Northern Equestria, News from
uh, Your Highness.
Yes?
I am simply to tell you
that it has returned.
Find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.
Yes, Your Highness.
My dearest Twilight,
to Canterlot at once. you must come
♪ My little pony My little pony *
♪ Ah, ah, ah, ah *
♪ My little pony *
What friendship could be ♪ ♪ I used to wonder
♪ My little pony *
♪ Until you all shared Its magic with me *
♪ Big adventure d d Tons of fun *
♪ A beautiful heart d d Faithful and strong *
♪ Sharing kindness d d It's an easy feat *
Makes it all complete ♪ ♪ And magic
♪ You have my d d My little ponies *
♪ Do you know you're all My very best friends? *
Where are all my quills?
No. No. No. No.
No. Ugh!
I need the Magical Compendium, Volumes 1 through 36.
Where is it?
I should make some flash cards. Flash cards.
Spike, I'm gonna need you to quiz me
on everything, everything I've ever learned.
Ever.
That isn't gonna be enough cards.
Twilight, calm down.
It's just a test.
Just a test?
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?
Uh, yes?
I'd say she's handling things pretty well…considering.
Are you sure you don't want me to go as well?
Yes. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor
are already there.
will be joining them soon. The others
The empire's magic is powerful.
It cannot fall again, my sister.
She will succeed at her task, and when she does,
we'll know that she is that much closer to being ready.
Trust me, little sister.
You wanted to see me? To give me a test?
I brought my own quills
and plenty of paper to show my work.
Sorry. Sorry.
This is a different kind of test.
The Crystal Empire has returned.
The Crystal Empire?
I… I thought I'd studied. I'm sorry.
anything in any of my books… Ooh, I don't think there's
There wouldn't be.
it ever existed at all. Few remember
Even my knowledge of the empire is limited.
But what I do know is that it contains a powerful magic.
One thousand years ago,
King Sombra, a unicorn whose heart was black as night,
took over the Crystal Empire.
He was ultimately overthrown, turned to shadow,
and banished to the ice of the arctic north.
But not before he was able to put a curse upon the empire,
a curse that caused it to vanish into thin air.
If the empire is filled with hope and love,
those things are reflected across all of Equestria.
If hatred and fear take hold…
Which is why I need your help finding a way to protect it.
You want me to help protect an entire empire?
a different kind of test It is, as I said,
but one I'm certain you will pass.
How do I begin?
By joining Princess Cadence and Shining Armor
in the Crystal Empire.
My brother is there? He is.
will join you there as well. And your Ponyville friends
I have every confidence you will succeed.
I'll know you are ready And when you do,
to move on to the next level of your studies.
But what if I fail? You won't.
But what if…?
You won't.
But, Twilight,
it must be you and you alone in the end,
who ultimately assists
Princess Cadence and Shining Armor
in doing what needs to be done to protect the empire.
Do you understand?
Mm-hmm.
There is no time to lose. Then go.
Ah, Twilight! That was fast.
Let me guess. You got a perfect score.
A-minus?
B-plus?
Ah, Twilight, did you…
fail?
* I was prepared To do my best *
* Thought I could handle Any test *
* For I can do so many tricks *
* But I wasn't prepared For this *
Would have been a breeze ♪ ♪ Levitation
I recite with ease ♪ ♪ Facts and figures
The square root of 546 is 23.36664289109.
She is correct.
* I could ace a quiz On friendship's bliss *
* But I wasn't prepared For this *
* Will I fail or will I pass? *
* I can't be sure *
* She can't be sure *
* My mind is sharp *
* My skills intact *
* My heart is pure *
* Her heart is pure *
* Oh, I've taken my share Of licks *
Through the thin and thick ♪ ♪ I've made it
* But, no, I wasn't *
* Oh, no, she wasn't *
* Oh, no, I wasn't *
* Oh, no, she wasn't *
* No, I wasn't *
* Prepared for this *
for what, exactly? Uh, prepared
Twilight.
Did you pass?
Are we gonna celebrate your awesomeness
with Princess Celestia?
Not quite.
to the Crystal Empire. We're going
Huh? Huh?
Crystal what?
Ha, and you all made fun of me for packing so many scarves.
Ugh! I didn't say a word.
Hey. Come here.
Twilight!
Shining Armor?
Twily, you made it!
We'd better get moving.
There are things out here
to run into after dark. we really don't want
What kind of things?
Let's just say the empire
isn't the only thing that's returned.
Something keeps trying to get in.
who originally cursed the place. We think it's the unicorn king
said I was being sent here But Princess Celestia
to protect the empire. to find a way
If King Sombra can't get in,
then it must already be protected.
Ah! That… That's one of the things, isn't it?
to the Crystal Empire now! We have to get
Go! Go!
Almost there.
Everypony okay?
Oh, no.
Shining Armor, your horn.
Sparklerific!
It's gorgeous.
Absolutely gorgeous.
There are no words!
Focus, Rarity.
We're here to help Twilight, not admire the scenery.
what the big deal is. Eh, I don't see
Just looks like another old castle to me.
Another old…
Have you lost your mind? Look at the magni…
Very funny.
Cadence!
Oh.
Sunshine, sunshine. Ladybug's awake.
and do a little shake. Clap your hooves
One of these days we need to get together
when the fate of Equestria isn't hanging in the balance.
Are you okay?
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.
It's all right, Shining Armor. I'm fine.
She's not fine. 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.
That's why we're here.
Why we're all here.
