This is the 2nd chapter. I don't own the series of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Crystal Empire Part 1
On a fine day in the city of Canterlot, Princess Celestia was sitting on her throne, busily just signing some routine paperwork. It was then a guard burst through the doors.
"News from the Northern Equestria!" The Guard informed her before bowing. "Uh...your Highness."
"Yes?" Princess Celestia asks before her assistant took her work away while the guard removes his helmet.
"I am simply to tell you that it has returned." The guard said as Princess Celestia gasped.
"Find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor!" Princess Celstia ordered to another guard standing near her.
"Yes, your Highness." The second Guard replied as he and the other Guard standing beside Princess Celestia, and the initial Guard who came in all left the throne room.
Princess Celestia watched them leave.
'Looks like the time has come...' Princess Celestia mentally thought as she began to wrote a letter to her students. "My dearest Twilight Sparkle and Mario Star, you both must come to Canterlot at once..."
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahhhh
My Little Pony
I use to wonder what friendship could be
My Little Pony
Until you all share this magic with me
Big adventure,
Tons of fun,
A beautiful heart,
Faithful and strong,
Sharing kindness
It's an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete
You all have my little ponies
Do you know all you're my best friends?
Inside of the Golden Oaky Library, Twilight and Mario had received Princess Celestia's message and were busy gathering the materials they figured would need for this 'test' the Princess was giving them. However, once the 7 foals got there after school was finished, they saw Twilight seeing her running back and forth between the place as she's going into full 'hyper organized' mode. Mario was calm about this as usual on the second floor while his marefriend was having her own anxiety troubles downstairs on the main floor. Comet and his friends were watching Twilight along with Spike who had a bag ready to catch her gear. Comet and Daylight gave a bored look as they knew Twilight would be worried about something.
"Great...something tells me Princess Celestia gave her a message to make mom anxious." Daylight said sarcastically.
"Where are my quills?!" Twilight retorted with panicked breathing as she stopped pacing around, looked around, and then zipped off.
Once Twilight found where her quills, she floats them up and sends them off to one side for Spike to jump to catch them in the bag, the nibs punching through the cloth. Twilight then floats several books past herself, quickly checking the covers.
"No, no, no, no, no...Ugh!" Twilight babbled. "We need the Magic Compendium volumes 1 through 36! Where is it?!"
Even the rest of the Mane 8 who was also watching Twilight getting prepared were either worried or just had a blank face.
"How long has she been like this?" Comet asks, whispered to Spike's ear.
"Ever since she saw the word 'test'." Spike answered, causing Comet and Daylight sighed.
"Typical." Comet said. "Mom studies and organizes herself so much that's to ensure that she makes no mistakes to prepare herself...and it just causes more problems."
"I heard that!" Twilight snapped as Comet and Daylight flinched.
"Why not ask Uncle Mario?" Apple Shine suggests, but was ignored.
Twilight magically yanks all the books off a shelf and unearths a single monster tome. Laid flat, it's wide enough to fill entire width and height of the shelf on its own, and the sign of it causes her jaw to drop in happy surprise. Spike watches it float overhead and raises his arms to catch it in vain, as it crushes him to the floor when Twilight lets it drop. He tries to heave it off, but the weight slams him back down on him. Both Comet and Daylight helps him up by levitating the book off of him and while he was getting that situated.
"How could she fit a book that size?" Storm Hawk asks, surprised.
"Don't ask." Comet and Daylight said with a blank look when Twilight thought of another idea.
"Flash cards! I should make some flash cards." Twilight said as she headed toward another drawer, levitates out several stacks of blank cards and passes them over to Spike and her kids. "Spike, Comet, Daylight, I'm gonna need you three to quiz me. On everything. Everything I've ever learned. Ever! Then you can test Mario's martial arts. This isn't going to be enough cards."
Then, she made a mad dash to the other side of the room. Her friends and the foals continued watching Twilight, while Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Kronk, and the foals were worried, but Applejack was smirking to herself. Comet, Spike, and Daylight sets the flash cards down before walking to Twilight.
"Mom, you don't know what your test is going to be on." Daylight points out. "I think it's safe to say it's best to wait till we there before you go into full research."
"And who said you kids are coming with us? You and your friends are staying here in Ponyville." Twilight told her daughter sternly. "And the test could be on anything, and I'm determined that I pass with flying colors...well, in this case, I want to pass with an A+. Mario should be too, Princess Celestia is probably going to give us the biggest pop quiz yet and we need to be prepared NOW!"
"We won't guarantee that yet." Comet said. "You're overreacting."
"And besides, it's just a test." Spike adds, making Twilight snaps upright from that and glares over at him over her shoulder.
"Uh-oh..." The 7 foals said in an uneasy tone, had a feeling that Spike struck Twilight's nerve.
"Just a test?" Twilight repeated, lunges up into Spike's face, scaring him a bit and he keeps backing up as she kept walking up to him with a ton of shock and stress. "JUST A TEST?! Princess Celestia wants to give us some kind of exam, and you're trying to tell me to calm down because it's just a TEST?!"
Spike cringes before equipping himself with an army helmet and pillow padding around his body.
"Uh...yes." Spike said nervously.
"Everypony hold on to something!" Comet warned them as he and his sister takes cover.
Twilight grimaces extremely as she starts to glow her horn to dangerous levels and the others just simply watch Spike's predicament.
"I'd say she's handlin' thing pretty well, considerin'." Applejack said casually as they all got out just in time.
"URGH!" Twilight screams in frustration.
The Golden Oak Library bursts free of the ground, rockets up to perhaps twice the height of the town hall, and slams back down to the ground in a cloud of dust. Mario screamed and groaned as he landed a few feet away from Twilight on the right side of his stomach.
"Oh man." Mario groaned as he struggled to get on his hooves while placing a forehoof on his head. "Somepony get the license plate of that magic blast?"
Twilight turned around and gasped.
"Oh no, my sweet lover boy!" Twilight cried out as she rushed over to him and helped him up to his hooves. "I'm so, so sorry. I'm just so nervous about the test and then Spike said it was just a test and I..."
Twilight stopped talking as Mario gave her a tender hug.
"Just like when you're a filly, a hug always helped to calm you down." Mario said, chuckled in amusement as Twilight giggled.
"Thanks, but what about you, sweetie?" Twilight asks. "Are you okay?"
"Well, I am a little nervous, but I'll be ready to face what kind of test we're gonna deal with." Mario answered. "Guess I just don't want to let Princess Celestia and my family down. And I don't want to let my girl down."
"I don't want to let you down, either." Twilight replied with a smile as they shared a nose nuzzle and chuckled to each other.
'I did say I wanted them to get together.' Spike mentally thought, rolled his eyes. 'I'm just grateful the mush hasn't been too intolerable...mostly.'
"Spike, we're leaving you in charge of our kids until we get back." Twilight told him, leaving Spike flabbergasted.
Inside of the Canterlot royal palace where the throne room is, both of the Princesses are seen staring at a stained-glass mural that had Shining Armor and Princess Cadence on it. They both look up at it with very concerned looks for what is coming.
"Are you sure you don't want me to go as well?" Princess Luna asks.
"Yes, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor are already there." Princess Celestia answered. "The others will be joining them soon."
