Just before the curtains opened again, a trap door was opened to make way for a pit. After Twilight, Flash, and the kids had sooty powder applied on them, Sweetie Belle and Pip went to the front of the stage. Discord, who was in the pit behind the rooftop set, grabbed for Twilight and held her in a T-pose.
Twilight told him, “Okay, Discord. Don’t throw me higher than you have to.”
Discord chuckled, “Oh, come now, Twilight. You know I love making a fool out of you.” When she glared at him, he said in defeat, “All right.”
When the curtains parted, Sweetie Belle put her hoof on Pip’s shoulder and said, “Michael, don’t be frightened. Everything’s going…”
She was soon interrupted by a puff of smoke from the chimney set. Immediately afterwards, Discord launched Twilight into the air. While she was spreading her wings, Flash joined the draconequus in the pit.
When the Pegasus held his broom upwards, Discord said, “Careful, don’t hit me in the eye.”
Flash said, “I have never hit you in the eye all the times we rehearsed this scene.”
“Well, that doesn’t keep me from worrying.”
Twilight – who had just landed on the stage - then said to the kids, “Will you put your things on at once?”
Just after she said her line, Discord launched Flash into the air. Flash then flapped his wings and said as he landed, “There you are! I thought you’d left us.”
Sweetie said ashamedly, “We didn’t mean to.”
“Well, no harm done. Truth is, this is what you might call a fortuitous circumstance.” He pointed stage left and said, “Look there. A trackless jungle just waiting to be explored.” He turned to Twilight and asked, “Why not, Mary Cloppins?”
Sweetie pleaded, “Oh, please, Mary Cloppins?”
Pip said, “Please!”
Twilight sighed, “Oh, well. If we must, we must.” She took out her compact mirror and dabbed more sooty powder on her face. She then said, “Fall in.” As the other three formed a line, Twilight cleared her throat, “Look lively, look lively. Jump to it, jump to it! Get in line.”
She then shouted, “Atte-e-e-ention! A-slo-o-o-ope arms!” The trio held their brooms over their shoulders and Twilight said, “Aro-o-o-o-ound turn!” Flash and the kids faced stage left as Twilight marched to the front of the line. She then ordered, “Qui-i-ick march!”
The actors pretended to march as the background of the chimneys rolled towards stage right. A DFE chimney prop then rolled onstage with the help of Discord’s magic. Pip came up to it and shouted into it, “Hello, there!”
Discord held a similar chimney prop offstage and said, “Sorry to do this to you, Squeakers.”
As Discord blew into his prop, Pip’s face got covered in sooty powder. Flash chuckled as he wiped the colt’s face, “It’s just good, clean soot, Michael.” He then asked Twilight, “This is as far as we go, right?”
The alicorn responded, “Not at all.”
The ponies continued to march stage left until they got to a “smoking” chimney. Twilight used her magic to poke her umbrella into the smoke while blowing at it. Discord used his tricks once again to make a staircase out of the smoke. Originally, an actual staircase was going to be used, but at Discord’s behest, the smoke itself would provide the staircase. The actors were unsure about walking on it at first in fear that they would just fall onto the stage. However, they learned that it was completely safe.
The actors then walked up the smoke staircase and climbed onto an overlook that rolled onstage.
Flash then told the ponies, “What did I tell you? There’s the whole world at your hooves. And who gets to see it but the birds, the stars, and the chimney sweeps?”
The audience gasped when the scenery of Trottingham changed from sunset to night before their eyes. They had expected another background to replace the one before it, but Discord had a trick up his sleeve. He smiled offstage at the audience’s sheer amazement.
Twilight then said, “It’s very nice, but we should all get out of the night air. Follow me, please.”
The ponies climbed onto a smoky cloud and it slowly descended onto the stage floor. A spotlight then lit on the actors as the rest of the stage went dark. Discord then grabbed the background and spun it until it was of the rooftops. He also moved many props of chimneys onstage with his magic.
As he did so, Twilight sang, “Chim chiminy, chim chiminy…Chim chim cheree…When you’re with a sweep, you’re in glad company…”
Flash sang, “Nowhere is there a more happier crew…”
Both sang, “Than those who sing chim chim cheree, chim cheroo…”
A chimney then rose onto the stage and the ponies landed on the floor as the smoke cloud disappeared into the prop.
The couple then sang, “Chim chiminy chim chim…Cheree chim cheroo…”
Many stallions playing chimney sweeps popped out of the chimney props as they shouted, “Cheroo! Cheroo! Cheroo! Cheroo! Cheroo! Cheroo!”
