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The Best Night Ever (May 6th 2011, 22 minutes)

Summary: The girls finally go to the Grand Galloping Gala, and it's going to be the Worst Night Ever!

A trampoline, with rather interestingly decorative legs. Whatever the technology level of this culture is, they spend a lot more effort on style and decoration than would be considered normal here. Even the most practical of objects has curliqueues, fretwork, and other bits and bobs.

Heh. Reference to Cinderella. That aside, this transformation is being presented as a specific spell, so each 'start thing' to 'end thing' is a unique spell.

Okay, this one is a big deal. The mice are transformed into creatures that have very distinct horsey silhouettes, and they are specifically referred to as 'horses' by Twilight. The rest of the mane 6 reacted... not very well to them. Either because they still retained mousey attributes making them fall into their version of the uncanny valley, or because Twilight was basically creating a servitor race that was uncomfortably close to ponies themselves, or a bit from column A and a bit from column B.

Here's another cultural thing. Rarity is uncomfortable with Spike watching them dress, but as AJ points out they are normally naked anyway. It seems the *process* of dressing is a minor taboo.

The princesses have a Golden Apple tree. Another mythological reference, which most people will recognize as Greek, but actually shows up in Norse as well as Romanian and Bulgarian mythos. In most cases the Golden Apples are used as a valuable prize in a contest, but only in some myths do they have magical abilities of their own.

A regenerated Doctor Whooves! Yay! Sorry.

They're really good with fireworks here. The streamer trails are neat.

As a note, all the other ponies are dressed up, but Celestia is wearing the exact same pectoral she always is. Even if it is considered part of the crown jewels, you would think she's have some further decorative train or other dress for this occasion.

Yep, that looks like a meadowlark to me. Still not a bird person, so I could be wrong.

I'm actually kinda surprised at the sheer number of Wonderbolts. I was expecting a smaller team.

And finally, Prince Blueblood. There's a lot of different explanations of why he's a Prince, but I like the self-promotion one where he talks himself up a notch or two.

Toucan, sure. Spider monkey, good. Wallaroo, that's interesting. Wallaroos are a set of species of creatures half-way in size between kangaroos and wallabies. So.... does that mean an Australia-equivalent land exists on this world?

And there's another advanced turntable from the 80's.

Never say that. It... yeah. Flutterrage!

And continuing the Cinderella reference.

And that's the end of Season 1 with respect to the animation. But there's still one thing left before I close out this season.