"The Empire's magic is powerful." Princess Luna told her, reminding her sister. "It cannot fail again, my sister."
"They will succeed at their task." Princess Celestia said definitively. "And when they do, we'll know that they are much closer to being ready."
Then, they heard somepony clearing their throat which it got the Princesses attention as they turn to see Twilight with a ton of supplies in her saddlebags and she looks at both of them with a nervous smile. Mario, however, looks at them with determined look on his face. Princess Luna looks at her sister, uneasy about how things will turn out, but Princess Celestia reassures her.
"Trust me, little sister." Princess Celestia said.
Princess Luna said nothing as she walked past the two ponies. She only exchanged a brief look with them before taking her leave.
"You wanted to see us? To give us a test?" Twilight asks as she and Mario levitates their saddlebags off of their backs on the carpet. "We brought our own quills and plenty of paper to show out work."
As soon as the luggage hits the floor, the contents erupt in all directions and one particularly long parchment unrolls over the several yards between herself, Mario, and Princess Celestia.
"You really went overboard for this." Mario said in a deadpan look.
"It was essential!" Twilight remarked.
"Sorry you two, but this is a different kind of test." Princess Celestia said as she levitates all of the supplies back into her bag and rolled up the parchment, causing Mario and Twilight to look at her with concern.
"What do you mean?" Mario asked.
"The Crystal Empire has returned." Princess Celestia answered, given them a serious look.
Both Mario and Twilight's eyes widened as they looked at each other surprised.
"The Crystal Empire?!" Mario and Twilight exclaims.
"I'm sorry, I-I thought I'd studied." Twilight said, using her magic to scroll through her books. "Ooh, we don't think there's anything in any of my books in-"
"There wouldn't be." Princess Celestia said. "Few remember it ever existed at all."
Twilight lifted her head curiously while Mario raises his eyebrow in confusion.
"How come you never told us about it before?" Mario questions. "I know you didn't because I have archived every lecture you've even given me and Twilight."
"That's because even my knowledge of the Empire is limited, Mario." Princess Celestia told him. "But what I do know is that it contains a powerful magic."
Princess Celestia then levitates a large, violet elongated gem out of a protective glass case and places it in front of Twilight and Mario. She then shoots magic from her horn at it, causing it to generate a translucent, glowing image of a realm of a large circular plain, with the gem at the center. Streets run toward it from the edge, with other roads connecting one to the next at angles to form a giant star. A beam then shoots upward briefly from the gem, creating an image of a tall, slender castle built from the same material and resting on a set of arches.
"The empire contains a very powerful magic." Princess Celestia explains. "One thousand years ago, King Sombra, a unicorn whose heart was black as night, took over the Crystal Empire."
Twilight and Mario watch the projection of the Empire as they look inside to see the crystal ponies leaving peacefully until a shadow steals over the miniature realm as jagged rock formations of a dark, ulcerous gray spring up over everything including the central castle in the Crystal Empire. On its pinnacle appears the head of King Sombra.
King Sombra had a dark gray fur coat with black made and tail, his eyes were grayish sap green with deep scarlet pupils. His horn is curved, smooth, and sharp at the tip and it gradients from dark gray to red and two visible fangs. He wears silver armor on his legs and neck, a crown with horn-like points on his head, and a red cape that covers his flank.
He watches the bounded and chained crystal ponies walking single file from the view of the balcony with a sinister smirk.
"He was ultimately overthrown, turned to shadow, and banished to the ice of the arctic north." Princess Celestia continued.
The images showed the two Princesses fired a bright light magic at King Sombra. King Sombra gave out a loud roar as his shadowy form fell into a large crack in the ice and then sealed him inside. Both Twilight and Mario were befuddled by this as they kept looking and listening.
"But not before he was able to put a curse upon the Empire." Princess Celestia said. "A curse that caused it to vanish into thin air."
The image then vanishes as Princess Celestia explained and both Mario and Twilight shut their eyes against the brightness, while the Princess levitates the gem toward the ceiling.
"If the Empire is filled with hope and love, those things are reflected across all of Equestria." Princess Celestia told them, demonstrating it by firing a magic beam and a rainbow of colors washes over the room.
Twilight looks at that reaction with a beaming smile, but Mario was concerned.
"If hatred and fear take hold..."
Princess Celestia then shows another demonstration, exhales as her eyes go the same lurid green as Sombra's, emitting their purple haze as well, and a beam of the latter color lances upward from her horn as the lights dim and go gray. When the energy hits the crystal, it takes on the unhealthy gray hue seen in the playback and its shadow stretches across the floor to stop a short distance away from Twilight and Mario. As they watch, a formation of jagged gray crystals springs up from the point; two others sprout as well to hem them in. Princess Celestia then uses her normal magic again to shatter the crystals and restore the lights, then settle onto her hooves.
"Which is why I need your help finding a way to protect it." Princess Celestia said as she looked at the two ponies.
"You want us to help protect an entire Empire?" Twilight asks as she and Mario exchanged worried looks.
"It is, as I said, a different kind of test." Princess Celestia said as she places the giant gem back on its pedestal and under the glass case. "But one I'm certain that you two will pass."
"So, the test is actually a mission, and it's a high-stake one." Mario said to his marefriend as he and Twilight looked at each other again before given each other a nod.
"How do we begin?" Twilight asks bravely as she and Mario faced the Princess,
"By joining Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in the Crystal Empire, along with Shenran and the Elemental Masters." Princess Celestia said as she walked to the two ponies.
"My brother is there?" Twilight asks excitedly.
"Along with Cadence and my friends?" Mario adds with a smile.
"They are." Princess Celestia answered. "And your Ponyville friends will join you there as well. I have every confidence you will succeed. And when you do, I'll know you two are ready to move on to the next level of your studies."
Princess Celestia then guided both Twilight and Mario outside of the main hall where Princess Luna was standing just outside the doors. The half-distrustful look she gave Twilight melted what little confidence she had about the 'test' while Mario glares at Princess Luna.
"But what if we fail?" Twilight asks with worry.
"You won't." Princess Celestia said.
"But what if-"
Twilight tried to argue, but only for Mario to put a fore-hoof on her shoulder.
"We won't." Mario said to his marefriend as they were about to walk away, but Princess Celestia stopped them.
"But Twilight and Mario." Princess Celestia said firmly. "In the end, it must be you two and you two alone who ultimately assists Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in doing what needs to be done to protect the Empire. Do you understand?"
Twilight responds with a firm nod and a confident smile.
"You got it!" Mario said with determined look.
"Then go." Princess Celestia said. "There is no time to lose."
Princess Celestia then shuts the door closed, leaving Twilight and Mario alone. Twilight frowns a bit before she and Mario takes their leave, but not before he wrapped a fore-hoof around her and nuzzles her head.
"I'm afraid, sweetie." Twilight admits.
"I know, but don't worry. We'll find a way to save the Empire." Mario said with confident smile.
Outside the stairs leading inside of the castle, Spike, Comet, and Daylight were just waiting for Mario and Twilight to come out with a bored look. It was then Mario and Twilight came walking downstairs with their heads low.
"Ah! Twilight! Mario!" Spike said excitedly as he stood up. "That was fast! Let me guess, you both got a perfect score?"
