(A week later, at the library)
"Where are all my quills?!" Twilight asked as she found it, levitating/throwning it to Spike, who jumped and grabbed them with a bag.
She then begin levitanting a line of books, none was what she was looking for.
"What got on her?" Sonic asked.
"Celestia send a letter, something about a test." Tails said.
Twilighy then removed some books from a shelve, then a huge book. Dropping to Spike, who got slammed by it. She looked to him, then she dashed to one of the tables. "Flash cards. I should make some flash cards. Spike, I'm gonna need you to quis me. From everything. Everything I've ever learned. Ever." She said, levitanting four big piles of papers to Spike, who just managed to get off the book when she gave him the papers.
"That isn't gonna to be enough cards." She said, searching for more.
Spike put down the papers, "Twilight, calm down. It's just a test." He said.
She glanced at him, "Just a test?" She went to him. "Just a test?!" She repeated as she approuched Spike, who begin waking back from her.
"Princess Celestia wants to give me some kind of exam, and you're trying to tell me to calm down because it's just a test?!" She asked.
Spike put on a helmet and some pillows as his armor. "Uh, yes?" He said.
Twilight begin growling as her horn beginned charging.
"I'd say she's handling things pretty well... considering." Applejack said.
(Outside)
Suddently the tree/library skyrocketed in a boom and scream from Twilight, then it slammed back on the ground in one piece.
(At Canterlot, 2 hours later...)
"Are you sure you don't want me to go as well?" Luna asked.
"Yes. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor are already there. The others will be joining them soon." Celestia said.
"The empire's magic is powerful. It cannot fall again, my sister." Luna said.
"She will suceed at her task, and when she does, we'll know she is that closer to being ready." Celestia said as they heard Twilight getting their attention. They saw she was carring a huge bag.
"Trust me, little sister." Celestia said as Luna went to the door.
"You wanted to see me? To give me a test?" Twilight asked as she went to her, passing Luna, who glanced at her butcontinue on her way. "I brought my own quills and plenty of paper to show my work." She said, levitanting the bag and dropping it in her front. Spilling all it's contents on the floor, and a empty scroll to unroll it to Celestia's feet.
"Sorry. Sorry." She said, trying to grab the scroll.
"This is a different kind of test." Celestia said, rolling up the scroll and putting Twilight's things back on her back with her magic.
"The Crystal Empire has returned." She said.
"The Crystal Empire?" Twilight asked, levitating her books to her. "I'm sorry. I – I thought I'd studied." Twilight said as Celestia grab the books with her magic minus the one Twilight was reading. "Oh, I don't thing there's anything in any of my books –", "There wouldn't be." Celestia interrupted her.
"Few remenber it ever existed at all." Celestia said, levitating a crystal in front of Twilight. "Even my knowledge on the empire is limited." She said, activating the crystal.
Twilight, surprised by it, stepped back as the crystal projected an hologram of the Crystal Empire.
"But what I do know is that it contains a powerful magic. One thousand of years ago, King Sombra, an unicorn whose heart was black as night, took over the Crystal Empire." She said, the hologram showed black crystals forming around the empire as the crystal castle got corrupted by it. At the top, appeared King Sombra's head, growling at her.
"One day, he was ultimately overthrown, turned into a shadow, and banishes to the ice of the arctic north. But not before he was able to put a curse upon the empire. A curse that cause it to vanish into thin air." Celestia said, closing the hologram, than levitate the crystal.
"If the empire is filled with hope and love, those things are reflected across all Equestria." She said, shooting a rainbow colored beam atthe crystal, making it glow multicolor very brighty.
"But if hatred and fear take hold..." She said, shooting a dark beam at the crystal, making it turn black and spawning some corrupted crystals around Twilight. Celestia then destroyed the corrupted ones as she put the crystal back into it's place.
"Which is why I need your help finding a way to protect it." She said.
"You want me to help protect an entire empire?" Twilight asked.
"It is, as I said, a different kind of test but one I'm certain you will pass." Celestia said.
"How do I begin?" Twilight asked, determined.
"By joining princess Cadence and Shining Armor in the crystal empire." She said, leading Twilight to the door.
"My brother is there?" Twilight asked, happy to heard about her brother.
"Yes, and you Ponyville friends will join you there as well." She said, arriving at the doors where Luna was. "I have every confidence you will succeed. And when you do, I'll know you are ready to move on the next level of your studies."
Twilight glanced at Luna, who has a serious expression facing her. "But what if I fail?" Twilight asked.
"You won't." Celestia said.
"But what if-?" She poked her. "You won't." She said.
Twilight walk passed the doors, Luna walk to Celestia's side. "But, Twilight, in the end, it must be you and you alone who ultimately assists Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in doind what needs to be done to protect the empire. Do you understand?" Celestia asked.
"Mm-hmm" Twilight nodded.
"Then go. There is no time to lose." Celestia said, closing the doors. Twilight exited the castle, walking pass Spike who was sitting at the stair, waiting her.
