( upbeat theme playing )
( train engine chugging )
You absolutely sure you can do this?
Of course. Wouldn't have agreed to it if I couldn't.
Piece of cake.
Speaking of cake,
I've got a little something I need to attend to.
Yeah, like keeping an eye on a house full of critters.
Uh, yeah, that was totally what I was talking about.
Relax. Go do your welcoming thing
in the Crystal Empire.
Spike's got it all under control.
( Opal screeching and Winona barking )
Hurry up, Twilight, we can't miss our train!
Tickets.
APPLEJACK: Oh, this is gonna be a real treat.
Princess Cadance said she's never seen
the Crystal Ponies so excited.
RAINBOW DASH: Duh. Of course they're excited.
They're up for the Equestria Games.
It's only the biggest sporting event
in all of Equestria.
Didn't Cloudsdale host the Equestria Games one year?
No. Cloudsdale should've hosted the games one year.
I'll never forget when we got the bad news.
GAMES ANNOUNCER PONY: The Equestria Games go to
the city of Phillydelphia.
No!
These Crystal Ponies lost a thousand years
to an evil king's curse.
They've had enough bad news. No way we're letting them
experience the pain of losing out on these games.
Exactly. Princess Cadance is counting on us
to do our part to convince the Games Inspector
to choose the Crystal Empire.
And we are not gonna let her down, are we?
No!
What? I was just answering Twilight's question.
♪ My little pony My little pony ♪
♪ My little pony ♪
♪ I used to wonder What friendship could be ♪
♪ My little pony ♪
♪ Until you all shared Its magic with me ♪
♪ Big adventure ♪
♪ Tons of fun ♪
♪ A beautiful heart ♪
♪ Faithful and strong ♪
♪ Sharing kindness ♪
♪ It's an easy feat ♪
♪ And magic makes it All complete ♪
♪ You have my little ponies ♪
♪ Do you know you're all My very best friends? ♪
PONIES: Four, three, two, one.
The Crystal Empire, that's the one!
Okay, everypony. Great job.
Sounds like we're ready.
( all speaking indistinctly )
One more time. From the top.
Oh.
Oh, please.
I think that was perfect.
Agh. But we've run this like 12 times already.
I think we've got it.
Cadance said the Games Inspector
really puts folks through the ringer on her visits.
There's no margin for error here.
And this time, we need to practice the steps.
On a train car?
You heard the pony. On your hooves.
ALL: Two, four, six, eight.
( rumbling and all screaming )
Crystal Empire, ladies.
Watch your step leaving the train.
( sighs )
Probably should've watched our step
while we were still on it too.
( engine chugging )
Wow!
The Crystal Empire looks crystalier than ever!
APPLEJACK: They must have everypony in the Empire
out sprucing it up.
TWILIGHT: This must be why were asked us to handle
the welcome committee routine.
And it's probably also because we'll be awesome at it.
Princess Cadance was right.
These ponies do look pretty darn excited.
Yup. I remember that feeling.
But not as much as I remember
the crushing wave of disappointment that came
when things didn't work out.
RAINBOW DASH: That right there.
That is the face I do not want to see.
APPLEJACK: Uh, mm-hm.
We're here.
Ha, ha, there are my girls.
CADANCE & TWILIGHT: Sunshine, sunshine Ladybugs awake
Clap your hooves And do a little shake
( Twilight and Cadance giggling )
Oh, my, this is spectacular.
Please, everypony, stand back. I need air.
Go ahead and try whatever you like.
It's all complimentary for the welcome committee.
( giggles )
That over there is a crystal mud bath,
which relaxes your body and rejuvenates your coat.
Now, I realize it can be kind of strange to climb into mud,
but if you'll just give it a chance, I'm sure--
PINKIE PIE: Whoo-hoo!
Pinkie! No!
( Pinkie Pie laughing )
( sighs )
So relaxing.
Pinkie Pie! Honestly.
BOTH: Hmph.
( both sigh )
Go ahead. Have a good time
while I get my ceremonial headdress done.
Ceremonial headdress?
When meeting with important guests,
it was tradition for rulers of the Crystal Empire
to weave crystals into their manes
in a very specific way.
The Games Inspector is known for doing her homework.
She'll certainly be expecting my look
to reflect the importance of her visit.
