[groan]
[whap]
What's wrong, Twilight?
Ugh, I've gone through every
book in Ponyville, Spike,
and there isn't a single
mention of the mysterious
chest that came from the Tree of Harmony,
nor anything about keys to unlock it!
But something tells me that opening
it is pretty important.
I hope Princess Celestia has some ideas.
If the library in Canterlot
doesn't have anything,
I- I don't know where else to look!
[yelp]
[belch]
My dearest Twilight
while it would be perfectly lovely
to have you in Canterlot once more
I have another option in mind
much closer to Ponyville.
[Princess Celestia's voice] As you
know, the ancient castle that I once
shared with Princess Luna
lies mostly in ruins,
deep in the Everfree Forest
But if you look carefully,
you may find a
book that could prove
helpful to your research
hidden somewhere in what's
left of the castle library.
[happy gasp]
Wow! Look at all these ancient books!
It's a veritable goldmine of information!
I can't believe it! Woo-hoo!
Whoa, whoa-whoa! Oof!
[yelp]
Uh, heh-heh. So, uh, Twilight.
Uh, ready to head home?
Are you kidding? This place is perfect!
[teeth chattering]
(theme song begins) My Little Pony,
My Little Pony, ah, ah, ah, ah,
(My Little Pony) Twilight: I used to
wonder what friendship could be
(My Little Pony) Until you all
shared its magic with me
Rainbow Dash: Big adventure
Pinkie Pie: Tons of fun
Rarity: A beautiful heart
Applejack: Faithful and strong
Fluttershy: Sharing kindness
Twilight: It's an easy feat
All: And magic makes it
all complete, yeah
(My Little Pony) Do you know,
you're all my very best friends
[bees buzzing]
I'm not gonna move. You move.
Uh-uh. There is no way I'm movin'
This is the most daring dare anypony
ever dared dare another pony to dare!
Huh?
It's exciting!
[pop]
[bee buzzing]
Uh, whatcha'll doing?
Rainbow Dash and Applejack
are competing
for the title of "Most Daring Pony"!
This is the final test: the Bee
Stare! Last pony to blink wins!
...I'm gonna need my bees back.
But then we'll never find out
who the Most Daring Pony is!
Eh, sorry about that.
[whistles]
[buzzing stops]
Well, what do we do now?
Don't worry, ladies, I've been
keeping excellent score all day!
Hmm, move the decimal,
carry the , and...
[aloud] Congratulations!
You're tied!
Tied?
You can't be tied for
the Most Daring Pony!
I dunno! Numbers don't lie!
I'd love to stay and
keep keeping score,
but I promised to help test
the new school bell.
I get to ring it all week, nonstop!
And I don't even have to take turns,
because no one else volunteered!
[giggles]
Okay, no problem. We just have to
come up with another daring dare.
Right.
I think I might have an
idea of what we can do.
Um, Rarity?
Don't you think it's a
little late in the day
to be walking through the forest?
It is... star-spider season, after all.
Though, I'm sure you have a
very good reason.
Simply the most important reason
I've ever had in my entire life!
Oh, well then I'm happy to help.
What is it?
I've heard rumors that the
Castle of the Two Sisters
is filled with the most gorgeous
of ancient tapestries
in all of pony history!
It pains me to think of those
magnificent creations
rotting away in those old ruins,
totally unappreciated.
I see...
I require your help in
borrowing one or two
to bring back to the boutique
where I can restore them
Maybe I'll even use the patterns
as the inspiration for a new line!
That does sound... very important.
Yes, well, [clears throat]
maybe not the most important
thing in my entire life,
but retro-ancient classical will be
all the rage next season,
so it's nothing to sneeze at.
[sneezes]
Um, are you sure you
need those tapestries?
But, of course. Although, I must
admit these ruins are a fright
Just look at all the dirt
everywhere! Ugh...
[gasp] Angel!
Goodness! It's practically
an artistic treasure trove
of ancient good taste! [sigh]
Angel! Oh, you really shouldn't
have run off like that.
Ancient ruins are filled with all
sorts of things that can hurt you!
You could stub your toe,
or, or trip on a loose stone...
You have to be careful!
I don't think I'll need all
these candles, Twilight.
I was really only scared for a second.
Oh, these aren't for you, Spike.
We're gonna be studying
late into the night,
and we're gonna need all
the light we can get.
Oh, great.
Well, here we are!
Uh, what's so daring about this place?
This is where we got the Elements of Harmony.
When I was just a filly, Granny
Smith told me of an ancient legend.
When Nightmare Moon was banished,
not every last bit of her
dark magic went with her.
