Look Before You Sleep

Look Before You Sleep
Season №:	1
Season episode №:	8
Overall episode №:	8
Original airdate:	December 3, 2010
Written by:	Charlotte Fullerton
Storyboard:	Francisco Avalos & Mike West[1]
See also
credits • transcript • gallery • allusions animation errors • statistics • speculation
Episode guide
Previous Dragonshy	Next Bridle Gossip

Look Before You Sleep is the eighth episode of the first season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. In this episode, Applejack and Rarity are forced to stay at the library where Twilight resides for the night due to a thunderstorm. Twilight takes this opportunity to drag them into having a slumber party. The title of the episode is a play on the saying look before you leap, meaning acting only after careful planning.

Development

According to episode writer Charlotte Fullerton, this episode was originally titled Opposites Attack.^[2]

Summary

Caught in the rain

The episode opens in a field outside the Golden Oak Library; several Pegasi are seen moving clouds into place to create a downpour. In preparation for this, trees are being pruned to avoid damaging the town. Rarity helps out, but her contribution to the cleanup effort involves making topiary out of the loose branches. This puts her at odds with Applejack, who insists on taking the branches down. When Rarity voices her disapproval of Applejack making a mess, rain starts to fall, much to Rarity's further displeasure.

Applejack suggests that Rarity use a bench to shield herself from the rain, but Rarity refuses out of an unwillingness to get her hooves muddy. As the two argue even more over their situation, the rain and wind pick up speed. Twilight Sparkle, noticing the two caught in the storm, offers them shelter in the library until the storm passes.

Slumber 101

"'Slumber 101: All You Ever Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties But Were Afraid to Ask'."

— Rarity reading Twilight's book

With Spike away in Canterlot on royal business, Twilight is alone for the evening, and sees this as an opportunity to have her very first slumber party. Rarity and Applejack are far from eager to spend the entire evening in each other's company, but find themselves unable to leave due to the worsening storm. After a brief argument about mud masks, they agree to try and get along so they don't ruin Twilight's first sleepover.

Twilight is oblivious to Applejack and Rarity's silent bickering, checking off each game in her book as they're played. However, for each game played, the two grow more and more frustrated with each other.

During ghost stories, Rarity and Applejack suggest stories that allude to why they don't like each other before Twilight tells the legend of The Headless Horse, succeeding in scaring both of her friends. Applejack sickens Rarity by burping when they make s'mores. And in a game of Truth or Dare, Applejack and Rarity only dare each other to do humiliating things, such as Applejack daring Rarity to get her mane wet in the rain and Rarity daring Applejack to wear a gaudy, ridiculous outfit.

Twilight, now sensing conflict, tries to move things along. Unfortunately, the conflict comes to a head during the next game: a pillow fight, which in no time turns into an all-out pillow war between Rarity and Applejack. Caught in the middle and bombarded with pillows, Twilight suggests that they call it a night and go to bed.

Bickering in the bedroom

Applejack and Rarity's petty arguing continues even when the ponies try to go to bed. Exasperated by their constant back and forth, Twilight at last decides to intervene and voices how upset she is that her friends are fighting too much to have any fun, thereby ruining her slumber party. Just as Twilight asks if anything else could possibly go wrong, a nearby tree is hit by lightning and begins to topple towards a neighboring house.

Applejack, not heeding a warning from Rarity, lassos the falling tree and instead of stabilizing it, sends it crashing through Twilight's bedroom window. Rarity focuses on cleaning up the mess of books and Applejack tries to push the tree back out of the window while Twilight desperately searches through her slumber party book for a section on dealing with fallen trees in the middle of the bedroom.

When Applejack fails at moving the tree out on her own, she eventually apologizes to Rarity for criticizing her attention to detail and convinces her to focus on helping with the bigger task instead. She gets Rarity to not worry so much about getting her hooves dirty. Rarity uses her unicorn magic to turn the treetop into tiny bush sculptures, clearing the house at the cost of getting dirt all over herself. Applejack, at Rarity's insistence, proceeds to gently toss the broken tree trunk out of the window.

Getting along

With the storm, and their differences, finally settled, Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight are finally able to have fun, rounding out the evening with a game of 20 Questions. Applejack and Rarity exchange apologies, and in the end, Twilight officially declares the slumber party a success, to her friends' delight.

