Keep Calm and Flutter On

Dear Princess Luna...

Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Spike are all out sitting in the grass, waiting for Princess Celestia to arrive in Ponyville. Rarity is spraying perfume on herself as Rainbow, sitting nearby, covers her nose. Pinkie bounces in, excited about Celestia's visit, and shows off her hooves that she got shined 'just like Rarity.' She asks Rarity if she likes her hooves, Rarity sees her reflection in them and 'certainly does.'

Twilight looks like she's raging as she wonders where Celestia is, and Spike seizes upon the moment to stare at her rear.

Twilight questions the whereabouts of Applejack and Fluttershy, and is informed that Fluttershy is helping Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight continues wondering where the Princess is, and suggests that the 'important visitor' that Celestia is bringing may be slowing her down. Rainbow snarks that the visitor is 'important and slow.' Rarity suggests it's a visitor so important they had too many important things to do so they are late.

Spike says 'maybe' the visitor is something with " a deer antler, a goat leg, a bat wing, and a snake tail," Twilight scoffs and says that's Discord. Rarity questions why Celestia would bring that there, and Spike says ask her yourself.  So Spike could see this thing being brought in, yet he still used 'maybe?'

Yep, he's still petrified from his last display of idiocy.

 

 Twilight starts raging at Celestia, asking how could she bring Discord to Ponyville. Far be it from me, Twilight, but the thing is still petrified, not like it's going to do any damage, unless it falls over.

"DISCORD??? IN PONYVILLE!?!?!?!?"

 Celestia says she's 'fully aware' of the 'serious havoc' he caused last time he was in Ponyville. Rainbow corrects her that 'serious havoc' was turning Ponyville into the chaos capital of the world. Rarity complains he 'tricked' them into acting opposite of themselves, and gluttunous Pinkie goes on a rant whining about the chocolate milk rain not having a single dollop of whipped cream to go with it. Celestia essentially tells them all to shut the hell up by saying she has use for his magic if he can be reformed to serve good instead of evil, which is why she brought them all there today.

Spike starts freaking out about the whole thing, I don't even remember if he was in contact with Discord at all in the Return of Harmony episodes.

Celestia tells them all to stop worrying, they were the ones that petrified Discord last time. Twilight reticently agrees that they can just whoop his ass again if he gets out of hand. I believe this is the first non-season intro/finale  episode that actually acknowledges the 'mane 6' being the Elements of Harmony and it would appear will have them being used. Celestia has learned from her mistakes last time, and claims to have cast a spell on them that will prevent Discord from taking them again. Okay, so the Elements themselves may be protected, but what's to stop him from just corrupting their wielders, since I believe he just smacked Fluttershy and changed her. Celestia asks where Fluttershy is, because she thinks Fluttershy will know how to reform Discord.

Out at Sweet Apple Acres, the thing Fluttershy is helping Applejack with is some douchebag beaver damming up the river and flooding the Apple's orchards. For some reason the ponies put up with this BS and Applejack got a 'beaver whisperer' instead of kicking down the dam. The beaver gets all upset because Applejack apparently called it a 'nuisance' and that just pisses off Applejack even more. The beaver apparently drops some F bombs on her in beaver chitter, Applejack stupidly apologizes and the thing still acts like a prat, but pulls out a stick and destroys it's dam. Rainbow flies in and bitches them out since every one is waiting on them, then darts off.

Celestia tells Fluttershy she knows they can do it, then departs for ' Equestria's royal summit.' Ugh, I'm only a few minutes in and I am really disliking this episode. Premise seems pretty lame, there was some stupid beaver, and it's Discord, I didn't really care for him the first time, and I can only imagine his return is due to the fanbase.

Twilight uses her magic to distribute the Elements of Harmony and tells them all they better keep them on at all times, then she uses a 'releasing spell.' This kind of brings up some questions here: the Elements are shown activating and they break Discord free, so where does the 'releasing spell' come in? Since Magic is the 'crown thingy' and seemingly the leader, do they have to cast a spell to operate the Elements? Seems kind of clunky and should have just been the Elements activating without any kind of catalyst spell.

New use for magic: releasing spell

Discord apparently just had his skin turned to stone/a stone casing put on him, as the Elements' effect breaks him free and he immediately starts wrecking shit up, snapping his fingers and transforming a squirrel and rabbit into roided out versions. The ponies complain and he starts laughing at them, highly skeptical that they, especially Fluttershy, could reform him. Twilight asks how he knew about that and he says that just because he was turned to stone doesn't keep him from hearing everything Celestia says. So for the last 1,000 years he was fully conscious of his usage as a lawn ornament, or the petrification Twilight did was half-assed.

 Like usual, Discord holds all the cards and he mocks their pathetic threat of turning him back to stone because he knows they wouldn't want to disappoint Celestia. Fluttershy gets pissed and threatens to use The Stare on him. Discord just laughs even harder. Fluttershy proceeds to actually use The Stare on him, he plays along then just laughs even more.

