♪♪
Wow, Applejack!
Are you sure you've never managed a concert before?
Well, it turns out doin' up a concert's
the same as settin' up a rodeo.
And thanks to Pinkie's connections organizing
the Ponypalooza Rock Concert,
we've got quite a line-up
for the Helping Hooves Music Festival.
Twilight! Applejack! Rainbow Dash! Rarity! Fluttershy! Spike!
Pinkie Pie! Oh, wait, that's me! EVERYPONY!
What is it, Pinkie?
I have the most amazing news ever!
It is totally going to freak your frizz!
Well, spill it, Pinkie!
It wasn't easy. In fact, it was terribly difficult.
But I have managed to book the biggest Pony Pop Star
in all of Equestria as the main attraction
of the Helping Hooves Music Festival!
Sapphire Shores?
Sapphire Shores? Please!
Sapphire Shores is merely the SECOND biggest Pony Pop Star
in Equestria!
I have booked: The One. The Only. Countess Coloratura!
OOOOOOOOOO! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
Who in the hay is Countess Coloratura?
[gasps]
[boing]
My frizz has been freaked.
♪ My little pony, my little pony ♪
♪ Aaaahhh ♪
♪ 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! ♪
♪ To have my little pony ♪
♪ Do you know you're all my very best friends? ♪
♪♪
Pinkie Pie, who is this Countess Coloratura pony?
I just told you
that she's the biggest Pony Pop Star in Equestria!
How, how, how, how, how have you not heard of her?
Don' know. Though I did know a gal named Coloratura
when I was just a filly. [snort]
Wouldn't it just be the funniest thing if that Coloratura
and this Coloratura were the same Coloratura?
Do you mean to tell me that you actually know
Countess Coloratura?
Well, I don't think it's the same pony
since my friend wasn't any sort of highfalutin' Countess.
Do you remember her Cutie Mark?
Sure do! It had this super colorful bunch of musical notes
that just shimmered in the light.
You mean, like this?
Well, fancy that! That there's the very same Cutie Mark!
Do you have any idea the number of hoops I had to jump through
to get her to perform at the Festival? A whole lot of hoops!
That pony is very demanding!
Naw!
Yaaaaw!
I completely understand.
We artistes require certain necessities
in order to do our best work.
This was clearly some sort of misunderstandin',
cause Rara was just as down home as me!
Rara?
Even that big name was too fancy for her.
So I shortened ColoRAtuRA to Rara.
We had the best time at Camp Friendship.
Rara was just so easy goin'.
We were like two apples from the same branch.
Rara and I prepared this song for the Camp Talent Show.
When we performed, she belted it out,
singin' in the most colorful, clear voice I'd ever heard.
♪ Equestria, the land I love ♪
♪ A land of harmony ♪
♪ Our flag does wave from high above ♪
♪ For ponykind to see ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Equestria, a land of friends ♪
♪ Where ponykind do roam ♪
♪ They say true friendships never ends ♪
♪ Equestria, my home. ♪
♪ ♪
♪ [ding] ♪
[excited chatter]
After camp, we wrote to each other for a bit,
but then we lost touch.
But Rara always did want to go to Manehattan
to try and make it big.
But a demandin' diva?
Just you wait, Pinkie.
Once Rara gets here, you'll see she's just a plain ol' pony
like you or me.
I don't have to wait! She's here!
Really?
♪♪
Rara?
AAAAAAH! COUNTESS COLORATURA!
Clear the way. Step back.
Keep your hooves and tails to yourselves.
No. That can't be her.
Um...Hi. Remember me? We met at Camp Friendship?
I gave you the nickname Rara?
AJ?
Yeah! Howdy, Rara!
Hoovsies!
Ooh! You got Hoovsies from Countess Coloratura! Look!
Ooh! She clearly thinks you're very special!
Hoovsies! Hoovsies! Hoovsies!
Yeah, real special.
Now that's how you make an entrance!
Big! Bold! Absolutely stunning!
Though it was muddied a bit with your interaction
with that dusty farm pony. Do you actually know her?
Oh, yeah. That's my childhood filly friend, AJ!
She was the one that started calling me Rara.
Oh, yes. How cute and common.
Of course, I was the one that started calling you Countess!
And just look at how you've moved up
in Equestria since then!
Why, you've gotten everything you've ever wanted!
Speaking of which...
Where is the pony Pinkie Pie?
Ooh! I'm the pony Pinkie Pie, Mr. Manager, sir!
Do you have the water imported from Rainbow Falls
that I requested for Countess Coloratura?
I have twenty glass containers full right here!
Did I not tell you to provide straws
in all of Countess Coloratura's beverages?
I don't think so.
But lucky for you,
I have the biggest straw collection in Equestria!
I call this straw Fernando.
♪ [spanish theme] ♪
Hmm. Let us confirm that you acquired the rest of the items
that Countess Coloratura requested
before she performs her run-through, shall we?