"Ah, Twilight! That was fast. Let me guess, you got a perfect score." Spike said but she didn't answered as she continue her path. He notice her expression.
"A-minus?" He asked, following her.
"B-plus?" He asked again, nothing. "Ah, Twilight, did you... fail?" He asked, nervously.
*Sighs* "No, Spike. Not yet, at least." She said, heading to the train station.
"Then what is it?" He asked following her.
"I didn't prepared for this." She said arrived.
"Didn't prepare for what, exactly?" He asked.
"Twilight! You passed?" Applejack asked, surprising Twilight as the others exited the train, Pinkie Pie did exit it with her cannon.
"Are we going to celebrate your sucess with princess Celestia?" Pinkie Pie asked as she jumped and her cannon shoot a lot of confettis.
"Not quite." Twilight said. Pinkie after hearing that, returned to the ground as the confettis went back to the cannon.
"We're going to the Crystal Empire." Twilight said. The others got confused.
"The Crystal what?" Sonic asked.
"The Crystal Empire. Let's go." Twilight said, entering the train, they followed her, hoping she would explain on the way.
(Some hours later)
As they exit the train, they were instantly welcomed by a snowstorm, making they shake at the cold of the north.
"Ha, and you all made fun of me for packing so many scarves." Rarity said, exiting the train with a pink scarve.
"Ugh! I didn't say a word." Spike said, exiting the train, carrying Rarity's baggage. He slipped on the snow, dropping open the case and making some scarves flying around because of the wind.
"Thanks for the scarve, Rarity!" Sonic said, passing her and helpig Spike with the scarves.
"You're welcome, Sonic." She said.
"Twilight!" Somepony called her.
"Shining Armor?" She asked, noticing him coming to the station.
"Twily, you made it!" He said, hugging her.
"We'd better get moving. There are things out here we really don't want to run into after dark." He said.
"What king of things?" Fluttershy asked.
"Let's just say the empire isn't the only thing that's returned." He said, leading the way to the empire.
(Minutes later)
"Something keeps trying to get in. We think it's the unicorn king who originally cursed the place." Shining said.
"But princess Celestia said I was being sent here to find a way to protect the empire. If king Sombra can't get in, then already be protected." Twilight said.
[Creature howling distantly]
"Ah! That's - that's one of the things, isn't it?" Fluttershy asked, scared.
We have to go to the Crystal Empire now!" Shining said as a giant shadow suddently appeared behind them, snarling.
They all runned but Spike and Sonic. Spike because he was way heavy by the baggage and Sonic was petrified in fear. Shining Armor runned to them, used his magic to grab them and levitate then to the others, breaking Sonic's petrified state.
The shadow chase then as they runned to the empire, Twilight knocked Spike to her back as Rainbow notice Sonic's panicked expression and pick him up.
"We're almost there, keep running!" Shining said as they could see the empire, he then stopped to make sure the others could make it, he charged his horn and shoot at the shadow, it went pass through it and it charged at him, which he tried again. The shadow attacked his horn, corrupting it as Shining just runned and jumped inside the empire's protection.
"Shining Armor, your horn." Twilight said as he tried to charge his horn but to no avail.
"Sonic? Sonic, Calm down! We're safe now." Rainbow Dash said, but he still shaking madly, she then hugged him tight. "It's okay, now." She said, rubbing his head.
"O-ok." He said, still hugging her. Tails looked to Sonic, feeling sorry for him.
"Sparklerific!" Pinkie Pie said as they all glanced at the Crystal Empire. They begin heading to the castle.
"Tails, don't you want to confort Sonic? He semmed pretty terrified." Twilight asked.
"I think Rainbow got it under control already." Tails said, pointing to them.
"Do you think she...?" She asked.
"I think so, but for that, we need to fix his situation first." He said, then he looked to the castle. "But that is going to be after this." He finished.
"Yeah. Do you think the horn will disappear when we turn him back to normal?" She asked.
"I guess... I don't know. I'm not very experient with this kind of magic." He said.
"Twili, am I seeing things or that filly is a alicorn?" Shining Armor asked, very curious.
"Oh, that is a long story for another time. Now we should focus on protecting the empire." She said.
"You right." He said.
As they arrived at the castle entrance. "It's gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous." Rarity said, very impressed with the place. "There are no words!" She said.
"Focus Rarity. We're here to help Twilight, not admire the scenary." Applejack said.
"Eh, I don't see what the big deal is. Just looks like another old castle to me." Rainbow said.
"Wha-?! Old cast-?! Have you lost your mind? Look at the magni-" She stopped when they begin chuckling. "Oh, very funny." She said as they all entered the castle.
(At the throne room)
Cadence was at the throne, very tired of using her magic.
"Cadence!" Twilight called her name, approuching her. Cadence smilled and went to her.
"Sunshine, sunshine. Ladybug's awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake." Both sing.
Cadence then winced, "One of these days we need to get together whem the fate of Equestria isn't hanging on the balance." She said, sighing tired.
"Are you okay?" Twilight asked.
