Revision as of 08:08, 16 May 2012

The very first MLP cartoon originally aired on television in 1984, under the simple name of "My Little Pony", presumably due to Hasbro not planning upon MLP making future TV appearances. In 1986, it aired as part of the My Little Pony and Friends TV series, this time under the name of "Rescue at Midnight Castle" but a scene including the 'Little Piece of Rainbow' song had been edited out. Finally, the special was released as "Firefly's Adventure" along with a special edition of Firefly.

It was also released on VHS tape in the UK as "My Little Pony in Dreamland".

Firefly's Adventure

This was just a re-release of the first My Little Pony Special which was renamed "Firefly's Adventure", sold with Firefly in a different pose.

Synopsis

The ponies are enjoying a quiet day in Ponyland, picking apples, rollerskating and generally frolicking in the meadows. Later, as most of them are resting by the lake, the peace is disturbed by a sudden thunderstorm. The ponies run for Dream Castle, but a swarm of dragons appear from the clouds. A strange creature, known as Scorpan, is riding upon one of their backs, ordering them to 'sieze the ponies'. They capture Cotton Candy and Moondancer before retreating, Scorpan declaring that all of the ponies are doomed as soon they will belong to "Tirrac, the Master of Midnight Castle". Most of the ponies are now cowering in Dream Castle, but Firefly decides to fly off to look for help, much to the horror of her friends who call for her to come back as it's too dangerous.

Next we are taken to 'Midnight Castle', a terrifying place surrounded by a raging river. Scorpan is seen locking Cotton Candy and Moondancer in a dark and dreary dungeon before setting off down a long passageway. His pet dragon, named Spike, runs after Scorpan, begging to come with him but Scorpan refuses. We are taken to a giant throne room, where we see the mysterious Tirrac's hand, stroking a pulsating bag and talking to it lovingly. Scorpan enters the throne room and informs Tirrac that he has captured two of the little ponies. Tirrac orders Scorpan to kneel before his throne, before reprimanding him on not capturing all four ponies that he needs "to pull his chariot of midnight". Spike runs into the room, defending his master and saying how hard Scorpan tried. Tirrac calls for silence, and Scorpan holds his hand over Spike's mouth. Tirrac then orders Scorpan to prepare another raid on Ponyland and Scorpan reluctantly agrees, carrying Spike away in his arms. The camera moves to show Tirrac's hoof, but we don't get to see his face.

Meanwhile, over the rainbow, a little girl is standing in a stable talking to her pony, TJ. They hear a splash and the girl rushes to see what has fallen into the wishing well outside the stables. She winds up the bucket, and sees Firefly looking up at her. The girl is stunned at the sight of a talking pony, and Firefly informs her that she can also fly. They introduce themselves and we find out that the girl's name is Megan. Firefly asks Megan to 'hop on' which she does. Firefly then tells Megan that she is going back to Ponyland with her to help her friends. Megan protests that she can't do anything to help, but Firefly is sure Megan is the answer to all their prayers, and eventually convinces the girl that maybe she will be able to help the little ponies.

The little ponies are excited to see Firefly back safely and to meet Megan. But before they are even able to explain their situation, Scorpan and the dragons return. One of them catches Megan, so Firefly loops around the dragon and makes him drop her. Firefly cannot fly fast enough to catch her though, and amazingly, Scorpan saves her from the fall. He orders Megan to "Leave this land - this battle is not yours." As the dragons retreat once more, this time with Bubbles and Ember, Megan shouts at Scorpan angrily - Firefly is proud of her and tells her again how brave she is.

We are taken back to Midnight Castle, where the four ponies have been chained in the throne room. Spike bounds up the passageway to watch fearfully from the door. The ponies are pleading for mercy and Tirrac once again calls for silence, then tells his guards to take Ember away as she is too small to pull his chariot. Tirrac steps forward from the shadows, finally revealing his face. The pulsating bag we saw earlier is now hanging around his neck. He opens it, revealing the 'Power of Darkness' within. A black mist surrounds the ponies and they are turned into dragons. Ember asks what happened to her friends, and Tirrac tells her that they now belong to him, before ordering Scorpan to catch a fourth pony by midnight or Spike will pay.

