Friendship is Magic, part 1

Friendship is Magic, part 1
Season №:	1
Season episode №:	1
Overall episode №:	1
Original airdate:	October 10, 2010
Written by:	Lauren Faust
Storyboard:	Tom Sales Mike West Sherann Johnson Sam To
Featured characters:	Nightmare Moon
See also
credits • transcript • gallery • allusions animation errors • statistics • speculation
Episode guide
Previous N/A	Next Friendship is Magic, part 2

Friendship is Magic, part 1 is the first episode of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, which premiered to coincide with the debut of its airing television channel, The Hub. The episode is referred to as Mare in the Moon, another title for Nightmare Moon, on Hasbro's viewing guide, and The Magic of Friendship, part 1 in The Elements of Harmony guidebook. It is the first half of a two-part episode.

Under Princess Celestia's instructions, Twilight Sparkle goes to Ponyville to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration and make some friends. However, Twilight is preoccupied with the impending return of Nightmare Moon from her thousand-year banishment.

Production and merchandise

Dane Tee Dove, Lady Gaval, Tall Order, Surprise, and Soarin were to appear in the episode.

The plot of the storybook Friendship is Magic, included in the Friendship Is Magic Gift Set and Pony Friends Forever Pony Scooter Friends Daisy Dreams & Rarity bundles, is similar to the plot of the series' two opening episodes.

Pinkie's surprise party for Twilight reappears in Cakes for the Memories.

The scene when Twilight and Rainbow Dash first meet reappears in Deep Tissue Memories.

The scene when Applejack welcomes Twilight to Sweet Apple Acres reappears in Harvesting Memories.

Summary

The storybook

Part of the animated slideshow from the episode's prologue.

A narrator describes two royal sisters who ruled over the magical land of Equestria. The elder sister used her powers to raise the sun while the younger sister brought out the moon. Over time, the younger sister became resentful that the ponies of Equestria relished daytime but slept at night. After refusing to lower the moon one evening, she transformed into Nightmare Moon, a "wicked mare of darkness," and vowed to shroud Equestria in eternal night. Her sister used the Elements of Harmony to banish her to the moon and took on responsibility for both sun and moon. The narrator’s voice changes to that of Twilight Sparkle, who reads that harmony has been maintained in Equestria ever since.

The prophecy of Nightmare Moon

The top of the ivory tower, in which Twilight studies.

As Twilight Sparkle walks down a road in Canterlot, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Minuette appear and invite her to a party hosted by Moon Dancer. Twilight says she has to study and runs off, leaving the other ponies to speculate that she is interested more in books than friends.

Twilight enters a library atop an ivory tower and locates a book called Predictions and Prophecies with the help of Spike. After some reading, Twilight learns that Nightmare Moon is prophesied to return on the day of the Summer Sun Celebration, which takes place in two days. She writes a letter to Princess Celestia to warn her of the impending danger and sends it using Spike's magic fire breath. Spike quickly receives a reply and reads it aloud, relaying that although Celestia trusts her completely, Twilight has to stop reading "those dusty old books".

Meeting ponies in Ponyville

Spike continues to read Princess Celestia's letter aloud as he and Twilight ride a chariot to the town of Ponyville, where the Summer Sun Celebration will take place. Celestia tasks Twilight Sparkle with supervising preparations for the Celebration before ending the letter with an "even more essential" task: make some friends. Though dismayed at this last assignment, Twilight tries greeting the first pony she encounters upon arriving in Ponyville, but the pony only gasps dramatically and speeds off.

Applejack

"Well, howdy-doo, Miss Twilight, a pleasure makin' your acquaintance."

"Soup's on, everypony!"

— Applejack

Twilight and Spike first visit Sweet Apple Acres to check on the catering for the Summer Sun Celebration. They meet Applejack, who cordially greets Twilight and introduces her to members of her family as they offer her food samples. Twilight sees that the catering is handled and wants to leave, though she grudgingly accepts when the family invites them to stay for brunch.

Rainbow Dash

"Can't wait to hang out some more!"

"Hey, I can clear the sky in ten seconds flat."

— Rainbow Dash

After brunch, Twilight observes that the skies haven't been cleared for the festival before colliding with Rainbow Dash, the Pegasus pony in charge of the task. After a botched effort to clean and dry Twilight's mane, Rainbow explains she will clear the skies after practicing some flying moves to show the Wonderbolts at the festival. She demonstrates her speed and agility by clearing the sky in "ten seconds flat" and remarks how she can’t wait to hang out with Twilight some more before flying away.