Twilight doesn't respond to that and she walks off silently. Mario could feel her nervous expression as Comet and Daylight walks to their mother.
"Mom, can you tell us what happened?" Comet inquires with worry, which Daylight shows the same look.
Twilight turns her attention to her kids with sad look on her face a she and Mario began to sing.
Twilight (Sings):
I was prepared to do my best
Mario (Sings):
Thought I could handle any test
Spike, Comet, and Daylight run towards them to follow them as they continue to sing.
Twilight and Mario (Sings):
For I can do so many tricks
But I wasn't prepared for this
In a busy street of Canterlot, the five approach a cafe as a waiter serves tea to a customer. Both of them are surprised to see the pot and cup float up under Twilight's control and the pot pour out.
Twilight and Mario (Sings):
Levitation would have been a breeze
Facts and figures I recite with ease
"The square root of 546 is 23.3666428909." Twilight recited, sat just outside of the school office of a nearby professor.
"And 128 to the 4th power is 280,435,456." Mario recited right after.
"They are correct." A pony named Bill Neigh said, who's also known as the science pony, showed the same calculations in the black board.
Twilight then sweeps a dumbfounded Spike up in her forelegs and spins him around while standing on her hind legs.
Twilight (Sings):
I could ace a quiz on friendships bliss
But I wasn't prepared for this
She drops him and she and Mario at a parapet and gazes over the landscape spread before them. The wind picks up, blowing their mane and tail out ahead of them. Comet and Daylight walks up beside their mother and embraces her while Twilight hugs her kids in return and Mario hugged his godson.
Twilight and Mario (Sings):
Will I fail, or will I pass?
I can't be sure...
Spike (Sings):
They can't be sure
Turning away and breaking a small hug, she reaches a small stream and deftly teleports from one lily pad to another, posing, along its surface. Mario did some jumps and flips before he teleported to Twilight's right for the pose in fighting stance.
Twilight and Mario (Sings):
My mind is sharp, my skills intact
My heart is pure
Spike (Sings):
Their hearts are pure...
At a street corner, Twilight capers as Spike did the same while Mario jumps on a wall and jumps high into the air and front flips before he joins his marefriend. Both Comet and Daylight catches up to them.
Twilight and Mario (Sings):
Oh, I've taken my share of licks
I've made it through the thin and thick
But no, I wasn't
Spike (Sings):
Oh no, they weren't
Twilight and Mario (Sings):
Oh no, I wasn't
Spike (Sings):
Oh no, they weren't
Twilight does a solo ballet twirl on her hind legs while Mario jumped on the ground on all fours with his face full of determination.
Twilight and Mario (Sings):
No, I wasn't
The view then panned out to show the entire Canterlot castle.
Twilight, Mario, and Spike (Sings):
Prepared for this
Twilight still very melancholy trudges onto the platform at the train station while Mario catches up to her with Comet and Daylight beside her, trying to comfort her. Spike hurries to catch up, then stops shortly.
"Uh, prepared for what exactly?" Spike asks, puzzled.
Before Mario and Twilight could respond, they heard the voices of their friends as they're waiting on the platform for them.
"Twilight! Mario!" The voice of Applejack said as she leap, brings her close enough to clap a foreleg across her shoulders. "Did y'all pass?"
Pinkie Pie then comes from the train to bump Spike out of the way as she set a party cannon pointing upwards.
"Are we gonna celebrate you guys awesomeness with Princess Celestia?" Pinkie Pie asked as she timed her jump perfectly as her party cannon blasted out some confetti and streamers at the same time.
"Not quite." Twilight and Mario said in unison, causing Pinkie Pie drops back to the planks and the discharge sucks itself back into the cannon, whose barrel swings down again. "We're going to the Crystal Empire!"
It got them perplexed.
"Huh?" The ponies said.
"Crystal what?" Rainbow Dash asks.
It was now very snowy as the Mane 8, the 7 foals, and Zane were on their way to the Crystal Empire in the arctic north in Equestria. They took the safest and the quickest mode of transportation which was the train and both Twilight and Mario explained to them along the way what their real test is and what the Crystal Empire is too. The rest of the ponies were very surprised to hear about a vanishing city, but they knew that since the two ponies are going, then they're going to accompany them as well. The train eventually comes to a stop at the station. They open the doors and emerge reluctantly, with all but Rarity hunching or shielding themselves against the cold.
"Heavens to Betsy, you're not kidding the Empire had a northern blizzard like this!?" Apple Shine exclaims, shivered.
"I don't know how these Crystal ponies ever put up with all the snow! I mean, I've seen people on Earth getting snowed in New York before, but this is ridiculous!" Storm Hawk adds.
"Tell me about it, I've spent all my life in Iceland!" Winter Breeze said which she doesn't to be fazed in the cold.
"Is there anything else you like to tell us about the Crystal Empire?" Daylight questions her mother.
"Actually, it's said that the Crystal Empire is protected from the weather." Twilight told her. "I don't know where though."
Rarity then emerges with a white-trimmed pink scarf around her neck and a very smug look on her face.
"Ha! And you all made fun of me for packing so many scarves." Rarity boasted.
"Yeah! Well, there's a fine line between being prepared and overdoing it." Storm Hawk remarked. "Poor Spike is buried alive under all that luggage!"
Once Rarity steps off with a scoff, followed by Spike who's drawn the thankless job of toting the huge stack of her full-to-bursting luggage.
"I didn't say a word." Spike grunts.
He then slips off, dumping a lot onto the platform. One big case bursts open and several scarves flutter away in the wind as Spike chases after them. Mario and Twilight led the group forward, trying to figure out where to go next.
"Are you guys certain that we'll be meeting our friends at this Crystal Empire you told us about?" Zane asked curiously.
"That about sums it up." Mario nods.
"Twilight!" The voice of Shining Armor called out.
"Shining Armor?" Twilight said.
Shining Armor emerges from the haze of snow and fog, clad in a thick gray scarf hiked up to cover his mouth and a matching pair of goggles with slits cut for his eyes. He uncovers his face with a hoof and a bit of magic.
"Twily! You made it!" Shining Armor said excitedly.
They gallop towards each other and embrace, but only for a moment. Both Comet and Daylight then ran to their uncle while Mario casually followed behind them.
"Uncle Shining!" Comet and Daylight called him which it got his attention.
"Comet! Daylight! It's good to see you kids!" Shining Armor said as he then hugs the two foals and then turns to Mario. "So...you taking good care of my sister?"
By now, Twilight had already told both her brother and Princess Cadence that they're together now. While Shining Armor supported their relationship, he's still protective of Twilight for obvious reasons.
"He's my big cuddly wuddly teddy bear!" Twilight remarked as she nuzzles Mario's side with her head.
Shining Armor covered his mouth to avoid laughing as the others snickered behind them while Comet and Daylight burst with a laugh, until they yelped as Mario gave them a death glare, warning them not to mess with him, causing them to chuckle nervously.
"Does that answer your question?" Mario asks in annoyed tone.
"Yes it does, little buddy." Shining Armor replied.
"So...where is this Crystal Empire?" Rose Lotus asks, shivered as Shining Armor turns into serious.
"It's not too far away from her, but we better get moving." Shining Armor said. "There are things out here we really don't want to run into after dark."
