After the shock of Omen's prophecy, the ponies begin to recover their voices.
Bow-Tie:
So we're all gonna die unless Parasol finds a mate?
Moonstone:
We're doomed.
Sparkler:
But how could THAT save Ponyland if we're all doomed otherwise? Huh, Omen? Riddle me that!
Omen (in a normal voice):
Hey, I see visions, I don't interpret them! I don't know what this stuff means!
Meanwhile, Queen Majesty and the Mystic ponies are discussing the matter in hushed tones.
Majesty:
Well, it was certainly specific enough . . .
Aurora:
I know . . . and that convinces me more than ever that this pony is not a legitimate seer.
Visions are usually vague and can be interpreted in many ways!
Dreamweaver:
Unless they're extremely important visions--those are sometimes specific ones . . .
but I've only heard of that happening once before--ever! This worries me.
Majesty:
But how could the marriage of one pony make such a difference? Oh dear, Parasol's not in here,
is she?
Star Runner:
I don't think so . . . No, I think she was going to take a swim in the waterfall. She probably
never even heard all the commotion about Omen's visit.
Majesty:
Well, who's going to tell her?
Nervous silence.
Windy:
You know, I don't think Parasol's going to be very happy to hear this.
Milky Way:
Really? "Furious" is what I would've said.
Heart Throb (sighing romantically):
She'll be heartbroken to find she can't wait for her one true love . . .
Moonstone (pricking his ears up):
Parasol? Heartbroken? (He turns to Majesty.) I'll put you in my will if you let it be me!
Medley (crossly):
This is no joking matter, Moonstone!
Moonstone:
Who's joking?
Tex:
We may as well start lookin' for a new home, because if that prophecy is true, this place is
DOOMED! You'll never find someone willing to put up with Parasol for the rest of his life!
That pony has a permanant burr under her saddle!
Skydancer (grinning):
Of course, YOU'D certainly never take the challenge, eh Tex?
Tex:
Darned right!
Skydancer:
You'd never take her hoof in marriage,
Or dance for her delight!
She would be the last one
You'd serenade at night!
Tex:
Exactly!
Skydancer:
You'd never pick her wreaths of flowers
Or take her on a stroll!
You've really always feared
Her since you were a foal . . . .
Tex:
FEARED HER? HEY!
Skydancer (smirking):
But from you no pro-posal
Shall ever be leapt!
It's really rather lucky . . .
(under his breath) Not that she'd accept.
Tex:
WHAT! WHAT did you say?!
The crowd begins focusing on Tex and Skydancer.
Skydancer (backing up, but grinning at the same time):
Nothing! Nothing at all!
Tex:
Yes you did! You said she wouldn't accept me if I proposed to her!
Skydancer:
No I didn't!
Tex:
Yes you DID!
Skydancer:
Well okay, yes I did, but it's true! She'd never accept hulking brute like you as her mate!
Tex (absolutely furious):
SHE WOULD ACCEPT ME IN AN INSTANT!!
Skydancer:
Oh yeah? How come you're getting so defensive about it, then?
Tex:
WHY, YOU . . .
Majesty (sharply):
Skydancer! Tex! Stop quarrelling! Tex, leave Skydancer alone! Skydancer, this is not some joke
for your private entertainment!
Tex and Skydancer look at Majesty and both bob their heads respectfully to their queen.
Tex:
I'm sorry, ma'am. (whispering to Skydancer) We'll continue this outside, peg!
Skydancer (nodding slightly):
Yes, I'm VERY sorry, Your Highness!
He tries unsuccessfully to look abashed.
Majesty (eyeing Skydancer):
Have you ever been sorry for anything in your entire life, Skydancer?
Skydancer:
Ummmmm . . .
Majesty (sighing):
Never mind.
As the other ponies continue talking about Omen's strange vision, Tex and Skydancer slip outside. Chief, Quarterback, 4-Speed, Bubbles, Sprinkles, Scoops, Applejack, Moonstone, and Sunbeam follow, eager to see the outcome of the confrontation. After a moment's hesitation, Wigwam also trails along.