Twilight threatens him by saying if it turns out they do need to use the Elements, she's sure she can convince Celestia it was for good reason. 1,000 years ago Discord ruined the entire kingdom and had to be put down, last time he was free he started doing the same thing, I'm pretty sure Celestia will understand if he has to be petrified again. Discord admits defeat and changes those two back, then his tail feathers(?) form into a hand and snap their fingers, transforming a bunch of other animals. Discord says he knows where he will be staying: Fluttershy's!

Fluttershy tells the others that Discord may be horrible, but that doesn't mean they have to act the same way. Rainbow Dash doesn't give a damn and goes on the offensive, warning Fluttershy not to listen to him and that he will just try to drive a wedge between them.

Discord asks why ever would he do that, and Rainbow gets in his face, saying he would do it so they can't use the Elements against him. Discord says he never thought of that, and Rainbow calls him a big liar. Discord calls her the liar, because he is clearly not big, as he shrinks himself down.

Angel tries to get on the couch and Discord hits him, then breaks a lamp, which he reforms into a Discord lamp. Is Discordian magic different from normal unicorn magic? It's gotta be, since Celestia wants to use it. Guess I need to add that to the Unicorns and Magic page at some point.

Barring Twilight and Fluttershy, the rest of the cast seems to be feeling much like I am about this episode and they walk out, leaving Fluttershy alone to deal with Discord's BS. Twilight asks Fluttershy if she's going to be okay, Fluttershy says she knows what to do, befriend him and be kind to him. Twilight tells her all she has to do is 'whisper 'help'' and the others will be back with their Elements. So, is Twilight using some kind of spying spell to perform their super hero-esque Fluttershy rescue?

Outside, Rainbow continues to be on point, saying they had better get a back up plan just in case. Twilight and Rarity agree, and Twilight says she knows just the trick. 'Tricks' are a class of spells in the Ponyverse, so it may be a spell she has in mind.

Inside, Discord is eating paper. Fluttershy says she is heading out and for him to make himself at home. Discord does not like Angel, Fluttershy's rabbit, and teases then freaks him out with a carrot (actually Discord's tooth) while telling Angel that he's playing his owner for a fool. Who could have seen that one coming?

Hah, I knew it. The 'trick' Twilight had in mind was indeed a spell. She couldn't find it in the first book she checked, but she had Spike fetch her a huge pile of them.

Twilight is looking for a reforming spell (that she wants to have 'up and running' so some kind of long duration spell?), and comes to the realization that Celestia protected the Elements, but not her books. The paper Discord was eating would appear to be every copy of the reforming spell Twilight had access to. Discord made the first move here, seems like you have your justification for petrifying his punk ass again. (But unfortunately, I doubt this will happen as there's still 10~ minutes left of this thing, sigh.)

Back at Fluttershy's, Discord has her house spinning because she told him to 'make himself at home.' Fluttershy admits she did say it and that if it makes him more comfortable, she is fine with it. Really, Flutershy? You have a rabbit and who knows what else living there, yet you don't use her Putting Your Hoof Down 'New Fluttershy' to tell Discord to knock it the hell off? Discord tells her she is so kind, unlike those nasty friends of hers, and Fluttershy is upset, claiming her friends aren't nasty. Your friend, possibly your best friend, is Rainbow 'Douchebag' Dash, yeah, your friends are pretty nasty at times.

Fluttershy hears Twilight and goes to check, and we see her house is indeed just spiraling up in the air. Twilight says they came to save her from Discord, but it was just Spike and her. Some rescue plan, Twilight, considering he stole all the 'reforming spells' and Fluttershy confirms that he ate them. Fluttershy says they won't need it anyway because they are making good progress, and that he really wants to be reformed because he said so. Twilight calls her out on stupidity but Fluttershy counters that if she is really going to be his friend she needs to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Fluttershy says she'll prove to them all how much Discord has changed by hosting a dinner party, and that she'll even ask him to put her cottage back on the ground.

Later, they are all headed to Fluttershy's. Rainbow starts griping about it. Rarity is the only one who bothered to dress up, and is glad she didn't wear her fanciest outfit. Discord welcomes them with a red carpet and Fluttershy is excited because he set the table all by himself. Discord tries to take their 'hats' aka the Element of Magic.

Pinkie Pie goes face first into whatever she was served, and Fluttershy asks if she wants gravy. Discord animates the gravy boat into a dog-like being. Pinkie starts talking to it as one would a dog and declares it a cute little gravy boat.

 Rainbow is not impressed and calls it a creepy little gravy boat. Well at least Rainbow Dash has remained anti-Discord so far, I'm right with you, sister! Let us hope that does not change.

The gravy boat/Discord dumps hot gravy onto Rainbow's crotch.

