preceding one.)

Adagio, Aria, Sonata: Battle

Student 1: I can beat you!

Adagio, Aria, Sonata: Battle

Student 2: Ha! You wish!

Adagio, Aria, Sonata: Battle

Trixie: I so want this!

Adagio, Aria, Sonata: Battle

Student 3: Not if I get it first!

Adagio, Aria, Sonata, Students:

Me and you, you and me, why don’t we see who is better?

(Cut to Adagio against a red field; the arms of Aria and Sonata wave from behind her head, and they step out to either side.)

We don’t have to be one in the same thing

(The view slides away as three vertical panels to show a lot of dirty looks going back and forth—and the same greenish mist from the restaurant flowing around the students’ ankles. Flash and an eco-kid are nearly ready to come to blows.)

Oh, what’s so wrong with a little competition?

(Cut from one fired-up kid to another, the mist thickening visibly. Among them are Trixie, Snips, Octavia, and Diamond Tiara. The third of these is the counterpart of the gray earth pony mare who has made occasional appearances as a cellist in a classical music ensemble.)

Students: I’m going up and winning the audition

D minor

(All are on their feet and pumping fists toward the ceiling—all, that is, except Sunset and her friends, as seen when the camera pans/zooms out to frame them. Their table is the only one not shrouded in the mist.)

Adagio, Aria, Sonata, Students:

Battle, we want to win it

(Sunset throws a hard sidewise glance across the table.)

Let’s have a battle, Battle of the Bands

Let’s have a battle, we’ll go all in it

(Cut to Aria, panning to Sonata and Adagio in turn; their pendants are glowing again and absorbing the energy.)

Let’s have a battle, battle, battle, Battle of the Bands

Song ends

(Zoom out slowly down the main aisle; on both sides of it, students have lined up and are shouting challenges and derogatory remarks at each other.)

Pinkie: Ohhhh! They’re that kind of off!

(Cut to the lobby; the six enter from a side hall and cross, Rainbow messing with a soccer ball and Pinkie skipping merrily along as other students while away the moment.)

Sunset: Those three are definitely in possession of some kind of dark magic. (Now they are in a hall leading away from the lobby.) How else could you explain what happened back there?

Applejack: Don’t worry, y’all. We let Principal Celestia know all about this, and those girls’ll be kicked to the curb in no time. Last thing she needs is another CHS event almost ruined by some power-crazed lunatic.

(Too late she realizes that she has let honesty veer into tactlessness; she turns to a mildly irked Sunset.)

Applejack: Uh, no offense.

Sunset: (sighing) None taken.

(Seen in a head-on shot, she advances toward the camera as the view fades to black. The darkness splits horizontally, exposing the narrowed, deep pink eyes of Celestia on the other side. Her thumb and index finger hold the gap open—a set of window blinds.)

Celestia: (very skeptically) Dark magic? I find that very hard to believe.

(On the second half of this, the camera pans slightly to follow her sidewise glance toward the six girls gathered at a short distance behind her. Cut to inside the room, her office; standing at the window, she lets go of the blinds and turns toward them. Luna stands off to one side.)

Celestia: (crossing to her desk, sitting behind it) Those girls came into my office earlier and were absolutely delightful. (Luna lets off a mild scoff.)

Luna: Perhaps Sunset Shimmer is just eager to make someone else out to be a bad element, so that her actions at the Fall Formal will become old news.

(On these last two words, cut to an incredulous Sunset.)

Sunset: (nervously, scratching back of neck) I could see why you might think that, but— (Rainbow leans over in front of her and across the desk.)

Rainbow: That’s not what’s happening. We saw all of this go down in the cafeteria too!

(Neither of the two officials is buying it.)

Celestia: Yes, but isn’t your band supposed to be part of the Musical Showcase?

(Back to the blue rocker on the end of this; she grimaces mightily at this bit of truth.)

Rainbow: (reluctantly) Yes?

Luna: Perhaps you’re all just worried that the Dazzlings will steal your spotlight.

Applejack: (puzzled) The Dazzlings?

Celestia: It’s the name of their musical group. That’s why they came by my office earlier, to sign up for the Showcase. (Her perspective of the girls, panning slowly across.) Even sang a little song to Vice-Principal Luna and I.

Applejack: They did? (Close-up of Celestia; zoom out slowly to frame Luna standing alongside.)

Celestia: Yes. And we think having a Battle of the Bands instead is a marvelous idea.

(All four eyes briefly flash pale green as she finishes, leaving the girls visibly unnerved and at a total loss for words. Dissolve to the upper reaches of the statue on the front lawn and tilt down to the sound of Rainbow’s soccer ball being kicked. They are all here: Applejack pacing and thinking, Fluttershy standing and staring at one side of the base, Pinkie lying on her back atop the base and letting her head hang over the edge, Rainbow knee-kicking her ball in place, Rarity sitting near Fluttershy and painting her fingernails, Sunset standing slumped against another of the base’s sides near Applejack.)

(Close-up of Fluttershy, a flying ladybug lights on her index finger.)

Fluttershy: I can’t believe they got to Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna too. (Zoom out slightly; Rainbow balances the ball on her head.)

Rainbow: They’ve gotten to everybody! (Shift it back to her feet.)

Pinkie: (cheerfully, turning toward Applejack and Sunset) Not everybody! (She yanks her head up and o.s.)

Applejack: Pinkie Pie’s right. We were there when the Dazzlings were singin’, and we weren’t affected. It was like we were protected somehow. (Cut to Rainbow, ball on head.)

Rainbow: So let’s take them down! It’s not like we haven’t tangled with dark magic before and totally whupped its sorry butt.

(She flips the ball away as she finishes, catching it in one hand, then realizes that she has made the same colossal faux-pas that Applejack committed in the hall.)

Rainbow: (to the o.s. Sunset) Uh, no offense. (Pan quickly to her, slightly miffed.)

Sunset: (sighing) None taken—again.

Fluttershy: (from around corner) But that was when Twilight was here.

(The camera tracks slightly around the base to frame her and Rarity as Sunset turns in their direction.)

Fluttershy: There may be some kind of magic inside us— (The ladybug on her finger flies away.) —but it only comes out when we play music. (Overhead shot, zooming out as she watches it go and Rainbow knees her ball again.) I sure don’t know how to use it to whup anybody’s butt.

(The insect flits o.s.; back to ground level. Rarity voices a heavy sigh as she eyes one hand and keeps using the polish.)

Rarity: If only we could get a message to Twilight. Maybe she could tell us how to break the spell the Dazzlings have cast on our friends.

Rainbow: (catching ball) Well, that’s not gonna happen. (throwing it) The portal’s closed.

(Cut to Fluttershy and Rarity on the end of this. The fashion-conscious teen has just enough time to gasp and duck before the sphere collides with the smooth stone surface and bounces away. However, the sudden disruption has caused her to paint a streak of nail polish along her arm; she gasps in horror at the slip, dropping her brush, as Rainbow catches the ball.)

Rainbow: And I get the feeling they don’t exactly have cell phones where she’s from.

(One or two wheels start to turn under Sunset’s red/gold coiffure; she scratches a temple for a moment’s hard thought, then snaps to with a smile. As she speaks, zoom out to frame all six.)

Sunset: I may have an idea how we can get in touch with Princess Twilight!

(Cut to a scatter of items in a small, very dimly lit enclosure. The presence of a bag lunch and a couple of hung-up articles of clothing indicate that this is the interior of a locker, and the clank of a latch being pulled and the opening of the door—directly in front of the camera—confirms this. It is Sunset’s locker; she peers intently inside, then rummages through a box as the others gather behind. Cut to the hall; she stands up, holding a book bound in faded brown leather with her red/yellow sun cutie mark on its cover and brass accents on the spine.)

Sunset: (a bit hesitantly, turning away from locker) When I was Princess Celestia’s student back in Equestria, she gave me this.

(Close-up of the tome on the end of this. She reaches into view and brushes a hand across the cover, the faded brown yielding under her touch to a deeper shade—a layer of dust being wiped away. As she raises it slightly, the camera tilts up to follow it and stops just behind her shoulder, facing the others. The smear of polish on Rarity’s arm is gone.)

Sunset: Even after I abandoned my studies, I held on to it. (holding it close, now clean; head-on view) Deep down, I guess I knew I was making a big mistake— (smiling, flipping pages) —and I wanted to still have a way to reach out to her.

(Cut to her perspective on the end of this; she passes the last used pages and stops at a couple of blank ones, running a hand gently over the unmarked surface. Back to her.)

Sunset: Maybe it still works.

Rarity: (from o.s., dismissively) That’s a book, darling. (Sunset deflates; cut to her.) What do you mean, “maybe still works”?

Sunset: (smiling again) It used to be that if I wrote something here, it would appear in the pages of a book back in Princess Celestia’s library. (Close-up.) I get a message to her, then she can get a message to Princess Twilight.

Rainbow: (from o.s.) So what are you waiting for? (She holds a pen into view.) Get to writing!

(Sunset’s perspective of the five, including one blue athlete with writing tool in hand whose challenging smile turns into a warmer one that matches those on the others’ faces. Close-up; Sunset regards the item with wide-eyed puzzlement for a second, then takes it and lets a very large measure of trepidation play across her face before voicing a sigh.)

Sunset: Been a long time since I’ve written these words.

(Extreme close-up of the upper section of the blank page on the left; she brings the pen down and starts to write.)

Sunset: (from o.s., dictating) “Dear Princess Celestia…”

(The ink briefly flares pink/white as it first touches the page, the camera zooming in to an extreme close-up of the ballpoint and through the spot beneath it. The view gives way to a hurtling zoom through a tunnel of swirling pastel colors—and then emerges at the far end into a long overhead shot of the Ponyville town square. It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and the camera roves slowly over the village toward its far edge where Twilight’s tree-styled crystal castle stands—the end product of her fight against Tirek in “Twilight’s Kingdom.”)

*** Until the end of this act, all characters appear in pony form. ***

(From here, dissolve to the closed double doors to the throne room, seen from inside. These open to reveal a delivery stallion hauling a cart piled high with books. Cut to the central area and pan slowly across; the violet Princess sits in the center of the floor, a stack of books and envelopes alongside as she reads from a document held in her magic. Rarity has taken a seat on her own throne, resting on her belly as she telekinetically polishes one arm with a cloth; the copy of her cutie mark set into its upper portion is glowing blue. The edge of Spike’s head can be seen beyond the side of his own smaller throne; he is reading something, revealed as a Daring Do novel when the camera changes angles to frame him head-on. Applejack and Fluttershy push a very large crate across the floor with head and hooves, respectively, and another new angle picks out Pinkie blowing up a balloon while seated on a vacant throne. An overhead shot and slow zoom show that she is using Applejack’s rather than her own for this work, while Rarity shifts her polishing cloth to the high back near the three glowing gems. The stallion pulls up at the circle of thrones; ground level, his forelegs stepping into view.)

Delivery stallion: Excuse me, Princess. (She glances up; head-on view of him.) Where do you want all these books from Princess Celestia?

Twilight: The library.

(Her perspective of him and Pinkie. As she points off to her left and he follows the gesture with his eyes, the topmost book on the cart begins to emit pulses of light and jitter in place.)

Twilight: Third door on the left.

Delivery stallion: (glancing up at it) Even this one that’s glowin’ and vibratin’?

(Tilt up to it, then cut back to Twilight. She looks up in alarm, the paper before her dropping forgotten to the floor, and the camera zooms out overhead to frame the anomalous volume—whose cover is emblazoned with Celestia’s cutie mark. She floats it down from the pile, the camera cutting to ground level as the other four mares take notice. Applejack and Fluttershy step a bit closer, while Pinkie floats off Applejack’s throne on her giant balloon. The book quiets down once Twilight opens it and riffles the pages; something she sees causes her to stop and stare popeyed, and Fluttershy is first to cross to her.)

Fluttershy: What is it, Twilight? (Pinkie peeks from behind, off her balloon, then Rainbow from above.)

Twilight: It looks like…a message to Princess Celestia from my friends at Canterlot High. (Longer shot; all six are now gathered around the book.)

Rarity: How is that even possible?

Twilight: I have no idea, but… (shocked) …it sounds like they need my help!

(Cut to a dimly lit extreme close-up of a row of books on a shelf, seen from behind. One is floated away in a magical grip, giving a view through the resulting opening of a well-lit expanse of library shelves across the way. The sliver of green tree-patterned window beyond this tells that the room is in the castle.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) The way Sunset Shimmer described them…

(A slight rotation frames the gold unicorn-head decoration on the cover—this is the reference guide she and others have consulted on a number of occasions. Cut to a table at the center of this large room; all six mares and one dragon are gathered here, and Twilight brings the book in.)

Twilight: …I think these new girls sound an awful lot like… (Cut to the other mares at the table; it thumps down and she continues o.s.) …the Sirens.

Pinkie: (freaking out) Not the Sirens! (aside, to Fluttershy) I don’t actually know what that is. (Back to Twilight, magically opening/flipping pages.)

Twilight: The Sirens were three beautiful but dangerous creatures—

(As she speaks, the view dissolves to an illustration of three finned fish/dragon beasts, with horses’ heads and forelegs, sitting on a rocky outcropping amid ocean waves. One is red-orange, one violet, one blue-green, and each has a large red gem embedded in its chest. Tilt up slowly as they raise their heads to sing, streams of magic issuing from their mouths.)

*** All lines marked with one asterisk (*) are delivered as a voice over. ***

* Twilight: —who had the power to charm ponies with their music. (They float over a seaside village; slow pan as the residents argue.) But to maintain this power, they had to feed on the negativity and distrust of others.

(Close-up of two ponies butting heads, then zoom out slightly to frame the three Sirens behind them and tilt up to follow the wisps of green haze that stream up to them.)

* Twilight: The more of this negative energy they consumed, the stronger their voices became— (Another stretch of land, panning across; they float over many squabbling equines.) —and the farther they could spread their dark magic.

(Back to the library table, panning slowly across the unnerved onlookers.)

Fluttershy: I don’t think I like this story very much.

Twilight: (from o.s.) If the Sirens had their way, they would have divided and conquered all of Equestria. But a certain Starswirl the Bearded wasn’t having it.

(On the end of this, dissolve to a storybook picture of the eminent unicorn mage, seen from ground level just in front of his front hooves, and zoom in on the cottony expanse of his beard. Once a single spiraling tuft of white hair fills the screen, it begins to rotate and then gives way to a swirling black vortex. Zoom out from this as the Sirens are slowly drawn into it, circling helplessly in an attempt to break loose.)

* Twilight: Rumor has it, he found a way to banish them to another world.

(The zoom continues, revealing that the entire phenomenon has shrunk to perhaps grapefruit size and is floating before Starswirl’s stern eyes.)

* Twilight: One where he believed their magic power would be lost.

(It winks out of existence in a brilliant flash; dissolve to the edge of the table opposite Twilight and tilt up to frame her eyeing the book worriedly.)

Twilight: That world must have been the one where my Canterlot High friends live.

Applejack: But Starswirl musta sent them there ages ago. How come they’re just surfacin’ now?

Twilight: I don’t know. (warming up horn) But if my hunch is right—

(Close-up of one page showing Starswirl’s picture; her magic flips to one of the Sirens.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) —and it is the Sirens who’ve come to Canterlot High— (Zoom in.) —this spell they’ve cast is just the beginning. (Cut to frame the whole group; she closes the book and turns away.) My friends need me. I have to get back to them.

(She gets only a couple of steps away before Rainbow flies over the table to intercept.)

Rainbow: I hate to burst your bubble, Twilight, but the connection between their world and Equestria will still be totally cut off for a super-long time. (Pinkie zips up between them.)

Pinkie: Okay. First of all, if there was bubble blowing going on, why wasn’t I told about it? And secondly, if the connection is totally cut off, how was Sunset Shimmer able to get a message to Twilight?

(The egghead mulls this over for a split second, then voices a gasp as inspiration strikes.)

Twilight: (galloping away) Pinkie, you’re a genius!

Pinkie: (nonchalantly) Yeah, I get that a lot. (She yanks Rainbow over, suddenly irate.) Now about those bubbles!

(Any further tirade is forgotten when the two catch sight of Twilight trotting back the way she came, levitating several pieces of mechanical/electrical equipment in her wake. The others are equally dumbfounded at her return, but she pays no mind and gets to work, directing her magic back and forth to hook up the components. She finishes by levitating a wooden panel toward the camera to black out the screen.)

(Fade in to a small holder topped with light bulbs on poles and attached to a curved rail that runs between two large antennas, which are in turn fixed to the upturned ends of a wooden frame. Tilt down slowly to the sound of Twilight’s voice; the rig is mounted on an upward-angled arm, part of a complex arrangement of machinery and antennas that would fit perfectly into the laboratory of any self-respecting mad scientist. She comes into view on the end of the following, standing next to the heart of the entire system—the magic mirror, last seen in the Crystal Castle, that she used to travel to the human world in Equestria Girls.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) And the interval between the two points is defined as the square root of the sum of the squares of the separation between the points along three spatial dimensions.

(A cut/pan across the others reveals that almost every one of them has gotten completely lost in her verbiage—which happens to be a long-winded and entirely accurate way of stating the Distance Formula in coordinate geometry. The one possible exception is Pinkie, whose smile suggests that she either has managed to follow perfectly or is entirely oblivious.)

Spike: Say what now?

Pinkie: Duh! She’s gonna take the magic in here and put it in there.

(She points at Celestia’s book and moves over to indicate the mirror on “here” and “there,” respectively. The following, delivered at slowly increasing tempo, is accompanied by a cross to the book; flipping it up onto its edge with her forelock; turning cartwheels past the mirror; standing on the book; stretching toward the glass; pointing at the book; putting her nose up against the reflective surface; moving behind the book; lounging at the mirror’s base; and finally a cut back to the others.)

Pinkie: That’ll make the portal open up so that whenever she wants to, she can go from here to there. There to here. Here to there. There to here. Here to there. There to h—

Applejack: We get the idea.

(The pink goofball, having sprawled out on the base, snaps upright and trots placidly away from it as Twilight crosses to her newly built setup.)

Twilight: Now to see if it actually works.

(Her magic field maneuvers the book into the elevated holder; the sun on its cover flares white as the bulbs above it energize. That blinding spot floats into the air and bursts into two ribbons of electric charge that stream into the antennas, which in turn take more charge from the leather cover and begin to crackle with sparks, reaching an eye-searing brightness. Cut to Twilight’s five friends and Spike.)

All but Twilight: Oooooh!

(The power sparks and spits its way down through the conduits available to it, eventually pouring into a box with two pistons protruding from its top. A side panel glows brightly and the pistons begin to cycle, producing a sheet of energy that snakes from the base and through a set of rollers before disappearing into a hopper. Two vertical panels slide into view from opposite sides of the screen, each showing a different area; crackling power works its way along the cables as the two views separately pan away from the centerline separating them to frame two antennas that come to scintillating life.)

(These two panels are pulled vertically away in opposite directions to frame the entire apparatus, the book holder lost in a glare that could fry a retina over easy. As Twilight watches closely, this channels itself into the mirror and the glass becomes a fitful rippling of white wave fronts against a magenta ground. She shields her eyes an instant before one last flash of white fills the screen and subsides; now the mirror’s surface has calmed down to a steady swirling pattern, and she smiles broadly.)

All but Twilight: Ahhhhh!

Applejack: Don’t suppose we could join you this time around?

Twilight: Better not. It could make things pretty confusing if Canterlot High all of a sudden had two of all of you.

(Cut to the others, mildly surprised, on the end of this. All but Spike nod and voice a range of agreement.)

Spike: But I still get to go, right? There isn’t another one of me at Canterlot High, and you never know when you might need your trusty assistant.

(Big placating smile; zoom out slightly as Twilight looks him over.)

Twilight: (nodding) Mmm-hmm. (She walks past…)

Spike: Yes! (…and over to the others.)

Twilight: We won’t be gone long.

(She is soon caught up in a six-way group hug and a round of warm goodbyes; as it breaks up, Rarity’s words come through most clearly.)

Rarity: And don’t forget to dress well.

(Pinkie is the last to let go, giving a big squeaky grin, and Twilight steps over to her number-one assistant.)

Twilight: Ready, Spike?

(Crack his knuckles. Blow out a breath. Drop to a three-point stance, stretching his legs out to full extension one at a time.)

Spike: Ready!

(The Princess hunches down determinedly, and both rush toward the mirror. Spike plunges through its swirling aura, then Twilight, a brief flare of white hiding them from view as they make contact.)

Act Two

(Cut to a close-up of one of Fluttershy’s hands being held up by Rarity so she can apply polish to the nails. The scene has shifted back to the human world. In a longer shot, the two girls are seated a short distance from the school’s statue. Tilt up from them, past Rainbow and Sunset sitting by the base—the latter reading the old entries in her magic journal—and stop on Applejack and Pinkie, seated atop it and playing cards. The apple farmer gazes levelly across at her opponent and lays down her cards—four aces—whereupon Pinkie smirks triumphantly and spreads out four jokers on top of them. Her ear-to-ear smile prompts a very funny look from Applejack as if to say, “You may be playing with a full deck, but what the heck is it full of?”)

(Back at ground level, Rainbow idly tosses her soccer ball from hand to hand for a moment, but knocks off with a bored sigh.)

Rainbow: I’m starting to think she’s not coming.

(The side of the base behind her promptly flares white, and one violet-skinned girl and one lighter violet dog come flying out headfirst as if shot from a cannon. They hurtle o.s. in a split second, but this is long enough to pick out the clothes Twilight is wearing—the same ones in which she first entered this strange world. Rainbow drops her ball, and all six are quick to take notice and perk up.)

All but Twilight and Spike: Twilight!

(Sunset runs toward her; in close-up, the new arrival sits up and rubs her head, her back to the camera.)

Twilight: (weakly) Ooh… (turning around) …I’m back.

(Pan slightly to frame a yellow-orange hand being extended toward her; she regards it with clear unease and suspicion, the camera zooming out to fully frame both Spike and Sunset alongside. After a short internal argument, Twilight allows herself a small smile and lets her past nemesis pull her upright. Within seconds the other five girls have swarmed in for a hug, Sunset backing off.)

Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity: Oh, Twilight!

Twilight: And I’ve got some bad news about those new girls.

(Assorted expressions of dismay. Dissolve to the exterior of the coffee shop that serves as this world’s equivalent of Sugarcube Corner, zooming in slowly, then cut to the gang at a table inside. Twilight and Rarity are seated on a couch; Sunset on one of its arms; Applejack/Fluttershy/Rainbow in chairs; Applejack sitting backwards on hers and Spike on Fluttershy’s lap; Pinkie bringing over a couple of drinks. On the next line, she sits down next to Twilight and gives her one, keeping the other—a chocolate milkshake—for herself. Rainbow already has a beverage of her own, and a cup of tea sits before Rarity.)

Rarity: Oh, I do hate that you’ve had to return in a time of crisis. (Close-up of Twilight and Rarity.) We have so much catching up to do!

Applejack: (from o.s.) For starters… (Cut to her.) …a certain blue-haired guitar player was just askin’ about you. (To Twilight.)

Twilight: (excitedly, blushing, playing with hair) Flash Sentry was asking about me?

(A zoom out frames the knowing expressions on the faces of Rarity and Sunset, as well as Pinkie’s “tell me more” look around her straw. Twilight clears her throat and does her best to recover her poise.)

Twilight: Isn’t that nice? (She slurps hastily at her drink; Rarity lifts her teacup.)

Rarity: Perhaps you could give us just the slightest bit of gossip from your world? (Spike holds up a dog biscuit.)

Spike: She’s got an official title now. (Mimic a trumpet fanfare with the treat.) The Princess of Friendship!

Sunset: Wow, that’s really impressive. Guess you really were Princess Celestia’s prize pupil.

Spike: She’s even got her own castle.

(Rarity leans toward Twilight with gusto, startling said Princess into spilling her drink on herself.)

Rarity: A castle?!? You have your own castle?!? (catching herself) Uh… (Clear throat; grab a napkin and clean Twilight off.) …ooh, uh, lovely.

Twilight: What’s new here? I mean, besides your school becoming the target of dangerous magical creatures from Equestria.

(Cut to her perspective on the end of this, panning from Applejack to Fluttershy and Rainbow. DJ P0N-3 strolls past behind them, music blaring in her headphones.)

Rainbow: (setting her drink down, pulling out/tapping at a cell phone) Yeah, so that isn’t exactly the only strange thing that’s happened since you left.

(She holds it toward the camera; on its screen is a video clip of herself playing guitar and undergoing her half-pony transformation. Cut to a close-up of a gobsmacked Twilight as the phone is pulled away.)

Rainbow: (from o.s.) Pretty sweet, huh? (The three girls in chairs again.) It happens to all of us when we play. (She pushes back and puts her feet up.)

Twilight: Hmm. (She sets her drink down.) My crown was returned to Equestria— (Rainbow’s feet come down.) —but some of its magic must have remained here at Canterlot High. Now that we’re all back together, we can use that magic on the Sirens, just like when we were able to use it on Sunset Shimmer when she turned into that horrifyingly awful winged monster!

(Everyone else latches on to her sudden loss of tact; after a beat, she smiles sheepishly and addresses herself in Sunset’s direction.)

Twilight: No offense.

Sunset: (grumpily) None taken. (Chuckle.) I’m used to it. (Rainbow stands up.)

Rainbow: They’ll never even know what hit ’em!

(A quick string of strikes at the air culminates in an extreme close-up of a fist flying across the room—and a tanned hand catching it. Zoom out to frame Applejack on the receiving end.)

Applejack: We’ve got nothin’ to worry about now that Twilight’s back.

Fluttershy: Oh. I’m pretty sure I could find something to worry about— (smiling brightly, hugging Spike) —but it won’t be the Sirens! (Close-up of Twilight.)

Twilight: The sooner we do this, the better. (Zoom out slightly, framing Rarity and Sunset.) Any idea where the Dazzlings might be?

(A shake of the purple-haired head, a shrug of the leather-jacketed shoulders, and Pinkie’s hand reaches into view to tap one of Twilight’s. Pan to the party-lover’s end of the couch; now on her feet, she waves frantically while sucking on her shake, then backs off and sits down to finish it off before speaking.)

Pinkie: (fishing ice cream glob from cup with straw) There’s a big party tonight for all the bands who signed up to be in the Showcase. That would include the Dazzlings.

(She eats the dab of sweet stuff, not noticing that a bit of if has landed on her cheek, and smiles pass between Twilight, Rarity, and Sunset.)

Twilight: (wiping Pinkie’s face with napkin) Looks like we’ve got a party to crash.

(Big squeaky grin from her frizzy-haired friend. Dissolve to the school gym, now filled with twos and threes of students who are keeping their distance from each other and shooting plenty of nasty looks. The big seven are standing near a refreshment table at one side; Fluttershy is no longer carrying Spike. Featherweight and a couple of his techie friends throw a hairy eyeball across the way, a quick pan framing Trixie’s trio on the receiving end, and another pan shows the Crusaders in an equally sour mood, throwing squint-eyed glares at a passing student. As Pinkie stuffs her face, a cut to the area in front of the stage and slow pan frame more aspiring rock stars: a trio led by Photo, Snails throwing his arms down at them and being thoroughly ignored, and Snips posturing in front of an irked Flash as if to say, “What you got?” The blue-haired guitarist pulls an arm back past two of his rocker buddies as if to throw a punch—and then whips it forward, snatching up a drink cup.)

Flash: (groaning, walking off) I’m gonna get more punch.

(Neither he nor Twilight is paying attention to where they are going, and the resulting collision dumps both their cups across the floor and leaves her supported by one of his arms.)

Flash: (flabbergasted) Twilight?

Twilight: (blushing, laughing nervously) Bumped…into…always…doing? (He stands her up.)

Flash: What are you doing here? You came back for the big competition, right?

Twilight: Something like that.

Flash: Heh. Not that there’s gonna be any real competition. (pointing to himself) No one here wants this as bad as my band does.

(On the end of this, the door opens—on the opposite site of the room and behind his back—and the Dazzlings enter the gym. Rainbow is first to register dismay at their appearance; almost faster than thought, one light blue hand whips out to pluck a chocolate chip from the cookie Pinkie is eating. She takes careful aim and flicks it neatly across the gym, lodging it in the hair covering the back of Twilight’s head; the latter flicks it loose, turns to look back the way it came, and sees the athlete cock her head ever so slightly to one side. The bookworm’s irritation gives way to surprise once she spots the trio at the door; their move across the floor spurs her to address Flash again.)

Twilight: Can you excuse me for just a minute?

(She ducks o.s., Flash turning away with annoyance writ large across his features, and all of the other girls except Pinkie step off from the snack spread. This last one hangs back long enough to get a cookie in each hand to go with the one still in her mouth; she lodges the two extras in her hair and hurries after the others, only to have them fall right back out. The Dazzlings stop in the middle of the floor, Adagio smugly running her eyes over the collection of bad vibes, and the camera cuts/pans here and there to show just how much disunity has taken hold.)

Adagio: (from o.s., mock dismay) Oh, no! No one’s mingling! (Close-up to her, smiling nastily.) It’s like there’s some kind of underlying tension that could bubble to the surface at any minute.

(On the start of the next line, zoom out slightly to frame Aria and Sonata behind her; the ponytailed airhead is holding a cup and eyeing it worriedly.)

Sonata: It’s the fruit punch, isn’t it? (briefly lifting a bottle of apple juice) I knew I used too much grape juice! (Aria rolls her eyes wearily; Adagio slumps on her feet.)

Adagio: (hand to forehead) It’s not the fruit punch, it’s us!

Aria: (to Sonata) But the punch is awful too.

Sonata: (brandishing cup) What do you know about good fruit punch?

Aria: (knocking it aside) More than you.

Sonata: (lightly slapping Aria’s nose) Do not.

Aria: (mussing Sonata’s hair) Do too.

(She smirks as her partner in villainy pats her bangs back into place and Adagio leans over to both of them.)

Adagio: This is just the kickoff party, girls. (All smile.) Imagine what a tizzy they’ll be in by the time the Battle of the Bands starts.

Twilight: (from o.s.) There isn’t going to be a Battle of the Bands!

(Three surprised Dazzlings look toward the sound of her voice; pan quickly to Twilight and her original five human friends, Pinkie ready for a scrap even with that last cookie still in her teeth.)

Twilight: We’re gonna make sure of that!

(Sunset smirks in the trio’s direction, and Twilight takes Rainbow’s hand.)

Twilight: All right, girls. (She takes Applejack’s.) Let’s do this.

(Now Applejack and Fluttershy…Rainbow and Rarity…and then a close-up of Twilight, zooming out to frame the six past heroes as she speaks. All have joined hands to form a rough line and are bracing themselves.)

Twilight: (dramatically) Friendship is magic!

(The result: a sudden hush over the entire crowd, a round of extremely puzzled looks from the intended targets, and a very large amount of absolutely nothing else. Sunset cringes mightily at the embarrassing misfire, and someone’s cough echoes loud and clear in the dead silence. The girls hold their formation, eyes squeezed shut and muscles tensed to channel the power that simply will not come. After a couple of seconds that feel like a month, Rainbow opens her eyes in close-up and leans toward Twilight. The next four lines are delivered in whispers.)

Rainbow: Uh, weren’t there rainbows and lasers and stuff last time?

Twilight: I don’t understand. (Zoom out to frame all six; Pinkie’s mouth is full, crumbs on her chin.) We’re all together again. Why isn’t this working?

(Cut to a slow pan across the puzzled/indignant onlookers, including the cruelly smiling Dazzlings, then cut to a badly unnerved Twilight. Spike climbs up onto her shoulder.)

Spike: You, uh, really need to go ahead and do that whole “magic of friendship” thing now.

Twilight: I’m trying, Spike. I thought the six of us standing together against the Sirens would bring out the magic we needed to defeat them. That’s what happened before.

(Zoom out to put Adagio in the fore.)

Adagio: (loudly) Talk about throwing down the gauntlet! This group is obviously serious about winning. (crossing gym) A little cocky, though, aren’t they? Claiming there won’t really be a battle. Seems they think they’ve already got this thing all locked up.

Trixie: (full ham mode) Not if the Great and Powerful Trixie has anything to do with it!

Flash: Whatever, Trixie! (pointing to himself) We’re the best band at CHS!

Bloom: No! The Crusaders are gonna win!

(This shot reveals that Pinkie has swallowed her mouthful and wiped her chin. Cut to an overhead shot of the not-so-magical six and zoom out as they wince among the quarrels that have broken out all over the gym. Clouds of green negative energy course all around the gang at floor level, the Dazzlings relaxing and letting it soak into their pendants as they stand amid the raging discord. All three gems start to glow, the camera zooming in to a close-up of Adagio; once the flow stops, she seizes hers in a fist and looks across the room with sudden surprise. Cut to a slow pan across Twilight and her compatriots.)

Adagio: (from o.s.) I think we may have found what we’re looking for— (Back to her.) —or rather, it found us.

(Zoom out to frame Aria and Sonata. She grins evilly at the former, who does likewise, but the latter just stares with a look of hopeless confusion, then shrugs and shakes her head when Adagio glowers at her. Aria slaps a hand to her own forehead in disgust as Adagio rounds on Sonata.)

Adagio: Magic! Don’t you see? (Their perspective, panning across the gym.) Everyone else has fallen under our spell.

(Pan quickly to the seven immune girls slipping out the door.)

Adagio: (from o.s.) But not these girls. (Twilight, in the rear, pauses briefly before leaving.) These girls are special.

(Cut back to the trio, now all smiling menacingly at the unrest they have fomented, and zoom in slowly. From here, dissolve to the escaped septet on the front steps: Twilight standing out front, Pinkie perched on a rail, the others sitting on the steps. Spike is with them.)

Twilight: It doesn’t make any sense. (pacing) I should have been able to create the spark that would help us break their spell. That’s how it worked before!

Sunset: But to defeat me, you drew magic from the crown I was wearing. (thinking hard) The Sirens’ magic comes from their music, so maybe you have to use the same kind of magic to defeat them! (Cut to Twilight on the end of this, then back.) Or maybe not.

Twilight: (from o.s.) No. (Zoom out; she leans over to Sunset.) I think you’re on to something.

Sunset: (smiling) Really?

Twilight: (to the others) It’s when you play music that you transform now, right?

Applejack: (gesturing to head, back) Yep. Ears, tails, the whole shebang.

Twilight: (smacking fist into palm) So maybe the way to use that magic to defeat the Sirens is by playing a musical counter-spell!

(This shot is the first to include the sky, now the pink/orange of late afternoon.)

Fluttershy: (brushing hair back from face) You mean, like a song?

Twilight: Uh-huh. And in order to free everyone who’s been exposed to the Sirens’ spell, we’ll need them all to hear it.

All others: Hmmm… (Rarity gasps and gets to her feet.)

Rarity: The band competition! That’s the next time we can be certain everyone will be in the same place at the same time! (Applejack and Rainbow stand as well.)

Applejack: (hand to Rainbow’s shoulder) Guess the Rainbooms are the band to beat.

Rarity: (holding out hand) And I believe you, Twilight— (Her perspective of Twilight.) —just became the Rainbooms’ newest member.

(That piece of news catches the two-legged magical prodigy completely flat-footed, and her face twists itself into an expression of horrified surprise. The other five band members rush off the steps, all talking and laughing at once—and completely missing the deflated dismay that has taken hold of Sunset. Before the celebration can go too far, Pinkie bulls her way to the center of the knot.)

Pinkie: So, what do you want to play?

(She zips back o.s., then reaches into view holding a…)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) Triangle?

(…which she shakes to make it jangle a bit before pulling it away. Now she leans in close, toting a…)

Pinkie: Sousaphone?

(…and letting off a foghorn blast that blows Twilight’s hair back. Away she goes, returning this time with a…)

Pinkie: Theremin?

(…and demonstrating its otherworldly tone by running her hands over the top and side antenna attachments.)

Pinkie: (very relaxed) So magical.

Twilight: (shrugging, working fingers around) I might take a little too long to learn how to play something with these. I’ll just sing. (Rainbow whips over and rests an elbow on her shoulder.)

Rainbow: Like, as in “lead singer”? ’Cause that’s usually my gig. (smiling; hand across shoulders) This being my band and all. (Here comes Applejack.)

Applejack: (needled) It’s our band. (pulling Twilight to herself) And of course, as lead singer. (Sunset has now joined the group.) She’s the one with the magical know-how to help us pull this thing off.

Rainbow: Okay, yeah, that’s cool. (smirking, miming guitar fingerings) I’ll just use this as a chance to hone my already insanely good lead guitar skills.

Twilight: It’s only temporary. (shrugging) And we don’t have to win the Battle of the Bands. (Her perspective of all others but Rainbow, panning across.) We just have to perform during the first round of the competition. (The missing girl leans into view.)

Rainbow: So let’s get to learning that musical counter-spell! (Back to Twilight.)

Twilight: Well, that’s just it. I don’t know any.

(The others’ enthusiasm evaporates in less time than it takes them to voice a collective, dejected sigh; back to her, getting her best reassuring smile back in place.)

Twilight: (shrugging again) But I’m sure I could figure out how to write one.

Spike: (from o.s.) Totally! (Ground level; he runs up to her feet and pats one.) Twilight can write a spell like it’s nobody’s business. (He sits up and crosses his forelegs.) That’s pretty much how she got to become a princess in Equestria.

Twilight: Technically, I helped finish a spell— (pointedly) —and there was a little more to it than that, Spike.

Spike: Yeah, whatever.

Twilight: I’ve got this. (picking him up) Come on. (She heads toward the school entrance.)

Applejack: Where are you goin’? (Stop on the first step.)

Twilight: Well, last time we were here, Spike and I spent the night in the library. (Pinkie flashes up to her.)

Pinkie: Are you crazy? (hugging her and Spike) We’re besties now! (hoisting them off the steps) Slumber party at my house!

(An idea that sits very well with the rest of the bunch, judging from their faces. Wipe to a slow pan across a bedroom whose yellow walls have clusters of balloons and stars painted onto them—Pinkie’s room at home, no doubt. The seven girls are arrayed about in various sleepwear: two-piece pajamas for Twilight/Fluttershy/Sunset, one-piece “footie” pajamas for Applejack, nightgowns for Pinkie and Rarity, a long cloud/lightning-bolt T-shirt and sweat pants for Rainbow. All but Applejack wear slippers. As for activities: Twilight sits on the bed, writing in Fluttershy’s notebook; Applejack and Rainbow are playing video games; Fluttershy pets Spike; Pinkie types at her laptop; Rarity checks her cell phone while Sunset watches.)

Pinkie: Status update—“okey-dokey-lokey”!

(As Fluttershy and Sunset gather in close around Rarity, she taps her phone and aims its screen toward the three of them. A flash, and she has snapped their picture—herself and Fluttershy smiling, Sunset sporting a broad grin, and Spike half-winking and holding up a dog biscuit in the background. Zoom in slightly on the shot, then cut to the three girls; Rarity grimaces mightily upon taking a good close look, then aims an icy glare in the canine’s direction as the other two snicker silently. Pan quickly to him, smirking as best he can around the half-chewed biscuit in his teeth.)

(Meanwhile, the video game showdown continues apace; even without being able to see the screen, it quickly becomes clear that Applejack has gained the upper hand. Rainbow’s frustration builds to the point that she smacks the console, instantly breaking the connection and clearing the screen. This last shot frames the box for their game, displaying a human version of the Mane-iac—the wild-haired villain that the Equestria crew faced in “Power Ponies.”)

Applejack: Hey! I was about to beat you!

Rainbow: (twirling controller) I doubt it. So, Twilight, how is that counter-spell coming? (Twilight, having zoned out, snaps back in close-up.)

Twilight: Huh? (riffling pages, clasping book to chest) Oh, uh, good. Great. (addressing herself o.s.) Thanks for letting me use your notebook, Fluttershy.

(Zoom out to frame the animal lover, who is now stroking a stuffed alligator doll.)

Twilight: I really like the song you wrote for the Rainbooms.

Fluttershy: (cuddling doll) Thanks. (aside, with a sigh) Hopefully one day we’ll get a chance to play it.

(A bray of laughter from the o.s. Rainbow; pan to her, having snatched away Applejack’s controller and holding it out of the incensed farm girl’s reach.)

Applejack: Hey! (Rarity hops up to sit next to Twilight…)

Rarity: Twilight… (…who quickly hides the notebook behind her knees.) …I think I speak for all of us when I say— (arm around shoulders) —I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t come back to help us.

Applejack, All other girls but Twilight: Darn tootin’!/Uh-huh!

(The sound of the doorbell gets Pinkie on her feet in a tick.)

Pinkie: Pizza’s here!

(In less time than it takes to say “chow down,” there is a massed rush out the bedroom door that leaves Twilight alone on the bed. Zoom in on her; she glumly lays the notebook on the blanket, open and face down, and lets her legs drop over the side. After a moment, she picks it up for another look and the camera cuts to her perspective, tilting down along one page. It is covered with musical notes and staves, some scratched out, a few other random scribbles—and a doodle of herself singing lightning bolts toward Adagio. Back to her, sighing heavily and lowering the book; a clatter of running footsteps interrupts her blue funk just before Pinkie leans back into the room. A slice of pizza is clamped between the teeth of the slumber party hostess.)

Pinkie: (garbled) Don’t you want any pizza?

(That gets a smile and nod, but the burst of enthusiasm lasts only until Pinkie has dashed back out into the hall. Another dispirited glance at the pages, and she opens a nightstand drawer to put the notebook away. A partially eaten donut, a lollipop, and several candies and jellybeans can be seen inside before she closes the drawer again and walks out.)

(Dissolve to the window in the now-darkened bedroom, the camera positioned somewhere below its sill and angled to point through it. Night has fallen, and a crescent moon hangs large and bright. Soft snoring drifts up from floor level as Twilight sits up, looks cautiously around herself, and gets up to vertical. The other girls are sprawled out everywhere, on the bed and under sleeping bags, Fluttershy nestling Spike, and she has a real chore to tiptoe her way to the nightstand without stepping or falling on any of them. Applejack still wears her hat, and Rarity has curlers in her hair and a sleep mask over her eyes. Close-up of the drawer; Twilight eases it open and retrieves the notebook, pulling it toward the camera to black out the screen.)

(Fade in to the kitchen. A single overhead light casts a pool of incandescence over the sleepless spell-weaver, who has taken a seat at the central “island” counter and is poring over her notes. Tellingly, she has her pen clamped between her teeth and is holding the notebook open under her fists—an adaptation of the way in which a non-unicorn in Equestria might use mouth and hooves for this purpose. She scrawls a little something, eyes it critically, then lets disgust run over her whole face and shakes her head vigorously. The pen is spat off to one side.)

Twilight: (propping head on forearms) No, that’s not gonna work. (She rubs her eyes.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) Hey, Twilight.

(That startles her back to the present moment; pan quickly to her former rival lounging at the kitchen entrance.)

Sunset: (walking in) You’re up late. (Twilight hastily covers her scribbles.)

Twilight: Just looking over the counter-spell. (Zoom out slightly as Sunset steps up across from her.) We only get one shot at this. It has to be perfect.

Sunset: (opening refrigerator) We really are lucky you’re here.

(The shelves are packed with aerosol cans. Cut to Twilight, downcast.)

Twilight: (glumly) That’s what everyone keeps telling me. (Zoom out to put Sunset in the fore.)

Sunset: (puzzled) Who could possibly need this much whipped cream?

(Close-up of the open fridge on the end of this; the shelves on the door prove to be loaded down just as heavily.)

Sunset: (with slight bitterness) Must be nice to have everyone always looking to you for answers to their problems… (getting a can, squirting cream onto a finger) …instead of waiting for you to cause a problem. (Close-up of the notebook, tilting up to Twilight’s face.)

Twilight: Just because everyone expects something from you, doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to happen. (Back to Sunset.)

Sunset: But that doesn’t stop them from expecting it. (To Twilight.)

Twilight: Which only makes things harder because the last thing you want to do is—

Twilight, Sunset: —let everybody down.

(On these last three words, zoom out to put both girls in view, each mired in gloomy thoughts of what her past has brought upon her in the here and now. They look up as one, seeing each other’s wide-eyed surprise, and trade a pair of lopsided smiles—common ground between the one-time adversaries at last. Sunset puts the whipped cream can away and closes the fridge, no longer with a glob on her finger; the door’s movement exposes the edge of a figure standing a short distance behind her. When she pivots to face across the room, the newcomer is fully exposed—it is the human counterpart of Pinkie’s stolid older sister Maud, dressed in a plain white T-shirt and dark gray shorts. Sunset cries out in shock and recoils from the unexpected sight, but Maud’s deadpan expression and monotonic voice remain firmly in place as she holds up a small gray rock.)

Maud: Boulder was hungry.