"Cadence has been able to use her magic to spread love and light. That seems to be what is protecting it. But she hasn't slept, barely eats. I want to help her but my protection spell has been countered by King Sombra." Shining said, glancing at his horn.
"It's all right, Shining Armor. I'm fine." Cadence said.
"She's not fine. She can't go on this forever. And if her magic were to fade... Well, you saw what's out there waiting for that to happen." He said.
"That's way we're here." Twilight said.
"Why we're all here." Applejack said, the others nodded.
"With Cadence putting all her strenght into keeping her spell going and me trying to keep an eye on signs of trouble in the arctic. We haven't been able to gather much information from the Crystal Ponies." He said.
"Crystal Ponies? [Laughs] There are Crystal Ponies?" Rarity asked, noticing they looking at her. "Um, ahem, please continue." She said, embarrased.
"But we have to believe one of those knows how we can protect the empire without having to use Cadence's magic." Shining said.
Twilight begin thinking, "A research paper." She said.
"Huh?" He asked.
"That must be part of my test. To gather information from the Crystal Ponies and deliver it to you. This is gonna be great, I love research papers." She said.
"Yeah, who doesn't?" Rainbow asked sarcastically, embowing Pinkie Pie.
"Oh, oh, oh. Let me guess." Pinkie dashed to Spike's side. "It's Spike? No, Fluttershy. Rarity?" She asked, pulling them to her.
"Don't worry, big brother. I am really good at this sort of thing." She said.
"Are you sure? Absolutely sure?" Twilight asked one of the crystal ponies.
"I'm sorry. I wish I could help you. But I can't seem to remember anything before King Sombra came to power." She then winced as she shaked a little. "And I don't want to remember anything about the time he ruled over us." She said, shuddering.
"King Sombra's spell must be why their coats aren't... crystally." Twilight said to Spike.
"Have we really been gone a thousand years?" The pony asked.
"Yes." Twilight answered.
"It feels like it was just yesterday." She said.
"If you remember of anything, even the smallest thing..." Twilight said.
"Of course." The pony said, entering and closing her door.
"Well, that was a total bust." Spike said climbing down to the street with Twilight.
"Maybe the others are having better luck." She said.
(With Rainbow Dash)
"A way to protect the empire. You know anything about it or not?" She asked.
"I wish I could help you. Really." The pony said, walking away.
Rainbow frowned and dashed in front of her. "Come on, you gotta know something." Rainbow tried again.
"But I don't have any information." She said, leaving while Rainbow facehoofed while growling.
(With Fluttershy)
Oh, um, excuse me." She tried getting attention of one of the ponies walking around, but without sucess.
"Oh, hello. Umn I was just wondering..." She tried but was ignored. She then saw two ponies on a table, not doing anything. She frowned as she approuched them. Lifting her hoof as if she was about to hit one of them.
"Oh, oh, that's ok. Um, you all look really busy." She said, going away from them.
(With Pinkie Pie)
She was wearing a spy clothes while at a roof of one of the houses, she then saw two ponies talking. "Time to gather some intel." She said, holding onto a rope and descend just above them, hearing their conversation.
"It just feels like something is missing." On of them said.
"I know. It looks the same, but it doesn't feel the same." The other one said.
"Because it isn't." Pinkie said, making them notice her.
(Screams) "A spy!" They runned from Pinkie as she fell to the ground.
"A spy? How did they know?" Pinkie wondered, then she glanced to her goggles. "Ah, must have noticed my night-vision goggles." She said, putting them on.
"Ooh, night viniony." She said, then she crashed at one of the street's poles.
(With Rarity)
"...And when you flip your mane, it simply must create a rainbow of color. Wouldn't I look just magnificent?" Rarity asked as the group of ponies next to her was getting their distance from her.
(With Tails and Sonic)
"How could these ponies just forget things like this?" Sonic asked, frustated from not getting anything.
"It must have to be the curse Twilight mentioned." Tails said as they went back to the castle.
"But the entire place?" He asked.
"Uhum, curses are no jokes." Tails said.
"So, do you think we were cursed?" Sonic asked.
"I... hm..." Tails begin thinking. "But then who would curse us and why?" Tails asked.
"Don't have idea." Sonic said, arriving at the castle base, noticing the girls already there.
"Only thing I was able to get out of them was something about a library." Applejack said.
*Gasps* "A library? Well, why didn't you said so?" Twilight asked.
"Uh, thought I just did." Applejack said.
"Found anything?" Tails asked.
"Yes, a library." Rainbow said as Twilight went ahead of them.
"Let me guess, she's going there?" He asked.
"Uhum." The others nodded.
(At the Crystal library)
"I just- I don't even know what to- there are no words." Twilight said, glancing at the large amount of bookcases and shelves filled with books.
(Clears throat)
An old pony with glasses gathered their attention, "May I help you?" She asked.
"Yes. We're looking for a book." Twilight said.
"We have a plenty of those." She said, pointing to the rest of the library.
"You do. You really do." She said, glancing nostop at the library.
"We're looking for a history book. Something that might tell us how the empire might have protected itself from danger in the past." Tails said.
