Original subtitles

♪

[knock knock]

Hey Spike. What's up?

Just, uh, wanted to make sure you're ready

for your big ceremony today.

Yup. Wow, I still can't believe my friends and I

are getting medals of honor.

Are you kidding? You totally deserve it!

After all, you saved Equestria from Queen Chrysalis

with the help of Trixie and Thorax and Discord.

Uh, yeah. I know what happened. I was kinda there?

Oh, right. Uh, so what are you wearing?

Not sure. Why? Am I supposed to dress up?

No. I mean, you could. It's like Rarity always says:

"There's no such thing as overdressed darling.

You're just the best-looking pony in the room!"

[awkward laugh]

What are you looking at?

No, don't look!

Cuz there was a spider there but it's gone now so...

Thanks, Starlight! Bye!

[door closes]

Heh heh. She had no idea. We're a good team, Sparkle.

Sparkle? [laughs] Yeah we are. So, do you think she'll like it?

I want this present to say "I'm so proud of you,

both as a mentor and a friend.

Equestria is safer thanks to you."

Oh. I thought you were getting her a mirror, like yours.

I am.

Maybe you should get her a card,

cause I don't think the mirror will say all that.

But I think she'll like it.

It's just what her room needs.

The first thing she'll see when she wakes up is herself

surrounded by all her friends!

I plan on giving it to her after the ceremony.

Yeah, about that.

Don't you need to get the castle ready for the celebration?

Nah. Pinkie Pie's got that covered.

Hm.

♪ My little pony, my little pony ♪

♪ Aaaahhh

♪ My little Pony

♪ I used to wonder what friendship could be. ♪

♪ My Little Pony

♪ Until you all shared its magic with me. ♪

♪ Big adventure! ♪ Tons of fun

♪ A beautiful heart! ♪ Faithful and strong! ♪

♪ Sharing kindness ♪ it's an easy feat

♪ And magic makes it all complete! ♪

♪ To have my little pony

♪ Do you know you're all my very best friends? ♪

♪

Starlight, Trixie, Thorax and Discord

were brave in the face of danger,

resourceful when things got challenging

and proved that the bonds of friendship,

no matter how unlikely, are stronger than any adversity.

By stopping Queen Chrysalis,

not only did they save Equestria,

they set the changelings free from her reign.

Go Discord! Yahoo!

[giggle]

And that's why we're proud and honored to give them

the Equestrian Pink Hearts of Courage.

[cheering]

♪

Yeah! Oh! Not quite!

All right! There it is. YAAAAAAY!

♪

We are so proud of you all.

[cheering]

♪ [dance music]

It was the Great and Powerful Trixie's pleasure

to save you from your imminent doom.

Yes. Because you did it all by yourself.

I can't believe you managed to do it without magic.

It was amazing!

No one's ever stood up to Chrysalis like that.

Oh, I just did what anypony would've done.

It's a wonderful feeling, isn't it?

Watching your student shine

the way you always knew they could.

My cheeks are sore.

I don't think I've ever smiled this much in my life.

I can only imagine what that feels like.

Yes, Starlight is student of the year, isn't she?

She has so much potential.

So, what are we going to do with her?

And by "we" I definitely mean you.

Being her mentor and all that,

her destiny falls squarely on your haunches.

[zap zap]

Oh, don't you worry.

I've planned enough friendship lessons

to cover the next three years.

[Laughing]

What's so funny?

No, no.

Clearly Starlight is beyond basic friendship lessons.

She just won a medal, for Equestria's sake!

I thought you were joking. You are joking, right?

[nervous laugh] Of course I was.

Obviously you should have a grand master plan for her,

the same way Celestia set you on a path

that eventually made you a princess.

Yup.

Oh, good. I'm sure she can't wait to hear all about it!

So how's the whole ruling-a-kingdom thing going?

It's a bit... overwhelming. But we're adjusting.

So you can't have friendship without makeovers?

Not exactly.

Oh, Starlight!

Princess Twilight has something very important to tell us.

Well, just you really, but I'm nosey and I want to hear.

OK. Would you excuse me?

[zap]

Never mind.

Well, Twilight was just about to reveal

her grand master plan for you.

Really? I was kind of wondering

what we were going to do next.

Yes, I'd say we were both fairly interested.

Of course you are. And I do have a plan, obviously,

but now's clearly not the time to do it.

You should enjoy your party.

The Ponyville Chronicle wants to take our picture!

Ugh. You too, Discord.

[sigh]

[poof]

PSST. I see what you're doing.

You do?

You already planned the perfect moment

during the party to make the grand announcement

to everypony about your plan!

Brava, Twilight.

I can't wait to tell Fluttershy and the others!

Discord, no.

Twilight? Are you reading during a party again?

No, no, no. She's already good at that.

