A/N: Credit to Brandon Vortex for giving me the idea for the premise of this chapter.
Winter Wrap-Up
Intro
Director: Okay, after last week's disaster, we have found ourselves short of a cameraman.
Fluttershy: Oh? Pierre quit?!
Rainbow: [Grumpily] Do you blame him?
Director: Dash, shut up. He didn't quit- he's just taking a vacation on doctor's orders. Apparently, if he keeps getting stressed out the way he has recently he's going to wind up with male pattern baldness.
Rarity: Well we certainly can't have that. So who's going to film us?
Director: Initially it was supposed to be Mitch the backup guy, but… I don't like him, so I pulled some strings and got Sunset Shimmer to help out.
Twilight: You can be really awful sometimes, you know that, right?
Pinkie: Come on, let's get started! I wanna start ice skating!
Continuity!
Twilight: It's a good thing I'm so organized. I'm ready! Bright and early! [Twilight swings the library door open, only to falter when she realizes that it's still nighttime]
Twilight: [Giving an embarrassed smile] Oh… maybe a little too early.
Director: Aaaand… perfect! That's a scene! We're off to a fantastic start today!
Sunset: Um, sir?
Director: What is it?
Sunset: There was something wrong with that scene.
Director: What are you talking about? That scene flowed brilliantly and there wasn't a single mistake.
Sunset: B-but people are going to notice-
Director: [Lowering his voice so no one else can hear them] Listen. Last week's filming was the worst I've ever experienced. We've had multiple staff members quit and the cast is starting to get skeptical; you heard Dash at the beginning. So for the love of all things good and holy, your little nitpicks aren't important, Shimmer. We need this episode to go off without a hitch so that everyone will stop treating me like a joke.
Sunset: But! [She gives up] Fine, whatever.
Director: Excellent, more of that attitude please. Now, where's Mayor Mare? [Goes off to find her]
Sunset: [To herself] I was just going to say that the set design crew forgot to put the snow on the ground in this scene…
(Credit to Brandon Vortex)
Mayoral Misspeaking
Take 1
Mayor Mare: Thank you everypony, for being here bright and early. Now all of you have your vests and have been assigned to your teams, so-
Director: Cut! You missed a line!
Mayor Mare: I did?
Director: Yep. Let's do that again.
Take 2
Mayor Mare: Thank you everypony for being here bright and early. We need every single pony's help you wrap up winter and bring in spring!
[Ponies cheer]
Mayor Mare: So let's do even better than last year, and have the quickest Winter Wr-
Director: CUT! You missed a line again!
Mayor Mare: UGH! This is why I'd never be a mayor in real life. Memorizing speeches is ridiculously hard!
Winter Bloop Up
[Mayor Mare is in the middle of giving her speech]
Mayor Mare: ...now all of you have your vests and have been assigned to your teams…
[Twilight is jumping up and down, trying to see over the crowd]
Mayor Mare: ...so let's- oh dear!
[Twilight jumps too far forward and crashes down on top of Sassaflash]
Director: Oh for pony's sake, are you two alright?
Twilight: [Helps Sassaflash up] Yeah, just kinda shaken; how about you, Sassaflash?
Sassaflash: Uh-huh. I feel a bruise coming on though.
Director: [Sighs in relief] Okay, catastrophe avoided. Let's move on!
Jumping Heartstrings
Mayor Mare: So let's do even better than last year and make this the best Winter Wrap-Up Day ever!
[The crowd starts to cheer, but one of the background ponies starts hopping up and down and staring straight at the camera, which freaks Sunset out.]
Sunset: Cut!
Director: Hey, don't yell cut; that's my job!
Sunset: Sorry sir, but that extra back there is spoiling the shot.
Director: [Looks at the footage] Hey, you with the harp on her butt, get over here!
[The pony trots over, looking worried]
Lyra: Y-yes? Is something wrong? [mumbles quieter] Also, my Cutie Mark is a lyre...
Sunset: You know what's wrong. The first rule of acting is to never look at the camera unless specifically told to.
