The Courtship of Parasol
by Lady Moondancer
Opening scene--early dawn. Skydancer is sleeping in a tree. He raises his head and stands on the branches of the oak, displaying an amazing sense of balance. As he stretches, faint rays of sunlight shine through his wings.
Skydancer:
Another day, another dawn!
The fields are ablaze with light . . .
Another day, the dark is gone!
The sun has chased away the night . . .
Skydancer spreads his wings and leaps into the sky, soaring high over the countryside. He looks at the world unfolding beneath him.
Skydancer:
Sun light, sun bright,
What shall I do today?
So many props to set up
For life's little play!
Sun light, sun bright,
My spirits start to soar!
That's the thing about life here--
It's never a bore!
If you feel down or blue,
Why, never fear!
There's always some excitement
When Skydancer's near!
Yup, always excitement
When Skydancer is near!
Skydancer swings over Dream Castle and lands on one of the towers. He looks directly at the camera and grins.
Skydancer:
Now, I'll tell you not everyone
Appreciates my type of fun --
I'm a prankster, I admit it!
But how on earth could I quit it --
If you could see their faces, then you would understand!
All part and parcel of life in Ponyland --
Yes, it's all part of li-ife in our fair Ponyland.
The other day I flew along,
Heard the sea ponies all in song.
"Shoop-be-doo," I joined the chorus . . . .
Well, my voice WAS slightly ho-oarse,
But was that any reason to drive me back to land?
All part and parcel of life in Ponyland!
Yes, it's all part of li-ife in our grand Ponyland!
Medley lands on the tower.
Medley:
Skydancer, the sea ponies were upset because you RUINED the Sea Pony Choral's presentation for the Mer-King! Anyway, you should know better than to sing when you're hoarse!
Skydancer:
I'm not horse--I'm pony!
Medley:
Not horse, hoarse!
Skydancer:
"Not horse, horse"? What's that supposed to mean?
Medley:
Argh!
Skydancer (winking at the camera):
You should go gargle, Medley--you sound hoarse.
Yesterday, in Dream Castle,
I saw our princes, lords, and vassals
Looking bored--Eldren was speaking.
Thought I'd entertain the meeting . . .
But no one but Prince Aster seemed to understand!
All part and parcel of life in Ponyland!
Yes, it's all part of li-ife in lovely Ponyland!
Medley:
Maybe the reason that the royalty wasn't thrilled was that you nearly started a war with the elves!
Skydancer:
How was I supposed to know that Eldren has no appreciation for the fine arts?
Medley:
Hanging five spoons off your face while singing "Waltzing Matilda" does NOT qualify as a "fine art"!
Skydancer:
Whatever!
Now, speaking of anger retention--
Tex wanted to draw attention
To himself from females so fair.
And I helped--I found great stuff for his hair!
Did he thank me? No! Why, he said he'd see me banned!
All part and parcel of life in Ponyland!
Yes, it's all part of li-ife in our green Ponyland!
Medley:
Well, no wonder he was upset, Sky! You took borrowed Fifi's magic perm solution from the Perm Shoppe! His hair got all curly! He was the laughingstock of Ponyland!
Skydancer:
There's nothing wrong with curls -- just look at Stripes, Streaky, and Ringlets!
Medley:
But they're GIRLS!
Skydancer (laughing):
Tsk, tsk, Medley! Let's try to be a little more open-minded!
Medley:
Well, how would YOU feel about having YOUR hair in curls?
Skydancer:
Why, don't be silly, Medley. You know I'd never try to add anything to my hair--I'm attractive enough to the fair sex as it is.
Skydancer grins disarmingly.
Medley (shaking her head):
What are we going to do with you, Skydancer?
Your prac-tical jo-okes are hard to understand,
But I guess it's part and parcel of life in Ponyland.
Medley and Skydancer:
Yes, it's all part and parcel of our fair Ponylaaaaand!
Medley:
Anyway, I thought I'd warn you -- Tex is on the war path. He swears up and down he's going to get even with you.
Skydancer:
Tex? He's an amateur!
Medley:
Yeah, but he's a big, strong, ANGRY amateur! Be careful, Sky! You're going to meet up with trouble if you keep playing jokes on the Clydesdale ponies!
Skydancer:
Now, be fair! I play jokes on everyone equally! Why, it was just last week that I convinced Applejack and Sunbeam that I'd found a stone that could turn any metal into gold if you chipped away at it long enough! Sunbeam got a butter knife and Applejack snatched a metal ice cream scooper from the Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe and they sat there knocking chunks of rock off that boulder for hours! Applejack got such a sunburn he practically turned from orange to red!