(Recall that her pony self had a pet rock by this name as well, as seen in “Maud Pie.” Reaching up to open a cupboard, she brings out a box of crackers and proceeds to pour the contents over Boulder, “feeding” it. Sunset backs gingerly up to the island, and she and Twilight watch uncomprehendingly as Maud walks off, still dumping and scattering the food. The next two lines are delivered in whispers.)

Sunset: I still can’t get over the fact that she’s related to Pinkie Pie!

Twilight: (smiling) You and me both.

(The older sister has left the kitchen by this time. Twilight and Sunset trade big smiles, after which Sunset yawns hugely.)

Sunset: I better get some sleep. Good luck with the counter-spell— (walking off) —not that you’ll need it. (Close-up of Twilight; she continues o.s.) This must be nothing compared to the stuff you’re expected to deal with as a princess in Equestria. (Brief pause.)

Twilight: Sunset Shimmer?

(The other girl stops at the doorway and looks back, but Twilight can get no words out; instead she stitches on a big smile and waves herself off.)

Twilight: Never mind. It’s not important.

(The smile she gets in return is perhaps a bit strained, and she watches the red/gold-haired figure recede into the darkness beyond the kitchen doorway.)

Twilight: (thumping fists onto countertop) No. I have to be able to do this. I have to.

(Zoom out slowly from her determined countenance, then dissolve to a close-up of her standing at a microphone with Fluttershy’s notebook under one arm. She is back in her school clothes, as will be everyone else when seen next.)

Driving rock melody with electric guitar/bass/drums, fast 4 (D major)

Twilight’s vocals are not quite on key or in time, and sound very unsure

Twilight: Hey, hey, listen

(She winces at a squeal of feedback.)

We’ve got a message for you

(Cut to a slow pan across her and the other Rainbooms, set up and playing in a small room. The apple pattern on the stained-glass panel above the window points to this location being part of this world’s equivalent of Sweet Apple Acres. None of them are feeling the groove. Spike sits on top of an amplifier; Sunset squats alongside him.)

Twilight: We’re not all alike

But our friendship is true

(More feedback sends the dog diving for cover, while the girl tweaks a knob and claps hands to ears.)

Yeah, we’re really different

(Fluttershy begins to showboat a little, but stops playing at a sidelong look from Rainbow.)

But we still get along

So hey, hey, listen to our song

(The tambourine starts up again at Rainbow’s frantic wave. Applejack and Rarity start to manifest hints of their pony ears, but more feedback wipes these out and makes them wince. Pinkie has gotten so bored that she stops playing and balances one stick vertically on a fingertip.)

Drums/tambourine drop out during next line

You may think you’re in control

But we’re here to prove you wrong

(She resumes upon finding green- and blue-eyed glares fixed on her.)

Drums/tambourine back in

(On the start of the next line, cut to outside this building—the barn next to the house on the Sweet Apple Acres property, its doors open to frame Applejack within. The music becomes muffled once this transition occurs, and Granny Smith walks past, stuffing an apple core into each ear to block out the noise.)

Twilight: In the friendship of our music

(Inside, she tries to sing into her microphone while squinting at the notebook and Fluttershy cringes at the result.)

With the power of our song

(Rainbow stands up into view for a solo; one pony ear begins to emerge.)

Gonna stomp our feet, clap our hands

With the magic of friendship

(Neither Pinkie, nor Applejack, nor Rarity is enjoying this.)

Gonna stop your evil plans

Song ends with a guitar riff

(Now the six-string slinger’s other pony ear peeks out from the wild multicolored hair; she looks around, gets nothing from the other five, and sullenly lets the last note die out and the ears wink away. Cut to Spike and Sunset.)

Spike: (hesitantly, trying to smile) Uh…that sounded way better than the…last five times you played it. (Chuckle; Macintosh passes outside the window, carrying a basket of apples.)

Macintosh: Nn-nope. (Spike les off an unsettled little whine.)

Rainbow: I think it’s pretty obvious what’s going wrong with this counter-spell. (Cut to Applejack and Rarity, both good and sore.)

Applejack: You’re turnin’ what should be the chorus into a five-minute guitar solo? (To Rainbow.)

Rainbow: I have to pick up the slack somehow! Are you guys even trying? (Fluttershy slips in behind her.)

Fluttershy: I’m trying.

Twilight: (from o.s.) It’s fine. (Pan to her, holding up the notebook and laughing nervously.) It’ll be fine. (with renewed fire) One more time from the top!

(Her big grin is matched by exactly none of the other five instrumentalists. Rarity has put down her keytar.)

Rarity: (stepping past Applejack, pushing bass aside) Or, perhaps we could take a short break—try on some of the wardrobe choices I’ve put together?

(She reaches o.s. on the end of this, wheeling a rack of bagged garments in front of herself, and rummages among them.)

Rarity: I’m particularly fond of this one.

(A shove sends the rack away and exposes the hot pink drum-major jacket she has put on, with gold braid and trim; the tails flare out to make room for her skirt.)

Rarity: Uh, of course we could always go with something a bit more modern. (Cut to Applejack.)

Applejack: We’re tryin’ to save our school here. Enough with the costumes!

(A longer shot frames Rarity in a new outfit: a yellow full-body jumpsuit, edged in dark gray at sleeve/pant cuffs, with black gloves and a helmet that covers everything from the neck up except for her hair streaming out the back. Her face is hidden by an electronic screen that displays a scrolling pattern of the three diamonds from her skirt. She utters an incredulous little scoff, her voice slightly amplified/distorted by the helmet’s sound system.)

Rarity: You can never have enough costumes! (Cut to Pinkie.)

Pinkie: She just wants to make things fun. (grouchy, slumping over drums) Isn’t that what being in a band is supposed to be? (She plays a sting.)

Sunset: You don’t have time for any of this. (thumbing toward outside) You’re supposed to check in at the Battle of the Bands in fifteen minutes!

(Varied gasps and exclamations from the six musicians, followed by a disorganized rush toward the door. Rarity is out of her jumpsuit. Only Twilight keeps her feet rooted to the floor.)

Twilight: But… (Pinkie yanks her microphone away; zoom in slowly.) …but it’s not ready! If we play the counter-spell in the first round and it doesn’t work, the Sirens will know what we’re up to and make sure we don’t get a chance to play it again!

(Everyone slams on the brakes and turns back to face her. A long pause; then Applejack smiles.)

Applejack: Then we’ll have to buy ourselves some time so you can keep workin’ on it.

Rarity: And how do you propose we do that?

Rainbow: We compete in the Battle of the Bands for real. I take over lead vocals again, and we stay alive until the finals. We unleash the counter-spell then. (Cut to an uneasy Twilight; she continues o.s.) You’ll have figured it out by the finals, right? (Ground level; Spike trots over next to the argyle-booted legs.)

Spike: (patting one) Of course she will. Twilight Sparkle’s never met a problem she couldn’t solve. (addressing himself upward) Right, Twilight? (Tilt up to her.)

Twilight: (forcing a big grin) Right!

Rainbow: Then let’s go win us a Battle of the Bands!

(The rush out the door picks up right where it left off, leaving one magical prodigy waving goodbye and one dragon-stuck-in-a-dog’s-body smiling confidently after them. Zoom out slowly as Twilight glances fearfully down at Spike and puts on a panicked grin, then fade to black.)

(Fade in to a long shot of the stage in the Canterlot High gym and zoom in slowly. Hushed murmurs of conversation float through the room, and the area immediately in front of the stage has been cleared to make room for a table and two chairs facing the setup. The camera is placed just above/behind the heads of the first row of the audience. Celestia speaks into a microphone, her voice amplified by the sound system.)

Celestia: Welcome to the first-ever Canterlot High School Battle of the Bands! (Close-up.) I believe I speak for everyone when I say it is by far the greatest thing we have ever done here at this school! (Cheers from all sides.) We are so glad our three newest students encouraged us to turn this event into something exciting!

(On this last sentence, she gestures off to one side and the camera cuts to the Dazzlings lounging at the top of the bleacher seats. The camera then cuts back to the stage, where Luna takes the mic.)

Luna: But as this is now a competition, we can only choose one winner. (Cut to the crowd; she continues o.s.) Who is it going to be?

(Angry grumbles fly here and there and several close-range face-offs erupt; all the while, the eddies of green bad-mojo mist swirl through the room and make their way toward the Dazzlings. Just as at the kickoff party, they relax and let it flow into their pendants for a few seconds.)

Adagio: You feel that, girls? Our true power is being restored.

(Aria and Sonata giggle venomously as the gym doors open to admit the Rainbooms, including their newest member, along with Sunset and Spike. A gesture from Adagio cuts off the merrymaking; cut to a slow pan across the ill-at-ease ensemble. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Rarity have their instruments out and ready to play, Pinkie carries her sticks, and Twilight clutches Fluttershy’s notebook to herself.)

Adagio: (from o.s.) And that’s before we’ve tapped into the strongest magic here. (Cut to Aria.)

Aria: But the Rainblossoms, or whatever they’re called, aren’t under our spell. (Zoom out to frame Adagio on the end of this.) How exactly are we supposed to get to their magic?

Adagio: The Rainbooms are just as capable of falling apart as anyone else. (smiling) They just need a little push in the wrong direction. (Overhead shot of the band, walking in; she continues o.s.) I have a feeling everyone here is going to be lining up to give them a shove.

(Back to the scheming trio on the end of this; all three smile down toward the nascent brouhaha at floor level. From here, dissolve to a long overhead shot of the stage. The lights in the gym are down except for two spotlights that pick out Snips and Snails, both dressed as 1980s-era rappers: sunglasses, baseball cap turned backwards for Snips, do-rag tied over Snails’ hair, baggy sweatshirts and pants. Celestia and Luna are seated at the table in front of the stage, and all of the Rainbooms except Rarity are gathered off to one side with Spike and Sunset. As Snips does a beatbox rhythm, the camera zooms in slowly and cuts first to an impassive Celestia and Luna, then a close-up of the stage. This latter shot picks the alarm clock hanging on a gold chain around Snips’ neck, as well as the fact that his shades have a louvered design to their lenses. Snails’ do-rag has a snail centered on the forehead.)

Snails: Aw, yeah! Snips and Snails in the house, yo!

Snips: They call me MC Snips, and it ain’t no lie

My favorite food is, like, pumpkin pie

Snails: I’m DJ Snazzy Snails, I like whales

When I go to the beach, I always bring my pails

(Cut to Sunset, Spike, and the Rainbooms in the wings. Pinkie grooves to what passes for the beat, but none of the others can believe this crime against all things hip-hop. Another short spell of beatboxing from Snips before he starts his next verse.)

Snips: Everybody knows my favorite color is orange

(He jumps ahead into a squat and leans out over the front edge of the stage.)

My rhymes are so fly, you better…uh…um…

Snails: Than an orange, yo

Snips: Yeah!

Snails: Yeah!

Snips: Represent!

(More beatboxing, which fails to get any favorable reaction from Celestia, Luna, or quite a few other contenders. The next two lines overlap.)

Snips: What do we…what do we do now?…no, no

Snails: How do we get off the stage? I’d like to leave right now

(Cut to the Dazzlings up in the bleachers. As Snips does some more beatboxing, Adagio and Aria stifle a guffaw and Sonata bobs her head to the sloppy rhythm.)

Snips: Bam! That just happened! (Next two lines overlap slightly.)

Snails: Aw, yeah! We out!

Snips: Snips and Snails outta here!

(They finish by standing back to back, holding their microphones out at arm’s length with heads down, and dropping them onto the stage. The impact sends up a shrill whine of feedback that sets the crew in the wings to wincing and covering their ears.)

Celestia: (icily) Please do not drop the microphones.

Snails: Yeah! (He high-fives Snips.)

Snips: Bam!

(The two hopelessly inept rappers pick up the dropped items with a laugh and clear off the stage, passing the Rainbooms and company.)

Snips: In your face, Rainbooms! (Cut to Applejack, Rainbow, and Sunset.)

Applejack: (to the others) ’Least we know one group who won’t stand in the way of us gettin’ to the finals.

Rainbow: Let’s get ready to rock!

Pinkie: (from o.s.) Wait! (Longer shot, framing all.) Where’s Rarity? (The missing member’s yelp is heard.)

Rarity: (from o.s.) Here! I’m here!

(Zoom out to put her legs in the foreground as she steps into view and away from the camera with a relieved sigh, accompanied by a metallic jingling sound. Seen from behind, she has changed into short, light brown platform shoes; the material of her skirt is purple, its hem a lighter shade, and covering it is a long, light brown coat whose hem and sleeves are hung with small metal strips. The shoes are similarly adorned. She has traded her usual gold bracelets for a pair with small studs. Cut to a close-up of her feet and tilt up; the shoes are actually sandals, and she has added a gold pendant and a light brown headband to the outfit. The only “regular use” item visible is her light blue blouse. A toss of her head is met by dumbfounded stares from the others.)

Rarity: (irked) We will be performing in front of an audience. (running hand down one sleeve’s decorations) I’m not going to wear something fabulous? Hmph!

(Applejack just groans loudly and pinches the bridge of her nose to express her supreme frustration. Clock wipe to a slow pan across the gym floor, framing the muttering participants and onlookers. Among them are the Crusaders, who have adopted the outfits and hairstyles used by their pony counterparts in “The Show Stoppers.” From here, cut to the stage, where the Rainbooms are set up and ready to do their thing.)

Twilight: (to the others, covering her microphone) Remember, we have to be good enough to make it through, but not so good we let the Sirens see the magic within us. (Cut to Applejack/Pinkie/Rarity; she continues o.s.) They could realize we plan to use it against them. (Pan to Rainbow.)

Rainbow: Got it! (winking) Be cool enough to win, but not so cool that we end up showing off the whole ears-and-tails-and-rainbows thing. So…about twenty percent less cool.

Pinkie: (counting off with sticks) One, two!

Quiet electric guitar melody, fast 4, with bass drum/tambourine on 2 and 4 (D major)

Rainbooms: We’ve just got the day to get ready

And there’s only so much time to lose

(Close-up of Pinkie’s thumping bass drum, then cut to Rainbow and zoom out to frame all six.)

Because tonight, yeah, we’re here to party

So let’s think of something fun to do

Synth, bass, additional percussion in; tambourine out; intensity builds

(Photo and her two bandmates sneak onto the catwalks above the stage, the latter girls each holding up a long string with a magnet on one end and a crossbar grip on the other.)

Rainbooms: We don’t know [we don’t know] what’s gonna happen

We just know [we just know] it’s gonna feel right

(One magnet is tossed over the railing, attracting the metal strips on Rarity’s right sleeve and pulling her arm up with them; the other catches her left.)

All our friends are here, and it’s time to ignite the lights

Tambourine and full percussion in

(Photo takes great delight in manipulating the two crossbars to work the hapless keytarist like a marionette; Applejack is thrown off by the spectacle.)

Rainbooms: Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

(A flick of Rarity’s arm knocks Applejack’s hat off, depositing it on the head of her bass; she quickly puts it back on.)

Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

(Pinkie looks up from her kit with concern; out on the floor, the crowd is decidedly unimpressed and the Crusaders have fallen asleep on their feet, leaning against each other for support. Bloom wakes up.)

Percussion drops back to bass drum/tambourine 4-beat pattern; guitar, bass out

Twilight: So what, you didn’t get it right the first time

Bloom: (under previous line) Boring!

(The frizzy-haired drummer kicks her floor tom so that it swivels on its mount. Once it has stopped with its open lower end pointing up at an angle toward the crowd, she stomps a kick pedal to launch a salvo of confetti, similar to her pony version’s party cannon.)

Pinkie: Laugh it off, no one said it is a crime

(The drifting paper bits have Twilight/Fluttershy/Rainbow worried; Applejack keeps glaring at the out-of-control Rarity.)

Rarity: Do your thing, you know you’re an original

(She is slung sideways against Applejack, who kicks her out of the way.)

Applejack: Your ideas are so funny that they’re criminal

(As Twilight sings the next line, she gets a piece of confetti stuck in her throat and breaks into a coughing fit, relieved only when Fluttershy whacks her in the back with her tambourine.)

All instruments in for next line

Rainbooms: Oh-h-h, ah

Same instrumentation and style as at start

Rainbooms: We’ve just got the day to get ready

(Flash and his two buddies throw them a disgusted look and walk out.)

And there’s only so much time to lose

(Snips and Snails slip onto the catwalk.)

Because tonight, yeah, we’re here to party

(Snickering, they get hold of a spotlight.)

So let’s think of something fun to do

Snips: Awesome!

Snails: Yeah!

Synth, bass, additional bass drum beats in; tambourine out; intensity builds

(The beam picks out Fluttershy, who freezes like a deer caught in the high beams and dodges to one side before taking cover behind Twilight and then running across the stage.)

Rainbooms: We don’t know [we don’t know] what’s gonna happen

We just know [we just know] it’s gonna feel right

(Applejack pivots away to keep Fluttershy from crashing into her bass; then has to get out of the way when Rarity swings in from the other side.)

All our friends are here, and it’s time to ignite the lights

Tambourine and full percussion in

Background lyrics are shouted by Applejack and sung by other members

(Photo’s trio, Snips, and Snails keep up their dirty tricks as Fluttershy desperately scrambles for any cover she can find.)

Rainbooms: Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

(She cowers behind the drum riser, Rarity tries to pull free of the magnets, and Pinkie’s bass drum vibrates the scattered confetti.)

Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

(Applejack grimaces at the chaos as Rarity finally rips herself loose—falling on her face, losing her coat sleeves, and voicing a shocked gasp once she fully takes in this indignity.)

Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

(Instantly she bursts into a flood of tears that sets her mascara running; the four still in view soldier on, while Fluttershy timidly taps her tambourine from behind the riser.)

Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

[Shake your tail, shake your tail]

A cappella

Shake your tail, ’cause we’re here to have a party tonight

Song ends with one final cymbal note

(Rarity’s crying comes through all too clearly in the silence following the end of the song, which is broken only by vigorous applause from a beaming Celestia and Luna. Their faces are the only ones in the place not showing some degree of disapproval. Once they stop clapping, they jot notes on the sheets in front of them; cut to Sunset holding Spike as Rarity stumbles down off the steps, still in hysterics.)

Rarity: Ruined! Absolutely ruined! (Applejack comes down next, propping her bass up next to Sunset.)

Applejack: Rarity— (Longer shot; all but Fluttershy have stepped down here.) —were you tryin’ to make us lose out there?

Rarity: (stammering indignantly) This was not my fault! (The two go face to face; hers is now clean.) This was an act of sabotage!

Applejack: Yeah, well, whoever did this couldn’t-a done this if you didn’t insist on dressin’ like—like—this! (Cut to a dismayed Sunset and Spike; she continues o.s.) We need to sound good. (Twilight steps over on the following.) Is there some reason that concept seems to escape you?

(Cut to Pinkie, who has backed down in the face of a very angry Rainbow and the scrap of confetti clutched in the blue fingers.)

Rainbow: And what was with the confetti, Pinkie Pie? (throwing it down) How am I supposed to shred if there’s paper stuck in my frets? (Fluttershy crosses to them.)

Fluttershy: It was pretty distracting. (Pinkie rounds on her with a scoff.)

Pinkie: Said the girl who was running from a light the whole time! A light!

Sunset: You still sounded much better than most of the other bands. I’m sure you’ll make it to the next round— (Close-up.) —but it won’t matter if you don’t have that counter-spell ready!

(Pan to a badly shaken Twilight on the end of this, then cut back to her stepping toward the stage entrance.)

Sunset: You all find a place to practice where the Sirens can’t hear you. I’ll keep an eye on things around here.

(As she speaks, Derpy Hooves and two other girls emerge onto the stage from the other side. In close-up, the cross-eyed blonde perches on a stool and begins to play a saw by drawing a violin bow across the edge. One of the others taps a triangle, while the third girl strikes a cowbell with gusto.)

(Wipe to the Rainbooms walking down a hall, instruments and drumsticks in hand, with Spike leading the way.)

Twilight: I don’t think we should use a classroom.

(They approach Flash, but do not notice until she runs into him from behind. Her blush and embarrassed giggle are met by a very hairy eyeball aimed along the neck of his guitar.)

Twilight: We really need to stop bumping into each other like this.

(Longer shot; his bandmates are nearby, leaning idly against the lockers, and he addresses them as if the girls were not even present.)

Flash: Uh, you guys hear something? (Next two lines overlap.)

Drummer: Uh-uh.

Bassist: Uh, nope:

Twilight: (raising her voice) I said, “We have to stop—”

Flash: There it is again. So annoying.

Twilight: Why are you acting like this? I thought we were friends. (He pulls in a scornful breath.)

Flash: Yeah, and then you decide to come back here just so you can beat me in the Battle of the Bands. I want this, Twilight, and you’re trying to take it from me! Some friend.

Twilight: That’s not why— (Applejack stops her with a hand on her shoulder.)

Applejack: Come, on, Twilight. (The other Rainbooms move out.) We’ve got things to do. (She ushers Twilight after them.)

Flash: (calling after Twilight) You really think you’re gonna help them? Heh! I bet you have no idea what you’re even doing!

(The lower lip she catches in her teeth, and the tears welling up in her eyes, tell just how close to home those words have struck. She wipes them away as the camera pans back the way the group came, the sound of Adagio’s low chuckle cutting in. Stop on the Dazzlings a short distance back, loving every minute of this drama.)

Adagio: Tears already? This is only the first round.

(Aria and Sonata break into vicious giggles, but stop at a beep from the intercom. On the start of the next line, pan quickly to a close-up of the speaker mounted high on the wall.)

Celestia: (over speaker) The next band to take the stage will be Trixie and the Illusions.

Adagio: Better head back. (walking past; others follow) We’re supposed to go on after Trixie.

(Cut to an adjoining hall as they round the corner into it. A sudden gesture from Adagio stops them in their tracks; cut to just behind them, framing Sunset leaning against the wall in the shadows near the double doors at the hall’s end. She is not at all amused, and she pushes off from the wall to give the three a good look at her expression.)

Sunset: You’re never gonna get away with this.

Adagio: Why? Because you didn’t?

(In close-up, the species-switched unicorn’s ire melts into doubt and a decent bit of fear at record-breaking speed at this reminder of her own thwarted scheme.)

Adagio: (circling slowly around her) Oh, we know all about you, Sunset Shimmer. You’ve got quite the reputation at Canterlot High. (Aria starts to circle as well.)

Sunset: I’ve changed! I’m in a much better place now!

Aria: Waiting in the wings while your friends have all the fun?

Adagio: Oh, yes. You girls are so tight, and yet…they didn’t ask you to be in the band.

Aria: Probably afraid no one would want to see them play if she was in the group.

(Only after both girls have backed o.s. does Sonata move in close to offer her own opinion.)

Sonata: Too bad. (Duck away, then back in from another angle.) So sad. (Away again.)

Adagio: (from o.s.) If it’s any consolation—

(Cut to just behind Sunset, framing the three.)

Adagio: (as they walk toward her) —no one is going to remember you at all by the time we’re done.

(They pass Sunset, Adagio nudging her roughly toward Sonata, who bumps her right back the other way. The girl in the leather jacket glowers after them and rubs her shoulder moodily.)

Act Three

(Dissolve to a long shot of the stage with curtain lowered, zooming in slowly, then cut to Celestia and Luna at their table. Younger sister glances over at the notes in the elder’s hands; after a few seconds, both face front. Behind the curtain, the Dazzlings stand ready, each holding a microphone; zoom in slowly on them.)

Adagio: Remember, girls. We want to save the good stuff for when our full power has been restored.

(Their pendants gleam in the dim light, but settle down by the time the curtain opens. Three spotlights flick on in a cluster to hit each of the malevolent singers as they step slowly toward the edge of the stage.)

Jangly guitar line with minimal percussion, moderate 4 (D flat minor)

Dazzlings: Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

You didn’t know that you fell

Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

Percussion out

Adagio: Now that you’re under our spell

Guitar out, minimal synth in with bass drum beats

(They start to sway to the rhythm.)

Adagio: Blindsided by the beat

Clapping your hands, stomping your feet

You didn’t know that you fell

[Aria and Sonata vocalize a harmony line.]

Slightly more percussion

Now you’ve fallen under our spell

(Celestia and Luna watch, entranced.)

[More harmony.]

(Extreme close-up of a large blue question mark on a white field, zooming out. It stands at the center of an elimination bracket diagram with sixteen entries, each marked by a different symbol to represent the competing bands. They are arranged in two groups of eight, one on each side, with the blanks for the finalists connecting to the question mark.)

Guitar in; synth out; percussion strengthens again

Dazzlings: We’ve got the music, makes you move it

Got the song that makes you lose it

(Zoom in quickly on one pair: a pair of scissors and a snail painted on a brick wall, against a winged barbell. Two vertical panels slide in—Snips and Snails throwing down on the right, Bulk Biceps playing a violin on the left. The beefed-up teen wears a light gray jersey marked with a barbell, dark gray pants, and a gray/white baseball cap with tiny wings protruding from the sides.)

Dazzlings: We say “jump,” you say “how high?”

Put your hands up to the sky

(Full-screen view of the duel; a bubble of red energy has formed around Bulk, and it blasts outward to send the hip-hop fools flying. Their symbol gets a slash of red ink across it to mark their elimination, and the one for Bulk advances into the next round.)

Synth sneaks back in

Dazzlings: We’ve got the music, makes you move it

Got the song that makes you lose it

(On the other side is another duel—the planet Earth overlaid on a flower and the recycling logo of three arrows bend into a triangle, versus a two-tone blue shield marked with yellow lightning bolts and a speaker beneath a row of spotlights. Two horizontal panels slide in: an eco-kid trio with acoustic instruments on top, Flash and his two buddies on bottom. Seen next in fullscreen, the blue field around the rockers bursts out to hurl their opponents off their feet.)

Dazzlings: We say “jump,” you say “how high?”

Guitar out for next line

Put your hands up to the sky

All instruments in with full percussion

(The diagram; the losers are marked out and the logo for Flash’s band slides ahead.)

Dazzlings: Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

You didn’t know that you fell

(Aria and Sonata drift past from opposite directions, the background changing to show Twilight furiously scribbling in Fluttershy’s notebook.)

Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

Now that you’re under our spell

All instruments out except for minimal synth and bass drum beats

Aria and Sonata vocalize harmony after each of Adagio’s lines

(Dissolve to a close-up of Adagio and cut to Aria and Sonata in turn.)

Adagio: Listen to the sound of my voice

(Kids start to sway in their seats, absolutely mesmerized; close-up of Adagio, zooming out to frame all three.)

Soon you’ll find you don’t have a choice

Guitar in; percussion strengthens

(Cut to a slow pan across the Rainbooms, set up onstage and trying mightily to get their groove back as they play. Rarity has changed back into her usual outfit.)

Adagio: Captured in the web of my song

(Pan quickly to Octavia, seated under a lone spotlight and bowing her cello with drive. Vertical split screen, showing the two competitors, then a fullscreen view of both. The red field around the Rainbooms sends Octavia flying toward the outfield when Rainbow hits a riff.)

Soon you’ll all be singing along

(Extreme close-up of a pair of hands moving across a piano keyboard, then pan quickly to a second pair doing the same. These twenty digits turn out to be attached to Bon Bon and Lyra Heartstrings, playing a duet on the same piano and singing into one microphone.)

Dazzlings: We’ve got the music, makes you move it

Got the song that makes you lose it

(Across the way are Trixie and her two partners, collectively the Illusions. She has changed into a two-tone blue long-sleeved dress and matching boots accented with jewels and starred bands across the insteps, and she has donned a starry wizard’s hat and cape such as those worn by her pony self. The other two wear similar hats, but in a different color; one is marked with stars, the other with crescent moons. Trixie plays a “Flying V” guitar, while the others each have sampler consoles slung on straps around their necks. Trixie jumps forward to slide across the stage on her knees, hitting a chord that sends Bon Bon and Lyra sailing.)

Dazzlings: We say “jump,” you say “how high?”

Put your hands up to the sky

(The brackets again; the duo’s mark—a lyre and a stretch of piano keys surrounded by wrapped candies—gets crossed out, and the moon/star logo for the Illusions continues ahead.)

Dazzlings: We’ve got the music, makes you move it

Got the song that makes you lose it

(Dissolve to five of the six Rainbooms, now arguing heartily among themselves, and tilt down to Twilight and Spike sitting on the floor. She continues to scrawl in the notebook.)

We say “jump,” you say “how high?”

All instruments out

(Cut to a long shot of three hazy silhouettes standing in a cloud of smoke, with red laser beams shooting out in all directions, and zoom in quickly. The figures resolve into the Crusaders, a flash of light turning them back into silhouettes and leaving only their eyes blazing.)

Put your hands up to the sky

All instruments in

(Fade to white, then in to the arguing Rainbooms. Spike watches despondently from the floor, while a resigned Sunset stands with her back to the group and her arms crossed, letting her head droop.)

Dazzlings: Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

You didn’t know that you fell

(Dissolve to a close-up of Adagio, features barely visible under the spotlight glare; Aria and Sonata step up on either side.)

Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

Now that you’re under our spell

(Fade to white, then in to a close-up of Trixie and Flash in a heated argument. Zoom out; they and many other performers exchange cross words amid a knee-high green haze of negative vibes.)

Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

You didn’t know that you fell

(The view fades to red and in to an extreme close-up of Adagio’s pendant; zoom out to frame the entire gym awash in the energy, which is pouring into all three girls’ gems.)

Oh, whoa, oh, whoa

Now that you’re under our

All instruments out for final word

Adagio: Spell

Song ends

(Her devious chuckle rings out over the silence as the view fades to black.)

(Fade in to an extreme close-up of the logo for Flash’s band on the elimination brackets. Luna reaches into view with a red marker to cross it out; zoom out to show her moving the Dazzlings’ token—three red gems and a collection of musical symbols—to the finalist’s slot on the right side. She steps away, exposing the semifinalists on the left side: the Rainbooms and the Illusions. The other thirteen acts have already been knocked out.)

(Cut to Flash standing in front of the diagram, which is mounted on a rolling whiteboard; he shakes his fists in silent anger as his bandmates glare from a few steps back, then stalks away. A wipe shifts the scene to the Rainbooms backstage; Pinkie has her sticks, Twilight the notebook, the others their instruments. Sunset stands with them, smiling with fierce confidence.)

Sunset: This is it. Last round, and you’re in the finals— (to Twilight) —unless you think the counter-spell is ready to be played now.

(The amateur songwriter huddles miserably into herself.)

Applejack: Don’t worry, Twilight. (Cut to a slow pan across her and the other four.) Finals aren’t until tonight. We’ll get in a little more practice before we’re supposed to hit the stage. We won’t let you down.

(Nods and sounds of agreement from the others, but Twilight just turns partly away from them in close-up.)

Twilight: (to herself) You won’t let me down. (Zoom out slightly; Sunset is looking on with concern.)

Fluttershy: (from o.s.) Um, I was just wondering. (Cut to her and Rainbow.) We haven’t played any of my songs yet, and…

Rainbow: (touching her shoulder) It’s the semifinals. (punching it gently) We gotta do “Awesome As I Wanna Be.”

Fluttershy: (crushed) Don’t know why I even asked.

Reggae-like guitar/synth line fades up, with electronic drum track

Leisurely 4 (A minor)

Trixie sings lead, with the other Illusions providing backing vocals on certain words

Illusions: I got tricks up my sleeve

(Dissolve to the trio onstage, mid-performance.)

See me dominate ’cause I’m powerful and great

Song ends

(The spotlights bathe the girls in a blinding glare, to the sound of cheers; they strike a final pose and Trixie throws her guitar pick toward the crowd. It lands on the table in front of Celestia and Luna, who smile and applaud, Celestia laughing as well.)

Celestia: Fantastic!

(The spots are switched off, restoring normal illumination, and the Illusions straighten up. Cut to the Rainbooms waiting backstage; Trixie steps over to face down a decidedly unimpressed Rainbow with a contemptuous little laugh. She has shed her guitar.)

Trixie: You’re never gonna top that performance, Rain-goons. (accusingly) You shouldn’t be allowed to, when you have such a big advantage over the rest of us.

Rainbow: My superior guitar playing and off-the-charts awesome singing voice?

Trixie: Oh, don’t be ridiculous. (pointing to one side) I mean her!

(Pan quickly to follow her gesture and stop on Twilight, who blushes mightily and scratches at the back of her neck.)

Trixie: (from o.s.) If you were really all that, Rainbow Dash— (Cut back to her and Rainbow.) —you wouldn’t have needed to bring in some magical ringer to have half a chance. Everyone’s talking about it.

Rainbow: Hah! Puh-lease. I could win this thing as a solo act, and everybody knows it.

(Cut to a pan across the rest of the band on these last four words, resentment taking hold on every face except Twilight’s. A disdainful little cough from Trixie; cut back to the pair.)

Trixie: Sure you could.

(She throws something to the floor; it explodes in a cloud of pale blue smoke that fills the screen. The view clears to the sound of everyone else’s coughing, revealing that the egomaniacal would-be wizard has managed to clear out. Close-up of Pinkie.)

Pinkie: She’s gone! (Long pause; she stares into the distance.) Oh, wait.

(Cut to the drum riser; Trixie is hunched down behind it, but her head is still in plain sight.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) There she is.

(But only for as long as it takes to leap to her feet and sprint away.)

Celestia: (over sound system) Next up, the Rainbooms.

(The six plod toward the stage, leaving Sunset behind; Spike is now with her.)

Spike: Knock ’em dead, Rainbooms!

Sunset: I’ll be here… (losing steam) …just…watching.

(Her face crumples into a half-grimace as the view fades to black.)

Driving rock melody with electric guitar/bass/drums, fast 4 (D major)

(A silhouette of Pinkie at her drums appears in the near-total blackness, a spotlight flicking on to light her up. One by one, other spots pick out the rest of the band members, with Rainbow getting lit up last as she runs to the microphone. None of the others are particularly enthused.)

Rainbooms: (shouted) Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Rainbow: Awesome as I wanna be

(A close-up and tilt up from her guitar frames a disgruntled Fluttershy as well.)

Rainbooms: (shouted) Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Rainbow: Awesome as I wanna be

(She bounds across the stage and drops into a slide on her knees, popping up next to Twilight.)

First you see me riding on a sonic boom

Got my guitar, shredding up the latest tune

There is nothing you can do to beat me

(She shows off to Applejack and then Rarity, vexing both.)

I’m so good that you can’t defeat me

(The light flicks on and off, alternately casting the screen into complete darkness and showing her in various rocker poses.)

Rainbooms: Yeah, I’m awesome, take caution

Watch out for me, I’m awesome as I wanna be

(A noticeably ticked-off Pinkie leans sideways behind her kit, lackadaisically tapping out the beat with one stick.)

Other five: (shouted) Yeah!

Rainbooms: Yeah, I’m awesome, take caution

(Zoom in past Rainbow to Sunset in the wings, the blue-green eyes widening with sudden panic.)

Watch out for me, I’m awesome as I wanna be

(The axe mistress launches her body to the front of the stage and her fingers into a wild solo. All of the spotlights train themselves directly on her, leaving the other five stewing in the dark.)

Rainbooms: Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

(Sunset’s panic grows as a spot of light begins to glow under Rainbow’s hair, followed by the emergence of one pony ear, then the other.)

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Music gradually degenerates into chaos during the following sequence

(The lead guitarist/singer/jerk gets blindsided with a flying tackle from Sunset, propelling her into Twilight…who topples over, dragging her microphone and getting caught up in Rarity’s keytar…knocking her over so that one booted foot flies up and kicks away Applejack’s bass…which goes flying and embeds itself, head down, in one of Pinkie’s tom-toms.)

Song ends abruptly

(Zoom out from her to frame the total wipeout. Only she, Applejack, and Fluttershy have not wound up sprawled on the stage, and Fluttershy is the only one still holding a completely undamaged instrument. Full lights come up on the stage; the clunk of the switch being thrown is the only sound to break the deafening silence. Fluttershy pitches her tambourine over her shoulder and runs crying off the stage, an instant before shocked murmurs surge throughout the crowd. Rainbow slowly recovers her senses, the pony ears fading away and her normal ones reappearing, and glares daggers at the one who derailed their performance. The prone girls slowly get upright, Sunset being the last and looking desperately to Celestia and Luna for help. However, the principal hunches down to take notes while the vice-principal glares back toward the stage with not a whit of leniency. Flash stands up from his seat in the bleachers.)

Flash: (pointing) Now that’s the bad girl we love to hate! (Tumult.)

Octavia: I knew she was still trouble!

Voice: The real Sunset Shimmer is back! (The Rainbooms trudge off the stage.)

Sunset: (softly) No. It…it’s not like that.

(She follows the others away. Cut to the Dazzlings and zoom in slowly as they trade satisfied grins, then cut to the Rainbooms in the wings—all without their instruments—and Spike.)

Rainbow: What was that? (To Sunset.)

Sunset: You were showing them your magic! I—I didn’t know what else to do! (Scoff from Rarity.)

Rarity: Close the curtains? Unplug her amp? Give us a chance to deal with the situation?

Sunset: I’m sorry. I just wanted to help.

Rainbow: Yeah, well, you didn’t. (Applejack pushes her back.)

Applejack: None of this would’ve happened if you weren’t tryin’ to show off—as usual. (Point-blank stare-down.)

Trixie: (from o.s.) Good show, Rain-brooms.

(Cut to her, strolling up next to Sunset without her hat and cape.)

Trixie: (throwing arm around Sunset’s shoulder) I especially liked the part where Sunset Shimmer, in a fit of jealous rage, knocked out Rainbow Dash mid-guitar solo!

Sunset: (blushing angrily, backing her down) It wasn’t a fit of jealous rage!

(Her friends cringe at this outburst, and she aims two mortified eyes toward the floor as Trixie stands smugly up to full height again.)

Trixie: If you say so. (She turns away with a smile.) Ooh!

(Cut to just behind her, framing Celestia and Luna standing in the wings at the opposite end and eyeing the clipboard in Celestia’s hands.)

Trixie: Looks like they’ve already decided who’ll be moving on to the finals.

(Zoom in on the two as she finishes, then cut back to Trixie and Sunset. The cocky performer pulls out a makeup compact and uses its mirror to assist in touching up her hair.)

Trixie: I’m guessing it wasn’t too difficult a decision.

(Comes now the sound of the fire doors at the two sisters’ end being opened. The Dazzlings sidle in and around them, singing the five-note phrases from the prologue and cafeteria. Both adults’ eyes briefly flash green as they did in Celestia’s office during Act One—the trio’s magic is taking hold again—and the lids half-close dazedly. Close-up of Sunset.)

Sunset: (to herself) Hmm?

Rarity: (from o.s.) What can we do? (Cut to her, Applejack, and Rainbow; the Dazzlings fall silent.) There isn’t gonna be another opportunity for us to play— (whining) —and I had the most gorgeous outfit for the finals!

Applejack: (sarcastically) Yep, ’cause that’s the real tragedy here, Rarity—that you won’t get to play dress-up!

Rarity: You know perfectly well that is not what I meant! (Rainbow shoves them apart.)

Rainbow: You guys want to keep it down? They’re about to announce who’s moving on! (Zoom out to frame Fluttershy nearby.)

Fluttershy: Who are you kidding? You know it isn’t gonna be us.

(Celestia and Luna step to center stage and are greeted by near-total silence from the crowd; Celestia, no longer carrying the clipboard, brings up a microphone.)

Celestia: The band that will be joining the Dazzlings in tonight’s finals… (Cut to Trixie and Sunset; she continues o.s.) …the Rainbooms!

(Trixie finishes with her hair and puts her compact away, an ear-to-ear grin settling firmly in place—and then the last two words wipe it out as they find a purchase in her brain.)

Trixie: What?!?

Rainbooms: Huh?/What?

Pinkie: Did they just say “the Rainbooms”? (Trixie stomps past them, boiling mad.)

Trixie: This isn’t over!

(The disbelieving band advances slowly onto the stage.)

Celestia: Congratulations, girls. You deserve it.

(Rainbow opens her mouth to express gratitude and/or brag like mad, but Pinkie’s words stop her.)

Pinkie: Seriously? We didn’t even finish our s—

(Rainbow elbows her hard, cutting her off, and grins hugely; the Dazzlings emerge from the other end.)

Adagio: (mockingly) See you at tonight’s big show, Rainbooms. We’re really looking forward to it. (They turn toward the exit.)

Rainbow: Yeah, well, not as much as we are!

(Hearty booing from the crowd; cut to Photo’s trio out on the floor. One backing player holds a pair of cymbals, the other a triangle, and both sound off under the next line.)

Photo: This never should have been you, Rainbooms!

(The round’s unlikely victors take a walk of shame past Celestia/Luna and through the audience, heading out the door and into the hall. Trixie observes the unrest with indignation.)

Trixie: This is a travesty! (falling backward, hand to forehead) A travesty! (Adagio steps over to steady her, hand to shoulder.)

Adagio: (faking sympathy) It really is! The Rainbooms don’t deserve to be in the finals— (smiling) —not when your band was so much better in the semis.

(Zoom out slightly; Aria slips up on Trixie’s other side.)

Aria: And wanted it so much more.

Adagio: Alas, this is the way it’s going to be. Dazzlings versus Rainbooms. (Sonata joins them.)

Sonata: Unless, of course, the Rainbooms don’t manage to make it to their set— (Trixie’s eyes pop; Adagio and Aria smirk her way.) —or are held up for some reason.

Trixie: (thoughtfully) Hmmm…

(Zoom in to an extreme close-up of her face, which rearranges itself into a smile that broadcasts bad intentions loudly enough to register a mile away as a twisted chuckle escapes her throat. From here, dissolve to a long shot of an outdoor amphitheatre and zoom in slowly. The Rainbooms are setting up their gear on the stage; cut to a close-up of them.)

Rainbow: (into microphone) Check, one, two, testing, testing…

(A tap on its head points out that it has no power; cut to Sunset, at a soundboard off to one side. She slides one of the fader controls up to its maximum setting, and Rainbow tries the mic again.)

Rainbow: (amplified) Testing…

(The boost turns her voice into a souped-up chorus of echoes accompanied by a deafening feedback whine that sets the entire band’s eardrums and teeth vibrating—not to mention the stage. Grinning sheepishly, Sunset brings the fader all the way down again to break off the cacophony. Cut to Fluttershy spinning her tambourine on a stand and making an adjustment with an Allen wrench.)

Fluttershy: This doesn’t make any sense. (Sunset steps into view.) We were awful!

(Twilight has laid the pink-haired girl’s notebook on the stage and has knelt among the others to look it over.)

Fluttershy: Doesn’t anybody else think it’s strange that we’re the ones that made it to the finals?

Trixie: (from o.s.) Very strange.

(All look toward her voice; cut to the Illusions at one end of the stage, ready for a scrap. Trixie has changed into her regular school clothes, and the other two do not wear their hats and mobile consoles.)

Rainbow: What are you doing here, Trixie? (smiling mockingly, pointing toward seats) Pretty sure the losers are supposed to be up there in the cheap seats. (Close-up of Trixie.)

Trixie: (full ham mode) The Great and Powerful Trixie is the most talented girl at Canterlot High. (pointing to her own eyes) It is I who deserve to be in the finals—and I will not be denied!

(On these last two words, she snaps her fingers and the camera pans to her bandmates, one of whom has seized the end of a lever protruding from the floor. One good hard yank opens up a large trapdoor under the seven, dumping them screaming out of sight and leaving Applejack’s hat and a couple of loose pages of notes to flutter down after them. A fabric chew toy tumbles into view from behind a stack of speakers at the far edge; zoom in on this as Spike jumps out to worry it. Simple pleasure quickly gives way to slack-jawed shock, the toy falling from his jaws, when he sees what has just transpired.)

Spike: Uh?

(Cut to the area underneath the stage, where the Rainbooms and Sunset have fetched up in a sprawl of instruments and bodies. The hat lands neatly in its proper spot on the blond head as the loose notes drift lazily to the floor. Up onstage, Trixie cackles madly over her sneak attack, and Spike glares toward her and scampers off. Cut to just below the trapdoor, the camera pointing up at her, hunched down at the edge.)

Trixie: See you never!

(The flaps swing shut over the indignant/scared/freaked-out captives to black out the screen. Snap to the far end of an aisle leading toward the stage through the amphitheatre seats; Adagio and Sonata step into view, their backs to the camera. A head-on shot shows that Aria has joined them, and Adagio chuckles menacingly between the others’ confident smiles.)

Adagio: Told you someone would give them a shove.

Sonata: (puzzled) She didn’t shove them. She pulled the lever. (Aria groans and rolls her eyes; Adagio claps a hand to her face.)

Aria: Go back to sleep, Sonata.

(Dissolve to a stretch of star-filled night sky and tilt down to the amphitheatre.)

