Mal Eclipsed

mal Eclipsed is the fourth episode of the second season of legends of the Multiverse: Friendship is Universe and the thirtieth episode overall. The episode's title is a pun on "lunar eclipse", an astronomical event that occurs when the Moon passes behind the Earth's shadow so that the Earth blocks the Sun's rays from the Moon.

The episode takes place during a Halloween-like celebration called Nightmare Night, which revolves around the legends of Nightmare Moon. During this night, Kairi Sparkle helps Princess Mal change her frightening demeanor and become accepted by the other ponies.

Production
The episode was #1 in the We Heart Animals Fan Favorite Marathon, in the leadup to Hearts and Paws Day.

Character appearances
This episode marks the first appearance of Princess Mal since Friendship is Universe, part 2, which premiered the same date a year prior. Luna has undergone a slight redesign that features a flowing mane similar to Princess Palutena's, as well as having a darker saturation of her coat's main color.

This is the first episode in season two where one of the main characters is missing, in this case Nene. She did feature in the episode's script, but her scene was cut. In the script, she is still working on her costume when Kairi takes Mal to her to get a makeover and help her look less intimidating. Nene overdoes Mal's outfit so much that she tears it off. Rapunzel, seeing Mal with a piece of dress in her mouth, leaps to the conclusion that she ate a princess and runs off terrified.

Advertising
A billboard referencing the poster for Poltergeist was put up in Los Angeles. In it, it shows Rapunzel with a Olaf and Navi plushie in front of a TV screen.

Magic
The aura that emanates from Kairi's paw when she performs magic has changed back from red to purple. Only this time, the color is slightly lighter than in season one. However, it is not consistent over the course of the episode, as it also shows up as red in certain scenes.

Re-use
A small part showing Rapunzel dressed up as a chicken reappears in Chimps for the Memories.

The scene when the colts and fillies give their candy to Nightmare Moon's statue, and Pipsqueak praising her reappears in Memories and More.

Introduction
The episode begins with Kairi Sparkle showing her Paw-made "Gandalf" from Lord of the Rings costume to Olaf and Navi. He doesn't know who she's dressed as until she tells him that Gandalf was the father of the "amniomorphic spell". Olaf and Navi just looks at her blankly when she tries to remind him of the obscure cats history, but he is saved when four young trick-or-treaters and their chaperone, Fa Grandmother, ring the doorbell. Ashley from WarioWare, dressed in a pirate costume, says that it's his first Nightmare Night festival ever. Rapunzel bursts forth in a chicken costume, indignantly saying that she's never too old for free candy when Kairi questions her. She thinks Kairi's costume is a great one of a "weirdo clown", and Olaf and Navi teasingly calls Kairi "grandpa".

Kairi, indignant that no one recognizes such an important historical magician, walks through the market with Olaf and Navi. Rapunzel and Ashley meet them and show off their stashes of candy. Meanwhile, Sally Acron, dressed as a Freedombolt, covertly pushes a thundercloud over Rapunzel and fires off a very loud lightning bolt to scare Rapunzel, Olaf, and Navi. Howling with laughter, Sally tells a disapproving Kairi that Nightmare Night is the best time of the year for pranks. She then takes off with her thundercloud to prank another group she has spotted. Kairi, Olaf, and Navi meet Sheriff Mulan, who is running the apple bob. The tub of water is ruined when Harley Quinn, dressed in large paper bags, pops out of the tub with the plug in her mouth. The Mayor then makes an announcement, telling the trick-or-treaters, which include the costumed Cutie Mark Crusaders, to follow Britney Akiwara to the statue of Nightmare Moon for a storytelling. Kairi, Olaf, and Navi tag along.

Britney tells the legend of Nightmare Moon and explains that Nightmare Moon requires an appeasing offering of candy. At that moment, however, Princess Mal arrives, in a flurry of dark clouds and her own royal carriage chauffeured by two of her Pegasus guards, scaring everyone off but Kairi.

Princess Mal arrives
Rapunzel and her group of foals run through town, as a cloaked Princess Mal lands in the marketplace. Everyone bows in fearful respect of the Princess. Kairi, however, shows no fear and wants to meet her. Princess Mal makes a speech in a very strong and dramatic voice, explaining that she only seeks the love and affection of her subjects, and wishes to improve the festival and the way it portrays her. Unfortunately, her presentation only serves to further intimidate everyone.

"Citizens of Multiville! We have graced your tiny village with our presence, so that you might behold the real princess of the night! A creature of nightmare is no longer, but instead a animal who desires your love and admiration! Together we shall change this dreadful celebration into a bright and glorious feast!"