Medley:
Yes, and Lickety-Split got upset with Sunbeam because he ruined the butter knife . . .
but that's not the point. The point is that the Clydesdales tend to stick together and only notice the jokes you play on THEM!
Skydancer:
Don't worry, Med! If things start to get tough, I can always hang around Minty--maybe some of "the luck o' the Irish" will rub off on me!
Medley:
Well, you've got the blarney part down!
Skydancer (laughing):
Touchee! Now what do you say we go down to breakfast? I crave pancakes!
Medley (shrugging):
Sure, why not?
Skydancer and Medley fly off the tower and spiral down towards the main entrance of Dream
Castle. They trot into the Castle and enter the dining room. It is filled with noisy ponies.
Lickety-Split, Cupcake, and Milky Way are serving heaps of steaming pancakes for breakfast.A
plethora of ponies crowds the room, including Sunbeam (sticking close to his fiancee,
Moondancer), Applejack (begging Bow-Tie for a date,) and finally
Tex--whose hair is still faintly crimped. He glares at Skydancer, who doesn't notice him.
Breakfast commences. The noisy room is filled with multiple conversations, none of which can be
heard distinctly. Then, there is a slight lull a snippet of one conversation IS heard . . .
Quarterback:
. . . don't understand why anyone would want to be a smooth-hooved stallion when we Clydesdales are
so much bigger and stronger.
The comment is greeted by shouts of approval from most of the "Big Brother" Clydesdales and
glares and scowls from the smooth-hooved males, whose numbers include--Applejack, Sunbeam,
Bubbles, Scoops, Sprinkles,
and Moonstone. Skydancer, however, simply grins.
Skydancer stands up.
Skydancer:
Why? Let's tell them why, fellas!
Moonstone:
Hear, hear!
Bubbles:
Yes!
Woosie:
You *hic* go guys!
Up, Up, and Away:
Tell it like it is!
Skydancer:
Oh Clydesdale, Clydesdale,
Rough and tough you may be,
But Clydesdale, Clydesdale,
Yours isn't the life for me!
He lands on the table with a flourish of wings.
Skydancer:
Can you dance on the breeze?
Sprinkles:
Or soar across the sky?
Skydancer:
The little birds may call and tease but you . . .
Sprinkles & Skydancer (swooping around Quarterback's chair):
Can't fly!
Quarterback leans back too far and his chair falls over (to hoots of laughter, naturally.)
Moonstone:
Oh, Clydesdale, Clydesdale!
Big and strong you may be,
But Clydesdale, Clydesdale,
Yours isn't the life for me!
Sunbeam (making a ray of sunshine bounce around the room):
Can you make the sun appear?
Moonstone (winking onto the table):
Can you wink from sight?
Sunbeam (grinning):
Ah, the answer's no, I fear . . .
Moonstone & Sunbeam:
You have no ability with magic and might!
Moonstone winks off the table (followed by a flutter of eyelashes from Windy).
Bubbles:
Clydesdale, Clydesdale,
Bulky 'n clumsy as can be!
Clydesdale, Clydesdale,
Yours isn't the life for me!
Applejack:
Every year we vault and race
And win the laurel wreath . . .
Bubbles:
Lighter frames and much more grace
Let us tear across the heath!
Applejack:
Yeah!
Skydancer (grinning wide):
So . . . Clydesdale, Clydesdale!
Not so special, don't you see?
Clydesdale, Clydesdale,
You'll never compare to me!
Moonstone:
Or me!
Sprinkles:
Or me!
Applejack:
Or me!
All the smooth-hooved males (with full orchestra):
You'll never compaaaaare tooooo meeeeee!
The mares enthusiastically "applaud" by pounding their hooves on the ground. Heart Throb and Love Melody exchange dirty looks as they both sidle towards Skydancer, fluttering their eyelashes. Moondancer and Sunbeam affectionately bump heads while Bow-Tie snuggles up to Applejack. (Looks like he got his date, all right. ^_~)
Tex (growling):
Why, you little twerps! I oughtta . . .
Blossom:
Oughtta WHAT?
Gusty (glaring at Tex):
Ooo, the big macho Clydesdale's gonna to beat up someone a lot smaller.
Lickety-Split (sarcastically):
My hero!
Voice from the back of the room (laughing):
Look, he's so angry his hair's crimping!
Everyone laughs. Even 4-Speed, Slugger, and Quarterback snicker. Tex turns red.
He glares at Skydancer, who's doubled over laughing.
Tex:
This is all YOUR fault, Skydancer! But I'll get even! Just you wait!
