For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils


 * Sweetie Belle: I have to leave for dress rehearsal soon, Rarity! Is it finished yet?
 * Rarity: Uh, not quite. I still feel it needs a certain je ne sais quoi. Perhaps it needs... appliqués.
 * Sweetie Belle: Appliqués?
 * Rarity: Or sequins.
 * Sweetie Belle: Sequins!
 * [crash]
 * Rarity: Sweetie Belle, I adore having you help me, truly I do, but...
 * Sweetie Belle: Guess I got a little carried away. It's just that I know how important it is for you to finish this wardrobe in time for Sapphire Shores and her backup dancers.
 * Rarity: This is without a doubt my most prestigious order ever. After all, Sapphire Shores is the pony of pop, and her Equestria-wide tour launches in Canterlot next week! Which means she must have these outfits by day after tomorrow at the latest!
 * Sweetie Belle: But is there time?
 * Rarity: Barely. But I work well under pressure. Hmm, as long as I stay calm, I'll be fine.
 * Sweetie Belle: Oh, good! Then maybe you could check the stitching and finish the buttons on the dresses I made for me, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo? I really want them to look perfect, and... I think I need your expertise.
 * Rarity: My, you've been so much help to me. How could I possibly say no? When do you need them?
 * Sweetie Belle: Tomorrow night. For the opening night of our show!
 * Rarity: But, Sweetie Belle, darling! I, I'm behind as it is!
 * Sweetie Belle: I understand.
 * Rarity: I suppose... if I got a few more ponies to help me, then maybe...
 * Sweetie Belle: Oh, thank you thank you thank you thank you! You're the best sister ever! The dresses are right over there! [giggles]




 * Cheerilee: My goodness, girls, it's time! And the audience is almost fully seated! Costumes!
 * Scootaloo: I can't believe Rarity still isn't here with the costumes.
 * Sweetie Belle: She's been very busy lately!
 * Apple Bloom: But how can she still not be here? She's known about this for weeks! Uh... she has known about this for weeks, right?
 * Sweetie Belle: I kept meaning to ask her, I really did, but I worked so hard on this play. I wrote it especially for the three of us! I directed it, I'm in it, I made the costumes... It's just that this is really my time to shine doing something completely myself, and I really wanted to keep it that way!
 * Apple Bloom: But we wanted everything to be perfect! All our friends came out to see it tonight!
 * Cheerilee: Places!
 * Rarity: Oh, I'm here, I'm here!
 * Sweetie Belle: [gasps] You made it!
 * Rarity: Oh, I beg your pardon for cutting it so close, but I made some improvements to your original design, and I had a terrible time with these froofy sleeves. It is for the first play you ever wrote, after all, so I made quite certain it came out just so.
 * Cheerilee: Places! Hello?


 * [fanfare playing]
 * [applause, oohs and ahhs]
 * Sweetie Belle: Forsooth and anon, I cometh forthwith and posthaste with glad tidings, miladies.


 * [cheers]
 * Apple Bloom: Wow! A standin' ovation!
 * Scootaloo: I still have goosebumps!
 * Apple Bloom: This must be like a dream come true for you, huh, Sweetie Belle?
 * Scootaloo: Ooh, can you imagine if this show was how you got your cutie mark?
 * Apple Bloom: Which do you think you'd get it for? Writing, directing, or acting?
 * Sweetie Belle: [deep breath] Let's not get carried away. We've got a whole lobby full of friends waiting to shower us with adoration and praise. Try to be gracious.
 * Scootaloo: Modest.
 * Apple Bloom: Classy.


 * [ponies chattering]
 * Sweetie Belle: Here we are, the stars of the show!
 * Apple Bloom: You may tell us how much you loved it now.
 * Scootaloo: Line forms here!
 * Spike: Wow, you guys! I think your sisters would have loved it!
 * Apple Bloom: Would have?
 * Spike: They're sorry, but they had to go help Rarity get Sapphire Shores' wardrobe ready to take to Canterlot in the morning.
 * Scootaloo: Even Rainbow Dash?
 * Spike: Yeah. Rarity fell way behind.
 * Apple Bloom and Scootaloo: Aww.
 * Spike: Aw, cheer up, the show was great! I'll get you some punch.
 * Sweetie Belle: At least everypony else who was able to stay loved it.
 * [ponies chattering]
 * Sweetie Belle: What did you all like best? The writing, the directing, or the acting?
 * Lemon Hearts: Oh my, I- I loved the dresses.
 * Noteworthy: I liked some of those lines you said.
 * Sweetie Belle: Oh, really? Which ones?
 * Noteworthy: Uh, I don't really remember, but you were wearing a pink taffeta dress with lots of chiffon when you said them! Whoo-ee, that outfit was a dazzler!
 * Lemon Hearts: I liked that one almost as much as the one with the lacy trim and all the embroidered cuffs! [chuckles]
 * Noteworthy: That was a nice one too!
 * Sweetie Belle: [growls] Isn't there anypony here who remembers anything about the play besides the dresses?!
 * Crowd: [general excuses]
 * Sweetie Belle: [noise of frustration]


