What if Friendship is Magic was set and written in Shakespeare times?
This is a re-imagining of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic designed for Elizabethan stage performance and written in parody and facsimile of the language, tradition, and structure of Shakespeare's plays. It was inspired by William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher (more so by this video made about it by Kyle Kallgren that explains a lot of the techniques employed by Shakespeare and his imitators you can watch here).
Much Ado About Friendship Part 1: The Mare in our Moon
Enter MAYOR, TWILIGHT, SPIKE, NIGHTMARE, RAINBOW, Guards, Crowds
MAYOR
Oh seize her fast who hid our Princess! Guards!
The guards approach her
NIGHTMARE
A foal’s courage, so misguided. Stay back!
Exit NIGHTMARE in a cloud of smoke
RAINBOW
Return! Nighttime? And forever?
Exit TWILIGHT and SPIKE
You go?
Exeunt
SCENE 2, a library
Enter SPIKE and TWILIGHT
SPIKE
She must be stopped…
TWILIGHT
You have not slept, my Spike. A babe you are, despite the task at hoof, So rest, infant. [Aside]
Exit SPIKE
Now, elements, I need…
She scans through the books on the shelves
Oh elements, oh elements, where found? How shall I stop that Nightmare Moon without The Elements of Harmony in hoof?
Enter RAINBOW
RAINBOW
What are the Elements of Harmony? Wherefore you know of Nightmare Moon, lady? Might do you spy for such wicked forces?
Enter APPLEJACK
APPLEJACK
Make no false witness, Iago! This mare is no spier, but, perchance, She knows what passes in these dark days. Could you say you did, madam?
Enter PINKIE, RARITY, and FLUTTERSHY
TWILIGHT
I read foretellings all about that mare, The Nightmare Moon of legends many made. These so named Elements of Harmony, Objects of mystery, are needed things To subdue her. I yet know not of them. What is their nature? Where are they? More still, What point they serve? Only reference have-
PINKIE
She points out a book
“Elements of Harmony: Reference” Just the same you make reference hereby?
TWILIGHT
How do you make objects appear like that?
PINKIE
Index! Know that? See, the “E”s had it here.
TWILIGHT
Oh. [Aside] Yet she sings to mock me. Why so cruel?
She reads from the reference guide
“The Elements of Harmony are six, Though only five are known by name; these are Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generous Enactment, followed by Loyalty. Last, The sixth, is known by none. Their place of rest Was in the ancient castle where once lived The royal pony sisters, in what’s now…”
ALL
The dark and dreaded Forest Everfree!
Exit all
Enter NIGHTMARE
[Aside] This information very much intrigues. Oh curse the weakened state that I am in. These ponies might precede me there. For that, I shall lay traps to halt them on their path. Though tortoise true I be, our hero shall Soon see how slow great Achilles can go.
Exeunt
SCENE 3, the Everfree Forest
Enter TWILIGHT, PINKIE, APPLEJACK, RARITY, RAINBOW, and FLUTTERSHY
PINKIE
Whee! Let slip the dogs of hunt against her!
TWILIGHT
Hold fast! I am obliged that you would try, Yet it behooves me not to acquiesce. I rather must undertake this task alone.
APPLEJACK
We must deny that request, Sweet. That you are our friend, we mustn't part In this dark time and this dark place. Like honey upon an apple's skin, Or honeys upon their honey’s skin, It is become for us to stay with you.
PINKIE
More especially should there be honey Glazed upon an apple's skin. ‘Tis lovely.
Exit all but TWILIGHT
TWILIGHT
[Aside] The time since feasting certain longer be, Yet talk of food is still affront to me.
Exeunt
ACT 2
SCENE 1, the forest
Enter TWILIGHT, PINKIE, APPLEJACK, RARITY, RAINBOW, and FLUTTERSHY
TWILIGHT
I hoped that one from out the lot of ye Would have a knowledge of this place in least.
RARITY
By heaven, no! Fair not to know such dread!
APPLEJACK
Nature herself dare not enter. Her very will becomes contorted.
TWILIGHT
Contorted will? What measure finds that so?