"Yes, of course. History... history..." She begin thinking. "Ah, yes." She said.
The others smilled, waiting her to continue... Only to her to just say nothing.
"...Which is where, exactly?" Twilight asked.
"I... I can't remember. I'm not sure if I actually work here." She said.
"Ugh!" Rainbow Dash groaned.
"We'll just have a look around. I'm sure we can find it on our own." Twilight said, leading the others deeper in the library.
"Let me know if you find anything." The old pony said, going to the exit.
"I like her." Pinkie said, following the others.
After some minutes searching, throwning books around and one hitting Tails head, cortesy of Rainbow Dash, "Yes!" Twilight finally find the book.
She put down the book as the others came around her. She opened the book and started reading.
(At the castle)
"A crystal faire. According to this book, it was established by their first queen and became their most important tradition. The faire was held every year to... 'Renew the spirit of love and unity in the empire. So they could protect it from harm.' My friends and I can put it together. Everything we need to know is in the book." Twilight said to Shining Armor and Cadence.
"That sounds pretty promising." Shining said, glancing at Cadence but she didn't react as she was exausted.
"We'll get started right away. Come on, Spike, we've got a crystal faire to put together." She said, leaving the room with Spike carring the book.
(Later, at the faire)
"It looks amazing. I don't know how I could have done this without you." Twilight said.
"One last check to make sure everything is in place and then the festivities can begin." She said.
"What this thing is for?" Applejack asked, pointing to a sculture of a heart.
"The last page of the book mentioned a crystal heart as the faire's centerpiece, so I used my magic to cut one out of a crystal block." Twilight said.
"Nice work, Twi. Think we're ready to get this faire up and running." Applejack said.
(Later at the castle's balcony)
Pinkie Pie played the trumpet as Princess Cadence, Shining Armor and Twilight went to the balcony.
"Hear ye, hear ye! Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor do cordially invite you to attend the Crystal Faire." Twilight annouced, getting the attentin of the whole empire, the crystal ponies begin recovering their colors as they approuched the faire.
"Come on in, y'all." Applejack greeted them, "Got food and drinks that way." She said pointing to her left. "Games and crafts that way." She said pointing to her right. "And the Crystal Heart at there." She said, pointing to the castle.
"Did she said 'Crystal Heart'?" Some of the ponies start murmuring as they went to the faire.
Rainbow was eating one corn from a stand when two ponies pass near her, "Seeing all of this, I feel like I'm starting to remember, remember things from before the King." One of them said.
"Me too." The other said, then they gasped s they recovered their colors back.
"The Crystal Heart!" They both said, getting Rainbow's attention.
"Do you think they really have it?" She asked.
"Of course we have it. Can't have a Crystal Faire without the Crystal Heart, right?" Rainbow asked as she dashed to them.
"Of course you can't." The old pony from the library said, getting her attention. "The whole purpose of the Crystal Faire is to lift the spirits of the Crystal ponies so the light with them can power the Crystal Heart so that the empire can be protected." She said.
"What's that about powering the heart?" Rainbow asked as Applejack approuched them.
"I just can't believe you found it. King Sombra said he'd hidden it away where we would never see it again. I only hope it will still be as powerful after all these years." She said, leaving.
Rainbow and Applejack gasped, then Rainbow flied high and went to where the 'Crystal Heart' was, on the way she grabbed the flag from a pole.
She arrived at the heart and hid it with the flag, Twilight looked at her confused. "Why did you-?"
"I think we may have a problem." She said.
(Back at the balcony)
"I didn't know it was an actual relic. The book didn't mention anything about the Crystal Ponies powering up the heart." Twilight said, going through the entire book, she noticed at the end of it, a page was missing. "There's a page missing. How did I not notice?" She asked, shaking her head.
"It's all right, Twilight." Cadence said, then she couldn't endure anymore and she fall, but Shining Armor hold her before she hit the ground, but her magic was interrupted.
"Twily." Shining said as they begin hearing a distant howling, the same as when they arrived. The looked at the empire borders, noticing Cadence's magic protective bubble desappearing as a black smoke begin closing in at the empire from all directions, in the smoke King Sombra looked at the castle, smirking.
"The empire is under attack." Shining said as he helped Cadence get up, she then charge her horn and bring up another protective bubble.
King Sombra noticed that and tried pass it but it cut his horn and trapped him outside, making him roar in pain. The part of his horn that fell inside the bubble went under the dirt, corrupting slowly the ground around it.
"I have to find the Crystal Heart." Shining said.
"No, you stay here with Cadence. She needs you, Shining Armor. I'll retrieve the heart." Twilight said, running inside the castle with Rainbow.
"Let's do this!" Rainbow said, following her.
"I've been trying to figure out how I'm meant to pass Celestia's test. Retrieving the Crystal Heart must be it. But there is something you can do." Twilight said.
"Name it." Rainbow said, confident.
"You and the rest of our friends have to keep the faire going." Twilight said.
"What? With that thing moving into the empire?" Rainbow asked.
