I know how hard you've been working lately,
so I figured you could use a break.
[happy gasp]
Trixie, this looks amazing!
But my job doesn't really seem like work.
[bracelet chimes]
Ooh! Speaking of...
[poof]
[sigh]
[poof]
Sure, being counselor for the students
at Twilight's School of Friendship is demanding,
but... [chimes] Oh, one sec.
[poof]
What was I saying? Oh, right.
Being able to use the experiences
of my checkered past to help young students
feels pretty great. Oooh! Yum! Mm. Thanks.
Of course, I feel nothing but admiration
for the work you do, but it is a little all-consuming
and I miss spending time with you.
What are you talking about?
We're spending time right now.
Well...
[bracelet chimes]
Hold that thought.
[poof]
Grrr!
[poof]
Sorry. I cast a spell on the door to my office
so this bracelet goes off whenever there's a knock.
Yona is having the worst time with her braids lately.
Anyway, you were saying?
[slurp]
[nervous giggle]
♪ My little pony, my little pony ♪
♪ Aaaahhh ♪
♪ My little Pony ♪
♪ I used to wonder what friendship could be. ♪
♪ My Little Pony ♪
♪ Until you all shared its magic with me. ♪
♪ Big adventure! ♪ ♪ Tons of fun ♪
♪ A beautiful heart! ♪ ♪ Faithful and strong! ♪
♪ Sharing kindness ♪ ♪ it's an easy feat ♪
♪ And magic makes it all complete! ♪
♪ To have my little pony ♪
♪ Do you know you're all my very best friends? ♪
♪♪
I totally respect my younger cousins' decisions
to stay seaponies,
but they've never been on dry land.
Preparing for a visit with them is almost as much work
as the research assignment Headmare Twilight gave me
on Hazardous Fauna of the Everfree Forest!
How would you describe a shower to creatures
who live in water?
So far, I've got warm and steamy.
Actually, steam has water in it.
Silverstream, there are a lot of students
who want to see me today.
I just need a few shower adjectives
that don't rely on the wet part.
[sigh] Well, there's clean, relaxing, um...
Relaxing? I don't know. A nap's relaxing too.
Warm and clean are OK.
Wow. I have to give this some more thought.
Oh. OK. Well, I'm here to help. My door's always open.
Except for today, of course.
[slam]
[whimper]
If we leave now, we can finish everything
before sundown.
Trixie, I can't leave. It's almost Spring Break.
Twilight and the others have already left
to celebrate the Spring Solstice in Canterlot
and I have to help the students with any issues
before they head home for the holiday.
[knocking]
I know you're busy, but I hope you haven't forgotten
about the Spring Sols-tastic.
The party Maud and Mudbriar are throwing?
Sunburst is coming to town?
You and I promised to make the cake?
PFFFT! How could I possibly forget about that?
[knocking]
[door opens]
[creak and close]
Nopony is saying your job isn't important,
but plans you make with your friends are important too.
[sigh] I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have forgotten.
Obviously, I need to be available to my students,
but that doesn't mean I can't help
with all the things we have to do.
Good.
Great.
So what are all the things we have to do?
Maud needs streamers for the decorations.
Sunburst wants us to pick up a genuine, pre-Equestrian,
Spring Solstice chafing dish from the antique shop.
Of course he does.
Mudbriar wants a "bouquet of flowering sticks,"
whatever that means.
And I thought we were both looking forward to Mrs. Cake
teaching us the secret recipe
to her famous Spring Solstice cake.
Oh, I totally am.
But we could just buy a cake from her, right?
We could, but then we'd miss out on baking together.
Plus the time I spent flattering and convincing
and begging her to share the recipe would be for nothing,
and we promised to make a cake, not buy a cake
and the great and powerful Trixie keeps her promises!
OK. Why don't we just split up these jobs?
I'll get the streamers and the chafing dish.
You ... [chiming] get started on those sticks
and I'll be right back.
[nervous laugh]
You know, why don't I just hang onto this?
Wouldn't want to forget the things I just said
I'd take care of...
because I am totally going to take care of them.
[poof]
Could it be plum blossom?
I have no idea. Wha!
[poof]
Whoops! Sorry Rose, but I need a bouquet
of flowering sticks, STAT!
I thought I was getting the flowering sticks.
Uh, I'm still not exactly sure what they are.
No one is!
Right. Got it.
You get the sticks; I'll get the streamers...
[chiming]
right after I take care of what I am sure
is an even smaller student problem than the last one.
Ha ha.
[poof]
[squirting sound]
I think I have the shower thing under control,
but I can't figure out how to describe a towel.
[chiming]
[poof]
Now Smolder, I understand the school
can be a bit drafty, but that doesn't mean
you can breathe fire anywhere you want.
