04x04 - Sunny Side Up

[bunniefuu]

(groaning)

Argh!

Okay, a Protein
Power Punch for Zipp.

Fruity-colada for Pipp,
and for her "Royal Flyness",

the usual: a Green Monster
with extra greens.

Hold the monster.

Hey? Where is your mom, anyway?

- (phone chiming)
- Oh, she sent a text!

She says… Huh. Dog emoji?

- What does that mean?
- Mom's terrible at texting.

Last week, she sent me a text
that just said, "Don't".

But she never misses
mother-daughter brunch!

And now, she's sending us
cryptic messages?!

It can only mean one thing…
She's been ponynapped!

(laughing)

(chuckling nervously)
You're right.

That sounded less silly in my head.

- (Hitch): Ponynapped?!
- Huh?

Never fear, Hitch is here!

Slow your roll!
Or uh… slow your hop, buddy.

It's no big deal. Mom just didn't show up
for our monthly brunch.

But she did send us this dog emoji!

Sorry! Can't… see… while… bouncing!

Yeah, I'm gonna need some context
for what all of this is, Hitch.

(panting)
I'm training for Forest Critter Field Day!

- What's that?
- (whistle blowing)

That's a hop-stoppage penalty!

You're out!

What?! That's not in the rules!

Uh, yes it is!

Right here in the Forest Critter
Field Day manual. Page 403.

What's Forest Critter Field Day?

(gasps)
It's only the greatest

ancient Unicorn tradition there is!

Every fourth purple moon,
all the ponies in Bridlewood

gather for a day of thrilling
events and games!

Games… games… games!

What game is this?
"Bounce around"?

No, that's later! Hitch is training
for the Bunny Hop Relay.

You bunny hop through an obstacle course
while balancing a crystal,

then pass the crystal to your critter,

who has to hop over hurdles
to the finish line!

I'm teaming up with Sparky!

(growling)

Sparky, catch!

Mm. That's a crystal droppage penalty!
You're out!

(whistle blowing)

♪ Hey you've gotta let it glow ♪

♪ You've gotta let it shine ♪

♪ Oh let's make our mark together ♪

♪ Just riding on forever ♪

♪ Just keeps on getting better
better better ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ Everypony everywhere ♪

♪ You can feel it in the air ♪

♪ Find your spark
and just glow and shine ♪

♪ Make a mark
that you can share ♪

♪ Hoofed at heart
you know we care ♪

♪ Oh ponies come on ♪

♪ Let's all unite ♪♪

(whistle blowing)

Wait, who's out?
Me or Sparky?

You're both out! You dropped your crystal
and Sparky isn't even a critter.

He's a baby!

- But, but…
- Look!

"Every pony contestant must compete
with a critter! No baby dragons."

There's no way it says that.

Oh. Wow, it does say that.

Well, now I need a new partner! What kind
of critter should I compete with?

- Oh! A dog!
- I know!

But why did she text a dog?

- Hmm…
- (Hitch): Ah-ha!

- (barking)
- (Pipp): Oh!

Mom sent Cloudpuff?
With a note?!

Mom. Just learn how to text! Ugh!

- (barking)
- (Pipp): Cloudy, wait!

Look at that dog go!
He's so fast!

(gasps)
Which is perfect!

(gasps, grunts)

(panting)

- Cloudpuff?
- (barking)

(grunts)
Huh?

- (sighing)
- (barking)

He says, "Dearest princesses,
I bring to you a message

from your dear mother, her Royal Majesty,
Queen Haven of Zephyr Heights…"

- Get to it, Puff!
- (barking)

Cloudpuff says that before
he delivers his message,

he first requires a meal of the finest--

Oh, for hoofness sakes!

"My darlings, it is with deepest regret
that I must postpone

today's mother-daughter brunch. Some very
important state business has come up

- and could not wait…"
- (gasps)

(Zipp): "Let's reschedule for another time
that's more inconvenient for you both.

With love, Mother."

Um, did she mean to say
"more convenient"?

- (both sighing)
- (together): No.

Mom takes royal meetings all the time,
but our special brunch is special!

And she loves brunch!
(gasps)

I think maybe she has been ponynapped.

- Come on.
- Look at the bottom!

A cute little heart?

When has she ever drawn
a cute little heart on a note before?

Hmm, you know what?
That is suspicious.

(phone shutter clicking)

What do you make of all this, Sheriff?