Granny used to say,
when night falls on the castle,
that magic takes the form of...
the Pony of Shadows!
You mean, like a ghost?
[spookily] Nopony knows!
Ugh.
[excited gasp] This one is perfect!
Well, it certainly could
use some restoration.
Be a dear, fly up there and
lift it off that hook?
[grunts]
[calling out] Maybe from below?
[clattering and shuffling]
I don't see what's so daring
about an old legend.
Plus, I don't believe in ghosts.
You might wanna rethink
your position on that
[scared yelling]
[yelling] [screaming]
[screaming]
You saw that, right?
Run!
[clattering and shuffling]
Ow... I think I hurt my wing.
Oh, my dear, I am so sorry!
That tapestry is far too heavy. We'll
just have to find a smaller one.
Oh, of course.
Where, pray tell, did you disappear to?
What do you mean?
While you were struggling
under that fabric,
the entire wall spun around!
You must have activated a secret door.
Oh, I'm sorry
I suppose these ruins are chock full of them
Really?
Absolutely.
We must use the utmost care as we—
[yelp]
[panting]
Okay, so, maybe the legend is true!
Well, that's why I brought you here!
I guess only the most daring
pony of all could stay
in this castle all night
without being scared off.
[screech]
Scared? I'm not scared!
Well, m-me neither!
Then it's settled!
Whoever stays in the castle the
longest is the Most Daring Pony
Deal.
[clop]
But it's gonna take a
lot more than some
shadowy ghost pony
to get me to leave.
Me too! Humph!
Find anything, Spike?
Uh, nope. Nothing yet
[boing]
Aaah!
Angel? What are you doing here?
[whoosh, clatter]
[gasp] Whoa!
The Journal of the Two Sisters.
[gasp] Maybe this is the book
Princess Celestia was talking about!
I sure hope you're not afraid
of the dark, Applejack!
I can't say that I am! But even if I
was, I'd be at least fifty percent
less scared of it than you,
Rainbow Dash.
I dunno how all that math works
because I'm not scared at all!
Me neither!
[whoosh]
Huh?
W- what's the matter?
It's just a dark hallway full of...
disembodied pony legs
Yeah. Nothin'... creepy about that.
I'm starting to wonder if maybe this
castle doesn't want my expertise!
Oh dear. Angel? Rarity, have you seen him?
I'm not sure he made the
trip down with us, dear
Oh, goodness! We have to find him.
An ancient castle is no place for a bunny.
He could get hit by falling debris,
or the floor could give out under him!
Oh! He could be trapped in a
dark place with no way out!
[flatly] I can only imagine
how that might feel. Hmm...
Applejack, if you're scared,
you can just admit it.
You don't need to put your hoof around me.
Uh, I'm over here
[scream]
[scream]
[gasp]
Rarity! What is it?
I felt something... alive!
[gasp] Angel!
[rattle, spin]
Well, tapestries or no, I have had
just about enough of secret passages,
mysterious presences,
and unappreciative castles! [echoes]
But we can't leave now,
not with Angel lost somewhere
in this dangerous old castle!
He could be trapped under
a crumbling statue,
or stuck high in a tower
without food or water
or any friends at all!
[munching]
Spike, you've got to hear this.
I love to duck behind the paintings,
and though the Hall of Hooves still
gives her a bit of a fright,
the trap door slide is Luna's favorite.
"Hall of Hooves"?
Soon the Organ to the Outside
will be finished. I can hardly wait.
What's the "Organ to the Outside"?
[happily] I have no idea!
[organ music]
[crash]
You hear that?
You mean, the creepy sound
of a haunted pipe organ?
Uh... maybe?
[worried] I don't know what
you're talking about!
[organ music, whinny]
Uh, Twilight? Did you hear something?
Oh, Spike. Quit being such a scaredy-dragon.
This castle is thousands of years old,
and half of it was destroyed
by Nightmare Moon.
Of course it makes strange sounds.
It's practically falling apart!
[clatter]
[giggles]
Oh... kay
[calling] Angel! Angel!
I'm sure we'll find him.
Angel?
[hysterical yelling]
Did you find Angel? Is he okay?
[gasp] They are perfect!
No castle in its right mind
could possibly object
to my restoring such
exquisite works of art.
Oh! They're lovely, Rarity, but...
I have to keep looking for Angel.
Oh, I hope he doesn't think
I've given up on him.
I'm right behind you! Won't...
[grunts] be... [grunts] a moment!
Do you think there's a
single room in this castle
that isn't filled with terrifying things?
[rattle]
Whoa! [nervous laughter] It's just
old pony armor. What's the big deal?