Tex storms out. After a pause, all the Clydesdales except Wigwam follow. Now that the show's over, other ponies finish their breakfasts and leave. Soon only the smooth-hooved stallions and Wigwam remain in the room.
Wigwam (shaking his head):
You do like to live dangerously, don't you, Skydancer?
Skydancer (grinning):
Is there really any other way to live?
Wigwam:
Well, be careful! You don't know how ornery Tex can be!
Skydancer:
I'll be careful, I'll be careful! No fear! I've got to go now--I have a date with destiny!
Applejack:
Really? A date with Destiny?
Skydancer (calling over his shoulder as he flies out the window):
Not really! I just like saying that!
Cut to a grassy field just after twilight. Posey, Seashell, and Medley are lounging lazily in the grass. Suddenly, Cotton Candy runs up.
Cotton Candy:
Hey! Have you heard the news?
Seashell:
Shh, Posey's asleep! What news?
Cotton Candy (glancing nervously at Posey):
You don't suppose she's still upset over her flower garden, do you?
Seashell:
I don't know. So, what's up?
Cotton Candy:
I didn't mean to eat all her tulips--it just kind of happened.
Medley:
Cotton Candy! Are you going to tell us the news or not?!
Cotton Candy:
Okay, okay! A mysterious stranger has arrived at Dream Castle!
A pony with powerful magic! They say he can foretell the future!
Seashell & Medley:
Ooooo!!!
Posey (waking up):
What's all the noise about?
Cotton Candy (nervously):
Well, gotta run!
Posey:
Who's . . . hey! Cotton Candy! What happened to my tulips?
Cotton Candy gallops away in a panic. Posey stands up and glares after her.
Posey:
Oh well. So what's up?
Medley:
A mysterious stranger!
Seashell:
A mysterious magical stranger!
Posey:
Really? Where?
Seashell:
He's at Dream Castle!
Posey:
Wow! Let's go check it out!
The camera zooms out as the three ponies gallop down the hill towards Dream Castle. They enter the Courtyard, which is filled with noise and ponies. Queen Majesty is on the dais in the Courtyard, trying to keep order.
Majesty:
Quiet everyone!
Powder (spotting Posey, Seashell, and Medley):
Have you heard the news?
Seashell:
What? What's happening?
Posey:
Medley said there's a visiting magician?
Skydancer (flying in a window):
Hey, guys!
Powder:
Hi Sky! Yeah, and he can predict the future! And Dreamweaver told me--
Heart Throb:
According to Tidewalker, he's very--
Majesty (stamping a hoof):
QUIET!
Powder and the other ponies quiet down.
Majesty:
Now, we've gathered here today to here a very--err, unusual--prediction from this wandering pony.
A white Clydesdale with dark purple hair, steps forward.
Heart Throb (whispering to her friends):
Oh, he's sooo handsome!
Posey (whispering):
What's his name?
Powder (also whispering):
His name's Omen!
Heart Throb:
Oooo, that name is sooo--
Omen:
I have had a vision!
The crowd is now completely silent.
Omen:
I have had a vision so strange, so unique, that it is like no other!
The Mystic ponies do not look pleased by this statement, which causes eddies of whispers to flow around the room.
Aurora (a Mystic pony):
Yeah, yeah, young ponies always believe they're having "a mystical experience" or "a psychic vision", but everyone knows only Mystic ponies have powers in those areas! So what did you see? Will we have more mosquitos than usual this summer, or what?
The other ponies chuckle at Aurora's joke, but quiet down when Gingerbread speaks up in the stranger's defense.
Gingerbread:
But North Star told me that several of his predictions have come true already!
Majesty (shifting):
Yes, it is true that in the short time he has been here, Omen has accurately predicted several strange occurances . . . including the strange collapse of part of the stairs of Dream Castle . . .
Gusty:
WHAT? The stairs collapsed???
Oracle, unofficial leader of the Mystic ponies, snorts.
Oracle (shaking a hoof dismissively):
Mere coincidence.
All the ponies in the room turn to look at the stranger they've heard so much about.
Omen simply stands there with a solemn and unearthly look on his face. At last, he speaks.
By the our sacred rainbow, made of light,
I see our homeland, people sunk in night.
Crimson Death through Ponyland shall ride
Crimson oceans with a blood-red tide.
Crimson rivers through the valleys run;
All destroyed but for the act of one.
One bond in marriage staves our doom,
Preserves our land from everlasting gloom.
So dance around the fair may-pole;
Celebrate the marriage of Parasol.
Stunned silence fills the room.