[Lyra's ears droop and she frowns]
Lyra: Oh… I'm sorry. I kinda got a little excited back there. This is the biggest role I've ever gotten… which is kinda pathetic I know, but-
Director: Actually… this might work.
Sunset and Lyra: Huh?!
Director: Think about it. A pony in the background hopping around and looking right at the audience. I didn't even notice it, but people might actually like it!
Sunset: What do you mean...?
Director: This could end up being like that scene in A New Hope where one of the stormtroopers hits his head on a door-frame!
Sunset: Sir…?
Director: This is a good day! You're getting a raise, kid!
Lyra: [gasps happily] Really?!
Sunset: Are you mad?!
(Credit to Brandon Vortex)
Four Seasons Too Soon
Rarity, Fluttershy, Doctor Whooves and Choir:
Winter Wrap-up, Winter Wrap-up! Let's finish our holiday cheer!
Cheerilee, Noteworthy, Cherry Berry and Choir:
Winter Wrap-up, Winter Wra-
Director: CUT! Who is that?!
[The Director points at a pony standing in the background, covering in many, many layers of winter clothes]
Sunset: I have no idea…
Rarity: [Trots over to the mysterious pony and pulls down the scar around her face, revealing a pink muzzle and two purple eyes]
Sunset: Starlight Glimmer? What are you doing on the set?
Starlight: Heh… well you know how I mentioned that I was cast for the season five premiere? Well, I thought that maybe I could show up in the background every once in a while… like as foreshadowing?
Director: Starlight, that was the dumbest excuse ever; you're just being an attention hogger.
Starlight: Hehe, fine. It was worth a shot, seeing as I have nothing better to do. Felicity's in charge of effects today and Trixie's gone looking for her missing pet.
Director: Oh for Pete's sake, are you saying that there's a missing animal somewhere in the studio now?
Starlight: Kinda… yes…? Yes. I am.
Director: [Groans] Pierre, get some people to find that pet!
Sunset: I'm not Pierre, sir.
Director: Oh that's right; God this is weird.
First Song's Second Bloop
[The episode's song is going well for the most part, and the choreography is near-perfect]
Rarity, Fluttershy, Doctor Whooves and Choir:
Winter Wrap-up, Winter Wrap-up! Let's finish our holiday cheer!
Cheerilee, Noteworthy, Cherry Berry and Choir:
Winter Wrap-up, Winter Wrap-up!
Applejack: 'Cause tomorrow spring is- YAAAH! [Rainbow Dash flies right into her, knocking them both to the floor]
Director: Ack! I am not doing all that again!
Sunset: Sir, the footage we'd gotten until then was perfect- there are so many good angles to choose from.
Director: Wait, angles? I thought this was the only camera.
Sunset: No… there's always been a huge camera crew.
Director: R-really?
[Other camera crew members wave from around the set, looking insulted]
Director: I-I had no idea. Why haven't we heard about them before?
Sunset: No one ever acknowledges camera operators.
Director: Huh. Fair enough, let's keep going!
Rainbow: We're fine by the way...
The Prickly Pest
[Amethyst Star, Lyra Heartstrings, Sea Swirl, Minuette and Lemon Hearts are all carrying hedgehogs on their backs]
Choir:
Winter Wrap-up, Winter Wrap-up-
Amethyst Star: EEEK! [Bucks the hedgehog off her back, revealing a couple of quills stuck on her rump]
Fluttershy: [Gasps and runs over] Oh my Goodness!
Amethyst: Ah quick, get these things outta my butt!
Fluttershy: [Crouches down to examine the hedgehog] You shouldn't have knocked him off your back so roughly. Hedgehogs feel pain as well, you know?
Amethyst: [Jaw drops] Are you serious right now?!
Lyra: Don't worry, I'll get 'em. [Begins to pluck out the quills]
Director: Cut!
A Little to the Right
[Rainbow Dash is on a tree branch, and begins jumping up and down to knock the snow down into Noteworthy's wagon]
Choir:
Winter Wrap-up, Winter Wrap-up-
[Predictably, the snow falls on top of Noteworthy instead of into the wagon]
Rainbow: Aw crud!
Noteworthy: My fault. I stopped too far back. [Shakes the snow off his head]
Director: Cut!