Oh, we shall!
Floral arrangements from the Royal Canterlot Gardens.
Chocolate éclairs made by Gustave le Grande.
A selection of crystals from the Crystal Empire.
Freshly picked cherries from Cherry Jubilee's farm
separated red from yellow?
Absotutely!
Well, by some miracle,
your requests have been reasonably met.
So let us move on...to rehearsal!
See, Applejack? Demanding!
Pinkie's right, Rarity! The Rara I knew didn't hide behind a veil
givin' out fake stamp kisses, sippin' up imported water,
and needin' her cherries separated.
Oh, I do understand.
Sometimes it's hard to see our friends change.
She's become a whole other pony!
Trust me, once you see Countess Coloratura perform,
you simply won't believe it!
♪ [electronic percussion] ♪
♪ Time for the Spectacle! ♪
♪ Time for the Show! ♪
♪ The lights are bright ♪
♪ And the colors glow ♪
♪ I'm not just any pony ♪
♪ I think you know ♪
♪ The time is now ♪
♪ It's about to blow! ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Razzle Dazzle! Glitz and Glam ♪
♪ Turn it all up ♪
♪ It's a spectacle ♪
♪ Razzle Dazzle! Glitz and Glam ♪
♪ Turn it all up ♪
♪ It's a spectacle! ♪
♪ Give me more Razzle Dazzle! ♪
♪ Glitter eyes Big surprise ♪
♪ Lights! Cameras! Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ahah! ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Razzle Dazzle! Glitz and Glam ♪
♪ Turn it all up It's a spectacle ♪
♪ Hear the applause ♪
♪ Here to impress ♪
♪ Not just a pony I am the Countess! ♪
[CHEERS]
Rarity was right. I don't believe it.
Oh, my shining star! Thanks to the sparkling costumes,
dazzling choreography, and brilliant vocal effects
that I designed,
your performance was SPECTACULAR,
Countess Coloratura!
Oh, thank you, Svengallop!
Correct me if I'm wrong here,
but that feller isn't actually complimentin' Rara.
He's complimentin' all the bells and whistles he's piled on
to make her Countess Coloratura.
Oh, no, no, no, no! You don't understand, Applejack.
Creating all those elements is a lot of work
and Countess Coloratura's performance
wouldn't exist without them.
If you ask me, that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.
Oh, if we're all done here,
I'd love to go back to my trailer and rest, Svengallop.
Actually, right now you're scheduled
for your Meet and Greet with the school ponies!
I can totally get you out of meeting
with the school ponies, Countess.
Absolutely not! My favorite part of any event
is meeting with the school ponies!
The school ponies'll be so happy to hear that, Rara.
Ponyville School Ponies!
As part of the Helping Hooves Music Festival,
I'm holding a contest where some of you will get a chance
to sing with me on stage at the concert tomorrow! Sound fun?
[cheers]
All right! Now who wants more Hoovsies?
[cheers]
Now, that's more like the Rara I remember.
Pinkie: But I got everything you requested.
That was for Countess Coloratura.
This is for me. And what I want is premium oats.
Oh, well, we have lots of tasty oats right here in Ponyville.
I would not feed those to a chicken!
I want top-of-the-line, Appaloosan Oats.
Next. It appears that we are surrounded by apple trees.
Bring me 500 pre-peeled, pre-cored apples.
And I want those things in 24 hours!
But that's impossible!
Do you want me to pull Countess Coloratura
from your little podunk charity show? Because I will.
Applejack! Svengallop just made all of these new demands
I heard, Pinkie. But don't you fret.
I'll talk to Rara and fix things right up.
Did you see, sis? Did you see?
Is this the little sister you wrote to me about, AJ?
Hold on, Applejack! You wrote to Countess Coloratura...about me?
AJ said you were the best little sister ever, Apple Bloom.
All right now, you best git along, little ponies.
[laughter]
Hey, Rara, you mind if I talk to you about your manager?
Sure, what about him?
Well, while you were meetin' with the school ponies,
he was demandin' all sorts of stuff from Pinkie Pie.
Svengallop works very hard as my manager, AJ.
So if he needs some things when we're on the road,
I don't see anything wrong with that.
Well, do you see something wrong with him telling Pinkie
that if she doesn't get those things by tomorrow,
he'd pull you from our charity festival?
What? But...he knows how important charity is to me
and leaving the festival would completely ruin my image!
I'm afraid Svengallop doesn't give a pickled Pippin
about your charity work.
That's not true!
Svengallop has always supported me in all my interests.
You're just saying those things because you're jealous.
Jealous of what? A pony who hides behind a veil so thick
she can't see when somepony's using her?
No, I'm not jealous of that, Rara.
I am not Rara! I am Countess Coloratura!
And while we may have been friends when we were young,
we have clearly gone in different directions!
It just ain't right!
He's manipulatin' her and she's just not seein' it.
Enough stewing! More peeling!
