Father of the Bridlewood

Father of the Bridlewood
Season №:	1
Season episode №:	18
Overall episode №:	18
Original airdate:	September 18, 2023
Written by:	Kelly Lynne D'Angelo
Storyboard:	Click "Expand" to view       Alison Jensen Tsui Brian Wong Dionne Trinh Franky Leger Gemma Lemon Irene Huang Jun Kumagai Megan Willis Rachel Colucci Shawn Pedralba Virginia Findlay
Featured characters:	Misty Alphabittle Elder Flower
See also
credits • transcript • gallery • allusions animation errors • statistics • speculation
Episode guide
Previous Family Trees Pt. 2	Next Mane Smelody

Father of the Bridlewood is the eighteenth episode of My Little Pony: Make Your Mark, the fourth episode of the series' Chapter 5, and the eighteenth episode overall. The title is a reference to the Father of the Bride media franchise.

In this episode, Misty is overjoyed to be reunited with her father Alphabittle, but as they reconnect, she realizes there is a lot she does not remember about her past.

Summary

Reunited and it feels so good

Picking up shortly after where the previous episode left off, both Alphabittle and Misty are overjoyed to be reunited as father and daughter. However, when Alphabittle shares with Misty her childhood belongings and addresses her by old nicknames, Misty admits that she does not remember much about said belongings and prefers to addressed as "Misty". Alphabittle suggests they spend the day together doing all of Misty's old favorite activities in order to jog her memory.

When Misty mentions that her only memories are of helping Opaline with her plans to conquer Equestria, Zipp Storm believes her memories can provide a clue as to what Opaline's plans are. Sunny Starscout reminds Zipp of how forceful she has been with Misty lately trying to get information out of her and tells her to give Misty space until she is ready. They decide to do some independent investigating on their own, and Izzy Moonbow takes them to see a local unicorn historian.

Holding on to the past

At Misty and Alphabittle's home, Alphabittle shows Misty her old bedroom, left as it was since the day she went missing, and around town, he goes around reintroducing her to the unicorns of Bridlewood. He even suggests playing on some of the foal rides at the playground. Misty feels considerably uncomfortable with all of this, but she grins and bears it for Alphabittle's sake.

At the Crystal Tea Room, Misty no longer has a taste for tea or the passion for slam poetry as she apparently once did. When her level of discomfort becomes too much to bear, she runs away back to her and Alphabittle's house. She confesses to Alphabittle that she is not the same filly she was when she went missing years before and that her interests have drastically changed since then, to the point where she is not even sure what she likes or who she is.

Despite all of this, however, Misty does not want to be alone again and is eager to reconnect with her father in some way. Alphabittle apologizes to Misty for dwelling on her past instead of appreciating the grown mare she is now. The two start over with an activity Misty herself wants to do, and Misty creates her own original tea blend at the Crystal Tea Room.

The key to the present

In the episode B-plot, Izzy introduces Sunny and Zipp to Elder Flower, the oldest living unicorn in Bridlewood and keeper of many of Equestria's old stories and folktales. Izzy asks Elder Flower to share some of her stories with Sunny and Zipp; Elder Flower agrees on the condition that they take her to see Zephyr Heights.

Upon arriving in the city of Pegasi, Elder Flower immediately starts taking in the sights, pining at length about how much things have changed (or not changed) since the days of ancient Equestria. Sunny and Zipp attempt multiple times to ask Elder Flower about Opaline, but the elderly unicorn keeps getting sidetracked by city sights and acting senile.

Sunny and Zipp take Elder Flower to the old Zephyr Heights airship hangar, hoping that seeing the stained glass windows depicting the Unity Crystals will jog her memory. Unfortunately, Elder Flower continues to tell seemingly nonsensical stories about ancient Equestria. Despite this apparent waste of time, Sunny and Zipp are satisfied to have done something to make Elder Flower happy.

Just as the three are about to return to Bridlewood, Elder Flower notices the large tree Misty grew in Cutie Blossom Bash, calling it a "Together Tree". Elder Flower explains that "Together Trees" are powerful, magical trees grown from the deep friendship between ponies; Bridlewood's Wishing Tree is one such tree. They form a magical network of communication and protection via their roots underground. Sunny and Zipp are ecstatic to have finally learned something new from their time spent with Elder Flower.

Mindfulness of the future

When Misty confesses to Alphabittle that she still does not truly feel at home in Bridlewood, he arranges for her to move into the Crystal Brighthouse and live with her friends. The Mane 5, more than happy to accommodate Misty, set up a bedroom space for her in the Brighthouse and move some of her childhood things in it. Misty eagerly accepts this arrangement.

Sunny, Izzy, and Elder Flower soon join their friends at the Crystal Brighthouse, and Elder Flower explains to them what she already told Sunny and Zipp about the Together Trees. Back in Zephyr Heights, a glowing flower blooms on Misty's Together Tree.

Quotes

For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.

Alphabittle: Oh, I can't believe it! My daughter Misty has returned! Whoo! Well, back then, I used to call you "Misty-Wisty", but we can retire that nickname if you like.

Queen Haven: Nothing beats having a daughter. Except maybe having two!

Alphabittle: No more "Alphabittle" here. From now on, call me "Dad".

Izzy Moonbow: Okay, Dad! Oh, you meant just Misty.

Misty: I don't remember [...] the last time I even played a game. Unless you count "The Evil Plotting Game", where you have to strategize and take over the whole world and all of ponykind? Opaline does love that one.

Sunny Starscout: Your tactics with Misty lately have been a little... extreme.

Zipp Storm: [scoffs] What are you talking about?

Zipp Storm: tell me about opaline right now!

Zipp Storm: ...I guess I have come on a bit strong.

Misty: [referring to Alphabittle] He has no idea who I am now. But I have to go along with it. I want this to be the best day ever for him.

Misty: Do you mind if I borrow this?

Jasper: Aren't you a little old to be using this?

Misty: Heh. Yeah, but... Wait, aren't we the same age?

Jasper: What about it?

Izzy Moonbow: Elder Flower is the storyteller in Bridlewood! She has tales that have been passed down through generations and generations of little ponies! Like, all of the past is in her mind! Can you belizzle that?!

Elder Flower: I cannot believe that Pegasus! They're wearing a vintage Carousel Boutique hat! Do you know how hard those are to find?

Onyx: It was a commentary on the loss of identity.

Dapple: Imbued with undertones of fear about a newfound, fragile father-daughter relationship.

Alphabittle: You didn't like any of the things we did?

Misty: No, I didn't. The truth is I don't actually know what I like. Or even who I am. I haven't really had the chance to figure it out yet.

Alphabittle: Let's start over. My name is Alphabittle, and I am your father. Though I know nothing about you, someday when you're ready, I want to hear all about your life and experiences and who you are now!

Misty: It's a pleasure to re-meet.

Elder Flower: Once, I attended a super fancy sparkly wedding, but all the ponies kept changing shapes, and I almost threw out my hip!

Elder Flower: All in a day's work existing with the knowledge of my unicorn ancestors! Especially Great Great Great Great Auntie Moon Dancer! She sure is a lot! ...Quit your yappin'! I hear ya!

Alphabittle: You don't have to live with me in Bridlewood. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. You're a grown pony now, not my baby filly. And... that's okay. [sighs] Just promise you'll call me every week.

Gallery

v • e Episodes, films, and animated shorts

Make Your Mark
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