MY LITTLE PONY 7

Episode 725 / 403-725

“Shadow Play – Part 1”

Written by

Josh Haber

As Broadcast Script: August 17th, 2017

Tara Strong as TWILIGHT SPARKLE
      Chris Britton as STARSWIRL THE BEARDED 
              Ian Hanlin as SUNBURST
                                     Kelly Sheridan as STARLIGHT GLIMMER
         Ashleigh Ball as RAINBOW DASH, APPLEJACK
Cathy Weseluck as SPIKE
      Vincent Tong as GARBLE, VILLAGER 
              Andrea Libman as FLUTTERSHY, PINKIE PIE
                                    Tabitha St Germain as RARITY, PRINCESS LUNA
         Kelli Ogmundson as PROFESSOR FOSSIL, PETUNIA PALEO
      Nicole Oliver as OLD GARDENER, PRINCESS CELESTIA, DRAGON 1 
              Bill Newton as PONY OF SHADOWS
                                    Doron Bell as CATTAIL
         Chiara Zanni as DARING DO
                      TEASER
SC 1 - FADE UP ON AN ANCIENT book
Starswirl (V.O.)
The best elements within us can spread light and virtue, and I know ponies who represent them all: strength, bravery, healing, beauty, hope, and sorcery.
stARSWIRL (V.O.)
Myself, and these Pillars of Equestria were gathered together by another to maintain and share the light of these powerful ideals...
StARSWIRL (V.O.)
But we soon came to believe the pony who brought us together, only wanted that power for himself.
STARSWIRL (V.O.)
Cast out and alone, this power-mad pony turned to darkness to satisfy his thirst.
starSWIRL (V.O.)
Transformed into a Pony of Shadows, he returned for revenge - to extinguish the Pillars' light and rob the world of hope.
StARSWIRL (v.O.)
To stop him, the Pillars and I must make a grave sacrifice.
StaRSWIRL
But we shall leave behind a seed in hopes that one day it will grow into a force to stand against the darkness for all time.
StARSWIRL (CONT'D)
We must now face the fiend with the only plan we have...
Sc 2 - Int. Canterlot castle - throne room - day 
SUNBURST
"...I only hope it will be enough."
SuNBURST (CONT'D)
That's the last entry. And maybe Starswirl's final words before he vanished.
END TEASER
MAIN TITLES
ACT ONE
Sc 3 - Int. Canterlot castle - throne room - resUME
Celestia
I've always wondered what happened to Starswirl. This is quite a discovery, Sunburst.
TwiLIGHT
So it's genuine? You can verify that this journal really belonged to Starswirl the Bearded!?
LuNA
Indeed. From the looks of it, the last thing he wrote before facing the Pony of Shadows.
RaINBOW DASH
Uh... So, the Pony of Shadows was really real?
CelESTIA
It appears so.
LuNA
We never met the other Pillars, and we were too young to understand the danger they faced.
ApPLEJACK
Hold on. All those legendary ponies were real too? And they went off with Starswirl to face the Pony of Shadows and then none of them were ever heard from again?
PinKIE PIE
Ah... yeah. Weren't you listening?
FlUTTERSHY
But what happened to them all?
RarITY
They must have defeated the villain, since Equestria is still full of light and hope.
stARLIGHT
But how? And where did they go?
CelESTIA
My Olde Ponish is a bit rusty, but I wonder if the answers can be found somewhere within the pages of this book.
TWILIGHT
Well, I just happened to be an expert in Olde Ponish. I mean, I've practically memorized every ancient text about Starswirl there is...
SpIKE
Seriously. All of them.
LuNA
We have fond memories of our old teacher. If you could discover what happened to him, we would be most grateful.
SUNBURST
Solving a thousand-year-old mystery could take forever! Think of the research, the re-reading, the re-re-reading...
CelESTIA
You might find you need help.
ApPLEJACK
Luckily, she's got a whole bushel of helpers right here.
RaINBOW DASH
Totally! Um... how long will all this research take, exactly?
TWILIGHT
Let's get this back to my library. I'm sure we'll figure out what happened in no time.
Sc 4 - Int. TwILIGHT'S CASTLE – library - night 
SpIKE
Figure it out yet, Twilight?
SuNBURST
Wha-WHAT? What did you figure out?
PinKIE PIE
You figured something out?
FluTTERSHY
What is it?
TwILIGHT
Nothing. I mean, Starswirl was a genius, obviously, but forget Olde Ponish. There's parts where his hornwriting is like another language!
apPLEJACK
Twilight, we've been studyin', and referencin', and cross referencing for three days straight now.
RainBOW DASH
Ugh. I haven't spent this much time reading since the last Daring Do book came out.
