| Magical Mystery Cure | |
|---|---|
| |
| Season №: | 3 |
| Season episode №: | 13 |
| Overall episode №: | 65 |
| Original airdate: | February 9, 2013 (screening) February 16, 2013 (television) |
| Written by: | M. A. Larson |
| Storyboard: | Tom Sales and Johnny Castuciano[1] Storyboard assistance by Sabrina Alberghetti[2] |
| Songs: | Morning in Ponyville What My Cutie Mark Is Telling Me I've Got to Find a Way A True, True Friend Celestia's Ballad Behold, Princess Twilight Sparkle Life in Equestria |
| See also | |
| credits • transcript • gallery • allusions animation errors • statistics • speculation | |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous Games Ponies Play |
Next Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1 |
Magical Mystery Cure is the thirteenth episode of the third season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. It aired as the final episode of the third season and the sixty-fifth episode overall, and it takes place before the spin-off film My Little Pony Equestria Girls. The title alludes to the album Magical Mystery Tour by the Beatles.
In this episode, Twilight Sparkle accidentally switches her friends' destinies and tries to fix them, creating new magic in the process. As a result, Princess Celestia transforms her into an Alicorn and crowns her the Princess of Friendship.
Production and development[]
Rarity's work room after Applejack took over.
M.A. Larson wrote the episode in November 2011.[3] In 2019, he stated that the episode was originally written as the series finale before the greenlighting of the fourth season, and would have ended with a sequence of Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash flying around Equestria and visiting other characters, followed by "a super heartfelt moment with [Twilight and] her friends" and the closing of the storybook from the first episode.[4] Ultimately, the storybook was closed in The Last Problem, the season nine finale.
Show storyboard artist Sabrina Alberghetti helped with some clean up on the episode[5] and said in late December 2012 that she used "what little power" she had to throw in one of her favorite background ponies, who she specified is not hers.[6]
In the summer of 2012, musician Andrew Stein played mandolin for show composer William Anderson on a short cue for an episode of the third season.[7][8][9][10] Stein wrote in early November 2012 that "Apparently it's in the season finale this year,"[11] though he later confirmed it was cut along with Anderson's work when the music production shifted entirely to Daniel Ingram and Steffan Andrews.[12]
The version of the episode shown on Hasbro.com displays production information text followed by a test card before the opening scene.[13][14]
One week prior to the episode airing on TV, the episode was shown early at The Hub's Princess Coronation Concert event in Los Angeles.[15] On February 15, 2013, Meghan McCarthy announced on her Twitter page that the season three finale will have continuity into season four as it will be separated into three parts, with season three's finale being served as the first part of a three-part story.[16]
When asked of what was stopping Twilight from casting the spell, Larson responded that the script "didn't include Starswirl's[sic] unfinished spell" and that "it was heavily altered from his final script."[17]
At the 2013 Leo Awards in Vancouver, British Columbia, Daniel Ingram and Steffan Andrews won "Best Musical Score in an Animation Program or Series" for Magical Mystery Cure.[18][19]
Following her Alicorn transformation, Twilight becomes slightly taller.[20]
Summary[]
Everything is certainly...[]
It's a beautiful morning!
As the sun rises over Ponyville one morning, Twilight Sparkle promenades through the streets singing about how everything in town is going well. Her song is interrupted when rainwater suddenly splashes on her face, though while looking around expecting to see Rainbow Dash, she instead finds Rarity struggling to control a group of rainclouds with Rainbow's cutie mark on her flank.
- "Something tells me everything is not going to be fine."
- — Twilight Sparkle
It's got to be my destiny...
When Twilight asks why she's controlling the weather, Rarity responds that it's what she's been doing since the day her cutie mark first appeared. Twilight learns that Rainbow resides at Fluttershy's cottage and walks over with Spike to investigate. They find Rainbow inside struggling to control a horde of animals, and when asked what's going on, Rainbow begins singing about the difficulty of trying to follow Fluttershy's cutie mark that now appears on her flank.
Twilight and Spike find the rest of the Mane Six struggling to fulfill the expectations of their mismatched cutie marks: Fluttershy can't make ponies laugh with Pinkie Pie's mark, Pinkie Pie doesn't know how to farm with Applejack's mark, Applejack makes shabby dresses with Rarity's mark, and Rarity draws the ire of the townsfolk with poor weather management.
Star Swirl's unfinished spell[]
Rarity's skill with fabric patterns doesn't translate well into weather management.