 * Fluttershy: All of this is one headpiece?
 * Rarity: Indeed. This marvelous extravagance is the crème de la crème of the entire wardrobe! But alas, without this key hidden stitch, it's just a... I'm trying to think of a nicer way to say 'big bummer'. [sighs] Now perhaps we can all at last take a moment to relax!
 * [door opens and closes]
 * Rarity: Whatever's the matter, Sweetie Belle? Didn't the play go all right?
 * Sweetie Belle: Not even close.
 * Rarity: Oh, dear. Was something amiss with the dresses I made you?
 * Sweetie Belle: No, they were perfect, and that was the whole problem!
 * Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash: Huh?
 * Fluttershy: Oh, um, I think maybe I'll go take that moment to relax now.
 * Rainbow Dash: Heh, sure do feel like relaxing!
 * Applejack: Right behind ya!
 * Sweetie Belle: How could you?! "Oh, what amazing dresses! Oh, how I love the dresses! Ooh, dresses, dresses, dresses, dresses!"
 * [pause]
 * Rarity: Oh, so they did like them. [chuckles] You had me worried, you silly filly.
 * Sweetie Belle: There! I knew it! You did this on purpose! Stealing the spotlight like you always do! It's my fifth birthday party all over again!
 * Rarity: The... the what now?
 * Sweetie Belle: Don't act like you don't remember. Or are you trying to prove you're a better actress than me too?!
 * Rarity: Sweetie Belle, if I did anything to upset you, then--
 * Sweetie Belle: Admit you made those dresses too good on purpose!
 * Rarity: I thought they were supposed to be good.
 * Sweetie Belle: Yes, good. Not jaw-dropping amazing!
 * Rarity: I only tried to do what I thought you wanted.
 * Sweetie Belle: Ha!
 * [door slams]


 * Sweetie Belle: Ugh, I don't believe it. After everything I put up with all week long! [imitating Rarity] "Sweetie Belle, get me some red ribbon! No, that's not red, that's cherry! No, that's not red, that's cinnamon!" [normal, muffled] For Pete's sake, it's all red!
 * Rarity: [to Opalescence] I should probably go talk to her, hm?
 * Sweetie Belle: [muffled] At least Sapphire Shores won't be all like "Ooh, who fetched you that red ribbon? Because I don't care about anything else you made. All I care about is that amazing red ribbon!"
 * Rarity: Perhaps waiting would be best.


 * [bedclothes rustling]
 * Sweetie Belle: Ughhh! Hgh, hgh, hgh! Nnngh! [growls] Now I can't even sleep! Happy now, big sis? [growls]


 * [tap running]
 * Sweetie Belle: [gulping water] I wish there was a way I could take back all the work I did!
 * Rarity: [snoring]
 * Sweetie Belle: Even better. [giggles sinisterly]