Vested
[Twilight starts to sing her solo portion of the song where she walks through an abyss filled with floating team vests.]
Twilight:
Now that I know what they all do, I have to find my place,
And help with all of my- HEY!
[Twilight gets smacked in the face by one of the vests]
Director: Damn it! Twilight, watch where you're walking!
Epic Fall
[Twilight climbs up a snowy cliff with Spike on her back, finishing up her solo]
Twilight:
How will I do without my magic?
Help the earth pony way,
I wanna belong so I must,
Do my best today,
Do my best to- WAH!
[As she reaches the top of the cliff, the tip crumbles off and plummets to the ground, taking Twilight and Spike with it]
Everyone: [winces] OOOOOH!
Sunset: Twilight, Spike, are you hurt?!
Twilight: My Luna-damned shoulder!
Rainbow Dash: [rushes over to where Twilight is laying spread-eagle on the ground and looks around] Where's Spike?
?: Twilight…
[Rainbow looks down to the source of the muffled voice she had just heard. A short purple arm is sticking out from underneath Twilight]
Spike: I… can't… breathe…!
Director: Ack! More injuries! Shimmer, why are you still filming? Cut! CUT!
Say Yes To The Nest
[Rarity begins to instruct Twilight on how to construct a bird's nest. Twilight is off-screen as Rarity guides her]
Rarity: Now weave them through there- yes! Er, now take some ribbon- oh no, not there… uh yes, just uh, tuck it in a little there. But be careful not to… oh, I guess that will do- oh dear... [she gives up].
Twilight: There! Uh…
[Somehow Twilight has managed to tie her forelegs together with one of the ribbons and the nest she was building is strapped to her hoof]
Director: Wow Twilight, you can't even screw things up properly!
Twilight: Hey! That's harsh!
Sunset: Don't listen to him, Twilight-
Director: Yes listen to me! That's your job!
Sunset: [sighs] I'll just cut...
Ad-libbing a head injury…?
[Twilight stands on the ice, legs wobbling, whilst Pinkie expertly skates around the frozen pond]
Twilight: Uhhh… maybe on second thought- [Twilight slips and slams face-first into the ice for a second before regaining her balance (a little dizzily).
Spike: What are you talking about…
[the scene continues]
[The director and Sunset exchange glances]
Sunset: [smirks] Are we keeping that in?
Director: [smiles and nods] We're keeping it in.
Most Predictable Blooper Yet
[Spike pushes Twilight across the ice and she immediately begins losing her balance]
Twilight: Whoa! WHOA! WHOA!
[Spike is clearly trying to hold in his laughter]
Pinkie: Twilight! Steer! STEE- OH NO!
[Twilight slams into Pinkie, sending them both skidding across the ice]
Director: [Facepalm] Cut! Twilight, you're not meant to crash into her yet!
Sunset: [obliges] I should have put a bet on that happening…
Rainbow: I did! [holds out hoof to Applejack]
Applejack: [sighs and gives Dash three bits]
Twilight: [weakly] You all suck!
(Credit to Brandon Vortex)
A Different Kind of Dragon
[Fluttershy has her head in an animal's burrow and is ringing a little bell]
Fluttershy: Wake up, little sleepy heads. Hope you had some wonderful dreams and restful hibernation, but it's time to get up now, spring is coming.
[As Fluttershy begins to back away and stand up, she hits her head on the roof of the burrow, yelping in agony]
Sunset: Sheesh! That looked like it hurt. You okay, Fluttershy?
Fluttershy: [shakily standing up] Yeah… just a little dizzy. [falls on her side]
Twilight: [Levitates Fluttershy off the ground] Come on, you gotta get up- YAAAAH!
[Suddenly, a komodo dragon waddles out of the burrow Fluttershy hit her head in, hissing and flicking its tongue out in a serpentine manner]
Sunset: What the frack is that thing?!
[Twilight freaks out and runs away, dropping Fluttershy onto the ground with a thud and a yelp of agony]
Twilight: KILL IT!