Returning to the Golden Oak Library, Twilight recalls how she received a package from Princess Celestia the night before containing Star Swirl the Bearded's spell book. Celestia writes that the final page of the book contains an unfinished "masterpiece" spell that she believes her star pupil can finish, but when Twilight reads the incomplete spell aloud, all the Elements of Harmony except her own swap colors. Realizing that this also swapped around her friends' cutie marks, and thus their destinies, Twilight sings a song lamenting the situation and questioning what to do.
Spike reassures Twilight that she will find a solution, and after looking at a group photograph of her friends, she comes up with a plan to help them remember who they are through their desire to help each other. The two pack up the Elements of Harmony and head outside with renewed determination.
Finding their true selves[]
Twilight and Spike find Fluttershy preparing to take the Twinkling Balloon back to Cloudsdale and convince her to help Rainbow Dash manage her animals. They arrive at the cottage to find Rainbow tied up in a cauldron while a mob of critters dance angrily around her, though after some encouragement from Twilight, Fluttershy manages to diffuse the situation by talking with the animals and serving them food. As Fluttershy expresses a sudden familiarity with her actions, Twilight magically floats the Element of Kindness around her neck, causing a burst of recollection that restores both her memory and her cutie mark.
Friendship is magic.
In a song, the Mane Six regain their identities and cutie marks by putting on their Elements while helping each other complete tasks: Rainbow busts clouds for Rarity, who creates dresses for Applejack, who bucks apples for Pinkie, who cheers up the town. As the girls celebrate their success, Twilight suddenly realizes how to complete Star Swirl's spell and returns to the library with her friends to do so. As soon as she pens the words in the spell book, however, the Elements of Harmony suddenly project beams of light that converge onto Twilight. The light builds into a blinding flash, though when the unexpected spectacle subsides, the friends realize with alarm that Twilight has disappeared.
Twilight's transformation[]
Something tells me we're not in Ponyville anymore.
Twilight finds herself in an ethereal space lit by stars and nebulae. Princess Celestia appears and congratulates her for accomplishing what Star Swirl the Bearded could not thanks to her understanding of friendship, thereby proving that she is "ready". When Twilight asks what she means, Celestia sings a song explaining how she's been watching her student's progress, and that it's time for a "new change".
As the song ends, Twilight is lifted into the air and becomes surrounded by swirls of purple that emerge from her chest. She begins to glow brighter and brighter before disappearing in a blinding flash that projects Twilight's cutie mark, now with six small white stars, in the night sky over Ponyville. Twilight's friends watch as the projection descends to the ground and dissipates, revealing Twilight with a pair of feathered wings.
Twilight, now with a new pair of wings.
The friends marvel at Twilight's new look as Rarity observes that she has become an Alicorn. When Fluttershy remarks that she looks like a princess, Celestia appears and states that Twilight is a princess, having demonstrated the qualities of one since moving to Ponyville. She leads the rest of the group in a bow, noting that they are all now students to Twilight as much as she is to Celestia.
The newest princess in Equestria[]
And thus starts a new beginning.
Princess Celestia holds a coronation ceremony for Twilight in Canterlot where she recognizes her for creating "new magic". Following an honorific song sung by her procession, Twilight addresses a cheering crowd from the castle balcony, claiming that she wouldn't be standing there without her friendships with the Mane Six and the lessons she learned from them. After a round of congratulations from her friends and Shining Armor, Twilight once more sings about how everything is going well, this time across Equestria.
Quotes[]
- For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.
- Twilight Sparkle: Rainbow Dash, that's not funny!
- Rarity: Terribly sorry, darling. I'm afraid I'm... I'm not good with the thundery ones.
- Twilight Sparkle: Oh, Spike, what have I done?
- Spike: Aw, come on, Twilight, you'll figure out a way to fix this. These are your friends.
- Twilight Sparkle: You're right, Spike. And they mean more to me than anything. My friends...
- Twilight Sparkle: From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled. […] From all of us together, together we are friends, with the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!
- Princess Celestia: You did something today that's never been done before. Something even a great unicorn like Star Swirl the Bearded was not able to do, because he did not understand friendship like you do. The lessons you've learned here in Ponyville have taught you well. You have proven that you're ready, Twilight.
- Twilight Sparkle: Ready? Ready for what?
- Fluttershy: Wow... you look just like a princess!
- Princess Celestia: That's because she is a princess.
- Twilight Sparkle: What do I do now? Is there a book about being a princess I should read?