They looked worried and Fluttershy gulped as she glances nervously toward Applejack and Rainbow Dash.
"What kind of things?" Fluttershy asks timidly.
"Let's just say the Empire...isn't the only thing that's returned." Shining Armor answered as Spike was able to get a hold of the scarves.
They were now walking through the snow with Shining Armor walking point.
"Somethings keeps trying to get in!" Shining Armor explains. "We think it's the unicorn king who originally cursed the place!"
"That would make sense to me!" Mario answered.
"But Princess Celestia said Mario and I were being sent here to find a way to protect the Empire!" Twilight explained. "If King Sombra can't get in, then it must already be protected."
"For the moment, sweetie, but I think Princess Celestia wanted us to find the stronger if not more permanent solution." Mario told her. "Something that'll keep King Sombra out for good."
As they keep moving, Comet and Daylight heard the spirits, warning them that King Sombra is coming and they felt dark energy heading their way.
"Comet, Daylight, what's wrong?" Twilight asks, turns to her children.
"He's coming! The spirits warned us!" Comet said.
"And we can feel his dark energy! We need to move!" Daylight warned them.
It was then, the wind chooses this moment to sound off, a sepulchral moan that stops them all cold.
"Th-That's one of the things, isn't it?" Fluttershy asked with panic.
"We have to get to the Crystal Empire! Now!" Shining Armor shouted as everypony picked up their pace.
Behind the group they look to see, a pillar of dark gray murk erupts from the ground, darkening to black and emitting a low growl as King Sombra's red, violet-fuming eyes open within it. Everypony made a run for it, except Spike who's paralyzed in fear and finds himself being levitated away by Shining Armor. Rarity's luggage hits the deck, forgotten, and all of the ponies got moving with Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk flying and the rest on leg power. Twilight risks a quick backward glance, then scoops Spike up with her head so that he lands on her back.
"Go! Go!" Twilight shouted.
King Sombra's shadow closes in as everypony runs, but soon enough they could see something some light in the distance that looks to be a light blue dome.
"Almost there!" Shining Armor shouted.
Comet looks behind him as he sees King Sombra's shadow getting closer and closer to the group. Comet stops as he glares at King Sombra, uses his magic to let out a Banshee Scream. It got King Sombra stop with a loud groan in pain because of the loud scream while Winter Breeze and Zane uses the Ice Element to form an ice wall to block his path. But it's all in vain when Shining Armor levitates his nephew away and glares at King Sombra, firing his magic blast at him. King Sombra was prepared and easily dodged the attack before he growls and lunged at Shining Armor, who prepared another magic blast.
Inside of the dome of the Crystal Empire, the Mane 8, the 7 foals, Spike, and Zane were able to get inside just in time.
"Everypony okay?" Twilight asks, out of breath.
The rest of the ponies just gave a general okay as they tried to catch their own breath. It was then, Shining Armor came diving through the barrier. All of his snow gear had been lost and there were some black crystals surrounding the top of his horn.
"Oh, no!" Twilight said with a gasp, before rushing over to her brother so quickly that Spike fell off her back. "Shining Armor, your horn!"
Shining Armor sat up and tried to make his horn glow, but the black crystals acted like a barrier that prevented him to do so. He just shook his head as the two just stared sad looks with each other, but Comet turns his head with guilt which it got him noticed.
"Comet, don't beat yourself up. What matters is I'm still in one piece and everypony's safe." Shining Armor assures his nephew.
Twilight and Daylight then comforts Comet with smiles on their faces which it got him feeling a little better.
They then turn to the ponies, who were gazing out at what they were seeing in the distance, and it was the Crystal Empire which shines brightly from afar. It was surrounded by buildings fashioned from crystals of various hues, it glows brightly under the peaceful sky.
"Sparkleriffic!" Pinkie Pie exclaims.
"Sweet Mother of Jefferson Davis!" Apple Shine said in shock.
"It's beautiful!" Rose Lotus commented, awed at that sight.
The group is now walking along a broad avenue paved with mirror-smooth crystal and proceeding toward the castle and Rarity was just admiring the looks of everything around the empire.
"So, this is why it's called the Crystal Empire. Almost everything around just shines bright like a diamond." Golden Charm stated.
"It's gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!" Rarity said, marveled at the sights and gibbers blissfully for a moment before having stars in eyes of all of the shiny objects around. "There are no words!"
"Focus, Rarity." Applejack said, interrupts her excited gazing when she places her hoof on her shoulder. "We're here to help Twilight and Mario, not admire the scenery."
"Eh, I don't see what the big is." Rainbow Dash adds when Storm Hawk and Apple Shine were next to their mothers. "Just looks like another old castle to me."
Rarity was surprised by that statement.
"A-p-guh!?" Rarity spluttered and then gets up to her face. "Another old...?! Have you lost your mind?! Look at the magni-"
Both Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk snickers in response, joined Applejack and Apple Shine, and the four give each other a hoof bump at teasing Rarity a little and she just gives a sheepish smile in response."
"Very funny." Rarity muttered.
"But hey, maybe you and I can have a little date when we need a vacation." Kronk said as she blushed.
"Well, aren't you romantic, darling." Rarity said with a giggle, joining him and her kids.
"Leave Rarity alone you guys, this place is very beautiful." Mario said, then turns to Twilight. "Sweetie, maybe you and I can have a little date here once our mission is over."
"Well, aren't you romantic." Twilight remarked with a giggle as they nuzzled each other.
Shining Armor, Comet, and Daylight rolled their eyes as they now reached a flight of stairs leading up to the castle entrance as they all enter.
Once they all reached the throne room, they all see Princess Cadence slumping over with a weary look on her face. She had her horn going steadily, its glow a perfect match for the barrier that the group passed through to get here, and her head droops a bit before they enter.
"Cadence!" Twilight shouted excitedly, immediately runs up to her with Mario, Comet, and Daylight walking behind her.
Princess Cadence's face brightens instantly, and they meet to do their usual dance with each other.
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Princess Cadence and Twilight said as they laughed when Mario came to her.
"Hi, Mario." Princess Cadence greeted him with a warm smile as they shared a hug with each other. "How are things going with you and Twilight?"
"Doing pretty good, Cady." Mario said with a smile, making Princess Cadence giggle at the nickname and then saw her niece and nephew.
"Comet, Daylight, how are my two precious little treasures?" Princess Cadence asks with a smile as they share a hug.
"We're doing alright, Aunt Cadence." Daylight replied as Comet nodded in agreement.
"That's great to hear." Princess Cadence said before the Elemental Masters come next to her. "Here are the ponies you might be expecting."
"Mario! Zane! Nice to see you guys joining us." Kai said with a smile.
"C-Cole?!" Applejack stuttered as she blushed.
"Well, howdy there, AJ." Cole greeted with a warm smile.
"What're you doing here?" Applejack asks with a smile.
"Helping out with this job." Cole responded before adding a smile. "If you're not too busy to have any company, li'le lady."
Cole have her a wink, making Applejack blushed in deep red as Apple Shine snickered a bit.
"'Li'le lady'?" Applejack said with a giggle before she wrapped a hoof around his right hoof.
"Ugh, get a room you two!" Jay groaned in annoyance but earned a smack from Nya. "OW!"
