Magical Mystery Cure | |
---|---|
Season №: | 3 |
Season episode №: | 13 |
Overall episode №: | 65 |
Original airdate: | February 9, 2013 (screening) February 16, 2013 (television) |
Written by: | M. A. Larson |
Storyboard: | Tom Sales and Johnny Castuciano[1] Storyboard assistance by Sabrina Alberghetti[2] |
Songs: | Morning in Ponyville What My Cutie Mark Is Telling Me I've Got to Find a Way A True, True Friend Celestia's Ballad Behold, Princess Twilight Sparkle Life in Equestria |
See also | |
credits • transcript • gallery • allusions animation errors • statistics • speculation | |
Episode guide | |
Previous Games Ponies Play |
Next Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1 |
Magical Mystery Cure is the thirteenth episode of the third season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. It aired as the final episode of the third season and the sixty-fifth episode overall. It is the first episode to feature Twilight Sparkle as an Alicorn and the last episode to take place before the spin-off film My Little Pony Equestria Girls.[3]
In this episode, Twilight Sparkle accidentally switches her friends' destinies and tries to fix them. By doing so, she becomes an Alicorn princess. The title of the episode alludes to the album Magical Mystery Tour, by the Beatles. The episode features a total of seven songs, the most songs in a single episode so far, breaking the previous record of four set by A Friend in Deed.
Production and development[]
M.A. Larson wrote the episode in November 2011.[4] In 2019, he stated that the episode was originally written as the series finale before the greenlighting of the fourth season, and would have ended with a sequence of Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash flying around Equestria and visiting other characters, followed by "a super heartfelt moment with [Twilight and] her friends" and the closing of the storybook from the first episode.[5] Ultimately, the storybook was closed in The Last Problem, the season nine finale.
Show storyboard artist Sabrina Alberghetti helped with some clean up on the episode[6] and said in late December 2012 that she used "what little power" she had to throw in one of her favorite background ponies, who she specified is not hers.[7]
In the summer, musician Andrew Stein played mandolin for show musician William Anderson on a short cue for an episode of the third season,[8][9][10][11] and Stein wrote in early November 2012 that "Apparently it's in the season finale this year"[12] and that it "almost didn't happen" as it was "extremely lucky" that their schedules coincided for it;[13] however, Anderson ended up not having any role in the episode at all, as Daniel Ingram and Steffan Andrews received the only music credit. Stein later confirmed that his mandolin part was cut along with Anderson's work when the music production shifted entirely to Ingram and Andrews.[14] In early August 2012, Anderson wrote that "thirteen already exists"[15] and quoted a subsequent response "You could also interpret him as saying that 313 has already been completed, probably ahead of some of the others, but since I'm just some random nobody, I'd have no idea why they would do that"[16] with his own response "You don't?"[17]
The version of the episode shown on Hasbro.com includes a brief additional sequence at the beginning of the episode. During this sequence, the following text is displayed:
- Series Title: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
- Hub Episode #: 313
- Hasbro Production #: 403-313
- Episode Title: Magical Mystery Cure
- TRT: 22:15 DF (22:13:16 23.98fps)
- Date: October 23, 2012
- Aspect: 16:9 1080p 23.98
- Chs 1-6: 5.1 Full Mix
- Chs 7-8: Full Mix
- Chs 9-10: Dialogue Mix
- Chs 11-12: M&E Mix
- Textless @: 1:23:13:16
A countdown from 10 to 04 occurs to the right of this text, then a test card is very briefly shown, and the episode subsequently begins.[18][19]
One week prior to the episode airing on TV, the episode was shown early at The Hub's Princess Coronation Concert event in Los Angeles.[20] On February 15, 2013, Meghan McCarthy announced on her Twitter page that the season three finale will have continuity into season four as it will be separated into three parts, with season three's finale being served as the first part of a three-part story.[21]
When asked of what was stopping Twilight from casting the spell, Larson responded that the script "didn't include Starswirl's[sic] unfinished spell" and that "it was heavily altered from his final script."[22]
At the 2013 Leo Awards in Vancouver, British Columbia, Daniel Ingram and Steffan Andrews won "Best Musical Score in an Animation Program or Series" for Magical Mystery Cure.[23][24]
Summary[]
Morning in Ponyville[]
The episode begins with Twilight Sparkle awakening to a bright and sunny Ponyville day, singing that she's certain today is going to be perfect. During her song, she wakes up Spike (who goes right back to sleep) and passes by numerous ponies around town, including the Quills and Sofas store owner, who previously appeared in Owl's Well That Ends Well. As her song reaches its climax, Twilight is suddenly interrupted by a splash of rainwater. She immediately accuses Rainbow Dash for the rain but instead finds Rarity on a nearby bridge attempting to manipulate the rainclouds; and to Twilight's shock, Rarity has Rainbow Dash's cutie mark.