RarITY
Perhaps it is time to take a break. This mystery is over a thousand years old, after all. Another day or two won't make a difference!
TWILIGHT
Two days?! I don't want to waste two seconds. I'm close to an answer. I can feel it. 
StaRLIGHT
"Hearg sylfum se Ponhenge," What's that?
TwILIGHT
The Temple of Ponhenge?! You can read that?!
STARLIGHT
The hornwriting's pretty sloppy, but it's nowhere near as bad as mine. "Toward dol grimlic of fola firgenbeorg?"
SuNBURST
At the base of Foal Mountain...
STARLIGHT
"User endemest scield..."
TwILIGHT
Our last stand.
Spike
Well, that sure sounds like a clue to me.
Sc 5 - est. foal mountain - Ponhenge - night
Sc 6 - Ext. Ponhenge - night
TwILIGHT
This is it. Ponhenge. I can't believe it.
sunBURST
I've never seen magical runes like these before. Have you?
RaiNBOW DASH
I don't think anypony's seen any of this for a long time.
ApPLEJACK
It'd take a whole team of ponies to clear away all this brush.
FluTTERSHY
Even then, I'm not sure we'd find out what happened here a thousand years ago.
TWILIGHT
You're right. I suppose it was a long shot.
SpIKE
Cheer up, Twilight. Finding a whole set of ancient ruins is pretty impressive. Maybe you could write a paper on it!
TWILIGHT
I guess I hoped we'd get here and the mystery would just magically be explained. 
SPIKE
Ah... Twilight?
TWILIGHT
Starswirl!? I-- I've wanted to meet you my whole life. I can't believe you're here--
SuNBURST
I don't think he is here. I don't think any of them are.
Pony of shadows
You summon me at your peril, Starswirl. Once I defeat all of you, this realm will embrace the darkness as I did so long ago.
PONY OF SHADOWS (CONT'D)
Drawing me here will only make me stronger. You will never defeat me!
StaRSWIRL
We did not come here to defeat you...
PONY OF SHADOWS
What are you doing?!
STARSWIRL
We came to contain you.
PinKIE PIE
Well, you did ask for a magical explanation.
END ACT ONE
ACT TWO
Sc 7 - Ext. Ponhenge - resume
RainBOW DASH
Uh... What just happened?
starLIGHT
It looked like Starswirl cast a spell that banished the Pony of Shadows.
SuNBURST
Of course! Powerful magic like that would leave an impression on this place. Bringing the book back here let us see what happened.
ApPLEJACK
Which was what?
TwILIGHT
Starswirl and the rest of the Pillars sacrificed themselves to save Equestria.
Sc 8 - Est. TwILIGHT'S CASTLE – DAY
Sc 9 - Int. TwILIGHT'S CASTLE – DAY
Starlight
It's amazing to think one of the greatest mysteries of Equestria was solved with a musty old book from an antique shop.
SuNBURST 
But I wouldn't say the mystery's solved. Starswirl's spell was one of the most powerful feats of magic in all of history. It'll take years of study before we fully understand it.
Sc 10 - Int. TwILIGHT'S CASTLE – liBRARY - conTINUOUS
TwILIGHT
I think I understand Starswirl's spell!
Sc 11 - Int. TwILIGHT'S CASTLE – map room - later
TwILIGHT
I know I've finished one of Starswirl's spells before but this one was on a whole different level!
TwILIGHT (CONT'D)
Was it an explosion of magical feedback? An evocation? A kind of incantation? It's Starswirl, so the possibilities are endless! And once Starlight set me on the right track with his crazy hornwriting -- I mean, he was a genius, so I guess we can forgive a little messiness -- I went through the journal again and it's amazing!
RarITY
Twilight, darling, we understand you're excited, but that's all we understand.
RaiNBOW DASH
What exactly is so amazing?
TwILIGHT
Only how Starswirl and the other Pillars sent the Pony of Shadows to limbo!
ApPLEJACK
They did what now?
TWILIGHT
They used their magic to open a portal between worlds, to limbo, and pulled the Pony of Shadows inside.
RariTY
Darling, your diorama!
TWILIGHT
I made more.
TwILIGHT (CONT'D)
Starswirl thought the only way to trap the Pony of Shadows in limbo was for the Pillars to take him there.
ApPLEJACK
So they got stuck too.
FlutTERSHY
The Pony of Shadows must have been really awful for them to do that.
PinKIE PIE
I suppose being trapped for all time with a super-duper bad guy in limbo might be okay if you were doing the limbo - but that's still pushing it.
TwILIGHT
The thing is, I think I can get them out.
SuNBURST
Twilight, are you serious? You can save the most legendary ponies of all time?
