The Shadow Play Limited-Time Story, based on the two-part finale of Season 7 ("Shadow Play - Part 1" and "Part 2"), was first held on May 19, 2018 in Update 4.3, running for 7 days.
The event was held a second time on Jan. 4, 2019 in Update 4.9; this time running for 10 days.
Event promo ad.
Solo[]
Twilight : Thanks so much for being here with me, everypony... I can't believe I'm gonna meet Starswirl the Bearded! You know ~~ outside of my dreams.
Starlight Glimmer : I can't believe you're actually going through with it... I'm all for pushing the envelope, obviously, but casting this spell... it's pretty out there for you, Twilight.
Sunburst : What's "out there" about saving the most Legendary ponies of all time from a thousand-year-old magical prison? Remember: It's not just Starswirl that's trapped there...
Starlight Glimmer : I know, I know... It's the other five Pillars of Equestria, too. ... But they sent THEMSELVES to Limbo when they banished the Pony of Shadows there! Maybe they knew what they were doing!
Twilight : Starlight... The Pony of Shadows was awful, but he's GONE now... and Starswirl is the greatest wizard who ever lived! The chance to have him back in Equestria... it's worth the risk.
Twilight : Now: We have artifacts from each of the six Pillars, so we should be ready to cast the spell and set them free! Sunburst, you supervise; Starlight, I'll need you to cast it with me.
Quest #1: Shadows Gather[]
| Quest #1: Shadows Gather | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Now: We have artifacts from each of the six Pillars, so we should be ready to cast the spell and set them free! Sunburst, you supervise; Starlight, I'll need you to cast it with me." | Task/Skip | Task requirement | Rewards | ||||||
|
Send Twilight Sparkle to cast the spell. |
1 Time | ||||||||
200 
| |||||||||
1 
| |||||||||
|
Send Starlight Glimmer to cast the spell. |
1 Time | ||||||||
2000 
| |||||||||
| Quest giver: | 200 Legendary Lore | ||||||||
| Ending text | |||||||||
| "It's working... It's working! The Pillars just appeared out of nowhere! And... WOW the beardy one looks upset about something" | |||||||||
Starswirl the Bearded : What... what has happened?!
Twilight : It... it worked! We brought you back! You and the others have been trapped in Limbo for over a thousand years, but I figured out how to get you ho--
Starswirl the Bearded : What?! No, no, no, NO! You must undo what you've done! You cannot bring ONLY the Pillars back!!!
Pony of Shadows : Muahahaha... Your pitiful attempt to imprison me has failed, Starswirl! But don't fret... When I extinguish the light and hope of this miserable world, you won't remember any of this!
Twilight : No... I... I just wanted to save Starswirl! I didn't think... W-wait. The Pony of Shadows... he just VANISHED! He was right there, and then...
Starswirl the Bearded : This is not over, young meddler... if we are to banish the Pony of Shadows once more, it will require a sacrifice of great magical power. Unless you have a better idea, that is...
Quest #2: Starry Night[]
| Quest #2: Starry NIght | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "This is not over, young meddler... if we are to banish the Pony of Shadows once more, it will require a sacrifice of great magical power. Unless you have a better idea, that is..." | Task/Skip | Task requirement | Rewards | ||||||
|
Send Twilight Sparkle to research a better idea. |
1 Time | ||||||||
| 100
| |||||||||
| 1
| |||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
| 1000
| |||||||||
| Quest giver: | 100 Legendary Lore | ||||||||
| Ending text | |||||||||
| "I've been carrying new books over to Twilight for what feels like moons... She seems really stressed out! And I don't blame her..." | |||||||||
Twilight : Keep it together, Twilight... keep it together... You just unleashed ultimate evil and doomed Equestria because you were obsessed with meeting your idol! Just... keep researching.
Starlight Glimmer : Hey, Twilight! The others are still out searching for the Pony of Shadows, but... uh... Are you okay?
