The seventh officially licensed My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic chapter book of a series of books by G. M. Berrow, and part of the overall My Little Pony (Generation 4) universe.
Princess Celestia places Discord on a super-secret friendship mission, to join the Ponyville Players Spring Musical, with the promise of returning one of his past valuables if he succeeds. Determined to get his property back, Discord wastes no time in accepting the mission, much to the unease of the natives of Ponyville.
This book provides examples of:
- Bullying a Dragon: Noteworthy and Martingale deliberately try to get Discord ostracized in hopes he'll leave Ponyville alone forever. It doesn't take more than a moment's thought to realise why this is a foolish idea.
- Continuity Nod:
- Pinkie Pie suggests Discord sing his song "A Glass of Water" from Three's A Crowd in order to audition.
- When Discord initially auditions, Twilight Sparkle is wary and recalls the last time he appeared on stage.
- Discord's pony form is described as looking the same as the one he used to lure in Tirek beforehand.
- Discord's Tuesday tea parties with Fluttershy are referenced.
- Cheerilee wears an outfit she wore in her youth for her audition.
- Applejack building sets for a Manehatten community play is mentioned.
- Cheese Sandwich and Countess Coloratura are also referenced.
- Easily Forgiven: Averted. Almost everyone in Ponyville is still scared of Discord and doesn't want anything to do with him.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: The "special something" Celestia has promised to reunite Discord with if he succeeds in his task? His long-lost pet clownfish, Quincy.
- Forgiven, but Not Forgotten: The Mane Six are still wary about Discord's highly unpredictable behavior.
- I Resemble That Remark!: Invoked when Rainbow Dash shows surprise that Discord still showed up to auditions after being relegated to the ensemble.Discord: Really, Rainbow Dash? Frankly, I am shocked. You make it sound as if I have an ego as fragile as Rarity's.
Rarity: I resent that comment very much.
Discord: See what I mean? So touchy. - Not Me This Time: Discord finds himself in the unusual position of sincerely protesting that the various weird things happening to the production genuinely aren't his fault.
- Shout-Out: Naturally, the book is packed full of musical and actor references.
- Ponyfied versions of The Sound of Music, Les Miserables and Hairspray are referenced.
- Cheerilee's audition entails a ponyfied version of ''Girls Just Want To Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper.
- Discord auditions with a parody of Singin' In The Rain.
- The play that the Ponyville Players ultimately put on, The Singing Stallion, is a ponyfied parody of The Music Man.
- Discord names his unicorn disguise "Tony Stanza", a reference to actor Tony Danza.
- Discord's pet clownfish Quincy is nicknamed "Q", after the famous character from Star Trek: The Next Generation played by Discord's voice actor.
- Sidetracked by the Analogy: When the Mane Six try to make Discord feel better about being made part of the ensemble.Fluttershy: Remember, there are no small parts, only small ponies.
Rainbow Dash: Or in this case...small draconequuses. Or is it draconequui? Are there even any more of you out there?
