TWILIGHT SPARKLE: You wanted to see me?
To give me a test?
CELESTIA: The Crystal Empire has returned.
You want me to help protect an entire empire?
It must be you and you alone.
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: But what if I fail?
Let's just say the empire.
It isn't the only thing that's returned.
Go! Go!
Sparkle-rific!
Well, with Cadence, putting all our strength
into keeping the 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.
There are Crystal Ponies?
I wish I could help you.
But I can't seem to remember anything
before King Sombra came to power.
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: History of the Crystal Empire.
The last page of the book mentioned the Crystal Heart
as the faire centerpiece.
So I used my magic to cut one out of the crystal block.
The whole purpose of the Crystal Faire
is to lift the spirits of the Crystal Ponies
so the lights within them can power the Crystal Heart,
so that the empire can be protected.
I think we may have a problem.
I didn't know it was an actual relic.
It's all right, Twilight.
( creature howling distantly )
Twily.
♪ My little pony My little pony ♪
♪ Ah, ah, ah, ah ♪
♪ My little pony ♪
♪ I used to wonder What friendship could be ♪
♪ My little pony ♪
♪ Until you all shared Its 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 ♪
♪ My little pony ♪
♪ Do you know you're all My very best friends ♪
( ominous theme playing )
( croaks )
The empire is under attack.
( roars )
I have to find the Crystal Heart.
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: No. You stay here with Cadence.
She needs you, Shining Armor.
I'll retrieve the heart.
Let's do this!
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 else you can do.
Name it.
You and the rest of our friends
have to keep the faire going.
What? With that thing moving into the empire?
The whole purpose of the Crystal Faire
is to lift the spirits of the Crystal Ponies
so they can activate the Crystal Heart.
Yeah? And?
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.
Keep the faire going
and the Crystal Ponies' spirits high.
Done and done.
SHINING ARMOR: Twily...
Be careful.
I will.
( croaking )
( calliope music playing )
Okay, here's...
( whispering inaudibly )
Huh?
I just found out they're offering face-painting
for the little ones. Ha-ha.
( whispers )
Uh-huh, we can do that.
Twilight's doing what?
He really loves getting his face painted.
Ha-ha.
Who wants a flugelhorn?
I want a flugelhorn.
Who else wants a flugelhorn?
I want a flugelhorn!
SPIKE: Twilight! Wait!
I'm coming with you.
You can't.
I have to retrieve the Crystal Heart by myself.
I know.
I promise I won't lift a claw to help you.
Not a claw, Spike.
SPIKE: Where are we going exactly?
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: I think I might know where
King Sombra hid the Crystal Heart.
SPIKE: The castle?
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 try.
SPIKE: I hope you're right.
You and me both.
What're you looking at?
That's what I thought.
Uh, Rainbow Dash?
We're supposed to be acting like nothing's wrong.
Exactly.
APPLEJACK: What I mean is...
Maybe you should let me keep the Crystal Ponies
away from the fake heart
while you show off your jousting skills.
Seeing my awesomeness does have a way
of putting ponies into a pretty good mood.
( sheep bleating )
Come on, Knight Fluttershy.
Huh?
It's showtime.
How y'all feeling? Having a good time?
The best I've had in over a thousand years.
Well, that's good.
Got to renew that spirit of love and unity
if you're gonna power up that Crystal Heart, right?
I sure would like to see it before the ceremony.
It's been such a long time.
Oh, I hear you.
But, uh, whew.
Getting a little toasty out here.
Bet you'd like to cool off with a little Crystal Empire nectar.
Uh, you tried the Crystal Empire fritters yet?
Made from a traditional Crystal Empire recipe.
You're gonna love them.
Uh, I hear there's a jousting match about to start.
You don't wanna miss that.
Come on, Twilight.
These Crystal Ponies are more curious than a cat.
( panting )
( sighs )
( panting )
It's got to be here somewhere.
It's just got to be.
Not a claw, Spike.
Uh...
(laughs nervously)
Celestia's orders.
CELESTIA: If the Empire is filled with hope and love,
those things are reflected across all of Equestria.
If hatred and fear take hold--
Of course!
( grunts )
What? Did you find it?
No.
Because this isn't King Sombra's castle.
SPIKE: Well, isn't this where he lived when he was in power?
It is. But it didn't look like this.
( grunts )
SPIKE: Whoa.
When did you learn to do that?
That was a little trick Celestia taught me.
( gulps )
( whimpers )
You stay here.
If you insist.
Can you see what's down there yet?
Not yet.
I can't even tell how far down this goes.
( crystal clinks )
Spike?
SPIKE: Yeah?
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: Can you see outside?
( thunder crashing )
( growling )
Yes.
Crystals.
It's not good.
Cadence's magic must be fading faster than before.
( suspenseful theme playing )
( grunts )
( grunting )
SPIKE: Twilight? Are you okay?
Yes.
What in the...?
Stop...
moving!
Spike, I think it's here.
Huh?
What are you doing here?
I don't know. I opened the door and--
And now you must go.
Go where?
It doesn't matter to me.
You failed the test, Twilight.
I don't understand. The test?
Not only will you not move on
to the next level of your studies,
you won't continue your studies at all.
I...
You didn't say anything about no longer
being your student if I failed.
Didn't I?
But what do I do now?
( evil laugh )
( whimpers )
SPIKE: Twilight? Twilight!
Twilight!
I know you told me to stay up there
but you were here for such a long time.
And I got worried so I came down here,
you were just staring at that wall.