( door opens )
Princess.
If I may have a word.
I have two pieces of news for you.
First, your mane-stylist has the flu
and won't be able to make it
for fear of you catching it too.
Oh, well...
I hope she's better soon.
Do any of the other stylists here know
how to do the traditional royal ceremonial headdress?
( all indistinctly chattering )
Oh.
( sighs)
Just a small detail.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
You're trying to land the Equestria Games here.
There's no such thing as a small detail.
Rainbow Dash.
I suppose I could give it a shot.
Oh, Rarity, you would do that for me?
Way to step up, Rare.
Fortunately,
I have all the precise instructions right here.
RARITY: Oh, my.
You sure you're up to this?
Working on the hair of royalty on such an auspicious occasion
is the opportunity of a lifetime.
I will give it everything I've got.
See? No worries.
Besides, the Games Inspector isn't expected
for several hours.
I'll have plenty of time to figure out exactly
how to do this.
Oh, Rarity, that's wonderful.
You said you had a second bit of news?
Yes, quite.
The Games Inspector, Ms. Harshwhinny,
will be arriving on the next train.
ALL: What?
What? You couldn't have told her that news first?
That's 15 minutes from now!
FLUTTERSHY: Oh, my goodness.
( Rainbow Dash gasping )
( gasps then sighs )
How long before Cadance is ready?
Hmm...
I'm sure to find some shortcuts.
Can you have her back at the castle when we're done?
Done.
Okay, we'll be fine.
TWILIGHT: Everypony, just be on the lookout
for the pony with the flower print luggage.
PINKIE PIE Easy peasy, pudding in the freezy.
We bring the Games Inspector back to the castle,
put on our big welcome committee how-do-you-do, and then--
Put the pudding out to thaw before you eat it
or you'll crack a tooth?
I'll just ignore that.
We need to remember
that the Games Inspector arriving early
is probably part of a plan to psych us out.
What do you mean?
You said it yourself.
She's got a rep for trying to catch hosts off guard.
Just to see if we can handle the kind of massive pressure
that comes with hosting the Equestria Games.
Oh, no, we're gonna blow it.
Not if we always stay one step ahead
and don't fall for any of her mind games.
Anything she throws at us,
we just need to remember she's testing us,
and roll with it.
Excuse me, ma'am?
Yes? What is it?
Oh, no.
Be cool.
Well, I know you're not expecting us
but we're here to personally welcome you
to the Crystal Empire.
The whole lot of you came to do that?
Uh, well, um, yes.
Well, darn tootin'! Ain't that the cat's meow.
Y'all didn't need to do that.
Why, I hardly expected anything like this.
( sighs )
The princess wouldn't have had it any other way.
The Princess? Princess Cadance?
None other.
Well, tie me up and throw me down.
This just keeps getting better and better.
Can we help you with your bags?
Don't mind if you do.
Ooh! I love flower print.
( squishing )
Sorry.
PINKIE PIE: Our first stop is the castle
where we've got a big razzamatazzy welcome
planned for you.
The castle? Are you kidding?
Hot diggity dog!
See that? Just gotta roll with it
until the Princess gets there and we'll be just fine.
( engine chugging )
( slow theme playing )
( hair dryer whirring )
CADANCE: So how's it going so far?
Oh, I'm so sorry. It's just all so complicated.
( chuckles )
I can fix it.
CADANCE: Fix what?
Well, I was looking for shortcuts
and I thought step 12 was optional.
But it's not.
GAMES INSPECTOR: My golly, the Crystal Castle!
Why, I've seen pictures,
but I never expected to see it with my very own eyes!
( gulps )
From the inside.
Oh, my gosh, she's so nice.
You're letting her lull you
into a false sense of confidence.
Watch that. It's all part of the game.
Oh, my, I'm so excited.
TWILIGHT: Please have a seat, won't you?
Mind if I take a quick run outside first.
It was an awfully long train ride
and my legs could use a stretch.
Oh, well, we were just about to start.
Oh, never you mind.
You go on ahead. I'm listening.
She was probably testing us
to see if we could remain in control
of a complex situation.
Looks like we passed. Bump.
Yeah.
We'd like to thank you for this opportunity
to introduce you to this wonderful kingdom.
Oh, well, the pleasure is all mine.