"The whole purpose of the Crystal Faire is to lift the spirits of the Crystal Ponies so they can activate the Crystal Heart." She said.
"Yeah? And?" Rainbow asked.
"If the Crystal Ponies find out that King Sombra is trying to take over the empire again, their spirits are going to be anything but lifted. It won't matter if I find the Crystal Heart, they won't be able to make it work. You have to keep them happy here at the faire." Twilight said as they leaved the castle.
"Keep the faire going and the Crystal Ponies spirits high. Done and done." Rainbow saluted went to the others.
"Twilight, be careful." Shining said from the balcony.
"I will." She said, wandering around and thinking on where to begin.
(At the faire)
Rarity crafted one item of hay to a group of ponies, who got interessed and went to grab other craftings she made as she, Spike and Sonic went to the side for some space. Rainbow flied to them and whispered in Rarity's ear.
She gasped as Rainbow closed her mouth, the ponies, Spike and Sonic looked at her. "I just found out they're offering face-painting for the little ones, ha-ha." She said, nervously as Rainbow went back to Applejack, Sonic was curious on what she tell Rarity and went after her.
Rarity then whispered to Spike what Rainbow said, "Twilight's doing what?" Spike asked as he went to find her.
Twilight was walking through the faire when she glanced at the castle, then she had an idea when Spike approuched her.
"Twilight, wait! I'm coming with you." He said, running to her.
"You can't. I have to retrive the Crystal Heart by myself." She said, going to the castle's direction.
"I know. I promise I won't lift a claw to help you." Spike said, Twilight then levitate him to her back.
"Not a claw, Spike." She said, running to the castle.
"Where we going exactly?" He asked.
"I think I might know where King Sombra hid the Crystal Heart." She said.
"The castle?" Spike asked.
"The king would have been counting on the fact that no pony would dare come looking for it here. They'd have been too afraid to even trying." She said.
"I hope you're right." Spike said.
"You and me both." Twilight said as they entered the castle.
(At the fake Crystal Heart)
Applejack and Rainbow Dash where keeping on guard at the fake heart in case anypony tried to peek in it. Rainbow more agressively than Applejack.
"Maybe you should let me keep the Crystal Ponies away from the fake heart while you show off your jousting skills." Applejack said as she pushed Rainbow away from the heart.
"Seeing my awesomeness does have a way of putting ponies into a pretty good mood." Rainbow said.
"Rainbow, wait!" Sonic stopped her before she flied to the faire.
"Sonic, some problem?" She asked.
"What did you whispered to Rarity to make her gasp?" He asked.
"They didn't tell you?" She asked.
"I went after you before they could." He said, chuckling.
She glanced around to make sure nopony would heard her. "The Crystal Heart is actually a relic, and we need to make sure none of the Crystal Ponies discover that." She whispered.
"And Twilight's went to the castle, why?" He asked.
"She's searching for the real one." She said.
"I'll go help her." Sonic said, going to the door.
"Alright, good luck." She said, flying to the faire.
(Inside the castle)
"It's got to be here somewhere." Twilight said as she looked around the room they where, Spike noticed the carpet was a little folded up.
He checked under it but found nothing, "Not a claw, Spike." She said, making him fold his arms to show he wasn't helping.
Sonic entered their room, "Hi, Spike, Twilight. Found anything?" He asked, looking around the room.
"Not yet." She said.
"Ok, I'll help search." He said, going to the door, but before he could, Twilight levitate him to face her.
"Look, Sonic. I have to do this alone, I'm not letting even Spike help me." She said as Spike nodded, annoyed.
"But-", "No buts, Sonic. If you want, you can make company to me like Spike, but that's it." She said, going to another room.
"If she doesn't want my help, then I won't help." Sonic said as he leaved the room.
Spike went after him, "Sonic, what are you doing?" He asked, noticing Sonic going around the throne room.
"Searching the Crystal Heart, duh." He said, looking under the rug.
"But Twilight said-", "She said to not help her find the Crystal Heart. I'm looking for the Crystal Heart, not helping her." He said, glancing at the crystal above the throne.
"You know Twilight's gonna be mad about that, right?" Spike asked.
"Do you think...?" Sonic asked, looking to his right, Spike looked that direction in confusion but found nothing. Then noticed Sonic charging his horn.
"Sonic?" He asked as he saw Sonic's fur turning a dark blue, then he shoot a dark beam at the crystal, making it glow black while revealing a secret passage on the floor.
"Woah." Sonic said, a little dizzy as his fur turned back to blue.
"The heck was that?" Spike asked.
"Ugh... nothing, let's go." Sonic said, climbing down the passage.
"Sonic, don't- Ugh, for goodsake. Twilight!" Spike called her.
"What is it, Spike?" Twilight asked as she exit the room and approuched him, noticing the open passage on the floor.
She glared at him, "It was not me! I swear!" Spike said.
"Then who did?" She asked, then she growled as she approuched the stairs, looking down. "SONIC! What did I said before?!" She shouted, then decide to just go after him.