Flash excitedly said, “It’s all my pals!” He threw his broom on the floor and said to the extras, “Step in time! Step in time!”
Some Pegasi then flew out from the props, but Discord used his magic to make sure the unicorns and Earth ponies did, too. The sweeps all said as they jumped and/or flew out from the props, “Step in time! Step in time! Step in time!”
“Step in time!” Flash sang as he and the sweeps began to dance, “Step in time, step in time…Come on, buddies, step in time!”
The sweeps and Flash then sang, “Step in time! Step in time, step in time…Step in time, step in time…Never need a reason, never need a rhyme, we step in time, we step in time!”
Flash shouted, “Kick your hooves up!”
He and the sweeps sang as they and Flash did so, “Kick your hooves up, step in time…Kick your hooves up, step in time…Never need a reason, never need a rhyme, kick your hooves up, step in time!”
“Round the chimney!”
“Round the chimney, step in time….Round the chimney, step in time…Never need a reason, never need a rhyme, round the chimney we step in time!”
“Flap like a birdie!”
“Flap like a birdie, step in time…Flap like a birdie, step in time…Never need a reason, never need a rhyme, flap like a birdie…in time!”
“Up on the railing!”
“Up on the railing, step in time…Up on the railing, step in time…Never need a reason, never need a rhyme, up on the railing, step in time…”
“Over the rooftops!”
“Over the rooftops, step in time…Over the rooftops, step in time…Never need a reason, never need a rhy-y-y-y-yme…Step in time! Over the rooftops, over the rooftops!”
“Link your elbows!”
“Link your elbows, step in time…Link your elbows, step in time…Link your elbows, link your elbows, link your elbo-o-o-o-ows!”
While the sweeps were dancing in a swirl-like pattern, one of them took Flash by the hoof and swung him with the others. The front row patrons gasped when Flash flew over them for a moment. He made as soft a landing as possible near the chimney where Twilight and the kids were.
The sweeps then sang, “Step in time, step in time…Step in time, step in time…Never need a reason, never need a rhyme, you step in time, you step in time!”
Flash rejoined the sweeps and danced with them for a couple of minutes. He then went up to Twilight and said, “Mary Cloppins, step in time!”
She and Flash then danced as the sweeps danced and pounded their brooms in time. Twilight then danced with a few other sweeps before she gave a few moves by herself. When she danced one way, the others followed suit. She then twirled into the air and the other sweeps copied her while giving flattering remarks. She twirled again for a longer period of time and the others did the same.
Twilight twirled once more, but this time, Discord spun her with his magic. He had pointed out during rehearsals that using the wings would be considered cheating, so he decided to spin her rapidly in the air. Twilight didn’t particularly like this scene on account of how nauseous she almost felt each time. Even when she landed on the floor again, she had to act like she wasn’t dizzy and sat on the chimney prop.
The sweeps then swarmed her, pleading for her to pull the stunt again. When she held out her hoof in refusal, the sweeps resumed dancing. Flash joined them after a minute or two. After some more dancing, Admiral Hoof’s house rolled in from stage left and Doctor Hooves was looking through his telescope.
Hooves then shouted, “We’re being attacked by Hottentrots!”
Hayseed Turnip Truck agreed, “Aye aye, sir.”
“Cheeky devils! Give them what for! Empty the shot lockers!”
“Aye aye, sir!”
As Hayseed put ammo in the cannon, Doctor Hooves told him, “Move along, Mr. Bittacle. Handsomely now. Teach the beggars a lesson.”
Hayseed then held the linstock and said, “Gun ready, sir.”
“Stand by. Fire!”
Discord insisted on using actual fireworks, but he was met with rejection. Not wanting to take “no” as an answer, he replaced the empty cans with magical fireworks. When the cannon fired, fireworks flew and blew up on the stage and over the audience, but all at a safe distance. This shocked the audience, but it caught the actors off-guard, especially when the fireworks were unpredictable, much like the spirit of chaos who suggested using them in the first place. The sweeps all ran in frenzy across the stage, narrowly missing some fireworks left and right. Offstage, Discord was laughing his head off at the amusement and mayhem of it all.
Fluttershy shouted among the loud noise, “Discord, stop it! You’re going to hurt somepony!”
He replied in an amused tone, “Oh, relax, Flutters! No one’s going to get hurt! I’ll stop when the sweeps reach the chimney.”
Just then, they heard one sweep say, “Hey, fellas! Let’s go in that chimney!”
Discord smiled, “See?”