And since we're not even from here ourselves,
who better than us to let you know
just how welcoming this place can be?
ALL ( chanting ): Two, four, six, eight
Name a place That's really great
One, two, three, four
And keeps you coming back For more
Two, seven, nine, three
The place that we'd all Wanna be
Four, three, two, one
The Crystal Empire That's the one
( fireworks expoding )
( cheering and whistling )
( all panting )
GAMES INSPECTOR: Oh!
I tell you, I have traveled far and wide,
but I have never, ever been welcomed anyplace
in the fashion that you all have done here today.
That's fantastic.
Princess Cadance would be so glad to hear that.
Honestly, I'm surprised
she knows anything about me at all.
Of course she does.
She's been looking forward to your visit for weeks.
Oh, goodie. Is she here?
Uh...
Where the heck is she anyway?
Wasn't she supposed to be here by now?
Oh, that's all right.
( suspenseful theme playing )
( gulps )
Maybe-- I'll just take my little run outside now.
( panting )
Or, if you like,
we could give you a tour of the castle.
RAINBOW DASH: That way, you could be learning
and stretching all at the same time.
Oh, a tour of the Crystal Castle.
I'd love that a whole heap.
Dash, we've hardly ever even been here before.
It's just another test.
We gotta roll with it, remember?
Ooh, let me give the tour.
PINKIE PIE: I'll do it, I'll do it. Let me, let me, let me.
( sighs )
Fine. You will start giving her the tour
and I'll go see what's keeping Cadance.
( upbeat theme playing )
( groans then grunts )
Hello there.
Hello yourself.
First hello of the day.
Oh. Ugh.
( grunting )
( Twilight humming )
Aah! What are you doing here?
We finished the welcome committee song
and we just wanted to introduce Ms. Harshwinny to--
No, no. Princess Cadance isn't ready.
Something's gone terribly wrong.
TWILIGHT: I need to speak to the princess.
RARITY: You can't, mustn't.
She's in a delicate conditioning rinse
that must go perfectly if there's to be any hope
for her hair.
TWILIGHT: Come on. How bad could it be?
Imagine her mane turned into a porcupine.
Oh.
Please, I'll bring her back from the brink of tragedy,
but you have got to buy me some time.
There's no other way.
So you see, this here, this, um--
This is, um...
A big round room.
It's known for its roundness and bigness.
And did I mention that it's round?
I think they call it a rotunda,
a small, confining rotunda.
Pfft. Whatever.
Round is round, am I right?
Easy, Pinkie.
Let's play this safe.
We got her in a good mood,
so let's not do anything to ruin that.
You know, I love this sort of architecture.
I detect a neo-gothic inspiration in the design, yes?
Hey, look at me.
( babbles )
( sighs )
And not a moment too soon.
Where's Cadance? Tell me she's right behind you.
There's a bit of a problem with her headdress.
How's it going here?
Boingie boingie boingie.
I, uh, hate to be a bother,
but the legs are cramping up on me
with all this standing around.
Huh?
She's getting bored,
and we have to buy Rarity some more time.
( sighs )
I'll see if Shining Armor can come help.
Can't one of you other ponies take over in the meantime?
I got this.
Wanna stretch your legs, huh?
Well, whatever you need, I'm sure we can provide.
Let's just make our way to the castle's gymnasium.
Our tour will now be headed--
This way.
And we're walking, and we're walking.
( Twilight humming )
( all speaking indistinctly )
Twiley.
Hello there.
Shining Armor, you've gotta help me.
Everything okay?
I left the other ponies behind
giving the Games Inspector the worst castle tour ever.
SHINING ARMOR: Come on, gang!
Are we gonna gallop or are we gonna trot?
A castle tour, huh?
I'm pretty sure I can give you a hoof with that.
Let's move, move, move!
Everything's gonna be okay.
I know. I'm not worried.
I'm not worried, it worked.
( sighs then screams )
I'm outside.
( laughing )
Feels so good to stretch the old legs.
What the-- ?
Turns out the Crystal Castle doesn't have a gymnasium.
Watch it!
( Games Inspector screams )
Make her stop.
Wait. That's the Games Inspector.
Let her do her thing.
Good, oh, these hooves, I'm outside.
Why would she do that?
I have no idea.
But that's why she's in charge
of choosing who gets the games and we're not. Heh.