She mastered this. She taught me about this one!

Wild guess: something's wrong.

Spike, I'm a terrible mentor.

Why didn't I come up with a path for Starlight?

Princess Celestia had it all figured out for me.

[gasp] That's it!

I had years' worth of friendship lessons

ready to go,

but when we were captured by Chrysalis,

Starlight took charge and really stepped up.

I don't think friendship lessons

are enough for her anymore.

So you have an overachieving student? Sounds familiar.

That's why I had to talk to you.

You of all ponies would know what to do.

I mean, you were me and I was Starlight.

But for now, I need you to pretend you're you and I'm me.

Huh?

Go on.

When I was your student and you were in this place,

you... oh no. You sent me to Ponyville.

Which means, it's time for me

to send Starlight Glimmer away!

I can't believe it.

It really is time for Starlight to go, isn't it?

Only you can make that decision.

It's a difficult one, but your heart knows what's right.

Even as it hurts.

Where are you going to send her?

Too soon?

No. This is something I have to do.

Oh, boy.

Oh, boy?

Whatever Twilight's planning for Starlight

is going to be so exciting!

Hm. Wonder why she didn't tell any of us about it?

Probably because you're not as close as you think you are.

Just kidding. She wanted it to be a big surprise.

Just between us, she's getting ready

to make a big announcement!

Eeeee. That's so exciting! And surprising.

Usually you tell your party planner

about all your plans for your party.

Rainbow Dash: Well, she definitely has one.

I mean when has Twilight not had a plan?

[mumbling] Hm, gosh, I don't know.

[gasp] I GOT IT! Since defeating Chrysalis,

Starlight's given the changelings

an opportunity to revolutionize their society.

Maybe I can send her there.

[whoosh]

Cool spell.

If Starlight goes to the changeling hive,

she can help them adjust to their new way of life.

OK, friendship one-oh-one:

Thorax and I are going to show you how to compromise.

I want to have honeysuckle nectar for lunch.

I would like a sandwich. Oh, no. What should we do?

Attack! The winner gets to choose!

[excited chatter]

OR, Thorax and I can talk about it and come up

with a solution that works for everypony.

Starlight. How do you feel about

honeysuckle and peanut butter sandwiches?

Why, that sounds delicious.

Compromise!

[chatter]

Um, this doesn't seem like something

Starlight and Thorax would do.

Uh, this is Twilight's fantasy, Spike.

There is no wrong way to fantasize.

Thank you.

Starlight Glimmer is a most apt and perspicacious pony!

Yep, definitely a Twilight fantasy.

This seems like a lovely path for Starlight.

The Changelings have so much to learn

about how to enjoy love through friendships.

Starlight would be busy for a very long time,

but her work there would be very rewarding.

Or dangerous. It would only take one Changeling

to deviate from the pack.

[evil laugh]

Hi, I'm Starlight Glimmer. What's your name?

Uh, Cornicle?

PFFFT! HA! What kind of name is that?

Your wings are so um, see-through.

I'm so glad I'm a pony. Are you like bugs or what?

[smack smack smack]

There she is! Get her!

[angry shouts]

Um, that probably won't happen.

But it could. I can't just send her off to

Celestia-knows-where without thinking it through!

Huh. I was not aware that I was an expression.

An appropriate one, of course,

for even I don't know the answer.

This is a momentous decision.

You must consider all the possibilities.

Rethink, rethink, rethink... What about the dragons?

I can send Starlight to the Dragon Lands.

She and Ember would totally hit it off!

[whoosh]

♪ [scary music]

Emberrrr!

Starliiiiight!

You ready to do some death-defying dragon stuff?

Totally.

OK, that doesn't sound anything

like Ember or Starlight.

Who knows what their dynamic would be, Spike?

♪

[explosions]

[gasp]

[hollow knocks]

Freaky.

Starlight will love it in the dragon lands.

In her letters, Ember said dragons do a lot

of fun things: The Feast of Fires, the Dragon Bowl,

Clawchella...

Starlight could be there for a really long time.

But then again, not all dragons like ponies

as much as Ember does.

Hey, Twinkle Star!

It's uh, Starlight Glimmer.

Star-kle Light-star?

Starlight Glimmer.

Yeah Whatever. You wanna hang with us?

What are we diving into?

Lava!

WHAT?!

Twilight, this is crazy!

[zap]

Starlight's really good with magic.

She could just stop herself from falling

into a pit of lava.

What if she didn't realize it was happening?

You just never know, Spike!

I just need to think of someplace safe to send her.

Some place safe, some place safe. Some place safe.

I could send her to the Crystal Empire

to continue her magical studies with Sunburst!

[zap]

It'll be perfect!

Sunburst's knowledge of magic is only matched

by Starlight's abilities.

I've got it! Try placing your horn directly on the potion

and picture the clock you wish to make.