Meanwhile, Megan and four of the ponies have gone in search of help. They are crossing a rickety old bridge across a river when Applejack falls in. Megan dives in after her to save her but they become trapped inside a clam shell. Fortunately, help is at hand as the Sea Ponies appear and help them back to shore. While Firefly, Twilight and Bow Tie greet their friends with relief, the Sea Ponies give Megan a shell to throw into the water as a signal any time she needs help from them again.

They continue down the path to the mysterious Mushromp where the Moochick lives. The Moochick is a kindly old wizard, but a bit forgetful. He already knows about Tirrac and says that he has a piece of "Rainbow of Light" which could save them all, but he cannot find it. He and the ponies look everywhere to no avail, but thankfully the Moochick's pet bunny, Habbit, has had it all along and hands it to him. The magical piece of rainbow turns out to be contained within a tiny locket, and none of the ponies can see how it will help. Megan thanks him anyway, before she and the ponies head off to Midnight Castle.

Upon seeing the raging river surrounding the castle, the ponies are just about ready to give up, but Megan remembers the signal shell in her pocket. The Sea Ponies appear and tow the ponies across the river on a makeshift raft. They find a way into the castle but, unbeknownst to them, a guard watches them enter...

Scorpan is once again kneeling before Tirrac's throne, apologising for not being able to capture a fourth pony. Tirrac tells him to try again. Just then, the guard comes in and whispers something to Tirrac, presumably about the ponies entering the castle. He turns back to Scorpan, only to find that Scorpan has left. Spike and Ember have been locked in the dungeon together, and Scorpan goes to get them out before the midnight madness ensues. Ember is scared, but Spike re-assures her, reminding her that Scorpan is his friend.

Megan and the ponies are creeping around the passageways in the castle looking for the Rainbow Power of Darkness with no luck. Eventually, they find Tirrac's throne room, and notice that Applejack has disappeared. Suddenly, the doors slam closed behind them and the guards bar their exit. Tirrac announces that he has the Rainbow of Darkness as well as their friend. The guards step back to reveal Applejack chained in front of Tirrac's throne. He releases the 'Power of Darkness' once more. Bow Tie tries to run to her friend's aid but the guards block her path and Applejack is turned into a dragon. Scorpan bursts into the room with Spike and Ember, telling the remaining ponies to run. Spike cheers him on as he battles the guards. Tirrac orders his guards to 'sieze them!' but Scorpan picks up Megan and he and the ponies make a run for it.

Outside, the ground is trembling. Scorpan tells everyone to get back inside, but it's too late. Tirrac's Chariot of Midnight comes bursting through the wall of Midnight Castle as he chants, "The Rainbow of Darkness that darkness sends, Now begin the night that never ends!" Scorpan flies up to try to sieze the Rainbow, but Tirrac sends him flying to the ground where Scorpan declares that all is lost. The ponies won't give up though and try various tricks and actually manage to get the Rainbow away from Tirrac. Firefly tries to take it back to Dream Castle, but flies into a dragon and drops the bag back into Tirrac's hands.

They're just about to give up when Megan remembers the Rainbow of Light and releases it from the locket. It is tiny in comparison to the Rainbow of Darkness. Tirrac simply laughs and releases his rainbow which soon consumes the ponies' rainbow. It seems that all hope really is lost... but then the rainbow fights back! Soon, the black Rainbow of Darkness takes on proper rainbow colours which swirl around everybody, destroying Tirrac and turning the ponies and everything else back to normal.

Back in Ponyland, we discover that Scorpan was really a prince who Tirrac turned into Scorpan when he took over his kingdom. Spike, however, remains the same as he has always been a baby dragon. The story ends with a butterly landing on Ember's nose, causing her to sneeze and jump back into the little stream, splashing everyone.