- Shining Armor: Twilight! I'm so proud of you!
- Twilight Sparkle: Are you crying?
- Shining Armor: Of course not, it's liquid pride. Totally different thing.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Sabrina Alberghetti (2013-02-14). Johnny and Tom. Retrieved on 2013 February 15.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/TheBiggestJim/status/302807018941591554
- ↑ M.A. Larson on Twitter (2012-02-15). Retrieved on 2013 February 15.
- ↑ M.A. Larson (2019-07-18). Yo reddit, I'm M.A. Larson, writer on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. AMA!. Reddit. Retrieved on 2021 July 15.
- ↑ DeviantArt: Comment on *Sibsy's profile (2012-12-20). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ Bronies for Good Charity Livestream - Lauren Faust, Amy Keating Rogers, Cindy Morrow, Sibsy & Others - YouTube (2012-12-23). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ William Anderson Panel - Equestria LA 2012 - YouTube (2012-11-04). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ Twitter / MandoPony: So, to clear things up -- yes,... (2012-11-08). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ DeviantArt: Comment on Christmas banner by *Sibsy (2012-12-10). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ DeviantArt: Comment on The Rumours Are True by *Sibsy (2013-02-07). Retrieved on 2013 February 8.
- ↑ Twitter / MandoPony: Apparently it's in the season... (2012-11-08). Retrieved on 2013 January 18.
- ↑ Andrew Stein (2013-02-19). I think it got cut from the final score.. Retrieved on 2013 February 24.
- ↑ 2013 My Little Pony Redesign. Retrieved on 2013 November 22.
- ↑ My Little Pony Videos & Episodes. Retrieved on 2013 November 22.
- ↑ My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic “Coronation Concert” Event Recap. ComicsOnline (2013-02-13). Retrieved on 2013 February 13.
- ↑ Meghan McCarthy (2013-02-15). I consider the season finale of #MLPFIM a 3-parter.. Twitter. Retrieved on 2013 February 15.
- ↑ M.A. Larson (2015-06-12). @Rotosequence I don't know. That episode was heavily.... Twitter. Retrieved on 2015 June 16.
- ↑ Leo Awards, 2013 Winners by Name. The Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia (2013-06-07). Retrieved on 2013 June 8.
- ↑ Leo Awards via Twitter (2013-06-07). Retrieved on 2013 June 8.
- ↑ Sabrina Alberghetti (2013-02-18). Comment on Sibsy's profile. DeviantArt. Retrieved on 2014 April 18. “Yeah, she's a little taller.”
| Episodes, films, and animated shorts |
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| Make Your Mark | |||
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| Episode 1 Izzy Does It |
Episode 2 Growing Pains |
Episode 3 Portrait of a Princess |
Episode 4 Ali-Conned |
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| 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? |
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| Episode 9 Top Remodel |
Episode 10 The Jinxie Games |
Episode 11 Sunny Side Up |
Episode 12 The Manesquerade Ball |
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| Episode 13 A Little Horse |
Episode 14 Missing the Mark |
Episode 15 Cutie Blossom Bash |
Episode 16 Family Trees Pt. 1 |
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| Episode 17 Family Trees Pt. 2 |
Episode 18 Father of the Bridlewood |
Episode 19 Mane Smelody |
Episode 20 Nightmare on Mane Street |
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| Episode 21 The Isle of Scaly |
Episode 22 Roots of All Evil Pt. 1 |
Episode 23 Roots of All Evil Pt. 2 |
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| Equestria Girls | Rainbow Rocks | Friendship Games | Legend of Everfree |
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| My Little Pony The Movie | A New Generation | ||
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| Dance Magic | Movie Magic | Mirror Magic | Forgotten Friendship |
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| Rollercoaster of Friendship | Best Gift Ever | Spring Breakdown | Rainbow Roadtrip |
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| Sunset's Backstage Pass | Holidays Unwrapped | Make Your Mark | Winter Wishday |
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| Bridlewoodstock | Secrets of Starlight | ||
| Animated shorts | |||
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| Rainbow Rocks shorts | Friendship Games shorts | Summertime Shorts | Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 1) |
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| 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 |
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| Baby Flurry Heart's Heartfelt Scrapbook | Rarity's Peek Behind the Boutique | Fundamentals of Magic | My Little Pony Established 1983 |
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| Friendship is Magic shorts | Hello Pinkie Pie | Stop Motion Shorts | Tell Your Tale (season 1) |
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| Tell Your Tale (season 2) | |||