Trixie: [Rushes onto the set] Fluttershy! You've found the Cute and Huggable Snippy! [Trixie lifts up the komodo in her magic and nuzzles it on the snout] I was worried he would get hurt all by himself; I must thank you for this somehow!
Fluttershy: [woozily] Head… hurts…
[Trixie helps Fluttershy sit up by letting the pegasus lean against her, and Snippy, still being held in the air, gives Fluttershy a quick lick on the nose]
Fluttershy: Oh! [Giggles when she sees the komodo]
Trixie: Aww, it seems that he likes you.
Fluttershy: Haha! I like him, too!
Director: [sighs] Cut.
Not the bees!
Director: Okay Twilight, we preferably want to get this done in one shot, so do your best! Some crew members are waiting inside the final cave you'll run into with bee repellent, so you'll be safe as soon as you make it there.
Twilight: [looking scared out of her mind] God I wish we could use a stunt pony for this...
Director: ACTION!
[Twilight sticks her head into a burrow and rings the bell Fluttershy gave her]
Twilight: Hello~! Wake up little friends, wherever you are. Spring is coming!
[She backs out from the burrow]
Twilight: I wonder which cute little furry creatures I've awoken…
[Three snakes emerge from the burrow]
Twilight: Gyah! Snakes! Snaaaakes!
[Twilight backs away into a cave, but rushes back out, screaming as a swarm of bats are frightened out of their sleep. She slams into a tree, knocking a beehive off a branch and onto her head. Still freaking out (and being chased by bees now) Twilight hurtles towards the sanctuary of the final cave…]
Twilight: TWAAH!
[Twilight slams head-first into the dirt wall beside the cave and staggers over. Without hesitation, the bees begin stinging her relentlessly, ignoring her cries of agony]
Director: HOLY HELL! Shimmer cut, this is serious- someone spray her with the bee repellent already- no don't run off-
[Footage cuts off]
One Week Later
Sunset: [Setting up camera] Are you sure Twilight should be acting? She still has scars from all those bee stings…
Director: Look Shimmer, there's this thing called a make-up crew, and they get paid to make people less ugly. There's no need to worry about Twiggles.
Sunset: Um… I meant that she might not be feeling up to it.
Twilight: [Hurries into the studio, body covered in dozens of stings, though her fur conceals most of it very well] Yes! I'm the first actor here again! I'm so prepared!
[The director smirks over at Sunset]
Sunset: [sighs] Oh. For a moment I forgot we were talking about Twilight…
Lamest Blooper Yet
Director: Okay, after our little setback, we need to get this done as soon as possible. But hey, at least Twilight's stings in the tomato juice bath scene didn't have to be digitally added!
Twilight: I hate you!
Director: Now action!
[Applejack stands on a snow-covered hill, commanding the rest of the green team as they plough the snow away.]
Applejack: Keep pushin', Caramel! That's it, Bumpkin! I know it's hard work, but you guys are doin' great! Yee-haw! [Applejack rears up on her hind legs and kicks out her forelegs, but in doing so, ends up slipping and landing on her rump in the show] Aw really?!
Director: CUT!
Sunset: [smirks] Really AJ? A slip? Twilight got ravaged by bees, and you follow that up with a slip?
Twilight: I hate you, too!
Applejack: Hey, go easy on me! I can feel a bruise comin' on...
The Return of Fliss
Director: Okay, it took ages to get this avalanche set up, so it'd be wonderful if this didn't go wrong.
Sunset: [groans] Sir, every time you say that something goes wrong!
Director: See, this is why I'm starting to miss Pierre. He just goes along with what I say and never calls me out for all the stupid things I do.
Rainbow Dash: Are you talking about the same Pierre I know?
Director: Shut up Dash. Now Twilight, Spike, Applejack- get into position.
[Twilight, Applejack and Spike bury themselves in the snow beneath a ledge]
Director: [Signals for the special effects person to unleash the avalanche]
[Beat]
[Nothing happens]
Director: Seriously, are you kidding me? [gets up and stomps onto the set] Is something up there lodged?
Sunset: Sir, you might want to back off!
Director: Well, do you have any ideas, smart-ass?
