Original subtitles

♪♪

[knocking]

[door opens]

♪♪

[groan]

[knocking]

[pounding]

Ahem. Morning, Sunburst.

What? Oh. Hi!

Heh heh.

You know, no matter how many times I read it,

Houyhnhnm's Guide to Magical Arcana never gets boring.

If you say so.

I've got another letter for you from Sires Hollow.

Mm-hmm. Sure thing.

[slam]

[groan]

♪♪

[thud]

[quiet chirping]

What's this?

Could I be experiencing the

Cerebration Transmogrification Effect described in Chapter 17?

[thud]

[quiet chirping continues]

Oh, my cutie mark is glowing.

My cutie mark is glowing!

I know what this means!

Why am I yelling?

♪ 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? ♪

♪♪

Princess Twilight, what an honor this is.

I mean, it is, right?

I'm called for a friendship mission?

You sure are.

And it must be a special one.

Nopony outside of Ponyville has ever been called before.

If you need some pointers, let me know.

I've been on my fair share of missions.

You've been on one, Spike.

And that's my fair share.

Starlight!

You mean we've both been called?

This is great!

[not excited] Yeah. Great.

Aren't you excited?

You and me! On a mission!

Together.

[groan]

I'm sorry, are you not excited to go on a mission with me?

No.

No! I mean, yes.

Totally excited about us going together,

just not so excited about where.

♪♪

Sires Hollow?

Yep. Home.

Oh. Great.

You know, I can go if you two don't want to.

I am kind of an expert.

[groans]

[chugging]

[train whistle toots]

[sigh]

It's not that I don't want to go home,

it's just that whenever I do, my dad treats me like a filly,

like nothing's changed since I was a foal.

Huh.

I know.

I'm a horrible daughter.

No, no.

My mom actually does kind of the same thing.

Really?

I don't even have to go home.

She sends me letters constantly

asking about my plans for the future.

"You're a grown-up pony, Sunburst. You need a plan."

[groan]

I haven't been home in a while either.

Hm. We'll just have to explain to our parents

that we're on an important friendship mission,

so they can't bother us.

Do you think that will work?

Nope!

[squeaking brakes]

[whistle blows]

[sigh] The great thing about home is

it always stays just how you left--

[bang] OH!

♪ [mysterious music] ♪

Where did that come from?

[squeak]

[woman's voice over speaker] Welcome to Sires Hollow.

♪♪

Essence?

Essence of what?

You tell me.

[hiss]

[coughing]

What is it?

Ah. Chocolate? Maybe?

Not chocolate maybe.

Chocolate definitely.

And all of the benefits with none of the drawbacks.

Didn't this used to be a fruit stand?

I don't know what it used to be.

The Sires Hollow Development Committee determined what it is.

The Sires Hollow Development what?

Where do ponies buy fruit?

You can get a fruit smoothie two doors down.

All the shops are different.

Everything's changed!

Not everything.

That's the same as it ever was.

♪♪

Sorry, our bookstore's been declared a

"site of historical significance"

by the Sires Hollow Preservation Society.

You'll have to experience the books from here.

That's why windows are see-through.

[door closes]

WHAT?

Preservation Society?

What is happening around here?

I'll explain it to you, Sugar-Plum.

[laugh]

You are just as cutsie-wootsie as ever!

Dad!

Quit it!

What is going on?

Oh! Just a father wanting to preserve our town's rich history

for his little Pumpkie-Wumpkin.

[laugh]

Dad. You promised no pumpkie-wumpkins in public.

[giggle]

Sorry, Chipmunk Cheeks.

Don't.

You're preserving the whole town?

That's crazy.

That's exactly what I told him.

I said, "Firelight, you're crazy."

Mom?

Our village needs the same thing you do, Sunburst:

a clear plan for the future.

That's why I started the Sires Hollow Development Committee.

And I've got plans for this little town.

Big plans.

Listen here, Stellar Flare; I'm not going to let you

turn our historical heritage into Las Pegasus!

And I'm not going to let you turn it into a museum!

[snarl]

Wait.

Are you two fighting over this?

Like, having a friendship problem?

Oh, there's no problem.

Because there is no friendship.

Well, the good news is we know why we're here.

[groan]

Maybe we should have sent Spike after all.

[sigh]

♪♪

Sunburst and I were called here to do a job

and it looks like you two are it.

