WARNING: SPOILERS
Well that was something! So we get to see Starswirl the Bearded, along with what seems to be the proto-version of the Elements of Harmony, in a story read by Sunburst, as they take on the pony of Shadows. So it's now canon that Starswirl did most of his bearding while Celestia and Luna were just foals/fillies, before they assumed the duties of the Sun and the Moon. Of course, the mystery left dangled is what happened to Starswirl and company? They vanished shortly after his last journal entry.
Of course, Twilight and Sunburst are *beyond* eager to research what happened, and we get a cute little sequence where the whole group (the Mane Six, Spike, Starlight, and Sunburst) are studying clues. As we see, Twilight's study game is still strong, while Sunburst needs to learn that sleep is for the weak. After Starlight comes in to bring them tea for a study break, she sees a passage in an old research journal which catches her attention, and starts reading. Twilight is surprised that Starlight can read Old Ponish ("Ponish" is now canon as the official language of Equestria), and together, she, Starlight, and Sunburst figure out the location of where Starswirl and crew vanished, which ends up being a series of ruins out in the middle of the Everfree Forest.
After finding the ruins, but no clues as to where S & Co vanished, Twilight sits the book atop one rune, which activates an image of Starswirl, along with his merry band of ponies. A re-enactment of the Pony of Shadows showdown plays out in front of Twilight and company. Instead of coming to defeat the Pony of Shadows, Starswirl reveals that he was, instead, to be contained, at the cost of Starswirl and company's freedom, banishing him (and they with him) to another realm.
So, that mystery solved, we head back to the castle. Sunburst explains that the whole mystery would be to understand Starswirl's spell, which he thinks would take years. Of course Twilight immediately brings her "A" game and teaches Sunburst not to be too hasty about spell learning in the presence of Best Pony (patent pending). Twilight has figured out Starswirl's banishment spell, and now seeks to bring him back to the land of the living, in their realm. Also, while her study game is strong, her diorama game is not quite as strong.
Anyway, we can see where this is going.
Twilight realizes they'll need the original magical artifacts from each pillar to bring them back. Finding that the map has given them the locations of each, they head out to retrieve the magical artifacts. We get several sequences where the Mane Six find ways to retrieve them.
So, artifacts recovered, Twilight and company head back to the ruins in order to bring him and the Pillars back. Engaging her magic, Twilight and company manage to bring back Starswirl and his team, only to find Starswirl angry, because in doing so, Twilight has managed to release the Pony of Shadows as well. Muahahahahah.
Thus ends Part One.
In Part Two, we see the muahahahing continue. Starswirl demands that they be sent back to limbo along with the Pony of Shadows, who disagrees with this notion, and proceeds to escape after his villain screed. Starswirl is incensed with Twilight for meddling with the containment spell. When we return to the castle, Starswirl reveals that the map, and the castle, is a part of the Tree of Harmony (we knew this, but that he knew after he was gone is interesting).
Starswirl divines where the Pony of Shadows will travel to restore his power, and they prepare to set off to stop him, each pony pairing up with their predecessor. Of course, Starswirl is still giving Twilight static. -_- Anyway, Twilight decides to create a better banishment spell to gain Starswirl's respect, while Starlight tells Twilight there must be a better way. Twilight ends up finding a method to return Pony of Shadows to limbo without losing the pillars, and Starswirl, who writes her off as "half baked." Starlight still insists there must be a better way. She's brushed off, and continues to feel the plan seems wrong.
In searching to find the Pony of Shadows, we hear several stories about what the Pillars did to save Equestria. We also see how the Sirens/Dazzlings are transported to the Equestria Girls realm (which makes it 100% official canon folks). We also learn the origins of the Pony of Shadows. Also, his name is Stygian. So, you know, hell yes. Seriously, guys, this is awesome mythology for a "kids show."
Of course, Starswirl and others insist that he must still be banished, while Starlight feels that if the Pillars were still in charge, she would have been banished to limbo rather than reformed. Anyhoo, so they all head to Hollow Shades in order to summon the Pony of Shadows in order to do battle and banish him. Battle ensues! After an awesome laser light show, the Pillars open the portal, and Starlight tells Twilight that this is a friendship problem. As they attempt to banish the Pony of Shadows, Twilight sees that there is a pony inside that black mass of shadows, and attempts to talk to him from inside of it. She meets Stygian. Face to face, she gets to the root of what made Stygian become the Pony of Shadows, what made him turn. Twilight gets an assist from Starlight, and between the two of them, they convince Stygian to relinquish his power, causing the Darkness (the essence of the Pony of Shadows), to break away, and at the last second, banish the Darkness to limbo, saving Stygian, who reconciles with the Starswirl and the Pillars, which sounds like an 80s Prog Rock band.
With the return of the original Pillars, the Elements have also returned to the Mane Six. Starswirl makes amends with Twilight, too, and things begin to heal. In the final scenes, we see Starswirl meeting up with the Princesses, and reminiscing, before he and the other Pillars decide to explore Equestria, which opens up opportunities for season 8.
Notes:
* Heh. Ponehenge.
* Starswirl's a bit of a dick. You know what they say, you should never meet your heroes.
* MMMMaaaaagic!
* The original pillars upon which the Elements are built is Hope, Strength, Beauty, Courage, Healing, and Sorcery. (Neat!)
* Exploration! We get to see so much of Equestria in this finale.
* Hollow Shades reference!
* Twilight's face when Starswirl finally compliments her is perfect.
* This episode is chock full of history bits and bites. We're getting an even better picture of Equestria's past and I love it.
* Feelings CLEARLY play into power and magic in Equestria. Negativity clearly has some kind of real power in that realm.
Final Grade: Magic, exploration, mystery, mythology, and awesome storytelling?
A+. A great way to end the season!