Skydancer (to himself):
Not some joke for my private entertainment indeed . . . EVERYTHING'S a joke for my private
entertainment!
Tex:
Let's get this over with once and for all!
He rears and plunges his huge hooves down. Skydancer quickly dodges.
Tex:
May the best pony win!
Skydancer flies up and lands on a tree branch.
Skydancer:
Must this come to blows? So barbaric! Anyway, just because you can beat me
up doesn't mean Parasol would marry you.
He smirks.
Tex:
You want proof? I'll give you proof! I'll go propose to her right now!
Skydancer:
Don't waste your time!
Tex:
You--you can just shut up! What makes you think she'd marry YOU, either?
Skydancer (looking surprised):
Me? I don't want to marry Parasol. She's just a friend.
Tex (aghast):
But . . . but I don't want to marry her either!
Applejack (grinning):
That's funny . . . I just heard you say you were going to run over and propose to her
"right now"!
Quarterback:
Hey, don't talk to Tex like that! Parasol would never marry ANY of you wimpy little
smooth-hooved males!
Chief:
Yeah!
Bubbles (defensively):
Why not?
Sunbeam:
Yeah! Why not?
Skydancer:
I'll bet she'd marry a smooth-hooved stallion before she'd marry ANY Clyde.
Tex:
Oh yeah? Well, I'll bet she'd marry a Clydesdale before marrying any one of you little wimps!
Skydancer:
That's a bet, huh? That she'd accept a proposal of one of us before accepting one of you Clydes?
Wigwam:
Tex, don't you think . . .
Tex:
Yeah! It's a bet!
A thought strikes him, and he stares hard at Skydancer.
Tex:
And neither of us--or anyone here--can tell anyone about this! Especially not Parasol!
Skydancer:
Okay, you're on!
Skydancer flies to the ground and puts out a hoof to shake with Tex to seal the bargain. However, he draws his hoof back at the last moment.
Skydancer:
Wait, we haven't discussed the stakes!
Tex:
The stakes?
Skydancer:
Sure! What does the winner get? Or (getting an evil look in his eye) what happens
to the loser?
Tex:
What are you suggesting?
Skydancer (grinning evilly):
Here's what I propose--the winners get to style the losers' hair!
Quarterback:
Uh oh . . .
Wigwam:
Okay, that's it--I'm out. I'm taking NO PART in this bet. None. Zilch. Zero. Zip. Nada.
Tex (shooting Wigwam a dirty look):
You're on, peg! I can't wait to put your hair in curls, sissy-boy!
Skydancer says nothing, but smiles to himself.
Chief (looking at Skydancer):
Tex, don't you think . . .
Skydancer (interrupting Chief):
Well, let's shake on it, then!
Skydancer and Tex shake hooves to seal the bet.
Chief (with a sigh):
Too late!
Tex (to the other Clydes):
Come on, guys, we have to plan our strategy!
The Clydesdale stallions follow Tex. Chief looks over his shoulder at Skydancer and shakes his head doubtfully as he leaves. Wigwam trots back into Dream Castle after giving all involved parties a "you're all crazy and thank the Rainbow I'm not involved in this" look.
Skydancer (rubbing his hooves together):
This is going to be great! I think this time I'll put Tex's hair in a beehive!
Bubbles:
Skydancer, are you CRAZY??
Skydancer:
What's the matter?
Applejack:
What's the MATTER? Bow Tie would kill me if I even LOOKED at another mare!
Sunbeam:
And in case you've forgotten, I'm promised to Moondancer! She's my fiancee,
remember??
Skydancer:
Come on, guys--we can't abandon Parasol to those Clydes, now can we?
Bubbles:
Ummm . . . why not?
Sunbeam:
If you're so wild about this idea, why don't YOU propose to her, Skydancer?
Skydancer:
Well . . . I'd hate to break Medley's heart . . .
Sunbeam:
Uh huh. As I suspected.