Same melody/key/tempo as in Illusions’ semifinal performance, but without guitar

Trixie sings lead, with the other Illusions providing backing vocals on certain words

Illusions: You’d better believe I got tricks up my sleeve

(Stop on a long shot of them, performing onstage under a row of multicolored spotlights. All three have their wizard’s hats on and Trixie her cape; she does not use her guitar, but the others have their consoles slung up.)

And I captivate ’cause I’m powerful and great, yeah, yeah [whoa, oh]

(Zoom in slowly on the band. Trixie has traded her previous outfit for one with a pleated purple two-layer skirt cut high in the front to show off a pair of star-spangled yellow boots, and she has styled her hair into a long corkscrew. The other two have spiffed up their threads as well.)

You’d better believe I got tricks up my sleeve

See me dominate ‘cause I’m powerful and great, yeah, yeah [oh, oh]

(On the end of this verse, the camera continues its zoom but shifts direction slightly, approaching the drapes hung from the front edge of the stage, and the view dissolves to the demoralized Rainbooms and Sunset trapped underneath. When this transition occurs, the song continues in a greatly muffled tone. Pan slowly from one end to the other, then cut to a closed door as Rainbow throws her full weight against it. This tactic gets her nothing but a sore shoulder, and she groans in mingled pain and frustration.)

Applejack: (from o.s.) Give it up, Rainbow Dash. (Cut to her.) You’ve been tryin’ at this for hours. It’s not gonna open. (Rainbow glares at the door.)

Twilight: (softly) Maybe it doesn’t even matter that we’re trapped down here. I don’t think the counter-spell would’ve worked anyway. (Applejack turns to her with a smile.)

Applejack: ’Course it woulda worked, Twilight… (pointedly, in Rainbow’s direction) …assumin’ a certain band member didn’t try to hog the spotlight the whole time we were tryin’ to play it!

Rainbow: Hey! If you want to tell Twilight she’s getting a little too caught up trying to be the new leader of this band, you don’t have to be all cryptic about it. (Twilight backs fearfully away.)

Rarity: She was talking about you, Rainbow Dash! (Cut to Rainbow.)

Rainbow: Me? I’m just trying to make sure my band rocks as hard as it needs to.

Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rarity: (from o.s.) OUR BAND!!

(Delivered with enough force to blow her hair back on her head. The guitarist with the hog-wild ego glowers at this outburst; cut to Twilight, now sitting in a pitiable huddle.)

Twilight: But why wasn’t it working? I should know what to do! How can I not know what to do? How can I have failed like this?

(Pan slightly to frame Sunset watching her on the end of this, after which Twilight buries her head in her knees as if wishing she could sink through the floor. Sunset looks away with a panicked grimace; on the start of the next line, cut to Applejack and Rainbow facing off.)

Applejack: It might have been your idea to start a band, but it’s not just your band, Rainbow Dash!

Rainbow: I’m the one who writes all the songs! (Cut to Fluttershy and Rarity.)

Fluttershy: I write songs! You just never let us play any of them!

Rarity: I had the most perfect outfits for us to wear!

Applejack: Again with the costumes! No one cares what we’re wearin’!

Rarity: I care, Applejack! So sorry if I enjoy trying to make a creative contribution to the band! (Now Pinkie stands up between the two pairs.)

Pinkie: Hey! Anybody here remember fun? (shrilly, arms flailing) I’ll give you a hint! It’s the exact opposite of being in the Rainbooms! (Cut to Rainbow.)

Rainbow: I wish I’d never asked any of you to be in my band! (Pan quickly to Rarity.)

Rarity: I wish I’d never agreed to be in it! (Applejack and Fluttershy flank her.)

Applejack, Fluttershy: Me neither!

(There follows a lively five-way argument, none of whose participants notices the wisps of varicolored greenish energy that begin to emerge from the group and drift upward. Sunset can only stare in mute terror as the verbal barbs keep flying and the power rises toward the underside of the stage. Dissolve to the Illusions topside, the audio becoming clear again.)

Guitar in

Illusions: You’d better believe I got tricks up my sleeve

See me dominate ’cause I’m powerful and great

Song ends

(Zoom out to a long shot of the stage; fireworks bursting at low altitude overhead to the sound of hearty cheering. Cut to the Dazzlings backstage, seen from the knees up and tricked out in a new set of outfits for the finals. Adagio: short, pleated purple skirt over a light violet under-skirt; sleeved purple shawl; light violet top with the same triangle pattern as her earlier leggings; spiked bracelets in place of her fingerless gloves; same gold belt as before. Aria: gray/white-striped arm warmers; sleeveless dark purple top with a pattern of white lines, light yellow-green skirt cut high in front to expose white/purple-striped tights. Sonata: short-sleeved, off-shoulder blouse striped in two shades of magenta; light blue belt; short, dark magenta skirt set with the heart and eighth note from her jacket; matching arm warmers and necktie, the latter secured with her pendant. Adagio’s face is set in a smirk, Aria’s in a scowl, Sonata’s in a big giddy grin. The Illusions walk offstage past them.)

Trixie: Try to top that.

Adagio: (with mock fear, to Aria/Sonata) Oh, gosh! I don’t know if we can!

(By this time, Aria is smirking right along with her; all three end up giggling maliciously after she finishes. A gesture from the boss hushes them up pronto; cut to a close-up of one edge of the trapdoor the Rainbooms fell through. Their energy is seeping up through the crack and forming a foggy layer on the stage, as seen when the camera zooms out to frame the Dazzlings looking on with wonderment. Aria and Sonata both wear boots similar to the ones they have used up to this point, while Adagio’s boots are now light violet, with the same triangle pattern as her top, and darker purple soles and starred ankle bands. A round of nasty smiles and grins passes among the three exiles from Equestria.)

(Cut to a few students in the front rows.)

Thumping, ominous dance beat with drums/bass/synth

Slow; alternating bars of 7/8 and 4/4 (B minor)

(The spectators find themselves bathed in an eerie green glow; up onstage, the Dazzlings emerge from the greatly thickened miasma, their pendants glowing at their throats. They step slowly forward to stand in line, moving their arms in a sinuous, snakelike fashion, and vocalize a unison line that splits off into harmony as their gems pull in the aura surrounding them.)

(Cut to an overhead close-up of Sunset, staring wide-eyed toward the camera as the sounds of the Rainbooms’ quarrel come through all too clearly. The onstage music becomes muffled at this point. Zoom in slowly on her, then cut to frame all seven girls.)

Sunset: Stop! You have to stop! (All fall silent; she rushes over to them.) This is what they’ve been after all along!

Song fades until barely audible

Sunset: They’re feeding off of the magic inside you!

Applejack: How can they be using our magic? It’s the magic of friendship!

(Twilight, still sitting miserably on the floor, trades a scared look with Sunset before the latter finds her tongue again. Pan slowly to put Twilight out of view.)

Sunset: Ever since you started this band, you’ve been letting little things get to you. I never said anything ’cause I didn’t feel like it was my place—not when I was so new to this whole friendship thing. I still have a lot to learn. (Her perspective of the chastened five, panning slowly across.) But I do know that if you don’t work out even the smallest problems right at the start— (Cut to Twilight, thinking carefully; she continues o.s.) —the magic of friendship can be turned into something else.

(Now, at long last, the egghead gets to her feet and steps up to stand with her opposite number.)

Twilight: I can’t believe all this tension was happening right under my nose and I didn’t realize it. I’m supposed to be the one with all the answers— (hanging head) —and all I’ve done since I got here is let you down.

(Sunset lifts a hand, hesitates, then rests it on Twilight’s shoulder with a gentle smile.)

Sunset: I don’t think anyone is supposed to have all the answers— (gesturing toward others; cut to her perspective of them, smiling, as she continues) —but you can count on your friends to help you find them.

(It takes Twilight a second to get this through her head, but she comes out of it with a smile.)

Twilight: I think you already have. (with renewed determination) Come on! We need to get out of here!

(She is first to throw herself against the locked door, followed by the other six a moment later, but they have as much success as Rainbow did—that is to say, none whatsoever. They bounce back, all but Fluttershy tumbling to the floor in a heap, and cannot believe their ears when a knock sounds from the other side. The door swings inward to reveal Spike at the threshold, a glow from the stage lights spilling in around him. One light violet, purple-eyed face breaks into a joyous smile.)

Twilight: Spike! (She sweeps him up into a hug.)

Song fades up slightly

Spike: Sorry I took so long. I had to find somebody who wasn’t under the Sirens’ spell to help me get you out.

(That somebody chooses this moment to peek in around the doorframe—it is DJ P0N-3.)

Twilight: (puzzled) Why isn’t she under their spell?

Spike: Never takes off her headphones.

(They are indeed firmly in place over the unruly, two-tone electric blue hair, and their wearer grins and gives a thumbs-up.)

Applejack: Come on, y’all! Time to prove we’ve still got the magic of friendship inside us!

Twilight: And there’s only one way to do it.

Pinkie: We’re getting the band back together?

Rainbow: We’re getting our band back together.

Pinkie: Whee!

Rarity: Ooh, which version of the counter-spell are we going to play? (Close-up of Twilight and Sunset.)

Twilight: I don’t think it matters what song we play, as long as we play it together—as friends! (Zoom out to frame Rainbow.)

Rainbow: I know just the song!

(Concerned glances pass between Twilight, Applejack, and Sunset; cut to a downcast Fluttershy as Rainbow crosses to her.)

Rainbow: Fluttershy’s written a really great one.

(Those words split the yellow face in a huge squeaky grin.)

Applejack: We’re about to save the world here. Personally, I think we should do it in style. Rarity?

Rarity: (beaming, pulling a rack of dresses into view) I thought you’d never ask!

(The six garments on the rack are sleeveless, in assorted bright and vivid colors, and five of them sport patterns based on the cutie marks of all but Twilight. The centerpieces of the last dress are a pair of eight-pointed stars, gold at the neckline and silver at the waist. Cut to the Dazzlings onstage.)

Song heard clearly

(As they dance from side to side, the camera cuts to a slow pan across the front row, every occupant utterly captivated by the unfolding spectacle.)

Harmony vocalization continues under the lyrics

Adagio: Welcome to the show

We’re here to let you know

Our time is now

Dazzlings: Your time is running out

Vocalization continues

(Long shot of the amphitheatre, a hilltop just visible in the fore. A foot clad in a light-blue, lightning-bolt-marked platform shoe and yellow tights plants itself on the grass, and a head-on shot frames it as one of Rainbow’s. She and the rest of the Rainbooms are standing here, Twilight and Pinkie holding microphone and drumsticks, respectively; the other four have their instruments ready. All have changed into the dresses Rarity provided and donned platforms in various styles and colors, as well as tights in a different color for each leg. Applejack has traded her usual brown cowboy hat for a red one in a slightly different style. Every last one is greatly daunted by the sonic subterfuge unfolding before them. A wind blows across the hilltop, toying with their hairstyles and doing little to cover the Dazzlings’ singing.)

Rainbow: How are we supposed to play over them from up here?

(The sounds of a car horn and approaching tires catch them off guard, and they turn to find DJ P0N-3 rolling up in a light blue convertible with darker trim and the top down. Heart-shaped musical notes adorn the door, bright blue lyres mark the hubcaps, and a rearing-pony hood ornament is front and center. Sunset and Spike are now here as well; the former now wears a top in the shade of shocking pink as her usual shirt, but no longer marked with her trademark yellow/red sun. DJ P0N-3 produces and clicks a remote to shut off the engine and headlights, but the device triggers many more effects in the bargain. The front bumper flips up to expose an equalizer panel and a row of lights; lava lamps pop out ahead of the front wheels; speakers swing out from both sides and up from the rear end, the latter accompanied by a bank of multicolored laser emitters to add a light show. The whole car ends up mounted on a framework that has folded out from beneath the undercarriage. Sunset smiles at the radical change-up, and the six performers add their own exclamations of delight.)

(Cut to the stage and zoom out; waves of red energy radiate from the Dazzlings and wash over the crowd.)

Meter shifts to 4/4; harmony vocals continue under lyrics

Dazzlings: Feel the wave of sound as it crashes down

(The enchantment takes hold; a flash from the pendants, and the three begin to rise off the boards.)

You can’t turn away, we’ll make you want to stay

(The gems burn red, throwing rays in all directions. Now visible only as white-outlined black silhouettes, they each sprout the same pony ears and hair extensions that previously manifested on the Rainbooms.)

Dazzlings: We will be adored, tell us that you want us

We won’t be ignored, it’s time for our reward

(Zoom out from the trio. A flash, and their normal colors are restored, with two changes: sparkles on the outfits, and translucent fin-like wings on each of the three backs.)

Unison

Dazzlings: Now you need us, come and heed us

(Zoom out to a very long shot.)

Nothing can stop us now

Drum fill, followed by electric guitar/bass/drum rock melody with tambourine accents

Synth sneaks in

Same tempo (D major)

(The abrupt style change catches them flat-footed—or at least as much as they can be, given that they are still floating above the stage—and Adagio grimaces mightily once she gets her eyes turned in the direction of Aria’s pointing finger.)

Rainbooms: Oh, whoa

(Long shot of the group on their hilltop, backed by the mobile sound/light show. Sunset and Spike keep their distance, backed off to one side.)

I’ve got the music in me

Oh, whoa

(Guitar lick by Rainbow.)

Twilight: Don’t need to hear a crowd cheering out my name

(The students start to come to their senses and glance toward the band.)

I didn’t come here seeking infamy or fame

Rainbooms: The one and only thing that I am here to bring

(Smiles spread through the crowd.)

Is music, is the music, is the music in my soul

(A burst of white light envelops the group, and one by one, a wave of objects matching the cutie mark of each girl, tumbles across the screen to give a close-up of her undergoing her half-pony transformation and her clothes beginning to sparkle. Applejack: red streak appears in hair. Rarity: pink/blue streaks in hair. Fluttershy: streaks of yellow and dark pink as she twirls in place. Rainbow: sliding forward on her knees to strike a chord. Pinkie: two-tone blue streaks in hair. Last is Twilight, whose six-pointed pink star expands to fill the screen; from here, snap to her as streaks of light blue and pink trace down the full length of her hair and she catches a microphone thrown to her.)

Rainbooms: Gonna break out [Out!] and set myself free, yeah

Let it all go [Go!], just let it be, yeah

Harmony vocals under next two lines

Find the music in your heart, let the music make you start

To set yourself apart

(All but Pinkie end up floating high above the improvised second stage.)

Original ominous style (B minor)

(Close-up of Adagio.)

Adagio: So the Rainbooms want to turn this into a real Battle of the Bands? Then let’s battle.

Harmony vocals under lyrics

(Zoom out slowly to frame the other two.)

Dazzlings: What we have in store, all we want and more

(The crowd falls under their influence again; close-up of Adagio, eyes burning red.)

We will break on through, now it’s time to finish you

Guitar chords over thumping drum beat; intensity builds into a discordant melody

(A pulse travels from her pendant to those of Aria and Sonata, the eyes of these two going crimson as well, and a blast of red/white magic pours outward from the stage to turn the sky a lurid crimson. One by one, each gem sends up an apparition matching the image of the equine/reptilian Sirens in the book Twilight showed her friends before she made the jump from Ponyville to Canterlot High. One is yellow, one violet, one blue—from Adagio, Aria, and Sonata, respectively—and each has a gem embedded in its chest. The Rainbooms stare wide-eyed at this new turn of events, and the three specters rocket out toward the hilltop.)

(They circle the Rainbooms, looking for an opportunity to strike and forcing all but Pinkie into a tight defensive circle. DJ P0N-3 adjusts a setting on the turntables built into her car’s dashboard, Pinkie cranks off a high-speed drum riff, and the speakers throw out a sound wave that scatters the Sirens’ avatars.)

Rainbooms’ song takes over (D major)

(Rarity’s fingers race over her keys, sending a blast of lozenge-shaped jewels to disrupt the attackers; Fluttershy adds to the offensive with a tambourine shake that unleashes a torrent of butterflies.)

Twilight: Whoa, whoa

(The entire vicinity shakes in response to her amplified voice, and a rush of white six-pointed stars pours forth. Cut to a profile of a furious Adagio, then dissolve to her Siren avatar, which lets go with an even higher note and a wave of red magic that overwhelms Twilight all too quickly. She is slowly pushed back by the counterattack, one platform sole grinding into the dirt, but gets herself stabilized and sends up a glare of the clearest, purest anger.)

Discordant guitar/drum melody (E minor); tempo gradually accelerates

(All three Dazzlings join forces and voices now, uncorking a full-volume vocal battering through their avatars that pushes the Rainbooms off their feet. The microphone goes flying out of Twilight’s hand in slow motion, brushing against one of Pinkie’s cymbals as it tumbles past…)

Song ends abruptly

(…and arcs gracelessly through the empty space. Normal motion resumes with a cut to a close-up of it rolling to a stop at Sunset’s foot; she picks it up, the camera zooming out to frame Spike looking on. She regards the device as if it were a hand grenade with the pin pulled out, then huddles herself slightly over it. As the Dazzlings advance slightly from the stage, mouths set in truly frightening grins of impending triumph, Twilight looks in Sunset’s direction.)

Twilight: (rising partway off her knees) Sunset Shimmer! We need you!

(The red/gold-haired girl’s face broadcasts the titanic struggle that rages through her mind at this request. It ends with the brows drawing down over the blue-green eyes in steely determination; cut to Twilight and company still crumpled on the hilltop as her boots step to the fore. Tilt up to frame her, microphone in one hand, shucking off and throwing aside her jacket with the other. A studded bracelet encircles each wrist, and her upper-body garment is now fully exposed as a sleeveless top. As the wind blows through her hair, DJ P0N-3 works her turntable controls and starts a record spinning, bringing the front-end equalizer panel back to life.)

Lively, driving drum rhythm (fast 4)

Sunset’s vocals establish the key as D major

Sunset: You’re never gonna bring me down

You’re never gonna break this part of me

(She helps Twilight to her feet.)

My friends are here to bring me ’round

Not singing just for popularity

Electric guitar in

(They each get a hand on the microphone, holding it between them.)

Twilight, Sunset: We’re here to let you know that we won’t let it go

Bass, tambourine in

(Pinkie sits upright at her kit, the others stand up, and all start to play.)

Our music is a bomb and it’s about to blow

(The specters rush toward the band.)

And you can try to fight, but we have got the light

Rainbooms, Sunset: Of friendship on our side

Synth in

(Close-up of the pair, zooming out to frame the entire band. A ball of white light appears behind the two singers and grows in intensity, with a secondary focus in the free hands that they lift over their heads and touch together. A pastel-rainbow shock wave tears outward from the group, hurling the spectral Sirens away and nailing the real ones dead on. Its passage shakes the students out of their daze and rattles Adagio so badly that the infernal red glow fades from her eyes in close-up.)

Rainbooms, Sunset: Got the music in our hearts

We’re here to blow this thing apart

And together we will never

Be afraid of the dark

(Now Sunset finds herself slowly floating free of the ground, yellow light and sparkles blazing around every inch of her form. Two yellow-orange pony ears emerge from within the wild tumble of hair, and one midair pirouette later, the locks reaching down her back have elongated into a tail secured by a studded band that matches her bracelets. The energy surrounding her surges out in a wave of red/yellow sunbursts to fully reveal the transformed Sunset—sparkles on her clothing and boots, and a large sunburst on her skirt. Her face displays a smirk, but it is one of confidence rather than malice.)

Rainbooms: Here to sing our song out loud

Get you dancing with the crowd

As the music of our friendship

Survives, survives

E major

(The other six rise up behind Sunset, each wreathed in a glow of her own; Pinkie’s drum kit stays on the ground. A new rainbow flashes upward from them and into the sky, but this one has seven colors rather than six once a vivid scarlet streak rises in the middle due to Sunset’s involvement. The beam pours into a bank of gray clouds swirling overhead, which disintegrate to reveal a gigantic, white-glowing sphere unfurling a pair of translucent blue-white wings.)

Rainbooms: Got the music in our hearts

We’re here to blow this thing apart

And together we will never

Be afraid of the dark

(Students all over the place start to get down on it.)

Rainbooms, Students: Here to sing our song out loud

Get you dancing with the crowd

(The Dazzlings glower down at them, the red light gone from all three pairs of eyes, then glance upward with real fear. What the band has unleashed is a colossal winged unicorn whose body seems to glitter with stardust from one end to the other. Its streaming mane/tail display all the colors of the rainbow that formed it, and its eyes and the tip of its horn burn purest white. This apparition stands at least three times as tall and broad as those conjured by the Dazzlings.)

Rainbooms, Students: As the magic of our friendship

Survives, survives, survives

(Here comes the pitch: a wide beam that angles downward to strike both high and low. The ghostly Sirens crack and shatter into fragments, and in a three-way split screen of extreme close-ups, the gems in the Dazzlings’ pendants do the same. Fade to white.)

Song ends

(Fade in to a long shot of the stage, to which the Dazzlings have fallen hard amid a few last dissipating wisps of green negative energy. The sky has returned to its normal nocturnal hue. A close-up frames them rubbing their heads, their wings, clothing sparkles, and pony ears/tails gone; the remains of their red jewels lie before them, still glowing feebly—but only for a moment. As the last glimmers of light fade away from the broken baubles, Adagio is first to regard hers with a popeyed stare; she scoops up those shards and hastily gets to her feet. Up come Aria and Sonata as well, all three glaring toward the crowd, and they take a deep breath to sing again—but this time, not a single one of them is in any recognizable key.)

A cappella, no key (slow 4, loose tempo)

(The sudden loss of their mesmerizing vocal ability throws a bucketful of sand into their mental machinery. The crowd is not amused.)

Dazzlings: We will be adored, tell us that you want us

(losing steam) We won’t be ignored, it’s time for our reward

(The end of their second line is lost under a hearty round of booing, which is in turn followed by a barrage of thrown food items that sends the trio running for the wings. Cut to an extreme close-up of the gem fragments and zoom out; Sunset reaches into view to pick one up, and the view cuts to a close-up of her as she stands upright to inspect it. Her pony ears and tail are gone, and she has put her jacket back on.)

Sunset: (to the approaching Twilight and Rarity) Guess that explains why these were so special to them.

(These two have returned to normal as well. On the start of the next line, cut to frame all seven girls, also changed back, and Spike at their feet.)

Twilight: Without those pendants and the magic you brought here from Equestria, they’re just three harmless teenage girls.

Flash: (from o.s.) Rainbooms rule! (He races onto the stage and grabs her up in a hug.) That was amazing!

(Caught completely off guard, she glances toward her bandmates with the barest hint of a blush; they just giggle to themselves, and the purple and blue eyes turn toward each other for a long moment. A glance away, a blush on both sets of cheeks—and then Trixie butts in to split the two maybe-lovebirds apart.)

Trixie: (full ham mode) You may have vanquished the Dazzlings, but you will never have the amazing show-stopping ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie!

(Just as she did backstage during the semifinals, she throws down something that explodes in a screen-filling blast of pale blue smoke. When the view clears, all seven girls, one boy, and one dog are coughing out the last fumes and Trixie is nowhere in sight.)

Pinkie: She’s gone! (Running footsteps from o.s.; she glances toward them.) Oh, wait.

(Cut to a long shot of the fleeing upstart, caught in the process of climbing over the wall that runs behind the very back rows of seats.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) There she is.

(Zoom in as Trixie loses her balance and tumbles over the edge, dropping out of sight.)

Trixie: (from behind wall) Trixie’s okay! (Back to Twilight, Rainbow, and Sunset.)

Rainbow: (to Sunset) You know, Twilight is going back to Equestria soon. (Twilight nods at this.) The Rainbooms could really use someone to help Fluttershy on backup vocals.

(Close-up of the girl in the leather jacket on the second half of this line. A glance to one side discloses a “Flying V” guitar leaning up against an amp; she quickly slings it up, produces a pick, and uncorks a fast riff. Just as quickly, the pick goes back where it came from.)

Sunset: I also play guitar.

(Pan from her to Applejack/Fluttershy/Pinkie/Rarity/Spike, none of whom can immediately wrap their heads around this out-of-left-field display of musical prowess. All five pairs of eyes turn toward the o.s. Twilight and Rainbow; cut to these two, the former smiling calmly, the latter with her mind also blown. It takes a second for her to get her brain and tongue wired back together.)

Rainbow: We’ll see.

(Twilight grins hugely and Sunset—having set the axe down—allows herself a bashful smile, which gives way to complete shock and then a bigger smile as she finds herself at the center of a full-band group hug. Spike gets into the act by hugging one of Rarity’s ankles.)

(Dissolve to the front lawn of Canterlot High the next morning and zoom in on the statue, where all eight have gathered by its base. The girls are all back in their school outfits, including Sunset’s original sun-marked shirt.)

Applejack: Sure wish you could stay longer.

Twilight: Me too. (Pinkie peeks out from behind her.) But I have responsibilities in Equestria that I have to get back to.

(Unnoticed, the pink goofball turns to the base, pokes at one side to set it rippling and glowing—the portal to Equestria is open—and shoves her whole face through.)

Twilight: Its citizens need me.

(Pinkie backs out, dazed and with hair disheveled; cut to Fluttershy and Rainbow.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) But now, I can go through the portal whenever I need to. (To Applejack/Rarity/Sunset.) This isn’t goodbye. (Back to her.) It’s just goodbye ’til next time. (to the o.s. Spike) Ready? (Cut to him.)

Spike: Ready!

(He trots forward and through the portal; the others—including a recovered and cleaned-up Pinkie—wave to Twilight before she steps in a moment later. Dissolve to the sun in a peaceful sky and tilt down to the amphitheatre stage. The original five Rainbooms are warming up on their instruments, while off to one side DJ P0N-3 is readying her turntables and Sunset sits writing in her magic journal. Zoom in on these two.)

Sunset: (voice over, dictating) “Dear Princess Twilight: Missing you already, and hope you’ll be back soon.” (Close-up.) “Things are definitely looking up for me here at Canterlot High, but I know I still have a lot to learn about friendship. Hope you don’t mind if I write to you for advice when I need it. Your friend, Sunset Shimmer.” (She closes the book.)

Rainbow: (from o.s.) You ready or what?

(Cut to center stage; Sunset runs over, guitar slung up.)

Sunset: Ready!

Pinkie: (counting off with sticks) One, two, three, four!

CLOSING CREDITS

Upbeat acoustic/electric guitar melody with bass drum beat, bright 4 (C major)

(The jagged red line of a sound wave signal pulses across the screen as a background for the credits and accompanying visuals. Rainbow strums her guitar, Pinkie lays down a beat, Sunset gets her strings going, and all six play on a brightly colored stage setup with three elevated platforms above the drum kit. Rainbow and Sunset at center; Rarity at stage left, Applejack and Fluttershy at stage right. The marks of all six girls—collectively referred to as “the Rainbooms” from here on in—are on display in the backdrops. They are in their performance attire and have grown their pony ears and tails.)

Electric guitar out; snare drum in

Harmony vocals behind first/third lines

Applejack: Once upon a time

You came into my world and made the stars align

Rarity: Now I can see the signs

You pick me up when I get down so I can shine

Electric guitar, bass, synth in

(Pencil drawings of first Applejack and then Rarity, tinted respectively in orange-tan and purple; Applejack carries a crate of bottled cider, while Rarity has donned her reading glasses to stitch up a bow. Normal clothes and appearance have resumed.)

Rainbooms: Shine like rainbows

Shine like rainbows

(Sunset walks down a hall in Canterlot High, an open backpack on her back and her journal slowly sliding free of it. It glows and vibrates with an incoming message, causing it to fall out, but Bloom hurries in to catch and return it. The other two Crusaders soon arrive on the scene, and all four walk off together in high spirits.)

Electric guitar out

Rainbow: Friends, you are in my life

And you can count on me to be there by your side

(This world’s equivalent of pony Fluttershy’s rabbit Angel sits on a high wrought-iron railing, sticking his tongue out in close-up at Sunset’s futile grabs at him. Zoom out to frame both her and a distraught Fluttershy; the former gets a real surprise when Bulk arrives to hoist her up and put her within reach of the little fuzzball.)

Electric guitar in

Sunset: And when the music comes alive

We sing our songs to lift us up so we can shine

(Vertical panels showing Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie slide in from the top and bottom of the screen, each tinted in its girl’s color. They are looking in various directions, but turn their eyes upward after a moment and smile, their normal colors returning. After these images disappear, the same occurs for Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Sunset.)

Rainbooms: And the sound that we hear in our hearts

It’s a crescendo

And the light that ignites in the dark

It makes us all glow

All instruments out except bass and minimal percussion

(Two more pencil drawings: a very happy Pinkie skipping along with a bunch of balloons, then a grinning Rainbow with a soccer ball under one arm. Pink and blue, respectively.)

Rainbooms: And shine like rainbows

We shine like rainbows

Other instruments sneak in over next four lines, adding horns and strings

Harmony vocals under next four lines

(Two panels appear at top and bottom and slide toward each other, showing the entire band onstage, transformed, and performing in their stage outfits. Top panel: Applejack/Rarity/Sunset. Bottom panel: Fluttershy/Pinkie/Rainbow.)

Rainbooms: Together we stand

As the rain begins to fall

(The panels drop off the screen and are replaced by one in which the six step forward and raise their eyes and hands to the sky.)

And holding our heads up high

As the sun shines through it all

(A flare from one of the overhead spots fills the screen and clears to show another set of pencil drawings: green-tinted Spike, back in dragon form and slightly embarrassed at having been caught eating from a bag of dog biscuits…then the Crusaders having big fun; Bloom is drawn in red, Scootaloo in purple, Sweetie in blue…DJ P0N-3 working her decks, drawn in blue-green…Derpy, blue-gray, holding a muffin…a yellow Fluttershy watching a butterfly perch on one index finger while the other arm holds a rather grumpy Angel close to her side…a red-drawn Sunset grinning cockily…a violet Twilight holding an open book. All of the girls are back to their non-pony appearances and clothing.)

(This last image recedes from the camera and moves to the center of the screen as those of the other members of the magnificent seven come in from either side. The sketches form one line that stretches all the way across the screen before sliding up to make room for the final credits.)

Rainbooms: And the sound that we hear in our hearts

It’s a crescendo

And the light that ignites in the dark

It makes us all glow

And shine like rainbows

We shine like rainbows

Shine like rainbows

We shine like rainbows

We shine like rainbows

Song ends on one last bass note

(The sound wave signal dies away to a flat line and is pulled off the right edge of the screen as the credits stop rolling to leave the final copyright information. However, it soon emerges from the left edge, the text sliding out of view ahead of its leading end, and becomes a scrolling, jagged signal to the faint hum of machinery and the scratch of a pen. Behind it, the background fades to white as the camera pans slightly left to frame a stylus marking down this signal—it is a strip chart. The jagged peaks soon die out, the paper roll stopping as well, and the camera zooms out to an overhead view of this recorder.)

(A light violet hand in a long white sleeve reaches into view to tear the readout away, whipping it past the camera; once it is gone, a bulletin board can be seen, covered with notes and chart readouts. At the center of this jumble is a photograph of Canterlot High, with several strings leading to it and secured dead center with a thumbtack. The latest strip chart is stuck up among the lot, and the camera zooms out to frame a figure in a lab coat eyeing it all intently. Even though this individual can only be seen from behind for the moment, the skin and hair colors mark it as a dead ringer for Twilight. The hair is rumpled and tied back at the nape of the neck in a bun with a pencil stuck into it, the collar of a light blue turtleneck peeks over the coat, and eyeglasses with thick black frames are in evidence as well.)

(Head-on view of her, hair slightly disheveled, a dog who looks exactly like Spike eating food from a bowl in the background. The next words mark these two as the ones who are native to this world.)

Human Twilight: No doubt about it, Spike. There’s definitely something strange going on at that school.

(Dog Spike barks in reply. Fade to black.)

MY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS—RAINBOW ROCKS

Encore Shorts

Written by Katrina Hadley, Daniel Ingram, Brian Lenard, Jayson Thiessen, Michael Vogel

Directed by Ishi Rudell

Transcribed by Alan Back (ajback@yahoo.com)

Notes: These shorts all occur in the human world that served as the setting for the bulk of

Equestria Girls and Rainbow Rocks, and all characters appear as their human

versions.

Although the shorts are set chronologically after the film, this set of transcripts

can be read independently of those for both films without any significant loss of continuity or detail. References to earlier events are noted.

All three of these shorts were released on April 2, 2015.

“Friendship Through the Ages”

Quiet piano melody, moderate 4 (E flat major)

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to a closed curtain, which rises to expose a totally black area beyond. A spotlight fades up to show Twilight Sparkle playing a grand piano under a crystal chandelier. A harp, cello, and music stand are off in the shadows to either side, and a floor-to-ceiling window adorns the back wall, showing the night sky beyond. Most of Twilight’s hair is gathered at the top of her head, she wears long white opera gloves, and what can be seen of her sleeveless white/light blue dress suggests the sort of clothing that would be used by a classical performer giving a recital. Sunset Shimmer sits on the piano’s closed lid, sporting a different outfit from either Equestria Girls or Rainbow Rocks. Dark gray leather jacket with an orange chevron stripe on each sleeve; light blue one-piece dress with a pale yellow ruffle at the hem; blue-green tights; dark gray leather high-heeled boots with black buckles and the orange chevrons. The jacket and boots are slightly shorter than the one she wore during the two films, and the sleeves are rolled up to mid-forearm. Zoom in slowly.)

Twilight: Nothing stays the same for long

But when it changes, doesn’t mean it’s gone

(She stands, revealing a short violet hoop skirt with spangled pink sashes and piano-key trim at the hem, as well as lacy, ankle-length high-heeled boots, short black tights, and stockings. A violet sleeve cuff adorns each wrist. She crosses the room, twirling as she passes Sunset.)

Time will always get away

As it leaves behind another day

(Close-up of the smiling listener, turning to follow the move; in front of her, the view wipes to a daytime mountain meadow where Fluttershy is running through the grass, playing her tambourine. Light, flowing peasant blouse and skirt with short vest; hair in braids and tied back; platform-soled sandals with butterfly accents. Assorted woodland creatures frolic around her.)

Piano out; acoustic guitar/strings/tambourine in

Fluttershy: Things may come and things may go

Some go fast and some go slow

(She plucks a gone-to-seed dandelion and lets Sunset blow its fluff into the air, the camera following.)

Few things last, that’s all I know

But friendship carries on through the ages

(One seed drifts past in extreme close-up; behind it, the view wipes to a psychedelic landscape in which Rarity skips along. She wears the magenta/gold drum-major jacket she tried on briefly during the Rainbooms’ rehearsal in Rainbow Rocks, with matching high-heeled boots and a sparkly purple skirt; hair tied back in a corkscrewing ponytail; translucent round sunglasses. As giant flowers bloom in her path to form a staircase, she steps lightly from one to the next.)

Acoustic guitar out; bass and gentle electric guitar glissandos in

Fluttershy, Rarity: Things may come and things may go

(The last one unfurls to reveal Sunset within.)

Some go fast and some go slow

(She jumps to Rarity’s flower and is dismayed to see the one she rode in on collapse.)

Few things last, that’s all I know

(The plant rises to carry them out of view, its stem becoming a guitar neck, and they smile.)

But friendship carries on through the ages

(Zoom out quickly to frame the instrument in the hands of Rainbow Dash, on her knees under a spotlight onstage and playing lead guitar in a band. Every inch of her screams “punk” from top to bottom: spiked boots, ripped fishnet tights, purple leather jacket and matching plaid skirt, multiple ear piercings, hair gathered into a messy ponytail, a purple lightning bolt dyed into the blue portion on the side of her head. She stands up.)

Tambourine/strings out; power-rock trio feel with electric guitar, bass, drums

Rainbow: Been around for a long time

Rockin’ out hard ’cause I’m in my prime

Maybe it’ll change further down the line

(An ecstatic Sunset finds herself crowd-surfing in front of the stage.)

But my friendship carries on through the ages

(Rainbow un-slings the axe and smashes it, one chunk flying toward the camera. Cut to Applejack sitting atop a fence on this world’s Sweet Apple Acres and playing her bass guitar. Long, light brown sundress with dark brown, apple-marked ruffle at the hem; still darker brown tights; light brown high-heeled boots marked with apples; cowboy hat set with an apple and musical notes; hair bound into two thick sheaves with several ties.)

Drums lighten greatly; mandolin in

Guitar lightens to country-style glissandos

Applejack: Every single style has somethin’

(Sunset rides a horse up to her, sitting sidesaddle.)

Different it can say

Electric guitar accents in

(Applejack feeds an apple to the mount. The view then contracts into an apple-shaped aperture and “irises out” to show the two girls line-dancing against a checked orange background. Applejack has shed her bass.)

There’s nothin’ wrong with bein’ unique

(Sunset’s footwork shifts into a different pattern.)

And special in your own way

(The scene pixelates into a low-resolution version of itself and disintegrates to show Pinkie Pie doing a standing slide along the white keys of a synthesizer. Blue/violet/magenta strapless dress; pink heart necklace; sparkly yellow tights with white boots that end in magenta high heels with blue bows; hair heavily crimped/teased with blue/yellow/purple pinstripes and held in a ponytail with a blue band; yellow star earrings. Behind her is a background of neon-hued geometric shapes and stars. She leaps off the end, twirling in midair, and lands in front of a salvo of popping flashbulbs.)

All instruments out; New Wave feel with synth and electronic drums/bass

(A flat major, modulating back to E flat major by end of next verse)

Pinkie: Maybe you want to be a pop star

(The view clears to give a close-up of her now wearing sunglasses with louvered, heart-shaped lenses. Zoom out to show her and Sunset as the hands on a giant clock face; the former is at 12:00, the latter ticking toward her. Their feet are at the center of the clock.)

Get your fifteen minutes of fame, whoa, oh-h

(Cut to a green hologram grid; Sunset’s form is scanned in, monochrome, and Pinkie runs over to her without the shades. A touch on the image’s hand brings its color back, and Pinkie helps her down off the grid.)

That won’t last forever

(The screen quickly tiles itself with a grid of nine small images that give a scrambled close-up of Pinkie with her sunglasses on. Three fast vertical shifts, and now Sunset appears in her place, properly sorted out, to beam for the camera.)

But friendship remains the same, oh-h-h

(Fade to black.)

A cappella

(Just enough light fades up to pick out a group of six silhouettes. These are illuminated one by one: Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Pinkie, Applejack, Twilight. Pinkie and Rarity have removed their shades.)

All but Sunset: Things may come and things may go

Some go fast and some go slow

Few things last, that’s all I know

But friendship carries on through the ages

(The final line of this chorus splits into two parts, with one part holding the “on” as the other sings the last three words.)

Mandolin/bass/drums/electric guitar enter during final line of preceding verse

(Six vertical panels slide in from top and bottom, each framing one of these six, and the view cuts to a close-up and slow pan across them. Pinkie and Rarity have their sunglasses back on now.)

All: Things may come and things may go

Some go fast and some go slow

(A vinyl record rolls across, with Sunset’s face superimposed on the label; zoom in on this, then out. She now occupies a panel of her own, at the center of the lineup.)

Few things last, that’s all I know

But friendship carries on through the ages

(Same two-way split on the final line. The backdrops slide away, leaving the girls standing against a blue field; Applejack removes her hat and throws it overhead, and they gather for a group hug.)

All: Oh-h-h

A cappella

Carries on

Song ends with one last bass note

(Fade to black.)

[Note: Sunset will retain her new outfit for Friendship Games, the third film in the series, and its associated prequel shorts.]

“Life Is a Runway”

Minimal stoptime melody with synthesizer chords and electronic percussion, brisk 4

(B flat major)

Background lyrics in square brackets

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to Rarity, seated at a table in a workroom and wearing her world’s version of the reading glasses that her pony self favors while working. She begins to sketch as the camera tracks slowly around her from behind, picking out the bare dress-form mannequins that stand just beyond the perimeter of the single spotlight shining down from above. A series of fade-out/fade-in transitions shifts the view as follows during the verse. An extreme close-up of her pencil laying down the first strokes of a design…a close-up of her intently smiling face…a piece of fabric going under the needle of her sewing machine…a pearl necklace being draped onto the neck of a now-clothed dress form…Rarity regarding a different one, then turning away with a flick at her curls…a length of ribbon being reeled out from a spool on a shelf…then being cut…she adjusts the shoulder of one dress, backs off a step, and tosses her glasses aside.)

Rarity: Life is a runway [runway]

Listen, here’s what it’s all about

I tell you, life is a runway [runway]

Time to bring what’s on the inside out

Electronic drums build; stoptime ends

(The screen fills with a flare of light and clears to show her silhouette walking toward the camera against a polka-dotted magenta background. A dress floats back toward her; another flash, and she is tricked out in the dress, shoes, and two-tone tights she wore during the Rainbooms’ defeat of the Dazzlings at the end of Rainbow Rocks.)

Rarity: Into the light

(Yet another flash; she strikes a new pose.)

Into the light

(The front door of this world’s Carousel Boutique fills the screen and is thrown open from inside; zoom out as she struts forth. It is daytime.)

Rarity: Life is a runway when you see it my way

(She stops in front of a sidewalk table and winks, hand on hip.)

Take all the good inside, make it beautiful

(Camera shift: a giddy Bulk Biceps is on the receiving end. She walks on, checking her nail polish, tweaking an earring, and flicking her hair.)

Fashion is a way to start showing what’s in your heart

(Spin around a lamppost, then twirl on the sidewalk.)

Call it superficial, I call it irrefutable

(Spotting two mannequins in a storefront window, she stops to regard her reflection in between them. Zoom in on the three images; behind them, the background changes to a fashion show runway, and they sashay along it as flashbulbs pop all around.)

Rarity: Oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, whoa

(The mannequins stop; she takes a few more steps toward the camera.)

Oh, oh, oh, whoa, life is a runway

(One more salvo of flashes changes the scene back to the sidewalk, now populated with various students from Canterlot High School. She saunters along, instantly transforming spectators’ outfits and hairstyles with a gesture—Derpy Hooves, then Cheerilee, then Bon Bon and Lyra Heartstrings.)

Each set of background lyrics is sung under the line preceding it

Rarity: You can be the girl that you want to be

[Oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, whoa]

With a little love and some accessories

[Oh, oh, oh, whoa, life is a runway]

Don’t be scared to show you have personal style

[Oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, whoa]

Just go do your thing, you’ll make everyone smile

[Oh, oh, oh, whoa, life is a runway]

(Behind these four, the background again dissolves to a spotlit runway; a flash puts her at their fore, and all strut their stuff for the snapping cameras.)

Rarity: You can be the girl that you want to be

[Oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, whoa]

With a little love and some accessories

[Oh, oh, oh, whoa, life is a runway]

(Amethyst Star and Rose join the procession, having acquired flashy new duds of their own.)

Don’t be scared to show you have personal style

[Oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, whoa]

Just go do your thing, you’ll make everyone smile

[Oh, oh, oh, whoa, life is a runway]

Original stoptime feel and minimal synth/bass drum melody

(The other modeling teens peel off to alternate sides, leaving Rarity standing alone in close-up. A fade to black and spotlight flash put her back in her original clothing and glasses, and she spots a dress form clad in Rose’s outfit. As in the first verse, a series of fade-out/fade-in steps affords the following views. Extreme close-up of a hem being stitched for Cheerilee’s rig…she touches up Bon Bon’s dress on one form…then adjusts the collar of Cheerilee’s on another…then sets out the shoes to go with it…and hangs one dress on a rack with several others…and finally stands alone with a few flashbulbs going off in the distance.)

Rarity: Life is a runway [runway]

I’ll show you what it’s all about

Drums build slightly

I tell you, life is a runway [runway]

Time to bring what’s on the inside out

Drums build again; stoptime ends

(At her gesture, the camera zooms out quickly to frame a line of dress forms, all wearing Lyra’s new outfit.)

Rarity: Into the light

(Fade to white, then snap back to her; another gesture and zoom out reveals copies of Cheerilee’s threads.)

Into the light

(Repeat as above: her next gesture frames two rows of dress forms, one for Rose and the other for Amethyst.)

Into the light

(Cut to an overhead shot of Rarity and zoom out slowly. Five rows converge at her position to form a large star and show off her efforts, with Bon Bon’s dress featured in the last row.)

Into the light

(Fade to white, then in to her standing at the base of the stairs leading up to the second floor of the Carousel Boutique. She has removed her glasses. Zoom out slowly.)

Rarity: Into the light

Song ends

(The zoom continues, framing all of the recipients of her instant makeovers—and one more girl—in the showroom and back in their original outfits. They run an eye over the wares for sale and talk about their purchases as the view fades to black.)

“My Past Is Not Today”

Quiet electric guitar/synthesizer melody with bass drum beats, brisk 4 (B minor)

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to the dome on the roof of Canterlot High, the camera pointing past it into the orange/violet sky of dusk. Sunset steps into view, her back to the camera and her hair blowing in the breeze, and watches the sun’s ever-so-slow descent as she moves toward the edge. She wears the same dress/jacket/boots ensemble as in “Friendship Through the Ages.”)

