Line #27 Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E10PrincessSpike


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/c4ecd45abfa65b25b8dfcb1850ff6b4c.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Being a pony princess ain't easy, especially if you're a male dragon.]]
3
4	->''"Okay, so maybe I did get a little carried away in making decisions. But it's not like anything bad happened."''
5	-->-- '''Spike''' (said literally seconds before [[TemptingFate something bad happens]])
6
7	->Story by Jayson Thiessen and Jim Miller\
8	Written by Neal Dusedau
9
10	The Grand Equestrian Pony Summit is being held in Canterlot, an event for species from all over Equestria to come together as one, symbolized by a giant crystal statue made of gems brought by the various delegates. After being awake for three straight days to organize everything, Twilight Sparkle is completely exhausted. After the opening ceremony, a very groggy Twilight goes to a tower in Canterlot Castle to get some rest before going back to her duties. Princess Cadance charges Spike with making sure Twilight's nap isn't disturbed so that she'll be well rested once the welcoming reception begins. Spike agrees, and starts keeping watch.
11
12	Spike begins to stop any and every loud noise in Canterlot in the hopes of not waking Twilight up, including stopping a polo game, a worker from cutting down dragon-sneeze trees, and a maintenance worker from repairing a water main. However, two delegates appear at Twilight's tower, both having been booked to speak in the same hall at the same time, and they want Twilight to decide what to do about it. Spike briefly wakes Twilight up to ask her what to do, but Twilight is still so groggy that her answer makes no sense. In a panic, Spike just tells the two delegates that Twilight said to share the hall. This satisfies the two delegates, and they leave. Soon, more and more ponies begin showing up asking how to solve various problems with the summit, with Spike speaking on Twilight's behalf for all of them. After the line has dispersed, Spike reasons that he can do many of Twilight's tasks so she won't have to worry about them, though the thrill of his word having some force behind it means he wants to complete them all.
13
14	While Spike does complete many of the tasks, Cadance warns Spike not to let the power go to his head, since being a princess requires a lot of hard work. Spike initially agrees, but then quickly begins slacking off, getting massages, paintings, and bowls of gems. Finally, in the main hall, Cadance tells Spike that he's been abusing his authority, but Spike assures Cadance everything is fine. Just then, a ball from the moved polo game causes one of the dragon-sneeze trees to fall over, bursting the water main and flooding the main hall. Even with the water drained, the dragon-sneeze trees cause Spike to have an allergic reaction with a fiery sneeze that destroys the gemstone statue. Though Cadance manages to close the water main with crystal magic, the main hall has been completely ruined.
15
16	An angry mob of ponies, led by Fancy Pants, see the disaster and intend to storm into Twilight's room to complain. Spike tries to explain himself, but the mob won't listen. Spike just manages to beat the mob and locks the door to Twilight's room, but she wakes up soon after. Though well-rested, the door opens, and the mob calls out Twilight on the horrible decisions she apparently made. In the main hall, Twilight sees what Spike's decisions have caused, and he admits he was acting on his own without Twilight's permission to the assembled ponies. He apologizes for not getting into the spirit of the summit, and that he'd made what was meant to be ponies coming together as one all about himself. Touched by Spike's confession, the gathered mob rebuilds the hall and fixes the statue. However, one of the ponies gives Spike a bouquet of dragon-sneeze flowers, causing him to get ready to sneeze at the statue again as Twilight, Cadance, and the delegates there recoil in horror...
17
18	[[SmashToBlack cue happy credits music]]
19	----
20	!!Tropes:
21
22	* BigShutUp: Spike lets out one when many pony delegates crowd the stairway to Twilight's bedroom and all talk at the same time.
23	-->'''Spike:''' By order of Princess Twilight, BE QUIET! (''echoes off'')
24	* BrooklynRage: The Manehatten delegate speaks with a New York accent.
25	* TheCameo:
26	** Among the summit delegates are the pony {{Original Character}}s of IDW Publishing's [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20150621002136/mlp/images/0/00/Leadwing_ID_S5E10.png Andy Price]] and [[http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20150621001112/mlp/images/0/05/UUM1_ID_S5E10.png Katie Cook]].
27	** Spike gets gem topped cupcakes from Gustav, the Griffin chef from season 1, in a brief scene.
28	* ChekhovsGun: The dragon-sneeze trees, the moved polo game, and the broken water main are all introduced as one-off annoyances and later come together in a perfect storm of disaster.
29	* ChekhovsGunman: The polo ponies are introduced as one of a few things that Spike needs to deal with. After their game is moved, one of their balls happens to hit a dragon-sneeze tree and set off the end-of-episode disaster..
30	* ContinuityNod:
31	** Luna uses [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E4LunaEclipsed the royal Canterlot voice]].