Skydancer:
Oh, come on, one of you guys must be unattatched! And just think how fun it would be
curling Quarterback's hair or making Slugger look like Raincurl!
Moonstone (wistfully):
That would be fun . . . Those light-forsaken Clydesdales are too damned conceited!
Applejack (under his breath):
. . . said the pot to the kettle . . .
Skydancer:
Great! Now here's the plan, Moonstone . . . we'll send you over with a box of chocolates and some roses . .
.
Moonstone:
Me? You want me to court Parasol?? I HATE Parasol!! And she hates me! The other
day she came by my workshop just to heckle me!! Name one reason under the rainbow why I would
want to marry Parasol!!!
Suddenly Windy comes trotting by.
Windy:
Oh . . . hi Moonstone!
She flutters her eyes at Moonstone.
Moonstone (taking a few steps back):
Um, hi.
Windy:
Isn't it a gorgeous night?
Moonstone (a little sourly):
I wouldn't know, I'm sure.
Windy:
I think it's just the perfect night for two ponies to walk around the pond . . . alone.
Moonstone (desparately):
Great. I heard Sprinkles saying he was going to go around the pond just now.
Sprinkles:
What??
Moonstone kicks Sprinkles.
Sprinkles:
Owww!! . . . Oh yeah, around the pond . . . that's right.
He glares at Moonstone.
Windy (disappointed):
No, that's okay . . . I was thinking of . . . someone else.
Windy trots off, glancing over her shoulder at Moonstone and sighing wistfully.
Moonstone (staring after Windy):
I'll do it.
Skydancer (smiling):
Excellent.
In the meantime, the Clydesdale males (minus Wigwam) are having a meeting of their own. Quarterback, Chief, 4-Speed, and Slugger gather around Tex.
Tex (rallying his troops):
ARE WE GOING TO SUCCEED??
Chief, 4-Speed, Slugger, & Quarterback:
YEAH!!!!
Tex:
ARE WE GOING TO SHOW THAT WIMPY PEG WHO'S BOSS??
Chief, 4-Speed, Slugger, & Quarterback:
YEAH!!!!!!
Tex:
ARE WE GOING TO WIN???
Chief, 4-Speed, Slugger, & Quarterback:
YEAH!!!!!!! YEAH YEAH YEAH!!!
Tex:
ALL RIGHT THEN! WHO'S GOING TO MARRY PARASOL?
Slugger:
Not me.
Quarterback:
Not me.
4-Speed:
Not me.
Chief:
We're doomed.
Quarterback:
Do you think Skydancer will let us choose between big curls and little ones?
Tex (glowering):
Now, this is ridiculous! ONE of us has to marry her or we'll lose the bet! Is that what you
want? You, 4-Speed, do you want crimped hair?
4-Speed (uneasily):
N-no, but . . .
Tex:
And you, Quarterback . . . do you want to end up lookin' like Ringlets?
Quarterback:
Well . . .
Tex (turning towards Chief):
And how will it feel when you walk by a group of mares and they all snicker because you have
an afro? Well?
Tex glares at the other four ponies, who shift their hooves uneasily, looking at the ground.
Tex:
Now, we're gonna win that bet! We'll draw straws to see who'll go off an' marry Parasol.
Slugger (very nervous):
But . . . but supposing she doesn't want to be married, Tex? You know what her temper's
like!
Tex (waving a hoof dismissively):
How hard can it be to convince her? She's just a mare!
The other Clydesdales look doubtful. Tex ignores their unease. He grabs four long pieces of grass from the ground and carefully clamps them between his hoof and a convenient stump.
Tex:
Now each one of you pick a piece of grass. The two ponies with the shortest pieces will
go first. See, we're being generous an' even giving Parasol a choice.
Chief (suspiciously):
What about you? There are only four pieces of grass!
Tex (loftily):
Why, I have to organize this, you ignorant pony! Of course I can't go gallivantin'
around and organizing at the same time.
The other ponies exchange glances, then shrug. With a sigh, they each pick out a blade of grass . . .