♪♪
[grunts]
Get--get over here!
[grunts]
[tap]
Tents are lookin' good.
And we made good time today.
At this rate, we'll be at Winsome Falls by tomorrow!
We should do the annual big sister little sister
camping trip every weekend!
Then it wouldn't be annual.
And if we did it every weekend,
it probably wouldn't be as special.
But the more we do it, the better we get at camping!
Remember the first time we came here
and Rarity had that gi-normous tent?
I heard that!
[giggle]
I've gotten much better at roughing it, haven't I?
Yup. This time you only packed three suitcases!
I know what you're thinking, but I promise...
I only brought the essentials.
Like those light thingies?
Of course!
What is life if you can't make it beautiful?
♪♪
Mmm. These berries look good enough to eat.
DON'T!
According to my book, they're extremely poisonous!
[sigh]
[gasp]
[crack]
[gasp]
[scream]
What!?
I heard something; I stepped on something
and I saw that creepy cave.
I guess I still get a little bit scared out here,
even after the last camping trip.
Don't worry, kid, you've got a big sister this time!
♪♪
Apple Bloom: This looks amazing!
This is going to be the best big sister/little sister
camping trip ever!
[buzzing]
[squirt]
[splat]
[buzzing]
Aaaahhhhhh!
[panicked chattering]
[thwack] [thwack]
♪♪
[bite]
Ow! What are these things!?
Aaahh!
Fly-ders!
Everypony run for cover!
Don't get stuck in their...
[thud]
...web!
[squealing]
Agh! Now what!?
Follow me, everypony!
♪♪
Scootaloo: Agh!
Not the scary cave!
[woosh]
[buzzing]
Where did those terrible bugs come from?
And why did they destroy our camp?
Fly-ders are from the Luna Bay Area.
Never seen 'em this far east though.
Probably attracted to the food.
Best wait here until they're gone.
Oh, apple rot!
What are we supposed to do now?
We had games to play and marshmallows to roast at camp!
In here we got nothin'.
That's not entirely true.
We have each other.
That's right.
And if you girls want to,
maybe we could tell some stories
to pass the time.
Rainbow: You want stories?
I've got a ton of stories.
Spoiler Alert: they're all about me and how awesome I am.
I was thinking more like campfire stories...
But we don't even have a campfire.
I got this!
Wow. That was brave.
Eh, it was no biggie..
[cough]
We aren't gonna tell scary stories
like our last camping trip, are we?
It's bad enough just being in here.
Don't worry, Scootaloo.
I was gonna tell you mine and Apple Bloom's favorite legend!
Oh! You mean Rockhoof?
I love that one!
He was so strong and when he...
Apple Bloom! Shhh. We haven't heard it yet.
Oh. OK.
But it's so good!
Well, it's true.
Rockhoof was known far and wide for his incredible strength
but he didn't start out that way.
You see, Rockhoof was a tiny little fella,
the son of a farmer.
Just like us!
Heh heh heh...
They lived in a village that sat at the foot
of a gigantic volcano.
♪♪
And the village was protected by an elite group of Guard Ponies
called the Mighty Helm.
Ha ha ha ha!
[thud]
Young Rockhoof wanted nothing more than to be part
of the Mighty Helm...
♪♪
Ha ha ha ha ha!
...but he was told that he was too scrawny
and weak to protect the village.
[mocking laughter]
[thud]
But Rockhoof wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
♪♪
[digging]
Then one fateful day...
[rumbling]
The volcano erupted!
[explosion]
Eeeeeeeee!!
This is my favorite part!
All: What happened next!?
The molten lava poured down the side of the volcano...
♪♪
... and try as they might, the Mighty Helm couldn't figure out
a way to save the village.
They had to evacuate.
But the village ponies didn't want to leave their homes!
They spent their entire lives there.
They had nowhere else to go!
♪♪
So Rockhoof decided to do something crazy.
♪♪
He thought if he could divert the flow of the lava,
he might be able to save his village!
He started digging a trench.
Sweetie Belle: Wait a minute...
All by himself?
It'd be impossible for one pony to dig a trench fast enough
to stop the lava!
I mean, even I couldn't do that!
[shriek]
Good thing Rockhoof didn't believe
in the word "impossible".
He continued to work, knowing the odds were against him
but determined to push through.
♪♪
Then... something magical happened.
[shimmering]
Rockhoof got visibly stronger!
But the lava was getting closer...
