History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E2ElementsOfHarmony

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything:The Shadowbolts (Nightmare Moon in disguise) pressuring Rainbow Dash into choosing them can come across as someone being confronted by a gang of drug addicts.

* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: The character design for Princess Luna in this episode -- small and timid, with a withers-length light blue mane -- is never seen again in the series. When she next appears in the following season, she's a much taller LargeHam, with a darker coat and a big sparkling ethereal mane. This change is necessary because the plot of "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E4LunaEclipsed Luna Eclipsed]]" requires Twilight to assume that everypony still believes that Luna is Nightmare Moon. The comics later established that this was what she looked like before becoming a princess.

* OffModel: When the Mane Six lean in anticipation on whether or not Princess Luna will accept her sister's apology, Pinkie Pie is missing her ears.

* FailedAttemptAtScaring: Nightmare Moon's efforts to create a scary haunted forest scared most of the main/mane cast, except for Pinkie Pie, who encouraged the others to "Giggle at the Ghostly".

* BravadoSong: The Mane 6 come across a dark forest. Most of them are freaked out by the creepy faces in the trees, but then Pinkie starts singing about how she got over her phobia of the dark as a kid; by simply laughing at scary things.

* WhatsUpKingDude: Upon encountering [[GodEmperor Princess Celestia]], the ponies instantly kneel in silent reverence, even [[GenkiGirl Pinkie Pie]] and [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Rainbow Dash]]... but not [[GrumpyBear Twilight Sparkle]]. She goes for a ''hug'' since she is a long-time student of Celestia who is particularly affectionate towards her.

Picking up from the last episode, Nightmare Moon departs as dramatically and suddenly as she arrived, leaving the citizens of Ponyville wondering what to do. Twilight Sparkle returns to the library to do some research, putting the baby Spike to bed beforehand. As she searches frantically for information, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Rainbow Dash show up, all having figured out that the newcomer knew about what was going to happen. Realizing that they weren't going to leave without answers, she tells them about uncovering the prophecy on Nightmare Moon and the only thing that can possibly stop her: the Elements of Harmony. With the help of Pinkie Pie, Twilight finds a book on the Elements of Harmony ("It was under E!") which names the five known ones (Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity and Loyalty), with the sixth currently unknown, and pinpoints their last known location... in an abandoned castle in [[TheLostWoods the Everfree Forest]].

* CryCute: Twilight spent the episode treating her future friends aloof and uncaring. When they showed up to help her during the showdown with Nightmare Moon, she cries a tear of joy and finally warms up to them.

* UnmovingPlaid: The end of Rainbow Dash's tail is ruffled from Applejack pulling it, but the stripes of colour on it don't. It takes a flick to get it back to normal.

* RoyalDecree: Princess Celestia's orders for Twilight to remain in Ponyville and study ThePowerOfFriendship.

[[caption-width-right:350: [-"[[PunctuatedForEmphasis The night... will last... FOREVER!]]"-] ]]

Picking up from the last episode, Nightmare Moon departs as dramatically and suddenly as she arrived, leaving the citizens of Ponyville wondering what to do. Twilight Sparkle returns to the library to do some research, putting the baby Spike to bed beforehand. As she searches frantically for information, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Rainbow Dash show up, all having figured out that the newcomer knew about what was going to happen. Realizing that they weren't going to leave without answers, she tells them about uncovering the prophecy on Nightmare Moon and the only thing that can possibly stop her: the Elements of Harmony. With the help of Pinkie Pie, Twilight finds a book on the Elements of Harmony which names the five known ones (Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity and Loyalty) and pinpoints their last known location... in an abandoned castle in [[TheLostWoods the Everfree Forest]].

(''other ponies nod in agreement; pause; Twilight Sparkle looks at Pinkie Pie'')\\

->(''Twilight Sparkle paws the ground, preparing a desperate charge'')\\

* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: The character design for Princess Luna in this episode -- small and timid, with a withers-length light blue mane -- is never seen again in the series. When she next appears in the following season, she's a much taller LargeHam, with a darker coat and a big sparkling ethereal mane. This change is necessary because the plot of [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E4LunaEclipsed "Luna Eclipsed"]] requires Twilight to assume that everypony still believes that Luna is Nightmare Moon. The comics later established that this was what she looked like before becoming a princess.

-->'''Nightmare Moon''': Stand BACK, you FOALS!

-->'''Nightmare Moon''': You little foal! Thinking you could defeat me?

* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: The character design for Princess Luna in this episode -- small and timid, with a withers-length light blue mane -- is never seen again in the series. When she next appears in the following season, she's a much taller LargeHam, with a darker coat and a big sparkling ethereal mane. This change is necessary because the plot of [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E4LunaEclipsed "Luna Eclipsed"]] requires everypony to believe that Luna is still Nightmare Moon. The comics later established that this was what she looked like before becoming a princess.

* GeniusDitz: Pinkie unsurprisingly finds the book about the Elements of Harmony fairly quickly. Why? "It was under E!"

-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that? Well, you’re wrong—because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right ''here!'' [...] Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of...HONESTY! Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of...KINDNESS! Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of...LAUGHTER! Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of...GENEROSITY! And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart’s desire, represents the spirit of...LOYALTY! The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us!\\

'''Twilight Sparkle:''' But it ''did'' -- A different kind of spark! I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me, when I realized that you all...'''are my friends!'''\\
[The sixth element appears]\\

* BatmanGambit: The first of several from Princess Celestia. Knowing the truth of the prophecy of the return of Nightmare Moon (having banished her in the first place), that the Elements of Harmony were the only things that could defeat her, and that she needed a group of friends to wield them, she sent Twilight Sparkle to Ponyville. The Princess knew enough about her student that not only would she find a way to make friends as ordered, but would also not give up on her quest to prevent the reign of eternal night and succeed in finding the elements in time to defeat Nightmare Moon.