Line #108 Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E6SleeplessInPonyville


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sleepless_in_ponyville_9231.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Could it just be the snoring?]]
3
4	->'''Rainbow Dash:''' I've been told that these woods are haunted...by the Headless Horse! It gallops only at night--\
5	'''Applejack:''' If it doesn't have a head, then how in tarnation does this pony know where it's goin'?\
6	'''Rainbow Dash:''' It's ''head''less, not ''brain''less. ...Looking for little lost ponies--\
7	'''Applejack:''' So where's its brain?
8
9	->Written by Corey Powell
10
11	Scootaloo is riding through Ponyville and catching air off an impromptu ramp when Rainbow Dash drops in and says she has "nice moves". Thus Scootaloo becomes obsessed with getting the pegasus mare to take her under her wing. Apple Bloom invites the two to come along on a weekend camping trip with her, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, and (with a little convincing) Rarity. The trip goes off without a hitch as Scootaloo does everything she can to impress Rainbow Dash--but she starts to fray around the edges that night when Rainbow Dash tells a scary campfire story about a spooky Olden Pony searching for her missing rusty horseshoe. Scootaloo puts on a brave face that earns her a compliment from Rainbow Dash for her "fearlessness" but can't get a wink of sleep after suffering a terrible nightmare about the Olden Pony.
12
13	The other ponies voice their concerns to the increasingly jumpy filly the next day, but Scootaloo plays it cool, unwilling to admit to her fears in front of Rainbow Dash. This coolness doesn't last long when she sees their next campsite: a deep, dark and spooky-looking cave. Scootaloo's nerves are further frayed when Rainbow Dash decides to tell another scary story, this time about the [[HeadlessHorseman Headless Horse]], who comes to haunt her dreams. Just as it corners Scootaloo, the Headless Horse is vaporized by Princess Luna, who's doing her nightly rounds around Equestria and monitoring the dreams of her subjects. Luna urges Scootaloo to confront her ''real'' fear--losing Rainbow Dash's approval--or the nightmares will never stop. With that, Scootaloo wakes up.
14
15	With her latest nightmare still fresh in her mind, Scootaloo zooms off into the forest, but she takes a bad fall and ends up in the river. She is washed downstream toward [[InevitableWaterfall certain doom]] but is saved by Rainbow Dash, who admonishes her for wandering off in the middle of the night. Remembering Princess Luna's words, Scootaloo finally opens up about her fears and her desire to have Rainbow Dash as a big sister figure. Rainbow Dash then reveals a secret: those scary stories she told terrified ''her'' when she was younger. She agrees to take Scootaloo under her wing, and they rejoin the group for an enjoyable weekend. Later, Scootaloo finds herself confronting the creepy Olden Pony again, but this time dreams up Rainbow Dash, who produces the missing rusty horseshoe and sends the Olden Pony on her way. Scootaloo's nightmare turns into a happy dream, while Luna looks on with approval.
16
17	----
18	!!Tropes:
19
20	* AnAesop: Everyone is afraid of something, and must [[FaceYourFears face their fears]] sooner or later.
21	* AngerBornOfWorry: After Rainbow Dash saves Scootaloo from the waterfall.
22	--> '''Rainbow Dash:''' What were you doing out here at the middle of the night??!
23	* AnthropomorphicZigZag: The characters sit on logs at the campsites in a human-like fashion throughout the episode.
24	* AreWeThereYet: Rarity says this a lot, though the only time we get to see it is when the answer is actually "yes".
25	* ArtShift: Scootaloo's last dreamscape is noticeably brighter-colored and less ominous than the others, hinting that this time things will go a bit differently.
26	* AscendedMeme: When Scootaloo lands on her back approaching Rainbow Dash at the first site, you can hear the sound of a [[TastesLikeChicken turkey gobbling]].
27	* AsideGlance: Granny Smith winks at the audience right after dodging one of Scootaloo's tricks to show [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E18TheShowStoppers she saw it coming this time]].
28	* BigDamnHeroes:
29	** Luna appears to banish the Headless Horse in Scootaloo's nightmare.
30	** Rainbow Dash saves Scootaloo just as she falls over the InevitableWaterfall.
