You have to do this every year!
We...could celebrate Nightmare Night together every year....But...the truth is, I really don’t want to.
But you’ve done it! You’ve found a way that we can all have a fabulous time together!
Yes, but I’ve also realized something: You all may love Nightmare Night, and I may be good at being a part of it, but it’s no fun for me to see my friends feel like they’re in danger, even if I know they’re not. I really don’t like it, It’s just not my cup of tea.
[scary voice] Spoooooky tea?
No, just regular tea. We do lots of fun things together, but I’m afraid this just isn’t gonna be one of them. Actually, I’m not afraid, I’m perfectly fine with it.
Part 1
Obviously, the long-term effects of the simultaneous acquisition of cutie marks has yet to be determined, but... [sips water] Next slide, please?
[Long pause, Moondancer wakes Spike, who provides the slides]
I can speak from my own experience that the power of cutie mark magic is very real. And in the instance of my friends and I, it can be traced to a single event. Without Rainbow Dash’s race to defend Fluttershy’s honor, this Rainboom wouldn’t have happened. Fluttershy might never have discovered her love of animals...Applejack might never have realized that she belonged on her farm... And Pinkie might never have decided to leave hers. It might be hard to imagine Rarity without her sense of fabulousness, but it’s even harder to fathom what my life would be like. without this Rainboom, I might not have gotten into magic school, Celestia wouldn’t have taken me on as her pupil, or sent me to Ponyville to meet my friends. And the most powerful thing about cutie mark magic that I’ve found is the connection I share with them.
[She stops as she notices Starlight in the audience; she looks around, but she has vanished]
But...um...the real question about cutie mark magic is who it seems to affect.
I stayed here and never made another friend, because I was too afraid another cutie mark would take them away too!
That's ridiculous! A cutie mark can't take your friends away!
Not everypony's lucky enough to get her cutie mark at the same time as her friends!
[Teleports them back to the past]
You don't know what it's like to lose a friend because of a cutie mark. But once I stop the rainboom, you will! [snatches the time travel scroll with her magic] And when I destroy this scroll, there'll be no way for you to change it! [starts to slowly rip it in two, to Twilight and Spike's horror]
Starlight, you're right! I don't know what you went through! But I do know you can't do this! I've seen where this leads, and so have you!
I only saw what you showed me! Who knows what'll really happen?
I've seen it a dozen times! Things don't turn out well in Equestria without my friends.
Ugh! What's so special about your friends?! [rips the scroll even further] How can a group of ponies that are so different be so important?!
The differences between me and my friends are the very things that make our friendship strong!
[starting to tear up] I thought Sunburst and I were the same... but we turned out different, and it TORE OUR FRIENDSHIP APART! [rips the scroll close to breaking point]
[flying up] So try again! Make new friends! And if something that you can't control happens that changes things, work through it together. That's what friendship is! And it's not just my friendships that are important to Equestria - everypony's are! When yours ended, it led us here. But just imagine all the others that are out there waiting for you if you just give them a chance!
[still crying] How do I know they won't all end the same way?
I guess it's up to you to make sure they don't.
[Twilight offers her hoof. After some hesitation, Starlight takes it and releases the scroll, which Spike quickly retrieves. The rainboom happens, and Twilight and Spike take Starlight back to their time.]
I know there's no excuse for what I did, but I want you all to know that I'm ready for whatever punishment you think is fair.
I've been thinking a lot about how badly Equestria fared without just one group of friends. Because even when one friendship dies, the results can be disastrous.
I know first-hoof how true that can be.
And that's why I've asked you here. If you're willing to learn, I'm willing to teach you what I know. You'll have the power to make Equestria an even better place.
Starting is easy. All you have to do is make a friend...and you've got seven of them right here.
I didn't know you were meeting us!
[tired] Of course I am! It's me, right here. Here I am. Why wouldn't I come meet my sister? Though we have met before, heh-heh...
[tired] Never better! Being a father is amazing! And wonderful, and amazing, and confusing, and amazing, but surprising too, you know? I mean, not that you'd know. You wouldn't know, I know... you know?
BABaby Alicorn
[burbling]
[tired] It looks that way.
But... but... but I thought Alicorn wings had to be earned by accomplishing some great, princess-worthy deed!
Yeah. How can you just be born with them?
The birth of an Alicorn is something Equestria has never seen!
It is beyond even our understanding.
[hushed] That's not very reassuring.
Wow! A unicorn, and a Pegasus! So she could be a super-strong flyer and have crazy baby magic.
We have Sunburst to thank for that.
I hope he takes his role as crystaller seriously. Something tells me the baby will need a pony like him to look to for magical advice.
TVTwilight Velvet (Mrs. Sparkle)
Cadance, darling, aren't we going to name the poor little dear, or are we going to spend our entire visit just calling her "the baby"?
We were thinking... "Flurry Heart".
You know, to remember the occasion.
Oh, goodness, how could anypony forget?
I think it's lovely. [kisses]
[gasps] Look at that hand-stitched ten-thousand-thread-count velvet-lined rock pouch! Maud will love it! I need it! Ungh! Huh, must be stuck! [reading] "Took a sudden vacation to Canterlot with my grandniece. Back in a few moons." Oh, no. Oh, no-no-no-no-no-no-no! Well, maybe, just maybe, he's already back from vacation and just forgot to take the sign down! [shouting and pounding on door] Hello, Mr. Pouch Store Owner! I'd like to hear all about your sudden vacation in Canterlot with your grandniece while buying a pouch for my sister please!
CTCopper Top
Miss, the store's clearly closed.
But it can't be. It just can't be! If I can't get that pouch... then not only am I not getting my sister the greatest present in the history of PSSSD, but now I have no PSSSD present for my sister at all!
Excuse me, sir! I couldn't help but notice your nifty rock pouch! Is there any chance you'd be willing to part with it? I really need it. Like, really really really!
SRStreet Rat
So let me get this straight: You, uh, really really need this pouch, huh?
I believe I said really really really.
SRStreet Rat
Well, you know, pouches like this are really hard to come by these days. But I might be able to part with it for the right price.
So you'll sell it to me? And I'll finally be able to give my sister the perfect Pie Sisters' Surprise Swap Day present? Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! [party cannon fires]
SRStreet Rat
Hmmm. That's one sweet party cannon you got there. Tell you what. I'd be more than happy to give you the pouch for the low, low price of... that cannon.
[gasps] M-My... party cannon...?
SRStreet Rat
Well, if you really want to give that sister of yours the perfect present, then you'll have to give up your party cannon. So, what do you say? The pouch for the cannon
