Ponyville was teeming with life, now more so than before. The tiny town was bursting at the seams with out-of-town visitors, all thanks to Twilight’s starring role as Mary Cloppins.
The Ponyville Players decided to perform Mary Cloppins for this year’s Spring Musical. Rarity proved to be an excellent actress for the magical nanny, but she didn’t have time to both act and make costumes, so she chose the costumes. After all, one had to look fabulous in show business. After a consensus, the ponies asked Twilight to play Mary Cloppins. With some reluctance, she took the lead role while Rainbow Dash assumed the role of director. When all the ponies heard that Twilight was the leading mare, they were ecstatic and made a big fuss about it. But Twilight wasn’t the only celebrity to play a big role.
Shining Armor and Princess Cadance were visiting Twilight when they heard about the musical. For the fun of it, they auditioned for the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Flanks. Seeing how they were the perfect couple to play the Flanks, every pony agreed to assign them the roles. When word got out that two of the princesses were acting in the small-town production, the musical garnered national attention and drew many visitors, pony and creature alike, to Ponyville around opening night. The Ponyville Players were surprised to get RSVPs from celebrities and other ponies and creatures. They were worried that there wasn’t going to be enough room to house all of the attendees. Discord had a solution: he made the theater bigger on the inside.
As expected, hundreds of attendees marched into the theater and took their seats. Spike peeked through the curtains and gulped at the sheer number of ponies and beasts in the auditorium. Sure, Mary Cloppins was a beloved play in Equestria, but to have the Princess of Friendship play the lead role would make it all the more unique.
Spike drew back from the curtains and said, “There sure are a lot of people here tonight.”
Rarity was applying powder on Matilda, who was playing Ellen – one of the Flanks’ servants. The unicorn said to Spike, “Why, of course. Having Twilight as Mary Cloppins and Princess Cadance as Mrs. Flanks is sure to bring in crowds.”
Discord said as he filed his nails, “Well, if you ask me, there would be bigger crowds if I was the lead.”
Spike said, “Uh, Discord? You can’t play a female. Besides, you’re Uncle Albert…and our lead special effects…guy.”
Discord rolled his eyes and groaned. He was displeased that he got a minor role this time, but at least he was given the job of doing special effects as compensation. He was glad that he would get to use his magic more…and not just for floating. A few times, he went all-out with the SFX. As a result, his antics nearly threatened the ponies’ lives. He knew what happened when he pulled some stunts and was framed for others while performing for The Singing Stallion. He did not want to get kicked out again, so he took it easy with the SFX.
Pinkie just looked out the curtains and remarked when she drew back, “Yowza! That’s a lot of people out there! I’m gonna have to throw a bigger impromptu after-show soiree now!”
Applejack chuckled, “No need to go overboard, Pinkie. Besides, I’ve got to handle the refreshments. Starlight can help ya with the party after the show.”
Starlight Glimmer was a powerful unicorn who had founded a village where cutie marks were all the same. After the Mane Six thwarted her, she plotted revenge against them and traveled back in time to disrupt the Sonic Rainboom responsible for the girls’ cutie marks. Twilight eventually got through to her and offered to become her friend. After Starlight went back with Twilight to the correct timeline, the alicorn made Starlight her pupil. She was now living with Twilight in the Castle of Friendship as her student.
On another part of the stage, Twilight was shaking nervously. Shining Armor said, “Whoa! Chill, Twilight! It’s just a big audience.” Cadance, who was holding their daughter Flurry Heart, ruffled her wing to give him a sort of irritated jab.
Twilight said, “Yeah, a big audience who’s expecting me to make a knock-out performance! The whole production rests on me!”
Cadance said, “Twilight, that’s not true. A performance depends on every pony doing their part. Besides, it wouldn’t be Mary Cloppins without the rest of the cast and crew.”
Shining Armor put his hoof on his sister’s shoulder and told her, “We all got your back, Twilight. Don’t worry.”
Flurry Heart gurgled as if she was agreeing with her dad.
Twilight smiled, “Thank you, guys. Now let’s put on a show!”
When Shining Armor left for the dressing room, he came across Flash Sentry. He told him, “Hey, Flash! Ready for the performance of your life?”
Flash was a little nervous, but he remembered his training and thought of the performance as facing danger. He had to keep on a brave face. He told Shining Armor, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
The white stallion said to him, “I know you’ll do great.”
As Shining Armor’s insistence, Flash had auditioned for the play. He was surprised when he received the role of Bert, the jack-of-all-trades. After news of the play made it a nationwide event, Flash considered dropping out, but since Twilight would be by his side, he felt like he could brave anything. Besides, he didn’t want to disappoint the princess whose castle he was now protecting.
Celestia and Luna were in the audience, seated in the newly-created theater box meant for them. Luna looked at the audience and remarked, “Look at this audience, Celie. And to think, it was supposed to be a small-town production.”
Her older sister nodded and smiled, “Yes, but I have every bit of confidence that the audience will love it.”