RAINBOW
No measures took. No facts are known. And why?
APPLEJACK
Oh hold your tongue, Rainbow! Try not to cause a fright.
RAINBOW
For none who enter ever have returned!
Enter NIGHTMARE, invisible
NIGHTMARE
[Aside] Then none shall take issue with your demise! An earthquake breaks off four from six, to leave But two, as once there were, to take our prize. Now fall, my ponies earth and unicorn, And leave but pegasi to trap besides.
The ground shakes
RAINBOW
Haste, Fluttershy! Take hold of one to save!
Exit RAINBOW, pulling aside PINKIE
FLUTTERSHY
Oh goodness, swift I must decide to grab one.
Exit FLUTTERSHY, pulling aside RARITY
The rest fall down, TWILIGHT does so over the edge of the stage
APPLEJACK
I happened upon a branch, and so am well. Are you well below, Twilight?
TWILIGHT
Oh, nay! I fear I shall soon fall to death.
APPLEJACK
Keep hold! I will come down for you.
APPLEJACK slides over to hold on to TWILIGHT
TWILIGHT
What action could correct my course from this?
APPLEJACK
Simply you could be released at this time.
TWILIGHT
You say that? Have you lost your reasoning?
APPLEJACK
On my honor, I guarantee your salvation.
TWILIGHT
Your honor set aside, your words are false.
APPLEJACK
Doubt truth to be a liar, but doubt not this: I tell you truth! Fall, and you will be safe.
TWILIGHT falls off stage
Exeunt
SCENE 2, a darker forest
Enter RARITY and PINKIE
RARITY
I hope our new acquaintance has survived.
Enter TWILIGHT, being carried in by RAINBOW and FLUTTERSHY
FLUTTERSHY
I’m sorry for my weaker flying, maiden. At most I usually carry rabbits.
RAINBOW
We were a vision! We had perfect form! Once Pinkie, Rarity, then finally, Through feats unknown to acrobatics, WHAM! You thus were saved. Without a moment spare!
TWILIGHT
You say as though I was not present then. I’m ever grateful, yet we must proceed-
[To the Manticore] No need to stir, ‘tis well. Present thy ills, dear.
The Manticore presents the thorn in its paw
You poor and little infant babe.
RAINBOW
How “little”?
FLUTTERSHY
Now trust my medicine. A moments pain pass…
She removes the thorn, the manticore roars in pain
TWILIGHT
[Aside] Observe, it roars to strike against our kind Compatriot who served to doctor him!
The Manticore embraces and grooms FLUTTERSHY in thanks
Foretelling now has failed again, it seems.
FLUTTERSHY
No lionheart are thee, but lambkin kitten! Oh yes you are, oh yes you are, my lambkin!
Exit RARITY, RAINBOW, APPLEJACK, PINKIE
TWILIGHT
You well foretold a thorn inside his paw. How came you such a sight?
FLUTTERSHY
No vision had I. There comes a time when kindness must be paid so To all, those big or small, sweet or fearsome.
Exit FLUTTERSHY, TWILIGHT
Exeunt
SCENE 3, a forest, darker still
Enter the six
RARITY
My eye grows weary viewing scenes as these, And yet I do despair to see it fade.
TWILIGHT
In darkness such as this our goal could meet, Yet still we would not know the truth of it, Quite even if we were facade to face.
They stumble in the dark
RARITY
I saw thee not, my error please forgive.
RAINBOW
Right here. No error made in voice. ‘Tis heard.
APPLEJACK
My hoof is besmirched with something unknown to me.
Enter NIGHTMARE, hidden as a cloud of smoke
NIGHTMARE
[Aside] A manticore will look upon as friend The one who does him kindness howe’er small, Yet woods shall look upon any act made And register no help nor injury. Hereafter, let them fall into the shade Of death, to fear my evil, sans their sun!
Enter fearful Trees
APPLEJACK
Fluttershy, look not in fear, ‘tis only mud or such.
All cower in fear of the Trees but PINKIE, who laughs
TWILIGHT
[To PINKIE] What foolery is this? Oh run away!
PINKIE
Ha! Oh girls, but don’t you see solutions?