[zap]

[cuckoo cuckoo]

They could challenge each other into becoming

the most talented unicorns Equestria's ever seen!

We did it! Quick, what's next?

Of course, the study of magic is a lifelong pursuit

and Starlight could be there for a while,

especially once they start attempting

the really complicated stuff!

Three... two... one...

What if they become too ambitious?

I never would have thought to combine Starswirl's

apparition spell with spatium flexibus!

But what would happen if we added

Sonambula's tempus objectus?

If we do it just right, it should allow us

to materialize an object that was lost in the past!

No, don't do it.

[scream]

Starlight! NOOOO!

Twilight! Snap out of it!

Easy, Twilight. It didn't happen.

But it could.

I just don't think I can send her anywhere.

What am I going to do?

[hysterical laughter]

Are you laughing at me?

[hysterical laughter]

I can't believe you're laughing at me.

Oh, Twilight, I'm not. I'm laughing because

I had the exact same fears you're having.

What?

Let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time there was a very bright young filly.

She was truly one of my best students.

Are you talking about Twilight?

I can't see what you're thinking about.

Yes, Spike.

♪

I was constantly surprised and impressed

with her discoveries.

♪

But I noticed that her pursuit of academia

was preventing her from reaching her full potential.

You mean it was keeping her isolated and alone?

Uh. Yes, Spike.

I had a decision to make. But it wasn't easy.

Maybe I could close the library

or throw a party in the castle?

She'd have to talk to the other fillies then.

♪

I must send her away!

I knew there was a special group of fillies in Ponyville,

but I kept inventing all kinds of reasons

why I shouldn't send you.

What if she runs into a manticore? Or what if

she gets pulled into Tartarus? Or worst of all,

what if she doesn't get along with anypony?

Are we supposed to say something?

I don't think so.

I kept you in Canterlot longer than I should have.

Eventually, I realized all the anxiety I felt

was because I didn't want you to go.

Really?

I loved having you as a student.

You challenged me and taught me just as much

as I taught you.

I am embarrassed to admit it, but I was afraid

if you made friends, you wouldn't need me anymore.

Princess Celestia, that is so not true.

I will always need you.

I think Starlight Glimmer might feel the same way

about you, if that is what you're afraid of.

Maybe it is. Just a little.

Oh, it definitely is. Like a lot.

Here we are after all these years, Twilight.

We are living proof that letting someone

spread their wings doesn't mean you no longer have

a place in their lives.

Thank you.

And if you're still worried,

you can always make her write you letters!

[giggle]

[laughter]

I may have let it slip that you'd be unveiling

your big plan for Starlight tonight. Silly me.

But we're all very excited to hear what you've cooked up.

You weren't coming up with a plan just now, were you?

Oh, dear. This could be pretty embarrassing for you.

Gee, thanks Discord.

Anytime. I really do love being helpful.

[zap]

[clink clink clink]

If I could have everypony's attention.

As you all know, Starlight Glimmer has been my pupil

for a while now and I'd hoped she'd be my pupil

for a long time yet to come, but it turns out

that's just not meant to be.

[gasp]

Starlight, you have proved yourself to be a kind,

loyal, strong, honest and truly magical friend.

Just looking around this room at

all the new friendships you've made,

I know there's nothing more I need to teach you.

So we have a second reason to celebrate today.

Three cheers for Starlight Glimmer

on her "graduation" day!

[cheers]

EEE WHAT A GREAT SURPRISE!!

Your future is in your own hooves now.

Wow. I was not expecting this.

Darn it. I was hoping you'd send her to my realm.

We could have been roomies!

Way to not pick up what I was putting down.

How do you wanna celebrate? Girls trip to Las Pegasus?

We can throw you a changeling Gorbfest!

Uh, it's more fun than it sounds.

Or we could go cause a little mischief.

I know a trick that'll turn Celestia's castle into cheese.

Do you think it's a gouda idea? Ha!

That's just the first of many cheese jokes

if we go down this path.

That all sounds wonderful but um...

Give me a minute, would ya?

Congratulations!

Thanks!

So, how do you feel?

Happy, surprised, overwhelmed...

I mean, not that I'm not grateful but are you sure?

♪

Believe me, I've thought long and hard about this.

Of course you did.

Starlight, trust me. You're ready.

Yeah.

No, I'm not.

What are you talking about?

I'm not ready to leave!

Oh, good! Cuz I'm not ready for that either!

Here. I got you this present.

'congrats on getting a medal of honor present',

but then I was afraid it would have to be a

'I couldn't be happier you're staying' present!

It fits perfectly over your dresser. I know. I measured!

Thank you.

I may not know what comes next for you,

but whatever it is, I promise I'll always be there for you.

Ohhh!

[happy chatter]

captions by sassonique - Phew!