( crashing )
Aah! Oh.
Get me outside for a run.
Look out!
Yeah. Okay. We need to stop her.
( Games Inspector screaming )
Where is she going in such a hurry?
GAMES INSPECTOR: Ah. Oh, yeah!
Closer, closer,
I think we got her.
GAMES INSPECTOR: Oh!
( Rainbow Dash screams )
( scratching on glass )
Whoo-wee!
That felt good.
Nothing like a great run
to shake the cobwebs off these old bones.
( Rainbow Dash panting )
Hey there, Speedy.
Oh! These wide open spaces you all got here
remind me of home.
This is great.
Oh, so you're enjoying your visit.
Oh, I'm so glad.
Oh, good golly, yes.
I just love to travel and see new places.
Such a beautiful spot you got here too.
Why, thank you so much.
I'm Shining Armor.
Oh. The prince.
What's going on?
From the looks of it, just locking up the games
for the Crystal Empire, is all.
Ain't no thing.
My, oh, my.
I never met a prince before.
Ha-ha-ha. I'm surprised.
I'd think in your line of work
you'd meet princes all the time.
Hardly, just an ordinary Wild Mustang from Mustangia
here to enjoy a little vacay.
Never thought I'd also be meeting royalty to boot.
( giggles )
You are Ms. Harshwhinny,
the Equestria Games Inspector, aren't you?
Inspector of what now?
( suspenseful theme playing )
We got the wrong pony?
No!
I mean, yes!
( panting )
( ominous theme playing )
APPLEJACK: Oh, please, still be here.
Oh, please, oh, please, oh, please.
There's got to be another pony
with flower print luggage around here somewhere.
Except that there isn't.
We've gotta find her before Cadance finds out
what a mess we've made of things.
Okay, here's what we do:
We split the empire up into five sectors.
Each of us search a sector.
Well, except for the spa.
What's the point of checking there?
That's where Cadance is.
If Ms. Harshwhinny is there, well, then game over. Right?
( all gasp )
HARSHWHINNY: Every city in the empire wants to host
the Equestria Games.
So I have to go through
all the big phoney baloney song and dance,
though of course I'm never getting the real inside scoop.
TOURIST: Oh, golly.
I've been having a swell time since I got here.
I'm actually thinking of extending my stay.
And what exactly has made your visit so "special"?
Oh, gosh, where to start?
Oh, there she is.
We're in luck, I don't think either of them knows yet
that the other one's here.
Wonderful news.
Look, Princess Cadance, better than new.
Princess Cadance?
So this is where you've been.
I will have you know
this is by far the worst welcome I've had
in all my years.
I can't believe it.
What was wrong with your welcome?
There wasn't one.
What is going on?
Princess, we gave our welcome to the wrong pony,
left the right one waiting at the station,
and completely ruined everything.
Cinnamon bun?
When I was a little filly,
I wanted so badly for Cloudsdale to win
the Equestria Games.
But it didn't happen.
So I thought I could make up for that disappointment
by helping the Crystal Empire win the chance
to host the games.
But it looks like I ruined your chances instead.
Not so fast, Speedy.
I just finished hearing
about how this pony was just treated
to the warmest,
funnest,
most fabulous reception she ever had.
Darn tootin'.
Courtesy of these fine ponies right here.
Which, in my expert opinion,
amounts to the first ever unvarnished, unrehearsed,
and unbiased appraisal of a potential host
of the Equestria Games.
Which can only mean one thing.
The next host of the Equestria Games
is The Crystal Empire!
( crowd cheers )
RAINBOW DASH: We did it.
CADANCE: Congratulations, Crystal Ponies.
You know it feels good to help others get something
you always wanted but never had.
Almost as good as getting it yourself.
Almost.
We'll still be able to come back here
and watch the games when they're played.
You're right. That'll rock.
Oh, my goodness.
CONDUCTOR: All aboard.
Ha! Huh, Bummer,
Spike had to miss out on all this.
He would've had fun here.
I'm sure he's having a great time
watching all the critters back at home.
Think he's still got a handle on things?
( sighs )
If he's staying calm and collected,
I bet he's doing a terrific job as a leader.
( growling )
You all hear that?
( suspenseful theme plays )
♪ My little pony ♪
♪ Friends... ♪