Rainbow is pissed and says Discord did it on purpose. Discord says mistakes happen, which means, yeah, he totally did. To diffuse the situation/try to screw them over, he conjures up dancing candles, which Spike is really into. Rainbow blows them out, saying she's not falling for that.

The candles then start attacking Rainbow and drive her to the ground. Discord claims innocence again, saying Rainbow must have angered them.

 

Twilight says something fishy is going on, and a fish-shaped soup tureen starts spraying them with presumably hot soup. It even ruins Rarity's dress. :(

Fluttershy continues to believe Discord isn't doing all this BS. Rainbow Dash tells her to stop being a moron and starts fighting back against Discord's animations.

 Rainbow wants to know what the hell is up with Fluttershy.

Fluttershy says she is just being a friend. Discord is touched, surprised that they are 'friends' and says he's never had a friend before. So there was a rumor/fan theory out there that Discord is really Star Swirl the Bearded. That would seem to disprove those theories, but then again Star Swirl would be a master wizard, not necessarily one to have friends, or if he did get transformed to Discord, nothing says his original memories/personality would be intact. Most likely that theory is bunkum, but you never know.

Angel comes in and does a Lassie routine to tell them there's flooding at Sweet Apple Acres. I'm pretty sure those animals Discord's tail transformed were beavers, so, yeah. Rainbow Dash says they all know who is responsible.

 Things are FUBAR out at Sweet Apple Acres.

 

Fluttershy tries to talk to the beavers, which I believe are definitely the Discorded ones, as if there was any doubt, and they just cuss her out. Rainbow once again tries to tell her to stop being a tool.

 Discord water skies in, pulled by more soup tureens. Fluttershy tells him to fix it, because the innocent creatures behind the flooding wouldn't be doing it if it hadn't been for him. Discord says he will, if she promises not to use her Element of Harmony against him. You can probably guess what happens. Yep, Fluttershy agrees.

Discord freezes over the water and conjures up snow, saying he always preferred ice skating to water skiing. Fluttershy goes out to complain to him, Spike brings her her Element. Discord tells her to ice skate with him, Twilight says Discord fixes it or he goes back to stone. Fluttershy chooses ice skates and the others are shocked, as if they couldn't see it coming.

"God damn it! Should have petrified this jackass the moment he wrecked my books and ate my god damn spells."

Discord is very pleased. Since Fluttershy is too.. Fluttershy to renig on her promise, he gloats that he will be free forever, free to do whatever he wants, because Fluttershy is his friend and she promised she won't use the Elements on him. Fluttershy is pissed, throws her skates away, saying she is not his friend. Discord starts to mock her, telling her why would he do whatever she says, because he would lose the one friend he's ever had? This hurts him.

Discord realizes he doesn't want to lose the only friend he's ever had, and changes everything back, because: "I guess when you're friends, you can't always have things exactly your way all the time, eh?" The mane 6 and Discord report back in to Celestia, where Discord says he's ready to use his magic for good instead of evil, most of the time. Celestia ignores that last part and congratulates them all for reforming Discord. She leans in to Twilight and tells her she will leave the Elements with her, just in case. Now, shouldn't the mane 6 have the Elements with them in the first place? They are presumably the only ones that can use them, they seemingly all have to be united for them to do anything, it's not like they would run around blasting anypony they dislike.

Twilight commends Celestia for knowing that Fluttershy would get the job done, and that by treating him like a friend, he realized that friendship was important to him, and that once he had it, he did not want to lose it. They then get Discord to say 'Friendship is magic.' Thankfully this is the end, as I feel like Peter Griffin in that Family Guy bit where he just walks out after they say the movie's name. ;) Fluttershy says he can be a real sweetheart once you get to know him, and the episode ends with the majority of them looking disgusted or something about that.

What I learned from this episode:

• I don't know if I'm just in a bad mood or this episode just sucks, but Rainbow Dash's behavior was just about the only thing I enjoyed here. (Probably just a bad mood as I did watch a preview clip of the first Discord at Fluttershy's scene and found it funny then) Thankfully, she stuck to her guns the whole way through and even though Discord is 'reformed' we can only hope she still bears a severe disliking to him. I would have liked it if she called him out for his 'most of the time' BS at the end.
• I don't think it ever explained what the 'reforming spell' was capable of doing, or I completely missed it? Twilight said she wanted it 'up and running' so it may have been a counter to Discord's chaos, or since the whole plot was about 'reforming' Discord, it's the Ponyverse's MKULTRA.
• Discord was apparently an annoying jerk because he never had any friends, which is pretty sad. We really need to see Celestia and Luna taking him down, did they give him a chance or just straight up blast him like they did Sombra. 
• I'm not sure if there were even any 'new' uses for magic in this besides Twilight's named spells. For the most part Discord just used stuff we've already seen in his first episodes.
• Fluttershy is an idiot and it's no wonder she is 'do anything you want to her and she won't complain' or whatever Fluttershy, since Discord was actively trying to bear jew them and she ignored it in the hopes that her plan would work.