31	** Dream!Rainbow Dash saves Scootaloo from the Olden Pony.
32	* BigEntrance: Luna's still got it. Her face appears in the moon with glowing eyes before she appears in a flash of light, vaporizing the Headless Horse in the process. It befits [[NightmareFuelStationAttendant her tastes]] but is ''much'' more heroic.
33	* BigFancyHouse: Rarity's tent is not only heavily decorated, but it's big enough to have a second (albeit small) story.
34	* BigSisterInstinct: Finally revealed to be how Rainbow feels about Scootaloo. Not only does she treat her kindly during the trip, she rushes to her aid when she realizes Scoots is in danger, gives a speech not unlike an older sibling that was worried sick about a younger one, takes time to comfort her and finally takes her under her wing.
35	* BlushSticker: Rarity gets these when Scootaloo reminds her of the events of [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E16SonicRainboom "Sonic Rainboom"]].
36	* BriefAccentImitation: Rainbow Dash in regards to Rarity's attitude toward roughing it.
37	* TheCameo:
38	** Fluttershy's bear.
39	** Hayseed Turniptruck can be seen in one of the cold opener shots.
40	* CatapultNightmare: Scootaloo shoots up in her sleeping bag because of the Olden Mare.
41	* CharacterDevelopment:
42	** Scootaloo, given this was her first spotlight episode.
43	** Very notable in Applejack and Rarity. Applejack is becoming more aware of Apple Bloom's feelings, comforting her when she's scared, etc, compared to her blissful ignorance of Apple Bloom's bullying in "One Bad Apple". Rarity agrees to go camping with Sweetie Belle and although she does [[LovableAlphaBitch make Sweetie pull her suitcases uphill]], she still comforts Sweetie Belle when she gets scared and uses her magic to carry Sweetie Belle into the tent when she falls asleep.
44	** Rainbow Dash gets points for confessing she's not ''always'' tough and confident to Scootaloo, as well as happily accepting the role as Scootaloo's big sister. Aww.
45	** Princess Luna, now even with a bad-ass role of Princess of the Night to patrol ponies' dreams and helping Scootaloo to face her fears.
46	* CityMouse: Rarity with LotsOfLuggage in tow.
47	* ContinuityNod:
48	** Scootaloo recalls [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E16SonicRainboom the time Rainbow Dash saved Rarity from plummeting to her doom after her temporary wings were ruined]].
49	** Scootaloo wreaking havoc as she [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E18TheShowStoppers blazes through Ponyville]].
50	** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E5SisterhoovesSocial This isn't the first time]] Sweetie Belle wanted Rarity to come with her on a bonding activity that would require getting dirty.
51	*** The same GilliganCut-style humor used between what Sweetie thinks Rarity wants, and what Rarity actually wants, was used back in "Sisterhooves Social".
52	** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E2ElementsOfHarmony The scary trees]] have returned in Scootaloo's dream.
53	** The [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E8LookBeforeYouSleep Headless Horse story]] is told once again.
54	** '''Rarity:''' [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E6BoastBusters It is]] ''SO [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E8LookBeforeYouSleep on!]]''
55	** Turns out [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E16ReadItAndWeep Rainbow Dash really does snore like that]].
56	** Sweetie Belle [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E17StareMaster once again loudly sings when its time to go to bed]].
57	** Luna [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E1MareInTheMoon appears in the moon]] again but this time in a completely different context.
58	** Also in title to the season one finale, Scootaloo's reply to Rainbow Dash saying she slept like a filly, "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E26TheBestNightEver best night ever]]."
59	* CoolBigSis:
60	** While it's no secret that Scootaloo [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E23TheCutieMarkChronicles idolizes]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E8TheMysteriousMareDoWell Rainbow Dash]], this episode confirms that Scootaloo sees Rainbow Dash as a role model. By the end of the episode, her wish ''[[Heartwarming/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic comes true]]''.
61	** Apple Bloom and Applejack, and with Sweetie Belle and Rarity; their big sisters are the first thing they cling to after being spooked.
62	* CoolOldLady: Granny Smith is the only pony not affected by Scootaloo dashing by; in fact, she dodges in a way to allow one of Scootaloo's trick stunts. [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E18TheShowStoppers Looks like she's learned from experience]].