You mean your success depends on us?

Uh...

And you have to hang out with us the whole time you're here?

Um...

Well, I'll hear what you have to say,

but every plan I've made for this town

is perfectly reasonable.

Good luck convincing me my preservations efforts

don't make sense.

[sighs]

♪♪

Welcome to Sires Hollow.

♪♪

So we can't hold the books?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha. No.

Can you hold the books?

No.

So nopony can read the books?

Isn't she adorable?

[laugh]

Welcome to Sires Hollow.

You can call them smells, but I call them essence!

[coughing]

Fruity.

Too bad there's nowhere to get actual fruit.

In the future, all ponies will drink their fruit.

[coughing]

[thud]

One hundred percent ancient pony grains.

Just like the town founders ate.

Hope you like crust!

[thud]

[squeak]

Welcome to Sires Hollow.

[squeak]

Welcome to Sires Hollow.

[squeak]

Welcome to Sires Hollow.

[squeak]

Welcome to Sires Hollow.

Welcome to--

OK, it's annoying. I get it.

Maybe my preservation efforts were a little over the top.

Oh no.

And I might have been trying to turn the town

into a shopping mall.

Well, whatever direction the town takes, from now on

how about we work together on it?

Deal!

Sunburst, you should move closer to Ponyville.

After this success, I'm sure the Princess of Friendship

will want to send you on more missions.

That's not really how it works.

Oh, look at the time.

We should get going, now that we've solved

the friendship problem! Right, Starlight?

Yeah. The thing is, I don't think we did solve it.

When we solve a friendship problem,

our cutie marks are supposed to glow.

Aww, don't be disappointed, Puddin'.

Your papa will work this out for ya.

My papa wasn't called by the map in Twilight's castle; I was.

♪♪

How are you going to explain this to the princess?

What's your plan if she fires you from friendship quests?

Mom!

She doesn't...

It's not...

Use your words, Sunburst.

[angry shriek]

I guess you two weren't the problem

we were sent to solve, after all.

So now you don't even know why you're here?

We have to figure this out before we run out of time!

[sigh] Mom. There isn't a time limit.

So you're here for an extra-long visit?

[laugh]

You can stay in your old room, Punkie-Wunk.

It's just like you left it!

[zoom]

[softly] We need to find this friendship problem now.

Now, I know you have your little job to do,

but Stellar and I know the town a lot better than you two.

That's right.

Neither of you have been home in ages.

You're going to need our help to succeed.

I guess that makes sense.

[laugh]

I already have some ideas.

Me too!

I think I liked it better when they were fighting.

♪♪

OK.

Now that I've explained how Sires Hollow was founded,

we can start to explore all the possible friendship problems

that might have developed over time.

I appreciate the history lesson, Dad,

but I need to find the problem now...

in the present.

Aw, now Hon-Bun, how are you gonna do that

without all the backstory, huh?

Oh, of course I know how hard it is for you

to sit still and focus, so...

Would it help you pay attention to hold on to your bwankie?

[angry shudder]

Now you've had a little setback, but don't worry.

I know exactly what you need to do.

Make a plan?

Already got one.

Step one: interview the suspects.

Step two: use your talents to solve the issue.

Step three: get the Princess of Friendship

to send you on more missions!

Mom! IT DOES NOT WORK LIKE THAT.

Uh-huh!

♪♪

AHEM.

[obviously rehearsed]

Oh, thank goodness you are here.

These two ponies refuse to use my essences.

Maybe because we don't like to cover our natural scent.

AHEM!

[grunt]

[grunt]

[sigh]

And she refuses to buy our books.

Surely this is a friendship problem.

It needs to be a real friendship problem.

You can't just make one up!

URGH!

This is what happens when we don't rehearse!

UGH.

Starlight?

Sweetie?

I found a really old town bylaw that nopony agrees on.

Apparently, we're not supposed to prance

or canter after dinnertime.

Could that be the problem? Sillyfilly?

Phew.

What are you doing?

Hiding from my mother.

She started making up friendship problems for me to solve.

My dad won't even let me talk to anypony,

in case they're "strangers." I'm A GROWN MARE!

[sigh]

We're never going to find the friendship problem

with them around, let alone solve it.

Maybe you two should start looking for it on your own?

[click]

OK, so we wanted to talk to all of you, you know, in private.

Just to see if there were issues any of you had

with your friends.