Rarity

Rarity gives Twilight a makeover.

"Oh my stars, darling! Whatever happened to your coiffure?"

— Rarity

Twilight and Spike visit Rarity as she decorates the town hall for the festival. Spike is instantly smitten with Rarity who, shocked by Twilight's messy mane, brings her to Carousel Boutique for a makeover. Rarity is impressed when Twilight mentions that she is from Canterlot. Eager to get away from the fashionista, Twilight and Spike run out of the boutique while she is occupied.

Fluttershy

I'm ummm... Fluttershy.

"Um... My name is Fluttershy."

— Fluttershy

To complete the preparation checklist, Twilight and Spike locate Fluttershy as she directs her bird choir in practice for the Summer Sun Celebration. Twilight greets her and compliments the music, but Fluttershy responds only sparsely. Upon noticing Spike, however, she jumps forward to talk to him, excited to see a baby dragon. Twilight tries to depart for their lodging at the Golden Oak Library, but Fluttershy follows them as Spike obliges her request to talk about "absolutely everything".

Pinkie Pie

"Surprise!"

"Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party just for you! Were you surprised? Were ya? Were ya? Huh huh huh?"

— Pinkie Pie

Twilight and Spike reach the library only to be greeted inside with a surprise party. Pinkie Pie, the pony they first encountered upon arriving in Ponyville, explains to a dismayed Twilight how she was surprised to see a new pony in town and decided to throw her a party so she would have "lots and lots of friends". Distracted by Pinkie's explanation, Twilight accidentally drinks hot sauce and runs out of the room. In her bedroom on the second floor, Twilight complains that "making friends" has left her no time to read about the Elements of Harmony. Spike enters to notify Twilight that sunrise is approaching.

The Summer Sun Celebration

After a millennium of waiting, Nightmare Moon is finally free.

In the town hall, Mayor Mare announces the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration, but Princess Celestia is absent. A dark Alicorn appears from a glowing blue fog and addresses the cowering ponies:

"Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces."

— Nightmare Moon

Rainbow Dash attempts to confront her but is held back by Applejack, who also stops Pinkie Pie as she tries to guess the stranger's name. The Alicorn is indignant at being unrecognized until Twilight Sparkle identifies her as the Mare in the Moon — Nightmare Moon, though Twilight is too terrified to say why she's there. Nightmare Moon proclaims that the night will last forever and cackles as lightning flashes around her.

Quotes

For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.

Twilight Sparkle: Take a note please, to the Princess.

Spike: Okie dokie.

Twilight Sparkle: My dearest teacher, my continuing studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster!

Twilight Sparkle: Pfft. Puh-lease. They'd never accept a Pegasus who can't even keep the sky clear for one measly day.

Rainbow Dash: Hey. I could clear the sky in ten seconds flat.

Twilight Sparkle: Prove it.

Rainbow Dash: [grunts] Loop-de-loop around and wham! What'd I say? Ten. Seconds. Flat.

Rarity: Oh my stars, darling! Whatever happened to your coiffure?

Twilight Sparkle: Oh, you mean my mane? Well, it's a long story. I'm just here to check on the decorations, and then I'll be out of your hair.

Rarity: Out of my hair? What about your hair?

Pinkie Pie: What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet? I mean, duh, bo-ring. You see, I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were all, hello, and I was all, [gasp], remember? You see I never saw you before, and if I never saw you before that means you're new, 'cause I know every pony, and I mean every pony in Ponyville, and if you're new, then it meant you haven't met anyone yet, and if you haven't met anyone yet, you must not have any friends, and if you don't have any friends then you must be lonely, and that made me so sad, and I had an idea, and that's why I went [gasp], "I'll just throw a great big ginormous super-duper spectacular welcome party and invite everyone in Ponyville." See? And now you have lots and lots of friends!

Spike: Hey Twilight! Pinkie Pie's starting "pin the tail on the pony"! Wanna play?

Twilight Sparkle: No! All the ponies in this town are crazy! Do you know what time it is?!

Nightmare Moon: Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?

Pinkie Pie: Ooh! Ooh! More guessing games! Um...Pokey Smokes! How about Queen Meanie? No! Black Snooty! Black Snooty— [muffled noises]

Nightmare Moon: Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!

Gallery

Friendship is Magic, part 1 image gallery

References

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