"Jay, don't think I didn't know you're staring at me with goo-goo eyes." Nya said sternly which made Jay chuckled nervously as they laughed.
But that's broken off when Princess suffers a brief spasm, and the blue sky outside momentarily flickers back to the slate-gray of the surrounding blizzard which the foals didn't fail to notice.
"One of these days, we need to get together when the fate of Equestria isn't hanging in the balance." Princess Cadence said with a sigh, exhausted.
"Are you okay?" Twilight asked.
"You don't look so good." Storm Hawk added with worry.
"We noticed that you look very exhausted and also we saw that the sky faded out to where the blizzard for a moment." Comet explains. "Is everything alright?"
"Not entirely." Princess Cadence with a sigh as Shining Armor steps beside her.
"Cadence has been able to use her magic to spread love and light." Shining Armor explains. "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."
"We've tried everything to help her, but she says she can handle this without any assistance." Morro added.
"It's alright, I'm fine." Princess Cadence assures them.
"You don't look alright to us." Rose Lotus points out.
"She's right, she's not fine." Skylor agrees with the gypsy filly. "She can't go on like this forever, and if her magic were to fade...Well, you saw what's out there waiting for that to happen."
Twilight then looked outside for the moment.
"That's why we're here." Twilight said.
"Why we're all here." Applejack remarked from behind as the ponies nodded in agreement.
"Well, with Cadence putting all her strength 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." Shining Armor explains.
Hearing those last two words, Rarity snaps up to her hind legs with her front hooves on her cheek full of excitement.
"Crystal Ponies?!" Rarity exclaims excitedly, tugged her man with her fore-legs. "Hahaha, there are Crystal Ponies?!"
"Rarity!" Mario, Kronk, and Golden Charm snapped sternly as she then realizes everypony except Twilight were giving her funny looks.
"Um, ahem." Rarity cleared her throat sheepishly. "Please continue."
"Yeah..." Lloyd said before turning to her friends. "We even tried as well, but they wouldn't give us any information."
"Information for what exactly?" Golden Charm asks curiously.
"We believe that one of them knows how we can protect the Empire without having to use Cadence's magic." Shining Armor explains as Twilight looks up in the air and thinks to herself before getting the idea.
"A research paper!" Twilight exclaims, leaving them confused. "That must be part of the test, to gather information from the Crystal Ponies and deliver it to you! This is gonna be great! I love research papers!"
Princess Cadence and Shining Armor looked stunned as Mario, Comet, and Daylight chuckled.
"Don't I know it." Mario, Comet, and Daylight remarked, which they glances each other as they laughed.
"Yeah, who doesn't?" Rainbow Dash muttered sarcastically.
"Oh-oh-oh! Lemme guess! Is it Spike?" Pinkie Pie replied energetically, zips away and grabs Spike, then drops him to grab and pull of her other guesses. "Nono, Fluttershy? Rarity?"
Rose Lotus couldn't help but giggle of her mothers antics while Mario groaned.
"Pinkie, don't you know sarcasm when you her it?" Mario asks in annoyance as Princess Cadence chuckled.
Twilight then got behind Shining Armor and hugged him.
"Don't worry, big brother, I am really good at this sort of things." Twilight said. "Especially with my sweet lover boy."
Shining Armor smiled while Mario blushed.
"Good, and maybe you all can use additional help too." Nya said as the Elemental Masters steps aside as a male Earth Pony arrived at the scene.
He was a little muscular, black and white mane and tail with gray fur coat and silver eyes. His cutie mark is a Japanese Kanji symbol of mind.
"Who's this?" Mario asks with curious look.
"Guys, we like you to meet the Master of Mind, Neuro." Morro introduced the Master of Mind as he bows to them. "He came to us to help save the Empire from Sombra."
"It is an honor to meet you all." Neuro said with a smile. "I was told much about you, Mario."
"Thanks, Neuro." Mario said before he turned to Twilight. "I think we might be able to handle this."
Twilight smiled in reply.
"You guys go on ahead and find answers." Zane said as he, Skylor, and Kai stood next to Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. "We'll help out Shining Armor attend Cadence."
Princess Cadence and Shining Armor smiled gratefully.
Soon enough, Twilight, Mario, Spike, Comet, and Daylight were outside in the town on the Crystal Empire going from door to door asking the Crystal Ponies of the town if they know anything about protecting the entire Empire. However, their research was going at a very slow pace as they're up at a door, speaking to a Crystal Pony named Autumn Gem. Her voice and drooping ears broadcast listlessness loud and clear. The dull colors and limp ears, manes, and voices will be shared by all residents until further notice.
"Are you sure? Absolutely sure?" Twilight pleaded.
"I'm sorry. I wish I could help you." Autumn Gem said in a very depressed tone. "But I...can't seem to remember anything before King Sombra came to power."
When she mentioned his name, the said King Sombra's narrowed eyes superimpose themselves briefly over the scene, causing her to wince and pop her eyes wide at the moment.
"And I don't want to remember anything about the time he ruled over us." Autumn Gem said with a shudder.
"Oh man, that's horrible." Mario said with sympathy.
"I can sense that King Sombra not only affected the Crystal Ponies physically, but emotionally as well." Comet said in a whispered tone.
"It also must be why their crystal bodies are dim." Daylight adds.
"I think you two are right." Twilight agrees to her kids.
"Have we really been gone a thousand years?" Autumn Gem asks.
"Yes." Twilight replied directly.
"It feels like it was just yesterday." Autumn Gem stated.
"If you think anything, even the smallest thing..." Twilight said.
"Of course." Autumn Gem said, then closes the door.
"Well, that was a total bust." Spike said as the group headed back to the street.
"Maybe the others are having better luck." Twilight said.
"I hardly doubt it." Mario said with a doubtful look.
"And with how we've seen the ponies of this place so far...it's like we're in a middle of the wild goose chase." Comet adds.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk were in another street and haranguing a mare name Fleur De Verre, trying to force some knowledge in her.
"A way to protect the Empire!" Rainbow Dash said. "You know anything about it or what?"
"I wish I could help you. Really." Fleur De Verre replied in a depressing manner as she trudges away very weary, but Storm Hawk stops her.
"But you gotta know something!" Storm Hawk protests.
"But...I don't have any information." Fleur De Verre said, making Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk clapped a fore-hooves in their face with irritation.
At another street, Fluttershy and Winter Breeze were also trying to see if they could get any information at all from the ponies, but due to her quiet voice no one could turn to her attention. Winter Breeze didn't have any luck because neither of the ponies have information, then she turns to her mother.
"Oh, um. Excuse me!" Fluttershy stuttered. "Oh! Hello! Umm, I was just wondering..."
Nopony pays her any mind, so she turns her attention to a mare and a stallion slumped over a table at a cafe across the street. Suddenly irked, she marches over, hovers in front of the table, raises a hoof as if to strike them and then goes right back to her usual timid self.
"Oh, oh, that's okay, um, you all look really busy." Fluttershy said with a nervous laugh as she move away backwards.
"Having trouble asserting yourself?" The voice of Shenran asks, making Fluttershy yelped as she turned around to see him standing before her, which he recognizable without the armor.
"Shenran!" Fluttershy said excitedly as she happily hugged him. "What are you doing here?"