In a letter to Princess Celestia, Twilight writes that it's possible to get along with someone very different from you if you embrace each other's differences. She proposes another slumber party the following night, and her proposal is met by two pillows thrown in her face. The episode closes as the sky clears up, revealing a bright sunny day.

Quotes

For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.

Rarity: You know, there's messy, and then there's just plain rude.

Applejack: You know, there's fussy, and there's just plain gettin' on my nerves.

Rarity: Then you place one marshmallow on the top of the chocolate and be sure it's centered -- that's critical -- and then carefully put another perfectly square graham cracker on the top. And done. Ta-da! [laugh]

Twilight Sparkle: Ooo!

Applejack: Nah, ya just eat 'em. [munch] Mmm-mmm! [belch]

Applejack: I'd like to tell ya'll the terrifying tale of the prissy ghost, who drove everypony crazy with her unnecessary neatness! OooooOOwwoOOO! I'm sure ya'll are familiar with that one?

Rarity: Never heard of it. But I have a much better one... It's the horrifying story of the messy inconsiderate ghost, who irritated everypony within a hundred miles! OoooooOOOwwwwOOOoo...

Rarity: (after getting hit in the face with a pillow) IT! IS! ON!

Applejack: Yeah, that's not gonna happen. Geronimo!

Rarity: You did that on purpose.

Applejack: Um, yeah.

Rarity: Get up so I can fix it again.

Applejack: Can't hear ya, I'm asleep. [fake snore]

Applejack: I'm mighty sorry, Twilight.

Twilight Sparkle: It's... Well, it's not okay. There's a giant tree branch in the middle of my bedroom, and the book doesn't say anything about having a giant tree branch at your slumber party. Or at least I haven't found that entry yet. Ooh... ah!

Twilight Sparkle: Well, they do have a section about backyard slumber parties. Is that what we're doing right now? Does this count as camping?

Twilight Sparkle: Oh, pretty! Where did these come from? They're not in the book either.

Applejack: Is it... a six-legged pony with a purple polka-dotted mane and shootin' stars comin' out of his eyes?

Rarity: Who flies through the air all over the world to hide magic, sparkly eggs?

Twilight Sparkle: That's it!

Applejack and Rarity: It is?

Twilight Sparkle: No.

Gallery

Look Before You Sleep image gallery

References

1. ↑ Raven Molisee's DeviantArt journal (2012-02-23). Retrieved on 2012 February 23.
2. ↑ MLP Writer Charlotte Fullerton's Panel at Midwestria. YouTube (2012-10-20). Retrieved on 2015 August 13.