Sings
When I was a little filly and the sunsets looked so fair
TWILIGHT
Pray, tell me that she does now not-
PINKIE
Sings
The darkness and the shadows, they would fain make me despair
RARITY
She doth.
PINKIE
Sings
I’d hide beneath my pillow From what I thought was truth But Granny Pie said that wasn’t the way To counter fear, forsooth
RAINBOW
You have some sounder known? What is this way?
PINKIE
Sings
Quothe she, “Pinkie, thou must maintain thy ground, Lean to face thy fears. Thou shalt see that they are harmless Just laugh and they most shan’t appear.
Lo I gave a merry chear: ha ha ha!
Exit a fearful tree
The rest gasp in amazement
So, muse about the moan-y’s Take joy in the groan-y’s Crack up at the creepy Make merry with the weepy Chuckle at the crazed Heckle at the raised And tell that unsightly fool to banish himself and leave you to your own affairs and if he thinks he can frighten you then he has another fate pending and the mere idea of such an altercation just gives a pony such as I such rousing cause to... Laugh!
Exeunt
Enter
SCENE 4, a river
Enter the six
PINKIE
Fair maids, though I lead thee without fear long, Now we are left facing something harsher. Now how shall we make way through this river?
Enter DRAGON, weeping
DRAGON
Oh, I am fortune’s fool!
TWILIGHT
Why do you weep?
DRAGON
In sooth, I know not why I am so sad. I merely sat a moment's idleness, With thoughts about my days befitting works, When came an ugly purple haze of smoke, And, although smoke it be, it made a tear, Thus rending twain the beard upon my lip. My outward visage thus is rendered so, I seem a horrid sight to look upon.
RAINBOW
This fateful journey have I tired not. And yet I find this story most exhausts.
APPLEJACK
It is much to do about this?
RARITY
And well he would be troubled by this fate! Are now thy senses fit for mutes alone? Oh, look upon those scales so luminous!
DRAGON
No flattery is this, but truth, I know.
RARITY
Thy hair made up with such deliberate care!
DRAGON
What care I know about the best of all.
RARITY
Thy nails, honed more for beauty than for war.
DRAGON
Thy vision grants thee truth in abundance.
RARITY
And yet thy lip, half-bare, becomes thee not.
DRAGON
The truth is evident! I’m hideous!
RARITY
A crime so witnessed my correction begs! For one of thy own skales, I shall return Myself a piece in greater scale indeed!
DRAGON
Wherefore hast thou done that while I despair?
TWILIGHT
I too am lost to your intent Rari-
RARITY removes her tail with the scale and offers it to DRAGON
DRAGON
With that is my visage restored again? Thy arts are wonderful in their result.
RARITY
It smites a ladies heart to look upon.
TWILIGHT
But even at the cost of your own tail?
RARITY
It is the fashion of the season, dear. And sooth, ‘tis hair, such will return with time.
RAINBOW
Of him, the Dragon, could one say the same.
TWILIGHT
The time has come to ford the flowing straight.
DRAGON
Oh let my hide provide a bridge to thee.
Exeunt
SCENE 5, A felled bridge
Enter the six
TWILIGHT
Our journey here has born us fruit at last. Those ruins hence are said to hold our aim, Those Elements of Harmony. We’re there!
APPLEJACK
Hold your excitement and permit us to keep your pace.
TWILIGHT
Why hold when we have nearly… plummeted.
RAINBOW
To fall from cliffs is thy design? Or not?
PINKIE
Yet another impasse blocks our journey. How in timely fashion do we cross this?
RAINBOW
Need I explain? I lift to fast the bridge!
She flies to the other side.
PINKIE
How? With what? Oh yes, thy wings. Obvious.
NIGHTMARE
[Aside] The weakest mind has left from out the herd, And so shall fall into my trap by means Of foalish, wasted, sweet ambitions. Lamb, Come now and join your flock of tricks and lies!
Enter Shadowbolts, 1, 2, and 3
SHADOWBOLT 1
Rainbow...
RAINBOW
Who’s there?
SHADOWBOLT 1
Rainbow…
RAINBOW
I fear thee not! Reveal yourself or face my ire, coward!