 * [muffled ponies chattering]
 * [camera clicking]
 * Sweetie Belle: [growls] Now what?
 * [ponies cheering]
 * Eclair Crème: And the winner of the "Best Writer, Director, Actor in an Awesome Play Put on by a Pony and Her Awesome Best Friends" goes to...
 * "Star Gazer": Sweetie Belle!
 * [crowd chattering and cheering]
 * [cameras clicking]
 * [lightning cracks]
 * [ponies in distress]
 * [Wilhelm scream]
 * Sweetie Belle: Don't go!
 * Rarity: [evil laugh]
 * Sweetie Belle: Stop! Why do you have to ruin everything?!
 * Rarity: [growls]
 * Princess Luna: Enough!
 * Rarity: [whimpers]
 * Sweetie Belle: Princess Luna! It's really you! Or am I dreaming?
 * Princess Luna: What do you think?
 * Sweetie Belle: Let me see. You just rescued me from a maniacal laughing Rarity-cloud. Yeah, probably dreaming.
 * Princess Luna: I understand what you're going through, Sweetie Belle. I too have a sister who often shines more brightly than me, and with this, I have struggled.
 * Sweetie Belle: Wait, come back! Luna? Can you hear me? Thank you for what you did! Help, Luna! Luuuna!
 * [series of thuds]
 * [foals cheering]
 * Sweetie Belle: I remember this. This is my fifth birthday party! I decided to make a grand entrance. I made myself all beautiful, just like my big sister.
 * [thud]
 * Sweetie Belle: Finally, I was perfect, and then went to the stairs to enter like the belle of the ball. When I finally came out of my room, I found the party going on without me.
 * [foals cheering]
 * Sweetie Belle: And I kept posing at the top of the stairs, waiting to be noticed, but all I heard was...
 * Little Pony 1: These party favors are the coolest! [blows party buzzer]
 * Little Pony 2: Awesome! Where did you get these?
 * Rarity: Made them myself. And of course, you'll all want cake, won't you?
 * [foals cheering]
 * Little Pony 2: You're the greatest, Rarity!
 * "Plum Star": Who needs a birthday girl when you've got the birthday girl's amazing big sister?
 * Younger Sweetie Belle: [sniffling]
 * Sweetie Belle: That's when I learned 'never try to shine with my big sister around'.
 * Princess Luna: But perhaps you didn't have the whole story.
 * Sweetie Belle: I thought you said you understood? Luna?
 * Little Pony 2: Where's Sweetie Belle?
 * Rarity: I'm sure she'll be along in any moment.
 * Small Pony: [yawns] I'm tired of waiting. I say we get out of here before we all keel over from boredom. Who's with me? Poor Sweetie Belle. Nopony's gonna come to another one of her parties after this fiasco.
 * Rarity: Don't go! You'll miss out on the, uh, party favors! I was going to save them 'til the end, but...
 * Little Pony 1: These party favors are the coolest! [blows party buzzer]
 * Little Pony 2: Awesome? Where did you get these?
 * Rarity: Made them myself. And of course, you'll all want cake, won't you?
 * [foals cheering]
 * "Plum Star": Who needs a birthday girl when you've got the birthday girl's amazing big sister?
 * Younger Sweetie Belle: [sniffling]
 * Rarity: Oh, no-no-no. All of these things were Sweetie Belle's idea. I just assisted with the execution.
 * Sweetie Belle: I guess Rarity wasn't trying to steal the spotlight. She was trying to save my party. Luna? Luna!
 * [splash]
 * [dolphins squeaking]
 * Rarity: Should I hem the cloaks now or wait until I'm there? I could hem them now, but I might have to redo them...
 * Sweetie Belle: When was this?
 * Rarity: But if I wait until I'm in Canterlot to hem them, Sapphire Shores might not get the best first impression...
 * Sweetie Belle: Wait. This must've happened earlier tonight!
 * Rarity: Ooh... Sapphire Shores is such a big star and such a stickler for details. What if everything's not perfect enough?
 * Sweetie Belle: Funny, I thought I was the only one who got worried about stuff like that.
 * Rarity: Oh, buck up, Rarity, stop this foolishness. You've done your best and left nothing to chance! All that's needed now is a good night's rest.
 * [click]
 * Sweetie Belle: [sighs] I hope everything goes alright for her tomorrow.
 * Princess Luna: Hm. How curious you should say that.
 * [door opens]
 * Princess Luna: Go. Go see what the future holds if you fail to rein in your worst instincts, as I once did.


 * Rarity: And here it is! The crème de la crème--
 * Sweetie Belle: Noooo!
 * Rarity: The piéce de resistance...
 * Sweetie Belle: Don't! [gasps]
 * Backup dancers: [oohing] [gasping]
 * Rarity: The headdress!
 * Sapphire Shores: Looks like I made a mistake here.
 * Rarity: But, but this is impossible! I, I, I checked and rechecked everything! This couldn't have happened!
 * Sapphire Shores: You sure about that, honey?
 * Rarity: Please, you must believe me!
 * Sweetie Belle: Listen to my sister!
 * Sapphire Shores and Backup dancers: [laughing]
 * Rarity: [crying]
 * Sweetie Belle: [screams] I don't wanna see any more!
 * Rarity: Always check and recheck!
 * Sapphire Shores: Who all wants to hear a funny story about my ex-costume designer?
 * [ponies laughing]
 * Rarity: Check, recheck, recheck, then recheck!
 * Sweetie Belle: Make it stop! Princess Luna, can you hear me?!
 * Fluttershy: Make me a dress, Rarity, please?
 * Rarity: Go away! You know I don't do that anymore!
 * [door slams]
 * Sweetie Belle: Wake me up, Princess Luna, wake me up, wake me uuuup!


 * Sweetie Belle: [gasping]
 * [door opens]
 * Sweetie Belle: Rarity? [gasps] Oh no! The box is... gone? I'm too late! She left for Canterlot!