Shining Armor asked me to be the Captain of his new Royal Guard here in the Crystal Empire." Shenran explains before adding sheepishly. "Which hasn't been formed yet because no Crystal Ponies are volunteering. So...I'm more or less just a bodyguard to Princess Cadence when Shining Armor is patrolling the arctic."
"So...since Shining Armor is with Cadence, you're technically off-duty for the moment." Fluttershy said with a smirk which Winter Breeze couldn't help but giggle at that, watching her mother flirting with Shenran.
"Pretty much, I mean Princess Cadence did ask me to see if I could offer any assistance to you and your friends." Shenran replied with a smirk. "But...I honestly did want to see you again..."
"I see. So...would...you...be willing to help me find some information?" Fluttershy asked, actually pretending to be shy.
"If you want me to." Shenran teased before Fluttershy grabbed one of his fore-legs and pulled him along while Winter Breeze catches up with them, heading down the street together.
As they disappeared, Pinkie Pie bounces up toward a rooftop. She has donned a dark gray sweater and a matching hood that leaves only her eyes, ears, and part of her mane exposed, and a pair of goggles rests on her forehead.
"Time to gather some intel." Pinkie Pie said as she then slips over the edge while holding onto the rope so she can rappel down.
A mare and a stallion were gazing out at the castle with downtrodden look.
"It just feels like something is missing." A mare named Elbow Grease said.
"I know." A stallion named Night Knight agrees. "It looks the same, but it doesn't feel the same."
"Because it isn't!" The voice of Pinkie Pie said as she descends into view, hanging upside down from her rope and both of the ponies gasp.
"A spy!" Elbow Grease said before she and Night Knight flees while Pinkie Pie falls loose with a scream and thuds to the street. She gets up in time to see them gallop away.
"A spy? How did they know? Ah! Must have noticed my night vision goggles!" Pinkie Pie guessed as she flips them down over her eyes at the end of that. "Ooh! Night vision-y!"
However, she starts to bound away and runs flat into a crystal lamppost, knocking herself out due to the night vision goggles not being good for daytime.
Meanwhile, Rarity was now trotting down a street with every part of her body now translucent and sparkling, with contours to suggest facets of a crystal sculpture. After a few steps, she stops and tosses her head with a cheerful little hum. The curl that normally hangs down past her head is bound up behind it, and she has added a pair of long, dangling earrings."
"Hm-hm-hmmm. And when you flip your mane, it simply must create a rainbow of color." Rarity said, daydreamed.
However, that's all a fantasy as back in the reality, Rarity was just fantasizing herself of how she would look if she was a Crystal Pony. The real Crystal Ponies around just stared at her awkwardly.
"Oh! Wouldn't I look just magnificent?" Rarity asks herself. "So sparkly!"
Rarity giggles to herself, so lost in the makeover idea that she doesn't even notice the Crystal Ponies bailed out.
Kronk, Flora Heart, and Golden Charm saw it from the distance and rolled their eyes in annoyance before they pressed on.
Back at the center of the Crystal Empire, the Mane 8, the 7 foals, and Spike decide to rendezvous there as they all regroup.
"Had any of you got the information?" Daylight pleads.
"We've got nothing so far." Rainbow Dash answered sadly when she and Storm Hawk landed, feeling rather exhausted.
"Sorry, Daylight." Kronk said as Golden Charm nods with agreement.
"Oh, me neither." Rarity said quickly, not wanting to admit she hadn't helped.
"Really?" Mario remarked with a blunt look, earned a glare from Rarity. "Rarity, we talked about you stop seeing fashion all the time. But it seems you didn't learn at all. This has got to stop before you get into trouble!"
"I can't help it!" Rarity retorted with a pouty face. "It's one of those moments when I just want to admire myself so ponies can see how glamorous I look!"
SMACK!
"OW!" Rarity yelped as Mario slapped across her face.
She rubbed her sore cheek in pain as Mario gave a stern glare at her as chuckled nervously which Kronk, Flora Heart, and Golden Charm looked at her in disappointment.
Now Fluttershy joins the gathering, all the while glancing warily over her shoulder. She surprises them by unzipping her own skin to reveal Pinkie Pie underneath, now out of her spy gear. She lets the disguise crumple to the ground.
"My cover is blown! I repeat, my cover has been blown!" Pinkie Pie said in a hushed tone, zips away leaving the other confused at that.
"We got nothing because Mom scared them away." Rose Lotus explains with a sigh.
The real Fluttershy followed by Applejack, Apple Shine, Winter Breeze, Shenran, and Cole comes in.
"Hey y'all!" Applejack called them. "Look who Fluttershy bumped into her!"
Shenran just gave a shy wave to the group.
"Well, I'm sure they had fun searching for information together." Rainbow Dash remarked as the others giggled.
Fluttershy and Applejack hid their faces behind their manes as they blushed.
"Leave them alone, Rainbow." Shenran said. "Fluttershy brought me up to speed and we spent a lot of time asking Crystal Ponies for information."
"Did you find anything?" Twilight asked.
"I'm afraid not." Shenran said sadly as Cole, Apple Shine, and Winter Breeze shook their heads in agreement.
Fluttershy stepped on the discarded disguise before she nervously backed away from it. Shenran picked it up with his fore-hoof.
"Pinkie, is this one of your whacky costumes Mario told us about?" Shenran asks as Pinkie Pie chuckled sheepishly.
"Here, why don't I get rid of that for you." Mario offers as Shenran handed him a costume and he took it.
"Sorry, Twilight." Applejack said, getting everypony on track as Mario tossed the discarded costume behind him in disgust as it landed on a nearby trash can. "These Crystal Ponies seem to have some kinda collective amnesia of somethin'. Only thing Cole, Apple Shine, and I were able to got out of 'em was somethin' about a library."
Twilight reacts to that as if she had just got a birthday present at hearing the word 'library'. Comet and Daylight smirks at their mother, knowing she loves books that much.
"Here we go..." Comet and Daylight muttered.
"A library?" Twilight said as stars appeared in her eyes and then grabbed Applejack by the cheeks. "Well, why didn't you say so?!"
"Uh...I thought I just did." Applejack said.
"Come on, sweetie." Twilight said excitedly as she grabs Mario's fore-legs. "A library!"
"HEY!" Mario yelped as he was pulled away before he could respond and the others followed them.
They then arrived at the said library as they all walk up the stairs to then enter inside. Once they're all inside, they see an entire corridor and staircases full of books that belonged to the Crystal Empire and Twilight gasps as she was so excited at seeing so many books in her life.
"I just...I don't even know what to...There are no words." Twilight said in amazement as Comet and Daylight chuckled a bit.
"Okay, okay, sweetheart." Mario said with a chuckle of amusement, seeing his marefriend like this before he become serious. "We're only here to find information, not admire the scenery."
"That's what I said to Rarity/Mom." Applejack, Kronk, and Golden Charm commented with a smirk.
Then, they heard somepony cleared a throat as they all turned to where it came from to see an elderly mare that looked like a librarian.
"May I help you?" A librarian named Amethyst Maresbury asks.
"Yes, we're looking for a book." Twilight said eagerly.
"We have plenty of those." Amethyst Maresbury replied.
"You do. You really do." Twilight said with an awestruck.