When he snapped his fingers, the fireworks died as the curtains closed. As the stagehooves were changing the sets, Twilight then marched up to Discord in a huff and said, “Discord! I know you were behind the fireworks!”
Discord shrugged happily, “What can I say? I like spicing up the show a bit. And besides, shouldn’t you get ready for the next scene?” He gave a sly grin.
Twilight sighed agitatedly, knowing he was right. When the curtains opened again, the sweeps were all coming down the fireplace and tumbling into the foyer. When they began dancing, Granny Smith entered from behind the set curtain and screamed, “Aah! They’re at it again!”
The sweeps sang as they swarmed her, “They’re at it again, step in time…At it again, step in time…” As the kids tumbled out of the fireplace, the sweeps continued to sing, “They’re at it again, step in time!”
After Twilight and Flash entered through the fireplace, Matilda ran onstage as she shouted, “Ow!”
The sweeps sang as they danced with her, “Ow, step in time…Ow, step in time…Never need a reason, never need a rhyme…Step in time!”
The main hallway then lit up and Cadance was at the door. She asked, “Oh, Ellen, when you have a second…”
The sweeps sang, “Votes for the mares, step in time…Votes for the mares, step in time…”
Cadance tried to protest as they lifted her up for a few moments, “Oh, no, really, not at the moment.”
“Votes for the mares!”
Cadance then cheered, “Votes for the mares!”
Discord chortled offstage, “Oh-ho, this is simply too much fun! I really must join them!” He turned into a taupe stallion and went onstage to join the sweeps.
Fluttershy shouted, “Discord!”
Flurry Heart then flew by her as the baby cried, “Wheee!”
Fluttershy shouted in a more panicked tone, “Flurry Heart!”
Suddenly, Shining Armor knocked into her and both fell to the floor. Luckily, the audience didn’t notice it amidst the sea of dancing actors.
Fluttershy quietly apologized, “I’m so sorry.”
Shining Armor whispered, “It’s okay, Fluttershy. Just grab Flurry Heart, but be discreet.”
She nodded, “Got it.”
When she dipped into the crowd of chimney sweeps, Shining Armor stood up and pretended to be shocked at the scene.
Matilda shouted as she danced with a sweep, “It’s the master!”
The sweeps sang, “It’s the master, step in time…It’s the master, step in time…”
Shining Armor stumbled amidst the crowd as he repeated in surprise, “What’s all this? What’s all this?”
The sweeps copied his words as they sang, “What’s all this? What’s all this? What’s all this? It’s the master, step in time…”
“What’s all this? What’s all this?”
“Kick your hooves up, kick your hooves up…”
Twilight then turned to Flash on the stairs and said, “Bert.”
Flash whistled to his pals just as Fluttershy grabbed Flurry Heart. Discord grabbed her and said, “Come on, my dear. Time to get going!”
After a few sweeps shook Shining Armor’s hoof and exited stage left, Discord followed suit. Pip then did the same thing, but before he could leave the stage, Shining Armor held him back and removed his cap.
Pip said, “Good luck, guv’nor.”
As the rest of the sweeps were exiting stage left, Discord chortled as he turned back into his regular self, “Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I tell you, I haven’t had this much fun since the Grand Galloping Gala!” When Fluttershy ignored him and walked away, he muttered in confusion, “Fluttershy?”
After the music stopped, Sweetie Belle said to Shining Armor, “Oh, Father, every one of those sweeps shook your hoof. You’re going to be the luckiest pony in the world!”
Discord didn’t seem to think so about himself.
Twilight ushered the kids, “Come along, children. Spit spot.”
Shining Armor turned towards the stairs and angrily said, “Just a moment, Mary Cloppins. What is the meaning of this outrage?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Will you be good enough to explain all of this?”
“First of all, I would like to make one thing quite clear.”
“Yes?”
Twilight then said smugly, “I never explain anything.”
As she and the kids walked upstairs, Shining Armor went into the foyer with Flash Sentry. As soon as the hallway went dark, a piece of paper hit Shining Armor in the head. Discord’s aim was a little off on account of Fluttershy being upset with him.
Shining Armor took the paper and opened it, reading aloud, “’To George Flanks. This is Mr. Donks, Sr.’” His eyes widened and he pretended to be shocked as he continued, “’We want you at the bank at 9:00 sharp without fail. The matter is darn serious and we regret this course of action. After all, you’ve been with us a good many years as was your father before you. Do not be late.’”
Flash winced, “Ooh. Not exactly an encouraging letter, I must say.”