"Spike, stay here." She said.
"If you insist." He said, watching her climbing down the passage.
(At the bottom)
"Alright, what now?" Sonic asked, glaring at the door which has been evading him whenever he tried to approuch it.
"Let me do the same before." Cinos said.
"Ok, just try not make me dizzy again." Sonic said.
"Sorry about that." Cinos said, taking control of the his body.
"It's fine." Sonic said, flouting above him.
*breaths in* "Alright." He charged his horn again, shooting the black beam at the crystal on the door, making it open itself, revealing a wall.
"What the-?" Cinos asked, confused.
"Did the magic fail?" Sonic asked.
"I don't think so-", "Sonic? What did I said in that room?" Twilight asked, glaring at him, noticing his fur was more dark then normal, but didn't say anything about.
"...To not help you?" He said.
"When what did you do?" She asked glancing at the door that lead to a wall. "Did you opened that door?" She asked approuching it.
"Yes, I did." He said.
"P-princess Celestia?" She asked, looking at the wall.
"What the-?" Sonic asked.
"That door's making her seeing this that are not real." Cinos said, pulling her back from the door.
"What was that?" She asked, shaking her head.
"That door made you allucinate." He said.
"Oh." She said as she looked at the crystal of the door, she then shoot a beam of magic at it, making the door close itself and open again, revealing anothed stairs, but that lead up.
Twilight entered it as Sonic glanced at where Spike was. "Should we go pick up Spike?" He asked.
*sighs* "I will get him, wait here." Twilight said, going to the stairs.
"Twilight, wait." He said, then he teleported to Spike's side. Surprising him as he pick him up and teleported back to Twilight. "Here, let's go." Cinos said, pointing to the door.
"Huh, I forgot about the teleport." She said as she entered the door with Spike.
"Alright, Sonic. You turn." Cinos said as Sonic take control back, turning his fur back to blue.
He shaked the dizziness off as he went after them. "So, more stairs, huh?" Sonic asked as they sighed, start climbing them.
(Back at the faire)
Rainbow Dash put on a knight helmet as she had na armor with an lance attrached to it, she showed herself as the audience cheered, while on the other side Fluttershy was shaking, not wanting to participate.
Pinkie was on a jester costume, showing some tricks to entertain the ponies when she noticed Cadence's shield flash, she got worried and played the trumpet.
Rainbow and Fluttershy charged at each other after hearing the trumpet, Rainbow managed to hit Fluttershy with the spear, sending her flying to a pile of hay. She then went to her.
"Isn't there somepony else who could take over the jousting demosntration with you?" Fluttershy asked.
"The fate of an entire empire rests on us showing these ponies a good time." Rainbow said as Tails approuched them.
"Did any of you saw Sonic? I can't find." He said.
"Sonic went after Twilight." Rainbow said.
"Tails, please can you take over my place?" Fluttershy asked.
"You mean in the jousting?" He asked.
"Yes, please." She begged.
"Alright I guess." He said as she just thrown him the armor and helmet and went to Applejack. "What got on her?" He asked.
"She just don't know how to lose, now put the armor, we don't have all day." Rainbow said as she went back to her side.
(With Twilight)
"Gosh, these stairs are infinite or what?" Spike asked, tired.
Twilight looked up, then she levitate both Spike and Sonic to her back,"Hold on it!" She said as she used her magic to reverse her gravity, making her slide up the stairs while Spike and Sonic hold her to not fall off.
(With Rarity)
She was having trouble keeping the ponies from seeing the corrupted things King Sombra's magic did. She then ran out of materials, only having three pieces of hay and one drinking straw, she managed to make a hat of it, then she went to where fake heart, founding Applejack and Fluttershy guarding it, while a lot of ponies was around waiting.
She approuched Applejack, "I'm running out of weaving materials for the tradicional craffsbooth. I just made a hat out of three pieces of hay and a drinking straw. I made it work, but still." She said.
"We gotta do everything we can to keep this thing going." They glanced at the balcony, "The princess isn't looking so good. I can't imagine her magic lasting much longer. But it's gonna be fine. These ponies are gonna power up that Crystal Heart when the time comes, and we won't be needing her magic anymore." Applejack said.
"I sure hope that time comes soon. Even I can't keep this party going forever." Pinkie Pie said, juggling while standing on a ball.
They begin hearding a faint screaming that was getting loud, then they saw somepony flying in they direction screaming. "Is that... Tails?" Applejack asked as he crashed on Pinkie Pie, making she hit her ball and send it direct to the fake heart, making it fall on the ground in front of the Crystal Ponies.
"Oh, uh." Both Rarity and Applejack said.
"This isn't the Crystal Heart." One of them said.
"Oh of course it isn't. The real is-", "On it's way." Applejack said, interrupting her.
"I was going to say "being polished" to buy us some more time." Rarity whispered to her.
"Oops." She said.
(King Sombra cackling)
"It's him." The ponies begin running in panic as Cadence's protection flashed again, revealing King Sombra outside the place.
"The Crystal Heart..." He said, looking around the place.