She kept turning herself in the place, gawking at the library before Comet and Daylight decided to intervene.
"We're actually looking for a book that talks about the history of the Crystal Empire." Comet explains.
"And something that can tell how to protect itself from danger." Daylight adds.
"Yes. Of course." Amethyst Maresbury replied. "History, history...ah yes."
Everypony perks up from that as she just keeps given her polite smile at all of them. A few seconds pass she didn't say a word which made them confused.
"Um...aren't you going to show us?" Apple Shine asks uneasily.
"I...I can't seem to remember." Amethyst Maresbury said with conflicted look. "I'm not sure I actually work here."
Rainbow Dash, Storm Hawk, and Mario groaned in annoyance, face-hoofing themselves.
"We'll just take a look around." Twilight said. "I'm sure we can find it on our own."
"Let me know if you find anything." Amethyst Maresbury said, watching them heading towards the shelves while she walks away with uncertainty.
"I like her!" Pinkie Pie said before joining the group.
"Okay, let's lay some ground rules here for the four couples in this group." Rainbow Dash said. "No kissing, no cuddling, no goo-goo eyes..."
"Rainbow, look! An ultra rare Daring Do book!" Shenran called out, pointed at a bookshelf behind her.
"Where?! Where?!" Rainbow Dash said excitedly before she made a long face, saw Twilight, Mario, Rarity, Kronk, Applejack, Cole, Fluttershy, Shenren, and most of the foals disappeared. "I walked right into that one."
"Hook, line, and sinker!" Storm Hawk remarked with a laugh as Pinkie Pie and Rose Lotus snickered.
"Why you?!" Rainbow Dash growls as she chases after her son. "Come here so I can wring out your neck! Come back here!"
Everypony then scatters across the entire library to see if they can find the book that they're looking for. Rarity, Kronk, Golden Charm, Pinkie Pie, and Rose Lotus inspect the shelves which the three walking their length, while the two sitting on their haunches amid stacked books.
Fluttershy, Shenran, and Winter Breeze were actually exploring the books at a more leisurely pace.
At another section, Rainbow Dash was standing at the top of the ladder while Storm Hawk searches the book at another shelf. She gestures down by shifting the ladder to the side a bit and down below a buck from Applejack and Cole sends the ladder rolling along so she can sweep a shelf clean. She whips past Fluttershy, Shenran, and Winter Breeze, blowing their manes and tails sideways without disturbing their concentration. The books from the shelf fall in a row behind them.
Pinkie Pie does a series of impossibly high jumps to retrieve volumes from the topmost shelves, crossing the library in less than a second. Elsewhere, a fatigued Rarity yawns as Spike roots around in the books stacked up nearby. He shows her one, then another, but gets no approval. Applejack and Apple Shine noses the top two books off the stack of three and regards the bottom one skeptically.
"Uh, anyone else startin' to think this is a lost cause?" Applejack asks.
"We can't give up yet." Mario replied as he, Comet, and Daylight put some already searched books back on the shelves and then looked at Twilight, who's searching through her own giant pile of books. "Find anything, sweetie?"
"No, no, no, no, no..." Twilight said frantically, but it got her attention when she saw a book which it caught her interest. "Yes! 'History of the Crystal Empire'!"
"Everypony! We found a clue!" Comet called out.
The others heard that and immediately join in to huddle up. The book cover shows three elongated gems, with a title engraved onto gold plates above and below, and the brown leather binding sports gold fittings."
"I just hope it has the answers we need." Twilight said as she uses her magic to open the book and gather information.
After a bit of some gathering some information from the book Twilight found, they return to the castle to explain Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, and the Elemental Masters about the key to protecting the Crystal Empire from King Sombra for good and all of eternity. Inside of the throne room, Princess Cadence still sits in her high place as before, still worn down and on the ragged edge toppling against Shining Armor, who stands alongside her. Twilight, Mario, Comet, and Daylight stand before them with the book propped open near the throne's edge.
"It's a little bit tedious of getting information from the entire Empire, but thanks to some research inside of the library we were able to figure out a solution in protecting the entire Empire." Mario explains.
"Really? What is it?" Shining Armor inquires.
"A 'Crystal Faire'." Twilight answered, reading to them. "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'. Our friend could put it together. Everything we need to know is in this book!"
"That sounds pretty promising." Shining Armor said.
"Has Shenran joined up with you?" Princess Cadence asks tiredly.
"Shenran? Is that where he's been all day?" Shining Armor asks, puzzled.
"He has." Mario answered. "He said Cadence sent him to help us. I know for a fact Fluttershy is more than happy to see him join."
Princess Cadence nodded before she just closes her eyes, clearly looked ready to drop to sleep at any minute. It got them worried.
"You guys might want to hurry." Skylor said with worried look as the Elemental Masters shared the same expression. "I don't know how much she can take it."
"We won't have enough time if Sombra reaches here." Lloyd adds with concern.
"We'll get started right away." Twilight said. "C'mon guys, we're got a Crystal Empire to save!"
Spike, who has been holding it up and open the entire time grunts very tired from holding the book for her and Comet levitates the book to give him a break. They then head out the throne room to put the Crystal Faire together.
Twilight, Mario, Spike, Comet, and Daylight then enter a room where the rest of the ponies were as they all gathered around a table to discuss the Crystal Faire. Twilight starts to sing.
Twilight (Sings):
Princess Cadence needs our help
Her magic will not last forever
I think we can do it
But we need to work together
She floats the book over to them and starts to turn the pages rapidly.
Twilight, Mario, Comet, and Daylight (Sings):
We have to get this right
Yes, we have to make them see
We can save the Crystal Ponies with their history
The books stops at a picture of two armored stallions, one white and one dark gray, charging toward each other with lances strapped to their flanks.
Rainbow Dash is then seen putting on some armor from a mannequin that she's in front of.
Rainbow Dash (Sings):
It says that they like jousting
Another page showed the flag of the Crystal Empire as Rarity, Kronk, and Golden Charm were gathering materials to recreate it.
Rarity (Sings):
They flew a flag of many hues
Another page showed a crystal pony gathering berries as Applejack, Apple Shine, Cole, Pinkie Pie, and Rose Lotus collected the berries from a bush into the basket. She then eats a berry.
Applejack (Sings):
Made sweets of crystal berries
Another page showed a picture of frolicking ewe. It was then two ewes appeared from behind a small hill as Fluttershy, Shenran, and Winter Breeze led and frolicked with them on their hind legs.
Fluttershy (Sings):
They had a petting zoo with tiny ewes
Back in the table, the Mane 8, the 7 foals, and Spike all sing together.
Mane 8, 7 foals, and Spike (Sings):
Oh, we have to get this right
Yes, we have to make them see
We can save the Crystal Ponies with their history
Pinkie Pie then turns the page in the book that showed a slightly convoluted horn with two bells. She then plays the said instrument and the rest recoil at the sound it was making.
Pinkie Pie (Sings):
There was a crystal flugelhorn
They everypony liked to play
Mario turns a page that shows ponies gathered around a large collection of tent-like shards. He, Apple Shine, Comet, and Daylight helped set up the tents before picking up a ball and tossing it a stack of crystal bottles, knocking the over.
Mario (Sings):
Tents for fun and games galore
To have fun in their own way
It then goes to outside where Twilight had her right hoof on her chest, imagining a flag with her.