StarLIGHT
I don't know. Opening portals between worlds didn't work out well for me. Are you sure it's safe?
TwILIGHT
First of all you opened portals through time. And second of all, Starswirl wrote the spell you used to do it. If he'd been here, he could have stopped it. Equestria will be safer with him in it. We have to save him.
ApPLEJACK
But you'd be savin' all the Pillars, right? And they disappeared ages ago.
TWILIGHT
That's the thing about limbo. It isn't one place or another. It's in between, so time stands still. If we can pull them out, it'll be like they never left. I actually built another model to demonstr--
SpIKE
What can we do to help?
TWILIGHT
If I'm right, we need to find items that are connected to the Pillars in some way.
RaiNBOW DASH
You mean, like, stuff that belonged to them?
FlUTTERSHY
How would we know what to look for? Or where?
TWILIGHT
Luckily, Starswirl took a lot of notes...
TwILIGHT (CONT'D)
...my compatriots are as varied as the realm itself and hail from every corner of our land, bringing with them artifacts and talismans of great power... 
StarlIGHT
Um, Twilight, what are you doing?
TWILIGHT
I'm not doing anything!
ApPLEJACK
Rockhoof's shovel!
RaINBOW DASH
Flash Magnus' shield!
RarITY
Mistmane's flower.
FluTTERSHY
Meadowbrook's mask.
PiNKIE PIE
And the blindfold Somnambula wore when she faced that nasty sphinx!
TwILIGHT
Well that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about.
Sc 12 - EST. ROCKHOOF'S VILLAGE site – DAY
Sc 13 - EXT. Archeological dig – DAY
petunia paleo
Professor! It's a Mighty Helm headpiece! Maybe it belonged to Rockhoof himself!
Professor Fossil
Legends don't wear helmets. This belonged to a real pony.
APPLEJACK (o.S.)
Oh, I can guarantee Rockhoof was as real as you and me.
PROFESSOR FOSSIL
And I suppose that ravine was dug with his trusty shovel to save the village from an erupting volcano.
APPLEJACK
Probably.
PROFESSOR FOSSIL
I love old legends as much as anypony - but a pony strong enough to save a village from rushing lava with a shovel is preposterous!
ProFESSOR FOSSIL 
I can't believe you just did that. You saved us!
ApPLEJACK
I bet if you told somepony else the story it might sound preposterous.
PROFESSOR FOSSIL
I suppose some stories might be true...
PrOFESSOR FOSSIL
And Rockhoof's appears to be one of them.
Sc 14 - EST. botanical gardens - day 
Sc 15 - Int. boTANICAL GARDENS - conTINUOUS
Sc 16 - Int. boTANICAL GARDENS - center - conTINUOUS
RARITY
OW!
Old gardener (o.S.)
You keep those hooves to yourself, dearie!
OlD GARDENER (CONT'D)
This place has been in my family for generations, and I'm not about to let some whippersnapper take the last good piece of it. Time was, ponies came from far and wide to see these gardens. But that flower's the only worthwhile thing left.
A MONTAGE
END MONTAGE
RarITY
Perhaps it just seemed like your gardens were worthless, but a little pruning can work wonders. Of course you will have to look after more than just one flower now.
OLD GARDENER
You've given me back my family's legacy. The flower you wanted seems like a fair trade for that.
Sc 17 - EXT. DRAGONLANDS – DAY
RainBOW DASH
I can't believe Flash Magnus' shield ended up in the Dragon Lands.
SpiKE
Good thing you brought the Official
Equestrian Friendship Ambassador To
The Dragons to help you navigate our customs. Like our favorite sport - gorge surfing!
Sc 18 - Ext. Dragonlands - edge of ravine - continUOUS
RainBOW DASH
Okay. That was awesome.
Dragon 1
Dragon Lord Ember commanded us to make peace with ponies, but it doesn't mean you can surf in our spot.
SpIKE
Whoa! Fellas. As the Official
Equestrian Friendship Ambassador To
The Dragons I have to say, that's not very friendly.
Garble (o.S.)
Well, what do you know? The puny, pony dragon's sticking up for his pony pal. 
rainBOW DASH
Hey! That's an ancient pony artifact.
GaRBLE
Hooves off my gorge board! I found it in the desert and finder's keepers.
rainBOW DASH
It isn't yours.
GARBLE
Huh. It sure looks like mine. But, I might consider racing you for it.
RainBOW DASH
No problem.
GARBLE
Um... no. I mean you.
DraGON 1
On your marks... Get set... Surf!
SpIKE
WHAAAOOOOOAAAA!
Sc 19 - ext. DraGONLANDS - ravine - continUOUS
SpIKE
I won? I won! WOOO-HOOO! Give up the shield, Garble.