I was calling but I couldn't get your attention and...
What were you looking at?
I mean, it's just a wall.
Ponyville? How did I get...?
No! I don't want to go.
Please, Twilight, don't make me.
( door slams )
King Sombra's dark magic.
A doorway that leads to your worst fear.
We were home.
You told me you didn't need me anymore.
You were sending me away.
A fear that will never come to pass.
I'm never going to send you away.
And I'm not going to fail my test.
SPIKE: What's in there?
( sighs )
Stairs.
Lots and lots of stairs.
Maybe you should come with me this time.
( uplifting theme playing )
( thunder rumbling )
( King Sombra laughing )
( crowd cheering )
( whimpering )
( crowd cheering )
( thunder rumbling )
( trumpet blows )
Ah!
( screams )
( all cheering )
CRYSTAL PONY: Bravo, Knight Rainbow Dash!
( whimpers )
Isn't there somepony else who could take over
the jousting demonstration with you?
The fate of an entire empire
rests on us showing these ponies a good time.
But, you know, if that isn't important to you...
( sobs )
Okay. Okay. I'll take it easy on you next time.
But not too easy.
I've got a reputation to maintain.
( panting heavily )
What if this is just more of his magic?
He makes a door that leads to your worst nightmare,
why not a staircase that goes on forever?
Hold on to me.
Uh...
Whoa.
Whoa! Yah!
( ponies whimpering )
RARITY: Excuse me. Pardon me.
I am running out of weaving materials
for the traditional crafts booth.
I just made a hat out of three pieces of hay
and a drinking straw.
I made it work, but still.
We gotta do everything we can to keep this thing going.
The princess isn't looking so good.
I can't imagine her magic is gonna last much longer.
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 anyway.
PINKIE PIE: I sure hope that time comes soon.
Even I can't keep this party going forever.
Whoa!
This isn't the Crystal Heart.
Oh, of course it isn't.
The real one is--
On its way.
I was going to say "being polished"
to buy us some more time.
Oops.
( King Sombra cackling )
It's him.
KING SOMBRA: Crystal heart...
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: Whoa!
( laughing )
I actually studied gravity spells
thinking it might be on my test.
Turns out, I was prepared for this!
Wooo-hoo!
( laughs )
( alarm sounds )
( growls )
( evil laugh )
( thunder crashing )
( wind howling )
The heart? Where is the crystal?
Here. It rolled over to me when you dropped it.
Don't move!
You can move. Just not toward me.
How could I have been so foolish?
I was just so eager to get it.
Then when I saw what was going on outside, I...
SPIKE: You have to get out of there.
You have to brings the Crystal Heart to Princess Cadence.
If you don't, you fail Celestia's test.
King Sombra is already attacking the empire.
He could reach the Crystal Ponies
at any moment.
Reach Princess Cadence, my brother, my friends.
There may not be enough time for me to find a way to escape.
You have to be the one
to bring the Crystal Heart to the faire.
Me? But, Twilight--
Go.
But--
Go!
( ponies whimpering and screaming )
APPLEJACK: Now don't y'all worry
your pretty, little Crystal heads.
The real Crystal Heart will be here any second.
I don't know if they believe you.
I don't know if I believe me.
( gasps )
He's back! I can't take it!
Ah!
( growls )
Ah! King Sombra.
My crystal slaves.
( whimpering )
( grunts )
Hey! Up here!
Spike?
I got the Crystal Heart!
That is mine!
( ominous theme playing )
Spikey-wikey!
Huh?
CRYSTAL PONY: Who is that?
Behold! The Crystal Princess!
The Crystal Heart has returned.
Use the light and love within you
to insure that King Sombra does not.
What?
No! No!
Stop!
( majestic theme playing )
Oh!
( screams )
( uplifting theme playing )
( all cheering )
( sighs )
Good job, Spike.
RARITY: I do so wish it was permanent.
Did you see how my mane just absolutely sparkled?
But good things are better when they're a rarity.
Oh!
SHINING ARMOR: Everything's going to be okay.
You've got to stop saving my rump like this.
It's starting to get embarrassing.
Wasn't me who saved you in the end, it was Spike.
It's just a test. Maybe she'll let you retake it.
I don't think she's going to give me a new test.
Keep it together, buddy.
Gotta stay strong...for Twilight
It's beautiful.
I wish it had been me who ultimately made it so.
But it wasn't.
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
of the Crystal Empire
in an effort to guarantee your own.
Far better that I have a student who understands
the meaning
of self-sacrifice,
than one who only looks out for her own best interests.
Does this mean...?
She's totally going to lose it.
Keep it together, buddy.
I gotta stay strong for Twilight.
I passed!
( all cheer )
♪ You were prepared To do your best ♪
♪ Had what it takes To pass the test ♪
♪ All those doubts You can dismiss ♪
♪ Turns out you were... ♪
ALL: ♪ Prepared for this ♪
♪ You clearly have just What it takes ♪
♪ To pass a test With such high stakes ♪
♪ We knew for sure You would prevail ♪
♪ Since when does Twilight Sparkle ever fail? ♪
♪ All those doubts That you can dismiss ♪
♪ Trust yourself And you cannot miss ♪
♪ Turns out you were... ♪
♪ Turns out I was... ♪
♪ Turns out you were... ♪
♪ Turns out I was... ♪
Turns out you were...
♪ Prepared for this ♪
( laughs )
Yeah. I knew everything was going to be fine.
♪ My little pony ♪
♪ Friends ♪