Twilight : Just a second, Starlight. Portal gate... Portal keys... Portal spells... Yes! If the Pillars can hold open the gateway to Limbo, a powerful pony can do the banishing spell herself!
Starlight Glimmer : That's great... but is banishment really the only option? I mean, it's been a long time... Maybe the Pony of Shadows is ready to talk?
Starlight Glimmer : I was talking with the other Pillars... They knew the Pony of Shadows before he became what he is now. His name was Stygian... and they were FRIENDS, Twilight! This whole plan just seems... wrong.
Quest #3: Light in the Darkness[]
| Quest #3: Light in the Darkness | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I was talking with the other Pillars... They knew the Pony of Shadows before he became what he is now. His name was Stygian... and they were FRIENDS, Twilight! This whole plan just seems... wrong." | Task/Skip | Task requirement | Rewards | ||||||
|
Send Starlight Glimmer to try to persuade Twilight. |
1 Time | ||||||||
| 50
| |||||||||
| 1
| |||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
| 500
| |||||||||
| Quest giver: | 200 Legendary Lore | ||||||||
| Ending text | |||||||||
| "Twilight's listening... but she looks doubtful. I get that Starswirl is a genius and all, but Starlight Glimmer has a good point!" | |||||||||
Starswirl the Bearded : Twilight... ready yourself for battle. Your enchanted map has summoned all of your companions to the Hollow Shades ~~ where the Pony of Shadows no doubt makes its lair.
Starswirl the Bearded : The Pony of Shadows wanted more power than he had, and that desire led him down a path from which there is no return! There is NO WAY to befriend a pony like that. Now ~~ let us go!
Twilight : Starlight... I... I hope I'm doing the right thing, but we have to take care of the Pony of Shadows somehow... Everypony! Get behind me!
Boss Fight: Dawn Breaks[]
Boss stage #1[]
| Boss stage #1 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Reward |   | ||||||||
| Ponhenge | Pony of Shadows (99HP) (Re-run: 120HP)
| ||||||||
| Limited-Time Reward | Cattail | Power
|
Time/Skip
| ||||||
| Mistmane | Power: +3 |
8 |
2h 15m | 2 hours | ||||||
| Time limit: 1d 12h (Re-run: 2 days) |
38 | 40
| ||||||||
| Ending text | |||||||||
Original:
- Without Cattail: 13 casts (27 hours) - 4 casts (9 hours) can be missed
- With Cattail: 9 casts (18 hours) - 8 casts (18 hours) can be missed
Re-run:
- Without Cattail: 15 casts (28 hours) - 10 casts (20 hours) can be missed
- With Cattail: 11 casts (20 hours) - 14 casts (28 hours) can be missed
Pony of Shadows : Hahaha... Your days of glory are through, Starswirl! Now, MY dark power will reign, and your six will bow to me... and ALL ponies will feel the despair I did when you cast me out!
Starswirl the Bearded : We did what we had to do... You tried to steal our powers for yourself!
Rarity : Goodness! There certainly seems to be history, there... ah... Mistmane, right? I have the funniest feeling that we've met before...
Mistmane : Who can say for certain? Stranger things have happened...
Boss stage #2[]
| Boss stage #2 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Reward |   | ||||||||
| Magic Shop | Pony of Shadows (186HP) (Re-run: 215HP)
| ||||||||
| Limited-Time Reward | Cauldron Bubbles | Power
|
Time/Skip
| ||||||
| Starswirl the Bearded | Power: +4 |
8 |
2h 15m | 2 hours | ||||||
| Time limit: 2d 12h (Re-run: 3d 6h) |
38 | 40
| ||||||||
| Ending text | |||||||||
Original:
- Without Cauldron Bubbles: 24 casts (51h 45m) - 4 casts (8h 15m) can be missed
- With Cauldron Bubbles: 16 casts (33h 45m) - 12 casts (26h 15m) can be missed
Re-run:
- Without Cauldron Bubbles: 27 casts (52 hours) - 13 casts (26 hours) can be missed
- With Cauldron Bubbles: 18 casts (34 hours) - 22 casts (44 hours) can be missed
Pony of Shadows : RrrrRRRRGH...! NO!!! You will NOT trap me again!