Sunset: Ugh. No, but remember what happened while you guys were filming Dragonshy-
Director: Shimmer, the past is not today. We have to move on from all the previous disasters we've filmed.
Sunset: Uh…
Felicity: [shouting from behind the hill] Hey, there is something lodged back here! Lemme get that-
Director: Huh? NO! WAIT!
[The snow comes tumbling down, cascading into the fields and taking the Director, Twilight, Spike and Applejack with it. The snow spreads out all over the place and the entire crew collectively facepalms. The director scrambles out of the snow and wipes his glasses clean, swearing profusely.]
Felicity: [peers over the hill] Oh! Sir, why were you in the snow? Is this gonna be one of those Director's cameos?
Director: [glares at her] You show up after God-knows how long, and this is the first thing you do? Do you have any idea how far behind schedule this will put us?!
Felicity: Hey! I've been here the whole time! You just never acknowledge me when I do something well!
Director: Why don't you stop talking back at me and start cleaning this up?
Felicity: A-all by myself?
Director: YES!
Felicity: But that will take all day!
Director: So be it! You waste our time, I'll waste yours!
Twilight: Um… couldn't you just have some unicorns lift the snow onto the hill for you?
Director: …
[Beat]
Director: ...no. We couldn't. That's stupid. If it weren't, I would have thought of it!
Twilight: No look, all I have to do is-
Director: Don't you dare, Twilight.
Twilight: -teleport the snow…
Director: Stop doing whatever is is you're-
[In a flash the snow is back on the hilltop, Felicity happily sitting on top of the pile whilst Twilight smugly smirks. The Director is not pleased]
Director: You idiot.
Twilight: It's over, sir. Let's get back to filming.
Sunset: Damn sir, Twilight should be the Director instead of you!
Director: Well at least my hair doesn't look like bacon!
Sunset: Psh. Like I haven't heard that one before. Also I totally filmed all of that, and I'm keeping the tape.
Director: You're really pushing it, Shimmer.
Pony Plough
[Twilight's just been outed for using magic to clear the snow]
Applejack: That's not how we do it 'round here, Twilight, and especially not on MY FARM!
Twilight: Well, see, I just wanted to... [she quickly gets up and starts running away]
[Almost immediately, one of the stallions working the fields crashes into Twilight with his snow plough and knocks her over. For some reason, instead of stopping he keeps moving, and Twilight is helplessly pushed through the snow.]
Twilight: Er… excuse me sir, can you please stop moving!
Director: Geez, can someone fire that guy for me? CUT!
(Credit to Maelstrom)
A Change in Choreography
[Applejack and Fluttershy are arguing over what the weather team should do]
Applejack: I'm tellin' ya Rainbow, ya gotta melt that snow now!
[Rainbow flies upwards while Fluttershy calls after her]
Fluttershy: No! We must wait!
Rainbow: Oookay…!
Applejack: GO!
Fluttershy: Stop!
Applejack: GO!
Fluttershy: Stop!
[As the pair argue, the weather team flies back and forth to coincide with the pony who's shouting. However, the sharp turns and awkward movements cause about six pegasi to collide with others and tumble down to the ground]
Rainbow: God these guys are amateurs!
Sunset: Sir, maybe it would save time if this scene was shot with all the pegasi staying in one place?
Director: Agreed.
(Credit to Captain Alaska)
Worst-Pony-Elect?
Mayor Mare: I was hoping my amazingly inspirational speech would urge everyone to do better than last year-
Applejack: What a load of crabapples! You're probably just napping while we do all the hard work!
Director: CUT! Applejack, it's good that you're in-character, but stop being so self-aware.
Mayor Mare: No, she's right… my character sucks...
Skate to Break it
Mayor Mare: I was hoping my amazingly inspirational speech would urge everyone to do better than last year, but now it looks like we're going to be later than ever. I mean just look at this catastrophe.
[The camera pans to a view of a still mostly iced-over lake]
Mayor Mare: The ice scorers made the ice chunks too big to melt.
[Suddenly, one of the the ponies skating slips and skids off the ice into the water]
Director: Oh crud! Where's the lifeguard?!
Sunset: ...we don't have a lifeguard.
Director: Then hire one!