Mm-hmm.
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.
Crystal Ponies?
There are Crystal Ponies?
please continue. Um, ahem,
But we have to believe one of them knows
how we can protect the empire
without having to use Cadence's magic.
A research paper.
Huh?
That must be part of my test.
from the Crystal Ponies To gather information
and deliver it to you.
This is gonna be great. I love research papers.
Yeah. Who doesn't?
let me guess. Oh, oh, oh,
Is it Spike? No, no, no. Fluttershy? Rarity?
Don't worry, big brother.
I am really good at this sort of thing.
Absolutely sure? Are you sure?
I'm sorry. I wish I could help you.
But I can't seem to remember anything
before King Sombra came to power.
And I don't want to remember anything
about the time he ruled over us.
King Sombra's spell must be why
their coats aren't… crystally.
Have we really been gone a thousand years?
Yes.
It feels like it was just yesterday.
even the smallest thing… If you think of anything,
Of course.
Well, that was a total bust.
Maybe the others are having better luck.
A way to protect the empire.
You know anything about it or what?
I wish I could help you. Really.
Come on. You gotta know something.
But I don't have any information.
Oh, um, excuse me.
Um, I was just wondering… Oh, hello.
Oh, oh, that's okay. Um, you all look really busy.
Time to gather some intel.
It just feels like something is missing.
I know.
It looks the same, but it doesn't feel the same.
Because it isn't.
A spy!
How did they know? A spy?
my night-vision goggles. Ah, must have noticed
Ooh, night visiony.
And when you flip your mane,
it simply must create a rainbow of color.
Wouldn't I look just magnificent?
So sparkly.
I got nothing so far.
Oh, me neither.
My cover has been blown.
I repeat, my cover has been blown.
Okay. Sorry, Twilight.
These Crystal Ponies seem to have some kind
of collective amnesia or something.
Only thing I was able to get out of them
about a library. was something
Well, why didn't you say so? A library?
Uh, thought I just did.
I don't even know what to… I just…
There are no words.
May I help you?
Yes. We're looking for a book.
We have plenty of those.
You do. You really do.
for a history book, We're looking
something that might tell us how the empire
might have protected itself from danger back in the day.
Yes, of course.
History. History.
Ah, yes.
Which is where, exactly?
I…I can't seem to remember.
I actually work here. I'm not sure
We'll just take a look around. Ugh!
I'm sure we can find it on our own.
if you find anything. Let me know
I like her.
to think this is a lost cause? Uh, anyone else starting
No. No. No. No.
No.
Yes!
of the Crystal Empire. History
it has the answers we need. I just hope
A Crystal Faire.
established by their first queen According to this book, it was
their most important tradition. and became
The faire was held every year to…
"Renew the spirit of love and unity in the empire
so they could protect it from harm."
can put it together. My friends and I
Everything we need to know is in the book.
pretty promising. That sounds
We'll get started right away.
a Crystal Faire to put together. Come on, Spike, we've got
* Princess Cadence Needs our help *
Will not last forever ♪ ♪ Her magic
But we need to work together ♪ ♪ I think we can do it
* We have to get this right *
To make them see ♪ ♪ Yes, we have
* We can save the Crystal Ponies With their history *
* It says that they Liked jousting *
* They flew a flag Of many hues *
Of Crystal Berries ♪ ♪ Made sweets
* They had a petting zoo With tiny ewes *
* Oh, we have to get This right *
To make them see ♪ ♪ Yes, we have
* We can save the Crystal Ponies With their history *
A Crystal Flugelhorn ♪ ♪ There was
* That everypony Liked to play *
* And a Crystal Kingdom anthem *
* Can you learn it in a day? *
* Oh, we have to get This right *
* Yes, we have to Make them see *
The Crystal Ponies ♪ ♪ We can save
* With their history *
It looks amazing.
I don't know how I could have done this without you.
One last check to make sure everything is in place
and then the festivities can begin.
What's this thing for?
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.
Nice work, Twi.
this faire up and running. Think we're ready to get
Hear ye, hear…
Flugelhorn!
My bad.
Hear ye, hear ye!
and Prince Shining Armor Princess Cadence
to attend the Crystal Faire. do cordially invite you
Come on in, y'all.
Got food and drinks thataway.
Games and crafts are thataway.
Crystal Heart's in the back near the princess.
"crystal heart"? Did she say,
We totally nailed it, right?
Must be feeling a lot of love and unity about now.
Gonna have some grub, huh? What are you thinking?
Crystal Empire Berry Pie?
Maybe some Crystal Corn on the Cob?
What is with these ponies?
Seeing all of this,
I feel like I'm starting to remember,
remember things from before the king.
Me too.
The Crystal Heart!
they really have it? Do you think
Of course we have it.
Can't have a Crystal Faire
without the Crystal Heart, right?
Of course you can't.
of the Crystal Faire is The whole purpose
of the Crystal Ponies to lift the spirits
can power the Crystal Heart so the light within them
so that the empire can be protected.
I do work at the library.
What's that about powering the heart?
I just can't believe you found it.
he'd hidden it away King Sombra said
where we would never see it again.
I only hope it will still be as powerful after all these years.
Mmm, funnel cake.
Why did you…?
I think we may have a problem.
it was an actual relic. I didn't know
The book didn't mention anything
about the Crystal Ponies powering the heart.
There was a page missing. How did I not notice?
It's all right, Twilight.
Twily.
♪ My little pony *
* Friends *