- "Something tells me everything is not going to be fine."
- — Twilight Sparkle
The Cutie Mark Switch![]
Twilight questions Rarity about why (or even how) she's controlling the weather and what happened to her cutie mark. Rarity doesn't know what Twilight is talking about. She explains that she is simply doing what she's done since the day her cutie mark first appeared. Rarity's "quilt" of clouds causes it to rain and snow simultaneously in Ponyville, earning her the irritation of the town's residents.
Twilight and a very sleepy Spike go to Fluttershy's cottage (which, according to Rarity, is actually Rainbow Dash's cottage) to find out what's going on. They find a sullen Rainbow Dash inside and open the cottage door to the sight of dozens of woodland animals running amok. What's more, Rainbow Dash has Fluttershy's cutie mark. Twilight finds Fluttershy at Sugarcube Corner with Pinkie Pie's cutie mark, trying to make ponies laugh. Pinkie Pie, wearing Applejack's mark, is trying her best to manage Sweet Apple Acres, and Applejack (with Rarity's mark) is at Carousel Boutique trying to make dresses. Each of Twilight's friends fail miserably at their new tasks and are clearly unhappy, but they sing that they are just doing what their cutie mark is telling them to do, that it's their destiny to do so.
Star Swirl's unfinished spell[]
Twilight and Spike frantically return to Golden Oak Library as Twilight realizes what must have happened: The night before, Princess Celestia had sent her Star Swirl the Bearded's spell book (seen at the end of The Crystal Empire - Part 2). The last page in the book contains Star Swirl's secret, unfinished masterpiece, and Celestia had tasked Twilight with making sense of the spell, believing she is the only pony capable of doing so. She had started by reading the spell aloud:
- "From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled."
- — Star Swirl the Bearded's unfinished spell
As she did so, she inadvertently cast the spell on the nearby Elements of Harmony, causing them all (aside from Twilight's) to change colors. Twilight deduces that this caused her friends' cutie marks to be swapped around as well. Spike suggests casting a counter spell, but there is none. He then suggests her memory-fixing spell from when Discord was freed the first time. Twilight explains that it isn't her friends' memories that have been altered but their true selves. And Zecora's cure for the cutie pox wouldn't help either. Realizing their dead-end situation, Spike reasons that maybe their friends will grow to like their new lives, but Twilight truly doubts it, accepting blame for her friends' misery.
Twilight goes up to her room and laments over her terrible mistake and how much misery she's brought to both her friends and to Ponyville. Spike consoles her, saying he's sure she'll find a way to help her friends and fix everything. Reassured, Twilight looks at a photograph of her with her friends.
- "And they mean more to me than anything. My friends..."
- — Twilight Sparkle
Suddenly, Twilight starts to glow, and she gets an idea: if she can't remind her friends of who they are, she'll remind them of what they mean to each other. She puts the element of magic on and places the rest of the Elements in their chest, then heads out with Spike.
Finding their true selves[]
Twilight and Spike find Fluttershy in front of the Twinkling Balloon. Disappointed by her failure to make anyone laugh, she decides to move back to Cloudsdale. Before she does, Twilight asks her if she could help Rainbow Dash with the animals. Fluttershy is very unsure, but she is willing to do whatever she can to help her true friend.
Back at the cottage, the situation is even worse than before: Rainbow Dash is tied up in a pot, with the animals dancing around her. Fluttershy asks Twilight for a spell, but Twilight refuses and tells her to handle the animals. Fluttershy steps in to feed the woodland creatures, and they instantly calm down and warm up to her. She begins to glow, realizing that this is what she's meant to do, that this is her destiny. Twilight then places the element of kindness on Fluttershy. In a burst of comprehension, Fluttershy finally remembers who she is, and her cutie mark returns to normal.
One by one, Twilight restores the memories and identities of each of her friends by reintroducing them to their correct roles, with the help of her restored friends and the Elements of Harmony: Rainbow Dash helps Rarity clear the weather, Rarity helps Applejack make dresses, Applejack helps Pinkie Pie save Sweet Apple Acres, and Pinkie brings smiles back to everyone in Ponyville.
Finishing the spell[]
With her friends restored to their true selves, Twilight has another epiphany: She knows how to complete Star Swirl's spell! She and her friends return to the library, and Twilight rewrites the spell's incantation:
- "From all of us together, together we're friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!"
- — Twilight's revision of Star Swirl the Bearded's spell
Having completed the spell, the Elements of Harmony spark to life, bathing Twilight in their light. She suddenly vanishes into thin air, leaving a scorch mark on the wood floor in the shape and pattern of her cutie mark.