Mayor Mare: Why do I get the feeling you've said that before…?
(Credit to Captain Alaska)
Logic Failure
Rainbowshine: Ditzy Doo accidentally went North to get the Southern birds!
Rainbow: Ugh! That feather brain; didn't she learn her lesson last year when she went West?!
[Beat]
Rainbow: Hey wait a feather-flappin' minute! Why would we send somepony who went the wrong direction last year to get the birds again?
Director: [Looks at Sunset]
Sunset: [Shrugs]
Director: Uhhh… comedy?
Gotta Have a Spike Blooper
[Having gotten the townsponies' attention, Twilight begins her motivational speech]
Twilight: I know you all want to complete your jobs on time, but arguing is no way to go about it. What you need is…
[Spike suddenly skids in from the sidelines holding a quill and clipboard, but instead of stopping at Twilight's side, he crashes into her and knocks her down]
Twilight: AH! Why?!
Director: CUT!
Spike: Whoops! I'm sorry, Twilight!
Twilight: [Still laying on the ground] It's fine… this makes me appreciate how much worse it could actually be for me. Remember the days where I would fall from high cliffs or get a concussion every ten minutes?
Spike: You mean two months ago?
Twilight: Whoa, really? It feels like so much time has passed…
Director: Well maybe all the blows to your head messed up your internal clock? And speaking of clocks, every second you spend reminiscing is a moment of wasted time for the rest of us! Let's get cracking, everyone!
Organization Does Not Equal Synchronization
[The ice scoring team lines up, ready to begin cutting the ice. Twilight gives the signal and they all start to skate. It goes well at first, but then Cherry Berry and Daisy crash into each other]
Director: CUT!
Sunset: Are you two hurt?!
Daisy: Sir, can't we get someone who knows how to skate to replace me?
Director: isn't it better to learn how to skate now? I mean, this could be a useful life skill in the future, you know?
Daisy: Um… I guess that's a good point.
Sunset: What? No it's not. Sir, if she doesn't want to skate get her a replacement!
Daisy: No! My desire to skate has been rekindled! I'm ready to try again, sir!
Cherry Berry: Does anyone care that I scraped my knee?
Sunset: Sir… how did you do that?
Director: You have to play into people's fears of not living life to the best of their ability. It works every time, even for something as dumb as this.
Sunset: Well that's… surprisingly deep. Is that a fear you have, sir?
Director: Sunset, your job is to record things, not interrogate me.
Sunset: [frowns] Okay...
Face-Planting
[The team of stallions from before are ploughing the snow and planting seeds in the fields. Noteworthy is pulling a plough along while Caramel walks a few paces behind the plough, dropping seeds in the dirt. Suddenly, the plough gets snagged on something in the ground.]
Noteworthy: Oh blast it! Look out!
Caramel: Wha- [he is too late and walks face-first into the metal plough]
Everyone: [flinches] Ooooogh!
Director: Ack… cut...
Expanding the Cast
[The ponies have constructed a device that will ring a bell in front of every burrow in a field. Fluttershy pulls a rope attached to a tree to make all the bells ring… but the entire thing just falls apart and the bells clatter to the ground]
Director: Oh for flip's sake, why?! Who was meant to put this together?! Who's in charge of the prop crew?
[There's a too-long-not-to-be-intentional pause before a young woman with short black hair and dark sunglasses raises her hand]
?: That would be moi.
Director: Well thank you on everyone's behalf for wasting all our time. Also, your shades make you look like a douche.
?: Geez, I know we're going over-schedule but there's no need to insult the glasses, man.
Director: Okay that's it, I'm getting a headache. Everyone take a ten minute break while Ms. Hipster-Shades fixes up the bells properly!
?: You're just gonna keep rattlin' on about them then, I guess. And never call me that again- my name's Tou-Mou Peng.
Director: And I'm sure you're proud that it's listed in the credits… maybe, probably not. Now get to work!
Tou-Mou: [chuckles] What a sucker…
Director: Heard that!