Synth drops to bass register; Sunset’s words echo slightly

Guitar greatly muted, but gradually sneaks back in

Sunset: Power was all I desired

(A shadow covers her face, leaving only a glowing spot in each blue-green eye. She closes them and turns away; instantly the sky darkens as the sun vanishes below the horizon.)

But all that grew inside me

(bitterly regarding her image in the dome’s surface)

Was the darkness I acquired

Snare drum/bass in; synth returns to original register; echo stops

(Black and white highlights strobe across both halves of her face, then clear to show her undergoing the transformation into her red-skinned demonic form at the climax of Equestria Girls. The view is ringed with white to mark this as a flashback.)

Sunset: When I began to fall

And I lost the path ahead

(A stuttering series of freeze frames captures the rainbow unleashed by Twilight and her friends to strike Sunset down. Snap to white, then to her rising from the crater into which she was blasted—back to her normal self, including her original clothing ensemble, but very much the worse for wear.)

That’s when your friendship found me

(The six half-pony girls stand at the crater’s edge. Twilight kneels to offer a hand, which Sunset grasps, and the other five each add one of their own.)

And it lifted me instead

Backing strings in (D major)

(Fade to white, then in to the present: Sunset begins to run around the perimeter of the dome, keeping a hand on its surface.)

Sunset: Like a phoenix burning bright in the sky

(She stops and raises a hand to the sky, tracing a comet’s path, and curls it into a fist.)

I’ll show there’s another side to me you can’t deny

(Next she turns to face the clock tower atop the dome—one minute to midnight.)

I may not know what the future holds

But hear me when I say

(Her reflection in the glass changes to the flaming demon, but she dispels it with a wave and touches a hand to her true reflection, letting a smile steal over her face.)

That my past does not define me

’Cause my past is not today

Strings out; guitar/bass out for two bars, then back in for next verse (B minor)

(Tilt up to follow her gaze into the sky, where a star flares up to fill the screen with its glow. When the view clears, the scene has shifted to the first two of the three victory pictures that hang in Principal Celestia’s office, marking Sunset’s triumphs at being crowned Fall Formal Princess—seen in Equestria Girls. Cut quickly to the third and most vicious-looking picture, then to Sunset glaring at them all with the clearest disgust. In a blink, her expression softens to one of regret and she runs a hand over the first one.)

Sunset: Ambition is what I believed

(Regaining her resolve, she pulls them all down; out in the front lobby, she hurls them into the nearest trash can and lets out a long-held breath.)

Would be the only way to set me free

(Her eyes drop again; cut to another white-ringed flashback. As she walks the hall with a tentative smile, one student after another turns away or gives her a glare of naked hostility—sometime after the end of Equestria Girls.)

But when it disappeared

And I found myself alone

(Now she stands amid a group of them, including the Cutie Mark Crusaders. All turn their backs on her and wink out in quick succession, leaving one dejected former unicorn by herself until Twilight and company gather around with warm smiles and comforting hands on her shoulders.)

That’s when you came and got me

(Her spirits lifted, she holds her position as the rest of the scene dissolves to the Canterlot High roof in the present.)

And I felt like I was home

(She jogs across the roof, face set in a determined smile, and pulls off her jacket to expose short dress sleeves beneath. The garment is flung high into the air and carried away on the wind.)

Backing strings in (D major)

Sunset: Like a phoenix burning bright in the sky

(Tiny tongues of flame begin to flicker around her body; she skids to a stop and raises her arms toward the coming dawn, her entire body ringed with a yellow aura.)

I’ll show there’s another side to me you can’t deny

I may not know what the future holds

But hear me when I say

(The new power slowly lifts her clear of the roof.)

That my past does not define me

’Cause my past is not today

(One last burst of energy, and a pair of red/gold wings and a matching bird tail have manifested themselves on her back and spread to full extension as a pattern of flames appears on her tights. The wild tumble of hair blows upward from her head, forming a new frame for her blissful visage.)

Song ends

(Fade to black at the same time.)

MY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS—FRIENDSHIP GAMES

Prequel Shorts

Written by Brian Lenard, Ishi Rudell, Jayson Thiessen

Specific writing credits:

“The Science of Magic” Natasha Levinger

“Pinkie Spy” Natasha Levinger

“All’s Fair in Love & Friendship Games” Jim Miller (storyboard)

“Photo Finished” Ishi Rudell, Jayson Thiessen

“A Banner Day” Timothy Packford (storyboard)

Directed by Jayson Thiessen

Co-directed by Ishi Rudell

Transcribed by Alan Back (ajback@yahoo.com)

Notes: These shorts all occur in the human world that served as the setting for the bulk of

Equestria Girls and Rainbow Rocks, and all characters appear as their human

versions.

The transcripts are arranged in chronological order of the shorts’ release dates.

Although the shorts are set chronologically before Friendship Games, this set of transcripts and the ones for the films can be read independently of each other without any loss of continuity or detail.

The character of Bon Bon has also been identified as Sweetie Drops within the show itself. I have chosen to use the “Bon Bon” name in order to avoid any possibility of confusion with Sweetie Belle.

“The Science of Magic”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to the closed door of a Canterlot High School classroom, seen from inside. The equations on the blackboard, and the periodic table and diagram of a molecule on the wall, suggest that this is a science laboratory. The door swings open to admit the original five Rainbooms—Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity—talking animatedly among themselves with instruments slung up. They stop short after a few paces, staring ahead in sudden confusion to the sound of electrical buzzing; cut to just behind Rainbow at the front of the group. At the opposite end of the lab is Sunset Shimmer, standing before a bank of machinery and taking notes on a clipboard. Although she wears a white lab coat, the black/dark-gray boots and blue-green tights of the outfit she sported in the Rainbow Rocks encore shorts can be clearly seen. The door is heard swinging closed.)

Rainbow: Uh, I thought we were rehearsing. (Sunset glances over her shoulder toward the group, showing rolled-up sleeves.)

Sunset: Well, you are—sort of.

(Cut to frame all five musicians as she crosses to them. Pinkie is carrying a pair of cymbals.)

Sunset: Back when I was Princess Celestia’s student, I learned best by going out into the field and actually doing something. Studying ancient books is fine for some people, but I like to solve magical mysteries by rolling up my sleeves and getting my hooves—uh, hands dirty. (She sets the clipboard down, pulls on a rubber glove, and crosses past Applejack.)

Applejack: I can relate to workin’ hard outdoors, but what the hay does that have to do with us playin’ music? (Cut to Sunset, now plugging two cords together and with both hands gloved.)

Sunset: I’m trying to figure out how magic works here.

(She drops the cords; pan slowly toward Fluttershy, now standing alone in the middle of the floor.)

Sunset: Why you grow ears, tails, and wings when you pony up and what your instruments have to do with it.

Fluttershy: Um, are you sure we need to figure it out?

(The pink hair is promptly covered by a metal helmet that resembles a colander with leads attached.)

Sunset: It’ll be fun. (She buckles its chin strap.) Just start playing. (crossing to machines) You won’t even know I’m here.

(Fluttershy grimaces to herself. Wipe to her standing exactly where she was, while Sunset types at a computer keyboard. The budding scientist gives a thumbs-up, which is Fluttershy’s cue to start shaking and striking her tambourine. Nerves give way to a growing enthusiasm, and Sunset watches with interest as a signal scrolls past on a monitor. She is more than a little surprised to see it degenerate into a wild squiggle and then reform as a radiating pattern of concentric butterflies. Turning toward Fluttershy, she can only stare wide-eyed as the pink-haired girl becomes surrounded by a yellow aura and her pony features emerge. A sudden burst of energy pops the chin strap loose and propels the helmet off her head, ejecting a surge of pink butterflies as well. Sunset throws her arms up to protect her head as the overhead lights go out, leaving only a small spotlight that centers itself on her face and the butterfly that comes to rest on her nose.)

(Wipe to a close-up of Applejack playing her bass guitar. Normal lighting has been restored. A gentle yellow-orange glow wreathes her form as she floats just above the floor, and her pony ears are taking form. A zoom out frames her tail already in place and a thoroughly puzzled Sunset taking notes and watching from a few steps back. When Applejack stops playing, her feet reconnect with the floor, the energy vanishes, and her transformation reverses itself; she gives Sunset a helpless shrug—no help on this front. The investigator has just enough time for one worried glance upward before a rain of glowing apples completely buries her. One bounces away and lands neatly in Applejack’s hand; she walks off munching on it, and a truly perplexed Sunset pokes her head out of the deluge of produce.)

(Wipe to an extreme close-up of Rarity’s eyes as a suction-cup electrode is attached to the center of her forehead, then cut to her and Sunset. More connections have been made on her arms and legs, and one is even stuck to a boot. She begins to play her keytar as Sunset jots on her clipboard, and the ears and tail are quick to appear amid the blue-violet aura that emanates from every inch of her. Sunset excitedly lets her pencil fly across the paper; now Rarity finds herself being lifted clear of the floor, causing the wires attached to her electrodes to pull taut. Sunset fails to notice that one of them is looped around her ankle, and she gets her feet unceremoniously yanked out from under her. Clipboard and pencil go flying as she pitches to the floor, getting a sheepish grin from the levitating teen.)

(Wipe to Pinkie plying her sticks on her drum kit and zoom out to frame Sunset at her apparatus in the foreground. She smiles at the readings, Pinkie keeps pounding, and the pink pony ears poke out of the lengthening mass of curly magenta hair. Pink energy envelops both her and the kit as she throws herself into the riffs, and one final cymbal strike unleashes a salvo of glowing balloons from the bass drum. These hit Sunset dead center, plowing her away into the far wall, and dissipate to leave her stuck there spreadeagle amid crackles of static electricity. Her hair is splayed out as if she had just shoved a fork into a wall outlet.)

(Wipe to her sitting in a control booth that is adjacent to the lab and separated from it by a row of windows. Her hair is back in order, her rubber gloves are gone, and she types at a laptop. Rainbow stands in the center of the lab, playing her guitar; in close-up, she floats off the tiles and undergoes her transformation as her body is enveloped in blue light. Sunset stands up, beaming at this turn of events, and Rainbow’s next chord sends a string of multicolored pulses racing back along the guitar’s power cord. These stream into the point where the cord runs through the wall and into Sunset’s equipment, and her face goes slack with shock an instant before she and the control booth disappear behind a gout of rainbow-hued goop that erupts from the laptop. Fade to white.)

(Fade in to the Rainbooms toying with their instruments in the lab. All five are back to their normal selves.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) Finally after all this testing, I’ve come to a definitive conclusion.

(On the end of this, zoom out slightly to frame her arm and clipboard in the fore. There is a rip in the shoulder of her lab coat, and a couple of errant hairs stick out from the side of her head. After she lowers the clipboard, the camera cuts to a close-up of her—weary, smoking slightly, face and clothing battered, hair blown back every which way. A few multicolored sparks crackle among the flyaway tresses, and she coughs up a little rainbow that quickly dissipates in the air.)

Sunset: (woozily, tottering) I have no idea how magic works in this world.

(Putting a hand to her forehead, she utters one exhausted moan and topples backwards to the floor. Fade to black.)

“Pinkie Spy”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to a long overhead shot of a school campus laid out differently from that of Canterlot High. It is daytime, and the miniscule specks of a few figures can be seen on the soccer field. Zoom in slowly, then cut to a close-up of them—students in dark magenta jerseys and dark blue shorts, with lighter piping at collars, sleeve cuffs, and inseams. All are crouched down in preparation for the start of a race—a track team—and the camera pans back from them to frame their coach, who wears a track suit and cap in the same color scheme. A pair of sunglasses is perched on the cap’s bill. A blast from the whistle hanging around his neck sets the runners moving; once they have all passed o.s., zoom in quickly on an adjacent patch of woods. Rainbow drops into view, grasping a tree branch with one arm and bracing both feet against the trunk. Until otherwise noted, all of her lines are spoken in hushed tones.)

Rainbow: Crystal Prep High School. The competition.

(She releases her hold to hurtle into a nearby bush, then leaps behind another one and rolls across to a third to get closer to the action. From here, she launches herself at a new tree, pushing off from the trunk and balling up for a flip that brings her down in a three-point stance on a clear spot of turf. A quick look around, and she dives back into the last bush she vacated, with almost no time to spare before the track team runs past. Once they have gone, she risks a quick peek, takes cover behind the nearest tree, and vaults into yet another bush just before the group comes by again. Close-up of Rainbow as she parts the leaves for a better view.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) Hey, Rainbow!

(The vivid-haired jock’s mental gears seize up as the camera zooms out to frame her schoolmate, who is also hunkered down for a bit of surveillance. In fact, the leaves Rainbow pushed aside are part of a wig she wears, and she has lifted her head slightly so that her face is clear of the greenery. Rainbow gets out a strangled little grunt and backs away a couple of steps, now upright.)

Rainbow: What are you doing?!? (Pinkie stands up.)

Pinkie: You said we needed to be sneaky while we check out the competition for the Friendship Games.

(She is summarily yanked away by Rainbow, both hiding behind a tree as the rival track team jogs by. Pinkie holds her tongue until they have passed o.s.)

Pinkie: Want to see what else I have?

(She zips away; an instant later she has shed the foliage and donned a dark gray bodysuit with matching boots that leaves only her head and hands exposed. Large green-lensed goggles hide her eyes, and a grappling hook and launcher are strapped to her belt at one hip.)

Pinkie: Cat burglar!

(An upward-angled launch, the line snaps taut, and she is hoisted away and o.s. Cut to her standing in a new spot, without the goggles, belt, and grapple.)

Pinkie: Dog burglar!

(She produces a mask of Spike’s face as a dog from behind her back, slaps it on, and quickly digs a hole deep enough to disappear into with her hands. From here, cut to her disguised as a tree, with her face showing in a knothole and two waving limbs that indicate the position of her arms. She has unmasked.)

Pinkie: Tree!

(Another cut; now she hops out from a bush, clad in a full-body rabbit costume with a plastic snout and buck teeth strapped over her nose.)

Pinkie: Bunny suit!

(Extreme close-up of her face, zooming out; she has stood up into a half-crouch, having changed into a camouflage-patterned outfit and cap in various vivid shades of pink. Her shirt displays a heart sighted in a set of crosshairs.)

Pinkie: Camouflage! (Rainbow steps out from behind her hiding tree.)

Rainbow: (pulling Pinkie’s cap off, throwing it aside) That’s, like, the opposite of camouflage! (Panicked look around.) Quick! Get down!

(Shoving her counterpart back into the bush, she takes cover before the runners come through. She is first to risk another look as several short blasts from the coach’s whistle drift faintly across; now the team is down on the turf of the soccer field, gathered near the coach.)

Rainbow: We need to get a better view.

(The sound of something inflating throws a scare into her, and the source quickly reveals itself—a mass of balloons lifting her up and out of view. A grinning Pinkie has all the strings tied around her waist and is being hauled up as well; she has changed back into her usual outfit.)

Pinkie: Best view in the house!

(The team members have now switched to push-ups, in rhythm with the coach’s whistle, and Rainbow frantically pokes at the balloons to pop them—first one at a time, then all in quick succession. With her means of support gone, she drops o.s.; her impact shakes the camera and draws a puzzled stare and whistle from the coach. One last balloon slowly rises from a bush but stops at the end of its string; cut to Pinkie and Rainbow back here, the former holding on until the latter pulls it down. Red-violet eyes glare into blue ones as Rainbow squeezes all the helium out and throws the balloon away.)

Pinkie: (sniffing) You smell like vanilla. (Rainbow claps her hands over Pinkie’s mouth.)

Rainbow: We’re trying to eavesdrop! That means they don’t hear us! (Uncover.)

Pinkie: Ooooh! I have just the thing!

(Cut to one athlete doing sit-ups as another holds his ankles down. A microphone on the end of a long pole is lowered into view above them; tilt up to frame it, then pan back to show Pinkie holding the other end and crouched behind a bush. She has donned a pair of headphones to listen in, but gets nothing but the huffing respirations of the exerciser, and a tweak at the controls buries the signal in static. Rainbow peeks up from a bush a short distance back.)

Rainbow: What are you doing?!?

(She drops out of sight, then emerges next to Pinkie.)

Rainbow: (steadily growing volume) We’re trying to spy on them! Do you even know what the word “spy” means? (grabbing/tossing microphone) It means being sneaky! It means not being seen! (standing up) IT MEANS BEING QUIET!!

(On the end of this, the camera zooms out to show the entire team now exercising right in front of their vantage point. Rainbow’s words bring them all to a dead stop and turn every eye toward her; Pinkie, meanwhile, has seized the moment to get herself back out of sight.)

Pinkie: (from behind bush) Bush to Dash! Code red! You have been spotted! (She stands up, lifting the whole thing around herself; the headphones are gone.) RUUUUNNNN!!

(Which she proceeds to do with all speed. Rainbow peels out after her, leaving the team to stare dumbfounded as the two inept covert operatives make tracks across the parking lot. “Iris out” to black, centered on them.)

“All’s Fair in Love & Friendship Games”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to the front entrance of Canterlot High, seen from a short distance away. It is daytime, and the doors swing open at the sound of the school bell to release a tide of students down the steps—classes are over for the day. In close-up, Bon Bon and Lyra Heartstrings step out at the back of the group. Bon Bon: sleeveless white dress with ruffled blue collar and yellow edging at the shoulders, blue/yellow stripes at the hem, blue Mary Janes with knee-high white socks edged in blue, blue/yellow bow at the waist that matches the wrapped candies of her pony self’s cutie mark. Lyra: pink off-the-shoulder top, high-waisted skirt in a darker hue over blue-violet shorts, magenta boots with pale yellow socks, magenta hair band styled with a flower over each ear, gold lyre pendant on a thin chain necklace.)

Bon Bon: And then I said—

Lyra: —“It tastes like marshmallows”? (Both stop.)

Bon Bon: Yes, so that made me—

Lyra: —feel like you were on a camping trip?

Bon Bon: Yes! Just like—

Bon Bon, Lyra: —that time we went to the amusement park in eighth grade! (Bon Bon voices a soft gasp and chuckle.)

Bon Bon: You know me so well. (Lyra counters with an airy sigh.)

Lyra: You know me so well.

(Linking arms, the two girls walk off down the steps; once they have descended to the sidewalk, a male eco-kid, Sandalwood, runs up. Seen from behind for the moment, he has flesh-toned skin, wears a brown vest over a red T-shirt and a dark gray cap over his two-tone green dreadlocks, and has a dark gray band on each wrist.)

Sandalwood: Dudes!

(Head-on view; showing his green eyes and the fringes and recycling-logo button on the front of his vest.)

Sandalwood: (pulling out a flyer) The tryouts for the Friendship Games are about to start!

Bon Bon: (eyes widening) O…

Lyra: (ditto) …M… (They lean toward each other.)

Bon Bon, Lyra: …goodness! (Huge grins on both faces.)

Sandalwood: There are limited spots on the CHS team, so bring your A-game!

(He runs off laughing, and the grins on the mint-green and cream-colored faces widen a notch. Out of nowhere, though, both mouths harden into suspicious scowls and all four eyes narrow with a hard light. The camera cuts to each in turn, the view contracting to a diagonal band that frames her vicious expression. In fullscreen, they point an index finger at each other and back away warily as the view shrinks to a horizontal band.)

(The fullscreen ratio restores itself as the view dissolves to a long shot of the school soccer field. Sandalwood stands in front of a set of bleachers filled with spectators, doing a “devil sticks” routine—using two batons in his hands to juggle a third one back and forth. He launches it high overhead; in close-up, he twirls and whips his cap off to catch it. These shots frame his blue jeans and brown shoes. The students cheer and applaud, and Vice-Principal Luna jots a few notes in a small book she has brought with her.)

(The light dims, accompanied by the clunk of a switch being thrown and instantly silencing the crowd. Out on the field, Lyra has changed into a loose-fitting blouse/skirt dance ensemble and is standing in a spotlight. She breaks out a few moves to a light, energetic backing track, but stops short at the sound of a phonograph needle being yanked off a record. Pan quickly to Bon Bon, who has donned a tuxedo-styled outfit with top hat and gloves and is in a spotlight of her own. After a few seconds of rapid-fire tap dancing, she strikes a pose with the hat held out to one side; Lyra zips over and angrily snatches it out of her hand.)

(Normal lighting resumes as the boiling-mad girl crushes the formal headwear. Bon Bon’s face goes slack with shock before rearranging itself into a grimace. The two now face each other down and ready themselves to fight, standing a few paces apart and back in their original outfits. Above each girl is a low-resolution picture of her face, as well as a row of five hearts to act as a health meter in a video game. Two low-res fists slide into view from opposite sides and collide, knuckle to knuckle.)

Announcer: Compete!

(The added graphics disappear when the view cuts to Bon Bon handily defeating Bulk Biceps in an arm-wrestling match, then to Lyra delivering a leaping punch to an inflatable dummy. The two continue their face-off in a variety of bizarre ways as the camera cuts from one to the other. Bon Bon rips a telephone book in half…Lyra hoists a barbell and clamps her teeth onto the bar so she can bend it double…Bon Bon lifts a heavy log vertically and heaves it downfield, as if doing a caber toss at the Highland games…Lyra stands behind a table piled with hot dogs and chomps down one after another…Bon Bon slams a bunch of flowers neatly into a waiting vase…Lyra works a lump of clay on a pottery wheel, shaping it into a replica of the rearing-horse statue on the Canterlot High lawn…Bon Bon holds a chisel against a stone block and strikes one blow with a mallet, causing the material to crumble into a large-scale bust that exactly duplicates her crazed scowl and the threatening index finger that points from the hand still clutching the chisel.)

(Cut to an extreme close-up of a screenful of peacock feathers, arranged in two large fans. These are pulled away to either side to reveal a birdlike silhouette on a stage, and a spotlight flicks on to reveal Lyra dressed as a peacock, tail plumage and all. She spreads the feathers to full width and squawks loudly; cut to a screenful of leaves, which part like a curtain to expose a second silhouette crouched on a stage. Up come the lights to identify this one as being dressed in an owl suit and with its entire head turned 180 degrees to face the backdrop behind her. The head swivels around, showing Bon Bon’s face half-hidden behind an eye/beak mask that is a near-perfect match for the features of Owlowiscious, Twilight Sparkle’s pet owl, and she hoots. The two “flap” toward each other, voicing their birds’ cries with increasing force.)

(Fade to white, then in to the avian silhouettes against a gray background, facing each other across a short distance. Bon Bon has her wings/arms spread, while Lyra’s upper body bends slowly backward as if ducking a projectile. Cut to a male techie, Micro Chips, among the spectators in the bleachers. Pale violet skin; two-tone, dark blue-gray hair; small black eyes behind heavy glasses broken at the bridge and repaired with tape; yellow turtleneck with green collar/cuffs; white suspenders with a button attached that displays a drawing of an atom.)

Micro: Is it just me, or did things take a turn towards Weirdsville?

(On the end of this, he pulls out his cell phone and holds it up to take a picture of the whacked-out confrontation. Out on the field, Bon Bon’s foot and then Lyra’s push off from the ground in extreme close-up, leaving tendrils of dust and smoke to waft through the air in their wake. Bon Bon angles herself to extend her taloned feet for a double kick, while Lyra reaches ahead for a midair grapple, each shouting her bird’s vocalization with undiluted fury. The camera cuts back and forth between the two rage-twisted faces before shifting to a split screen of their profiles. Before things can escalate any further, a third panel inserts itself between them and Sandalwood stands up into view, stopping them cold. He has put his cap back on and stowed his devil sticks.)

Sandalwood: Aw, dudes! Vice-Principal Luna just posted the roster for the Friendship Games team!

(Fullscreen: Bon Bon and Lyra have frozen in mid-leap, and gravity reasserts itself only after he has run off. Discovering that the bleachers are now deserted except for Micro and one girl who is doing a bit of light reading, they hurry off after him. Cut to a close-up of a bulletin board on a wall in one of the halls inside and zoom out. Students are gathered here, murmuring excitedly as they look over the list tacked up at the center of the board. They quickly part to make way for Bon Bon and Lyra, the former pushing her mask up for a clear view.)

Lyra: You made the team!

Bon Bon: You made the team! (Lyra grins; Bon Bon smiles.)

Lyra: Best—

Bon Bon: —friends—

Bon Bon, Lyra: —forever!

(They break into a giggly embrace. “Iris out” to black, the aperture taking the shape of a heart and centering on their faces.)

“Photo Finished”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to the closed door of a room within Canterlot High, seen from the hall. Zoom in slowly.)

Luna: (from inside) Photo Finish…

(Cut to within the room, her office. She and Photo Finish sit facing each other across her desk, and a book sits open before her. Pan slowly across the area.)

Luna: …our yearbook photos this year could use a bit more…mmm, pizzazz. Would you like to take some pictures for— (Cut to Photo.)

Photo: Say no more! I, Photo Finish, will capture…

(Fishing around on the floor, she produces a camera with a gigantic telephoto lens and stands up.)

Photo: …the magics! I go!

(She whisks away, leaving only the sound of the closing office door to mark her departure. Wipe to an overhead shot of the cafeteria at lunch and pan slowly toward a table at which two rockers are eating. One has long orange hair covering his eyes, the other a red Mohawk. In close-up, the latter chokes down a bite of his food and lets his tongue loll disgustedly out of his mouth before Photo leans into view behind him.)

Photo: Stop!

(She yanks him away; cut to her and the two girls with whom she formed a band to compete in Rainbow Rocks. One holds a lamp on a pole, the other a box of equipment.)

Photo: Hold that pose!

(A snap of her fingers sends the pair running ahead. Within seconds, a spotlight has trained itself on the remaining rocker, a foggy gray backdrop has been slid in behind him, his sandwich has been replaced with a larger one, and his hair is being ruthlessly brushed and teased. Photo stands back, shutter clicking away and shifting her position to catch every angle she can.)

Photo: Ja! You are starving!

(Back to the rocker; a bit of makeup is applied to his face.)

Photo: (from o.s.) Now take a bite! (He opens his mouth, but freezes when she continues.) No! Do not bite it! (Back to her.) Yes! Yes! No! No!

(The hapless dude finds the lens being shoved practically into his face for every candid shot she can capture. Back to her after several seconds.)

Photo: (snapping fingers) Enough! I go!

(She zips away, her two assistants clearing out all the gear and themselves just as quickly. The last order of business is to whip the jumbo sandwich out of the rocker’s grip and return his original one, from which a pickle slice slithers out and plops sadly onto the table. His face falls at having had the meal upgrade snatched away.)

(Wipe to the gym, where Featherweight is dribbling a basketball in front of the goal, having changed into a T-shirt and shorts. He readies a shot.)

Photo: (from o.s.) Sports!

(That outburst throws off his concentration, and the ball goes flying off to who knows where. He aims a slightly miffed look back over his shoulder; pan in that direction to frame Photo. A snap brings the other two girls at a run; a light is set up, a fan switched on, and a small trampoline slid across the floor. This last item collides with Featherweight’s ankles, flipping him into the air so that he lands on it and starts to bounce. The pair have procured a bin full of balls as well.)

Photo: Jump, jump! (Close-up; she starts snapping pictures.) Like a beautiful grasshopper! Like a graceful gazelle!

(On the end of this, pan to the two girls, who start tossing balls toward the o.s. Featherweight.)

Photo: (from o.s.) You are striving to place the orb of desire— (Cut to him, leaping amid the barrage.) —in the net of your future!

(He manages to catch one, but another bounces against it before he can take it to the hole. Photo works her shutter and her pose to catch all the angles, then somehow manages to thrust her camera directly into Featherweight’s face at hoop level. Blinded by the flash, he loses his hold on the ball and drops like a rock.)

Photo: Enough! I go!

(Which she does. In close-up, Featherweight reaches the height of another jump and falls o.s., surprise suddenly registering on his face. A loud, camera-shaking thud tells the story even before the camera cuts to frame the whole gym: the trampoline and all the photography equipment have been spirited away. Nothing is left but the bin, a couple of loose balls, and one very puzzled B-baller wannabe half-sprawled on the hardwood.)

(Wipe to the library, where Cheerilee is re-shelving a cartload of books. Out of nowhere, one girl zooms up behind her to primp and preen at warp speed.)

Photo: (from o.s.) Yes! Read!

(Within the ensuing dust cloud, the book in her grip is replaced, and makeup and hair dryer are put to work.)

Photo: (from o.s.) You are so very intrigued by th at story!

(The haze clears to show her on the library floor and working the camera; she starts off lying on her side, but quickly springs to her feet and moves closer.)

Photo: No, no! That book is out of order! It does not comply with the Dewey Decimal System!

(Close-up of Cheerilee on the end of this; she cringes before the massive lens being pushed practically into her eyes.)

Cheerilee: Shhhh! (Zoom out to frame all three students ringed around her, then cut to Photo.)

Photo: (snapping fingers) Enough! I go!

(Yet another blink-and-you-miss-it exit, followed by a cut to a long overhead shot of the thoroughly bewildered librarian and slow zoom out. She and a student at one of the computers are now the only signs of life in the area.)

(Cut to a techie taking a drink from a water fountain in the hall, then zoom out quickly to show Photo and her lackeys standing right behind, with camera and equipment to get the shot.)

Photo: Drink! Drink!

(A flash fills the screen and clears to show an athlete running down the field outside, ready to catch a pass. The three girls charge up alongside.)

Photo: Play, play!

(She keeps taking pictures even as he misses the catch and tumbles to the grass. Another flash, and the scene has shifted to a classroom in which one of the dramas is painting a picture of a winged unicorn. The telephoto lens is shoved nearly into the back of her head just before the camera zooms out to frame the trio behind her. The scare from the intrusion causes her to leave a long smudge of paint across the canvas.)

Photo: Paint it! Paint it! Yes! No! Yes! No! Enough! (Fade to white; voice over.) I go!

(Fade in to Luna’s office; vice-principal and student sit facing each other as before, with three changes. One, the book that had rested before Luna has been removed from the desk; two, she sits with crossed arms and plenty of anger in her expression; three; Photo has a bag slung over her shoulder. Pan slowly toward Luna’s side.)

Luna: Photo Finish, I have been receiving a number of complaints from students and faculty about you. Do you have anything to say for yourself?

Photo: (standing up) I say nothing. (digging in bag) Photo Finish lets her work speak for itself.

(On the end of this, she pulls out some pictures and the camera cuts to a close-up of the desk surface, panning slowly across the six full-color snapshots she tosses down. Each captures one of the subjects in a most complimentary pose, taking full advantage of the lighting setup.)

Luna: (from o.s., awestruck) These are really impressive. (Cut to frame both; she is smiling.) You may continue, but do try to be less disruptive.

(Inspiration strikes in the teen’s mind, and she holds both hands out in front of herself to frame a picture.)

Photo: Hold that pose!

(Finger snap; cut to a close-up of a wide-eyed Luna and zoom out. The other two have slipped in to either side, hair dryer and light pole in hand, and she has time for one fearful grimace before the camera cuts to just outside the closed office door. Flashes from Photo’s camera play through the tinted glass pane; zoom out slowly. The next two lines, both heard from within the office, overlap slightly.)

Photo: Ja, ja! You have the authority! Sign the waiver! Command the school!

Luna: Wait! No! Hold on! W-What is—

(She trails off into a cry of panic as the view fades to black.)

“A Banner Day”

(Opening shot: fade to black from the title card, then in to the exterior of Canterlot High during the day. Zoom in slowly.)

Luna: (from inside) I’m sure you’ll come up with the perfect sign—

(Cut to a close-up of her, standing in the gym with a clipboard under one arm.)

Luna: —that lets the Crystal Prep kids feel welcome, but also conveys that we are stiff competition.

(Zoom out on the end of this to show that she is addressing Flash Sentry, Micro, and Sandalwood, who stand amid a litter of paint cans, brushes, rolled-up banners, and other art supplies. The next three lines overlap. Micro is wearing dark gray slacks, which were not visible in “All’s Fair in Love & Friendship Games” due to the camera angles.)

Flash: Oh, yeah, sure.

Micro: One hundred percent!

Sandalwood: Totally.

Luna: (walking away) I’ll be back in an hour to see what you’ve come up with.

(Dissolve to a close-up of one blank banner spread out on the gym floor and tilt up to the three students, staring down at it and thinking very hard. Flash is first to speak up.)

Flash: I got it! (Musical notes swirl past him in the background.) We should decorate it with the sheet music to my song, “Love in a Flash.” It’ll show them we’re talented, while welcoming them in with the universal language of music.

(Cut to Micro, using his cell phone as the reflection of a double-helix DNA molecule from its screen plays across his lenses. Behind him, the background fills with sequences of the letters A, C, G, and T, symbolizing the four “base” chemicals that make up the compound.)

Micro: I was thinking we could paint a model of DNA. It shows we’re smart, but it invites them in with the very fiber of our being.

(Cut to Sandalwood, seated in a lotus position as a kaleidoscopic pattern plays behind him.)

Sandalwood: But what we should do is portray peace through art. One love, bros.

(All three gather together, relishing their individual ideas, and dive to the floor in a scrum of flying materials. Flash sketches a bit, stops briefly to play a riff on an imaginary guitar, and snaps his fingers as inspiration comes to him. An extreme close-up of his end shows the musical staff he has drawn in and the red note he is starting to place. Wipe to Micro, using a carpenter’s square to draw a razor-straight line, then to Sandalwood hunched intently over a spot. Paint has spilled from the cans standing behind him, and he wears a few splotches on his cheeks; when he straightens and raises his palms, they too are properly mucked up. Placing them together in front of his chest, he gets his vibe disrupted when Micro leans in to sprinkle glitter onto the banner from a can.)

Sandalwood: (pushing him away) Dude!

(The techie stands up, face and glasses covered with paint from Sandalwood’s palm, and voices an affronted gasp. A swing of the hand holding the glitter can sends its lid flying and the contents wafting away.)

Micro: What did you do? (Pan quickly to Flash on the receiving end; glitter settles into his hair.)

Flash: (knocking can away) Watch the hair, man!

(The open container arcs across the gym; just as Micro wipes his glasses clean, it bounces off his head. He topples toward the floor, putting out a hand to stop himself and knocking over a paint can. Sandalwood stares openmouthed as the contents—bright green—ooze over the handprint-covered peace sign he has crafted.)

Sandalwood: You’re harshing the flow! (Micro is now speckled with glitter as well.)

Micro: Hey, you did that on purpose!

(Flash takes advantage of the distraction to add some embellishment to the DNA strand that Micro has drawn in. The latter straightens up with a shocked gasp.)

Micro: My friendship algorithm! (He is quick to ply a brush on the banner.)

Flash: Hey! You just projectile-science’d all over my chorus!

Micro: Well, you guys painted all over my molecular structures! (Sandalwood’s face is now clean.)

Sandalwood: And how am I supposed to paint my spirit guide when there’s DNA and a treble clef in the way?

Flash: (very snarky) Oh, I don’t know. Ask your spirit guide!

(He makes air quotes on these last two words, after which three vertical panels slide in to fill the screen, each giving a close-up of one budding artist.)

Flash, Micro, Sandalwood: You’re ruining my design!

(The face-off is cut off by the sound of Luna clearing her throat, and the three panels slide away to show her entering the gym. The three teens scurry off to one side as she steps closer and stops short, eyes widening in considerable surprise.)

Luna: My, oh, my. (Cut to the trio, hunching down ashamedly.)

Micro: We’re really—

Luna: (from o.s.) —proud of yourselves, I hope.

(They flinch a bit, not knowing exactly what to make of this pronouncement. Cut to just behind her.)

Luna: (turning to camera, smiling) This is wonderful!

Flash: It is?

(Close-up of the banner, panning slowly from one end to the other. Flash’s music and an electric guitar; Micro’s DNA strands, another molecule, and a line graph; Sandalwood’s peace sign and handprints, a few leaves, and a handshake. Swirls and swatches of variegated colors run throughout the entire design, as do a few lines of text and equations.)

Luna: (from o.s.) It’s inspiring, but still warm and welcoming. I love how your work is literally enmeshed. (Back to her.) Truly excellent work, boys. (She makes a note on her clipboard.)

Flash: (relieved) Uh…uh, thank you! This is just what happens when you allow love to lead the way. (Micro rests a hand on his shoulder.)

Micro: With song!

Sandalwood: (crossing to them) Through the self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms.

(All three grin as he and Flash aim an index-finger gun at each other.)

Luna: (chuckling, passing them on the way out) That’s great to hear. Now just add “Welcome Crystal Prep,” and I’d like to see five more by the end of the day. Thanks, boys.

(They slump where they stand, one at a time, as the full weight of her request sinks in. Fade to black.)

MY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS—FRIENDSHIP GAMES

Executive producers: Stephen Davis, Kirsten Newlands, Sarah Wall

Produced by Devon Cody

Written by Josh Haber

Consulting direction by Jayson Thiessen

Directed by Ishi Rudell

Transcribed by Alan Back (ajback@yahoo.com)

Notes: The breaks between acts are somewhat arbitrary, and have been chosen so that

each act (or the prologue plus Act One) has approximately the same running time

as a typical episode.

Background song lyrics are in square brackets; any marked with an exclamation

point are shouted rather than sung.

References to this film’s prequel shorts and the Rainbow Rocks encore shorts are

noted. Reading those transcripts is not necessary to follow this one, but doing so may be helpful regarding minor characters and clothing changes.

As a group, “the Rainbooms” refers to Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Sunset Shimmer.

Prologue

(The sound of running footsteps is heard for several seconds before the view fades in to an extreme close-up of two feet pounding along a sidewalk. They are clad in short, dark gray, high-heeled boots with black buckles and orange chevron stripes, and the legs to which they are attached are covered by blue-green tights—part of the outfit that Sunset Shimmer changed into for the “Friendship Through the Ages” and “My Past Is Not Today” encore shorts of Rainbow Rocks. Her shadow casts itself against the front wall of a house, the long hair streaming behind it, and the feet stir up the leaves scattered on the sidewalk. Cut to a close-up of the rearing-horse statue on the front lawn of Canterlot High School, the camera aimed upward at it and tilting down to frame the front entrance. It is late afternoon, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash are already at the steps, the latter kneeling over her guitar case, as Fluttershy and Rarity walk up. Here comes Sunset, the corner of a backpack peeking out from under the wild curtain of hair.)

Sunset: I got your text, Rainbow Dash! Did something come through the portal? (Stop.) Is Equestrian magic on the loose? Did Twilight come back with a problem that only we can solve?

(Pinkie Pie appears out of nowhere, holding a cupcake in each hand and grinning hugely.)

Pinkie: Has a giant cake monster covered all the cakes in the world in cake? (She wolfs down both treats in one bite.)

Rainbow: (standing up, lifting guitar from case) Um…not exactly.

Sunset: Uh…I don’t understand.

(Applejack crosses to Rainbow, who has shifted her grip on the axe to clearly show a popped string.)

Applejack: (testily, poking at it) Well, Sunset, I was just tellin’ Rainbow Dash here that a broken guitar string doesn’t really qualify as an emergency.

Rainbow: It totally does!

(Here comes Rarity—reading glasses on, measuring tape around shoulders, pincushion strapped to one wrist.)

Rarity: Really, Rainbow Dash! (Close-up.) I was in the middle of sewing a very complex appliqué on my latest frock. (Zoom out; Fluttershy steps in, petting this world’s version of Angel the rabbit.)

Fluttershy: And I was just about to tuck everyone in for the night at the shelter. Now we’ll have to start stories all over again.

Sunset: Why would you send all of us an emergency text for a guitar string?

Rainbow: Well, I was going to pony up and show our fans some awesome guitar licks…

(On the end of this, pan from her to the fans in question—the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who wave to her from their seats at the top of the steps.)

Rainbow: (pulling at broken string) …but I kinda need all six strings to do it. (Embarrassed smile.) Got any extra?

(What she gets in return is a mix of sighs and groans from all but Sunset, who un-slings her backpack to reveal the red/yellow sun emblazoned on the fabric as a match for her pony self’s cutie mark. A quick bit of fishing around, and the camera cuts to an extreme close-up of her hand holding out a coiled string.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) Here. (Rainbow takes it; back to Sunset as she continues.) But everyone finished practicing for the day. (She shoulders the pack.) I’m pretty sure all the music rooms are locked.

(Back to the cocksure blue teen, who wastes no time in making the change-out.)

Rainbow: No problem. The acoustics in the hallway are perfect for power chords.

(She cranks one off while dropping to one knee—loud and clear despite the fact that the instrument is connected to absolutely nothing—then stands up.)

Rainbow: Come on! (Cut to Sunset; she continues o.s.) Let’s go!

(Their onetime foe allows herself a humoring little smile and head shake as the others enter the front doors. Applejack, at the back of the group, stops to address herself back down the steps.)

Applejack: You comin’, Sunset?

Sunset: I’ll catch up in a bit.

(The door swings shut; now alone at the foot of the steps, she sits down, sets her backpack between her knees, and pulls out her magic journal. Opening it and resting it in her lap, she fishes up a pen and begins to write.)

Sunset: (voice over, dictating) “Dear Princess Twilight: How’s life treating you in Equestria? Any cool new magic spells?” (Zoom out slowly.) “It’s been pretty quiet here at CHS since the Battle of the Bands. We still pony up when we play music, which Rainbow Dash just loves to show off, but I still can’t quite grasp what it’s all about. I would love to hear what you think about it when you get a sec. Your friend, Sunset Shimmer.”

(A reference to the events of Rainbow Rocks. By the time she finishes, the camera has backed up past the statue and stopped just beyond the curb. A bus pulls up, hiding the entire school from view; cut to a close-up of the lower portion of its doors as they open. Standing at the exit are two legs, framed from the knees down and sporting sneakers and jeans with turned-up cuffs. When they step down to ground level, the hem of a light blue-green garment comes into view; tilt up as the bus pulls away. This individual has light violet skin and is wearing a hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses; hood up, hands in pockets, hunched down to disguise itself as much as possible.)

(One hand brings out a boxy device, holding it up by a handle that extends straight down from the bottom, and an antenna flips up from either side as the free fingers adjust a dial. The new arrival aims the unit at the statue and begins to walk toward it; a close-up of the panel shows an oscilloscope signal and a dial gauge split into two regions, green and red. The pointer wavers back and forth across the border, then veers firmly into the green once this person is standing right at the statue’s base. A few steps bring the side facing the school under scrutiny; now the needle swings hard into the red zone and the oscilloscope signal goes wild. A touch of fingers against the vertical stone surface sets off the characteristic ripples of the portal between this realm and Equestria. Sunset glances up from her writing with alarm.)

Sunset: Hey!

(The interloper regards her with surprise, lowering the probe, and Sunset stands up.)

Sunset: What are you doing? (Figure runs off.) Wait! (She gives chase.) Stop!

(The escapee makes it across the street, but Sunset is forced to stop short at the curb in order to avoid being hit by a passing car. Hooking a hand around the nearest lamppost, the escapee cuts a tight turn that very nearly drags the sneakered feet out from underneath; a bus pulls up, perfectly timed for the figure to jump on. Sunset reaches this side of the street, only to get a faceful of exhaust fumes as the bus pulls away.)

Sunset: Who was that?

(Onboard, the figure stands looking out the rear windows for a moment before sitting down. The unit has been returned to one of the sweatshirt pockets, and the violet hands push the hood back to fully expose the face—it is this world’s Twilight Sparkle, as seen in the post-credits scene of Rainbow Rocks. The “sunglasses” are actually her black-framed glasses, whose lenses had been shadowed out by her hood. The hair is still in its bun, but high on the back of her head instead of at the nape of her neck; it is more neatly combed than before, and her face is framed by two slightly curled locks that hang down past her chin. A small clip is fixed to the strands above one temple—the familiar six-pointed pink star overlaid on a white one. She voices a quiet sigh of relief at making a successful getaway, and the camera cuts to behind the bus and tilts up into the sky as it rolls toward the urban center of Canterlot.)

(From here, the view dissolves to a head-on shot of a rather different-looking building. It has three stories constructed of dark red brick, as well as dormer windows set into the roof, with light blue crystal on its central rooftop, peripheral eaves, and the columns that stand at both ends and to either side of the front entrance. A clock is mounted just below the eave that stands above these doors. This is Crystal Prep Academy, identified by Rainbow as Crystal Prep High School in the “Pinkie Spy” prequel short. As the camera zooms in slowly, the bus pulls up for a moment and then departs, leaving Twilight to walk toward the imposing structure, whose central façade is liberally decorated with well-tended climbing vines as well as the crystal features.)

(A dissolve shifts the view to a close-up just behind the intrepid girl, the camera following her to one of the pairs of closed double doors. These are pushed open, the view flaring brilliant white for a moment and then clearing to show her approaching a classroom door; this is shoved open, another flash, and she comes to a third closed door. Throughout this sequence, the crystal motif is seen at work inside the school as well as out.)