Twilight's transformation[]
Twilight appears in a strange, ethereal space full of stars and nebulae. Princess Celestia appears before her, congratulating her on creating a brand new form of magic, accomplishing something even Star Swirl the Bearded couldn't, since he didn't understand friendship the way Twilight does. She leads her student down a pathway of stars as dozens of images float by, depicting key moments in Twilight's life and study of magic and friendship. Celestia sings of how proud she is of her student, and that she is now ready to fulfill her destiny.
Suddenly, a shifting blob of magenta energy emerges from Twilight's chest and begins to swirl around her while a pulsing white light grows from her very center. Twilight is lifted into the air, the whirls of magenta and white blanket her, and she disappears in a brilliant flash, like the supernova of a star.
In the night sky over Ponyville, a variation of Twilight's cutie mark (sporting six small white stars instead of five) appears and floats down to the ground. Twilight's friends watch as the light fades away and Twilight appears, now a little taller[25] and with a pair of feathered wings.
As the others gather around to marvel at Twilight's new look, Rarity states that Twilight has become an Alicorn, with Fluttershy commenting that she looks just like a princess. Princess Celestia appears and states that Twilight is a princess, explaining that since arriving in Ponyville, she's displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrity, optimism, and leadership that a true princess is known for. Twilight worries that this means she won't be Celestia's student anymore. Princess Celestia says she'll still be there to help and guide her, but Twilight has just as much to teach now as she has to learn. Twilight's friends and Celestia then bow to her.
The newest princess in Equestria[]
The next day, a princess coronation ceremony is held in Canterlot, which Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadance preside over. Celestia addresses the assembly of ponies, saying Twilight has proven without a doubt that she is prepared to be crowned Equestria's newest princess.
- "Fillies and gentlecolts, may I present for the very first time, Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
- — Princess Celestia
The audience beholds Twilight as she and her royal procession enter the throne room. Before the three other Princesses, she is crowned with a new version of the element of magic tiara.[26] On the castle balcony, Twilight waves to a crowd of hundreds of cheering ponies. Princess Celestia prompts her to say a few words.
In her first official address as princess, Twilight says friendship was at one time something she didn't care much about, but she wouldn't be standing there if it weren't for the friendships she's made. She expresses to her friends her undying gratitude, and considers herself the luckiest pony in Equestria. It's an emotional day for all, even Shining Armor, who Twilight is surprised to find crying. Twilight's friends congratulate her, and she meets the five of them in a group hug.
In a reprise of the episode's first song, the newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle is brought out of the castle in her own chariot before she jumps out to trot and sing alongside her friends. Ponies line the city streets to witness the coronation parade, including Derpy, Cloudchaser, and Flitter. In a final shot of Canterlot, Twilight takes flight on her new wings and soars at the screen, proclaiming everything's going to be just fine.
Quotes[]
- For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.
- Twilight Sparkle: Rainbow Dash, that's not funny!
- Rarity: Terribly sorry, darling. I'm afraid I'm... I'm not good with the thundery ones.
- Twilight Sparkle: Something tells me everything is not going to be fine.
- Twilight Sparkle: Oh, Spike, what have I done?
- Spike: Aw, come on, Twilight, you'll figure out a way to fix this. These are your friends.
- Twilight Sparkle: You're right, Spike. And they mean more to me than anything. My friends...
- Twilight Sparkle: And I know for absolute certain, that everything is certainly fine!
- "From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled. […] From all of us together, together we are friends, with the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!"
- — Star Swirl the Bearded's spell finished by Twilight Sparkle
- Applejack: Twilight...? Is that you?
- Rest of main cast: [gasps]
- Applejack: What... I've never seen anything like it!
- Rainbow Dash: Ha! Twilight's got wings! Awesome, a new flying buddy!
- Rarity: Why, you've become an Alicorn. I didn't even know that was possible!
- Pinkie Pie: Alicorn party! [blows party kazoo]
- [crowd cheering]
- Fluttershy: Wow... you look just like a princess!
- Princess Celestia: That's because she is a princess.
- Main Cast: Huh?
- Pinkie Pie: Hold on a second! [drinks] [does a spit-take]
- Twilight Sparkle: A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship, which is something I didn't really care much about. But now, on a day like today, I can honestly say I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the friendships I've made with all of you. Each one of you taught me something about friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful. Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends. Thank you, everypony!
- Shining Armor: Twilight! I'm so proud of you!
- Twilight Sparkle: Are you crying?
- Shining Armor: Of course not, it's liquid pride. Totally different thing.
- Twilight Sparkle: Yes! Everything's going to be just fine!
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Sabrina Alberghetti (2013-02-14). Johnny and Tom. Retrieved on 2013 February 15.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/TheBiggestJim/status/302807018941591554
- ↑ MMeghanMcCarthy: "@MatthewSephton1: @ Question: .... Twitter (2013-06-23). Retrieved on 2013 September 1.
- ↑ M.A. Larson on Twitter (2012-02-15). Retrieved on 2013 February 15.
