Rescue at Midnight Castle

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, Tirek. 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 Tirek, he is approached by his protegé Spike. Spike begs Scorpan to take him with him during the next hunt, but Scorpan refuses. At Tirek's throne room, Tirek berates Scorpan for bringing only two ponies back with him. Spike tries to stand up for his pal, but this only enrages Tirek. 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 Tirek, who orders Ember to be taken away. Upon Cotton Candy's inquiry why she is separated from them, Tirek 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. Tirek 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. Tirek demands Scorpan to organize a third attack and this time, if the results are unsatisfactory, Spike will be killed.

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 whistle by the Sea Ponies to 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 Tirek'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 pwoer, 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 Tirek.

Stub

Songs

Opening theme My Little Pony, My Little Pony Isn't the world a lovely place My Little Pony, My Little Pony Everywhere you go, a smiling face Running and skipping, merrily tripping Watching the morning unfold My Little Pony, My Little Pony What does the future hold? No sign of trouble in sight My Little Pony, My Little Pony May all your days be bright May all your days be bright

Dancing on Air They'll be dancing on air when they meet you Dancing on air with glee I doubt they'll be celebrating when they see it's only me They'll do cartwheels in air when they see you Their hope will start to rise From what they're anticipating, they're in for a big surprise They'll be floating lighter than a cloud They'll be floating - laughing right out loud The sight of you will send spirits flying One or two may burst out crying Why can't you believe? You're gonna be great But, Firefly.... Trust me! Megan, you're a dream come true That, my friends all think so too You're the answer to our every prayer Time will tell if I'll come through But just imagine if I do... They'll be dancing... Prancing... Dancing on air!

Call upon the Sea Ponies Shoop-be-doo Shoop-shoop-be-doo Call upon the Sea Ponies when you're in distress Helpful as can be ponies; simply signal SOS If you find you're past the drift and haven't got an oar - oar Count upon the Sea Ponies; they'll see you to shore Shoop-be-doo Shoop-shoop-be-doo Are you sinking fast? Had some nasty shocks? Feeling like all hope is gone and washed up on the rocks? Washed up on the rocks Shoop-be-doo Shoop-shoop-be-doo Call upon the Sea Ponies when you're in distress Helpful as can be ponies; simply signal SOS If your rudder runs aground or seeweed holds a grip - kelp Count upon the Sea Ponies; they'll see you get help Sea Ponies, Sea Ponies Simply signal SOS, simply signal SOS Sea Ponies, Sea Ponies Simply signal SOS, simply signal SOS Oh, yes!

A Little Piece of Rainbow Somewhere there's a little piece of rainbow I saved it for a rainy day It's either underneath the rug or in the cupboard - ug, a bug! But, have no fear, I'll find it right away Wait until you see this piece of rainbow It's brighter than a peacock's plume It's ocean blue and sunrise pink - I left it by the sink I think Or was it in the closet with the broom Perhaps we ought to try the other room That piece of rainbow must be hiding some place Search every nook and cranny high and low You'd think that with a rainbow there's be some trace But not a gleam Not a glimmer Not a glow Where's I put that little piece of rainbow? I ran across just last week It might be in the flower pot, my goodness gracious, no it's not That piece of rainbow's playing hide and seek I'm sorry but it seems - I'm sorry but it seems we're up the creek You're not giving up, are you? Might as well; looked every place; absolutely no place else we could... Wait a moment! Beg your pardon! Silly me - come and see - it's in the garden This is where I put that piece of rainbow It's buried here beneath the ground I left it in the flowerbed, it's how I am - I plan ahead I knew that here I'd find it safe and sound A lesson for you all - when hope seems past recall A piece of rainbow always can be found

Cast

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

Errors

Animation errors

• 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.

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?

Notes

• "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 a ceramic pony called "First Born", who is unique in the ceramic pony line for being the only one without plastic counterpart. Do note that a promising theory is still just that, a theory. It is not certain the mystery pony is First Born.
  • 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.
• 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.
• 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.