What do you mean Trixie already picked up Sunburst's genuine,
pre-Equestrian, Equine-ox chafing dish?
That was my job... I think. Wait. Was it?
[chiming]
[grunt]
[poof]
♪♪
[poof]
Ocellus, it's perfectly normal for a changeling
to struggle with identity issues, but...
Counselor Starlight? When you're done,
I need some synonyms for the word "dry."
Or really just help explaining the concept.
Oh, wait! Mrs. Cake! You can't close.
Trixie and I need to learn the recipe
for your Equine-ox cake.
Oh, it's fine, dear. Trixie was already here.
I told her everything she needs to know.
What? NO! The Great and Powerful Trixie
might keep her promises,
but the busy and distracted Starlight sure doesn't.
I promised to help her today
and I haven't done a single thing!
[thud]
Oh, that does sound hard, dear,
and I'm not sure quite how to tell you this,
but your hoof is glowing.
[chiming]
Of course it is.
[poof]
Trixie? What are you doing here?
It's the one place I knew I could find you.
I am so sorry about today. I'm just so...
Busy. I know.
Obviously, your students are more important
than your friends.
That's not...
[knocking]
Starlight, do you have a minute?
Actually, Silverstream, I don't.
Besides, I need to lock up the school for the holiday
and it's time you caught the train home.
I'm sure a smart and capable student like you
can figure out the solution to any problem over the break,
but for now, the counselor's office is closed.
I have a cake to bake.
♪♪
Ow! Is this cake supposed to be so sharp?
[snarl]
I mean, it looks really... interesting.
Technically, it's not symmetrical
or aesthetically pleasing.
Maybe it's not the best cake,
but we made it together and that's what counts.
I'm glad you brought it, and everything else.
I'm very excited.
This is going to be the most perfect party ever.
And with all of your students home for the holiday,
I won't have to worry about you being summoned
to your office in the middle of it.
Nothing is going to take me away from this party.
Hello? Starlight? Starlight?
Sorry, this is a private cavern.
Is Starlight here? I was told she'd be here.
What's wrong?
I'm Terramar, Silverstream's brother.
I've been looking all over for you.
Silverstream is missing.
[gasp]
I don't understand.
Silverstream didn't come home?
I was supposed to meet her
at the Mount Aris train station,
but she never showed up.
It's a long way between Ponyville and Mount Aris.
She could be anywhere.
Our parents are leading teams of hippogriffs
and seaponies, searching the land and sea
between here and our home.
They sent me to check the school.
But the school's closed. All the students are gone.
Are you sure?
I know she had a big project due for Twilight.
Do you think she might have stayed to finish it?
She never told me about a project.
Well, to be fair,
you closed your office the last time she came by.
Really?
What kind of counselor
turns away a student with a problem?
The kind with too much on her plate.
Starlight has always gone out of her way
for her students. And I mean, ALWAYS.
Except apparently when it matters.
This is all my fault.
You all go back to the party.
Terramar and I will check the school.
We'll find your sister.
I should have known it couldn't last.
Party perfection is more of a Pinkie thing.
I wasn't going to say anything,
but these flowers are just glued on so,
technically it wasn't perfect already.
But that's probably not important.
You check the grounds and I'll look inside!
Silverstream?
Hello?
Anycreature?
She's not down here.
I don't see her anywhere.
Did you check her room?
Well, she's not here.
No, she isn't. But look at this.
A cockatrice?
Could that be what her project was on?
You don't think she went into the Everfree Forest
to find a Cockatrice by herself, do you?
I don't know, but I'm going to find out!
Ha ha!
[poof]
♪♪
[shouts]
Oh! What are you all doing here?
We came to help.
We couldn't let you handle this alone.
Technically, she wasn't alone...
but we wanted to help anyway.
Thanks, all of you,
but the students are my responsibility.
I'm the one who didn't do my job
when it actually mattered.
I might share a bit of the blame
for pressuring you into leaving work early.
But I don't want to ruin your party.
We can still have a party.
A search party.
Can we talk about all this later?
Silverstream might be in the Everfree Forest alone.
[gasps]
We think she went in to do research on Cockatrices.
What? The gaze of the cockatrice is known
to petrify any who dare to cross its path!
And the reptilian birds are elusive and solitary.
Where would we even start?
I have a lot of experience telling ponies
that I have experience with the dangerous creatures
of Everfree Forest. Follow me!
♪ [adventurous music] ♪
♪♪
The great and directionally astute Trixie says
we go left!
♪♪
This way!
♪♪
[sniffing]
[wind whistles]
♪♪
[owl hoots]
♪♪
[slurp]
♪♪
♪ [music fades out] ♪
Weren't we just here?
Trixie, do have any idea how to find a Cockatrice?