Starswirl the Bearded : The time is now, Twilight! Push him into the portal!
Twilight : Wait! Inside all that shadow... Is there a pony in there?!
Mage Meadowbrook : Gracious! I've seen a lot in my day ~~ but I never would've expected THIS!
Somnambula : I agree! That yellow pegasus is an EXACT DOUBLE of a young mare I honed my motivational speaking skills upon so many years ago! WHAT ARE THE ODDS?!
Mage Meadowbrook : ... Come again?
Boss stage #3[]
| Boss stage #3 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Reward |   | ||||||||
| Stygian | Pony of Shadows (234HP) (Re-run: 308HP)
| ||||||||
| Limited-Time Reward | Mage Meadowbrook | Power
|
Time/Skip
| ||||||
| Pony of Shadows | Power: +5 |
8 |
2h 15m | 2 hours | ||||||
| Time limit: 3 days (Re-run: 4d 5h) |
38 | 40
| ||||||||
| Ending text | |||||||||
| We're winning! I think we're... wait. Is Twilight going INSIDE the shadows? What's she going to do in there?! | |||||||||
Original:
- Without Mage Meadowbrook: 30 casts (65h 15m) - 2 casts (6h 45m) can be missed
- With Mage Meadowbrook: 18 casts (38h 15m) - 14 casts (33h 45m) can be missed
Re-run:
- Without Mage Meadowbrook: 39 casts (76 hours) - 12 casts (25 hours) can be missed
- With Mage Meadowbrook: 24 casts (46 hours) - 27 casts (55 hours) can be missed
Twilight : Are you... Stygian?! Starswirl says you betrayed the Pillars... that you wanted their magic...
Stygian : NO! I wanted their respect! I brought them together... planned their strategy... but I didn't have magic or strength, so nopony ever noticed me. So I became stronger than any of them!
Twilight : But... this is all a misunderstanding! If the Pillars knew how you felt, I'm sure they wouldn't have turned their backs on you. The shadow isn't who you really are...
Starlight Glimmer : It's true! I wasn't so different from you, and Twilight helped me change. If there's one pony in Equestria that can save a friendship, it's her.
Twilight : And it's everypony here, too! Stygian needs to fight the darkness... but he can't do it alone!
Starswirl the Bearded : Then we must help him! Pillars ~~ call on your elements! SORCERY!
Rockhoof : STRENGTH!
Flash Magnus : BRAVERY!
Mage Meadowbrook : HEALING!
Mistmane : BEAUTY!
Somnambula : HOPE!
Community[]
| Leaderboard #1 | Time Limit: 7 Days | |
|---|---|---|
| Assign Characters to complete tasks and earn: Legendary Lore. | ||
| Prize 1 (1-100) | Prize 2 (101-500) | Prize 3 (501-1000) |
| Ms. Vine | Tapestry of the Pillars | 10
|
Community Helpers[]
| Pony | Legendary Lore Produced | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Applejack | 5 | 1h 30m |
| Fluttershy (X2) | 10 | 2h 30m |
| Imperial Colt (X3) | 15 | 3h |
| Professor Fossil (X4) | ? | ? |
| Mistmane Family Gardener (X4) | 20 | 3h 30m |
| Bold Archaeologist (X5) | 25 | 4h 0m |
Starswirl the Bearded : I accept your apology, Stygian... one that's long overdue. Long ago, you needed our help... but instead of listening, we turned our backs on you. Pride clouded my judgement... but no longer!
Stygian : I... I want to believe you... I MUST believe you!!! Darkness... BEGONE!
Starlight Glimmer : We did it! The Pony of Shadows disappeared... leaving Stygian behind in his place! Which means... *AHEM* Apparently, a conversation can save Equestria, huh?
Starswirl the Bearded : Heh heh... Something tells me you will be making a LOT of apologies today.
Gallery[]