(When Twilight opens this door, the screen does not flare again; instead, a darkened laboratory can be seen beyond the threshold. She reaches in around the edge and flips a switch, bringing up the lights. Once she enters, the camera cuts to the note/chart/string-covered bulletin board she had been studying in that post-credits scene. Zoom in slowly as she lifts a small drawing, ready to tack it up, then cut to an extreme close-up of a bare spot. The paper is stuck on, showing a sketch of the statue’s base and a question mark in the center of one side, and the thumbtack already has a string tied to it. A spark of purple energy travels along its length as the credits begin.)

OPENING CREDITS

(Fragmentary vocalizations and drum beats float through the ambient chords, gradually coalescing into a background in D major.)

Rainbooms: The Friendship Games

Rock, brisk 4 (D major)

Electric guitar intro for four beats, then joined by bass and drums

Rainbooms: We’ve come this far and we’re not going back [No way!]

Prepare yourself, ’cause we’re on the attack [Attack!]

Won’t have to find us, we’ll be tracking you down [Right now!]

And when we’re finished, we’ll be taking the crown

Horns in

All the way [all the way], all the way to the Friendship Games

Na, na, na-na-na, oh, na, na, let’s go

All the way [all the way], all the way to the Friendship Games

Na, na, na-na-na, oh, na, na, let’s go

Horns out

Hey! Ho!

Hey! Let’s go!

Horns in; sustained background vocalizations beneath lyrics

Rainbow: We studied hard and we’re here to win

Applejack: We’re only tellin’ you once

Sunset: Our magic comes from the inside out

Vocalizations end

Rainbooms: What you see’s what you get, don’t you ever forget

All the way [all the way], all the way to the Friendship Games

Na, na, na-na-na, oh, na, na, let’s go

All the way [all the way], all the way to the Friendship Games

Na, na, na-na-na, oh, na, na, let’s go

(The color and peripheral elements disappear from the main title as the camera zooms in quickly through the outline of the M in GAMES, leaving the screen black. From here, fade in to a close-up of a note tacked onto the bulletin board’s calendar and zoom out slowly. The paper is prominently marked “FRIENDSHIP GAMES,” and an o.s. light source sputters fitfully in the dim lab.)

Rainbooms: Na, na, na-na-na, oh, na, na, let’s go

Gradual diminuendo in music and vocals

Na, na, na-na-na, oh, na, na, let’s go

Na, na, na-na-na, oh, na, na, let’s go

Song ends

(By this point, the camera has backed up far enough to bring Twilight’s bent head and intent eyes into view in the foreground. The flickering glare is concentrated on her face, suggesting a bit of electrical rewiring being done. A series of fade-out/fade-in transitions presents the following. One hand, emerging from a lab coat’s white sleeve, removing the front panel from the device she used to scan the statue…she takes a screwdriver to it with the help of a large magnifier on a desk stand…she fits a cover onto a round purple device that resembles an oversized makeup compact with a small hole drilled through the hinge…one last tweak brings the item to life, with a strobing light making its way around a central black window…seen from behind, she hooks up a circuit and is rewarded with a crackle of sparks…holding the device open, she smiles triumphantly as the cover slowly shuts by itself. The screen fades to black around it as the strobe begins to circle the window, in which a star appears. It drifts to a point slightly above the center of the screen.)

Act One

(Fade in to an overhead view of Canterlot High, seen from roof level, the library’s glass dome superimposes itself over the device as the latter fades away. It is now the following day, and muffled conversations can be heard from within. Zoom out slowly, then dissolve to a slow pan across the library’s busy central rotunda. The camera cuts to a couple of students looking through the stacks on the upper level, then to a group at a study table, and finally to all the Rainbooms save Rainbow clustered around a different one. Applejack leans back in a chair, feet propped up; Fluttershy sits on the floor near her backpack and Angel; Pinkie sits on a rolling ladder intended for reaching the top shelves; Rarity pulls a book from one of the lower ones; Sunset paces the floor. The first three are already reading, and Rarity has disposed of her glasses, measuring tape, and pincushion. Zoom in slowly.)

Sunset: She was definitely doing something to the statue, or was going to. (Cut to Fluttershy.)

Fluttershy: (petting Angel) Do you think she came through the portal from Equestria?

Sunset: (stopping next to her) No, I-I’m pretty sure I woulda noticed that. I think she was from over here.

Applejack: (from o.s.) Well, that’s a relief. (Cut to her.) The last thing we need is another magical so-and-so bent on world domination comin’ over from Equestria.

(She sets her book on her knees during this line, then puts her arms behind her head and winks at the end of it. Sunset responds with a smirk and a cocked eyebrow, taking with good humor the jibe at the crises of the two previous movies, the first of which was her doing.)

Rarity: Agreed. I have no interest in another fight against the powers of evil magic. The wear and tear on my wardrobe is just too much to keep up with. (Zoom in slowly on Sunset.)

Sunset: Still, a mysterious figure snooping around the portal? (smiling) Don’t you want to know what she was up to? (Fluttershy stands up with a shudder, holding Angel.)

Fluttershy: I don’t even want to guess.

(Rainbow chooses this moment to make her entrance, stepping into view from around the corner and holding a book marked with the Canterlot High logo. She no longer carries her guitar as in the prologue.)

Rainbow: Well, you don’t have to— (running in) —because I’ve totally figured out who it was.

Pinkie: Ooh, ooh!

(She leans out of view, holding a different book into view on each of the first two guesses that follow.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) A nighttime statue cleaner? A magical portal maintenance maintainer? (leaning into view) A gardener? (Rainbow is not amused.)

Rainbow: (pushing Pinkie away on the ladder) Seeing as how they got off a bus from the city and got back on a bus headed to the city, I’ll bet they go to…

All but Sunset: (wearily; Applejack taking feet off table) …Crystal Prep.

Rainbow: Yep. With the Friendship Games starting tomorrow, they’d totally try to prank us by defacing the Wondercolt statue.

(This is the first time in the film series that the statue on the front lawn has been referred to by a specific name.)

Sunset: Why would anyone take a bus all the way from the city for that? (Applejack is now standing.)

Applejack: (sourly) Because the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts are our biggest rivals?

Rarity: Because that’s just what the students at Crystal Prep would do?

Rainbow: (holding up book, now open; zoom in) Because even though they beat us in everything…

(The zoom reveals that she has procured a yearbook. She shows a different page on each of the next three mentions. Every one depicts three students in the magenta/dark-blue athletic wear favored by Crystal Prep in “Pinkie Spy.” They stand on a three-level medal podium, holding trophies for the relevant sport; meanwhile, the same three defeated Canterlot High athlete stand off to one side, becoming increasingly despondent from one shot to the next.)

Rainbow: (from o.s.) …soccer…tennis…golf… (Cut to Sunset, unimpressed; the book is shoved into her face.) …they still have to gloat!

(Close-up of another page, which captures the statue dressed up in a clownish mishmash of colors, topped with a red rubber nose and a fluffy purple wig studded with bows. Back to Sunset.)

Sunset: (pushing book down) Seems kinda silly to me.

All others: (from o.s.) SILLY?!? (Cut to them.)

Rainbow: So I guess you think the Friendship Games are silly too.

Sunset: Well, it’s not like we’ll be fighting the powers of evil magic. (Fluttershy crosses to her.)

Fluttershy: (touching Sunset’s shoulder) No, we’ll be fighting against a school full of meanies. Not everything has to be magical to be important.

Sunset: (smiling, scratching back of neck) You’re right. I’m sorry. I know it’s a big deal.

Rarity: (sighing, crossing to them) That’s putting it mildly, darling. They’re still revamping the playing field in preparation.

Sunset: I just don’t understand why there’s this big rivalry. Aren’t the Friendship Games supposed to be about our two schools getting along?

Applejack: (lifting book in Rainbow’s grip) Well, it’s kinda hard to get along with someone who beats you at everything.

Rainbow: (throwing it aside) Not anymore! This time, things are gonna be different.

Sunset: What do you mean?

Rainbow: (knowingly) Oh, you’ll find out.

(She smirks and throws a sidewise glance across the library. Dissolve to the stage in the gym; rows of chairs are set up in front and occupied by students, and Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna stand at a microphone. The younger sister has a clipboard under her arm, and a curtain has been drawn closed behind the two. Zoom in slowly. Throughout the following, lines spoken by characters on the stage are amplified by the sound system.)

Celestia: As I am sure you all know, tomorrow Canterlot High School will be hosting our fellow students from Crystal Prep Academy, as we join together in the spirit of excellence, sportsmanship, and fidelity to compete in the Friendship Games.

(During the first third, cut to a brief pan across one set of bleachers. A glum Fluttershy, a bored Rarity, and a slightly worried Sunset are among those seated up here, and the tops of Applejack’s and Pinkie’s heads are visible at a lower level. Fluttershy no longer has Angel or her backpack with her. The camera returns to the stage for the final third. Students from all social groups respond with dull cheers and applause that would be more appropriate coming from an audience of zombies.)

Celestia: Since the Games only happen every four years, I’m sure you’re all curious what goes on.

(Flash Sentry stands up in the bleachers and cups his hands to his mouth to make sure his words come through clearly.)

Flash: YOU MEAN, OTHER THAN US LOSING? (Luna aims a dirty look at him.)

Celestia: And that is exactly why I’ve asked Rainbow Dash to come up and give you all a little… (Rainbow steps up.) …um…context.

(The microphone is yanked out of the stand, setting off a short whine of feedback.)

Rainbow: Thank you, Principal Celestia. (Clear throat; pace the stage.) I know a lot of you might think there’s no way we can beat a fancy school like Crystal Prep at anything.

Pinkie: (hands cupped to mouth) UNLESS IT’S A “LOSING TO CRYSTAL PREP” COMPETITION, ’CAUSE WE’RE REEEEEEALLY GOOD AT THAT!

Rainbow: (groaning) And I know that CHS has never won the Friendship Games even once.

Four-beat count-off on drumsticks

Rarity: (to Sunset) Oh, dear. I hope this speech isn’t meant to be motivational.

Marching-band drum cadence with horn accents, energetic 4 (D major)

(Zoom in slowly on the stage.)

Rainbow: Crystal Prep students are super-athletic, super-smart, and super-motivated. But there’s one thing they aren’t. They aren’t Wondercolts!

(The stage lights dim as the curtain opens to reveal a row of seven students in band uniforms, marking time and playing instruments under the spotlights that pick them out. Trombone, snare drum, trumpet, baton-carrying majorette, bass drum, sousaphone, flute.)

Rainbow: We’ve fought magic more than once and come out on top

Band: Oh-h

Rainbow: There’s other schools, but none can make those claims

Band: Na, na, na-na-na, oh

Rainbow: Together we are Canterlot, come and cheer our name

Band: Oh-h

Rainbow: This will be our year to win these Games

(She jumps off the stage and begins to march through the crowd, followed by the band members.)

Rainbow, Band: We’ll always be Wondercolts forever

And now our time has finally arrived

(They peel off to alternating sides of the gym.)

’Cause we believe in the magic of friendship

(DJ P0N-3, in the bleachers, yanks up a cord from foot level and plugs it into the mobile deck on her lap. A surge of pale blue power races away along it.)

And you know at the end of the day, it is we who survive

(The surge reaches an overhead speaker and brings it to thundering life, sending out a wave of electricity that washes out the screen.)

Horns out; electric guitar/synthesizer in

(The view clears to show a sound signal dancing on a screen; this in turn becomes a burst of energy, from which a seven-colored rainbow streaks upward. Its hues are the signature colors of the original five Rainbooms, plus Princess Twilight’s violet and Sunset’s red. The spectrum becomes a fader control on DJ P0N-3’s rig, which slides up to maximum in an extreme close-up and sends a blast of juice over to one of the turntables as she sets it spinning. The view dissolves to a close-up of a blue shako—cylindrical cap—that is part of a band uniform, lowered to present its crown to the camera. The wearer is Rainbow, who lifts her head as the camera zooms out quickly to frame her standing in front of the bleachers. Two three-by-three sets of giant flash cards are being held up to show the school’s C-horseshoe logo.)

Guitar/synth play accents similar to horns in first verse

Rainbow: [Hey!] We’re not the school we were before [Before!]

Yeah, we’re different now [Hey, hey!]

Band: Oh-h

(The cards to her right are flipped to show a picture of Sunset in her demon form and the tiara that held the Element of Magic at the time.)

Rainbow: We overcame the obstacles we faced

(Now the ones on her left flip to reveal the reptilian form of the Sirens.)

Band: Overcame the obstacles we faced

(The students’ school spirit is beginning to perk up quite a bit now.)

Rainbow: [Hey!] We’re Canterlot united [Unite!]

We’ll never bow [Hey, hey!]

Band: Oh-h

Rainbow: So get ready to see us in first place

(She flings the shako across the gym; a dissolve turns it into a baton, which drops into the majorette’s upraised hand. At her gesture, the other band members throw blue/yellow Wondercolt ears and tails into the crowd, and the first two to catch the items are quick to put them on.)

Rock groove; horns in

Rainbow, Students: We’ll always be Wondercolts forever [Three, two one, go!]

(Two pairs of ears tumble down the screen; behind them, the view wipes to several other students donning them, including Scootaloo.)

And now our time has finally arrived [Our time is now!]

(Rainbow puts a set on Trixie’s head, getting a smile, and the rest of the Rainbooms beam at the outcome.)

’Cause we believe in the magic of friendship [oh-h, oh]

(She and the majorette lean toward each other, then turn to stand shoulder to shoulder.)

And you know at the end of the day, it is we who survive

(Zoom out slowly, then faster, to frame first the rest of the band and then the entire gym.)

At the end of the day, it is we who survive

Handclaps accompany percussion; all other instruments out

Students: Na, na, na-na, na-na

Rainbow, Students: Wondercolts united together

Students: Na, na, na-na, na-na

(Up onstage, Celestia claps along and Luna taps a foot, having put away her clipboard. Photo Finish stands up to snap a picture of the spectacle.)

Rainbow, Students: Wondercolts united forever

Horns/guitar/synth in

(Rainbow leads the band on another march through the throng. The previous lines are sung as background, two of theirs to one of hers—first two, last two, first two.)

Rainbow: We’ll always be Wondercolts forever

And now our time has finally arrived

(Having reached the edge of the stage, she hops back up onto it.)

’Cause we believe in the magic of friendship

(A familiar blue glow surrounds her form, and her pony ears/tail/wings materialize—she has “ponied up,” as she put it during the prologue. Background vocal lines stop at this point.)

Rainbow, Students: And you know at the end of the day, it is we who survive

(Her five friends are surprised and elated at this new development. With the band now onstage, the majorette gestures to the players on one side, then the other, and tosses her baton high overhead.)

At the end of the day, it is we who survive

Song ends

(The winged blue teen catches it at the top of its flight, setting off a round of wild cheering and applause among the student body. Dissolve to her, standing backstage and with her transformation reversed, and no longer holding the baton. She throws a wink and a thumbs-up to the majorette out on the floor, who waves and walks off across the gym, and starts for the exit only to find the rest of the gang waiting for her.)

Fluttershy: Oh, Rainbow Dash, that was amazing! Even I feel like we can win!

Rarity: I feel like my school pride is at an all-time high!

Applejack: Is anybody else wonderin’ how Dash ponied up without playin’ her guitar? (She pretends to hit a riff on the end of this.)

Rainbow: I know, right? It’s probably because I’m so awesome!

Sunset: (uncertainly) Maybe. (smiling) I mean, you are awesome, but there’s gotta be more to it that that, right? It just seems so random.

(The voice that cuts in catches her off guard; on the start of the next line, the camera tracks slightly around to bring Luna into view, standing directly behind her.)

Luna: Well, it would be nice if you girls could get a handle on it. We’d like to keep magic as far away from the Friendship Games as possible. We don’t want to be accused of cheating.

(Cut to Fluttershy/Pinkie/Sunset, worry and bemusement showing in various proportions on the three faces, and pan/zoom out to frame all six girls on the start of the following.)

Rarity: We don’t need magic to defeat those hoity-toity Crystal Preppers. (Assorted assent from all others but Sunset; cut to her and Luna.)

Luna: Still, the Friendship Games are serious business. We don’t want any surprises, especially the kind that could cause us to forfeit. Sunset Shimmer, you came here from a world of magic. Perhaps you can get to the bottom of our magical development.

Sunset: (smiling) I’ll do my best. (Luna nods and walks off.)

Rainbow: (from o.s.) Okay. (Cut to her.) Anybody have any guesses what the events are gonna be? (Here comes Pinkie, a pie in one hand.)

Pinkie: Pie eating? (She pulls a cake from her hair with the other.) Cake eating? (Big gasp; she smashes the desserts together, splattering them both.) Pie-cake eating?!?

(Cut to Applejack/Fluttershy/Rarity; the first two have been hit by the goop and get to work brushing themselves off.)

Applejack: They won’t even let us see what they’re doin’ to the field. You’d think they’d at least tell competitors what they’re competing in.

Fluttershy: It could be anything.

Rarity: (shocked) Anything? How will I ever pick the right outfit?

Sunset: I really want to help— (scratching back of neck) —but I think I better go focus on figuring out why Rainbow Dash ponied up. See you later!

(She heads for the door; now Pinkie and Rainbow have cleaned themselves up as well, and Pinkie has cleared away the remains of the pie/cake collision.)

Pinkie: Seems like she’s got everything under control. Nothing to worry about.

(Cut to the library rotunda. Sunset sits near the far wall, at a table piled with books; zoom in slowly on her, then cut to just behind her chair. She has filled several sheets with notes, which she regards with obvious frustration and disgust before sweeping them aside with a groan. After a moment hunched down over the table, hands pressed to temples and elbows supporting her weight, she straightens up with a sigh and retrieves her journal and pen from the mess. A moment’s thought, and she begins to write; zoom in slowly.)

Sunset: (voice over, dictating) “Hey, Twilight. Haven’t heard back from you yet. I guess you must be pretty busy with your role as Princess, but I could really use your advice right now. You see, I’ve been given the job of keeping magic under control here at CHS, even though I still haven’t quite wrapped my head around it.” (Longer shot; slow pan.) “And now, after seeing Rainbow Dash pony up the way she did, it makes me think our magic might be…changing. Everyone is looking to me to figure things out—” (Close-up.) “—and I really don’t want to let them down, but I’m not sure I have enough experience with friendship magic to solve this.”

(She stops writing and glances uncertainly up from the pages. Cut to a long shot of Crystal Prep, zooming in slowly to the sound of a school bell, then cut to a close-up of two legs walking along a hallway inside. Seen from the knees down, they are attired in long purple socks trimmed with pink ruffles, and the feet sport darker-hued loafers with chunky heels and buckles styled as small crystal shields. The feet stop, framed in a longer shot that shows the light violet skin of Twilight’s exposed legs above the socks, and the camera tilts up to reveal the rest of her. Pleated skirt, reaching about halfway to her knees, in a dark magenta plaid pattern; pale blue shirt with long sleeves that end in broad gray cuffs secured with tiny diamond-shaped buttons; dark purple necktie; book held to chest. She grimaces slightly, the camera cutting to just behind her and tilting up slowly over a hallway full of students. Some converse, some go to their lockers, others walk past, and none take any notice of the bespectacled girl in the middle of the floor. The girls wear skirts/shoes/socks/shirts like Twilight’s, but with dark purple ribbon bows at the collars; the boys wear light blue dress shirts and dark purple pants/neckties, with shoes that match the girls’ except in the heel height. All wear dark blue belts and magenta blazers, darker than the skirts, with light blue buttons and gray sleeve cuffs. In addition, all of their blazer and cuff buttons are round, and the girls’ blazers have light blue piping. Twilight’s upper-body wear is an exception: vest rather than a blazer, with the same piping and a dark blue outer belt.)

(In close-up, her glasses slide down her nose; she nudges them up, takes a deep breath, and starts walking again. The first student she passes elbows her roughly aside.)

Twilight: Excuse me. (Another one does the same.) Sorry.

(A little bob-and-weave takes her past three more, after which she gets one more elbow from a disdainful Fleur. Same white hue, lavender-shadowed violet eyes, and two-tone pink hair as her pony counterpart; gold fleur-de-lis hair clip. Her clothing differs from those of the other girls in that her blazer and shirt both have short sleeves and no gray cuffs.)

Twilight: Pardon me!

(She walks gloomily toward the camera as the view fades to black.)

(Fade in to a slow pan across a desk in her lab: microscope, rack of test tubes, computer whose monitor displays a picture of her dog Spike with his jaws clamped on a dog biscuit. Two more cuts frame the bulletin board, the camera tilting slowly up to catch all of it, then the pooch himself napping on a swivel chair. One ear flicks up at the sound of footsteps, and in no time he is fully awake, panting happily, and jumping down to set the chair spinning and rolling away. He reaches the door and begins to scratch at it just before it is flung open, tossing him aside with a yelp. Twilight enters and walks to the chair, no longer carrying her book. Now one more peculiarity of her uniform can be seen: the buttons on her vest are not round, but diamond-shaped.)

Twilight: Spike! (Sit down.) SPIIIIIKE!

(He sticks his head up from an overflowing trash can with a cheerful bark and jumps out to climb onto the desk where she now sits, which stands opposite the one seen a moment ago.)

Twilight: (giggling) There you are. (He licks her face and yips; she laughs and pets him on the head.) Okay, okay!

(To which he responds by turning around on her lap and presenting his wagging tail. Instead of putting fingers to work on his back, though, she reaches past him; cut to a close-up of one desk drawer as she opens it.)

Twilight: (from o.s., pulling out her round device) Last night’s field test confirmed it, Spike.

(The thing has gone quiet. Cut to the girl and her dog.)

Twilight: (tapping center window to activate it, flipping it open/closed) With this device, I can track and contain the bizarre energy coming from Canterlot High! (He barks and snarls angrily; she scratches his head to calm him down.) I know you didn’t like me going over there, but I just couldn’t wait.

(He jumps down to the floor.)

Twilight: (rolling over to other desk) And soon I’ll have all the time I need. (She picks up some pages from a stack.) All of Crystal Prep is gonna be there for the Friendship Games. I just hope all that rivalry nonsense doesn’t get in the way of my research.

(Cut to Spike, who becomes more interested in a ladybug flying past than in her words.)

Twilight: (from o.s., with growing excitement) If I can collect enough data on these EM frequencies— (He snarls and waits for it to land, pounces, and misses.) —I should be able to extrapolate the waveforms to determine their origin! (Back to her.) That would practically guarantee my entrance into the Everton Independent Study Program!

(Her high spirits cause her to lean too far back in her chair and overbalance.)

Twilight: Whoa!

(Down she goes; now there is a knock at the closed door, which swings open to admit this world’s counterpart of Princess Cadence. Light blue blouse; blue-green skirt; deep blue blazer with one gold diamond-shaped button, lapels that match the skirt, and light gold trim at the sleeve cuffs; a gold-trimmed pin of a light blue heart-shaped jewel that matches her pony self’s cutie mark; same eyes, three-color hair, and gold heart necklace; light blue eyeshadow; gold-colored shoes. Her eyes pop as she takes in the tableau of one prone teen genius getting her face licked by one dog amid one scatter of notes. Cut to Twilight, who pushes Spike away.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) Twilight— (Cut to her.) —you know the rules against pets. (She pulls Twilight upright.)

Twilight: Well, Spike isn’t a pet, Dean Cadence. (She picks him up.) He’s the focus of my research project. (holding him forward) Human/canine cohabitation—effects and implications.

Cadence: If you say so. (picking a loose hair off Twilight’s shoulder) But Principal Cinch is highly allergic, so I suggest you put on a clean shirt.

Twilight: Why? (She sets Spike down.)

Cadence: Because she wants to see you.

Twilight: Ooh! Maybe she has news about my application to Everton! (Cadence rests a hand on her shoulder.)

Cadence: I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Are you sure that’s what you really want?

Twilight: Why wouldn’t it be? A program that allows me to focus all my attention on my own advanced math and science projects? What a dream come true!

Cadence: But there aren’t any classrooms with other students. You’ll be doing everything on your own.

Twilight: That is why it’s called an independent study program.

Cadence: I just don’t want you to miss out on anything, that’s all. (The hand finds the shoulder again; she smiles.) Being around other people isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes it’s how you learn the most about yourself.

Twilight: (uncertainly) I guess.

Cadence: Meet you in Principal Cinch’s office in a few minutes?

(Getting a nod from Twilight, she exits and pulls the door closed.)

Twilight: What’s she so worried about? (Cut to Spike, worrying a chew toy with gusto; she continues o.s.) Everton is exactly what I need right now.

(He stops and aims two wondering green eyes up from the floor, cocking his head; her sigh floats down to him, and the camera cuts to frame the entire room. Zoom out slowly.)

Twilight: It’s not like I have anything left to learn at Crystal Prep.

Quiet acoustic guitar melody, moderate 4 (D major)

(Outside the lab; she emerges and closes the door behind her, then steels herself for a walk down a mostly-empty hallway, dodging two passersby.)

Twilight: I’ve walked through all these halls before

(She turns to look in through the window of a closed classroom door.)

I’ve been in and out of every door, whoa

(Zoom in on the pane; a math class is in progress.)

Piano/synth in

There’s nothing in this school that I don’t know

(Fleur leans into view on the other side and pulls down a shade to block Twilight’s view. The latter’s surprised reflection now appears, and she walks past a nearby trophy case.)

In every class my grade’s the best, the highest score on every test

(The fingertips she runs over its glass front curl into a fist and pull away.)

I think that means it’s time for me to go

I know there’s more that’s out there, and I just haven’t found it yet

(smiling) I know there’s more that’s out there, another me I haven’t met

Strings/drums/bass in

(Turning a corner into the lobby, she does a little fancy footwork to stay out of the way of other students on the move.)

Twilight: This school is full of people, but still I don’t belong

(now standing still; two girls glare at her and she hurries away)

They only dream of winning, look at me like something’s wrong

Maybe I’m better off alone

(glancing up a staircase, starting to climb it)

Will I find what I’m looking for if I just do it on my own?

Intensity builds

I know there’s more that’s out there, something to fill this hole inside

(She stops on a landing to gaze out the window; cut to outside it and zoom out, framing it in one of the blue crystal towers that flank the front entrance.)

I know there’s more that’s out there, and I’m not afraid to try

(Back to her, climbing the stairs again.)

Horns in

There’s only so much this school can offer, and I’m not saying that it’s wrong

(She reaches a broad rotunda at another landing and leans against a lustrous wall.)

But I know there’s more that’s out there, ’cause I’ve been searching all along

(Now she steps farther onto the floor, the camera tracking slowly around her.)

Twilight: Beyond these rooms, beyond these walls

(Overhead shot; zoom out slowly.)

So much to learn, I can’t see it all

(Floor level; she starts up the next flight of stairs.)

There’s something out there calling me

And it’s a mystery that I can’t wait to see

Stoptime

’Cause I know there’s more that’s out there, another place, another way

(Reaching the top, she faces a broad closed door flanked by benches and steps toward it.)

Stoptime ends

And I know there’s more that’s out there, and I’ll find out someday

I’ll find out someday

Song ends

(Cut to an extreme close-up of the brass knob as she grasps and turns it, revealing a sliver of a very dimly lit space beyond, then to a point a few feet up. The door creaks open to expose a close-up of a single round overhead fixture casting its light almost straight down from a high vaulted ceiling, and a slow tilt down picks out an identical one several yards back. Bookcases and cabinets are set up along the side and back walls, and a high bookshelf runs the full circuit of the room. The farther of the two lights shines on an imposing desk; an ornate, high-backed chair is placed behind this, its back to the camera, and each far corner of the room sports a pillar topped by a brass spheroid set with a mosaic of blue crystal pieces.)

(Cut to inside this room, the camera pointing out at a very nervous Twilight. Cadence stands off to the side opposite the door, in front of a group of shelves loaded with plaques and trophies, and two more pillars with the odd brass/crystal creations are placed in these two corners. Twilight hesitantly steps across the empty expanse of floor, the camera zooming out slightly to frame the front edge of the desk and a sliver of a figure seated in the chair. Blue-clad shoulder, multi-toned purple hair arranged in a bun at the nape of the neck.)

(The teen seats herself on a stool in front of the desk, whereupon the camera cuts to the door as it is pushed shut by a figure concealed behind it. This one is male, with blue eyes in a white face and slightly unruly, three-tone blue hair—the human version of Shining Armor. He wears a violet sweater set with his pony self’s cutie mark over a light gray shirt and dark gray necktie, medium gray pants with a dark blue belt, and two-tone gray shoes.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) Shining Armor? (Zoom out to frame her.) Why is my brother here?

Cadence: As an alumni [sic], Principal Cinch thought he could provide some unique perspective.

[Note: The correct term for an individual graduate is “alumnus” for a male, or “alumna” for a female.]

Twilight: Perspective on what?

(The chair swivels to present all of the figure sitting in it, Abacus Cinch, as the camera zooms in. Older woman; very pale blue skin; hair carefully arranged; dangling pearl earrings; pale pink-violet eyes with pale lavender shadow, behind half-moon glasses; beauty mark on left cheek; purple blazer with lapels and diamond-shaped buttons in lighter hues; medium blue, high-collared blouse; deep red lipstick. Resting her elbows on her desk, she holds her hands folded at throat level. Her face is set in a patrician expression of aristocratic haughtiness, accented by one raised eyebrow, and her voice is a perfect match for it, with an occasional roll on the R’s.)

Abacus: Why, the Friendship Games, of course.

(She stands up, exposing a sliver of dark purple skirt and a gold-framed red brooch at her collar.)

Abacus: You competed in the Games, did you not… (Cut to the door; Cadence and Shining trade a little smile and she continues o.s.) …Shining Armor?

(A surprised little blush hits the white cheeks; zoom in on him. He clears his throat.)

Shining: I did.

Abacus: And do you happen to recall who won?

Shining: (chuckling) Crystal Prep did. We always win.

Abacus: “We always win.” (She begins to pace.)

Twilight: Why did you ask to see me?

(Now the principal has circled around to a group of trophies on display at a side wall.)

Abacus: Twilight, I’ll be honest. (plucking one from the shelves) It doesn’t matter whether or not Crystal Prep wins or loses.

(Up comes a cloth, which she rubs over the surface until it reflects her severe countenance.)

Abacus: The important thing is that we are expected to win because Crystal Prep has a reputation. (The trophy goes back on the shelf; she crosses back to Twilight.) And it is that reputation— (leaning down to her) —my reputation—that is responsible for everything we have here. For everything you’ve done here. (circling around desk) And you’ve done quite a lot, haven’t you?

Twilight: (nervously) I don’t know. I guess.

Abacus: Oh, don’t be modest. (Sit.) You’re the best student this school has ever seen. (Toy with a pencil lying free.) What I can’t understand is why my best student wouldn’t want to compete.

Twilight: In the Friendship Games?

Shining: Look, Twilie. I know it’s not really your thing, but representing the school is kind of a big deal. Plus, they could really use your help.

Abacus: It seems Canterlot High is undergoing something of a renaissance. (She pulls a paper from a drawer and eyes it.) Test scores are up, grades, even athletics are on the rise. You see, they are developing somewhat of a reputation. This cannot happen!

(On “cannot,” the camera zooms in to an extreme close-up of her eyes and she narrows them menacingly.)

Twilight: Principal Cinch, I can’t possibly participate in the Games! My work here is very—

Abacus: Ah, yes. Your work. Cadence, could you and Shining Armor find my contact sheet for the Everton Independent Study Program?

Cadence: Of course.

(Shining opens the door, lets her exit first, then follows her out and pulls it shut.)

Abacus: I understand you’ve applied.

(Now she brings up a file folder from another drawer and assumes the smug manner of someone who has an adversary backed into a corner.)

Abacus: (leafing through it, setting it down) You see, one of the advantages of having a reputation is a certain amount of influence in such things. So, let me offer you a deal. In return for contributing your agile mind to these Games— (touching folder) —I will use my influence to guarantee your application is approved.

(On the end of this, the camera cuts to her side of the desk, framing her fingers as they inch the paperwork toward the unsettled egghead. The next shot frames the two in profile; Twilight reaches out for the folder, only for Abacus to pull it back.)

Abacus: Though I suppose I could also have it… (Extreme close-up of her eyes, the brows lowering.) …denied.

(Cut to a head-on shot of the fearfully hunched Twilight and zoom in slowly.)

Abacus: (from o.s.) What do you think I should do?

(Zoom in slowly and fade to black.)

Act Two

(Fade in to a slow pan across the lab. Twilight kneels on the floor, gathering papers and loading them into a backpack while Spike sits nearby. An athletic jersey lies among the disorder; when she picks it up, the little canine snatches the tail in his jaws and pulls at it with a growl.)

Twilight: Come on, Spike! I was always gonna go to Canterlot High for the Friendship Games! (The jersey is released to snap back into her face.) The only difference now is that I have to compete. (Pack it away.) Besides, it’s not like Principal Cinch gave me much of a choice.

(Close-up of Spike; he gives a piteous little whimper and lies down, earning a consoling pat on the head. This brings him up off the floor with a panting smile.)

Twilight: (from o.s., scratching under his chin) I know, Spike. I don’t like it either. (Cut to frame both.) I probably won’t be able to collect anywhere near as much data as I thought.

(Picking up her souped-up compact, she lets a calculating smile steal across her face.)

Twilight: But maybe I can still get some.

(A second later, she has run a cord through the hole cut in the hinge and knotted it around her neck as an oversized pendant. Spike whimpers again.)

Twilight: (picking him up, hugging him) Spike, I wouldn’t leave without you!

(Close-up of the open backpack.)

Twilight: (from o.s., tucking him inside) Just remember to be quiet. (Cut to frame both again.) And try not to shed.

(Zipping and shouldering the bag, she strides out of the lab and closes the door behind herself. Dissolve to the parking lot just outside the front entrance of Crystal Prep; she walks out toward two buses parked here. Six female students stand lined up at the doors of one of them, along with Cadence, and two men in school colors are at the other. A close-up of the first bus picks out Cadence by the doors, clipboard in hand, and the first three girls in line as Twilight approaches. All are framed from the knees up. One girl is Fleur, checking her cell phone. Another is Sunny Flare: light blue-gray skin; red-violet eyes with dark blue shadow; short, medium violet hair shot through with lighter pink-violet streaks and cut/clipped back in a slope to hang past her cheeks and ride high on the back of her head; orange/yellow sunburst hair clip; dour expression. The third is Sour Sweet: light yellow skin; freckles; blue-violet eyes with green shadow; long, deep pink hair with streaks of lighter pink and gray-green tied in a high ponytail; bored expression. She wears a vest instead of a blazer, in a slightly different design from Twilight’s, and her shirt has short sleeves without gray cuffs and is not tucked in. Twilight walks right past all three of them and up to Cadence. Behind the group, the side of the bus displays a cluster of dark purple diamonds trailing yellow streaks; the largest of these contains a winged magenta S whose ends trail off into lightning bolts—the Shadowbolt logo.)

Twilight: Dean Cadence? (Sour gapes at her back; Sunny glares.) I’m not really sure where to go.

Cadence: (walking off) One second, Twilight.

Sour: (very snarky) You could try the end of the line?

(The violet brainiac turns around, nudging her glasses up when they slip.)

Twilight: What did you say?

Sour: (dripping fake sweetness; Sunny smirks) Just that someone as smart as you should definitely go first.

(This shot frames a dark blue patch sewn onto Sunny’s right sleeve cuff, and a lightning-bolt crest on her blazer. Cut to Twilight as Cadence returns.)

Twilight: I…I didn’t mean to. I was just asking.

Cadence: This is the right bus, Twilight. Go ahead. (Off she goes.)

Twilight: But…I didn’t mean to cut in front. (Scoff from the o.s. Sour; pan to her and Sunny.)

Sour: Well, it’s too late now.

(Sunny adds her own facial measure of contempt as Twilight steps through the doors. She has not even made it up to the driver’s seat before another girl’s face thrusts itself toward hers from the front seats. Pale cream-colored skin; orange-brown eyes; swept-back, shoulder-length dark blue hair with streaks in lighter blue and blue-green; multiple ear piercings, including gold lightning-bolt earrings; round-lensed goggles propped on forehead. This is Indigo Zap, whose voice carries a grating, fierce enthusiasm. As she leans forward during the following exchange, the motion exposes the cardigan she wears instead of a blazer, rolled-up sleeves, an unbuttoned and turned-up shirt collar, gray wristbands with dark blue lightning bolts, and a half-untied collar bow.)

Indigo: Are we gonna win?!?

Twilight: I…I don’t know.

Indigo: Wrong answer! Try again! (Twilight’s perspective of her; lean closer, emphasizing every word.) Are we gonna win?!?

(Back to the new arrival, climbing the rest of the way up the steps.)

Twilight: Um…I guess? I-It’s just…I mean, I heard that CHS is doing well now, with their reputation, and, I mean…it’s not better than ours, of course. But we can’t let them do it, you know? Win, I mean? Right?

(Another cut to her perspective picks out a bus half-filled with students who are giving her their own versions of the old hairy eyeball. Among them are human versions of Jet Set, Suri Polomare, Trenderhoof, and Upper Crust. Eyes are rolled, glasses adjusted, and Indigo throws in a gesture and a tiny head shake that might best be translated as “where did they dig her up?” Back to Twilight; now the bus driver sits down behind the wheel and regards her irascibly.)

Driver: You’re gonna have to take a seat!

(She starts off down the aisle; cut to her perspective yet again. One student after another blocks her access to the empty seats by either shifting toward the aisle seat or setting a bag in it. As she closes in on the back row, the camera cuts to these seats and she removes her backpack so she can sit down opposite a bored-looking girl with light blue-violet skin, violet eyes behind orange-framed glasses, and two-tone pale blue hair gathered into two long pigtails that extend to either side from behind her head. She wears a cardigan marked with the same lightning-bolt crest as Sunny’s blazer, and her sleeve cuffs are not as broad as Twilight’s and are patterned differently. This is Sugarcoat.)

Twilight: Hi, Sugarcoat.

(The latter speaks in a rapid-fire cadence and a matter-of-fact tone, turning her head just enough to reveal a bright pink barrette shaped as a piled-high measuring spoon.)

Sugarcoat: That was a really bad speech. You should consider not speaking in public.

(As the bus engine revs up, Twilight smiles to herself and opens her pack; cut to her perspective, with Spike putting his head out.)

Twilight: (softly, petting him) Well, Spike, at least I’ve got you with me.

(A faint blare of rock music causes him to glance off to one side with a whimper. Cut to a close-up of a girl in another seat, Lemon Zest. Light reddish-pink skin; very pale yellow-brown eyes with light blue-violet shadow; long, unruly hair in three shades of yellow-green; short-sleeved shirt/blazer with unbuttoned, turned-up shirt collar; headphones marked with slices of pie over ears—the source of the disturbance. Her voice carries a tone of raucous, abrasive cheer.)

Zest: (voice raised) Dude! You have gotta hear this!

(On the end of this line, she leans over Twilight and transfers the phones to the violet ears. Now the music comes through all too loud and clear, prompting her to shudder and moan softly with one eye squinched shut against the assault. The bus starts to move; cut to behind it as it rumbles toward the street.)

(Dissolve to an overhead shot of Canterlot High, zooming in slowly as Zest’s raucous track is replaced by a different rock beat. Cut to a music practice room, where the Rainbooms are running through a song. All six have ponied up, but the extra features disappear as the final chord dies away. Rainbow stands up from the kneeling position she has assumed.)

Rainbow: I hope the Friendship Games have a music competition, because we would totally rock it! (She hits a chord on the end of this.)

Sunset: Um, we’re supposed to keep magic out of the Friendship Games, remember?

(Rainbow rolls her eyes and sighs wearily. Cut to an extreme close-up of Rarity’s face, reflected in the mirror of her open compact; she is touching up her makeup.)

Rarity: Easier said than done, darling. (Longer shot; she leans against the room’s piano and closes the compact, having shed her keytar.) I’m sure in Equestria, magic does whatever you want. But…

Sunset: (pacing, no longer carrying her guitar) …this isn’t Equestria.

(Applejack and Fluttershy have put away their own instruments, and Rainbow is returning her guitar to its case.)

Applejack: (patting Sunset’s shoulder) Well, when it comes to magic, I’m sure you’ll figure it out. (Back to Rarity, who has stowed her compact.)

Rarity: And while Sunset works on keeping the magic out of the Games, I have been working on what to put in! (Giggle; cut to an incensed Applejack.)

Applejack: Rarity, what did you go and do?

(Zoom out slightly to frame Fluttershy and Sunset to either side as a rack of clothes is shoved into view before them. Half of them are athletic outfits in school colors; the rest are dresses in a variety of other styles.)

Rarity: (from o.s., very giddy) Well— (Laugh.) —I had a little time on my hands, and since we don’t know what the Friendship Games events are…

(During this line, more racks are pushed over to Pinkie at her drum kit—who pushes her head through and comes out wearing a pirate hat and eyepatch—and then to Rainbow, who has now squared her six-string away. Here, the prolific designer shoves aside the hangers from behind and squeezes through with a blue/white/yellow jersey/shorts combo.)

Rarity: …I made a few options for uniforms!

(She shoves the lot down over Rainbow’s head, instantly replacing her usual threads and even switching out the athletic boots with dark blue knee socks. The athlete is very much caught out at the quick change.)

Rainbow: You really didn’t have to do that.

Rarity: (beaming) I know.

Applejack: (from o.s.) No…

(Pan quickly to her, Fluttershy, and Sunset puzzling over the other racks. Pinkie stands up behind them, having switched to a wizard’s robe and starry hat and a fake pink beard.)

Applejack: …you really didn’t have to.

Rarity: (beaming wider) I know!

(She laughs. Cut to a long shot of Canterlot High and zoom out slowly. One of the Crystal Prep buses is parked at the curb, and Luna stands in front of it on the grass. A cut to the sidewalk frames Celestia and Abacus here as well. Seen from head to toe for the first time, the primly dressed principal wears magenta stockings and purple pumps that match her skirt, accented by light blue straps across the toes. Zoom in slowly on the pair.)

Celestia: Vice-Principal Luna can help your students get settled, if you’d like me to show you around, Principal Cinch. There have been quite a few changes since your last visit.

Abacus: (feigning interest, adjusting glasses) Oh, yes, Principal Celestia. I’m sure that would be fascinating.

(Pan from her to the open bus doors, where the students are stepping and out and Luna and Cadence share a warm embrace. The dean no longer carries the clipboard she had when checking everyone onto the bus.)

Luna: Oh, it’s always such a pleasure to see you, Dean Cadence— (grimacing) —even if it means another defeat.

Cadence: Thank you, Vice-Principal Luna. (touching her shoulder; they walk off together) But I hear it’s not going to be so easy this time.

(Only now does Twilight put her head out through the doorway, her backpack slung up and closed and no longer wearing Zest’s headphones. After a tentative flick of the eyes back and forth, she draws herself up, adjusts her glasses—and promptly gets shoved aside from behind by the pumped-up Indigo. Her knee socks have puddled around her ankles, and she has eschewed the standard shoes in favor of dark purple combat boots decorated with blue bows and lightning bolts. In addition, the hem of her cardigan has a slightly different cut from Sugarcoat’s.)

Indigo: (running o.s.) Comin’ through!

(Twilight loses her balance and topples off the steps, taking the nearby Sunny down with her. This shot brings the latter’s footwear into view—the usual chunky-heeled loafers, but the socks are only ankle-length instead of going to the knee—and the dark blue patches on both sleeve cuffs, not just the right. Standing next to Sunny is Sour, whose standard loafers have had their shield buckles replaced by bows and hearts. As she stares in surprise, the two fallen girls sit up back to back; Twilight adjusts her glasses again and Sunny rounds on her.)

Sunny: Seriously?

Twilight: (fiddling with hair) Oh, sorry! (Sunny gets up and walks away.) I didn’t mean to.

(Sighing at the other girl’s curt response, she stands up and very nearly gets run into by Sour.)

Twilight: Oh, sorry. Why don’t you go ahead?

Sour: (fake sweet tone) You are such a sweetie! (viciously, softly) I am watching you!

(Away she goes to join the others. Twilight starts to walk toward them, but Zest bounds out to the doorway, inadvertently cutting her off. Her blazer is now seen to have two lightning-bolt crests low in front, and she has the standard shoes and socks and is wearing her blaring headphones again. She mimes playing guitar, adding a round of enthusiastic grunts and laughs with a “yeah” and a scream mixed in, and charges off while throwing a set of bullhorns with one hand. Behind her comes the blasé Sugarcoat, who wears ankle-length socks and dark purple tights under a skirt that is rather shorter than those of the other girls.)

Sugarcoat: (to Twilight) You are kinda being a doormat right now.