32	** Cadance uses a light version of Sombra's spell that made dark crystals appear to seal the water main.
33	** The painting Spike has commissioned shows him in the "heroic" styling he envisioned himself in during his ImagineSpot of "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E19ADogAndPonyShow A Dog and Pony Show]]".
34	** This isn't the first time [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E3CastleSweetCastle Twilight's used a random object for a pillow after overexerting herself]].
35	** There's a griffon at the summit, presumably thanks to [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E8TheLostTreasureOfGriffonstone Gilda]].
36	** Speaking of griffons, Gustav makes a brief appearance as well.
37	** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E1MareInTheMoon This is the second time]] Spike has been door-slammed by a mare seeking his help.
38	** Fluffy Clouds makes his first appearance since "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E5TanksForTheMemories Tanks for the Memories]]" (presumably representing Cloudsdale).
39	* DisasterDominoes: An errant ball from a relocated polo game, several top-heavy trees, and a cracked water main cause the hall to be flooded and the statue to break.
40	* TheDoorSlamsYou: Happens to Spike when Cadance bursts into Twilight's room looking for him.
41	* DrunkWithPower: Spike as a result of being put in charge.
42	* DudeWheresMyRespect: One major driving force behind Spike's behaviour is that he wants some of the respect and admiration that Twilight and the other princesses get. The crowd interrupting his speech at the opening of the event with "We love you, Princess Twilight!" definitely didn't help.
43	* EasilyForgiven: Except for getting yelled at by the delegates and apologizing to them, Spike suffers no consequences at all for his bad decisions and abuse of power. The delegates even put the statue back together themselves after seeing that he hasn't got a clue of how to do it.
44	* EveryoneHatesMimes: {{Averted}}. Everypony seems to be enjoying the mime that Spike observes through his telescope.
45	* ExhaustedEyeBags: When Princess Twilight addresses the delegates at the opening festivities, her eyes are carrying some luggage from her three sleepless nights. It comes through in her voice as well.
46	* FascinatingEyebrow: Cadance does this when expressing doubt about Spike's claims as to his motivations for acting in Twilight's stead.
47	* FantasticFlora: Dragon-sneeze trees grow large flowers that induce violent, fiery sneezing fits in dragons.
48	* FantasticRacism: One of the delegates has the nerve to tell Spike he doesn't need advice from a dragon.
49	* FawltyTowersPlot: Spike lies about the decisions coming from Twilight to two delegates, and the situation snowballs from there.
50	* TheFederation: Equestria in this episode seems to operate with delegates of Equestrian regions discussing issues at Canterlot.
51	* FurryConfusion: Some of the Canterlot ponies are playing polo; though in this version, they each are their own mount and striker.
52	* FurryReminder:
53	** Twilight wakes with a sharp neighing sound, exactly like a real horse would if startled.
54	** The way Cadance shakes herself dry after climbing out of the water flooding the ballroom.
55	* GemstoneAssault: Cadance seals the broken water main using magically grown crystals.
56	* GoldenMeanFallacy: The delegates from Manehattan and Whinnyapolis are scheduled for the same hall at the same time to give speeches on their local economies. Spike's solution is for them to share the hall; this doesn't end well.
57	* HeroicRROD: Twilight overexerts herself with the preparations for the summit to the point of complete exhaustion.
58	* InterruptedByTheEnd: Spike being handed a bouquet of dragon-sneeze flowers right after the Citizens of Equestria Statue had just been reassembled. Just as he is about to sneeze, it cuts right to black.
59	* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Spike originally started acting as if he had Twilight's authority to help her sleep and fix a problem, but it then went to his head.
60	* LyingFingerCross: When Spike tells Cadance that he's using Twilight's authority to improve the summit, he crosses his claws behind his back.
61	* MassOhCrap: The looks on Twilight, Cadance, Fancy Pants, and all the delegates as they recoil upon seeing Spike gearing up to sneeze after his dragon-sneeze allergies are triggered again by unintentional accident at the end of the episode.
62	* MonaLisaSmile: The Creator/LeonardoDaVinci pony lookalike has a ponified version of Mona Lisa as a cutie mark.
63	* MeaningfulLook: Princess Cadance's body language -- in addition to her tone -- clearly indicates she's aware Spike's done something wrong.
64	* MinnesotaNice: The Whinnyapolis delegate (and {{Expy}} of Marge from ''[[Film/{{Fargo}} Fargo]]'') speaks with a clear upper-mid-west accent.
65	* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: Played for laughs. When Spike decides to ask Twilight what to do about the delegates from Manehattan and Whinnyapolis, she instinctively pops awake, sensing something needs to be scheduled. However, she's too tired to be coherent and collapses after dispensing a WakingNonSequitur.
66	* MythologyGag: The title comes from a line from the [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyG3 Generation 3]] video ''Princess Promenade'' where at the end Wysteria allowed everyone to be a princess, even that incarnation of Spike.