- Make of what?
- What else?!

Cryptic messages
and cute little hearts!

Something sinister is ahoof.

Maybe Mom's being
held hostage somewhere,

all alone… with no brunch to eat!

Okay, I think somepony's
being overdramatic.

But something is definitely up with her.

Hmm…

Could you help us figure it out?

- I will help you.
- (Cloudpuff panting)

And I know just where we should
look for her first.

(indistinct chatter)

- Oh yeah!
- Hitch!

The Queen of Zephyr Heights
is not being held c*ptive

at the Bridlewood Forest
Critter Field Day!

But you never know!

It's as good a place to start
our search as any.

Come on, Puffy,
let's go register!

(Jasper): Now, don't lose this.

Yeah! Hey, uh…

You haven't seen any Pegasus queens
around here, have you?

Well, guess you two were right!
She's not here.

But I'm sure your mom is just fine.

She's probably somewhere
enjoying brunch right now.

(groaning)
Without me?

- Ugh! She could never!
- But hey, now that we're here,

now you can cheer me and Cloudpuff on
in the first event!

Come on Pipp, let's go watch
some weird sports.

(groaning)

Or you could help me give out
the trophies?

I'll help, Izzy! All these new unicorn
traditions are so fascinating.

I'd love to get an inside look.

Ooh! Wait until you ponies see it.

The Field Day games
are so elegant!

Beautiful! Majestic!

(coughing)
Majestic.

(sighing)

Hello?

Is anypony home?

Sunny?

Izzy?

- (gasps)
- (Skye): Stay right where you are!

You don't want to miss a minute

of our Bridlewood Forest Critter
Field Day coverage!

Oh.
(groaning)

This sneaking around stuff is stressful!

I wish there was another way
for a pony to get a Cutie Mark.

Guess they're not here, though.

Next Up: It's "Push-Over"!

So, the point of the game
is you push somepony over?

Right! Or… they push you over!

You just push? Is there a starting bell?
Or a score?

Do we flip a bit to see
who goes first?!

Or do I just…

Right! Winner!

- (chuckling)
- Wait! Him?!

That makes no sense!

Another winner!

- (barking)
- What?!

Ugh, it's hard to focus on these games
when all I can think about is Mom.

- I'm sure she's fine!
- Yeah, but I'm not sure!

You're a detective! Can't you start
a real investigation or something?

(moaning)

- (sighing)
- (beeping)

New entry: the case
of the missing mother.

(singing): Yes!

(gasps)
We should question that grumpy old

Alphabittle at the Tea Room.

He knows all the Bridlewood gossip.

(maniacal laughter in the distance)

(gasps)
That laugh!

That's Mom's laugh!

Uh, no, it's not.

Flypad: play Queen Haven laughing.

(Queen Haven laughing)

That's Mom's laugh.

No, that's the phony laugh
she does in public.

(maniacal laughter in the distance)

That's Mom's real laugh!

(panting)

Ah-ha!

- (Zipp): Mom?! What are you doing here?
- (gasps)

Blink twice if you're being held hostage!

Girls! This is Alphabittle!
And uh, this is his Tea Room!

Alphabittle, these are my daughters,
the princesses Pipp and Zipp.

We know him! But why are you guys
hanging out together?!

And why didn't you show up for brunch?!

If you two are hungry, we got
a great brunch here, right, Haven?

- Mm-hmm.
- (gasps)

Hitch was right!
You brunched without us!

Didn't you get my message?
Didn't Cloudpuff look so sweet

with his little scroll?

Sure it was a little cryptic,
but you girls do love decoding things!

Would you two like some tea?

We're having a family discussion!
Can you please give us a minute?

Girls! That was very rude.

Like bailing on a brunch date?

Darlings, I told you that
something important came up.

This is important?!

Winner!

Ugh, this Field Day is a special occasion
for the Unicorns,

and now that the Pegasus
and Unicorns are… reuniting,

well, it's, it's important that we have,

um… ambassadors to… when they…

What are you saying?

I am here in an official capacity!

Now, if you don't mind, Alphie and I
were discussing official… negotiations?

- Uh…
- Yeah.

We're gonna… go outside now.

Hm.

(groaning)

Did she just call him "Alphie"?

So, the dragon's not here
and I still can't get up the elevator,

but there's got to be something
I can take to her.

I can't show up empty-hooved
again or… wait!

(grunts)

(gasps)
Bingo.