♪♪
[digging]
♪♪
[crash]
♪♪
[hissing]
[cheers]
Through his extraordinary determination
and sheer force of will,
Rockhoof more than earned his place in the Mighty Helm.
[laughter]
[whoops]
Yeah!
Good story, Applejack!
Even if it wasn't about me.
[giggles]
I love that story, no matter how many times I hear it.
Why don't we see if it's safe to head back to camp?
Sweetie Belle: Uh, girls?
There is no camp to go back to.
[buzzing]
[gasps]
♪♪
All our hard work is ruined.
There, there. Sweetie Belle.
Not to worry.
How? Our camp was so pretty and this cave is sooo...
...not.
Oh, nononono no, not true!
There's beauty in everything.
Even these blah rocks aren't really blah!
If you look closely, you can see flecks of gold in them.
And the way the firelight dances on the cave wall...
shadow and light!
Ooooh, it's so gorgeous!
Sweetie Belle, have I ever told you about my favorite legend?
No. I didn't know you had one.
Her name was Mistmane.
Mistmane?
Isn't she the old wrinkly sorceress with the flower?
Yes. But did you know she used to be
the most beautiful unicorn in all the land?
No.
So what happened to her?
Well, Mistmane was a very promising young sorceress.
She was as talented as she was beautiful and kind.
Everypony loved her and missed her
when she was sent to the finest magic school.
♪♪
While she was gone, she was delighted to find out
that her best friend, Sable Spirit, was crowned Empress.
She couldn't wait to return home once she finished her studies.
But once she arrived, she was devastated by what she saw.
♪♪
What happened here?
The Empress happened.
She makes everypony work day and night on her palace.
We don't have time to take care of anything else.
Well, that can't be. I know her.
She would never do this.
But there was no denying what was in front of her.
♪♪
Sable Spirit took everything that was beautiful
away from anypony else.
But Mistmane was sure there had to be some explanation.
I'd assume there was too, if somepony told me
either one of you two'd gone evil.
Yeah, I'd never believe it.
I dunno...
I've seen the way you two get when you miss breakfast.
Ha! Just kidding!
But I'd want answers, too.
So did Mistmane.
She went to confront her friend.
♪♪
Sable? Is that you?
Don't tell me you don't recognize your old friend.
I don't. My friend would never work our families and friends
to the bone for something as silly as a palace.
Silly? My palace is a beacon of beauty.
Anypony who passes will be in awe of its majesty.
What good is a pretty palace if it just hides the misery
of its ponies?
Beauty is everything.
You taught me that.
What!?
You were always the pretty one.
You got to go to the best magic school.
Everypony missed you.
Everypony loved you.
I admit, I was jealous.
So I tried to perform a spell that would make me beautiful.
You can see how that went.
[gasp]
I vowed if I couldn't have beauty, I would take it.
I wasn't chosen to be Empress, you know.
I took it!
Just like I'm going to take everything else.
Mistmane: I can't let you do that.
Let me? [laughter]
[zapping]
♪♪
[zapping]
♪♪
[glowing]
[whooshing]
[screech]
[glowing]
[whoosh]
[smash]
♪ [dramatic music] ♪
[humming]
[whoosh]
[zapping]
Agh!
♪♪
[cheers]
Rarity: Everypony thought Sable Spirit was defeated
and that was that.
But Mistmane knew there was more she could do to help.
Beauty isn't everything, but Mistmane knew that it does have
the power to make ponies smile.
♪♪
She made a huge sacrifice to bring that smile back
to her friends' and families' faces.
♪♪
Including Sable Spirit's.
♪♪
[gasping]
♪♪
You did this for me?
Even after I was so cruel?
Sable Spirit was so touched
that she vowed to be more like her friend
in the ways that mattered.
From then on, she ruled with kindness and compassion.
♪♪
[cheers]
Even though she gave away her physical beauty,
she dedicated her life to spreading beauty
all over Equestria.
Anytime you go out of your way to brighten somepony's day
by doing something nice like giving them flowers,
you're following in the hoofsteps of Mistmane.
I think she's my favorite legend, too.
[web firing]
[hiss]
Ahhh!!!!
Ugh!
These Fly-ders won't quit!
What do they want from us now?
Well, like it or not, we're food too.
And I've got the bites to prove it!
What are we going to do!?
They're almost here!
[smack]
[crashing]
What?
Now those bugs can't get in.
[panicked gasps]
And we can't get out !
Ah!
[panting]
Let's all just stay calm.