(As she too walks away, the lone violet girl gets a surprise when the high-tech pendant around her neck winks to life, its perimeter strobe indicating the general direction of the school. She lifts it for a closer look and, after a quick glance around herself, aims it toward the building. Cut to her perspective—the indicator is pointing directly at the front entrance as she lowers the device—then back to her. Making very sure that no one else is paying her the slightest mind, she grins and jogs toward the doors, Spike putting his head up from her backpack. As she climbs the front steps, Bon Bon and Lyra—see the “All’s Fair in Love & Friendship Games” prequel short for full description—stop on the way down.)

Bon Bon: (waving) Hi, Twilight.

(Not even the slightest break in stride; she becomes puzzled and Lyra shrugs. Cut to inside the lobby; one door opens and Twilight steps in, eyes fixed on her detector. She moves into one of the hallways, passing a green-haired rocker girl.)

Rocker 1: (waving) Hey, Twilight!

(This time, the budding scientist does pause her steps for just a moment, one eyebrow lowering in mild befuddlement. She continues on her way, encountering a few other students going the other direction.)

Eco-kid 1: (waving) Hi, Twilight.

Rocker 2: Hi, Twilight. (Micro Chips flips a thumbs-up.)

Techie 1: (waving, gesturing at own glasses, winking) Hey, you! Looking good!

Twilight: Um…hi!

Drama: Hey! What’s happening?

Fashionista: (waving) Really nice to see you. (Another techie waves.)

Techie 2: Twilight! How you doing?

Eco-kid 2: (waving) Twilight! Yo!

Twilight: (turning to face her, walking backwards) Hi! Hello. Uh…good.

(Micro is the male techie who appeared in the “All’s Fair in Love & Friendship Games” and “A Banner Day” prequel shorts. As Twilight continues her awkward reverse perambulation, she collides with Flash, sending herself, him, and the cased guitar he carries to the floor. The impact knocks her glasses off to land nearby.)

Flash: (standing, helping her up) Twilight? I almost didn’t recognize you.

(She, on the other hand, shifts into the classic squint and hands-extended grope of a person in search of missing corrective lenses. One hand finds its way to the fabric of his T-shirt by chance; he glances toward floor level, and the camera cuts to an extreme close-up of the dropped specs. Zoom out to frame him looking at them.)

Flash: When did you start wearing glasses? (He reaches down for them.)

Twilight: Um…like, since forever. (Chuckle.)

Flash: Oh! So how long are you here for? (He straightens up.)

Twilight: Just for the Friendship Games.

Flash: Right! Of course! (extending glasses toward her face) We’ll totally win with you here.

(Cut to her perspective on the end of this, framing his face as a blur of blue and pastel yellow-tan that slowly comes into focus as he settles the lenses in place. The camera then shifts to her wondering expression, zooming in slowly before a tiny flash of purple zings across the lenses—her detector is picking up something again. A close-up from her perspective shows that it is indicating a right turn.)

Twilight: Uhhhh… (Back to the pair.) …I gotta go! (And she does so at speed. Zoom out slowly.)

Flash: (puzzled, calling after her) Uh…okay! Bye?

(It should be abundantly clear by now that he, and everyone she has encountered, believe her to be the Twilight who helped save Canterlot High in both Equestria Girls and Rainbow Rocks. Flash groans quietly, covering his face with his hands, as Derpy Hooves walks up behind him and gives him a “there, there” pat on the shoulder.)

(Cut to Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rainbow in the practice room, all having changed into some rather unorthodox outfits. Fluttershy: hockey goalie in full padding and helmet decorated with butterflies and flowers, holding the special stick used by players in that position. Pinkie: cowgirl dress/hat/boots, sitting on the piano. Rainbow: the classic long, dark blue tunic of a British police officer, with black pants, white dress shirt, and black necktie; she holds a nightstick. Rarity zips into view to take a measurement on Fluttershy and plunk a round-crowned helmet, decorated with a checkered band and gold star/wings, onto Rainbow’s head. Sunset stands a bit farther back, garbed in a long shirt and pants in two shades of blue and wearing a welder’s mask, protective gloves, and work boots. Rarity’s next move takes her to the other side of the room, the camera panning to frame Applejack and Sunset. Applejack is suited up to play jai alai, including a wicker “cesta” basket for catching the ball and an apple-decorated helmet in place of her hat. Her jersey has ridden up slightly to expose a patch of midriff, but Rarity tugs at the hem to cover it up.)

Applejack: Uh, Rarity, these outfits are great, but why would you put so much time and effort into clothes we might not even wear?

(The pale girl gets an idea and whisks away on the end of this.)

Applejack: You’re gonna exhaust yourself before the Games even start!

(Cut to Rarity, standing amid other racks of clothes. She sputters out a reaction of disbelief.)

Rarity: Don’t be silly, darling. (She hangs up a dress; zoom in slowly as her enthusiasm builds.) Putting effort into clothes is what I live for, and spending time on my friends fills me with energy!

(The camera zooms out quickly on this last word as she rises a foot or two into the air. A sparkly blue-violet glow surrounds her, edged by a corona of white, and she ponies up without any warning and strikes a joyful midair pose. Cut to a slow pan from Rainbow to Pinkie to Fluttershy, all murmuring in surprise and delight, then to Sunset with her welding mask raised.)

Sunset: (smiling, but glumly) And magic too, I guess.

(She lets the mask drop back over her face. Cut to an extreme close-up of Twilight’s detector, held in her hands as she roams the school. The direction finder begins to zero in on a heading; once it gets a lock, the device snaps open and circular panels in both halves begin to glow magenta. Twilight stops short, her glasses sliding down and getting a quick tweak; cut to inside the practice room and zoom in slowly on Rarity. A streamer of purple energy is now wafting from her back and through the slit between the not-quite-closed double doors; out in the hallway, it wavers for a bit before being drawn into the detector. Rarity’s gusto and aura fade away and she sinks back to the floor, slumping on her feet.)

Rarity: (tired) Actually, Applejack, now that you mention it, I suppose I could use a tiny break.

(During this line, cut to a worried Applejack/Rainbow/Sunset, the farmer moving to help as the would-be welder cringes a bit with mask raised, then back to her, reverting to her usual appearance. She crumples with a sigh, saved from cracking her head on the tiles due to Applejack catching her under the arms.)

Applejack: I told you!

(Twilight enters, closing the detector, and finds six amazed, smiling faces turned her way.)

Rainbooms: TWILIGHT? (Twilight lets her detector hang from its cord, now silent.)

Twilight: (hesitantly) Uh…yes?

(Applejack/Fluttershy/Rainbow/Rarity gather around her; Fluttershy has removed her goalie helmet.)

Applejack: Well, I’ll be! (throwing arm around her shoulders; Fluttershy pats her on the back) You shoulda told us you were comin’!

(Cut to Pinkie and Sunset. The red/gold-haired girl makes to move closer, relief and elation written all over her face, and grins as she tries to think of what to say. Rarity, however, beats her to it.)

Rarity: (from o.s.) Darling— (Cut to her, Applejack, and Twilight.) —those glasses! (Cringing little laugh.) What are you wearing? It’s so…severe.

Twilight: (hesitantly) My uniform?

Fluttershy: Your uniform for what?

Twilight: For Crystal Prep. But why does everyone at this school know who I am?

Rainbow: Did you just say “Crystal Prep”?

(Spike chooses this moment to break the instant tension by poking his head out of Twilight’s backpack and barking.)

Fluttershy, Rarity: Spike! (Fluttershy pets him.)

Twilight: (gasping, recoiling a step) You know my dog’s name too?

(The others have no immediate response. Cut to Celestia and Abacus walking along a hallway, the camera following them to the practice room.)

Celestia: And our music program has especially taken off.

(They stop at the door, Celestia pulling in a little gasp of surprise upon seeing Twilight from behind. Abacus, on the other hand, just cocks one eyebrow.)

Celestia: Twilight?

Twilight: This is getting ridiculous!

Abacus: (crossing to her) I must apologize for the curiosity of my prize student.

Celestia: Your student?

Abacus: (arm across Twilight’s shoulders, hunching down to her) The smart ones are always curious. (straightening up, escorting her away) I’ll return her to check in with the rest of her classmates.

(Six Rainbooms and one principal stare after the departing pair in total confusion that lasts for some moments before Celestia speaks up.)

Celestia: I didn’t know Twilight had a twin sister.

Pinkie: (rapid fire) She doesn’t! That Twilight is obviously the Twilight from this world, since it couldn’t possibly be the Twilight from the pony world, since the Twilight from the pony world doesn’t go to Crystal Prep or wear glasses!

(If Celestia’s mind had slipped out of gear upon first seeing the visitor, this high-speed—and, of course, entirely correct—explanation causes it to belch up its entire transmission. Long pause.)

Celestia: Never mind.

(She walks off, grimacing mightily. Wipe to the front lawn; the rest of the Crystal Prep team is gathered at the statue, and Abacus and Twilight walk toward them from the front entrance.)

Twilight: I’m sorry, Principal Cinch. (Close-up of the pair.) I was just following these strange readings. Actually, they led me to those girls and I—

Abacus: Twilight— (Both stop.) —what you do in your free time is of little interest to me, but while you’re here, I—all of Crystal Prep, in fact—require your complete focus.

(She lifts Twilight’s chin with a finger to lock eyes for a moment, then walks off toward the statue.)

Twilight: But why does everyone at this school seem to know me? (Abacus stops and turns back to her.)

Abacus: Perhaps they’re trying to confuse you. Perhaps they’re trying to lure you away.

Twilight: It didn’t feel like anyone was trying to lure me.

Abacus: I don’t know what they’re playing at— (sweeping a hand toward the curb) —but I guarantee it isn’t to help us win.

(Twilight takes the cue and moves in the indicated direction, albeit reluctantly. Wipe to a hallway that gives onto the lobby; the Rainbooms, having changed back to their civvies, walk toward the camera.)

Rarity: I can’t believe our world’s Twilight goes to Crystal Prep!

Rainbow: You’re saying that Twilight’s gonna play against us? She’d never do that.

Fluttershy: Our Twilight wouldn’t. (All stop.)

Sunset: (incensed) Our Twilight is a princess in Equestria— (turning to face others) —and an expert in friendship magic. And if she was here, we’d have already figured out why magic is randomly popping up during pep rallies and costume changes!

(The outburst stops as suddenly as it began, and she takes in the deeply concerned expressions on the five faces before her. A deep breath, and she slumps a bit on her feet.)

Sunset: Sorry. I’m just frustrated that I haven’t heard back from her.

Applejack: She’s a princess in Equestria. Probably got problems of her own to deal with.

(Cut to a chastened Sunset, then to a slow zoom in on the others on the start of the next line.)

Rarity: We certainly can’t expect her to drop everything and pop through the portal whenever— (stepping forward) —especially if it’s to deal with something as minor as a few random pony-ups.

Sunset: But they aren’t minor. Magic came into this world when I stole Twilight’s crown. It’s taken a lot for me to earn everyone’s trust. If we have to forfeit the Games because I can’t think of a way to keep it under control…

Fluttershy: Oh, Sunset, I’m sure you’ll be able to figure things out.

Applejack: You’re the one who helped us understand what was goin’ on with the Sirens, remember? (Cut to Sunset on this last word.)

Sunset: I guess. But Twilight was the one who really figured out what we needed to defeat them. (Rarity crosses to her.)

Rarity: But don’t you remember, darling? (She rests her hand on a forearm and brushes a red strand back from Sunset’s eyes.) What we needed to defeat them was you.

(Reminded of the role she played in that face-off, Sunset smiles and sighs quietly.)

Sunset: All right.

(Words—and in Pinkie’s case, squeals—of encouragement all around.)

Rainbow: (leading group away) Come on, guys. Let’s see if we can find any info about the events— (Sunset stays put; cut to her. Rainbow continues o.s.) —and come up with a strategy!

(The former unicorn’s newfound resolve begins to evaporate; she turns away from the lobby, about to bite a nervous thumbnail, before Rainbow doubles back.)

Rainbow: You coming, Sunset?

Sunset: I’ll…catch up with you guys in a bit.

(The blue teen gives her a thumbs-up and hurries away as Sunset begins to think. The contemplative frown flicks up into a smile soon enough, and the eyebrows lower over the blue-green eyes as she begins to walk back they way they all came. Cut to the front entrance; she steps out, journal in hand, and opens it for a look. Her perspective: she runs one set of fingers over the blank pages and lets go with a soft sigh.)

Sunset: Still no reply.

(The book is lowered, giving her a clear view of the Wondercolt statue and the Crystal Prep buses. In close-up, the downcast girl shuts the covers, wondering what to do next about these magical mysteries. Twilight, standing by the buses, gets a new surprise when her detector begins to pick up a signal. Her eyes narrowed in determination behind the thick lenses, she follows the pulse straight ahead to the side of the statue’s base that faces the street. Glasses are nudged up, and the case flips open just as it did when it picked up on Rarity’s transformation in the practice room. On the opposite side, the one facing the building, Sunset walks up with a smile.)

Sunset: Maybe there’s another way I could reach her.

(Recall that in Rainbow Rocks, Princess Twilight was able to reconfigure the portal so that it could be used at any time. Having evidently decided to take advantage of that modification, Sunset puts a palm to the smooth surface. Instead of setting off the ripples, though, a ring of yellow flame blazes up around her hand and wisps of red energy start to disappear into the stone. Unable to pull away immediately, she drops the journal and wraps her free hand around the wrist.)

Sunset: (straining) Hey! Let go!

(A slip leaves her with both palms stuck fast, and a longer shot reveals that the magic is passing from her side to Twilight’s and being sucked into the detector. The intrepid investigator finally manages to force the thing shut, cutting the flow, and both girls are flung backward with a yell to hit the deck on their backs. After a final crackle of sparks from the case, both sit up; a panicked Sunset is first to find her feet.)

Sunset: What did you do? (Now Twilight gets up.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) Twilight… (Pan to her, clipboard in hand and standing by the bus doors.) …you have to check in with the others.

(Twilight runs off; Sunset makes to follow, but checks herself and turns eyes back to the base of the statue. She reaches behind one corner to touch the side facing the school and is horrified to hear only the touch of fingers against solid stone. Cut to an extreme close-up of her hands as they grope wildly across what is now a perfectly ordinary surface, then zoom out to frame her.)

Sunset: Where’s the portal? (Head-on view; she stammers a bit before continuing.) Where’s the portal?!?

(Snap to black.)

(Fade in to a “Welcome Crystal Prep” banner strung up amid balloons and streamers, and zoom out slowly to show it hanging above the stage in the gym. It is flanked by two vertical banners, Canterlot High to the left, Crystal Prep to the right. Groups of students from the two schools are scattered about the floor, staying to their respective sides and giving each other funny looks. Tables loaded with refreshments stand near the stage, but no one is paying them any mind.)

(Close-up of Bon Bon, Flash, and Lyra, who put on a trio of tentatively welcoming smiles, then pan quickly to Sour and Sugarcoat across the way. Sour grins over the cup she holds, then twists her mouth into a feral scowl while crushing it. The remains are flung down and mashed even flatter under her shoe, bringing hostile glares to the three Wondercolts’ faces.)

(Cut to a hallway. The Rainbooms walk along—or skip, in Pinkie’s case—having changed into party dresses or top/skirt ensembles that prominently feature each girl’s signature mark. All six have traded their usual boots for lower-profile footwear: short cowboy boots for Applejack, platform heels for Fluttershy, sneakers for Rainbow, standard high heels for the other three. Applejack and Pinkie wear tights under their dresses, and Rarity—wearing her reading glasses—touches up Fluttershy’s hem a bit. Pinkie’s dress includes a necktie.)

Applejack: What do you mean, the portal’s gone? (Sunset stops at the closed gym door.)

Sunset: I mean, it’s gone! It’s closed! It’s not there anymore! (Push it open; they walk through.)

Rainbow: How’d that happen? (Inside the gym; they stop.)

Sunset: I don’t know— (pointing) —but it has something to do with that Twilight.

(Pan quickly across the floor to “that Twilight,” completely absorbed in her detector’s readings as she walks. So much so, in fact, that she fails to notice a bunch of balloons tied to a brick until she has walked into them. The thump of inflated rubber against skull knocks her glasses askew; pushing them into place, she starts to back up.)

Applejack: (from o.s., softly) What in tarnation is she up to? (Bump into Indigo, causing her to drop her cup of punch.)

Indigo: Huh?

(She growls and glares daggers at Twilight, and the boy with whom she was talking adds his two cents with a scowl as Twilight backs away. Behind them, DJ P0N-3 stands at her turntables and listens to a track playing in her headphones. Back to Applejack and Sunset.)

Sunset: (softly) Leave this to me.

(She begins to cross the floor. Cut to the whiz kid, whose detector readings are tuning in on one particular direction.)

Sunset: (from o.s., sternly) Twilight.

(With an almighty grimace of shock, she whirls to find Sunset now on this side of the gym.)

Sunset: What have you been up to? (Applejack and Rainbow join them.)

Twilight: Me? Oh, I-I was just, uh— (Indigo leans into Sunset’s face.)

Indigo: Who wants to know? (Rainbow leans into hers.)

Rainbow: Um, we do?

Applejack: (inserting herself between them; zoom out slowly) All right, everyone. Let’s not get too competitive before the Games even start.

(The camera motion continues in zigzags to frame each new speaker in turn.)

Sugarcoat: The Games aren’t really competitive, since we’ve never lost.

Fluttershy: That’s not a very nice thing to say.

Sunny: Sorry, dearie, but these Games aren’t about being nice.

Rarity: Well, you might use a little tact.

(She has put away her glasses now. Sunny’s line, the first complete sentence she has spoken up to this point, is soaked with contempt and snobbishness. Cut to an extreme close-up of Twilight, lower lip caught in teeth as she fearfully backs away from the camera—and right into the waiting Pinkie. A step aside allows the two girls to look each other straight on. The detector has gone cold.)

Pinkie: Hi! (holding out a hand to shake) I’m Pinkie Pie.

Twilight: (waving timidly) Oh. Hi! (grasping Pinkie’s hand) I’m Twilight.

(The two arms degenerate into a pink/violet blur as Pinkie pumps them frenetically up and down. When she lets go, Twilight’s glasses slide down so far that they might fall off at any moment.)

Pinkie: I know.

(Close-up of the reluctant Shadowbolt. Now the specs drop to her chin and her hair tumbles out of its bun, turning her into a dead ringer for Princess Twilight.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) You look just like my friend. (Glasses go back on.) Her name is Twilight, too.

Twilight: (fixing hair back) That’s, uh, weird. (Zoom in on the detector.)

Pinkie: (from o.s.) What’s that?

Twilight: (holding it up) It’s sort of a spectrometer. (Cut to frame both.) I built it to track EM frequencies— (To Pinkie’s grinning face; she continues o.s.) —but it can also contain anomalies.

(No response except for a few blinks of the big blue eyes. Back to the pair.)

Twilight: It measures things.

Pinkie: (pointing past her) Like the party?

(Which is still pretty dead, judging from cuts to the refreshment spread and the students sitting dully near the turntables. One has gone to sleep, and DJ P0N-3 slumps over her decks.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) Yeah, though it doesn’t look like much of a party to me.

Pinkie: (from o.s.) I know. (Back to the pair.) Something is definitely missing. (She beams as an idea hits her and links her arm into Twilight’s.) Come on!

(Twilight gets yanked bodily away by the peppy pink girl, leaving behind nothing but a startled yelp. Cut to a long shot of the stage, where Celestia now stands behind a microphone, and zoom in slowly. Her next three lines are amplified by the sound system.)

Celestia: Hello, everyone. I’d like to take this opportunity to greet all of our visitors from Crystal Prep Academy and welcome them to CHS.

(Two large, wrapped gift boxes start to make their way into the gym, pushed by Twilight and Pinkie.)

Twilight: (with effort) What in the world is in these? (Stop.)

Pinkie: Party cannons, of course!

Celestia: And lastly, I would like to recognize the twelve students that CHS has elected to compete.

(On the end of this, cut to Derpy, Micro, and Sandalwood at the snack tables; they wave to the crowd. Sandalwood is the eco-kid who appeared in “All’s Fair in Love & Friendship Games” and “A Banner Day.” The next shot is of Bon Bon, Flash, and Lyra lounging in the bleachers; the two girls wave, and Flash smirks and throws an index-finger gun gesture. During the next line, the camera cuts to behind the other five Rainbooms, who turn and start to wave but let it drop at Sunset’s disapproving look.)

Celestia: (from o.s.) I don’t think we could have chosen a better group to represent the excellence, sportsmanship, and friendship the Games stand for.

(The missing magenta-haired goofball puts her head up from behind a table. Finding it set with trays of vegetable pieces and cheese cubes, she whisks them away and sets a large bundle in their place. The wrapping is quickly undone to become a new tablecloth, and the contents prove to be tray upon tray of cupcakes frosted in a multitude of colors. Fleur, standing nearby, is first to notice the quick change and be greatly perplexed by it. Next Pinkie seizes a large circuit breaker switch and throws it, knocking out all the lights except for a spot that shines on a disco ball suspended from the rafters. She then hangs into view from the banner over DJ P0N-3’s booth, passes her a CD, and yanks herself up and away again. The turntablist slots it home and works the controls, starting a light, lively dance beat that sets faces from both factions to smiling. Bon Bon, Flash, and Lyra perk up in the bleachers, and very soon the gym is abuzz with conversation as the two groups of students begin to mingle.)

(Now back at the two large boxes, Pinkie pulls them away and tosses them aside as an incredulous Twilight watches. Sure enough, inside each one is a bright pink cannon with a light-up bar gauge on the barrel. The support mounts are painted light yellow, and each one shows a balloon and a burst of confetti. Their owner/maker gets to work priming them.)

Twilight: Um, are you sure this is a good idea? (Extreme close-up of the half-crazed pink face.)

Pinkie: Absolutely!

(Zoom out quickly as she tilts them upward and pulls a string on each breech to set them both off at once. The resulting double blast of confetti and streamers sends Twilight diving for cover and brings cheers from the crowd. Once the geeky girl recovers her senses, she looks up to discover a party far livelier than it was just a few minutes earlier. People talking, laughing, dancing, with no regard to school loyalty or rivalry—if a man were selling ice cream, it could be the setting for a Chicago song. As Pinkie smiles ear to ear at the rescue she has just pulled off, she becomes wreathed in a sparkly pink glow and ponies up, rising clear of the floor.)

Pinkie: Oooooh! Floaty!

(Twilight stands up, picking a loose streamer out of her hair, and her detector flares to life. This time, it not only indicates a direction but floats that way as if drawn by a magnet. She reels it in and holds on as it opens for the third time, drawing in the insubstantial pink streamers that are Pinkie’s magic. As it leaves the party planner’s body, she loses her cheer and sinks down, reverting to normal as the corona fades.)

Pinkie: Awwww…

(Feet touch boards, and the suddenly enervated Pinkie moans softly.)

Pinkie: I am party-pooped.

(Perhaps the very last thing that might be expected from either this girl or her pony counterpart, but the hand she drapes over her forehead speaks to their truth. The siphoned magic crackles at the heart of Twilight’s detector, throwing a spark that shoots through an opening between the rows of bleachers. Spotting its tiny glow on the other side, she leans in for a better look—and sees it grow into a pink/purple-edged swirl whose center opens to show something very different from the gym wall. Namely: a stretch of gnarled, vine-covered tree trunks that look very much like the old growth in Equestria’s Everfree Forest. Twilight’s mouth falls open in pure shock, and she manages to slam the detector closed after a moment’s struggle. A second look into the bleachers shows her that the strange view is quickly shrinking away to nothing, and the detector shuts down as well. She can only scratch her head, absolutely confounded by this bizarre turn of events.)

(Out on the gym floor, the party continues until Abacus taps the microphone, generating a feedback squeal. The lights come up, startling DJ P0N-3 into a record scratch that sets off an even worse whine. Dancing and conversation stop just as quickly, leaving the place dead silent; she speaks into the mic, her next three lines amplified.)

Abacus: (removing/polishing/donning glasses) I’d like to thank Principal Celestia for her unconventional welcome. It’s been four years since the last Friendship Games, but it feels as though nothing has changed.

(Cut to a mixed group of students, all taken aback by her vibe-killing words.)

Abacus: (from o.s.) Canterlot High continues to pick its competitors in a popularity contest— (To the table Pinkie set up; Fleur and Jet walk away.) —and Crystal Prep continues to field its top twelve students.

(Longer shot of the stage; Celestia and Luna watch from one side, and the two groups start to re-segregate.)

Abacus: It is a comfort to know that even after so many years of losses— (Close-up of the sisters’ scowling faces on this last word, then back to all three.) —your school remains committed to its ideals, however misguided they may be. I wish you all the best of luck, regardless of the inevitable outcome.

(Cut to a long shot of the stage, zooming out slowly, then to Pinkie shambling over to Applejack with a moan. A few hairs have sprung loose from the frizzy magenta mop atop her head.)

Applejack: I’m sorry, Pinkie. I thought your party additions were really swell. (Pan to Fluttershy and Rarity.)

Fluttershy: They definitely broke the ice.

Rarity: Yes, if only that Principal Cinch hadn’t frozen it again.

Pinkie: Yeah, she’s awful. (Here come Rainbow and Sunset.)

Sunset: Wow, Pinkie, what happened to you?

Pinkie: I don’t know. Everyone started having fun after Twilight and I fired the party cannons and I ponied up—

Sunset: (dryly) Of course you did.

Pinkie: —but then the magic just drained right out of me.

Sunset: Wait. What do you mean, “drained out of you”?

Applejack: Hey. Where is that other Twilight?

Pinkie: (pointing across gym) Oh. She’s right…

(Longer shot of the Rainbooms. There is nothing in the direction she has indicated except for a patch of confetti-strewn gym floor.)

Pinkie: …uh, well, she was right here.

(Dissolve to a patch of peaceful daytime sky, seen from ground level with the camera pointing up past the roof and dome of Canterlot High. A tilt down frames the lawn and a few students hanging out around the Wondercolt statue. Throughout the following, all pairs of eyes turn toward the nearest loudspeaker; each cut that follows is accompanied by a slow pan through the area. Each of the next three lines is heard over the intercom.)

Luna: Good morning, students.

(A hallway; some hit their lockers, while others head to class.)

Luna: I’m sure you’re all thrilled to start the first day of the Friendship Games.

(A classroom next, with a cut to the library during the following; Cheerilee sits behind the circulation desk.)

Luna: Our competitors will face off in every aspect of the CHS curriculum, culminating in the Elimination Equations finale.

(Cut to all four school officials standing in a line in the lobby. Sunny is visible past the left end, next to Abacus, while Sunset and Micro are past Celestia on the right. Each of the Rainbooms will be back in her usual clothing when seen next, and Pinkie’s hair will be back in order.)

Cadence: Welcome to the first event…

(Zoom out to frame the entire lobby. Both twelve-member teams have assembled, along with quite a few Canterlot High onlookers.)

Cadence: …the Academic Decathlon! (Slow pan across the Shadowbolts; she continues o.s.) You’ll be scored on chemistry, home ec, and everything in between. (Ditto for the Wondercolts.) But remember, only the six students from each team with the most points will move on to event number two.

(The camera shifts to frame the entire gathering on the end of this.)

Cadence: Good luck!

Aggressive rock with electric guitar and bass drum, stoptime, moderate 4 (D flat minor)

Sunset’s voice rides above the others for first four lines

(The screen tiles itself with two vertical panels—Sunset on right, Sour on left, glaring at each other with open hostility. Sour hip-checks Sunset’s panel away, and the other five key players on her side fall in behind as she smugly crosses her arms.)

Wondercolts: [Ho!] We’re gonna take you down

(Two horizontal panels; Indigo, on top, pulls her goggles over her eyes, and Zest on bottom dons a pair for lab safety.)

[Ho!] We’re gonna take you down

(Extreme close-up of a Bunsen burner being lit. Behind it, a chemistry lab fades into view; pan quickly along the benchtop, framing the Rainbooms in lab coats and goggles.)

[Ho!] We’re gonna take you down

(Snap to black, against which five vertical panels of dimly lit Shadowbolts slide into view from top/bottom: Sugarcoat, Indigo, Sour, Zest, Twilight—the last of these being the only one wearing neither goggles nor lab coat as they work.)

Sunset: Take you down

Wondercolts: (under previous) [Down, down, down]

(The view splits horizontally into three sections, which swivel 180 degrees to give close-up of three rubber-gloved hands snapping fingers. These belong to a dimly lit Rainbow, Pinkie, and Applejack from top to bottom; each pulls on a pair of goggles.)

Closed hi-hat cymbal in

Sour’s voice rides above the others for next four lines

Shadowbolts: [Ah-h] We’re here to take you out

(The ceiling of the lab, tilting down to Fluttershy at work among the glassware. Celestia, Luna, and Cadence smile and take notes on clipboards.)

[Ah-h] We’re here to take you out

(The screen tiles itself with six panes, each showing a flask filled with solution; they change colors in unison, and the panes rotate to show the Rainbooms holding test tubes.)

[Ah-h] We’re here to take you out

(Pan to the other six Wondercolts, similarly shown, and zoom in on Derpy just in time for her tube to explode in her face. She grins sheepishly through the resulting layer of soot and her blown-back hair.)

[Ah-h] Take you out

Stoptime ends; bass and full drums in, guitar drops back

Double-time feel to lyrics and hi-hat

(Split screen close-up of oven mitts being slid onto two different hands, one of which is Pinkie’s. Fullscreen: she turns to the camera, now wearing an apron and two mitts in place of her lab gear, and throws a couple of punches before ingredients are measured and mixed and an oven adjusted. All competitors have changed into similar gear for this round.)

Wondercolts: We’re not about to let you win, so get out of our way

Think you’ve got us beat, but we’re here to stay

(Flash rolls out dough; Fluttershy puts a cake into an oven; Suri narrows her eyes while icing a cake; Upper carefully applies a Shadowbolt S to its side.)

United, strong, yeah, we’ll take you down

(Pinkie lays down some icing on a cake of her own and squirts a shot into her mouth, licking the excess off her lips and smiling.)

You’re not so tough, now you’re in our town

(Celestia, Luna, and Cadence work their way down a counter and jot notes about four culinary offerings produced by pairs of students from alternating schools. Some are in rather better shape than others; the worst of the bunch is a misshapen loaf of bread made by a truly embarrassed Bon Bon and Flash.)

Wondercolts: All of the times we lost before

Not about to give up, we’re only bringing it more

(Suri and Upper smile smugly and hold out three pieces of their Shadowbolt cake on a tray. The judges try a bite and are impressed; now the camera cuts to Fluttershy and Pinkie with their own towering creation.)

We can smell your fear, we can see you sweat

(Pinkie cuts the whole thing in half from top to bottom and pushes the front section aside with a smirk. Visible on the cut surface is a better-than-average reproduction of the Mona Lisa.)

Hope you didn’t spend money, ’cause you’re losing this bet

Full guitar in; second and fourth lines shouted in rhythm

(Jaws fall open and forks hit the floor; Suri, carrying the trumped cake, and Upper find Abacus in their way.)

Wondercolts: You’ve got nothing on us, na, na, na-na-na, na

(A shot of the home team slides into view, all set for a throwdown; zoom out to frame the Wondercolts name above them, the C drawn as a horseshoe.)

Let’s go, Wondercolts!

(Close-up of Abacus’s displeased expression, zooming in slowly; Suri’s hands tremble so much that she drops the cake, and Abacus removes her glasses and pinches the bridge of her nose wearily.)

You’ve got nothing on us, na, na, na-na-na, na

Let’s go, Wondercolts!

(Fade to white.)

Guitar drops back

(Snap to a vertically split screen. A gloved hand catches a hammer on each side; the lightning-bolt stripe on the right one marks it as Indigo’s. Another fade/snap frames her fully, twirling the tool overhead and wearing a long-sleeved shirt, overalls, earmuffs, and safety goggles in place of her custom pair.)

Shadowbolts: Talk a little too much for a school that never wins

(The Wondercolts unroll a blueprint that shows a crude, question-marked drawing of a birdhouse, while the Shadowbolts spread one that goes into much more detail.)

Maybe you should just stop ’fore you even begin

(Wood pieces are measured and marked and a circular saw is put to work.)

We are Crystal Prep High, and we have a reputation

(Hammers pound in nails, and cut sections are quickly stacked up.)

Every little moment is about our education

(A paint roller is drawn across the screen in broad strokes, covering the view in blue. From here, fade in to a slow pan, following Celestia/Luna/Cadence along a counter in the wood shop classroom as they inspect birdhouses assembled by alternating pairs. All are back in their civilian clothes or school uniforms. Micro and Sandalwood have the clunker this time, and it falls to pieces at one tap from Luna’s pen.)

Shadowbolts: Put your ear to the ground

Listen to that sound, you’re a house of cards

And it’s about to fall down [fall down]

(Indigo and Sugarcoat, identically suited up, uncover a two-story house with an upper balcony and a flame paint job. They are the only ones still in overalls and protective gear, and both have removed their usual eyewear. All three officials’ clipboards drop from surprised hands.)

About to fall down [fall down], hit the ground

Full guitar in; second and fourth lines shouted in rhythm

(Micro dejectedly picks up a fragment of the wreck, and Sandalwood gives him a consoling smile and an arm across the shoulders. The two walk off together.)

Shadowbolts: You’ve got nothing on us, na, na, na-na-na, na

(A shot of this team slides into view, with Twilight as the only standout due to her knock-kneed, scared posture. Zoom out to show the Shadowbolts name above them, with the winged lightning S as its first letter. All are back in their uniforms, with their normal eyewear and accessories.)

Let’s go, Shadowbolts!

(As the two boys cross the shop, Indigo and Sugarcoat pass them, having changed back to their normal ensembles. Indigo bumps them apart, and Sugarcoat flicks the wood out of Micro’s grip. Applejack and Fluttershy are quick to pat the shoulders of the trounced pair.)

You’ve got nothing on us, na, na, na-na-na, na

Let’s go, Shadowbolts!

(Fade to white, then snap to a hexagonal sign with “BEE” printed in large capitals. The first E is styled as the light stripes of a simplified bumblebee. Two panels slide into view, separated by a diagonal line, each showing six competitors sitting in a row of box seats. Top: Sunny, Sour, Zest, Sugarcoat, Indigo, Twilight. Bottom: the Rainbooms.)

Wondercolts: Pressure’s on, now we’re gonna beat you

(Fade to white, then snap to Rainbow stepping up to a stage microphone and adjusting it.)

Step aside, it’s time that we defeat you

(Zoom out; she faces all four officials, who sit facing her behind a table. A desk bell is between Luna and Cadence. Rainbow spells a word, which is typed out across the bottom of the screen, only to register shock as a large red X superimposes itself on the view. This is a spelling bee, and she has tripped up. Three others—Zest, Applejack, Sugarcoat—are quickly struck out on words of their own, with the last of these girls showing very little visible reaction.)

Crystal Prep yourself , ’cause you’re about to go

Down, down, down, down

(Fade to white, then in to Fluttershy at the mic. The focus shifts from the background to her and back again as she turns her eyes fearfully from her teammates to the Shadowbolts at the opposite end of the stage. The two factions glare daggers at each other.)

Shadowbolts: Pressure’s on, you know we’re gonna take you

Just give up before we have to break you

(She faces front, the camera re-focusing/zooming out and the screen splitting vertically to show a smirking Sunny up to bat as well. They and their words are X’ed out in turn, replaced by Indigo and Rarity, then up comes Twilight—who does not get the axe. Her word—“ISOSCELES”—is the only one of the lot that is correctly spelled.)

Canter-not-a-lot, you’re about to go

Down, down, down, down

[Note: See the appendix at the end of this transcript for a full list of words used in this event.]

(Fade to white, then in to an extreme close-up of Sunset’s booted feet climbing a set of steps. The rest of the Rainbooms gather behind her, having donned Wondercolt ears, as she saunters across to the hot spot.)

Horns in; double-time feel ends (A flat minor)

Wondercolts: Take it up to the top

’Cause we know we can win

(Twilight’s loafer-clad feed are framed similarly at the other end, but there are no teammates to back her play.)

Shadowbolts: Maybe you should just stop

’Cause we’ve seen you give in

(Long shot, framing the stage, the contenders atop it, and the rest of each crew on the steps in silhouette. The other five female Shadowbolts are now visible, their backs turned to the face-off. Zoom in slowly, then cut to a track around the two girls in full color-close-up as a breeze toys with their hair.)

Wondercolts: We believe in ourselves

And we’ve got what it takes

(Cut to a grid view of mixed Canterlot High and Crystal Prep students; they disappear one by one as the camera zooms out slowly.)

All: And we’re not gonna stop

All instruments out for two beats

Quiet acoustic guitar/string melody (B major)

(A lone spotlight snaps on within the blackness to illuminate Twilight. Her back is to the camera, which tracks around to frame her head-on.)

Twilight: I can’t wait ’til this is all over

(The beam angles itself to pick out a blackboard off to one side; she turns toward this.)

There’s so much more that’s going on

(Dissolve to a long shot of Sunset, under a spot of her own and facing away; the camera tracks to frame her head-on as well.)

Sunset: And before these Games are over

(The spot swings onto a second board, this one already marked with a geometry problem involving triangles.)

I’ll find out just what she’s done

(Fade to white.)

Urgent rock feel, electric guitar/bass/piano/pounding drums

Slightly faster 4 (E flat minor)

(Snap to a long shot of the stage. The two girls stand at their boards, each set up with the same problem, and get to it as the camera zooms in and the four judges watch. A stopwatch ticks off the seconds.)

All: Can she do it? Will she make it?

(Cut to a close-up of Twilight, then fade to white and in to one of Sunset.)

Who will win it? Who will take it?

Slightly faster tempo; horns in (G flat minor)

(Split screen of the audience: Canterlot High on left, Crystal Prep on right, followed by a slow zoom in on Abacus’s grim face and slowly rising eyebrow. She has put her glasses back on since the bake-off.)

Can she do it? Who will take it?

(Fade to white, then to Twilight chalking intently away, then cut to Sunset doing likewise.)

Did she win it? Did she make it?

Still faster; strings in (A minor)

(Two crossing strokes are drawn in Twilight scowls in fierce concentration, poring over her calculations, but a trace of fear steals into Sunset’s mind as she keeps writing. Sweat dribbles down the violet and yellow-orange faces.)

Who’s the winner? Who’s the reject?

(Split screen of the two opposing quintets.)

How did she answer?

Song ends with a stinger

(Cut to an extreme close-up of the back of Abacus’s head, the camera jumping back in two steps to frame her looking over both competitors’ work. She does not speak until the stingers have died away.)

Abacus: (pointing to Sunset) Incorrect!

(Sunset slumps resignedly on her feet, but the view is quickly lost under the harsh burst of a flashbulb. It clears to show Photo standing up in the audience, having captured this moment with the camera she holds. As the students in the immediate vicinity shoot her a salvo of nasty looks, she sits down with an embarrassed little grin, realizing that she has let enthusiasm for her work get the better of her. At the judges’ table, Celestia and Cadence look over Luna’s shoulders as the vice-principal makes a note on her clipboard.)

Luna: That means the winner of the Friendship Games’ first event is… (standing up) …Twilight Sparkle and Crystal Prep!

(As Abacus leaves the stage without a word, Twilight’s schoolmates in the audience offer up incredibly unenergetic cheers and a sorry excuse for a round of applause. Sunset, on the other hand, nearly gets plowed off her feet when Rainbow bum-rushes the stage to give her a crushing hug. Applejack and Fluttershy are already up here.)

Rainbow: That was awesome! (Rarity walks on, then Pinkie.)

Rarity: Truly amazing!

Sunset: But we didn’t win!

Applejack: (leaning an elbow on Sunset’s shoulder) That was as close to winnin’ as Canterlot’s ever been.

(Long shot of the stage, with Cadence now standing between the two boards.)

Cadence: After a careful tally of the points, we’d like to present the students moving on to the Friendship Games’ second event.

(On the second half of this line, the five Shadowbolts who have antagonized Twilight in their various ways file onto her half of the stage. They make no move to include her in their gathering, or even to show much camaraderie toward each other, as the audience applauds. The Rainbooms are at the other end of the scale, cheering and whooping in high spirits; pan from them to a close-up of the lone math whiz, glancing in their direction with perhaps a hint of longing. She turns away, quietly letting out a long-held breath, only to find that the other five are already leaving the stage. Surprised, she hurries after them only to find a smiling Flash stepping into her path.)

Flash: Congratulations! You were really great. (Her detector chimes in right about now.)

Twilight: (staring at it, walking away) I’m sorry. ’Scuse me.

Flash: (deflated) Okay, then.

(He lets off a sigh—“foiled again”—and slumps a bit where he stands. Dissolve to the Rainbooms arrayed near the base of the Wondercolt statue: Pinkie seated atop it, Rainbow sitting on the walk, the others standing. The party girl hops down, the guitarist stands up, and all but Fluttershy walk off together as the camera pans slightly to frame Twilight watching them from her vantage point behind a column in front of the school entrance. She hastily pulls herself behind this cover, plastering her back against the marble, and lets her eyes flick back and forth before risking a peek to the side opposite the statue. Her detector has gone silent again, and she is wearing her backpack.)

(This look gives her a clear view of Fluttershy walking by herself and carrying her backpack in her arms. In close-up, she kneels on the grass and unzips the bag, from which a small gray kitten pokes its head out. It nuzzles her cheek happily, but a rustle in the bush behind them draws the attention of both. Zoom out to frame all of this bit of shrubbery; Twilight pushes her head through from behind, holding her detector.)

Fluttershy: Do you want to give her a treat?

(Twilight looks at the unit, then at them, and stands up out of the bush with a smile. Removing her pack, she crosses to the pair.)

Twilight: Guess I’m not the only one to smuggle her pet into school. (She kneels on the grass.)

Fluttershy: (laughing softly) Not just one.

(As soon as she opens her bag the rest of the way, the kitten emerges fully, followed by Angel, a bird, and a hamster. She pets the white fuzzball as Twilight eyes the hovering avian with some trepidation.)

Twilight: Oh, wow. (unzipping her bag) All I have is Spike.

(Who wastes no time in sticking his head up and panting happily—which is all the prompting Fluttershy needs to lift him out.)

Fluttershy: It really is uncanny. Does he talk?

Twilight: Um… (Spike hops out of Fluttershy’s arms and bounds away; she leans after him.) …not that I know of.

Fluttershy: (rubbing his belly) Congratulations on winning, by the way. (The bird perches on her finger.) Though it didn’t seem like anyone on your team was very excited about it.

Twilight: No one at my school gets excited about anything they didn’t do themselves. (Bird flies away.)

Fluttershy: That sounds awful.

(Twilight cuts her eyes away in silent, sad assent. Fluttershy looks around herself for a moment and smiles; cut to the down-in-the dumps egghead and pan slightly to frame Fluttershy standing before her, framed from waist to knees.)

Fluttershy: Here. (Twilight’s perspective; she is holding Angel.) Hold this.

(The white rabbit is extended toward the camera. Cut to a profile of both girls, Fluttershy squatting down to put him at Twilight’s level.)

Twilight: Um… (She takes Angel.) …why?

Fluttershy: Holding a bunny always makes me feel better.

Twilight: Well, that’s ridiculous. (He snuggles up to her chest.) But…

(The smile that curves her lips suggests that she may have spoken too soon.)

Twilight: …ooh…it actually kind of works. (A worrying idea occurs to her.) I’m on the other team and you just lost. Why are you being so nice to me?

Fluttershy: You looked like you needed it.

(A yellow glow suffuses the squatting teen, stretching her back to full height and floating her up off the lawn. She ponies up, the camera zooming out to frame Twilight now standing and gasping in wonderment, having set Angel down.)

Twilight: (softly) Whoa…

(Just as it did during the party, the detector rises under its own power and locks in on Fluttershy. It opens up and begins to draw in streams of yellow magic from the animal lover, spitting out a few stray sparks along the way. These widen in midair to become pink/purple-edged apertures similar to the one that temporarily opened under the bleachers in the gym. A rabbit with both ears and antlers hops out of one of these, landing in front of Spike; his threatening growl sends it back the way it came, and he jumps barking after it .The two dive back into this world through a second opening, then out through a third.)

Twilight: Spike!

(The chase continues through another pair of space-time rips, after which Spike emerges alone from a single one and hurtles directly into the path of the yellow magic being siphoned from Fluttershy. It stops him in midair with a confused yelp, and the interruption in the flow causes both of them to sink, with Fluttershy collapsing to her knees and Spike landing in her arms.)

Twilight: Spike!

(Darting over, she kneels down before them and forces the detector shut. The draining ends, the light fades from the suddenly weary Fluttershy, and she holds the dog out for Twilight to take before going the rest of the way to the turf with a shuddery moan.)

Twilight: Spike! Are you okay?

Spike: Um, I think so.