63	* CrazyPrepared: For someone who despises camping, that's a sweet pup tent Rarity sets up. She also prepares for eventualities like needing to curl one's eyelashes in the middle of the woods.
64	* CurbStompBattle: Princess Luna verses the Headless Horse ends with a single ZAP!.
65	* CuteButCacophonic: Sweetie Belle's really off her game; campfire songs must not be her thing.
66	* ADayInTheLimelight: A focus episode for Scootaloo and her first one at that.
67	* DreamWalker: Luna spends her nights patroling dreams. She enters Scootaloo's nightmare and teaches her to face her innermost fears.
68	* DrivesLikeCrazy: As always, Scootaloo causes a ruckus in the opener.
69	%%%* DutchAngle: Used at the start of Scootaloo's second nightmare.
70	* DynamicEntry: Luna makes her entrance into Scootaloo's dream by vaporizing the Headless Horse that was attacking her.
71	* EatTheCamera: When Scootaloo has to leave the safety of the wagon to collect some branches for firewood, she runs screaming into the camera.
72	* EpicFail: Scootaloo's "cool" attempt at greeting Rainbow Dash at their first campsite turns from walking up to her to tripping over a log and tumbling over her while airborne.
73	* ExhaustedEyeBags: Scootaloo, after the first night of nightmares, clearly didn't get any sleep.
74	* FaceYourFears: The [[AnAesop Aesop]] of the episode, with an emphasis on facing the deeper fears that cause smaller ones.
75	* FailedAttemptAtScaring: Rainbow Dash tells a GhostStory about a headless pony. This scares Scootaloo, but Applejack just heckles the story by asking where the horse's brain is if it has no head.
76	* FancyCamping: Rarity brings along a fancy-looking two-story tent with her. It's even shown as the trope's image.
77	* FearIsNormal: Scootaloo has been plagued by nightmares as a result of Rainbow Dash's [[GhostStory spooky stories]] about [[HeadlessHorseman the Headless Horse]]. She does not want Rainbow to know about this, as she fears she will think less of her. When Rainbow saves her from an InevitableWaterfall, she admits to Rainbow that her tales have freaked her out. Rainbow confesses that those stories scared her when she was younger as well and that she is not the only one.
78	* {{Foreshadowing}}: Luna can be seen briefly in Scootaloo's first nightmare.
79	* FridgeLogic: [[invoked]] Discussed by Applejack when Rainbow Dash tries to tell a campfire story about The Headless Horse. First she asks how it can know where it's going without a head, and Rainbow retorts it's ''headless'', not brainless. Applejack then of course asks where it's brain is.
80	* FruitCart: An overturned one blocks Scootaloo's path while she's scootering--she uses it as an impromptu ramp.
81	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Rarity and Sweetie Belle unpacking while Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo discuss sharing a tent.
82	* FurryReminder:
83	** Dash's snoring on the second night sounds like a horse.
84	** On the first night of their trip, Applejack says it's time to "hit the straw", instead of the usual expression "hit the hay". Straw is the traditional bedding for horses and ponies; hay is one of their staple foods. [[note]]In other episodes, Applejack herself has used the other expression; this is the first time the writers [[ShownTheirWork used a species-appropriate variant]].[[/note]]
85	* GhostStory: Two of them, both told by Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo tries to [[DefiedTrope defy]] it when she offers to tell her own story, but fails.
86	* GravityIsAHarshMistress: Scootaloo in the ColdOpen catches big air but cannot fly.
87	* HeavySleeper: One has to wonder how no one is woken by Scootaloo's screams of terror except for Rainbow Dash and she was wearing earplugs. [[BigDamnHeroes Thankfully]], she wakes up in time to save Scootaloo from plunging off a waterfall despite said earplugs.
88	* HiddenDepths: Rainbow Dash was ''afraid'' of something?
89	-->'''Rainbow Dash:''' I'm gonna tell you something, but if you ever tell anypony else... I'm gonna deny it.
90	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Sweetie Belle gets Rarity to go camping but has to carry her cart. However, she's extremely pleased to have Rarity along, regardless of the burden but it doesn't stop her from turning the reins to Scootaloo when she offers.