- ↑ M.A. Larson (2019-07-18). Yo reddit, I'm M.A. Larson, writer on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. AMA!. Reddit. Retrieved on 2021 July 15.
- ↑ DeviantArt: Comment on *Sibsy's profile (2012-12-20). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ Bronies for Good Charity Livestream - Lauren Faust, Amy Keating Rogers, Cindy Morrow, Sibsy & Others - YouTube (2012-12-23). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ William Anderson Panel - Equestria LA 2012 - YouTube (2012-11-04). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ Twitter / MandoPony: So, to clear things up -- yes,... (2012-11-08). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ DeviantArt: Comment on Christmas banner by *Sibsy (2012-12-10). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ DeviantArt: Comment on The Rumours Are True by *Sibsy (2013-02-07). Retrieved on 2013 February 8.
- ↑ Twitter / MandoPony: Apparently it's in the season... (2012-11-08). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ Twitter / MandoPony: It was extremely lucky that... (2012-11-08). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ Andrew Stein (2013-02-19). I think it got cut from the final score.. Retrieved on 2013 February 24.
- ↑ Magic Math by *willheim on DeviantArt (2012-08-05). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ DeviantArt: Comment on Magic Math by *willheim (2012-08-05). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ DeviantArt: Comment on Magic Math by *willheim (2012-08-06). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ 2013 My Little Pony Redesign. Retrieved on 2013 November 22.
- ↑ My Little Pony Videos & Episodes. Retrieved on 2013 November 22.
- ↑ My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic “Coronation Concert” Event Recap. ComicsOnline (2013-02-13). Retrieved on 2013 February 13.
- ↑ Meghan McCarthy (2013-02-15). I consider the season finale of #MLPFIM a 3-parter.. Twitter. Retrieved on 2013 February 15.
- ↑ M.A. Larson (2015-06-12). @Rotosequence I don't know. That episode was heavily.... Twitter. Retrieved on 2015 June 16.
- ↑ Leo Awards, 2013 Winners by Name. The Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia (2013-06-07). Retrieved on 2013 June 8.
- ↑ Leo Awards via Twitter (2013-06-07). Retrieved on 2013 June 8.
- ↑ Sabrina Alberghetti (2013-02-18). Comment on Sibsy's profile. DeviantArt. Retrieved on 2014 April 18. “Yeah, she's a little taller.”
- ↑ Hold your horses, 'My Little Pony' fans: We've got a new 'Equestria Girls' trailer -- EXCLUSIVE. EW.com (2013-06-07). Retrieved on 2013 June 7.
Episodes, films, and animated shorts |
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Pony Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
Make Your Mark | |||
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Episode 1 Izzy Does It |
Episode 2 Growing Pains |
Episode 3 Portrait of a Princess |
Episode 4 Ali-Conned |
Episode 5 The Cutie Mark Mix-Up |
Episode 6 The Traditional Unicorn Sleep-Over |
Episode 7 Hoof Done It? |
Episode 8 Have You Seen This Dragon? |
Episode 9 Top Remodel |
Episode 10 The Jinxie Games |
Episode 11 Sunny Side Up |
Episode 12 The Manesquerade Ball |
Episode 13 A Little Horse |
Episode 14 Missing the Mark |
Episode 15 Cutie Blossom Bash |
Episode 16 Family Trees Pt. 1 |
Episode 17 Family Trees Pt. 2 |
Episode 18 Father of the Bridlewood |
Episode 19 Mane Smelody |
Episode 20 Nightmare on Mane Street |
Episode 21 The Isle of Scaly |
Episode 22 Roots of All Evil Pt. 1 |
Episode 23 Roots of All Evil Pt. 2 |
Feature films | |||
---|---|---|---|
Equestria Girls | Rainbow Rocks | Friendship Games | Legend of Everfree |
My Little Pony The Movie | A New Generation |
Specials | |||
---|---|---|---|
Dance Magic | Movie Magic | Mirror Magic | Forgotten Friendship |
Rollercoaster of Friendship | Best Gift Ever | Spring Breakdown | Rainbow Roadtrip |
Sunset's Backstage Pass | Holidays Unwrapped | Make Your Mark | Winter Wishday |
Bridlewoodstock | Secrets of Starlight |
Animated shorts | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rainbow Rocks shorts | Friendship Games shorts | Summertime Shorts | Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 1) |
Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 2) | Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending (season 1) | Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending (season 2) | Equestria Girls Minis |
Baby Flurry Heart's Heartfelt Scrapbook | Rarity's Peek Behind the Boutique | Fundamentals of Magic | My Little Pony Established 1983 |
Friendship is Magic shorts | Hello Pinkie Pie | Stop Motion Shorts | Tell Your Tale (season 1) |
Tell Your Tale (season 2) |