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Friendship is Magic

Season one Episode 1 Friendship is Magic, part 1 Episode 2 Friendship is Magic, part 2 Episode 3 The Ticket Master Episode 4 Applebuck Season Episode 5 Griffon the Brush Off Episode 6 Boast Busters Episode 7 Dragonshy Episode 8 Look Before You Sleep Episode 9 Bridle Gossip Episode 10 Swarm of the Century Episode 11 Winter Wrap Up Episode 12 Call of the Cutie Episode 13 Fall Weather Friends Episode 14 Suited For Success Episode 15 Feeling Pinkie Keen Episode 16 Sonic Rainboom Episode 17 Stare Master Episode 18 The Show Stoppers Episode 19 A Dog and Pony Show Episode 20 Green Isn't Your Color Episode 21 Over a Barrel Episode 22 A Bird in the Hoof Episode 23 The Cutie Mark Chronicles Episode 24 Owl's Well That Ends Well Episode 25 Party of One Episode 26 The Best Night Ever Season two Episode 1 The Return of Harmony Part 1 Episode 2 The Return of Harmony Part 2 Episode 3 Lesson Zero Episode 4 Luna Eclipsed Episode 5 Sisterhooves Social Episode 6 The Cutie Pox Episode 7 May the Best Pet Win! Episode 8 The Mysterious Mare Do Well Episode 9 Sweet and Elite Episode 10 Secret of My Excess Episode 11 Hearth's Warming Eve Episode 12 Family Appreciation Day Episode 13 Baby Cakes Episode 14 The Last Roundup Episode 15 The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 Episode 16 Read It and Weep Episode 17 Hearts and Hooves Day Episode 18 A Friend in Deed Episode 19 Putting Your Hoof Down Episode 20 It's About Time Episode 21 Dragon Quest Episode 22 Hurricane Fluttershy Episode 23 Ponyville Confidential Episode 24 MMMystery on the Friendship Express Episode 25 A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1 Episode 26 A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2 Season three Episode 1 The Crystal Empire - Part 1 Episode 2 The Crystal Empire - Part 2 Episode 3 Too Many Pinkie Pies Episode 4 One Bad Apple Episode 5 Magic Duel Episode 6 Sleepless in Ponyville Episode 7 Wonderbolts Academy Episode 8 Apple Family Reunion Episode 9 Spike at Your Service Episode 10 Keep Calm and Flutter On Episode 11 Just for Sidekicks Episode 12 Games Ponies Play Episode 13 Magical Mystery Cure Season four Episode 1 Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1 Episode 2 Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 2 Episode 3 Castle Mane-ia Episode 4 Daring Don't Episode 5 Flight to the Finish Episode 6 Power Ponies Episode 7 Bats! Episode 8 Rarity Takes Manehattan Episode 9 Pinkie Apple Pie Episode 10 Rainbow Falls Episode 11 Three's A Crowd Episode 12 Pinkie Pride Episode 13 Simple Ways Episode 14 Filli Vanilli Episode 15 Twilight Time Episode 16 It Ain't Easy Being Breezies Episode 17 Somepony to Watch Over Me Episode 18 Maud Pie Episode 19 For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils Episode 20 Leap of Faith Episode 21 Testing Testing 1, 2, 3 Episode 22 Trade Ya! Episode 23 Inspiration Manifestation Episode 24 Equestria Games Episode 25 Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1 Episode 26 Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2 Season five Episode 1 The Cutie Map - Part 1 Episode 2 The Cutie Map - Part 2 Episode 3 Castle Sweet Castle Episode 4 Bloom & Gloom Episode 5 Tanks for the Memories Episode 6 Appleoosa's Most Wanted Episode 7 Make New Friends but Keep Discord Episode 8 The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone Episode 9 Slice of Life Episode 10 Princess Spike Episode 11 Party Pooped Episode 12 Amending Fences Episode 13 Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep? Episode 14 Canterlot Boutique Episode 15 Rarity Investigates! Episode 16 Made in Manehattan Episode 17 Brotherhooves Social Episode 18 Crusaders of the Lost Mark Episode 19 The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows Episode 20 Hearthbreakers Episode 21 Scare Master Episode 22 What About Discord? Episode 23 The Hooffields and McColts Episode 24 The Mane Attraction Episode 25 The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 1 Episode 26 The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 2 Season six Episode 1 The Crystalling - Part 1 Episode 2 The Crystalling - Part 2 Episode 3 The Gift of the Maud Pie Episode 4 On Your Marks Episode 5 Gauntlet of Fire Episode 6 No Second Prances Episode 7 Newbie Dash Episode 8 A Hearth's Warming Tail Episode 9 The Saddle Row Review Episode 10 Applejack's "Day" Off Episode 11 Flutter Brutter Episode 12 Spice Up Your Life Episode 13 Stranger Than Fan Fiction Episode 14 The Cart Before the Ponies Episode 15 28 Pranks Later Episode 16 The Times They Are A Changeling Episode 17 Dungeons & Discords Episode 18 Buckball Season Episode 19 The Fault in Our Cutie Marks Episode 20 Viva Las Pegasus Episode 21 Every Little Thing She Does Episode 22 P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View) Episode 23 Where the Apple Lies Episode 24 Top Bolt Episode 25 To Where and Back Again - Part 1 Episode 26 To Where and Back Again - Part 2 Season seven Episode 1 Celestial Advice Episode 2 All Bottled Up Episode 3 A Flurry of Emotions Episode 4 Rock Solid Friendship Episode 5 Fluttershy Leans In Episode 6 Forever Filly Episode 7 Parental Glideance Episode 8 Hard to Say Anything Episode 9 Honest Apple Episode 10 A Royal Problem Episode 11 Not Asking for Trouble Episode 12 Discordant Harmony Episode 13 The Perfect Pear Episode 14 Fame and Misfortune Episode 15 Triple Threat Episode 16 Campfire Tales Episode 17 To Change a Changeling Episode 18 Daring Done? Episode 19 It Isn't the Mane Thing About You Episode 20 A Health of Information Episode 21 Marks and Recreation Episode 22 Once Upon a Zeppelin Episode 23 Secrets and Pies Episode 24 Uncommon Bond Episode 25 Shadow Play - Part 1 Episode 26 Shadow Play - Part 2 Season eight Episode 1 School Daze - Part 1 Episode 2 School Daze - Part 2 Episode 3 The Maud Couple Episode 4 Fake It 'Til You Make It Episode 5 Grannies Gone Wild Episode 6 Surf and/or Turf Episode 7 Horse Play Episode 8 The Parent Map Episode 9 Non-Compete Clause Episode 10 The Break Up Break Down Episode 11 Molt Down Episode 12 Marks for Effort Episode 13 The Mean 6 Episode 14 A Matter of Principals Episode 15 The Hearth's Warming Club Episode 16 Friendship University Episode 17 The End in Friend Episode 18 Yakity-Sax Episode 19 Road to Friendship Episode 20 The Washouts Episode 21 A Rockhoof and a Hard Place Episode 22 What Lies Beneath Episode 23 Sounds of Silence Episode 24 Father Knows Beast Episode 25 School Raze - Part 1 Episode 26 School Raze - Part 2 Season nine Episode 1 The Beginning of the End - Part 1 Episode 2 The Beginning of the End - Part 2 Episode 3 Uprooted Episode 4 Sparkle's Seven Episode 5 The Point of No Return Episode 6 Common Ground Episode 7 She's All Yak Episode 8 Frenemies Episode 9 Sweet and Smoky Episode 10 Going to Seed Episode 11 Student Counsel Episode 12 The Last Crusade Episode 13 Between Dark and Dawn Episode 14 The Last Laugh Episode 15 2, 4, 6, Greaaat Episode 16 A Trivial Pursuit Episode 17 The Summer Sun Setback Episode 18 She Talks to Angel Episode 19 Dragon Dropped Episode 20 A Horse Shoe-In Episode 21 Daring Doubt Episode 22 Growing Up is Hard to Do Episode 23 The Big Mac Question Episode 24 The Ending of the End - Part 1 Episode 25 The Ending of the End - Part 2 Episode 26 The Last Problem Clip shows Episode 1 A-Dressing Memories Episode 2 Cakes for the Memories Episode 3 Memnagerie Episode 4 Deep Tissue Memories Episode 5 Harvesting Memories Episode 6 Memories and More