No. But usually when there's a dangerous creature
in the forest I don't want to meet,
this is how I meet them.
We might need a more concrete plan.
Suit yourself.
Um, according to Silverstream's research,
the Cockatrice prefers rocky terrain and ample shade .
Rocks and shade.
Hmm, I can't imagine where we'll find that in a forest.
Actually, rocks aren't the most hospitable environment
for shade trees.
Technically, pine trees like Pinus Cembra
or Pinus Sylvestris can grow from narrow crevasses
or cracks in a rocky rhizosphere.
You complete me.
There's some pine trees over there!
[clucking]
[squawk]
I thought you said they were solitary.
They are! This must be some kind of migration.
At least there's no sign of Silverstream.
I can't imagine getting caught
in the middle of that flock.
It's just lucky we're all over here
and they're all over there.
[squawk]
[snarling]
Technically--
Don't even say it!
Whatever you do, don't look at them.
Their gaze can turn you to stone.
So what do we do?
[screech]
RUN!
♪ [dramatic music] ♪
[scream]
[thud]
[moan]
Sunburst!
[screams]
Stop! It's me!
Starlight! I'm so sorry. We have to get out of here.
I know. Hang on.
[poof] [poof]
We can't leave.
Silverstream might still be in the forest.
Stay here. I'll get the others.
Be careful!
The clucking is coming from everywhere!
The Great and Powerful Trixie fears no cluck!
[whoosh]
Come on!
Maud, we've got to get out of here.
I'm not leaving him.
[gasp]
Mudbriar's been turned to stone?
I didn't think I could love him any more.
We've got to get out of here.
But we haven't found Silverstream;
we can't leave yet.
♪♪
We can't stay here. Come on!
♪♪
[scream]
♪♪
This way!
♪♪
Now what?
Let's hope Silverstream found a good place to hide.
There could be hundreds more Cockatrices on the way.
If this really is a migration,
it'll take a full lunar cycle to complete.
I have to get word back to our parents
that Silverstream could be surrounded
by those terrifying birds!
And as handsome as Mudbriar is now,
we should probably catch one of them
to turn him back to normal.
UGH! This is all my fault.
I'm never taking time off
from my counseling duties again!
That seems a little extreme.
Really? If I hadn't galloped off to a holiday celebration,
Silverstream would be safe with her family
and you'd all be enjoying Maud's party.
Instead, my student is missing;
we're surrounded by a flock of petrifying chicken-snakes,
and Maud's boyfriend was turned into a hunk of rock!
You got the hunk part right.
And to top it off, we have no idea if Silverstream
even came to Everfree at all,
but I have no idea where else to look!
Has that always been there?
What? Oh. That's the students' Treehouse.
Apparently, it grew from the Tree of Harmony and...
Of course!
That should have been the first place we looked!
Silverstream, look out!
Counselor Starlight, no!
[hiss]
Wait!
This is Edith. She's helping me with my project.
I don't understand.
After you encouraged me to solve my own problem,
I decided to get my project done before I left.
That way I could really focus on my family
during my visit. The school was closed so I came here.
Why didn't you tell anyone?
Mom and Dad are worried sick!
Oh, no. I'm so sorry.
Once Edith volunteered to help,
I guess I lost track of time.
Cockatrice's are really friendly
if you know how to interact with them.
[clucking]
I can't believe you figured out
how to trigger her nesting response.
They are really fascinating creatures.
Did you know that they migrate
to the Everfree Forest once a year!
Can you imagine what would happen
if you stumbled on a whole flock of these?
I have a few ideas.
Agh!
I'm sorry you got turned to stone looking for me,
but I'm glad Edith was able to turn you back.
How do you tell the difference?
I have mixed feelings about it.
Technically, I will always be a stick pony,
but the experience has given me
an even deeper appreciation
for the density and permanence of rock.
Swoon.
Silverstream and I should get going,
but I wanted to thank you
for everything you did to help find her.
I just wish I hadn't abandoned her
in the first place.
Starlight, you didn't abandon her.
I might as well have.
And even though it turned out all right,
things could have been a lot worse.
You can't be expected to supervise your students
every second of every day.
I'm not so sure.
I like that you're always available,
but it kind of makes it OK to come to you
with stuff that maybe isn't super important.
Of course, being a school counselor
is a big responsibility,
but always being at work isn't fair to anypony.
Especially me.
Do you think if I had set times to see me,
it might help you decide
what you really need to talk about?
To be honest, you really weren't very helpful
with the other stuff anyway.
Yeah. Wait, what?
Happy Spring Sols-tastic, everypony!
Who wants a piece of Mrs. Cake's famous--
[clank]
Petrified dessert?
Maud: You had me at petrified.
[laughter]