Lemme re-light this fire.
[scraping]
[whoosh]
We just have to wait until the swarm moves on.
Then we'll think of a way out.
How long will that be!?
Don't bears live in caves!?
[whining]
Whoa, whoa.
Scootaloo, you're focusing on the wrong things.
You have a plan!?
Close.
I have a story!
Let me guess, it's about you?
Practically.
It's about my favorite legend, Flash Magnus.
Wasn't he the pony who took on the Dragons?
Dragons!?
Big, scary mean ones or like Spike?
Oh, these were definitely the big scary mean kind.
[shivering]
But not too scary.
You can sit closer to me if you want.
[zip]
[shivering]
A long time ago, before the Wonderbolts were even founded,
Flash Magnus was a lowly cadet in the Royal Legion.
[thwack] [thwack]
♪♪
And the Legion needed to fly over the Dragon Lands
to get to their comrades on the other side.
But as they got closer to the Dragons...
[growl]
... The Dragons attacked!
You said this wasn't too scary!
[muffled] Scootaloo, if you just hang in there...
What?
[snap]
I said, if you just hang in there,
I promise you'll like the ending.
So, like I way saying, Flash Magnus and the Royal Legion
tried to get past the dragons...
... but the Dragons wouldn't let them.
[roar]
Everypony, RETREAT!
[crash]
Flash Magnus and a few other cadets were separated
from the battalion.
♪♪
He managed to get away but the dragons captured his friends
and took them back to their lair.
[scream]
♪♪
Commander!
We need to save our captured comrades.
I appreciate your loyalty, Flash Magnus,
but getting past those dragons is going to be impossible!
Nothing will work.
Apple Bloom: The Commander was right.
You can't out-fight Dragons.
But you can out-think them.
Commander Ironhead, I'm pretty sure I can out-fly the Dragons.
If I can lure them into chasing me,
you can all sneak into the lair and retrieve our friends
before they get back.
Are you really willing to take that chance, Soldier?
I am, Sir.
It's a very brave thing you're doing.
You'll need all the help you can get.
♪♪
Is this... Netitus?
The fireproof shield?
It has protected legion heroes for generations
and today I can't think of a worthier flank
for Netitus to protect!
[clang]
Good luck, soldier.
♪ [military theme] ♪
♪♪
Phew..
Hey! Come and get me, fire breath! If you can!
Hey! Hey! Come and get me!
Hey! I'm over here!
[roar]
[whoosh]
[shakes]
While Flash Magnus bravely flew for his life,
Commander Ironhead was able to get his soldiers back.
♪♪
Flash Magnus flew like the wind.
[whoosh]
Faster than the dragons!
♪♪
But he knew he couldn't do this forever.
♪♪
Luckily, he had a plan.
[thunderclap]
♪♪
[whistle]
♪♪
[whoosh]
He led the dragons straight into a storm
that the Legion had planted.
[thunderclap]
One taste of the lightning and the dragons retreated!
♪♪
[poof]
[cough]
Flash Magnus' plan worked!
[cheers]
♪♪
Scootaloo: Wow!
I did like that ending.
Told ya!
He always inspired me to be my brave and awesome self.
Mmhmm!
Yeah, I guess he kinda reminds me of you.
You guess?
Come on!
I'm just like him.
[laughter]
Hey, d'you hear that?
Uh.. I don't hear anything.
Exactly.
Those gosh darn fly-ders are gone!
We can get out!
[smack] [smack]
Whoa!
[crashing]
Or not.
We're gonna have to see if we can get out the other way.
You mean go further into the dark, spooky cave?
Scootaloo, just remember the story.
You've gotta be brave like me and Flash Magnus. OK?
♪♪
I hear water!
And if there's flowing water, then...
It might lead to the way out!
Ohhh!
OK on three!
One.
Two.
THREE!
[splashes]
Woohoo!
Yeah!
♪♪
Well, whaddaya know?
We found ourselves a shortcut to Winsome Falls!
Scootaloo: Oh.. It's never looked so beautiful!
Well, almost...
♪♪
We sure are sorry that our camping trip
wasn't what we hoped it would be.
Are you kidding?
This trip is awesome!
It is?
We got to hear legendary stories and go on an adventure.
Wait, you three want to stay?
Of course we do!
We could turn those trees into a nice little shelter.
We can get you some big logs and branches to help build it.
And I bet we can find some more berries.
Come on!
Ooo.. I can't wait to see what happens next year!