GarBLE
Lord Ember only commanded us to be nice to ponies. She never said anything about pony-loving dragons.
END ACT TWO
ACT THREE
Sc 20 - EXT. DRAGONLANDS - rAVINE - resume
SpIKE
Since Dragon Lord Ember commanded you to make peace with ponies, you can't very well attack one of their friends, can you?
GarBLE
I guess we'll find out!
GaRBLE (CONT'D)
ARRRGGGHH!
GARBLE (CONT'D)
Ugh. Why is he always hiding behind ponies?
SpIKE
I wasn't hiding when I beat you down the ridge.
GARBLE
You fell.
RainBOW DASH
Wow, you must be slow, if all Spike had to do to win was fall down.
GARBLE
I'm faster than you.
RAINBOW DASH
Doubt it.
GARBLE
Fine. I'll race you back to the top. If you win, you can have your pony junk. But if I win, you'll leave and I get to give it to him!
RAINBOW DASH
Fine. I'm pretty sure I could beat you anyway, but with that heavy hunk of metal on your back, it'll be a snap.
GARBLE
Huh? Oh yeah. Thanks for the tip.
GarBLE (CONT'D)
See ya at the top, loser!
GARBLE (CONT'D)
Hey! That's mine!
spIKE
Finders keepers, remember?
DrAGON 1
See, because that's what you said to them when they first showed up and--
Sc 21 - Ext. hayseed swamp - day 
FlUTTERSHY
Just remember not to turn away from them, Cattail. Flash bees can get pretty aggressive. I guess that's why none of the other bayou animals can get to the water.
CATTAIL
Wouldn't it make more sense for you to wear the mask that calms the bees?
FLUTTERSHY
It would--
FlUTTERSHY (CONT'D)
--if I didn't have to fly up here to move their hive. There!
FLUTTERSHY (CONT'D)
Now the other bayou creatures can get to the water without the bees feeling threatened.
CaTTAIL
You know, you didn't have to help with this. I would’ve lent you the mask anyway.
FLUTTERSHY
I know. But I couldn't leave without helping.
Sc 22 - Int. Pyramid near somnambula - day 
Villager
I don't think anypony can find anything in there.
Daring do
I wouldn't give up hope just yet.
PINKIE PIE
This old blindfold was stuck in the drain.
DARING DO
Weren't you looking for a blindfold?
PINKIE PIE
Oh, yeah!
Sc 23 - EXT. PONHENGE – DAY
twiLIGHT
I can't believe I'm going to meet Starswirl the Bearded - you know, outside of my dreams.
STARLIGHT
I can't believe you're actually going through with it.
TwILIGHT
What do you mean?
StarlIGHT
I'm all for pushing the envelope, obviously, but this is pretty out there for you, Twilight.
SuNBURST
What's "out there" about saving the most legendary ponies of all time from a thousands year-old prison?
StARLIGHT
Well, nothing when you say it like that.
StaRliGHT (CONT'D)
Unless... "the most legendary ponies of all time" knew what they were doing, and we shouldn't mess with it.
SunbURST
I'm sure Starswirl and the Pillars did the best they could back then, but magic has come a long way - mostly because of the work they did.
StarlIGHT
That's true. And you did get your wings from finishing one of Starswirl's spells...
TwILIGHT
Exactly.
StarlIGHT
But, then I messed with one and nearly destroyed the universe, so...
TwILIGHT
Starlight, Starswirl the Bearded is the greatest wizard who ever lived. The chance to have him back in Equestria is worth the risk.
SpIKE (o.S.)
That's good news.
RaiNBOW DASH
Otherwise, we'd have brought this shield for nothing!
ApPLEJACK
I hope you don't think you're the only one to find her artifact, because this here shovel says otherwise.
RaRITY
Honestly, you two. Not everything is a competition. Buuut Mistmane's flower is by far the most attractive of the artifacts.
PiNKIE PIE
You're just saying that because you didn't have to scuba dive in a pit of green slime to get yours.
FlUTTERSHY
Or move a Flash Bee hive.
TwILIGHT
Good work everyone. Let's do this!
STARSWIRL
What-- What has happened?
TWILIGHT
It worked! We brought you back.
StarsWIRL
To where?
TWILIGHT
You and the others have been trapped in limbo for a thousand years, but I figured out how to get you ho--
STARSWIRL
What!? No, no, no, no-- You must undo what you've done!
TWILIGHT
What? Why? I mean, I don't think I can.
STARSWIRL
You cannot bring us back--
TWILIGHT
But I did. I brought all the Pillars back.
STARSWIRL
You cannot bring only the Pillars back...
TWILIGHT
Oh, no...
END PART one