91	* HumanPackMule: Sweetie Belle and later Scootaloo drag Rarity's cart.
92	* HypocriticalHumor: Rainbow Dash stresses to Scootaloo that she's fine with Scootaloo sleeping in her tent so long as she doesn't snore. Rainbow Dash then snores throughout the night. Justified, in that many people who snore don't ''realize'' it, unless someone else tells them. Since Rainbow Dash normally sleeps way up in the clouds (or in a tree), well out of earshot of the other characters, it could simply be that no one's ever ''told'' her she snores like a chainsaw.
93	* InNameOnly: The title is just about the only ShoutOut to ''Film/SleeplessInSeattle'': all the more apparent when the episode is sandwiched between a rather obvious {{Homage}} to ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' and a wonderfully flagrant WholePlotReference to ''Film/TopGun''.
94	* InevitableWaterfall: Scootaloo falls into a river and is swept toward one because she can't fly yet.
95	* IronicEchoCut: When Sweetie Belle expresses interest in the camping trip and wants to bring Rarity.
96	-->'''Sweetie Belle''': ([[HandRubbing Hoof Rubbing]]) Rarity loves camping!\
97	'''Rarity''': I ''despise'' camping!
98	* LampshadeHanging: Applejack does this to Rainbow Dash's story about the Headless Horse, asking how it knows where it's going, and where its brain is. [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E8LookBeforeYouSleep Which raises the question of why AJ didn't pose the question to Twilight Sparkle when she first heard the story]]. A bit of FridgeBrilliance too, since Applejack has heard this story before and isn't as affected by it as she was later on because [[FridgeLogic she's had time to think on it]].%%In-Universe%%
99	* LiteraryAllusionTitle: To ''Film/SleeplessInSeattle''.
100	* LotsOfLuggage: Rarity has a huge cart-load of luggage, and makes Sweetie Belle pull it, presumably as payback for guilt-tripping her into coming along. Applejack wastes no time lampshading it.
101	* MadnessMantra
102	** The Olden Pony in the nightmare has "Who's got my rusty horseshoe?"
103	** Scootaloo humming to herself all night from fear of the Olden Pony.
104	* MundaneMadeAwesome: Rainbow Dash setting up the camp site. It seems she waited for the rest to reach the site so she'd have an audience.
105	* NeverSayDie:
106	** When bringing up the events of "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E16SonicRainboom Sonic Rainboom]]", Scootaloo talks about how Rarity was "plummeting to her doom" when her fall clearly would have killed her.
107	** Regarding what happens to the Headless Horse's victims:
108	-->'''Scootaloo:''' If the Headless Horse catches me, I'll never be heard from again! ''And I wanna be heard from!''\
109	'''Scootaloo:''' ''(when cornered by the Headless Horse)'' It's all over!
110	* NightmareFuel: In-universe, the ghost stories that Rainbow Dash tells are literal NightmareFuel for Scootaloo.
111	* NightmareSequence: What Scootaloo goes through, driving the plot of this episode.
112	* NonindicativeName: While the episode is called "Sleepless In Ponyville", most of it didn't take place in Ponyville itself.
113	* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: Most of Rainbow Dash's stories are told off-screen.
114	* OldShame: In-Universe Example: When Scootaloo brings up how Rainbow Dash saved Rarity's life at the Best Young Flyer Competition, Rarity blushes.
115	* OohMeAccentsSlipping: Creator/TabithaStGermain's Luna voice sounds very similar to her Rarity voice in this episode.
116	* OrbitalShot: Used to establish the forest as a scary place for Scootaloo.
117	* OutOfCharacterMoment: [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E18TheShowStoppers Sweetie Belle singing badly?]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E17StareMaster She CAN be a bit loud...]]. Blame the RuleOfFunny.
118	* PlaygroundSong: "99 Buckets of Oats on the Wall", which Sweetie Belle sings in its entirety.
119	* PlummetPerspective: When Scootaloo is hanging from the branch over the river, we watch her scooter as it falls into the water.
120	* PuppyDogEyes: Sweetie Belle uses them and a guilt trip to make Rarity come along on the trip.
121	* TheReveal: You didn't really think Rarity was going to carry all of her own luggage, did you?