If I can't bring Opaline their dragon,
maybe I can bring her their memories.

Maybe there's magic in them.

Now, what event is this
we're watching, Skye?

Well, Dazzle, I'm glad you asked.

This isn't an event at all.

(Skye): What the unicorns are doing here
is called a "jinxie" dance.

This is an interesting ritual
that they sometimes perform…

to "unjinx" themselves if they're
confronted with anything magical.

They believe magic
may bring them bad luck.

Aren't unicorns themselves magical?

Oh yes, but as we know,
they didn't have access

to their unicorn magic
for many thousands of moons.

Fascinating, Skye.
Truly superstitious.

And stay tuned after the games,
tonight at eight.

The ZBS true Zephyr story:
the royal family.

(Skye): Check back in with our favorite
high-flying sovereigns.

- (groaning)
- (clattering)

The young princesses may have flown
the nest of the Palace now,

but royal bonds are keeping
this family closer than ever!

(chuckling)

This is even worse than I feared.

(laughing)
(snorting)

Aw, look at that cute little face!

Now she's showing him embarrassing
pictures of me as a filly!

And here he is as a little pirate.

Oh and here, he's a ballerina.

Watch this, he eats his whole
puppy cupcake in one bite!

Now that's a hungry pup!
(chuckling)

(sighing)
Thank hoofness I have Cloudy.

With the girls away now,
I feel so… alone sometimes.

Hey.

You're not alone.

(exclaiming in disgust)

(panting)

Hey! Can you two Sparky-sit for a sec?

We've got to get across
this balance beam

before those birds drop
stewed cabbage ba*ls on us!

- (Sparky giggling)
- (Hitch): Thanks!

I think I've finally figured out
the rules! Ha-ha!

(exclaiming)
Ow. Ow.

(whistle blowing)

Winner!

(sighing)
Spoke to soon.

(grunting)

Yeah!

(whistle blowing)

Winner!

- (cheering)
- Huh?

(grunting)

(barking)

(crowd exclaiming)

(gasps)

- Uh… winner?
- Mm-hmm.

(sighing)

(grunting)

(barking)

(whistle blowing)

Winner!

- (cheering)
- (sighing)

What in the hay is happening
out there?

Uh, I don't know. This is literally
what every sport looks like to me.

This poem means a lot to me. It's called,
"Visiting dignitary Queen Haven

of Zephyr Heights is about
to make public remarks

on the Grand Marshal's stage."
(clears throat)

(light drumming)

Pain.

Metamorphosis.

Long division.

Alright. Sorry, everypony.

Uh… Queen Haven
on the Mane Stage, um… right now.

- (cheering)
- (epic music)

- Um…
- Huh?

(gurgling)

(gasps)

Thank you! I'm very honored to be here
on this very special day.

Here we all are, Unicorns,
Earth ponies and Pegasi,

united and rebuilding the strong bond
that once…

…we didn't, uh…

We didn't realize how much
we needed each other.

How wonderful it can be
when we're… all together.

Which is to say, I'm very excited to join
in the judging of the day's final event,

the "Forest Critter Grand Prix"!

(cheering)

(exclaiming)

(grunting)

Coming up next: the final event
of the day and this is a big one!

The Forest Critter Grand Prix!

(sighing)

Oh, we're so happy!

We all have Cutie Marks and
get to live with our best friends!

(gasps)

Oh!

But before we get to that,
let's take one more look

at Queen Haven's very moving
Field Day remarks.

We didn't realize how much
we needed each other.

How wonderful it can be
when we're… all together.

(light drumming)

On your marks, get set…

(grunts)

(trumpet)

And they're off!

Oh! Wait until you see this one!

You're not gonna believe how wild it is!

The Grand Prix is the biggest
event of the whole day!

I'm so excited!

(cheering)

Wait! Ugh!

Stop the race, we can't see!

Hold your hooves, Iz!
Pipp and I can fix this. Come on, Sis!

Okay! They're pulling a boulder up
a hill with like…

some sort of giant rubber band?

Oh-oh! That's the rock trot!
Who's in the lead?

- Hitch is!
- Yes!

(Sparky grunting)

Um… there's a baby up here.

Is this a part of the race?

Hmm.

Huh?
(groans)

Now he and Cloudpuff are…
are they on waterskis?!

Yeah, it's waterskis and it looks like

they're being pulled
by a gaggle of geese?