Screenshots

• Rescue at Midnight Castle Screenshots
• 

  Firefly and Medley

• 

  Firefly and Medley sliding down rainbow

• 

  MLP Logo

• 

  Dream Valley

• 

  Dream Castle

• 

  Ember

• 

  Ember

• 

  Ember Jumping

• 

  Bubbles

• 

  Ember Laughing

• 

  Bow Tie and Moondancer

• 

  Bow Tie

• 

  Twilight

• 

  Twilight and Ember

• 

  Ember Jumping

• 

  Firefly Catching Ember

• 

  Twilight Wishing

• 

  Twilight Wishing

• 

  Twilight Wishing

• 

  Firefly, Medley and Ember

• 

  Bow Tie

• 

  Firefly

• 

  Firefly's Double Inside Out Loop

• 

  Medley, Twilight and Ember

• 

  Applejack with basket

• 

  Firefly with basket on head

• 

  Medley helping Firefly

• 

  Applejack shaking herself

• 

  Applejack and Glory

• 

  Applejack and Glory

• 

  Twilight and Ember

• 

  Twilight and Ember

• 

  Twilight and Ember

• 

  Twilight and Ember

• 

  Twilight and Ember

• 

  Twilight and Ember

• 

  Twilight and Ember

• 

  Glory, Applejack and Bubbles

• 

  Frightened Cotton Candy and Moondancer

• 

  Frightened Ember

Songs

Cast and Crew

Errors

Animation errors

The Moochick's hat w/ ears

• When the ponies are laughing because of the mess Firefly made with her double inside-out loop, Medley is drawn in Firefly's colors.
• The Moochick takes off his hat at one point. The way his ears are drawn during that scene is totally different from how they are drawn with his hat on. (Not an error, This is because his hat has ears.)

Story errors

• When the Stratadons attack for the first time, the ponies flee into Dream Castle. They stay there until Firefly returns with Megan, whom they greet at the drawbridge. Then the Stratadons attack a second time and suddenly the ponies and Megan are in the middle of a field rather than in the vicinity of Dream Castle, where they wouldn't have been captured.
• During the scene that sees the first three ponies transformed into dragons, how did Ember break free from the guard?
• "Rainbow" of "Darkness"! Did the production crew not know what rainbows are? For that matter, "Rainbow" of "Light" is a pleonasm.
• The final scene at the former location of Midnight Castle shows Glory, Medley and the white Earth Pony. These three stayed at Dream Castle during the story and therefore shouldn't be in the scene.

Semi-errors

• At the start of the episode, Bow Tie behaves oddly, as if she is already seeing the Stratadons coming. It takes a good minute before they actually appear and Bow Tie gets to warn everyone.
• Scorpan's landing in a haystack that has no business being on top of a castle, that is the only one around and is never seen again in any other scene requires a great suspension of disbelief.
• Spike and Scorpan are shown to be good friends throughout the episode. Why Spike goes to live with the ponies rather than Scorpan-turned-human prince is never explained.

Notes

First Born

• "Rescue at Midnight Castle" was produced to support the Year Two (1983-1984) line-up of ponies, featuring about half of them. A notable omission is Majesty, the pony released with Spike and Dream Castle. This was probably done to make room for Megan as leader figure.
  • Another cast oddity is the inclusion of a white Earth Pony that was never part of the toyline and officially is nameless. The most promising theory behind her identity is that she represents the same character as a ceramic pony called "First Born", who is unique in the ceramic pony line for being the only one without plastic counterpart.^[1] Another theory states she is a prototype version of Peachy, because she's usually seen in the company of Twinkles.
  • Ember's toy was produced in four different color palettes, of which only one was sold in stores and had a symbol. Still, the colors Ember wears in the special are those of the lavender, symbol-less, Mail Order version rather than the "main" version.
  • This and "Escape from Katrina" are the only episodes to feature adult Sea Ponies, as Hasbro stopped producing them after Year Three (1984-1985). This is why the Sea Ponies in the specials don't have the characteristic floats the Sea Ponies have in the series, because those only came with the baby Sea Ponies.
  • All the Sea Ponies except for the main three are crowd filler. None of them has ever had a toy and their color palettes are based on the various non-Sea Pony ponies in the episode.
• The Sea Ponies' "Shoop-be-doo" went on to become the Sea Ponies' standard way of introducing themselves in episodes. It even returned in two more songs, one in "Escape from Katrina" and one in "The Magic Coins".
• When "Rescue at Midnight Castle" was adapted into a two-parter for inclusion in the regular series, the Moochick's song was cut out to fit the time limit. The Moochick's song was likely chosen for this because it comes very soon after the song by the Sea Ponies, which is both more important for the story and more appealing to listen to.