(With Twilight)
As they finally reached the end, Twilight reverted back her gravity, making they fall on the floor.
They fell some wind on the room, they looked to the right and saw the Crystal Heart. They smiled as Spike signaled for her to grab it.
As she went for it, she stepped on an circle on the ground. It glowed black as it soared a alarm, which King Sombra noticed and glared at the tower's direction, he used his magic to trap Twilight in a corrupted cage of crystals.
"Twilight, you okay?" Sonic asked, trying to break her cage as Spike saw the Crystal Heart on the ground.
"Yeah. But the Heart? Where's the Crystal Heart?" She asked.
"Here. It rolled on me when you almost grabbed it." Spike said as he approuched it.
"Don't move!" She said to Spike, who stopped but noticed some corrupted crystals nearing him.
"You can move. Just not towards me." She said as Spike went back.
Twilight tried teleporting outside the cage, but got teleported back inside it by Sombra's magic. "How could I have been so foolish? I was just so eager to get it. Then I saw what's going on outside, I...", "You have to get out of there. You have to bring the Crystal Heart to Princess Cadence. If you don't, you fail Celestia's test." Spike said.
"Twilight, King Sombra is already attacking the empire! And I don't think Cadence's magic is going to hold anymore." Sonic said as he looked outside.
"There may not be enough time for me to find a way to escape." She said, then she glanced at Spike, who was near the Heart.
"Spike, you have to be the one to bring the Crystal Heart to the faire." She said.
"Me? But, Twilight-", "Go." She said.
"But-", "GO!" She shouted as the crystals begin spreading more fast. Spike grabbed the Heart and looked around the room.
"Come on, Spike." Sonic said, leading him outside the tower, looking down from the edge he could see Princess Cadence in Shining Armor's hoofs and the girls on the balcony. Cadence finally haven't any strenght left and couldn't hold anymore the protection, leaving the empire vulnerable to King Sombra.
Sonic then looked behind and saw the corrupted crystals spreading at an alarming rate, completely burring the room with crystals. "We have to jump." He said.
"What?!" Spike asked.
"Do you see another way? I will grab you, don't worry." Sonic said.
"Ok, in three. One... Tw-", "Three!" Sonic said as he pushed Spike and jumped after him as the crystals almost catch them.
Sonic went to Spike, holding his torso as Spike hold onto the Crystal Heart, then Sonic begin slow their fall as they aimed to land on the balcony.
"Hey, up here!" Spike shouted, getting their attention, "We got the Crystal Heart!" He said.
King Sombra however, hear that too, and using his magic, he slammed himself on the ground, making a trail of corrupted crystals that where getting bigger in height, as he was getting near, he recovered his form as he stand at the tip of an enormous crystal.
"Sonic, he's getting closer." Spike warned.
"Spike, I don't think I can fly us to them in time." Sonic said, losening his grip on Spike.
"Wait!" Spike said but then King Sombra shoot an black beam at them, but it only hit Sonic as he released Spike in time. He was send crashing back at the tower, destroying some of the crystals inside, but was too weak to get up anytime soon.
Spike was in freefall, still holding the Heart. Shining Armor saw that and pick up Cadence, making her see Spike and the Heart falling. She then lifted her wings as Shining prepared himself to thrown her.
As when King Sombra was almost able to catch Spike and the Crystal Heart, Cadence came flying fast enough to grab them before King Sombra could. She then glided to the base of the castle where the Crystal Heart belongs, she then turned to the Crystal Ponies. "The Crystal Heart has returned. Use the light and the love within you to insure that King Sombra does not." She said, they all begin bowing, charging the Crystal Heart. It begin glowing as it spinned really fast, sending a huge wave of harmony in all directions, making the ponies shine like crystals as destroying the corrupted crystals, releasing Twilight from her crystal cage, she looked around the room and gasped on what she saw.
"NOOOOooo!" King Sombra screamed as the wave of harmony destroyed him too. The Heart then charged the castle, making it send a beautiful boreauish thing across all Equestria.
Cadence flied back to the balcony with Spike, she then collapsed on the floor, exausted. Shining went to her as the girls, Tails and Spike waved to the crowd as they cheered.
Twilight then suddently teleported back to the balcony with something in her back.
Tails saw her, "Hey Twilight, where's Sonic?" He asked.
"Right here." She said, levitating Sonic from her back and putting him on the floor.
*Gasps* "B-but how? We tried a lot of things and nothing. How did he-?" Tails asked as he looked to Sonic who had returned back to normal, unconsious on the floor.
The others looked behind to see what Tails was talking about, getting very surprised.
"Sonic? How did he?" Rainbow asked as they approuched him.
"I don't know, when I was freed from my cage, I saw him already normal." Twilight said, as they all looked at Sonic in confusion.
(Later at the train station)
The girls, Spike and Tails (who was carring Sonic's unconsious form with Rainbow's help) where entering the train.
"I do so wish it was permanent. Do you see how my mane just absolutely sparkled?" Rarity asked, a little upset.