Pony Life
Episode 1 Princess Probz	Episode 2 The Best of the Worst	Episode 3 Cute-pocalypse Meow	Episode 4 How Applejack Got Her Hat Back
Episode 5 Bad Thing No. 3	Episode 6 Pinkie Pie: Hyper-Helper	Episode 7 The Trail Less Trotten Death of a Sales-Pony	Episode 8 Bighoof Walking The Fluttershy Effect
Episode 9 The Fast and the Furriest Disappearing Act	Episode 10 Badge of Shame Discord's Peak	Episode 11 A Camping We Will Go Campfire Stories	Episode 12 Friendship Gems Dol-FIN-ale
Episode 13 Potion Mystery Sick Day	Episode 14 Meet Potion Nova! Pony Surfin' Safari	Episode 15 All Bottled Up All That Jitters	Episode 16 I, Cookie Keynote Pie
Episode 17 Ponies of the Moment One Click Wonder	Episode 18 Zound Off Unboxing Day	Episode 19 Don't Look a GIF Horse in the Mouth The Root of It	Episode 20 The Mysterious Voice The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies
Episode 21 Game Knight Director Spike's Mockumentary	Episode 22 Whoof-dunnit Dear Tabby	Episode 23 Pie vs. Pie Superb Six	Episode 24 The Debut Taunt Flutterdash
	Episode 25 The Rarity Report The Great Divide	Episode 26 The Great Collide Sportacular Spectacular Musical Musak-ular

Feature films
Equestria Girls	Rainbow Rocks	Friendship Games	Legend of Everfree
My Little Pony The Movie

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

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