(He sounds exactly the same as his dragon counterpart in Equestria, who ended up in this form when he and Princess Twilight made the jump. Owner and pooch smile at each other in relief, which lasts as long as it takes for both brains to fully comprehend the full implication of those four words. There follows a unison cry of fear, and Twilight tosses Spike to the ground before falling backward to it herself. Fluttershy’s pony features have now vanished. Twilight scrambles to her feet and runs off, unable to do more than gibber in fear.)

Spike: (running after her) Twilight! Wait!

Fluttershy: (weakly, moaning/waving) Bye.

(Fade to black.)

(Fade in to the lobby. One of the front doors bursts open and a borderline-unhinged Twilight sprints in, followed by Spike as she takes a sharp right.)

Spike: Twilight! (Cut to her; clapping hands to sides of head; he continues o.s.) Come on! Wait for me!

(She skids to a stop, having veered into a dead end. Turning around, she starts to edge away along the wall as the dog with the unexpected power of speech moves toward her.)

Spike: Why did you run away like that? (Twilight stops, hyperventilating like mad.)

Twilight: Um, oh, I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with the glowing girl! Or the hole in space! Or my talking dog!

Spike: (smiling, scratching at ear) Yeah. Weird, right?

(That gets her to downshift from twelfth gear, and she squats down to face him.)

Twilight: Are you okay? (scratching his chin) How do you feel? What happened? Where did you go? (He licks her face; she scrubs drool away onto her sleeve.)

Spike: Hey, one question at a time! This is pretty new to me too.

Twilight: Sorry.

Spike: All I know is, I chased that pointy rabbit through the glowy thing, and then I was somewhere else. (Cut to Twilight; he continues o.s. as she starts to think.) Next thing I knew, I was back in that nice girl’s arms and I could talk. (Back to him.) I don’t really understand why I couldn’t before. I mean, it’s so easy.

Abacus: (from o.s.) Twilight…

(Spooked good and proper by this summons, the girl sees the principal coming around the corner and reaches to the nearest locker.)

Twilight: Quick! (opening it) Hide in here!

(She shoves the canine in, slams the door, and gets her back to it just as Abacus steps up.)

Abacus: Who are you talking to?

Twilight: Um… (Big dopey smile.) …myself. (playing with a lock of hair) It’s a nervous habit. Were you looking for me?

Abacus: Indeed I was. (pacing, adjusting glasses) Quite a coincidence that the CHS students moving on to the next event are the same “nice” girls who were so interested in you, don’t you think?

Twilight: I’m not sure.

Abacus: (still pacing) Perhaps you should get to know them after all.

Twilight: But I thought you didn’t want me to.

Abacus: Let’s just say I’m covering my bases. Who knows? (stepping to her, hands to shoulders) Perhaps they will reveal to you the secret to Canterlot High’s newfound success.

Twilight: I don’t know. Spying feels kind of…wrong.

(The very pale blue face hardens by about two places on the Mohs scale, and Abacus removes her hands and re-positions her glasses again.)

Abacus: Well, it’s your decision, Twilight. (walking away) It’s not as if your application hangs in the balance. (She stops, keeping her back to Twilight.) On second thought—yes, it does.

(She resumes her departure, leaving her student to goggle at this continuing coercion; now the locker opens and Spike steps out.)

Spike: Man, she’s awful. What are you gonna do?

Twilight: (sighing, turning to him) I don’t know, Spike. (leaning against lockers) I don’t know.

(She lets herself slide down the green-painted metal to end up in a huddle of indecisiveness and worry seated on the floor. Zoom out slowly as Spike runs over and nestles up against her side to offer whatever bit of solace he can.)

(Dissolve to the other five Rainbooms walking along a hallway. Fluttershy no longer has her backpack.)

Fluttershy: All I did was hand Twilight a bunny. Then I ponied up.

Sunset: I just don’t get it. Rarity’s magic came out when she made us outfits, Pinkie’s when she fixed the party, and now Fluttershy. (Close-up of Fluttershy.)

Fluttershy: And then Twilight’s pendant thingie just pulled the magic right out of me. I couldn’t even stand up. (Pinkie leans in next to her.)

Pinkie: Like me at the party! (Zoom out to frame Rarity.)

Rarity: Or me right before we met Twilight. (Cut to the lobby; all six stop.)

Sunset: So she’s stealing magic?

Applejack: (skeptically) I don’t know. (scratching head) She doesn’t seem like the magic-stealin’ type.

Sunset: Yeah, but she had something to do with closing the portal. (scratching head) If her pendant can pull in magic, maybe it stole the portal too.

Fluttershy: How? (Cut to Applejack and Sunset.)

Sunset: I don’t know. (voice shaking a bit) And the pony or person or Princess who could help me figure this out is completely unreachable now.

(The tension goes out the window when Pinkie pops up behind the two girls and sweeps them toward herself with both arms. Applejack gives her a very funny look.)

Pinkie: Which is too bad, because Twilight knows everything about magic, and portals, and magical portals, and portable magics!

(Accompanied by the following sequence of shots. “And portals”: cut to Rainbow and Rarity as Pinkie emerges from behind the former. “And magical portals”: a locker opens and she leans halfway out. “And portable magics”: a ceiling air vent opens and she lets her upper body hang down through it, tossing out streamers and confetti. After she finishes, the camera cuts to just outside one of the school’s side doors, which swings open; she leans out, only to hit the sidewalk face first. Rainbow is there a moment later, seen in close-up.)

Rainbow: (pulling Pinkie up) For now, let’s just focus on beating the Shadowbolts. And as long as this event puts me at a playing field, I don’t think we’ve got anything to worry about.

(Zoom out slightly to frame Applejack staring off toward the rear of the school, her eyes wide with awe.)

Applejack: (pointing) Oh, it puts you on a playin’ field, all right.

(Blue and red-violet eyes turn to follow the finger, and the mouths beneath them fall open in pure shock, Pinkie sucking in a shrill gasp to underscore the point. Cut to a long shot of what used to be the Canterlot High soccer field and tilt up slowly; the bleachers still stand alongside, but the whole facility has undergone some extensive—and extreme—redesign work. The field itself has been covered with turf, and two identical lines of obstacles run down its long sides. Far end to near: two hay bales, a rope swing over a mud pit, and a high curved backstop of bales wide enough to encompass both lanes. Around the field is an oval wood track with banked curves at both ends and a checkered start/finish line. Encircling all of this is a track constructed from dirt hills and wooden jump ramps. A pit of water has been placed as an obstacle to be jumped, and a tall ramp runs alongside the bleachers as an entry section that joins the track. The Rainbooms have gathered at the end nearer to the building and opposite the camera; a pavilion has been set up here, displaying banners with both schools’ logos. They are visible only as specks from this distance, one standing separate from the others; zoom in quickly on the five, absolutely dumbstruck by this amalgamation of whacked-out sports. Applejack is not with them.)

Sunset: Am I the only one who thinks this is overkill?

(Cut to a close-up of the farm girl’s legs next to a spot of the dirt track. One brown boot kicks a couple of clods loose; on the start of the next line, tilt up to frame the rest of her as Rarity comes across.)

Applejack: I don’t suppose you made motocross outfits.

Rarity: (dismissively) Oh, don’t be ridiculous. (grinning, pulling out two loaded hangers) Of course I did!

(One has a short, blue-green tunic with purple shoulder/knee pads, magenta collar, and yellow wings on the chest; the pants are magenta and marked with yellow flames on each thigh. The other one consists of a long-tailed, yellow/white jacket with shoulder pads designed as white wings and a jagged blue-green swatch on the front whose edges are cut to resemble lightning bolts; its pants are blue-green and unadorned. Both tops have long sleeves and are secured with dark purple belts that sport the school’s C-horseshoe: forward and gold for the first outfit, reversed and silver for the second.)

(Cut to Abacus addressing Indigo and Sugarcoat, near another section of the track.)

Abacus: You will race in pairs. (pacing; camera pans to follow) Indigo Zap and Sugarcoat will handle the motocross.

Indigo: (pumping a fist) Yes! (She stops before Sunny and Zest.)

Abacus: Lemon Zest and Sunny Flare have requested the short track. (They trade a high five; she continues on to Twilight and Sour.) Since archery is a standard requirement at our school, any of you should be able to do it.

(The ponytailed girl glares at the one with the bun. Close-up of the latter, not even slightly at ease, then cut back to Abacus and the other two pairs on the start of the next line. None of these four look too thrilled at what is about to come down the pipe next.)

Abacus: Twilight and Sour Sweet will start us off. (Sour whips over to stand behind her.)

Sour: (fake sweet tone) Well, that’s just marvelous! (bitterly, under her breath) If you want to lose before we even start!

Abacus: Given that Twilight won the last event singlehandedly, I have every confidence that she will be able to pull her weight here… (leaning to stare Twilight down point-blank) …won’t you?

(The recipient of these words can only stick on a shaky smile and nod while stroking one of the locks of hair hanging down past her ears.)

Act Three

(Wipe to a long overhead shot of the bleachers, now full of lively spectators and split down the middle into two banner-marked sections. A scoreboard has been set up behind the top row, showing double-zero scores for both teams. At ground level, Photo hoists her camera and snaps a few pictures; zoom in past her to the end-field pavilion, under which Celestia, Luna, and Cadence have taken seats on their respective sides. A fourth chair stands empty, but not for long once Abacus steps smoothly into the pavilion and claims it. Cadence stands up, adjusts a microphone placed before her, and addresses the crowd. All of her lines from now until immediately after the relay are amplified by the track’s sound system.)

Cadence: Welcome, everyone, to the Friendship Games Tri-Cross Relay! (Cheers from the crowd.) In this event, our qualifying competitors will face off in archery…

(On the end of this, cut to the hay-bale backstop at the other end and zoom out quickly. Set up in front of it are four moving bullseye targets—a circling one at either end, two going in opposite directions on horizontal tracks in the center. The camera stops on Applejack, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Sour all standing on a platform some distance back from the other obstacles. All four have changed into short loose dresses, tights, boots, and forearm guards that sport their respective symbols; Applejack and Fluttershy have tied their hair back, while Sour’s is done into two small buns high on the back of her head. She and Twilight wear their school colors, with lightning-bolt patches on their outfits, and Sour has added a pair of short gloves. Applejack does not wear her hat, and Twilight’s detector still hangs around her neck.)

(From here, cut to a stretch of the wooden track and tilt up to frame four more girls behind its start/finish line: Pinkie, Rarity, Sunny, and Zest. Close-fitting outfits, elbow/knee pads, gloves, helmets—with pony ears for the two Rainbooms and lightning bolts for their opponents. Sunny and Zest have goggles, full-length sleeves/tights, and no knee pads, and are decked in Crystal Prep colors with lightning bolts down the chest. Zest has shed her headphones to accommodate the helmet and bound her hair in two thick pigtails; Pinkie and Rarity have also tied theirs back into ponytails. A red light on a pole stands at either end of the line.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) …speed skating…

(Cut to a slow pan across the last four girls, all astride idling motorcycles at the top of the entrance ramp to the outermost track. A post with a red light stands at each end. Sunset wears Rarity’s blue-green-topped outfit, Rainbow the yellow/white one; their bikes are painted red/orange and sky-blue, respectively. Each wears dark blue, knee-length boots marked with her symbol, which also appears on her winged purple helmet whose swept-forward design resembles a driving cap. Indigo and Sugarcoat both have purple/blue bikes marked with yellow lightning bolts, as well as purple jumpsuits, boots, and close-fitting starred helmets. All four wear padded gloves, and Indigo and Sugarcoat have belts with gold S-buckles. Indigo and Sugarcoat have removed their usual eyewear in favor of the eye shields built into their helmets.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) …and finally, motocross! (Indigo revs her engine; back to Cadence, raising an air horn.) So, if the competitors are ready…

(As Abacus claps hands to ears, a piercing blast sends Fluttershy and Sour out of a crouch and down the course, with Applejack and Twilight moving quickly to take their places. The two runners charge toward the hay bales, Sour easily vaulting over them and pulling ahead as Fluttershy slides across the tops.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) Each competitor must hit a bullseye before their teammates can start the next leg of the relay.

(During the previous, Sour snatches up one of two full quivers of arrows without breaking stride and climbs up to a platform at the edge of the mud pit. Swinging easily across on the waiting rope, she rolls across the shooting platform on the other side and scoops up a bow that has been placed on it so she can fire off three arrows at once. Fluttershy, meanwhile, has picked up her quiver and barely gained the launch platform on her side. All three of Sour’s arrows hit one of the horizontally moving targets, one nailing it dead center for a bullseye, and it comes to a stop. As the Crystal Prep crowd goes wild, she throws a cocky smirk and cuts her eyes back toward the starting line. Pan quickly back to a wide-eyed Applejack and a positively floored Twilight, who takes a moment to realize that she needs to get moving along the course.)

(At the target range, Fluttershy has made it across the mud pit and taken up the bow waiting for her, but her shaky stance gives away just how foreign this sport is to her. The first arrow she nocks pops off the string and clatters off the edge of her platform; as she reaches into her quiver, Sour glares impatiently back the way they both came, having put her own aside. Here comes Twilight over the first hay bale, only to trip and go face-first into the turf, earning a frustrated growl from her teammate. Fluttershy gets off a shot, but it sticks in the dirt a few feet short of the targets.)

(Now Twilight comes across the rope swing, having collected the second quiver on the Shadowbolts’ side. She loses her balance on the landing and ends up dangling over the mud, one foot caught at the edge and both hands gripping the rope for dear life. Instead of making a move to help her, though, Sour just stands pulling at her cheeks as if to say, “How did I get saddled with this incompetent clown?” She has now set down her bow as well. Across the way, Fluttershy pulls back her bowstring, takes a deep breath, and closes her eyes before letting this arrow fly—scoring a center hit on the other horizontal target. Cheers from the Canterlot High section as it stops; Sour gapes at the unlikely deadeye, who grins and flips a thumbs-up in Applejack’s direction. Pan quickly back to the blonde, who has no trouble clearing the first hay bale in her path. On the Shadowbolt side, Twilight has fumbled her way up to the shooting platform, still with no help from Sour, and begun to reach for the bow that the scornful archer has laid back down. Pan quickly to the Wondercolt platform; Fluttershy has set her team’s bow down and stepped aside, and a quiver-carrying Applejack effortlessly touches down from the rope swing to grab it.)

(With only the circling targets to either side in play, Applejack lines up her first shot and fires: outer ring, earning a bit of applause from Fluttershy. Twilight’s shot is much less sure and thunks into the wooden planks into which her target’s track is cut. Sour snarls through clenched teeth at this botch. Readying her next arrow, Applejack pulls in a deep breath and lets it out slowly; the target trundles around its orbit for a long moment…she draws the string back a hair farther…a little more air hisses out through the lips…and then the fingers release their grip. The missile leaves the bow in slow motion, but normal speed resumes almost instantly as it homes in on the target. In the red for a bullseye; more cheers from the Wondercolt supporters.)

(Cut to the speed skating line. The red light near Pinkie and Rarity goes green, and they zoom off along the track as Sunny and Zest glower impotently after them. This shot picks out a large yellow bow holding Pinkie’s hair back, not previously visible due to the camera angle. As they take the first turn, the camera tilts up to the four officials in their pavilion.)

Cadence: And Canterlot is off to an early lead!

(A second arrow from Twilight hits wood instead of target; her third is no better, and a cut to her feet and tilt up speak eloquently to the full-body jitters that are now plaguing her. Arrow number four sings across the open space and hits just inside the target’s track: a near-perfect shot, except for the fact that the target has already moved on. It breaks the arrow shaft when it comes around again. Sour fumes silently in Twilight’s direction, but the sound of skate wheels on hardwood prompts her to look resignedly toward the passing Pinkie and Rarity. The pink nut squats down and extends one leg ahead of herself just to show off.)

Sour: (shrugging exaggeratedly) Well, that’s just fantastic!

(Twilight looks helplessly over at her. Cut to Applejack and Fluttershy, standing on their shooting platform; the former still holds the team’s bow, and both have put their arrows down.)

Fluttershy: (to Applejack, toying with hair) I’m sure glad I don’t go to Crystal Prep.

Applejack: You said it.

(Behind them, the two skaters glide by to complete a lap, Pinkie now rolling backwards.)

Pinkie: Wheeeeeeee!

(She whirls past the line as Rarity waves to them. Tilt up quickly to the scoreboard, which already shows 01-00 in Canterlot High’s favor; another point is quickly ticked up for the home team. On the start of the next line, cut to an extreme close-up of Twilight’s grimacing face, then to a longer shot of her trying madly to nock a fresh arrow.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) If CPA can’t hit another bullseye soon, they’ll be out of this race!

(It slips from her grasp; she bends to get it and tries again, still getting no shred of support from Sour. Cut to the motocross starting line.)

Sugarcoat: (calling downward) You’re really bad at this!

Applejack: (snarling softly, passing bow to Fluttershy) I can’t take any more!

(She jumps down off the platform and strides across. Cut to a close-up of the hapless violet archer; on the start of the next line, zoom out to frame Applejack stepping up next to her.)

Applejack: You have to stop aimin’ at the target.

Sour: (from o.s., sweetly/sarcastically) Oh, that makes perfect sense! (Cut to frame all three.) Don’t aim at the target. Thanks so much.

Applejack: (to Twilight) You have to stop aimin’ at where the target is and aim at where the target’s gonna be.

Sour: (giving thumbs up, shifting to shrill tone) Yeah! Definitely take advice from the person YOU’RE COMPETING AGAINST!

Applejack: (dryly, to Twilight) Do you want to hit the bullseye or not? (Tiny nod; Applejack smiles.) Then trust me. (She puts her hands on the bow to steady it.) Take a deep breath… (Twilight does so, in and out.) …and let the arrow go…

(Cut to the circling target, then to an extreme close-up of the fingers tightening on the bowstring during the following drawn-out word.)

Applejack: (from o.s.) …riiiiiight…

(The green eyes narrow above the freckles dotting her cheeks in silent, swift calculation, then pop wide.)

Applejack: …now!

(Twilight does so, framed in a head-on shot so that her arrow flies directly toward the camera. Once its point fills the screen, snap to the Crystal Prep crowd and then the Canterlot High crew, every eye and mind focusing through the instant dead silence. Abacus stares over her half-moon glasses—and then the arrow strikes deep into the exact center of the target, which cranks to a stop. Hearty cheers greet this achievement, and the other red light on the speed skating start/finish line goes green to get Sunny and Zest rolling. Spike hoists himself up to the edge of the shooting platform.)

Spike: Yeah! That’s my girl!

(Twilight sets the bow down and kneels to pet him, completely oblivious to the thunderstruck look on Sour’s face or her ever-so-cautious retreat from the platform. Applejack smirks after the departing Shadowbolt, then turns a full smile toward Twilight when the latter straightens up. She raises a hand in preparation for a high five, but is entirely unprepared to get a hug from the bookworm instead. The orange-tan face, however, quickly shifts into a warm smile as she rests an arm across Twilight’s shoulders.)

Applejack: See? I was tellin’ you the truth.

(For the fourth time, a Rainboom becomes suffused with a magical glow—yellow-orange, in this case—and ponies up. Twilight backs away hurriedly, her detector instantly locking in and pulling away from her body on its cord before it opens. Try as she might, she cannot reel the thing in; it begins to vacuum up the energy.)

Applejack: (straining on every word) What—are—you—doing?

Twilight: I-I don’t know!

(The transformation is swiftly undone, and the blond archery ace half-collapses as the magic flows away and her aura diminishes. Twilight slams the detector shut, but while stepping backward, she trips over Spike and goes down hard to the fringe of grass between the archery course and the speed skating track. The detector falls off its cord and goes skittering across the wood, where it reopens and sends out a pink-tinged shockwave in all directions across the field. Tiny spots of light form on the ground and in the air and begin to widen into sparking openings, the tip of a tentacle-like growth emerging from one of them. Twilight gapes in horror at this most unexpected major malfunction.)

(Cut to a long overhead shot of the Tri-Cross Relay course. Pinkie and Rarity still have the lead over Sunny and Zest, but the latter two are beginning to close the gap. In close-up, the two Wondercolts skate frantically on; during the next line, cut to the scoreboard—initially 04-03 for Canterlot High, but quickly ticking up one more point on each side—then to both pairs rolling through a turn.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) Canterlot only has two laps to go, but it looks like Crystal Prep is making up for lost time!

(Sunny and Zest pull ahead, the scoreboard ticking to 05-05, and it is the Shadowbolt side’s turn to raise a ruckus as their counterparts across the center rail yell out their dismay. One of Zest’s skates grazes the dropped detector, knocking it to the edge of the track near the motocross run; as Twilight makes a move toward it, the Shadowbolts finish another lap and the tally goes to 06-07 in their favor. Zest throws a smirking grin back over her shoulder, but here come a grimly determined Pinkie and Rarity. The detector spits another spark, opening a fresh rift as Twilight lunges for it, but an absurdly thick and flexible length of vine snakes across to block her approach. She ducks under its strike just before Canterlot High picks up another point, its seventh. Close-up of Rarity.)

Rarity: (over her shoulder) Come on!

(Longer shot: she has addressed the lagging Pinkie and is extending a leg back toward her. Once the pink fun-lover has seized that ankle with both hands, Rarity whips the leg around in a semicircle to catapult her ahead. The resulting acceleration sends her neatly up between Sunny and Zest to finish another lap: 08-07, and all four coast past the bleachers—the end of the speed skating leg. The disappointment is all too clear on the outpaced Shadowbolts’ faces.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) What a finish!

(Photo rushes up to get a shot of them after they have passed. The four motocross racers rev their engines and watch the red lights on their starting line; as soon as these go green, they hurtle over the edge and drop onto the entrance ramp in a cloud of exhaust. Almost immediately, they charge up one side of a dirt hill and down the other; Rainbow starts to pull away, but the other three close the distance and Indigo buzzes straight toward the camera until her front tire fills the screen to black it out.)

(Snap to Twilight, on her knees and reaching toward her detector. She gets her legs yanked out from under her and thuds down on her belly; zoom out to show that a vine has reached through a gateway and snagged her ankle. A second one ends in a toothy maw similar to a Venus flytrap. She cries out and scrabbles uselessly against the hardwood as the flipped-out flora hauls her inexorably backwards. Now Rainbow catches some serious air as she jumps the water pit.)

Rainbow: AWESOME!!

(Touch down, then straight into the next jump, bringing cheers from both factions. She goes up, Sugarcoat close behind, and hits the dirt landing well before Sunset and Indigo can go airborne. After all four have cleared it, a rift begins to form in the gap—and then another one manifests on the dirt dead ahead of Rainbow, ravenous plant life and all. She flips her cycle down to one side, barely keeping it and herself clear of the surface as she skids under a kink in the vines, and expertly comes back up without missing a beat. None of the four officials can believe either this bit of heavy-duty stunt driving or the arboreal idiocy that led to it.)

(Sunset opens her throttle and begins to close in on Sugarcoat, whose attention is definitely not focused on the track. The draw turns out to be another wild vine, which lunges down so suddenly that Sunset has to duplicate Rainbow’s move; however, she takes it too far and her bike slides out from under her. The Canterlot High supporters gasp in fear and shock, and Indigo finds herself driving straight up along another growth toward the mouth that has chomped down on Sugarcoat’s bike. The pigtailed racer has wound up dangling from the front tire, but Indigo hits the gas and launches herself off the end rather than stop to help her teammate.)

(Her trajectory brings her down in front of Rainbow; as the two zoom through a series of humps, the blue girl looks back and spots Sunset kneeling dazedly alongside her dumped cycle. With a glare that might translate as “to heck with the race,” Rainbow brings herself to a stop through a dirt-chewing U-turn and doubles back to assist. Sunset gets the sense scared back into her when one of Sugarcoat’s wheels bounces off the slope nearby; looking up, she sees the Shadowbolt now hanging on by one set of fingers. The remains of the cycle are within the fanged green maw, which chomps them to pieces and dislodges Sugarcoat’s tenuous grip. She bounces her way down the twisted green weeds, finally dropping into a slide that deposits her on the dirt. As she somehow manages to stand mostly upright, Rainbow rockets past in a multicolored blur. Sunset stares helplessly at the head that rears up and lashes toward her; cut to an extreme close-up of Rainbow’s gloved hand reaching out for a desperate grab, then to Sunset being swept up and carried away an instant before the jaws slam down into the hardpack. She ends up riding behind Rainbow.)

Sunset: (smiling with relief) Dash, you saved me!

Rainbow: I wasn’t about to let my friend become plant food.

(She becomes enveloped in blue light as she says this, just as during the Act One pep rally; wheeling to a stop, she then pulls off her helmet and ponies up, the change lifting her off the track. Abacus stares openmouthed at this twist, then cocks an eyebrow and glares skeptically toward Celestia; the latter gapes at first, but does her best to recover with a dopey “don’t look at me” grin and shrug.)

Rainbow: We can still win this!

(Sunset, still on Rainbow’s bike, gets it in gear and speeds ahead with the half-pony girl following on wings. As Twilight strains to throw off the vine snarled around her ankle, another one creeps out toward her from a different opening; it is promptly beset by Spike, who sinks his teeth into the tip and drags it down to the track. Indigo, meanwhile, keeps right on motoring with no regard for anything but the finish line—at least until she comes down off a ramp and finds a vine head digging into the earth directly in front of her. It pulls loose, leaving a king-size pothole that she falls gracelessly into, and prepares to chow down on a course of Shadowbolt tartare.)

(Here comes Rainbow, her magic glow gone; she pulls up in front of the head menacing Indigo and hurtles past it as a distraction, barely keeping ahead of the striking jaws. Sunset keeps rolling, but her heart is clearly no longer in it even as she takes a jump without any trouble. Once she passes Indigo, the wiped-out gearhead revs up and powers her cycle out of the crater in a spray of dirt to get back in the race. Rainbow sees the two peeling out, as well as the head lancing after them; as they leap a row of tires half-buried in the path, she lays a flying tackle on the crazed plant and slams it to the ground, throwing up a screenful of dust. The view clears to show it embedded deep in a patch of grass, and Rainbow pulling herself up to glare down at it.)

(The race continues, with Sunset and Indigo trading a razor-thin lead—but it is the red/gold-haired rider who breaks the tape at the finish line.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) Canterlot wins!

(Wild cheering from that half of the bleachers, after which the camera pans to the other half filled with incredulous, indignant Shadowbolt supporters. At the pavilion, Abacus is on her feet and trying to bore holes into the course with the sheer ferocity of her glower. Shifting her focus to Cadence causes the dean to quail a bit; zoom in on her as she stands, microphone in hand, and the cheering dies away.)

Cadence: Attention, students! Please proceed to the gym!

(The vines have paid no heed to the end of the race, and the one Spike pinned has now lifted him up and begun to thrash about, trying to fling him loose. Twilight hurls herself over its bulk and rolls across the track to snatch and close the detector; as soon as she does so, the vine disappears as if burning away and Spike drops like a rock. All over the course, the other intruding plant life disintegrates and the rips in reality seal themselves, leaving one very puzzled girl and her dog alone on the grass. Having re-strung the detector around her neck on its cord, Twilight regards it with clear unease and hazards a glance back across the field, teeth sunk so far into her lower lip that she might bite through it at any moment. All of the Rainbooms converge on the speed skating track, with the exception of Rainbow. Applejack’s magic has now completely faded away from Twilight’s accidental draining, and Fluttershy has put away the team’s bow.)

Applejack: Is everybody all right? (Rainbow drops in among them.)

Rainbow: Better than all right! We won! (Sunset removes and discards her helmet.)

Sunset: Yeah, we won, but somebody could’ve been seriously hurt! The magic is going haywire, and I have no idea how to fix it!

Twilight: (from o.s.) Um, excuse me.

(Cut to her and Spike standing a short distance away, the camera aimed at her between Applejack and Rainbow.)

Twilight: I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just wanted to learn about the strange energy coming from your school. I-I didn’t know that it was magic or how it works. (Rainbow crosses to her.)

Rainbow: That’s okay. (Detector fires up.) Neither do we.

Twilight: Oh, no! (It strains toward Rainbow on its cord.) No, no, no! (Rainbow’s aura reappears.) Not again!

(The gizmo pops its top and Hoovers up the mojo, causing Rainbow to groan loudly. Sunset hurries over to keep her from completely crumpling to the ground as her pony features vanish.)

Twilight: I’m sorry! It just started absorbing energy on its own! (trying to close it) But I’m not sure how!

Sunset: What do you mean, you don’t know how?

(This time, all four hands are not enough to shut the thing down; the accumulated magic at its center shoots off a spark, which creates a rent overhead that widens to show a star-filled night sky and crescent moon over Equestria. As all seven girls—Rainbow’s aura now gone—and the talking dog stare in complete shock, Abacus steps out from the pavilion and presses herself against one of its supports so that she can covertly watch these goings-on.)

Twilight: It also causes these corresponding rifts to appear! (Cut to her and Sunset.) I don’t know how that works, either!

Sunset: (really fed up) Is there anything you do know? Like how to get our magic back, or how to fix the portal to Equestria?

Twilight: (hopelessly confused) Equestria?

Sunset: You’re supposed to be so smart. But did you ever think that you shouldn’t be messing around with things you don’t understand?

(She slams the detector shut on the end of this line, causing the rift to shrink and vanish.)

Twilight: But I want to understand!

Sunset: But you don’t! And worst of all, you’ve put the lives of my friends in danger!

Twilight: (voice breaking) I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to… (She runs off in tears, Spike following.)

Spike: Twilight! Wait!

(A visibly worn-out Rainbow rests a hand on the shoulder of the unicorn-turned-teenager, snapping her out of her rage so that she claps a hand to her face in disgust and regret for her harsh words. Cut to Abacus, whose lips curve up into a cruel little smile that disappears in an instant to the sound of the o.s. Celestia’s throat-clearing. Zoom out to frame her, Luna, and Cadence standing behind her.)

Abacus: You can’t possibly call that a fair race!

Celestia: Principal Cinch, we all saw what happened. You can’t think CHS had some kind of advantage.

Abacus: Can’t I? Even without your trained attack plants, your students have wings!

Celestia: Well, the race certainly had some…extenuating circumstances. Perhaps we should end the Games now and declare a tie.

Abacus: A tie? Was this your strategy all along? (The Rainbooms cross to the officials.) To force us into accepting you as equals? I think not! The Games will continue and Crystal Prep will prevail despite your antics and whatever performance-enhancing regimen your students are on!

(She walks off, still ramrod-straight despite this outburst; only after she has gone does Sunset address Celestia, stepping over to her.)

Sunset: I’m sorry I couldn’t stop all this from happening.

Celestia: (gently) It’s not your fault, Sunset.

Sunset: Isn’t it? I should know how to control the magic I brought here, but I don’t. I let everyone down. (bitterly) And now Principal Cinch thinks we’re cheating.

Celestia: (hand to Sunset’s shoulder) It doesn’t matter what Principal Cinch thinks. (Sunset pulls back.)

Sunset: But it does. The students here at CHS don’t just want to win, they want to beat Crystal Prep. It isn’t gonna count if the other side doesn’t really think they lost. Crystal Prep is never gonna believe we won fair and square if there’s magic around— (softly) —and that magic is only around because of me.

(She stands with downcast eyes and spirits sunk into her boots as the view fades to black.)

(Fade in to a close-up of the Wondercolt statue, seen from the side nearest the curb. Behind it, two sets of banner-marked bleachers have been set up facing each other across the central courtyard: Canterlot High on the left, Crystal Prep on the right. The sky has gone a foreboding dark gray with a sudden pall of clouds, and cheers and whistles ring out across the space from the packed house. Cut to the Rainbooms, all back in their civilian clothes and hairstyles—including Applejack’s hat—and gathered on the Wondercolts’ side. Of the six, Rainbow is the only one fired up as the camera pans slowly across them. The next four lines are amplified by the sound system.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) Since the score is tied—

(To the Shadowbolts, in their uniforms and usual accessories; Sour and Zest have resumed their original hairstyles.)

Cadence: (from o.s.) —the final event will determine the winner of the Friendship Games.

(Extreme close-up of two pennants being held aloft, one for each team. On the start of the next line, they are lowered and the camera tilts down to show them in Luna’s grip. She has taken over at the microphone.)

Luna: Somewhere on campus, a pennant from each school has been hidden. The first team to find their school’s flag and bring it back wins. (She backs off to make room for Cadence.)

Cadence: And as soon as our teams are ready, we’ll begin. (Cut to the dispirited trio of Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie.)

Fluttershy: But I don’t feel like playing these Games anymore. (Close-up of Rainbow.)

Rainbow: Well, we have to play! This is the last event! (Zoom out; she is flanked by Rarity and Sunset.)

Rarity: (sighing) It’s a little hard to focus with all the magic-stealing and portal-opening.

Sunset: And I feel awful about what I said to Twilight.

Fluttershy: Especially since she obviously didn’t mean to do all the stuff she did. She’s actually really nice.

(Another stab of remorse goes through the mind under the tumble of red/yellow hair, and she covers her face with her hands as Fluttershy finds herself on the wrong end of searching looks from the other four girls. The wordless scrutiny is enough to make the animal lover hunch into herself and sidestep away ever so slightly.)

Applejack: (crossing to Sunset) Let’s just get through this last event and prove we’re not a bunch of cheaters. (hand to shoulder) Then you can go over and apologize.

(That suggestion brings up a grateful smile. Across the way, very nearly the full complement of Shadowbolts has gathered to listen to what Abacus has to say—but Twilight’s attention is focused on Spike, hiding in the bushes at the back wall.)

Abacus: I know I’m asking you to beat a team that isn’t playing fair, but Canterlot High must be made to understand that even with magic at their disposal, beating Crystal Prep is simply not an option.

(During this line, Twilight waves discreetly but frantically back toward the bushes and the camera cuts briefly to the pooch as he retreats from sight altogether.)

Sugarcoat: What if they grow wings again?

Abacus: (passing her, approaching Twilight) A fair question, though I believe we can now fight fire with fire.

(The purple eyes behind the thick lenses flick up worriedly.)

Abacus: I’ve seen what your device can do, Twilight. Containing magical energy is fine, but have you considered releasing it?

Twilight: But I don’t even understand how it works! (The other students fall in behind Abacus.)

Abacus: But you’d like to. And since our opponents have already used it to stay competitive, I see no reason why we shouldn’t do the same— (pointedly) —unless, of course, you have no interest in Everton? Though honestly, I think there’s more knowledge packed in that little device than any independent study program could offer.

(On this last sentence, the camera cuts to a most apprehensive Twilight and zooms in slowly as she clutches the detector.)

Quiet, sinister harpsichord melody with low woodwinds, stoptime, moderate 4 (B flat minor)

(Abacus paces slowly and deliberately—toward Twilight, circling, back to the rest of the team.)

Abacus: I realize that you’ve always been an outcast

It’s not everyone at school who likes to think

To find a student that’s like you, I’ve had one or maybe two

But the good ones disappear before I blink

Stoptime ends; light percussion, strings in

(She snaps her fingers on her last word; now the others advance a step.)

Shadowbolts: Oh-h-ah, oh-ah, oh-h, oh-h-ah, oh-ah

Percussion out

Abacus: Now I understand you have your reservations [oh-h]

It’s hard to have a brain as large as yours [ah-h]

(Twilight nudges her glasses back when they slide down her nose; now Abacus leans into her face and lifts her chin with one finger.)

But if we don’t win these Games, well, I think I’ve made it plain [ah-h]

What will happen if we have the losing scores [oh-h]

Light percussion, muted trumpet in

Shadowbolts: Oh-h-ah, oh-ah, oh-h, oh-h-ah, oh-ah

Trumpet out; higher woodwinds in

(The others begin to circle slowly around Twilight, leaning in toward her with hands clasped behind backs.)

Shadowbolts: Unleash the magic, unleash the magic

If we lose, then you’re to blame [ah-h]

(In close-up, Sunny gestures toward the Canterlot High crowd; Zest moves up next to her, and the camera zooms out as all five girls form one hard-eyed line. The background fades to purple behind them.)

They all have used it, maybe abused it [oh-h]

So then why can’t we do the same?

Muted trumpet in; harpsichord out

Shadowbolts: Oh-h-ah, oh-ah, oh-h, oh-h-ah, oh-ah

Stoptime; trumpet out

(The display on Twilight’s detector strobes briefly as Abacus appears in a spotlight behind her and leans over to stare her down and put a fingertip on the case.)

Abacus: Call it power, call it magic, if we lose, it will be

tragic

Shadowbolts: (whispered, under previous) [Power…magic…tragic]

Abacus: More important is the knowledge we’ll have lost

[Ah-h]

Stoptime ends; harpsichord in

A chance like this won’t come again, you’ll regret

not giving in

Isn’t understanding magic worth the cost?

Muted trumpet in

Shadowbolts: Oh-h-ah, oh-ah, oh-h, oh-h-ah, oh-ah

Trumpet out

(The other five girls form a semicircle around Twilight and slowly back her up toward the impassive principal.)

Shadowbolts: Unleash the magic, unleash the magic

We’re not friends here, after all

Our only interest in this business [ah-h]

(Zoom in slowly past them; the Wondercolt statue appears in the purple blankness and crumbles to dust.)

Is seeing Canterlot High School fall

Muted trumpet in

Shadowbolts: Oh-h-ah, oh-ah, oh-h, oh-h-ah, oh-ah

Half-time feel; percussion strengthens; trumpet/harpsichord out, low brass in

Sustained background vocalizations under Abacus’s next lines

(The haze clears to give a close-up of Twilight. Abacus’s hands reach out from behind her, landing on both shoulders, and the pale patrician face leans out into view.)

Abacus: What I’m suggesting’s very simple

And since it’s win-win on all scores

(She touches the device again; Twilight cringes away and shields it in her hands.)

You only want to learn about the

Magic that you have stored

(Abacus guides her past the others.)

And as for me and all the others

We only want what we deserve

(Extreme close-up of Abacus’s narrowed eyes; now she shoves Twilight ahead.)

That our school will clinch the win

And my legacy will endure
Shadowbolts: (under previous) [Legacy will endure]

Percussion strengthens again; electric guitar, bass in

(The courtyard fades into view behind them; after an internal struggle, Twilight starts to walk ahead and Spike darts out from the bushes.)

Shadowbolts: Unleash the magic, unleash the magic

If we lose, then it’s a crime

But we can win it if you begin it [ah-h]

(On the Canterlot High side, Sunset pivots to follow Fluttershy’s pointing finger.)

It’s up to you to not fail this time

(Twilight pulls the detector’s cord up and off her neck.)

Male Shadowbolts: Unleash the magic, free the magic now

(Spike’s mouth falls open in disbelief once he gets to a clear patch of ground.)

Female Shadowbolts: Unleash the magic, free the magic now

Previous two lines are repeated under each of Twilight’s next three lines

(The unit is slowly raised.)

Twilight: Imagine all I’ll learn by setting it free

Luna: (at microphone, amplified) If both teams are ready…

(One violet finger touches the center window as Sunset stares aghast and Spike slaloms through the Shadowbolts’ legs. A breeze begins to blow through the courtyard, toying with hair.)

Twilight: And now winning these Games depends on me

D flat minor, modulating to A flat major

(The device’s reflection appears briefly in her lenses, and her pupils flash pale violet for a split second.)

And what doors might open if I try to use it?

Cadence: (at microphone, amplified, raising hand) …the last event of the Friendship Games begins…

(Fierce cheering from both sides.)

Twilight: But the magic’s what I really want to see

(The last “now” is left off the female Shadowbolts’ line sung under this one. As Twilight slowly opens the detector, a horrified Sunset gets her feet moving and Abacus shows just a sliver of teeth between grimly smiling lips. The action shifts to slow motion for just an instant of Sunset’s last-ditch leap toward her opposite number.)

Female Shadowbolts: Unleash the magic, free the magic…

Spike: (rushing out) Twilight, no!

(He hurls himself into a dive toward her, the action again shifting to slow motion for a split second before the camera cuts to Luna and Cadence. The latter’s hand drops.)

Luna, Cadence: (amplified) …NOW!

Song ends abruptly (“now” is delivered in time to complete the final line)

(Once Twilight has the case fully open, the ball of magic inside goes pure white, throwing rays everywhere. It contracts to a point before sending out a blinding shock wave that momentarily whites out the screen. When the view clears, her glasses have been blown off, her hair is loose, and everyone else who had been standing up is on the ground amid clouds of dust; two rings of pink energy slam into the dirt and disappear, centered around Twilight. A front in this same color materializes and contracts into the detector. As both groups stare bug-eyed, faces and tongues completely locked up, the paranormal investigator-in-training finds herself being steadily, inexorably lifted off the grass. The detector drops from nerveless fingers and clinks on the concrete, now only an inert chunk of electronics, but the magic it had contained continues to rise with Twilight. It begins to expand, crackles of yellow-orange playing across the pink/purple-tinged white surface, as the entire courtyard is bathed in its unearthly glow. Abacus rises to her feet, but can only manage a couple of terrified steps back toward her now-upright students as Twilight trains two freaked-out purple eyes on her. Spike manages a gasp as his owner’s arms disappear into the brightness, but there is not a sound from the other twelve throats—five Shadowbolts, one principal, and six Rainbooms, now also standing.)

Twilight: (straining) Heeelllp…meee!

(She manages to yank one arm free and reach blindly toward any shred of aid, but none is forthcoming and she utters a tormented cry as the expanding radiance consumes her. Only her hazy silhouette can be seen for a moment before the view fades to white.)

(Snap to a long shot of the courtyard, with both groups staring up at the bookworm as she floats helplessly within the ball of multicolored magic. It flickers black, then shifts into a black-edged white sphere that explodes with another screen-blanking flash; against this, Twilight’s image fades into view, seen in full color and with eyes blazing white. A point of pink light ignites in the center of her forehead, quickly spreading to encompass her entire form and touching off a radical transformation. Her skin has gone a darker violet than before, and long, winged, deep pink boots with large holes and pale green feet materialize on her legs, starting from the ankles up. A long purple dress train burns into view behind them; next an elbow-length, fingerless, ragged-edged glove forms on one arm in extreme close-up and two black-edged, deep purple wings unfurl, each with a single pinstripe of pale-glowing green. The next shot is an extreme close-up of Twilight’s face, eyes closed under lowered brows, hair blown upwards with the deep-pink and purple streaks set against black instead of dark blue, mouth set in an unnerving little smile. That spot of light still burns on her forehead, and it extends to form a long, jagged, translucent, pale-green-glowing horn that tapers to a cruelly sharp point. A zoom out frames an eight-pointed pink star on a purple ribbon around her neck, as well as the upper edge of a strapless pink/purple dress. Another such zoom as she opens her eyes and spreads her wings to full extension, and the entire garment is revealed as the surrounding luminescence dies away: two shades of purple with pink accents; knee-length, star-marked skirt in front; lighter pink waistline that matches the jewel accents on the boots’ insteps; gloves on both forearms; hair clip gone; eyes shrunken to pale violet points within glowing blue-green whites and ringed by matching auras, a slightly different hue from her horn and boots’ feet, that call to mind her lost glasses. The sight of her is enough to start Abacus backing ever so slowly away through her other prize pupils.)

(Cut to Spike, who hunches down with a very scared little whimper as this new being’s crazed laughter drifts down from overhead, then to Twilight. A wild, unhinged confidence surges through her voice now.)

Twilight: You were right! I didn’t understand magic before—but I do now!

(Channeling power through her horn, she extends a palm toward the Wondercolt statue and hits it with a wide-angle beam that blows it to powder. The Rainbooms shield their faces against the shower of debris and look up to find that there is nothing left except the base and the two hooves rooted onto it. Cut to this; in the space where the stallion had so proudly reared up, a gash opens to expose Ponyville’s town hall beyond.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) Equestria!

(At a flick from Twilight’s eyes, a glowing crack forms in the sidewalk near the base and starts to zigzag its way along the surface. Twilight warms up a hand as it makes its way toward the Rainbooms, and the blast she uncorks gives them almost no time to break for cover. It forms a pathway that gives onto an overhead view of the village of Rainbow Falls. As the stands empty and screaming students flee, Twilight throws shots at several cracks that have formed above them. The first one she hits becomes a jump to the hot-tub room in the Ponyville Spa; the second, to Sweet Apple Acres. Two more open on their own, creating passages to Cloudsdale and a stretch of train tracks in a desert. Twilight just grins madly as another spark hits the air over a few classmates’ heads, creating a route to somewhere outside Ponyville proper. As Canterlot High students flee from a pair of portals, one to a snow-capped mountain range and the other to Manehattan, Abacus takes advantage of the major-league distraction to start edging quietly away. However, she does not escape Sunny’s attention.)

Sunny: Hey! (Abacus stops short.) Where are you going?

Abacus: Anywhere to avoid that…monster! And I suggest you do the same!

(She peels out. Two scared red-violet eyes turn up toward the source of all this devastation, then toward Sour, Sugarcoat, and Zest standing nearby. Cut to Twilight.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) Twilight! (Cut to just behind Twilight’s shoulder, framing her below.) You can’t do this!