Shining Armor said nothing as he leaned over the fireplace. He then said, “A colt has dreams…of walking with giants. To carve his niche…in the edifice of time.” He sang, “Before the mortar of his zeal has a chance to congeal…” He said, “The cup is dashed from his lips! The flame is snuffed a-borning. He’s brought to ruin in his prime.”
Flash said to him, “Life can be that harsh, governor, and that’s the truth.”
“You know what I think? It’s that pony Mary Cloppins. From the moment she stepped into this house, things began to happen to me!”
“Mary Cloppins?”
“Yes! Yes, of course.” Shining Armor sang, “My world was calm…well-ordered, exemplary…Then came this pony with chaos in her wake…And now my life’s ambitions go with one fell blow…It’s quite a bitter pill to take…”
The prince then said, “It’s that Cloppins pony! She did it!”
Flash smiled, “I know the very pony you mean. Mary Cloppins. She’s the one who sings…” He then sang, “A spoonful of sugar…That is all it takes…It changes bread and water into tea and cakes…”
Shining Armor said, “You see? That’s exactly what I mean! Changing bread and water into tea and cakes! No wonder everything’s loopy around here.”
“A spoonful of sugar goes a long, long way…Have yourself a healthy helping every day…” He then said to the white stallion, “A healthy helping of trouble, if you ask me.”
“Do you know what she did? I realize now. She tricked me into taking Jane and Michael to the bank. That’s how all the trouble started.”
“Tricked you into taking the children on an outing?”
“Yes.”
“Outrageous! A colt with all the important things you have to do. Shameful! You’re a colt of high position. Esteemed by your peers.” Flash sang, “And when your little ones are crying, you don’t have time to dry their tears…and see their grateful little faces smiling up at you…because their dad, he always knows just what to do…”
Shining Armor said nervously, “Well, I mean, look, I don’t think I…”
“Like you say, governor.” He sang, “You’ve got to grind, grind, grind at that grindstone…though childhood slips like sand through a sieve…And all too soon they’ve up and grown…and then they’ve flown…and it’s too late for you to give…Just that spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down…The medicine go down, medicine go down…”
Flash said as he put on his cap and grabbed his broom, “Well, goodbye, governor. Sorry to have troubled you.” He whistled as he exited stage left.
Shining Armor sat down in a covered chair and then Sweetie and Pip entered the foyer. Sweetie said, “Father?” As the kids walked up to the prince, she continued, “We’re sorry about the tuppence. We didn’t know it would cause you so much trouble.”
The stallion remained silent as Pip put some bits in his hoof. The colt told him, “Here, Father. You can have the tuppence.”
The kids then headed towards the doorway at stage right. Sweetie then looked back and asked, “Will that make everything all right?”
Shining Armor looked up from the bits and said, “Thank you.”
When the curtains closed and music began to play, the kids decided to listen in on a conversation that Twilight, Fluttershy, and Discord were having.
Discord said, “Oh, come on! I want to know what I did wrong! I was only trying to liven up the performance!”
Twilight said, “The performance would’ve done just fine without actual fireworks!”
Fluttershy said, “You were being very naughty, Discord. Somepony could’ve been hurt.”
Discord sputtered, “But I still kept the light show at a safe distance! I can assure you, the audience is just fine.”
Twilight asked angrily, “Is that all you care about? Just the audience?”
“Yes! No! What I mean to say is that everypony was looking forward to this show! Do you think I would just let it drag on without being enticing?”
“You’re not the star, Discord.”
Fluttershy said, “We let you use your magic to do the special effects. I thought you were happy to do that.”
Discord said, “And I’m grateful for that, Fluttershy. I’m really happy I get to use special effects for this show.”
Twilight said, “But you tried to steal the spotlight by going onstage during the dance scene.”
“I wasn’t trying to steal anything! It was delicious chaos and I couldn’t help myself! I just had to be a part of that.” He sighed agitatedly, “Why would you ponies understand what makes me happy? You’re not even looking out for me at all. Here I am, trying to make the show better, and yet you tell me that I almost hurt ponies because of what I do. I’m not the spirit of chaos for nothing.”
When he walked away from the ponies, the kids couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. They walked up to Twilight and Fluttershy and Sweetie asked, “Can we go to the concession stand?”
Twilight nodded and Fluttershy said, “Come on. I’ll take you there.”
As Fluttershy ushered the kids to the exit, Rainbow told the stagehooves, “All right, everypony. Places.”
When the music ended, the curtains opened again to reveal the bank directors at a long table. DJ Pon-3 played the sound effect for a door knocking.
Cranky said, “Come in.” When Shining Armor entered timidly from stage left, the donkey told him, “Take your hat off, Flanks.”