"But good things are better when they're a rarity." Applejack said.
"Oh!" Rarity said, giggling at the pun.
"Everything's going to be okay. You've got to stop saving my rump like this. It's starting to get embarrassing." Shining Armor joked.
"It wasn't me who saved you in the end, it was Spike." Twilightsaid, upset about failing the test.
"It's just a test. Maybe she'll let you retake it." Shining said, trying to confort her.
"I don't think she's going to give me a new test." Twilight said, entering the train.
(A while later, outside the castle.)
The girls, Tails, Sonic and Spike where all waiting ouside the castle. Spike the most worried as he paced in front of the door.
"Keep it together, buddy. Gotta stay strong... for Twilight." Spike said, trying to stay calm.
"So you remember that too?" Tails asked.
"Yeah." Sonic said, rubbing his head.
"..." Cinos just stayed at his side, not saying anything. Sonic glanced at him but didn't say anything too.
(With Twilight and Celestia)
"It's beautiful." Celestia said, looking through the window at the boreau thing at the sky.
"I wish it had been me who ultimately made it so. But it wasn't." Twilight said.
"Twilight, as I understand it, Spike brought Princess Cadence the Crystal Heart because you weren't sure how quickly you could find a way to escape the tower. You weren't willing to risk the future of the citizens Crystal Empire in an effort to guarantee your own. Far better than I have a student who understands the meaning self-sacrifice, than one who only looks out for her own best interests." Celestia said.
"Does this mean...?" Twilight asked.
(Outside the castle)
"She's totally going to lose it." Spike said, pacing in front of the door when it opened, hitting his face.
"I passed!" Twilight said, running outside. They cheered as they went to the train. Cinos appeared near him but didn't anything again.
This time thought he wasn't letting it repeat again. "What the matter, Cinos?" Sonic asked.
"I remember what I did before we got transformed." He said.
"Oh." Sonic thought as he sit next to Tails and Rainbow Dash. "What you planning on doing now?" Sonic asked.
"I'll go for an while, thinking of what I want now." Cinos said.
"I'm here if you need a talk." Sonic offered.
"Huh, no thanks. You'll know when I return." Cinos said, dessapearing completely.
Sonic sighed looking to the window. "Something wrong, Sonic?" Rainbow asked as the others looked to him.
"Hm? Oh, nothing." He said.
(In another place)
Eggman thrown the tracker against a wall, almost breaking it. "Stupid device! Why can't it find the last emerald?!" He asked, furious.
"Sir, we detected an huge energy source on this location." Orbot reported to him.
"What?" Eggman looked to his computer, seeing the region of Rambling Rock Ridge, was having a very high energy signatures. "Could it be the emerald? If so, then someone is using it. Metal, go there and retrieve the emerald!" Eggman ordened. Metal nodded as he leaved their HQ, reading to Rock Ridge.
(At Rambling Rock Ridge)
On one of it's many caves and montains, an portal opened itself. At the other side of the portal an mobian pink hedgehog and a mobian squirrel looking around.
"You sure this the place?" Amy asked.
"Yes, the signatures is coming from this place... more or less." Rotor said.
"What do you mean by "more or less"?" Sally asked.
"Well, when I found this location, the energy signatures skyrocket whenever I look. So you have to search this place. And be careful, this place probably isn't like mobius so watch out." Rotor warned.
"Hey! Wait for me." Knuckles said as he approuch them.
"What you doing here, Knuckles? Doesn't you have a Master Emerald to guard?" Sally asked.
"The Master Emerald send me to retrieve the chaos emeralds and bring them back before something bad happens." He said.
"Really? Ok, then come with us. We search for Sonic, Tails and the emeralds." Amy said as she jumped through the portal.
"Amy, Wait!" Sally said as they saw she turned into a pink earth pony. Sally was dumbfounded while knuckles begin laughing with Rotor.
"What the-?" Amy get up and had a look on her new form. "Stop laughing!" She said, but just made them laugh harder.
*Chuckling* "Alright, Knuckles. Let's go." Sally said and jumped through the portal, she turned into a brown pegasus and a red mane.
Knuckles was hesitant on going through the portal. "We don't have all day, Knuckles!" Amy said, annoyed.
He growled as he jumped through the portal, he strumbled and fall on the ground as he turned in a red earth pony with some spiked bracelents on his arms. "Ugh, let make this quick." He said as he looked around the place.
"You guys go on, I'll wait for Antoine and Bunnie." Rotor said.
"You sure? We can't afford to get lost from each other." Amy said.
"Sally still has your earpiece?" He asked.
"Yes." She said, touching it.
"I can track it, so we won't get lost. Good luck!" Rotor said as he had to close the portal before the machine overheated.
Sally then looked to her surroundings, she soon saw somw woods in one direction. "Let's see where that leads us." She said, getting their attention.
"A forest? You sure Sally?" Amy asked.
"Yes. Come on, we don't have time to lose if we want to find Sonic." Sally said, would get her attention.
"Alright, to find my Sonic." She said as they went to the woods.