External Links

• Rescue at Midnight Castle (English)
• Part 1 (Swedish)
• Part 2 (Swedish)
• Part 3 (Swedish)

See also

needs to be merged with the above info

Synopsis

It's a day like any other for the ponies that live in Dream Castle. Firefly and Medley are playing in the sky and at the nearby waterfall, their laughter encouraging Twilight, Bow Tie, Moondancer, a white Earth Pony and Ember to join them outside. The baby pony even attempts to join the two Pegasi in their flight, but has to conclude that she cannot fly. Next, Ember tries to make a jump several other grownups just did, but has to be caught by Firefly midair because she's not going to make it. Twilight, meanwhile, teleports herself over to the group. Firefly tries her double inside-out loop, but ends up crashing into Applejack, coaxing a good laugh from the others.

A little later, the ponies take a rest near the river and Ember asks Twilight if she'll ever be able to fly, jump far or disappear like the grownups. Twilight answers she'll grown up to be special in her own way. At that moment, the sky turns dark and Bow Tie screams for everyone to run to Dream Castle. The Stratadons have arrived, led by Scorpan, and they intend to capture four ponies for their master, Tirac. Bow Tie manages to get out of their clutches and most others get to Dream Castle in time, but Cotton Candy and Moondancer are captured. Satisfied with just two ponies for now, Scorpan orders the Stratadons to return to Midnight Castle. As soon as the monstrous group is out of sight, Firefly flies off to find someone who can help them get back her friends.

At Midnight Castle, Cotton Candy and Moondancer are locked up in a cell by Scorpan. As he walks off to report to Tirac, he is approached by his protegé Spike. Spike begs Scorpan to take him with him during the next hunt, but Scorpan refuses. At Tirac's throne room, Tirac berates Scorpan for bringing only two ponies back with him. Spike tries to stand up for his pal, but this only enrages Tirac. Scorpan quickly promises to go get the two ponies more to appease his master, all the while shielding Spike from him.

In another land, Firefly crashes in a well near a stable, where a young girl, Megan, is just preparing her pony TJ for a good night's rest. Hearing the crash, Megan rushes outside and finds Firefly. Flabberghasted at first about the "talking pony", Firefly's attitude wins Megan's trust and the girl agrees to hop on Firefly's back for a ride. Though only then does Firefly reveal she wants Megan to come with her to Dream Castle to help out against the Stratadons. Megan is reluctant, but can't get off anymore. On the way, Firefly talks some confidence in her and Megan's reluctance subsides by the time they arrive. The other ponies greet her warmly, but the pleasantries are interrupted by a second Stratadon attack. Megan, Bubbles and Ember are caught. Firefly tries her double inside-out loop to free Megan, which works, but also nearly sees Megan falling to her death. Oddly, it is Scorpan who spares the girl this fate, catching her and bringing her to the ground. He warns her to leave Ponyland, which doesn't so much scare off Megan as pisses her off. Scorpan and his army leave then, and Megan promises the ponies they'll free their friends.

At Midnight Castle, the four captive ponies are brought before Tirac, who orders Ember to be taken away. Upon Cotton Candy's inquiry why she is separated from them, Tirac explains why he had the ponies captured in the first place. He intends to use his powers of darkness to transform them into suitable mounts for his Chariot of Midnight, with which he plans to conquer Ponyland. Unleashing his Rainbow of Darkness, the three ponies are transformed into dragons, much to the horror of Ember. Tirac is happy with the result, but lashes out at Scorpan because Ember was clearly too young for his plans, leaving him with one mount too few for his plans. Tirac demands Scorpan to organize a third attack before midnight. And this time, Spike will be killed if the results are unsatisfactory.