67	* NerdGlasses: The pony talking to "Princess Spike" about the gems in the statue has glasses with a broken bridge, held together with scotch tape.
68	* NonSequiturThud: Princess Twilight, just before passing out on a pile of books.
69	-->'''Princess Twilight:''' I just need a quick nap... napkin! Tell the delegates I'll...
70	* NoOSHACompliance: Early in the episode, Spike has to deal with a worker pony that's using a jackhammer. Said worker pony isn't even wearing eye/ear protection and has [[DeconstructedTrope the standard cartoon deafness problem of yelling all his sentences]].
71	* OhNoNotAgain: Spike has this reaction when he realizes the bouquet he's been handed near the end of the episode is composed of dragon-sneeze blossoms, leading into the OhCrap moment with the Royal Sisters-In-Law, Fancy Pants, and the delegates.
72	* OpeningTheFloodGates: Happens to Fancy Pants after the main hall floods. He gets knocked over by a wall of water after opening the door.
73	* OverworkedSleep: After planning and working the summit for three days, Twilight falls asleep in a pile of books.
74	* ParentheticalSwearing: Spike mutters "Ah, ''bless me''" after accidentally knocking over the big gem statue with his SneezeOfDoom.
75	* PermaStubble:
76	** The pony with the jackhammer attempting to fix the broken water main looks like he could use a shave.
77	** Andy Price's OC also has a bit of stubble, carrying over from how he draws him character in the IDW comics.
78	* PlotAllergy: The "dragon-sneeze trees" are trees that have flowers that make Spike sneeze and accidentally knock the statue down.
79	* PoorCommunicationKills: A scheduling error caused two delegates to have the same hall for their speeches.
80	* RecognitionFailure: The delegates and citizens seem to have no idea who Spike is, even calling him a "random dragon" at one point.
81	* SchizoTech: The episode shows modern-day chainsaws, jackhammers and even underground water main pipes.
82	* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: Spike lets out a really shrill scream when Twilight suddenly wakes up.
83	* ShoutOut:
84	** One of the two delegates that initially come to Twilight's tower looks and sounds like Marge from ''Film/{{Fargo}}''.
85	** Another delegate, the one with the baseball cap and striped shirt, is ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir''.
86	** The fizzy haired delegate is a ponified version of [[Series/CheckItOutWithDrSteveBrule Dr. Steve Brule]].
87	** There are even classical art references with a unicorn version of Creator/LeonardoDaVinci -- see MonaLisaSmile and SistineSteal.
88	* SistineSteal: At one point, Spike forces a painter to portray him in the style of Creator/{{Michelangelo\|Buonarroti}}'s "Art/CreationOfAdam" (only with floating gems in place of God).
89	* SmashToBlack: Spike nearly sneezes again after getting a bouquet of dragon-sneeze flowers... and then the episode ends.
90	* SneezeOfDoom: Spike's sneezing from the dragon-sneeze flowers destroys the gem statue. He gears up for another one after the delegates put it back together again.
91	* SuddenlyVoiced: After first appearing as TheVoiceless in "Tanks for the Memories", Fluffy Clouds has his first speaking role.
92	* TakeAThirdOption: When two delegates accidentally get scheduled for the same hall, Spike has them share it.
93	* TemptingFate: Spike does this ''right'' before the water main breaks, then ''again'' right before his sneeze knocks over the gem statue.
94	* TimePassesMontage: With slight editorial allowance, this happens when Spike is mediating all the disputes of the delegates lined up outside Twilight's room.
95	* TitleDrop: Spike chuckles about being called "Princess Spike" while guarding Twilight's room. There's another title drop later when a pony he's meeting with says that he'd prefer to meet with Twilight directly, and he says that she can call him "Princess Spike" if it makes her feel better.
96	* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom:
97	** Cadance, of all ponies. It wasn't until she mentioned the possibility of abusing Twilight's name for personal gain that Spike actually ''did'' anything selfish. While he certainly made terrible decisions before this point, they were well-meaning and Spike believed he was actually helping Twilight in some manner.
98	** Spike himself, unwittingly setting up the DisasterDominoes that cause the ballroom to be flooded.
99	* WakingNonSequitur: When Spike tries to ask Twilight what to do about the scheduling problem, she tells him to "[[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext just put the hay in the apple and eat the candle]]". She then immediately goes back to sleep.
100	* WhatTheHellHero: It's not that extreme, but Cadance manages to figure what Spike is doing and calls him out on it, and he then admits he got a bit carried away.
101	* WorldBuilding: The delegates from Manehattan and Whinnyapolis discussing their scheduling snafu is the first time any mention is made of economic policy in Equestria at any level of government.

Context Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E10PrincessSpike