The Obvious Bird Joke
[The birds are flying back into Ponyville, and a few of them soar over some stallions lugging gardening tools along in carts. Very predictably, one of the birds defecates right there in mid-air and it splats down onto Caramel's back]
Caramel: Eugh! For cryin' out loud!
Director: Good grief, I thought I wouldn't have to deal with small flying pests again so soon after last week's episode.
Sunset: It could have been worse, I guess. At least it wasn't a phoenix that pooped on him.
Director: [Looks suspiciously mortified] What… what would that do?
Sunset: Well, in Layman's terms, it would probably give someone a second-degree burn. Maybe third-degree if not dealt with immediately.
Director: [to himself] Maybe I could convince the writers to change Celestia's pet to a chinchilla or something…
Flame Over For Now
[Spike is writing down Twilight's letter to the Princess as she talks. He is wrapped up in a dressing gown after falling into the lake]
(A/N: Poor Spike! Why didn't Twilight just levitate him off the ice?!)
Twilight: Dear Princess Celestia, Winter Wrap-up was one of the most special things I've ever been apart of here in Ponyville. It helped me to learn that we all have hidden-
Spike: ACHOO~!
[Spike sneezes to display his flu symptoms, but ends up sneezing too hard and spraying green flecks of fire all over the place. One of the walls of the library immediately catches fire]
Director: CUT CUT CUT! Someone grab a fire extinguisher!
Twilight: I'm on it! [gallops away]
Director: Spike, what the heck?! You can't even sneeze right?!
Spike: I'm sorry! I underestimated how far my fire would travel!
Director: Well you should have been more careful!
Spike: Well you shouldn't have had the library built inside a tree!
Sunset: [Sighs and turns off the camera]
Endnote: And that's another episode wrapped up (ha!). The next episode is Call of the Cutie! The first Cutie Mark Crusaders episode!
Mouse's Musings: I'm trying my hardest to update faster, but college is extremely demanding and requires most of my attention. Just take comfort in the knowledge that I try to work on My Little Bloopers almost every day. But yes, let it be known that a chapter exists where Pierre isn't in it! I don't know what people's feelings on Pierre are as a whole, but I personally enjoy writing him because he makes a good foil to the Director. The Director just wants to waste as little time as possible whereas Pierre tries a bit harder to make things better with little success. It's a part of their dynamic that I love and to be honest, that made it kind of hard to write Sunset as a replacement foil to him. Sunset is a pretty difficult character for me to write anyway (as I'm sure I've proven with this chapter) but I believe that spending a chapter with her made me appreciate Pierre even more. Yes, even authors don't appreciate their own characters sometimes.
This chapter also serves as the introduction of Tou-Mou, a character who I hope will become a main human along with the Director, Pierre and Felicity (who also returned in this chapter). Every group has to have an anti-hero, right? Well, Tou-Mou is that character among the Technical Crew and I can't wait to write her into the story more. And yes, there are more human characters like that coming that haven't made an appearance yet ^u^
But onto my thoughts on Winter Wrap-up… I like this episode and think that it serves as the first big milestone for Friendship is Magic. It introduced the concept of ponies changing the seasons themselves, which we saw briefly at the start of Look Before You Sleep, and I really like that idea- it adds another layer of uniqueness to this magical horse world. This was also the first episode to have a big song number, and it's definitely the best part of the episode, since all of the songs we've had until now were all short and silly. I mean, when you think of this episode, you immediately think of the song, right? The episode itself as a whole, while it introduces some interesting ideas and lore, is nothing all that special.
The episode's plot is pretty much just Twilight trying new things, failing, going to try something else, failing again, rinse, repeat and it's not really all that engaging. Although it does mean that I get to go back to my original trend of making Twilight suffer as much as I can in these bloopers- I mean, this episode practically hands me countless opportunities on a silver plate! Speaking of Twilight, this episode did do a good job of highlighting how out-of-place she still feels in Ponyville; at this point in the series she still had a long way to go before being worthy of her Princess title. But despite that I've always felt like Winter Wrap-up is a little bit overrated, because if you take the song out of the equation, it's just a cute little episode about Twilight coming to feel a little bit more welcome in Ponyville, and while I do enjoy this episode, it's not a standout one to me like it is to many others.