Meanwhile, Twilight, Firefly, Bow Tie and Applejack take Megan to see the Moochick, a wizard who should be able and willing to help them. To get to his home, they need to cross a river by means of a bridge that has seen better days. Applejack falls off and Megan jumps after her to save her from drowning. The two sink all the way to the bottom of the river, where they meet and are saved by the Sea Ponies. The two meet up with the rest of their group on shore and are given a special shell by the Sea Ponies that can call them if ever they need help again. Megan thanks them, and the group continues to the Moochick's place. The Moochick warns them of Tirac's plans to use their friends to plunge the land into eternal night. Asking him what they should do to stop him, the Moochick elaborates that they need to take away the source of his power, the Rainbow of Darkness, which will be a lot easier if they take with them the Rainbow of Light, which he so happens to have lying around. After a long search, he finds the locket containing the rainbow and the group heads out to take on Tirac.

Just off the shore near Midnight Castle, the group finds the route blocked and so uses the shell to call upon the Sea Ponies. The Sea Ponies know a way in and are only to glad to help the group get over the water. However, a guard spots them while they enter the castle and warns Tirac. At that time, Tirac is again admonishing Scorpan, who apparently failed to capture any pony during a third raid. Though the news that four ponies have snuck into Midnight Castle means a fourth can be captured before midnight and that Spike thusly will live, Scorpan takes inspiration from the ponies' resistance. In his first bid for rebellion, he frees Ember and Spike, who had been locked up together, and goes to search the infiltrators.

The infiltrators, meanwhile, have gotten lost in Midnight Castle. Applejack gets separated from the group, captured by the guards and brought to Tirac's throne room. There, the rest of the group eventually also arrives, just too late to prevent Applejack from being morphed into a dragon. All is not lost though, as Scorpan, Spike and Ember come bursting into the throne room and help Megan, Twilight, Bow Tie and Firefly escape. The group flees outside, but is followed by Tirac, who now rides his Chariot of Midnight. Scorpan attacks him in an attempt to steal the Rainbow of Darkness, but he's punched away and incapacitated by the subsequent fall and crash-landing. Seeing this, Megan hops on Firefly to get the Rainbow of Darkness. Utilizing Firefly's double inside-out loop, they succeed in knocking it out of Tirac's grasp. Bow Tie catches it, leading to the ponies and guards struggling to get and keep it from each other. Eventually, Firefly grabs it and is ordered to fly it to Dream Castle.

However, the Stratadons stop her and Tirac regains control over the Rainbow of Darkness. Megan decides it's time to try the Moochick's plan and releases the Rainbow of Light. Much to the ponies' horror, the Rainbow of Light turns out to be really small and doesn't look like it will be a match for the Rainbow of Darkness. Tirac drives the point home by unleashing the Rainbow of Darkness on the Rainbow of Light, which is swiftly consumed. Hope seems lost for the ponies, but then the Rainbow of Light shows its true potential and starts "infecting" the Rainbow of Darkness, turning it into a Rainbow of Light. The new, powerful Rainbow of Light attacks and destroys Tirac. With Tirac and the Rainbow of Darkness gone, the Stratadons and guards return to their forms before Tirac claimed them, which are butterflies and birds respectively. Midnight Castle itself turns into a tree and the four bespelled ponies return to their pony forms. The big surprise is Scorpan, who changes into a human prince and explains that Tirac turned him into Scorpan when he took over his kingdom. Spike is asked why he's not changing back, to which he responds he's always been a baby dragon.

The group's attention is drawn by Ember, who is brought to sneezing herself into a creek by one of the former-Stratadon butterflies sitting on her nose. The silliness of the situation so soon after the battle with Tirac incites a round of laughter.

Some time later, the ponies gather at Dream Castle to say goodbye to Megan. Spike has decided to go live with the ponies and is also present to see Megan off. Riding Firefly again, Megan is returned to her home, where she happily hugs TJ.

Songs

Cast

• Ponies: Firefly, Medley, Twilight, Bow Tie, Moondancer, a white Earth Pony, Ember, Bubbles, Glory, Applejack, Cotton Candy
• Pets: Twinkles
• Humans: Megan
• Other: Stratadons, Scorpan, Spike, Tirac

References

1. ↑ My Little Pony on TV at the My Little Pony scrapbook