Sorry, Pinkie, but there is no way
I'm lettin' that lousy Svengallop
use my friend like that!
Ohhhh.
Countess Coloratura!
Wow, AJ! You said my real name.
I said your new name, but I saw the real you hangin' out
with those school ponies yesterday.
And I know somepony that'd prefer
if you stopped doin' those little events.
Oh, not this again.
C'mon, now. You just gotta give me a chance
to prove what I'm sayin' is true!
And just how are you going to do that?
Do exactly what I say; we'll see if that Svengallop
truly has your best interests at heart.
Svengallop? Svengallop?
Where are you, Svengallop?
Here I am. Did you need something?
Yes, I was...considering...
maybe canceling the contest with the school ponies?
Countess, this is wonderful!
I've been waiting forever for you to cancel
that pointless school pony contest!
You...have?
You do it at every charity event and it does absolutely nothing
to promote the Countess Coloratura image that I built!
Consider it CANCELED!
Pinkie Pie!
Yes, Svengallop, sir?
[coughing]
We're making some adjustments to the show. Follow me!
Cancel the contest for the fillies
and schedule me a spa treatment.
Now that I don't have to oversee a rehearsal with those brats,
I have time for the works.
You know the drill:
deliver, or the diva ditches your dippy charity.
OK, Countess Coloratura! All taken care of!
recording plays through PA: You know the drill:
deliver, or the diva ditches your dippy charity.
So that's how you've been managing things?
Yeah, so? What's the problem?
The problem is that you've been using my name
to intimidate ponies to get what you want.
But I work incredibly hard for you! I deserve everything I get!
But not because you scare ponies into thinking I won't perform
for their charities otherwise!
I would never do that to my fans.
Which is why you should have known that I would never
cancel the School Ponies Contest!
Hmm. All this charity and school pony contest nonsense
is just remnants of that boring little Rara
I met back in Manehattan.
You clearly don't understand the real me.
That's a joke! I made you somepony.
What can you even do without me?
Good luck, Countess Coloratura! Good luck!
Oh, Rara! I'm so sorry.
Are you gonna be OK for the concert tonight?
Of course. After all, the show must go on!
Oh, my gosh, Rarity! Svengallop's right!
This is going to be a disaster! I'm gonna be terrible!
Can you give us a minute, Rarity?
Certainly.
Now, why's it gonna be so terrible?
Because Svengallop was in charge of everything!
The lights! The visuals! The sound!
Without Svengallop, I have nothing!
Now, now. don't go gettin' yourself
into a tizzy there, Rara.
Svengallop turned you into Countess Coloratura
and acted like your friend so he could enjoy the perks
that came with bein' a star.
But the real perk of friendship is gettin' to see your friend
bein' true to theirself.
And, Rara, when you're simply yourself,
you're the brightest star I've ever seen shine!
[cheers]
Good evening, everypony!
Welcome to opening night of The Helping Hooves Music Festival!
Now it is my great honor to introduce to you
our headlining act, Countess Coloratura!
[cheers]
This song may be familiar, but yet it's totally different.
Kind of like me: Rara.
[confused chattering]
♪ [solo piano introduction] ♪
♪ I'm here to show you who I am ♪
♪ Throw off the veil. It's fin'ly time ♪
♪ There's more to me than the Glitz and Glam ♪
♪ And now I feel my stars align! ♪
♪ For I had believed what I was sold ♪
♪ I did all the things that I was told ♪
♪ But all that has changed and now I'm bold 'cus I know ♪
♪ That I am just a pony ♪
♪ I make mistakes from time to time ♪
♪ But now I know the real me ♪
♪ And put my heart out on the line! ♪
♪ And let the magic in my heart stay true oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Just like the magic inside of you ♪
♪ And now I see those colours right before my eyes ♪
♪ I hear my voice so clearly and I know that it is right ♪
♪ I thought I was weak, but I am strong ♪
♪ They sold me the world but they were wrong ♪
♪ And now that I'm back I still belong, cause I know ♪
♪ That I am just a pony ♪
♪ I make mistakes from time to time ♪
♪ But now I know the real me ♪
♪ And put my heart out on the line! ♪
♪ And let the magic in my heart stay true oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Just like the magic inside of you ♪
♪ Just like the magic inside of you. ♪
[cheers]
Thank you, everypony!
When I arrived at the Helping Hooves Music Festival,
I had forgotten who I really was.
But then an old friend reminded me what real friendship is about
and she told me that if I was true to myself,
I couldn't go wrong.
So, I have a very special surprise for her.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo? Come on up!
♪♪
♪ Equestria, the land I love ♪
♪ A land of harmony ♪
♪ Our flag does wave from high above ♪
♪ For ponykind to see ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Equestria, a land of friends ♪
♪ Where ponykind do roam ♪
♪ They say true friendships never ends ♪
♪ Equestria, my home ♪
♪♪
[cheers]
[ding]