SHADOWBOLT 1
We mean no harm. We want to meet with she Who flies the best in all Equestria.
RAINBOW
And that is who?
SHADOWBOLT 1
Why you, of course.
RAINBOW
Really? That is, indeed, the truth. I am the best. Mahaps you could relay the news to those Who call themselves the Wonderbolts, would you?
SHADOWBOLT
That’s not our aim, Rainbow Dash. We want you To join with us, the Shadowbolts. We are the best Of those who fly in Everfree Forest, And soon in all Equestria. Yet first Do we require a voice to lead. The most Magnificent-
RAINBOW
‘Tis fair.
SHADOWBOLT 1
And furthermore The swiftest-
RAINBOW
Yes.
SHADOWBOLT 1
And bravest flyer known!
RAINBOW
I must confirm, this is the truth in full.
SHADOWBOLT 1
For this we now request your joining us.
RAINBOW
Oh joyous day! Relay my full consent. I leave at once with you. That is, but wait, For first I must make haste to tie this bridge.
SHADOWBOLT 1
Nay, stop! It’s them or us! You must decide.
TWILIGHT
Rainbow, what has bewitch-ed you? Oh no. Do not believe the words they say to you!
SHADOWBOLT 1 [To RAINBOW] And so?
RAINBOW
[To the SHADOWBOLTS] To you... Thank you! To offer so, I mean, and yet I fear I must decline.
She fixes and crosses back over the bridge
Exit SHADOWBOLTS 1, 2, 3.
See that, Twilight? I’ll not abandon friends.
Exeunt
ACT 3, SCENE 1, a ruin
Enter the 6
APPLEJACK
Do not hesistate now, Twilight. Is this not what you had anticipated?
TWILIGHT
The Elements of Harmony, at last. They have been found. Take care in moving them.
PINKIE
Counting one, then two, then three, then four, yet… Numbers fail to reach above but five here.
RAINBOW
Where’s six?
TWILIGHT
To quote the book, when five are here, A spark alone shall make the sixth appear.
APPLEJACK
By the fruit of the afterlife, what does that mean?
TWILIGHT
I am not sure, yet wager this idea. Some distance make you from this place, pray thee. I do not know what trouble may unfold.
APPLEJACK
Come, friends. Leave her to a hermit's focus.
NIGHTMARE
[Aside] For all the efforts I have spent, has been This just some jest? They all arrived, but then Depart from that which they protect. Alone, Her power only pales against my own!
She steals the elements away in a tornado
Exit
TWILIGHT
The Elements! I must save the from her!
She jumps in the tornado
Exit
ALL
Twilight!
APPLEJACK
Twilight! Where art thou Twilight?
RARITY
But soft, what light from yonder tower breaks?
APPLEJACK
Let us make haste to her side!
Exeunt
SCENE 2, the tower
Enter TWILIGHT, NIGHTMARE
TWILIGHT
[Aside] I have been blown aground to stranger points, And now the point of Nightmare’s horn does bode A wicked fate, yet I must not succumb. A harsher fate than that may fall my state Should I permit her wicked hooves to break Or use against the rest those instruments, The Elements of Harmony themselves. I make a joust against her, feigning that, That I might fain take back my hope again.
NIGHTMARE
You jest in aiming so. Oh please do not Disgrace thyself in playing not the fool!
They joust, but Twilight slips behind her
TWILIGHT
A single spark alone should break the seal. My magic should not fail, but once at all! A spark, a spark, my kingdom for a spark!
NIGHTMARE
Oh no! With this the foal could yet prevail!
TWILIGHT
What wicked light of Zeus! My mane doth stand! And yet there is no mean result at hoof!
NIGHTMARE
She destroys the elements beneath her hooves
You little foal! Had you some hope at fruit? The East shall bear no fruit as well. The sun That was consum-ed by the West shall have No resurrection ever, nor shall your princess See mercy nor redemption for her acts.
Enter the five ponies
THE FIVE
Anon shall we beside you be, Twilight!
TWILIGHT
[Aside] And so I see the light at last. Eureka!