Got it.

Just one question.

Why are we whispering?

They're avoiding their parents.

Ohhh!

[murmured agreement]

No. Not avoiding.

Just taking a break.

Yeah.

We needed to focus, but we're definitely not avoiding them.

So you're whispering with all of us

in the darkest corner of the shop,

where nopony can possibly see

because you're not avoiding them?

Mm-hmm!

But they definitely can't hear us in here, right?

No way!

This is the antiquities section.

Nopony ever comes back here.

There you are!

But what are you doing in here?

[gasp] Is the friendship problem

in my favorite section of the book store?

[groan]

...and then I thought the best way

to look for a friendship problem in the present...

Dad!

...was to look back in our town history even farther!

[growl]

Stellar Flare: Sunburst!

Finally.

Now, I know you don't want me to "make up" a problem,

but what if I START one?

That's not how this...

I mean, no pony ever became a success by following

all the rules, right?

[snarl]

How are things on your end?

Couldn't be better.

New leads and such!

Guys?

We really are providing excellent assistance, aren't we?

Guys!

I dare say our children should be grateful for our help.

GUYS!

Both: We don't want your help!

I'm sorry, you don't want our help?

[laugh] That's--that's ridiculous.

What reason could you possibly have for that?

BECAUSE YOU'RE DRIVING US CRAZY!

Oh, really?

And just how am I driving you crazy?

By always coming up with plans!

I don't need a plan!

I mean, maybe I do, but it'll be mine, not yours.

Well, I'm sorry for trying to help!

[sobbing]

And you're not any better.

I'm not a filly.

I'm a grown pony with a job to do and I'll do it on my own.

Well, I'll let you get to it, then.

Great.

Now we have to smooth things over with our parents

on top of finding and solving a friendship problem.

It's almost like our relationship with our parents

is the friendship problem.

You don't think that's it, do you?

Ahem.

That's what all of us think.

Agh!

[thud]

Why couldn't we have been sent to stop a war or something?

Dad?

Hello, Ms. Glimmer.

How is your friendship problem search going?

I only ask as an interested observer,

since I know you are an adult who's capable

of doing things without help from anypony else.

Actually, I think Sunburst and I figured out what it is.

So, Stellar and I weren't really helpful after all.

Well, we haven't actually solved it.

And I don't think we can.

Not without you.

[sniff]

[coughing]

Pungent!

Oh, did you come by to be driven crazy

by more of your mother's plans?

No, I came to apologize.

Well, it's going to take more than an apology

to make up for telling me you don't want my help

finding your friendship problem.

Oh, I'm not sorry for that.

Starlight and I already figured out what the problem is.

This is a terrible apology.

Well, if you come with me and help fix it,

I'll give you a better one.

Usually, Twilight or one of our other friends gets called

to a place with a friendship problem to fix.

But Starlight and I realized we came here

to fix a friendship problem we already had.

I'm sorry I've been avoiding coming home, Dad,

but you can't keep treating me like a foal.

I'm sorry, Sugarbun!

[chuckle]

I just know how hard things were for you when you left home.

I guess I wanted you to feel safe, like when you were young.

Dad, I know I've made some mistakes,

and I'll probably make a bunch more,

but I learn from them.

I think that's what growing up is.

I'm sorry I never told you how much your plans bothered me,

and I know you just want me to succeed,

but I need to do that on my own.

I remember how lost you were

when you flunked out of magic school.

I thought as long as you had a plan,

you'd never feel that way again.

You don't have to worry, Mom.

I need to find my own way,

but I definitely don't feel lost anymore.

♪♪

[blubbering]

It's so beautiful!

The glowing cutie mark is such a symbol of accomplishment.

I don't suppose there's a way for you

to get it to glow all the time.

Heh heh. Pretty sure it doesn't work that way.

Not unless we solved a friendship problem every few

seconds, and I kinda hope this one will be it for a while.

You know, it seems to me your map is saying we're not just

your parents; we're your friends too.

I guess so.

So, if I promise to treat you less like a little filly

and more like a friend, will you visit more?

Absolutely.

And if you start to drive me crazy again,

I'll tell you instead of never coming home.

That's lovely of you to say, dear, but you know,

I can always visit you.

Stellar, you're a genius!

Ha ha ha!

How do you feel about a road trip?

I might have a few plans for that.

[nervous laughter]