Yeah! It's not like it's gonna
come to life or anything. Right?
[organ note] Huh?! [spinning]
[screams]
[organ chord] [yelps] [spinning]
[screams]
[organ chord]
[carrot platform spins]
[organ broken chord]
Whoa-oa! [lightning
and thunder] [screams]
[screams]
[more ominous organ music with strings]
[crash of thunder]
[groans, spits] Now, you look here, castle!
You are very old and very scary!
But your wall art is in an atrocious
state! [wind whistling]
And there is nothing
you can do to keep me
from my sacred task of restoration!
Uh... Applejack? If you went back to
Ponyville, that means I win, right?
[rattle, crash]
[screaming]
Rarity!
I know hiding isn't really
your sense of humor,
but please let this be a joke!
[light tap]
[loud organ chord]
[spinning]
Rainbow? Hello? I guess if I don't
find you, I win by default, right?
[grunts]
[grumbles]
Of all the castles in Equestria,
this is by far the most ungrateful!
[bonk]
[lightning]
Angel! Rarity!
Oh... I hope you two are together.
[rock sliding]
[yells]
Haunted statues, creepy armor...
Come on, castle! Is that all you got?
[thunder]
[all screaming]
[screaming]
[screaming]
[screaming]
Aah! Aaaah! I was only trying to
restore ancient art! [muffled crying]
[lightning]
[whimpering] [gasp] Angel?
AAANGEEEEEL!!!
What in the world is that?!
Oh, you know.
Probably just more strange
sounds of this old castle falling apart!
No one likes sarcasm, Spike.
What got into them?
[grunting] It's okay, Angel!
You're okay! You're okay!
Yaaaaah! Shadows everywhere!
[screaming]
[crying]
[sobbing] Aaangeeeeel!
Alright, everypony, stop!
Twilight?
Must... save... Ange-!... Oh.
Fluttershy? What are you doing here?
She's with me...
[gasps] Thank you
Have you all spent the whole night
running around, scaring each other?
Well, that depends.
On what?
On whether or not you're the Pony of Shadows
What's... the Pony of Shadows?
Oh, that's just an old ponies' tale.
[organ music]
Then who's playing... that?
We're going to find out.
[ominous organ music continues]
[all gasp]
[whispered] The Pony of Shadows!
[organ player continues]
Hey, you guys! Did you know I
can totally play the organ?
Because I didn't!
Pinkie?!
Check it out!
[plays sports "Charge!" theme]
You're the Pony of Shadows?
[continues playing light melody]
The pony of what?
See? What'd I tell ya?
I thought you went to ring
the school bell all week!
Oh, yeah! I only had to ring
it for, like, five minutes!
They said that was good enough!
Eh, can't imagine why...
[bell ringing]
So then, I decided to throw a "finish
ringing the school bell" party!
But I didn't have any bluebells,
and you can't throw a "finish
ringing the school bell" party
without bluebells,
so I went to Everfree Forest to pick
some, but it started to get so chilly
[plays happy organ music]
I had to wrap myself up in the tarp
I was gonna use to gather flowers,
and then I saw Fluttershy and Rarity.
But they went into the castle
before I could invite them to my party.
Luckily, I followed them inside so I could
help you all with your party!
[stops playing]
What party is that?
Uh, the "everypony come
to the scary old castle
and hide from each other while I
play the organ" party? [plays note]
[sproing, thud]
Duh!
I swear, this is going right
back where I found it
just as soon as I've
returned it to its former glory.
Now don't go running off again!
Oh, I can't believe I was so frightened.
Guess I let my imagination
get the best of me.
I think we all did
I always let my imagination
run away from me!
Then it comes back... with cake!
Well, it's good to know that whenever
your imagination is getting away from you,
a good friend can help you rein it in.
And even though I didn't find anything
out about the mysterious chest,
I'm glad I was here to help all of you.
You certainly did that, Twilight.
Yeah! Why weren't you scared?
Reading Celestia's diary
made it hard to be afraid,
because I knew what it was like
when she and Luna lived here.
Knowing something about the past made it
easier to deal with my
problems in the present,
even the scary ones.
[remarks of agreement]
I've just thought of a great idea!
Why don't we keep a journal,
just like the royal pony sisters?
All of us?
Sure! That way we can
learn from each other!
And maybe some day, other ponies will
read it and learn something, too!
What a splendid idea!
I know what my first entry will be!
"Dear Diary, I'm glad Granny
Smith's legend wasn't true. "
Me too!
Me three!
Because that means you two are
still tied for Most Daring Pony!
Heh, Shadow Ponies...
How ridiculous is that?