Twilight (Sings):
And the Crystal Kingdom anthem
Can you learn it in a day?
Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk flies across to tie off a string of pennants on the pole atop of a tent, and Twilight checks her book.
Mane 8, 7 foals, and Spike (Sings):
Oh, we have to make this right
Yes, we have to make them see
Pinkie Pie hops by playing the flugelhorn while Rose Lotus plays her tambourine, Fluttershy, Shenran, and Winter Breeze leads the ewes across, Spike, who let a bunch of balloons float away, and finally Mario who shoots a beam from his horn straight up into the air to make a firework in the shape of a diamond.
Mane 8, 7 foals, and Spike (Sings):
We can save the Crystal Ponies with their history
With the song ending, they're in the center of the town and they all gazed out at all of the festivities that they worked hard on.
"This looks amazing!" Twilight said as she and Mario looked around. "I don't know how we could've done this without you!"
"This is for sure to not only protect the Crystal Empire, but you two will also pass the test that Princess Celestia assigned." Daylight said with a smile.
"Right!" Twilight agrees with her daughter. "Now, just one last check to make sure everything is in place, and then the festivities can begin!"
"What's this thing for?" Applejack asks.
They turned to see Applejack who's in front of a sculpture that consists of a heart on top of a large crystal and she gives it a bewildered nudge.
"Mom told us the last part of the Crystal Empire talked about some kind of a Crystal Heart." Comet explains. "So, I helped her carve it from the crystal block."
"Nice work you two." Applejack praises them. "Think we're ready to get this faire up and runnin'."
Up at the balcony of the castle, Pinkie Pie was up there with her flugelhorn at the ready as she takes a huge deep breath and let's out an off key fanfare with it. Twilight, Comet, Daylight, Mario, Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence then emerge onto the balcony to give their announcement to the entire Empire.
"Hear ye, hear-"
A second jangling blast cuts off the announcement and sets her teeth grinding together.
"PINKIE!" Mario, Comet, and Daylight snapped irritatingly as they and Twilight glared back at her.
"My bad." Pinkie Pie said bashfully before laughing nervously as Twilight cleared her throat.
"Hear ye, hear ye! Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor do cordially invite you to attend the Crystal Empire!" Twilight announces.
The Crystal Ponies throughout the entire Empire exit their homes and the invitation causes them to perk in both attitude and coloration, briefly taking on a crystal-like appearance. In no time, a sizable crowd is on its way to the fairgrounds. Up on the balcony, Twilight, Mario, Comet, and Daylight look at each other with smiles and exchange a hoof bump that their plan was working. Down below, Applejack, Cole, and Apple Shine are on greeting duty.
"Come on in, y'all." Applejack said as she, Cole, and Apple Shine leading them through the fairgrounds. "Got food and drinks thataway, crafts and games are thataway, Crystal Heart to the back near the Princess."
Subdued confusion among the crowd at this last. One mare looks around herself, perhaps deciding what to try first, but backs off in alarm when Rainbow Dash swoops down to her.
"We totally nailed it, right?" Rainbow Dash asked as the mare tries to bolt since she's uncomfortable from her pushy attitude, but she catches up when Storm Hawk stops her.
"Mom, you're making her uncomfortable." Storm Hawk told her sternly.
Rainbow Dash then turns and saw a mare feeling uncomfortable, causing her to sheepishly smile as she backs away to let her have a personal space.
"Sorry about that." Storm Hawk told her as he catches up to his mother.
The two mares are seen strolling together as it was a couple of the ponies that they interrogated.
"Seeing all of this, I feel like I'm starting to remember." Autumn Gem said. "Remember things from before the King."
"Me too." Fleur De Verre agrees.
They both thought about it for a moment before a double gasps signals both the return of their memories and their original brighter colors on their coats and even their manes and tails changed as well.
"The Crystal Heart!" Autumn Gem and Fleur De Verre said in unison.
"Do you think they really have it?" Fleur De Verre asks when both Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk zips over to them.
"Of course we have it!" Rainbow Dash said. "Can't have a Crystal Faire without the Crystal Heart, right?"
"Of course you can't." The voice of Amethyst Maresbury answered, earned their attention. "The whole purpose of the Crystal Faire is to lift the spirits of the Crystal Ponies, so the light within them can power the Crystal Heart, so that the Empire can be protected!"
She then gasps and then her normal colors of her original Crystal Pony self reappears.
"I do work at the library!" Amethyst Maresbury said which Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk felt rather uneasy at hearing something was off.
"What's this about 'powering the Crystal Heart' part?" Storm Hawk questions as Applejack and Apple Shine were standing beside them.
"I just can't believe you found it." Amethyst Maresbury said. "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!"
As she walks off, Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk throws a quick grimace to Applejack and Apple Shine as they did a vertical liftoff, and flashes past a rooftop with enough speed to strip the flag from a pole mounted there. A moment later, they have draped it over Twilight, Mario, Comet, and Daylight along with the heart sculpture.
"What are you doing?" Mario asks in annoyance.
"Why did you-"
"I think we may have a problem." Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk said with worry.
"What kind of problem?" Comet asks with concern.
"These ponies actually 'need' the Crystal Heart...the real deal instead of the fake one!" Storm Hawk told them.
"Are you saying that they're expecting a different kind of Crystal Heart?!" Daylight exclaims.
"Most likely." Storm Hawk answered.
"Mom, Mario, I think they need a real Crystal Heart instead of the ones we've made!?" Comet warned her.
"Oh no! We better go and tell Shining Armor and Cadence about this." Twilight said in grimace.
They then meet up with Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, and the Elemental Masters with Twilight, Mario, Comet, and Daylight searching through the book.
"I didn't know is was an actual relic!" Twilight exclaims. "The book didn't mention anything about the Crystal Ponies powering the Heart!"
Mario then uses the magic to take the book from her and look at it closely.
"Wait, something must've ripped it off. I think King Sombra must've torn the page off so nopony could find the answers!" Mario said with concern.
"He's a few steps ahead of us before we even got here." Daylight states.
"Oh man, this is bad!" Kai said with fear.
"It's alright." Princess Cadence said in a gentle but tired tone.
She immediately puts the lie to those words with a dizzy spell that sends her toppling. Shining Armor's grab keeps her from slamming down to the balcony, but her horn which she has kept going ever since they arrive finally sputters out.
"Guys!" Shining Armor said with worry.
"What do we do now?" Comet asks.
Then, the unearthly growl that they heard during their sprint to the border sounds off as the blue sky over the Empire starts to flicker on and off, exposing the leaden sky beyond.
"Oh no! With Aunt Cadence's spell out of power, the entire Empire will be taken over by King Sombra!" Daylight exclaims.
Her barrier disintegrates for good and they look out to see waves of dark clouds roll in. The darkness advances rapidly toward the castle from all sides and the windblown snow slashes across the formerly tranquil territory. King Sombra's red-glowing, purple-smoking eyes, and savagely triumphant face then emerges from the shadow of clouds.
"Sweetie?" Twilight said fearfully as she held him close.
"Yeah?" Mario asks, narrowed his eyes while holding Twilight.
"We're deep trouble." Twilight said as Mario nods in agreement.
That's it for the 2nd chapter.