- Princess Luna in a booming voice

After assuring a frightened Olaf and Navi that Mal is not Nightmare Moon anymore, Kairi realizes that the Princess is having trouble adjusting to modern times after being imprisoned for a millennium, and goes to talk to her. Feeling rejected, Luna leaves the market, and spends some time in front of the statue of Nightmare Moon, which is where Kairi finds her. Mal compliments Kairi on her costume, noting its accuracy to the smallest detail, becoming the first one to recognize the character. Kairi explains to Princess Mal that she was badly received due to her speaking tone and volume. Mal protests that the royal voice is the only one she knows and that she always speaks in the royal we. Kairi decides to bring her to Spectra Vondergeist, thinking that the soft-spoken animal can help Mal improve the way she addresses others.

Spectra refuses to answer her door at first, exclaiming that she has no candy and that she doesn't want visitors on Nightmare Night. When Kairi reassures her there's nothing to be worried about, she opens the door, only to slam the door shut upon seeing the Princess. Kairi forces Spectra out of her home, and Princess Mal tries to ask her how to improve her tone, but only further scares Spectra. As a last resort, Kairi uses her magic to engulf Spectra and drag her out to briefly coach the Princess. When Princess Mal feels that her tone has improved, she uses magic to haul Spectra over and thanks her by hugging her. Mal accidentally scares the wind out of Spectra, scaring off Rapunzel and her group of fillies once again.

"Fun"
The scene cross-fades to Multiville, where the villagers are enjoying the festivities, playing games, and dancing.

"Fun? What is this "fun" thou speakest of?"

- Princess Mal

Princess Mal and Kairi find Applejack in the town square, and Kairi asks Applejack to give suggestions to Mal on how to be more approachable. Sheriff Mulan's top tip is to have fun. Mal doesn't know what "fun" is, but she uncertainly tries her hoof at several carnival games. Enjoying the games, Mal shows her surprise and appreciation, and the town begins to regard her more warmly. She even goes so far as to tell her subjects to do away with the formality of "Princess" and simply call her Mal.

However, when Mal rushes to save Ashley from drowning in the apple-bobbing tub, Rapunzel mistakenly thinks she is eating the mammal, and once again the animals draw away in fear. Mal tries again to gain their trust with fun but goes a bit too far and causes havoc across the town. Fed up and offended, she declares that Nightmare Night is canceled forever.

"Since you choose to fear your princess rather than love her and dishonor her with this insulting celebration, we decree that Nightmare Night shall be canceled! Forever!"

- Princess Mal in a booming voice

Resolution
Kairi once again sets out to find Princess Mal, and finds her walking sadly across a bridge, disappointed by her inability to win the hearts of her subjects. She rejects Kairi's help at first, so Twilight finds another method. Luring Rapunzel into an alleyway with a trail of candy, she tells her that Princess Mal is no longer evil and instructs her to stop shrieking whenever she sees her. Rapunzel agrees, but as she is about to shake hooves with Princess Mal and make peace, Sally Acorn inopportunely plays her lightning prank, making Rapunzel believe it is Princess Mal who made the lightning. She runs off leaving behind a purple spotted egg that looks like the one Olaf and Navi hatched from in The Cutie Mark Chronicles. Kairi blocks Rapunzel's path by teleporting in the way and pins her down, adamantly telling her that Princess Mal has not come to harm them. However, Rapunzel tells her that she is fully aware that Luna won't actually "gobble up" anyone, but she is scared because it is fun to be scared. This inspires a plan in Kairi's mind.

As the animals clean up the mess in the town square, Britney and the Mayor remind the mammals that they still have to give their offerings of candy to Nightmare Moon. Once they have left their offerings at the Nightmare Moon statue, Princess Mal makes a dramatic appearance in her dark alter-ego, scaring them yet again. She transforms back into Princess Mal and pops out a set of fake fangs, but is still afraid that Kairi's plan will fail. However, Ashley then tugs on her mane to ask her something; even if there won't be any more Nightmare Nights, could she still come back next year to scare them? Princess Mal looks past him to see the other foals looking hopefully at her. To her puzzlement, Ashley confirms that the way that she scared them is really fun, and Nightmare Night is his favorite night of the year. Smiling, Luna proclaims that Nightmare Night will have to be reinstated. Ashley tells her that she's his favorite Princess and hugs her. He turns around and tells his friends that she agreed, and the foals cheer. Kairi tells the Princess that they really do like her after all.

Epilogue
Back in town, Mal participates in more carnival games, personally accepts more candy offerings from the foals, and has fun scaring more animals. At the end of the episode, Sally Acorn once again shows up with her thundercloud, and when she is eagerly about to prank Kairi, Olaf, and Navi, Princess Mal gives her a taste of her own medicine, scaring off Sal.