 * [train engine noises]
 * Sweetie Belle: The key is for you two to distract Rarity long enough for me to put the stitch back in without her noticing.
 * Scootaloo: If we're not too late already.
 * Apple Bloom: Oh, my gosh! I can't believe we're goin' to see Sapphire Shores! I'm such a huge fan! I know all her songs!
 * Scootaloo: 'Get Your Pony On'!
 * Apple Bloom: Ooh, that's one of my favorites!
 * Sweetie Belle: This isn't a trip to see Sapphire Shores! It's a trip to save my sister from a horrible future!
 * Scootaloo: 'Serves Her Right'!
 * Sweetie Belle: [gasps] How can you say that?! Rarity doesn't deserve that at all!
 * Scootaloo: No, 'Serves Her Right' is another one of Sapphire Shores' songs!
 * Apple Bloom: You seriously didn't know that? Don't you listen to her music?!
 * Sweetie Belle: ...I prefer show tunes.
 * Scootaloo: Ugh.


 * [pounding music]
 * Sapphire Shores: Five, six, seven eight, ba-bam!
 * Rarity: Oh, bravo! Fabulous! Magnifique!
 * Sapphire Shores: One more time, from the top. Let's not embarrass me in front of my favorite designer this time? And a-one, two, three, four!


 * Sweetie Belle: But you have to let us in! I'm Sapphire Shores' designer's sister! You have to believe us!
 * Security guard: Kid, the only thing I have to do is make sure Sapphire Shores doesn't get interrupted all day by fans like you.
 * Sweetie Belle: But I'm not a fan!
 * Apple Bloom: I am!
 * Scootaloo: Me too!
 * Sweetie Belle: Not helping!


 * Backup dancers: [panting]
 * Sapphire Shores: Now, that's how I like it! You rocked it, girls! Get some water and be back in ten. Rar-i-ty, come on up here and show me what you brought me. Sapphire wants to see it and love it!


 * Scootaloo: [straining] Almost...
 * [crash]
 * Scootaloo: Oof!
 * Sweetie Belle: We've gotta get in there, now!


 * Sapphire Shores: Okay then. Liking what I see so far. So is this the whole shebang?
 * Rarity: Actually, I saved the best for last!
 * Cutie Mark Crusaders: [screaming]
 * Rarity: And here it is!
 * [thudding]
 * Sweetie Belle: You gotta see this with the cinnamon ribbon! You'll love it!
 * Rarity: Sweetie Belle?!
 * Sapphire Shores: You know her?
 * Rarity: Uh... [laughs nervously] Ahem. Just a moment!
 * [door opens]
 * [crash]
 * [door closes]
 * Sweetie Belle: Oh, good! This is just a dream!
 * Princess Luna: Actually, no. This is very much real.
 * Sweetie Belle: [sighs] Oh, Luna... I wish none of this ever happened... What am I gonna do?
 * Princess Luna: Let's begin with this. And I think I know how you can even improve it.


 * [door opens]
 * Rarity: I would like to know what in the wide, wide realm of Equestria this stunt of yours is all about, and I want to know now! Do you have any idea how important this job is to me?
 * Sweetie Belle: Actually, I do. I was upset at you for stealing the spotlight from me at the play, so I pulled out the center stitch to the headpiece so it would fall apart.
 * Rarity: What?!
 * Sweetie Belle: But then I realized I didn't want your future to be ruined forever and ever, so I came back to change it before it was too late! So... here it is. It's all fixed. Please forgive me.
 * Rarity: Wait... what is this?
 * Sweetie Belle: Trust me. Sapphire Shores is gonna love it.


 * Sapphire Shores: Rarity, this isn't going to work out. You don't get to my level of success without learning to read the signs, and this situation has bad luck written all over it.
 * Rarity: I promise you'll absolutely adore the headdress as soon as you see it.
 * Sapphire Shores: My, it is attractive, but...
 * Sweetie Belle: Look at the stitching, real close.
 * Sapphire Shores: Well, I'll be. It's a dolphin! That's my lucky animal! They swim with me in my dreams.
 * Rarity: Wherever did you come up with the idea for a dolphin?
 * Sweetie Belle: Oh, it just came to me... in a dream. I'm sorry I got jealous about those dresses. I know now that you were only trying to help.
 * Rarity: Oh, Sweetie, I forgive you! But I never did get to see your play. Any chance I could catch an encore performance?
 * Sweetie Belle: Uh, I don't think the play went all that good. To be honest, the costumes were the best part.
 * Rarity: Awww!


 * [credits]