122	* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: We finally see exactly what Princess Luna does; patrol dreams, zap nightmares, and help fillies face their fears.
123	* RuleOfSymbolism: Luna's interpretation of Scootaloo's dream invokes this trope, specifically [[UsefulNotes/CarlJung Jung's]] theory of dreams communicating unconscious fears through more obvious symbols.
124	* SceneryPorn: The rainbow waterfalls sure are something.
125	* ScratchyVoicedSenior: The elderly, homeless mare has a very scratchy, deep voice.
126	* SecurityCling: The CMC grab each other and their respective idols at various points when scared.
127	* ShoutOut:
128	** Rarity's camping ensemble looks a lot like Creator/AudreyHepburn[='=]s.
129	** The "Olden Pony" and her lost horseshoe seems to have been inspired by "[[http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/The_Golden_Arm The Golden Arm]]" and other similar folktales.
130	** Scootaloo being grabbed by a tree branch in her nightmare is similar to [[WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs Snow White's hallucinations in the forest]].
131	** The Headless Horse is inspired by the HeadlessHorseman from "Literature/TheLegendOfSleepyHollow".
132	** Scootaloo's precarious but unscathed scooter ride while sleeping is reminiscent of a ''WesternAnimation/MrMagoo'' cartoon.
133	** Rainbow Dash at rest looks like [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Misato Katsuragi]] in a similar state.
134	** Musical cues during the scene where Rainbow Dash tells Scootaloo how scared she was as a filly, and during the scene at the waterfall, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciEoVUMbdgA share a common melody]] to "No One Is Alone" from Sondheim's musical ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'' (itself having been used before as the influence for "At the Gala" from "The Best Night Ever", and "Art of the Dress" from "Suited for Success").
135	** Rarity's tent is what many wizarding tents in ''Literature/HarryPotter'' are, but also on the outside.
136	* ShownTheirWork: Zig-zagged. When it's time to light a campfire, Applejack uses a curved stick with a string attached to spin another, straight stick to light the fire. While accurate in that it's an almost textbook [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_drill bow drill set]], a real life bushcraft tool, it's incorrect in that it doesn't create the fire outright – it only creates the embers, which you drop on a pile of tinder to only then start the fire proper.
137	* {{Sleepwalking}}: While scouting ahead, Scootaloo dozes off on her scooter, harkening near danger several times but eventually landing safely in a bush a bit down the path.
138	* SpookyAnimalSounds: During the weekend forest camping trip, Scootaloo finds herself gripped by terror at the idea of spending the night in the forest and spends both nights startling at a variety of intimidating noises, with wolf howls punctuating creaking branches and blowing wind.
139	* StylisticSuck: Sweetie Belle's campfire song, along with the backing music, is deliberately terrible for comedy.
140	* SurpriseJump:
141	%%%** Scootaloo does this a lot. To a lesser extent, the other two CMC.
142	** In one case, the surprise leads to Scootaloo doing a CeilingCling to a low-flying cloud.
143	%%%% Zero Context.
144	%%%%* TeamMom: Applejack takes on this role like she did in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E7Dragonshy "Dragonshy"]].
145	* TrivialTitle: Ponyville is only shown for at least few minutes in the episode.
146	* TwitchyEye: Once the sleep deprivation starts getting to Scootaloo, her eye twitches as a sign of it.
147	* WackySoundEffect: [[SchizoTech Scootaloo's wings sound like a boat's outboard motor when she's scouting ahead.]]
148	* WellDoneSonGuy: Scootaloo is revealed to have wanted [[TheAce Rainbow Dash's]] approval. It's extremely touching when Rainbow Dash reveals her sisterly feelings for Scootaloo.
149	* WickedWitch: The Olden Pony is an old hag in the forest looking for something special. Once she gets her rusty horseshoe back, she's content to leave everyone in peace. Which makes one wonder just what makes the pony equivalent of an elderly woman looking for her shoe so scary to begin with.
150	* WormInAnApple: Applejack tells Scootaloo that she appears "more nervous than a worm in an apple on cider making day."
151	* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Rainbow Dash's reaction, word for word, to Rarity's inflatable luxury tent. The rest of the gang also shares this reaction, just nonverbally.

Context Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E6SleeplessInPonyville