I was in high school and too old to catch pony fever in the '80s. The cutesy pastel-ness of the predisposed me to skepticism concerning the recent reboot of the phenomenon. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - The Friendship Express, however, made a believer out of me. Bolder colors, a little more attitude, fun pop-culture references and fresh, more stylized animation bring My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic up to date with today's animated TV fare, and this five episode collection (three from Season 1 and two from Season 2)--squarely centered on friendship and featuring several origin stories and pony mythology--is as good a place to start as any. In the opening episodes, of the collection (and the first two episodes of the new series), "Friendship is Magic Parts 1 and 2," studious Canterlot unicorn Twilight Sparkle's research convinces her that Princess Celestia's banished younger sister, Nightmare Moon, will return on the day of the Summer Sun Festival to take over the land of Equestria and bring eternal night. Princess Celestia's response is that Twilight should pull her head out of those "dusty old books" and make some friends. She sends Twilight to Ponyville with irrepressible baby dragon Spike to oversee the festival preparations there. Twilight is dubious that she and any of the ponies she meets--including down-home Applejack, speedy Pegasus Rainbow Dash, quiet but kind Fluttershy, the refined and beautiful unicorn Rarity, and bubbly Pinky Pie--have anything in common. Nonetheless, she finds herself joining forces with them to find the Elements of Harmony and defeat Nightmare Moon when the prophecy of her return proves to be true. On their quest through Everfree Forest that features more than one reference to The Wizard of Oz, the group encounters obstacles that each of the individual ponies is able to overcome in turn. A manticore with a thorn its paw receives a dose of Fluttershy's quiet kindness, and a vain river serpent whose lopsided mustache is ruining his "fabulosity" is restored thanks to Rarity's generous gift of most of her beautiful tail, among other difficulties the ponies surmount. When at last they confront Nightmare Moon, who smashes the Elements of Harmony into shards, Twilight realizes that she and the others carry within them the spirit of those elements. With her spark of magic, they together release the power of friendship to defeat the remorseful princess of the night. The other episodes include
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