Oh, oh! The water fowl slalom!

The goose is loose!

Did they jump through
all six flaming hoops yet?

Pipp? Pipp!
What's happening now?!

(Pipp): No!

He's feeding her cheeses,
from a fancy platter!

Who, Hitch? Hm? They aren't supposed
to eat the cheese

- until the Gouda Relay…
- Uh-huh?

Oh, oh, it's just so gross!

(giggling)

Uh… what do we do?!

(giggling)

This is bad luck!

Terrible luck!
I know how to solve this!

Bing-Bong!
Bing-Bong!

(all): Bing-Bong! Bing-Bong! Bing-Bong!

(grunting)

(dramatic music)

(grunting)

Come on, Cloudpuff!
We've almost got this!

(giggling)

(gasps)

(giggling)

Oh my chamomile!

Uh, what do we do?!

Somepony help!
Hang in there, baby!

Oh no! Alphie, look!

What's she pointing at?

- (both gasping)
- (Pipp): Sparky!

(Zipp): Hold on, Sparky!

Huh?

(gasps)

Cloudpuff, hurry!

Oh!
(exclaiming)

- (gasps)
- I've got you!

- Oh, no!
- Ah!

Somepony use your magic!

(gasps)

(grunting)
Sparky!

(sighing)

Are you okay?

(giggling)

(sighing)

(gurgling)

(panting)

(Hitch): Come on, we got this!

Woo-hoo!

Yeah!

- (cheering)
- Awesome!

- Woo-hoo!
- Woo!

Oh yeah! Woo-hoo!

- Winner!
- Yes!

What?!

- Yay!
- Huh?

Ah! Oh!

(giggling)

Oh, happy day!

But I… But we…
We finished first!

And Elder Flower
finished second last year,

so we promised her that no matter what,
she could be the winner this year.

It's right here in the rules. Page 372.

This is ridiculous!
Let me see that!

(sighing)

- Thank you all for--
- Hey, can we get an official

Grand Marshal ruling on this?

(indistinct whispering)

The Queen and I have discussed it

and there has indeed been
a grave oversight.

- (gasps)
- The Bridlewood Forest Critter

Field Day Grand Marshal awards
the team of Hitch and Cloudpuff…

- Uh-huh…
- …the very prestigious

cutest puppy award!

(cheering)

The what?!

That's not even a real category!
He's the only puppy here!

Winner!

It says it right here, dude. Cutest puppy.

- (sighing)
- We are so sorry we lost track of Sparky!

Seriously. We let our own stuff
get in the way and we feel so bad!

It's not your fault.
I'm the one who let his own stuff

get in the way of things.
Sparky's my responsibility.

I just got so wrapped up with these games
and trying to figure out the rules.

But the rules made no sense!

That… Did that make any sense?

So… you're not mad?

- Only at myself.
- Come on, champ!

All the winners have to go answer
questions for the Bridlewood

Pony Press Association.

That was very noble of you, girls.

It's not always easy to apologize.

Yeah, well…
Hitch is our friend, you know?

I do know.

Oh yuck! Hitch is our friend!

We play board games with him! Not like…
like whatever this thing is.

Pipp Petals! Zephyrina Storm!
You will listen to me right now!

- (gasps)
- Uh-oh.

Sorry. Ahem… It's just that…
you two are growing up.

You've flown the nest
and started living your lives!

But I still have a life too.

I love your new friends and I love
the ponies you're all growing into.

- And I also love--
- Okay! Okay! We get it.

We're sorry, Mom.
We do want you to be happy.

Yeah. You deserve to have brunch,
even when we're not there.

Oh. Thank hoofness for that!

I love you, girls.

(both): We love you too.

Then hug mother!

(bright music)

- (snoring)
- (Skye): For Dazzle and the rest

of the team here at ZBS Sports,
this is Skye Silver

wishing you all a magical night
from Bridlewood.

Fly safe everypony!

- (tires screeching)
- (gasps)

(laughing)

(laughing)

Which one of us forgot
to close the window?

(laughing)
Wasn't me!

(grunting)

Oh… thank you.

I… I must've dropped--

(grunting)

(moaning)

(Opaline's voice): Get that dragon!

(sighing)

Hoofness gracious, Sparky!

How did you get outside?

Hmm. Huh.

(Opaline): Misty!

Get down here right this instant!

(sighing)
Coming, Opaline.

(bright music)

(♪♪)