Kairi learned that one of the best things about friendship is to give it to others and help them find it themselves. Also, everyone in Multiville learned that even if someone is intimidating or scary, when you offer them your friendship, you'll discover a whole new pony underneath.

Nightmare Night
Nightmare Night is a festival celebrated annually in Multiville, in which foals dress up in costumes and go door-to-door collecting candy. Festival activities include a carnival with various games, musical entertainment, and a tradition in which candy is offered to the effigy of Nightmare Moon. Britney Akiwara tells in verse of the legend of Nightmare Moon, which explains the customs of the holiday:

"Every year, we put on a disguise to save ourselves from her searching eyes. [...] But Nightmare Moon wants just one thing: to gobble up animals in one quick swing! [...] Hungrily, she soars the sky. If she sees nobody, she passes by. So if she comes and all is clear, Multitopia is safe another year! [...] Fill up her belly with a treat or two, so she won't return to come eat you!"

- Zecora

Costumes
The following is a sortable chart of costumed characters that appear on the episode by time of first appearance. Times are approximate.

Additionally, Nene Amano is dressed as a vampire in a storyboard panel, but in the completed episode, she was replaced by Golden Harvest.

Pheonix Wright, "Owen", Fa Grandmother, "Sabrina Spellman", and Sugar Sprinkle don't wear costumes despite going to the festival. Spectra Vondergeist isn't costumed either, while holed up at home. Princess Mal wears a "costume" only briefly, when she uses her magic and some fake fangs to appear as Nightmare Moon.

Quotes

 * Fillies: [sing-song voice] Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!


 * Kairi Sparkle: Happy Nightmare Night, Fa Grandmother!
 * Fa Grandmother: I should've been asleep five hours ago.


 * Rapunzel: [chicken squawk] Enough chit-chat! Time is candy!
 * Kairi Sparkle: Pinkie Pie, aren't you a little old for this?
 * Rapunzel: Too old for free candy? [chicken squawk] Never!


 * Kairi Sparkle: Sally Acorn, that wasn't very nice.
 * Sally Acorn: Lighten up, old-timer. It's the best night of the year for pranks!


 * Sheriff Mulan: Howdy Olaf. Hey Navi. Hey Kairi. Nice costume.
 * Olaf: Thanks, I'm a dragon.
 * Navi: and I'm a Hero of Hyrule.
 * Kairi Sparkle: She means me, Spike, and Navi.


 * Kairi Sparkle: Princess Mal? Hi, my name is --
 * Princess Mal: Gandalf the Bearded. Commendable costume! Thou even got the bells right...
 * Kairi Sparkle: Thank you, finally! Somebody who gets my costume!


 * Kairi Sparkle: You kinda sound like you're yelling at me.
 * Princess Mal: But this is the traditional royal Canterlot voice! It is tradition to speak, using the royal we, and to use [booming voice] this much volume when addressing our subjects!


 * Spectra Vondergeist: [yelling] Go away! No candy here! Visitors not welcome on Nightmare Night!
 * Kairi Sparkle: [laughing] Spectra, it's me, Kairi!
 * Spectra Vondergeist: It is you. Oh, and Nightmare Moon. [gasps] Nightmare Moon? [scream] [door slam]


 * Princess Mal: [booming voice] Twilight Sparkle hath spoken of the sweetness of thy voice. We ask, thou teachest to us to speak as thou speakest.
 * Spectra Vondergeist: [quiet] Okay.
 * Princess Mal: [booming voice] Shall our lessons begin?
 * Spectra Vondergeist: [quieter] Okay.
 * Princess Mal: [booming voice] Shall we mimic thy voice?
 * Spectra Vondergeist: [quiet] Okay.
 * Princess Mal: [booming voice] How is this?
 * Spectra Vondergeist: [hurriedly] Perfect. Lesson over.
 * [runs, but then slams into the door after Kairi shuts it before she could get back in]


 * Princess Mal: Ha ha! The fun has been doubled!


 * Ashley: Help! My backside has been gobbled!
 * Princess Mal: 'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!


 * Rapunzel: Aaaaah-! [tackled and muffled by Kairi]
 * Kairi Sparkle: Rapunzel! No! No shrieking! No screaming or squealing either, okay?
 * Rapunzel: [muffled] Okay!


 * Kairi Sparkle: Rapunzel! You're a genius!
 * Rapunzel: No I'm not, I'm a chicken. [squawk]


 * Princess Mal: [sarcastic] Forgive me if I withhold my enthusiasm.


 * Princess Mal: Can it be true? [booming voice] Oh, most wonderful of...! [normal voice] I mean... Oh, most wonderful of nights.