Shining Armor did as he was told and held his hat at his chest as he walked up to the table. He then said, “Good evening, gentlemen.”
When there was silence, Cranky said to Martingale, “Well, get on with it. Go on.”
The stallion complied, “Yes, Father.” He rose from his chair and told Shining Armor, “Many moons ago, an official of this bank unwisely loaned a large sum of money to finance a shipment of tea to Griffonstone. Do you know what happened?”
Shining Armor nodded, “Yes, sir. I think I do. As the train arrived at the station, a party of griffons, dressed as hippogriffs, boarded the locomotive, behaved very rudely, and threw all the tea into the Celestial Sea. This made the tea unsuitable for drinking, even for griffons.” He chuckled weakly until he saw the grim faces of the directors.
Martingale said, “Exactly. The loan was defaulted. Panic ensued within these walls. There was a run on the bank!”
Cranky said, “From that time until now, there hasn’t been a run on this here bank. Today, a run was caused by the disgraceful conduct of your son.” He gave the prince a fake stinkeye as he said, “Do you deny it?”
Shining Armor responded, “I do not deny it, sir. And I will be only too glad to assume responsibility for my son.”
Cranky poked his cane at Martingale and said, “What are you waiting for? Get on with it!”
Martingale said, “Yes, Father.” He then went over to Shining Armor, took his red carnation, and used his magic to rip it apart. After he put the torn flower back on the prince’s lapel, Martingale took Shining Armor’s umbrella and turned it inside-out. Finally, he took the stallion’s hat and punched a hole into it. After he put it on Shining Armor’s head, Martingale returned to his seat.
Cranky said, “Well, do you have anything to say, Flanks?”
Shining Armor replied as he nervously dug his hoof into his costume, “Well, sir, they do say that when there’s nothing to say, all you can say…” He then pulled out the bits Pip gave him.
“Confound it, Flanks! I said, do you have anything to say?”
Shining Armor then chuckled, “Just one word, sir.”
“Yes?”
“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!” He laughed as soon as he said the word.
“What?”
Shining Armor laughed, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Mary Cloppins was right. It’s extraordinary. It does make you feel better!” He gave another laugh.
Cranky said gruffly, “What are you talking about, colt? There’s no such word.”
“Oh, yeah. It is a word. A very good word, actually. Do you know what there’s no such thing as? It turns out, with due respect, when all is said and done, that there’s no such thing as you!”
Cranky shouted, “Impertinence!”
Shining Armor walked up to Cranky and said, “Speaking of impertinence, would you like to hear a really great joke? A real snapper!”
“Joke? Snapper?”
“Yes. There are these two wonderful young people, Jane and Michael. And they meet one day on the street, and Jane says to Michael, ‘I know a colt with a wooden leg named Smith.’ And Michael says, ‘Really? What’s the name of his other leg?’” He burst out laughing.
Cranky said, “The colt’s gone mad. Call the guard!”
“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. I’m feeling better all the time!”
Martingale shielded Cranky as he warned Shining Armor, “Flanks, don’t you dare strike my father!”
Shining Armor used his magic to hold the bits as he said, “There’s the tuppence. The wonderful, fateful, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious tuppence.” He then put the coins in Cranky’s hoof. “Guard it well. Goodbye!”
As the prince turned to leave, Cranky asked, “Flanks, where are you going?”
The stallion turned to him and said happily, “I don’t know. I might pop through a chalk pavement picture and go for an outing in the country. Or I might seize an animal off a merry-go-round and win the Derby! Or I might just fly a kite! Only Cloppins would know!”
“Cloppins?”
“My nanny. She’s the one who sings that ridiculous song.” He sang as he skipped stage left, “A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down…The medicine go down, the medicine go down…”
As soon as Shining Armor left the stage, Martingale remarked, “Mad as a March hare.”
Cranky muttered to himself, “A wooden leg named Smith…A wooden leg named Smith…A wooden le-“ When he pretended to realize the punch line, he gave a wheezy laughter.
Offstage, Twilight said, “Okay, Discord. This is your cue.”
Discord cracked his fingers and said in a cheerful manner, “I’m ready as I’ll ever be, thanks to these considerate children.” He embraced the kids on either side of him as he continued, “If they hadn’t given me treats from the concession stand, I still would’ve been down in the dumps.” He then said, “All right. Here we go.”
He lifted Cranky up in the air as Martingale said, “Father? Father! Father, come down!” When the donkey did somersaults in mid-air, Martingale broke down into fake sobs, “Daddy! Daddy, come back!”
The curtains then closed on the scene.