[To NIGHTMARE] The Elements of Harmony o’erthrown With ease that one might break a brittle branch? What hubris! These were not but vessels here Which you have crushed as pots of kilned clay. Forsooth, the soul of virtue lives in us!
NIGHTMARE
What?
TWILIGHT
Applejack silenced my doubt, and so Befits the very soul of Honesty. Maid Fluttershy has tamed a manticore Without the use of force, and so she best Befits the very soul of Kindness too. Pinkie Pie banished our fear with mirth, And so befits the element of Laughs. Rarity has calmed a woeful beast Through charity and heart, and so befits The very soul of Generosity. And Rainbow Dash retained our company Despite her greatest wants, and so befits The very soul of Loyalty. At last, The souls of these five ponies saved Against every design you had for us!
NIGHTMARE
Whether your claim can hold or not, you’ve failed! You still are left with want for number six. Your spark has not caught flame from this kindling.
TWILIGHT
The fire rises! Not from my magic, At least apart from that I understood. [To the five] I felt this flame at once when I felt joy From hearing, seeing, caring for you mares. The spark caught pitch when I felt sure at last... That you are all my friends! You see, Nightmare, When Elements ignite through contact with... The spark within the soul of each of us, It burn but not consumes. Instead, increase Abounds by this, the sixth of elements Appears: the Element of Magic!
NIGHTMARE
No!
NIGHTMARE is transformed in a rainbow tornado into LUNA
SCENE 3, still the tower
RAINBOW
The lights have strained mine eyes and pained my head.
APPLEJACK
Does anypony harbor a greater injury?
RARITY
So not, but au contraire. My tail regrown!
FLUTTERSHY
Without compare, oh Rarity, ‘tis lovely.
RARITY
Forsooth, I hope we shan’t part ways again.
FLUTTERSHY
My aim was on the jewelry you wear. It most resembles well your cutie mark.
RARITY
I’d yet to make a note… yet so does yours!
PINKIE
Look! I wear the same! I wear the same!
RAINBOW
Oh joyous pendant! Lightning like myself!
APPLEJACK
By the first letter of a name, Twilight! I was sure that your musings were but playful fantasies Or veiled deceit, but hereupon I am struck with the reckoning of a greater destiny; Forsooth we are each the patron of an element from friendship.
Enter CELESTIA
CELESTIA
In truth, I would have told you just the same.
TWILIGHT
It is the east, the princess of the sun!
CELESTIA
Twilight Sparkle, faithful student mine, I knew you could do this for all this time.
TWILIGHT
But you dissuade my studies that lead me hence.
CELESTIA
I did persuade that you had need of friends. Thy studies held no bare upon the ends. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return, And knew that you would greater magics learn, If you let these friends into your heart. Another here must play a matching part. [To Luna] These thousand years have been in great despair, So sister, take our throne again to share.
TWILIGHT
What, so these warring rulers…
RAINBOW
...sisters were?
CELESTIA
May we be friends once more, little sister?
LUNA
I’ll fain repent what I have done before, If now I need not miss you anymore.
CELESTIA
Forsooth, I missed thy warm embrace as well. At last I hold thee, free of envy’s spell.
PINKIE
Cries, then suddenly stops
[Aside] Do you know what now becomes?
SCENE 4, Ponyville
Enter ALL
PINKIE
A party!
CELESTIA
[To TWILIGHT] Do not today despair my clever one, Thou shouldst be glad to see thy task is done.
TWILIGHT
Ay there’s the rub: that now I do possess A group of friends, and all the same I must Return and be without their company.
CELESTIA
Oh Spike, I ask that you prepare a note. I, Princess Celestia have wrote, That Twilight Sparkles mission has been changed, To study friendship’s magic, so arranged That she shall send to me so oft a letter, While she’s to stay in Ponyville for better.
TWILIGHT
Oh Princess, for this thank you ever the more! I shall take steps to learn as ne’er before!
Exit all but Pinkie
PINKIE
[Aside]Isn’t this exciting? Be you roused, for Cause I am fain roused, I’ve never been Just so excited, save that hour she Entered into town and let I one gasp, Truly, though-