Twilight: Why not? There’s a whole other world right there— (charging up) —and it’s just filled with magic!

(This beam hits a rift at the front entrance, Celestia ducks inside, Luna sidesteps, and Cadence dives for cover just ahead of the hit, which opens a way to a Ponyville street. Zoom out quickly to put Sunset in the fore.)

Sunset: But you’re destroying this world to get it!

Twilight: So what? There’s more magic there. (backing away, charging up) And I want to understand it all!

(Now both hands come into play, punching a beam into the sidewalk as Sunset hurls herself clear. A broad swath of concrete goes purple and fractures, and the centermost pieces go flying to expose a patch of sky beneath. As students run for their lives, the fragments around the edge collapse into the new hole. Sunset slides across the grass, fetching up next to the silent detector off its cord, and gets a hand to it. Meanwhile, the ground beneath the feet of a Canterlot High student at the edge gives way; she starts to fall through, but Applejack is there in a twinkling to grab one wrist and start pulling her up.)

Applejack: (grunting) Don’t let go!

(As she reels the teen back up to solid ground, Pinkie does the same for a Crystal Prep student. Sugarcoat has a prime viewing spot to watch Fluttershy nearly take a tumble; her glances toward Indigo and Zest, then Sour and Sunny, trigger a determined five-way nod and get all ten feet into gear. At the scene, Rainbow is hauling in one of her classmates. Rarity strains to hoist both Fleur and a Canterlot High student, but their combined weight drags her over the precipice. She gets one hand hooked on with a cry of panic, using her other to support the two.)

Rainbow: Hang on!

Rarity: (very snarky) Obviously!

(The well-manicured fingertips slide slowly to the lip, the camera cutting to an extreme close-up as they finally give way. Two hands—one light reddish-pink, one pale cream-colored with a blue/gray lightning-bolt wristband—snap down to snatch hold. Zoom out to frame Indigo and Zest on the job.)

Indigo: We’ve got you!

(Ground level. Zoom out from these two rescues to put Sunset in the fore. The detector in her hands comes to life and homes in on a signal. As her eyes narrow in determination, the camera pans quickly to Sour giving Pinkie a helping hand and Sunny pulling Fluttershy back from the brink. The yellow girl begins to glow with the same magic power that was stolen from her during Act Two; another pulse from the rig, and Sunset turns to point it at Rarity, whose blue-violet aura reasserts itself as Indigo sees to her. Pan quickly to Applejack and Sugarcoat, both comforting the student Applejack caught; the former starts to glow yellow-orange. Cut to an extreme close-up of the detector in Sunset’s hand, the screen quickly tiling itself with five panels that each show one of the other Rainbooms with their old magic coming back. Left to right: Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy holding Spike, Applejack. The camera then cuts back to Sunset, whose eyes widen at the sight of this restoration; after a moment, she snaps back to herself, glares at the detector, and whirls to face Twilight.)

Sunset: This isn’t the way! (Cut to Twilight; she continues o.s.) I know you feel powerful right now— (Back to her.) —like you can have everything you want! I’ve been where you are! I’ve made the same mistake you’re making! I put on a crown, and just like you, I was overwhelmed by the magic it contained! (To Twilight; recoiling slightly; she continues o.s.) I thought it could get me everything I wanted!

Twilight: (smirking) Oh, you’re wrong. Unlike you, I can have everything I want! (Back to Sunset.)

Sunset: No, you can’t! Even with all that magic and power, you’ll still be alone! (holding up detector) True magic comes from honesty! Loyalty! Laughter! Generosity! Kindness!

(As she mentions each Element of Harmony, the camera cuts to the girl embodying it, her hair being blown straight up from her head and a rivulet of magic shooting skyward from it. Applejack’s hat falls off in the process. After Fluttershy, the camera cuts to a long shot of the entire gathering; the five streams retract into the five heads, then redirect themselves into the now-open detector and slowly pull Sunset off the concrete.)

Sunset: I understand you, Twilight, and I want to show you the most important magic of all!

(Cut to an extreme close-up of the gadget on the end of this. She snaps it shut, cutting off the flows, and hurls it down. It shatters below her feet, releasing an explosion of pure white light that blanks out the screen and clears to show the same dust clouds and two rings of pink energy that marked the first stage of Twilight’s metamorphosis. They slam to the ground and the same ball of light grows to envelop her—but unlike her counterpart, Sunset puts up no struggle against the encroaching glow and simply lets it take her. In a parallel to Twilight’s change, she acquires winged, gold-colored high-heeled shoes marked with her red/yellow sunburst and flame-like projections that extend up the shin from the instep. A long white dress train materializes behind them. A short, white fingerless glove appears on a hand, a sun-marked bracelet on an upper arm, and a point of burning yellow light flares up in the center of her forehead in extreme close-up. Zoom out as it elongates into a long, straight horn. Her hair is blowing up from her head, and there are red markings around her eyes to resemble a domino mask. The dress is strapless, in shades of white, light yellow, and pink, and the skirt is knee-length in front. She wears a white choker set with a sunburst, gloves and bracelets on both arms, and two immense wings of golden light stand out from her back.)

Sunset: The magic of friendship!

(Now Twilight’s face registers genuine fear. Cut to a three-way split screen that frames a smiling Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie; their magic has faded out, Applejack has her hat on, and Fluttershy has put Spike down. A two-way split captures Rainbow and Rarity similarly, after which the camera cuts to a slow pan across the physically and spatially shredded courtyard and the two teens floating above it. In close-up, Sunset crosses her wrists in front of her chest and focuses herself; un-crossing them, she fires beams that seal one rift after another without leaving a trace.)

(Voicing a short groan of frustration at seeing her handiwork undone so easily, Twilight swoops down toward Sunset and gathers power in one hand. The other flyer charges herself up and starts onto a collision course; when the two amped-up hands touch, the sky flashes white and all the onlookers shield their eyes from the intensity. The two back away from each other; now each goes for a two-handed blast and the beams cancel each other out midway between them. Sunset pushes her energy toward Twilight, who shoves back just as hard and laughs crazily as the backwash comes perilously close to making contact with the yellow-orange face. Students from both schools stare in mingled fear and awe at the cataclysmic showdown raging above their heads—and then Spike, who has climbed back into Fluttershy’s arms, jumps to the sidewalk.)

Spike: Twilight!

(His call shakes her out of her insane reverie. Cut briefly to her slightly hazy perspective of him, zooming in slowly as he stares up with big, wide, terrified green eyes, then back to her. A blink returns her constricted pupils/irises and glowing whites to their normal appearance.)

Twilight: (softly, normal voice) Spike?

(The distraction gives Sunset the perfect opportunity to bulldoze her beam toward Twilight, widening it at the same time. As it surges into the violet girl’s face, she blinks her eyes back into their transformed state, but it does not a lick of good.)

Twilight: NOOOOOOOOO!!

(The glare washes out all of her color before the view fades to white. Fade in to a full-color close-up of her, miserably huddled into herself within the formless, trackless void. She straightens up and risks a look behind herself, opening her eyes to show them back to normal. Cut to a longer shot, framing Sunset hovering in this space as well. The latter floats slowly toward the former, extending a hand.)

Sunset: (echoing) Take my hand, Twilight. Let me show you there’s another way—just like someone once did for me.

(Twilight cowers away from the proffered fingers and squinches her whole face up in a silent internal war, which ends when she reaches across the space with tears filling her eyes. Cut to an extreme close-up of the two hands clasping each other; a wisp of yellow energy appears and snakes back along Twilight’s arm, making its way to shoulder and hair. Twilight closes her eyes with a tremulous smile, a tear drifting away on the wind, and the view fades to white.)

(Fade in to the courtyard. The broad pillar of light begins to shrink and dim, exposing the silhouettes of the two girls within as they slowly descend to the sidewalk. When it winks out, all of the rifts Twilight created—including the one she blew open in the walk—have been closed and she and Sunset stand side by side, holding hands and back to normal, if rather disheveled. Her hair having come loose from its bun, she removes her hand once she is sure that both of them are still alive and human. Applejack has her hat back on.)

Twilight: I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. (She looks away, closing her wet eyes.)

Sunset: I know. (smiling) And going by my own experiences, they’ll forgive you.

(The two yellow-orange hands close gently on the neckline of Twilight’s vest, bringing the purple-eyed face up and around in a weak smile. A bark from the o.s. Spike spooks Sunset into backing off, and he jumps up toward Twilight with her glasses clamped in his mouth. The impact of dog against teen sends both to the grass, and she laughs gently over his antics. Pan quickly away from these two to one end of the Crystal Prep bleachers; Abacus steps into view from behind, takes a cautious look around the area, and rounds the corner with a sudden burst of indignation. Out come Celestia, Luna, and Cadence from the front entrance, only for the opposing principal to cut them off.)

Abacus: Principal Celestia! On behalf of Crystal Prep, I demand that you forfeit the Friendship Games! (Luna and Cadence back Celestia up.) Clearly CHS has had unfair advantage for quite some time, and it’s certainly obvious that your students have been using magic for their own benefit!

Celestia: (smirking) I’d like to think that saving the world benefits us all. (Cut to Sugarcoat and zoom in slowly.)

Sugarcoat: At least they didn’t manipulate Twilight into releasing all the stolen magic and turning into a power-crazed magical creature that tried to rip the world apart just to win a game.

(Cut to a longer shot that frames all parties involved. There is a long, tense silence.)

Pinkie: Wow. That’s a lot to take in when you say it all at once.

Abacus: That’s ridiculous! (Close-up of Spike, held by Twilight. She has her glasses back on.)

Spike: Nope. That’s pretty much what happened.

(Zoom out quickly on the end of this to put Abacus in the fore. Her reaction to hearing this dog talk is very similar to that of a person who has just shoved a fork into an electrical outlet.)

Sour: Actually, we’re all to blame.

(Spoken without a trace of false sweetness and plenty of real contrition.)

Sour: (viciously) Mostly it was her!

(“Her” being Abacus, who rounds on Celestia with newfound fury.)

Abacus: Obviously my students have been infected with your magic! But I plan on taking all of this up with the school board! (Cut to Celestia.)

Celestia: Good. I’m sure they would be very interested in hearing all about the magical students with wings. (Pan to frame Luna stepping up next to her.)

Luna: Oh, and the portals to different dimensions. (To Cadence, doing likewise.)

Cadence: And don’t forget to tell them about the talking dog.

(Each woman infuses her line with a healthy dose of mockery, cocked eyebrows, and/or condescending smiles. Cadence ends hers with a light giggle, but a cut to Abacus shows that she has clamped her teeth so tightly in frustration that they might shatter at any instant. On the start of the next line, cut to Twilight, Sunset, and Spike, all of whom aim their A-game smirks at her.)

Spike: (very snarky) Because that would never ruin your reputation.

(Abacus glances uncertainly around herself, but finds only dirty looks and “gotcha” smiles coming back from the top Wondercolts and Shadowbolts alike—and, mixed in with them, a dazzling white grin from Pinkie. Realizing at last that this is an unwinnable battle, she trembles in place from supreme frustration, as if ready to take a swing at anyone who might even look at her funny. Instead of doing anything stupid, though, she draws herself up, tugs at the hem of her blazer to straighten out any invisible wrinkles, and walks off toward the curb.)

Celestia: (stepping toward others; cut to behind her, panning across the group) Well, I know these Friendship Games haven’t been what any of us expected, but given what we’ve all just been through— (Close-up.) —I think it’s fair to declare us all winners.

(Cut to just above ground level. Hands and fists shoot toward the gloomy gray sky as cheers float up and Applejack’s hat is tossed after them. Fade to white.)

(Fade in to the front entrance, now illuminated by sunlight that suggests a clearing of the overcast sky. Bon Bon, Lyra, and Micro stroll away talking, and the focus shifts from them to the background as they move o.s. DJ P0N-3 and Zest talk off to one side, Cadence is speaking with Sour and Upper, and Twilight sits on the steps with Spike in her lap, having put her hair back in order. Each student who took part in the Games has a medal around his/her neck. In close-up, Twilight and Spike trade a smile and she pets him.)

Cadence: (crossing to them) I guess that was one way to finish up your time at Crystal Prep. (sitting) Pretty sure Cinch will be fast-tracking your application after all of that. (Close-up of girl and dog.)

Twilight: I’ve been thinking about it, and— (Zoom out to frame all three.) —I’m not so sure now is the time for me to apply to Everton.

Cadence: Really?

Twilight: I may know about a lot of things, but friendship isn’t really one of them. And I’m definitely not gonna learn more about it by being alone all the time.

Cadence: So…you’re staying at Crystal Prep?

(Long shot of the area, framing two girls greeting a third in the fore.)

Twilight: Well, it seems the students here at CHS know an awful lot about the subject. (They move off; back to her and Cadence.) I don’t suppose…?

Cadence: (catching on) You could transfer to this school instead.

Twilight: Really?

Cadence: You’d certainly be missed at Crystal Prep, but— (arms around Twilight’s shoulders) —I think that’s a great idea. I’ll be sure to speak to Principal Celestia about it right away.

(Cut to the base of the destroyed statue and zoom in on the Rainbooms, all with medals of their own. Fluttershy pets Angel; Applejack and Rarity are talking, as are Pinkie and Rainbow, and Sunset leans against the base to look up at the sky, holding her journal to her chest. She has fixed her hair, and Applejack has her hat back on. A close-up of the girl in the leather jacket clearly picks out the satisfied smile on her face as Fluttershy turns to her.)

Fluttershy: Still no word from Princess Twilight? (Sunset opens the book and checks a page.)

Sunset: Not yet. (smiling, closing it) But I think I may have figured out how magic works in this world.

(Cut to a slow pan across Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Rarity.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) We pony up when we’re showing the truest part of ourselves. (Back to her and Fluttershy.) I was so busy waiting for someone else to give me the answers— (Close-up of the cover; she runs a hand over it and continues o.s.) —that I gave up looking for them myself. (To her again.) I’m sure there will be more magical problems that pop up in this world, but like Applejack said, Princess Twilight has her own problems to worry about in Equestria. We can’t expect her to always be around to help us.

Twilight: (from o.s.) But—

(Cut to her, stepping up with Spike in arms and Celestia’s hand on her shoulder. The principal has a clipboard in her free hand.)

Twilight: —maybe I can be?

Celestia: It seems we have a new Wondercolt here at Canterlot High.

Twilight: I’m not sure how much help I could be, but I’d like to try—if you would all give me a chance.

(Cut to a slow pan across the Rainbooms, all of whom trade smiles at varying levels of excitement, then to Celestia. The setting sun is now visible over the hills in the distance.)

Celestia: I’m sure I can count on you girls to help her feel at home.

Sunset: (throwing arm around Twilight’s shoulders) You sure can.

(All six girls gather around the new arrival and her pet as the camera zooms out slowly, Sunset winking and Pinkie cranking off a squeaky grin. Cut to a longer shot of the gathering and zoom in on the hills; as the sun sinks slowly from view, a gleam of red-orange light traces its way along the land contours and the rest of the view fades to black. The streak shapes itself into a pair of wings, then a glowing star, and a second, smaller purple one flares into existence near it—one transplant welcoming another into this strange new world. Fade to black.)

(The main title forms on the screen from the center out, and the color and elements disappear as the camera zooms in quickly through the outline of the M in GAMES. The screen is left black again, but snaps to the base of the statue during the following day. Pinkie lies on top of it, a juice box within easy reach, and the rest of the gang—including Twilight—has spread out a picnic blanket in front. Twilight watches Fluttershy pet Spike; Applejack drinks a glass of juice; Rarity is working on Rainbow’s hair; Sunset eats a sandwich. None of them are wearing their medals. A picnic basket and other juice boxes are arrayed around the girls on the ground. Applejack and Pinkie watch a couple of butterflies flit past, after which the side of the base ripples with energy—the portal has finally been reactivated after Twilight sealed it—and Princess Twilight emerges, sliding to a quick stop and in a tizzy. Unlike her two previous trips to this side, she manages to stay on her feet this time. Close-up of her.)

Princess Twilight: I’m so sorry I didn’t get here sooner! I didn’t get your messages until just now because I was caught in this time travel loop and honestly, it was the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me!

(Finally stopping for breath, she looks straight ahead of herself and lets her eyes bug out so far that they might be in danger of entering low earth orbit. Cut to frame the entire gathering; Sunset is now standing, as is Twilight, and the two violet girls goggle at each other from opposite edges of the picnic blanket. The one native to this world manages a tentative grin and wave as Pinkie sucks noisily on her juice box. After a couple of incredulous blinks, the one who was born a quadruped works her face into a weak grin.)

Princess Twilight: Make that the second strangest.

[Note: The time travel loop to which she is referring takes place in the Season 5 finale episode “The Cutie Re-Mark.” Due to a lengthy break in the middle of the season, this film premiered nearly two months before the episode did.]

CLOSING CREDITS

Lively rock groove with electric guitar/synth/drums, fast 4 (D major)

Synth drops out and all other parts drop back at start of first verse

(The credits are interspersed with photographs that slide onto the screen. Up first is a series of shots taken during the pep rally, with the vast majority of students in them wearing Wondercolt ears. The Crusaders whoop it up…Snips and Snails get funky…two pictures show different groups of student goofing around in their own ways…Flash sticks his tongue out, Micro checks his phone, Sandalwood gives a thumbs-up…Luna sings and dances onstage as Celestia throws her an embarrassed smile.)

Twilight: I spent so much time searching, looking for something more

Digging holes too deep and opening every door

Synth in; other parts come back up somewhat

And when you stand too close, yeah, the picture’s never clear

And when you look too far away, it all but disappears

Full intensity

Half-time feel for every line except the third

(The photos continue. The seven band members who played accompaniment for Rainbow at the rally smile for the camera…in the library, Snips puts finger to lips as Snails gets ready to pop an inflated paper bag over the heads of Bon Bon and Lyra, asleep at a study table…a techie takes a “selfie” photo with an annoyed Cranky Doodle and three waving students in the background.)

Rainbooms, Twilight: And it was right [right] there in front of me [oh-h, oh-h]

Just too close for me to see [oh-h, oh-h]

Sometimes the things you want are not the things you need

And it was right there in front of me

Half-time ends

Guitar drops out and drums/synth drop back at start of next verse

(In a hallway, Bon Bon holds her phone up for a selfie that includes Derpy, Lyra, and Micro…the entire Canterlot High team stands on the school’s front steps, flanked by Celestia and Luna; Applejack is asleep on her feet, while Bon Bon makes a goofy face…a similar shot for the Crystal Prep team on their steps, with Twilight’s face showing the only smile…Luna and Cadence laugh themselves silly as they stand outside one of the Crystal Prep buses and Sour and Sunny stare in disbelief from a few yards back…in the Canterlot High practice room, Pinkie and Rainbow stand back to back, wearing the cowgirl and police outfits Rarity designed; Rainbow twirls her nightstick.)

Sunset: There was a time before, I didn’t know where I belonged

I thought I needed more and that I couldn’t get along

Sunset, Twilight: But who I am was all I ever needed

And when I faced that test, I finally succeeded

Full intensity

Half-time feel for every line except the third

(Fluttershy and Sunset smirk at one another, fully suited up in hockey-goalie and welding gear, respectively…during the pre-Games party, Featherweight glances fearfully over his shoulder toward the camera as several Crystal Prep students stand across the gym…Upper and Trenderhoof do not quite know what to make of Pinkie’s party alterations and the instant camaraderie they have touched off…Zest gets down on the dance floor with a classmate.)

Rainbooms, Twilight: And it was right [right] there in front of me [oh-h, oh-h]

Just too close for me to see [oh-h, oh-h]

Sometimes the things you want are not the things you need

And it was right there in front of me

Half-time continues

(Micro and Sandalwood smile over the hovel of a birdhouse they put together in the wood shop portion of the Academic Decathlon…Celestia, Luna, and Cadence gorge themselves on slices of the Mona Lisa cake made by Fluttershy and Pinkie in the preceding bake-off…Pinkie and Sunny jockey for the lead in the speed skating leg of the Tri-Cross Relay, with Rarity behind them and ahead of Zest…Indigo powers through a turn on the motocross course, trailed closely by Sunset…the jubilant Rainbooms gather on the front steps, clustered around Twilight and Spike. This last picture fades to black in order for the credits to finish.)

Other Rainbooms: [Oh-h, whoa, oh-h, whoa, oh-h]

Sunset, Twilight: And it’s all I’ll ever need

Other Rainbooms: [Oh-h, whoa, oh-h, whoa, oh-h]

Sunset, Twilight: And it was right there in front of me

Other Rainbooms: [Oh-h, whoa, oh-h, whoa, oh-h]

Sunset, Twilight: And it’s all I’ll ever need

Other Rainbooms: [Oh-h, whoa, oh-h, whoa, oh-h]

Sunset, Twilight: And it was right there in front of me

Song ends

APPENDIX: WORDS IN THE ACADEMIC DECATHLON SPELLING BEE

Contestant Incorrect spelling Correct spelling

Rainbow Dash HIPPOPOTAMAS HIPPOPOTAMUS
(A large, herbivorous, semi-aquatic African mammal)

Lemon Zest MUNCHOUSENISM MUNCHAUSENISM

(An extravagant fictional account of an adventure)

Applejack ONOMATOPEIA ONOMATOPOEIA

(The use of words that imitate the sounds they represent)

Sugarcoat CYMOTRICOUS CYMOTRICHOUS

(Having wavy hair)

Fluttershy IMIGRATION IMMIGRATION

(Movement of persons into one country from another)

Sunny Flare RHOMBOS RHOMBUS

(A four-sided plane figure whose sides are all the same length)

Indigo Zap CHAUFFUER CHAUFFEUR

(A hired driver of a privately owned car)

Rarity ESCHUARY ESTUARY

(A meeting of ocean tides and river water)

Twilight Sparkle (Correct) ISOSCELES

(Describing a plane figure that has at least two sides of equal length)

MY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS—FRIENDSHIP GAMES

Deleted Scenes

Written by Josh Haber

Storyboards by Roxana Beiklik, Jen Davreux, Katrina Hadley, Hanna Lee, Mike Myhre, Jocelain Thiessen

Transcribed by Alan Back (ajback@yahoo.com)

Notes: The following four scenes are presented as animatics—sequences of rough

storyboard drawings, with little or no color, that show key events. Markings are included to indicate character motions/actions, for later use by the animation staff. Notes at the beginning of each scene indicate color, if any, and a reference point where it would have fit in the film.

As a group, “the Rainbooms” refers to Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow

Dash, Rarity, and Sunset Shimmer.

Twilight Sparkle/Sunset Shimmer Duet

Color: Occasional background color, as noted

Reference point: Immediately after Dean Cadence has summoned Twilight Sparkle to

Abacus Cinch’s office (Act One)

(Opening shot: fade in to Twilight standing and smiling excitedly in her lab at Crystal Prep Academy. Cut to Spike on the floor, growling as he works a chew toy over in his jaws.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) Maybe she has news about my scholarship! (He stops and cocks a puzzled ear.) It’s never too early to get started on the rest of your life, Spike. (Cut to frame both of them and the lab.) And it’s not like I have anything left to learn at Crystal Prep.

Same quiet guitar melody as her solo Act One song, moderate 4 (D major)

(Outside the lab; she emerges and closes the door behind her, then steels herself for a walk down a mostly-empty hallway, dodging two passersby.)

Twilight: I’ve walked through all these halls before

(She turns to look in through the window of a closed classroom door.)

I’ve been in and out of every door, whoa

(Zoom in on the pane; a math class is in progress.)

Synthesizer in

There’s nothing in this school that I don’t know

(A student leans into view on the other side and pulls down a shade to block Twilight’s view. The latter’s surprised reflection now appears, and she walks past a nearby trophy case.)

In every class my grade’s the best, the highest score on every test

(The fingertips she runs over its glass front curl into a fist and pull away.)

I think that means it’s time for me to go

I know there’s more that’s out there, and I just haven’t found it yet

(smiling) I know there’s more that’s out there, another me I haven’t met

Synth out; strings/drums/bass in

(As she rounds a corner to enter a different hallway, Sunset Shimmer emerges from the other side, her posture a near-perfect mirror image for the bookish girl’s. The background behind her becomes the lobby of Canterlot High School, and the background takes on faded colors. An instant later, the view has shifted to her campus and the camera pans slowly to follow her across floor as students pass in the fore.)

Sunset: Everyone here likes who I am

(She waves to a few of them.)

And it’s not from a magic spell’s command, whoa

(Crossing to the doors, she pushes them open to look out at the Wondercolt statue.)

My friends look past the things I’ve done before

(Tilt up into the sky, full of happy clouds. She sweeps a hand across, mentally turning them into a dragon, parasprite, and reptilian Siren.)

But still I miss those quests, the mythic creatures’ magic tests

(She descends the steps.)

High school’s great, sure, but who am I anymore?

Horns in

(Cut to Twilight walking up a flight of stairs. Background color drops out.)

Twilight: It’s not that I’m ungrateful or trying to succeed

(Stop at a landing to look out a window. Cut to a long shot of her, seen from outside, and zoom out slowly—she is in one of the towers that flank Crystal Prep’s front entrance.)

But there’s something left still missing, something that I need

(Cut to Sunset walking toward the Wondercolt statue. Muted color on the lawn and distant hills.)

Synth in

Sunset: I know there’s more that’s out there, maybe folks that need my help

(Students rush past in either direction.)

I know there’s more that’s out there, because I’ve seen it for myself

Intensity builds

(Close-up; now she stands across the street from Sugarcube Corner, her back to it. No background color.)

There’s only so much this town can offer, and I’m not saying that’s so bad

(She walks toward the camera, blacking out the screen. Snap to a store window as she moves near enough for her reflection to show up in the glass.)

But I know there’s more that’s out there, ’cause it’s a life that I once had

(As Sunset turns her back to the glass, her image becomes that of Twilight and the camera cuts to the latter, leaning up against a well-polished crystal wall with Sunset’s reflection visible behind her. The flesh-and-blood girl pulls away, the image changing back to her own, and steps across the floor of the broad rotunda at which she has arrived, the camera tracking around her.)

Twilight: Beyond these rooms, beyond these walls

(Overhead shot; zoom out slowly.)

So much to learn, I can’t see it all

(She moves toward the next flight of stairs. Cut to Sunset, walking down a street toward the distant heart of Canterlot proper.)

Sunset: This town is home, this school is safe

But how can I be home and still feel out of place?

Stoptime

(Twilight reaches the top of the stairs to face the closed door to Abacus’s office.)

Twilight: And I know there’s more that’s out there, another world to explore

Stoptime ends

(Cut to Sunset, standing at a corner and gazing toward the other end of the crosswalk.)

Sunset: And I know there’s more that’s out there, am I wrong for wanting more?

(She raises a palm to the camera. Zoom in to an extreme close-up of it, then cut to both girls at once—singing together, but neither aware of the other’s presence even as they duplicate movements.)

Twilight, Sunset: And I can’t wait for it to happen, though what it is, I cannot say

I just know there’s more that’s out there, and it’s calling out my name

Intensity builds

(Split screen: each strides purposefully ahead—Sunset across the street, Twilight toward the office.)

And I’m searching for the answer, ’cause I feel I’ve lost my way

(One stops at a building entrance, the other at the imposing door. Split-screen close-up, with half of Sunset’s face on one side and the opposite half of Twilight’s on the other.)

I may not know what’s really out there, but I’ll find out someday

(Sunset’s half fades away, leaving all of Twilight framed in close-up.)

I’ll find out someday

Song ends

(She lets her eyes drop with a hint of trepidation. Cut to an extreme close-up of the doorknob as she grasps and turns it, then fade to black.)

Sunset and Twilight in the Café

Color: None

Reference point: Immediately following the previous scene

(Opening shot: fade in to an extreme close-up of a pair of closed double doors. Conversation hums in the air as one of them swings open to admit Sunset—this is the entrance of the building she approached at the end of the duet scene. Zoom out to frame a coat tree off to one side as she steps in. A cut to her perspective and slow pan indicate that she has entered a restaurant or café, with booth seating to either side and a diner counter directly across from her. At a far corner table, Princess Twilight leans out to wave.)

Princess Twilight: Sunset?

(Back to Sunset, who returns the wave and crosses the room to sit opposite Princess Twilight and her meal.)

Princess Twilight: Why did you want to meet? Is something wrong? (Conversation dies out.)

Sunset: I don’t know. Maybe. I guess. It’s just…there’s this big competition coming up at school and everyone’s looking forward to it, and I am too, I-I guess. It’s just kind of…ordinary and not very…

Princess Twilight: Magical?

Sunset: (sighing) After studying magic in Equestria and traveling to a different dimension and making friends and defeating evil, I kinda need more than intramural sports.

Princess Twilight: Have you talked to the others about it?

Sunset: Sort of. But I don’t want them to think I don’t support them or want CHS to win. (Close-up of her hands, stirring her coffee; she continues o.s.) It just makes me wonder if there’s… (Back to her, scowling lightly.) …more for me back home.

Princess Twilight: In Equestria? Well, there’s definitely more magic there, but there’s magic here now, too.

Sunset: Yeah, but I don’t understand it. And even if I did— (Extreme close-up of her reflection in the coffee.) —Vice-Principal Luna wants me to keep it away from the competition as much as possible.

(Her expression softens into one of muted regret as Princess Twilight’s hands reach into view and cover the cup; tilt up to the latter’s smiling face.)

Princess Twilight: Well, it’s up to you. (Cut to frame both.) As long as the portal is open, you can come back to Equestria whenever you want.

(Sunset sips coffee with a relieved smile as a waitress comes over to drop off the check and refill Princess Twilight’s water glass. The royal dimension-hopper glances uncertainly at the slip of paper before reaching toward a pocket; cut to a close-up of the table corner in front of her as she holds several fair-sized coins into view. Some show a unicorn head overlaid on a sun, others a horseshoe, unicorn horn, and pair of wings—bits brought over from Equestria. Princess Twilight frantically counts through them as Sunset gives her a humoring smile and shakes her head.)

Sunset: Uh, I got it. (fishing in pocket) You can pay me back when I come to see you.

(She produces a few bills, which are taken away by the waitress. Fade to black.)

Alternate Hallway Scene

Color: Background only on the first two shots, muted

Reference point: Immediately following the conversation between Twilight and Abacus

on the front lawn of Canterlot High, ending with “…it isn’t to help us

win” (Act Two)

(Opening shot: fade in to a close-up of Twilight, standing outside Canterlot High and looking worriedly off to one side. Wipe to the lobby, filled with students passing here and there, and zoom in slowly on the Rainbooms as they approach along a hallway.)

Rarity: I can’t believe our world’s Twilight goes to Crystal Prep!

(Cut to a slow pan across the six girls on these last two words. There is no more background color for the rest of this scene.)

Rainbow Dash: You’re saying that Twilight’s gonna play against us? She’d never do that.

Fluttershy: Our Twilight wouldn’t.

Sunset: (incensed) Our Twilight’s a princess in Equestria, where magic doesn’t randomly pop up during pep rallies and costume changes!

(The fit of pique vanishes as quickly as it came, the camera panning slowly across her five discomfited friends, and she sighs.)

Sunset: I’m sorry. I know how important the Games are to all of you, but the magic over here is so frustrating. It makes no sense!

Rainbow: (crossing to her, thumping fist against shoulder) Aw, you’ll figure it out.

Sunset: I’m not sure I want to. (Puzzled glances among Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity.)

Applejack: What do you mean? (Zoom in slowly on Sunset.)

Sunset: Well, I keep thinking that magic should behave here in the way it does in Equestria, but…maybe what I really need to do is…go back.

Fluttershy: You mean…leave us?

Sunset: Of course I don’t want to leave all of my friends, but… (leaning heavily against a locker) …I don’t want to spend my whole life wanting things to be different than they are.

Pinkie: Sounds to me like trying to control magic for the Friendship Games is stressing you out. (Rarity steps forward from the others.)

Rarity: Oh, Sunset. (She slides over to rest her hands on one arm.) Vice-Principal Luna only asked you to try your best. I’m sure she never meant to put any undue pressure on you. (Here comes Applejack to plunk a hand on the other shoulder.)

Applejack: That’s right. Why don’t you just wait until after the Games? Then we can all take a look at the magic over here together. If you still want to go back after that, we won’t stand in your way.

(Sunset’s eyes flick toward the rest of the group, finding understanding smiles from Fluttershy and Rainbow and a quivery, shining-eyed one on Pinkie’s face.)

Sunset: (sighing, smiling) All right. I mean, I am already on the team. I wouldn’t want to let anyone down.

(Cheers from the others. Cut to a pan across the courtyard, the camera set some distance back from the Wondercolt statue and pointing toward the curb. One of the two Crystal Prep buses is already parked here, with the school’s team gathered on the sidewalk in front of it, and the other one pulls in as the view fades to black.)

Alternate Ending

Color: None

Reference point: Immediately following Abacus’s exit from the Canterlot High campus and

Principal Celestia’s remarks, ending with “…to declare us all winners”

(Act Three)

(Opening shot: fade from black to white, then in to a slow pan across the Canterlot High lawn. The Rainbooms have gathered near the base of the Wondercolt statue. Elsewhere, DJ P0N-3 shares a pair of headphones with Lemon Zest to listen to a bit of loud guitar rock on an MP3 player. Here comes Cadence, clipboard in hand; pan away from her to the door of one Crystal Prep bus, where Twilight and Indigo Zap are standing.)

Indigo: I don’t care what Principal Cinch says. (Cadence steps over to them.) It’s been more fun getting to know everyone at CHS— (boarding bus) —that it ever was playing against ’em.

Cadence: (to Twilight) Crystal Prep is definitely going to be a different place now.

(From within the bus, Spike slides to the open doorway.)

Spike: Hey, Twilight! Any idea who you want to sit next to on the way back? (smugly) I already have a waiting list.

(Twilight turns her eyes back toward the lawn, the camera panning to the gathered Rainbooms.)

Sunset: It’s actually kinda nice to know there’s someone at CPA I have so much in common with.

Twilight: And it’s nice to know that CHS is a place where I can always find the magic of friendship. (Sunset puts an arm around her shoulders.)

Sunset: I bet you’ll be able to find it at Crystal Prep pretty soon, too.

(This marks a major difference from the events of the film: Twilight has chosen to remain at Crystal Prep, rather than transfer to Canterlot High. As she and Sunset hug, the camera zooms out to frame the entire bus—with the Rainbooms gathered in front of it and the Shadowbolts smiling from the windows. More students from both schools crowd into the frame, Twilight picks Spike up, and Photo Finish pops up with camera in hand. Its flash fills the screen, then fades away to show the Rainbooms waving goodbye to the Crystal Prep contingent as one bus pulls away and the other takes its place. Cut to a close-up of Sunset and her warm smile, then to Twilight returning it with Spike at her side. A zoom out frames her in the last row of the departing bus, looking out the back window and flanked by her cheerful-faced teammates. She waves as it rolls off down the street; cut to Applejack and Sunset.)

Applejack: So now that the portal’s back open, I guess you can finally head off to Equestria.

Rarity: (from o.s., heavily) Yeah. (Pan to show her on Sunset’s other side, forcing a smile.) Now you can go and have all of those magical adventures you were after, Sunset.

(She finishes this line with a hand rested on the slightly unnerved girl’s shoulder. Said girl pulls away and moves to look at the other bus, then turns back toward the others.)

Sunset: Well, I guess it’s pretty obvious I don’t need to go all the way to Equestria for that.

(During this line, cut to her perspective and pan slowly across the group. Fluttershy is not among them, but a tilt down to ground level shows her sitting by the statue’s base.)

Fluttershy: Still, I’m sure it’ll be nice to get back to where magic is predictable. (Back to Sunset.)

Sunset: (deflated) I guess. (Pinkie leans toward her.)

Pinkie: Even though you finally figured out all our magic comes from the things that make each of us such good friends.

(As she speaks, the camera zooms out to frame a group of girls standing nearby and she quickly whips up a string of balloon-animal dolls for them to take along. Without warning, she “ponies up”—gaining her pony ears and tail—and floats off the sidewalk.)

Pinkie: Whoa! (Giggle; Applejack produces and twirls a lasso.)

Sunset: Actually, I’ve been thinking about it. (Throw.) I know the magic in Equestria’s dependable. (Reel Pinkie in; she stops just above Applejack’s head.) But there’s something cool about not knowing what it’s gonna do next.

Rarity: Ooh, ooh! That’s certainly the case here.

Sunset: And after everything we just went through— (Cut to Fluttershy; she continues o.s.) —I feel like not knowing something isn’t always so bad. (Tilt up to Rainbow.) It gives you something to work for.

Rainbow: (smirking) So what are you saying? (Back to Sunset.)

Sunset: Equestria has a magic all its own, but this place does too.

(Cut to a slow pan behind her as her hair waves in a breeze and she faces the street, silhouetted by the setting sun.)

Sunset: Someone has to figure out how it works here, and it may as well be me, so… (turning to camera) …I guess I’m saying… (Close-up.) …I’ve decided to stay.

(She is immediately mobbed by five whooping, cheering Rainbooms as the camera zooms out.)

Sunset: Of course, I will have to go back to Equestria for a visit. I think Twilight’s gonna want to hear about the other her.

(Laughs all around. Cut to a longer shot of the group—with DJ P0N-3 and Zest still listening to their tunes in the background—and fade to black.)

MY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS—FRIENDSHIP GAMES

Bloopers

Transcribed by Alan Back (ajback@yahoo.com)

Note: Each of these snippets except the last is followed by a brief flash of a test pattern screen, then a blip of sound accompanied by a flash of white. The pattern consists of a yellow Canterlot High School C in the center, framing a horse’s head and surrounded by smaller circles with the cutie marks of Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and Sunset Shimmer arranged in a triangle. The marks for Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash are in the corners of the screen; at bottom center is a set of six horizontal bars in the colors of the rainbow, decreasing in length from top to bottom.

The first snippet is preceded by the blip and a longer flash of the white screen.

(Close-up of Twilight using her detector at the pre-Friendship Games welcome party, in the Canterlot High gym during Act Two.)

Sunset: (from o.s.) Twilight. (Grimace; zoom out to frame her.) What have you been up to? (Applejack and Rainbow join them.)

Twilight: Me? Oh, I-I was just, uh… (Indigo Zap leans into Sunset’s face.)

Indigo: Who wants to know? (Rainbow leans into hers.)

Rainbow: Um, we do?

Applejack: (inserting herself between them) All right, everypony.

(Zoom out to frame all five, as well as Fluttershy and Sugarcoat—the next two who were supposed to speak in this exchange—looking on from the fore. Applejack realizes her mistake.)

Applejack: Sorry. Force of habit.

(Smiles and giggles from the others as she clears her throat.)

*****

(Twilight and Fluttershy kneel on the Canterlot High lawn following the Games’ Academic Decathlon in Act Two. Each holds her backpack; Fluttershy’s is open so a kitten can poke its head out.)

Twilight: Guess I’m not the only one to smuggle her pet into school.

Fluttershy: (laughing softly) Not just one.

(She lets the cat out of the bag, immediately followed by a menagerie of dozens of small animals—including a pig—that leaves Twilight at a loss for words as to just how they all were able to fit in there.)

*****

(The interior of Abacus Cinch’s office at Crystal Prep Academy during Act One, the camera positioned near its closed door. Dean Cadence and Shining Armor stand to either side.)

Twilight: (from o.s.) Shining Armor? (Zoom out to frame her.) Why is my brother here?

Cadence: As an alumni [sic], Principal Cinch thought he could provide some unique perspective.

Twilight: Perspective on what? (Zoom in on Abacus’s imposing desk chair, rotated away from the camera.)

Abacus: (turning to face her) Why, the Friendship Games, of—

(She trails off into a string of surprised yelps when the chair keeps whirling around and around—either pushed too hard or lubricated too well. As it comes to rest, she laughs brightly over the mishap and the camera zooms out to frame her top student doing likewise.)

*****

(Close-up of Pinkie’s feet during the welcome party she has just rejuvenated. They begin to glow and rise off the floor; a longer shot reveals that she has ponied up under the myriad tiny reflections thrown by the newly added disco ball.)

Pinkie: Oooooh! Floaty!

(A twang, a cry of surprise, and the glow vanishes as normal illumination resumes in the gym. She finds herself dangling from one wire hooked to her waist, a second one hanging snapped and useless—special effects to achieve the floating effect—and struggles briefly to right herself.)

*****

(Twilight crosses the upper-story rotunda of Crystal Prep, during her solo song in Act One.)

Twilight: Beyond these rooms, beyond these wall— (She slips and falls.) —whoa!

(She drops o.s., a thud and grunt marking her introduction to the floor as the music stops, and a pained moan floats up.)

*****

(The Canterlot High lawn again. Animals continue to pour out of Fluttershy’s backpack, and Twilight goggles at the number and variety of them—including a rather bulky buffalo that has somehow joined in. The yellow girl, meanwhile, just sits with hands clasped and eyes tranquilly closed.)

*****

(Fluttershy and Rarity during the welcome party, just after Abacus has ruined it.)

Rarity: Yes, if only that Principal Cinch hadn’t re-freezed it. (catching herself) Refrozen! Frozen it again, much clearer. (pacing angrily; Fluttershy snickers silently) Oh, six pages since my last line, and then there’s this totally shifty line, no costume change, I mean, really! Can I speak to the writer? Is he on the… (suddenly puzzled) …what?

(She puts a hand to her chest as if to say, “Who, me?”)

*****

(The snack table during the party. Pinkie sticks her head up behind it, whisks away its vegetable and cheese trays, and sets her bundle of goodies in their place. When she undoes the wrapping to let it fall open as a tablecloth, she is greatly surprised to find Spike in place of the cupcake trays, having eaten nearly the whole batch and with his gut badly distended as a result. Zoom in as he lets off a hearty belch and Pinkie glares down at him.)

*****

(The Canterlot High lawn, a third time. Fluttershy maintains her serene pose as still more exotic beasts gather around her and Twilight.)

*****

(Close-up of the two pennants to be used in the Games’ final event of Act Three, held aloft by Vice-Principal Luna. Tilt down to her on the start of the next line, speaking into her microphone so that her lines are amplified.)

Luna: Somewhere on campus, a pennant from each school has been hidden. The first team to find their school’s flag and bring it… (trailing off) …back…wins. (rolling eyes, realizing her mistake; zoom in slightly) “Back wins.” (Faint smile; muffled laughter from o.s.)

Voice: (softly) That was really good.

Luna: Thank you, thank you. I am a fro-pessional.

*****

(Sunset dives for Twilight’s dropped detector during the Games’ Tri-Cross Relay in Act Three, but hits the ground just short of it. She is dressed in her civilian clothes rather than her motocross outfit.)

Sunset: (winded, coughing) Oh, am I getting danger pay for this?

*****

(Rarity hangs on for dear life at the edge of one of the rifts Twilight has torn in the fabric of space-time after her transformation in Act Three. The fingers finally give way, and she drops out of sight, her scream and those of two other girls floating up. Cut to a close-up of her hand, the background behind it scrolling rapidly upward to the blue sky of Equestria and then a blank green expanse. The screams die away as the camera zooms out quickly to show Rarity and two girls “hanging on” to her—one Fleur, the other a Canterlot High student—filming this scene in a studio. All three are standing on a thick cushioned mat before a green screen, and the other two let go of Rarity in time with their lines.)

Fleur: Huh.

Student: Huh. (Next two lines overlap slightly.)

Rarity: Anti-climactic.

Student: That took nothing, really. (Rarity pulls a makeup compact from her pocket and checks herself in its mirror.)

Rarity: Hmm.

Student: (shrugging) Hmm.

*****

(The Canterlot High lawn, a fourth time. Twilight and Fluttershy are now almost totally lost beneath the sheer number, poundage, and cacophony of the creatures that have flooded in around them.)

*****

(Rainbow, in her motocross outfit, rides on the back of her pony counterpart for a soaring flight.)

Rainbow: (raising arms) This is AWESOME!!

*****

(DJ P0N-3 and Lemon Zest stand side by side in front of Canterlot High, headphones socked over ears to enjoy their respective tunes. The former’s music from the Rainbow Rocks prequel short “Music to My Ears” is heard as she bobs her head and the latter thrashes hers and throws the bullhorns. After a few bars, they trade equipment to sample each other’s beats; now Zest bobs and DJ P0N-3 thrashes as the guitar track Zest listened to on the bus ride to Canterlot High blares out instead.)

*****

(The base of the Wondercolt statue in front of the school. As Pinkie walks toward it, an exact duplicate of her emerges from the portal to/from Equestria that it houses. They trade a high five, and Pinkie pulls a lollipop from her mouth and tosses it to Pinkie Two. Pinkie disappears into the portal, while Pinkie Two starts working on the candy and winks to the camera before ducking o.s. Snap to black.)