( mellow theme playing )
( door opens )
News from Northern Equestria,
uh, Your Highness.
Yes?
I am simply to tell you
that it has returned.
( gasps )
Find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.
Yes, Your Highness.
My dearest Twilight,
you must come to Canterlot at once.
♪ 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 ♪
♪ You have my ♪
♪ My little ponies ♪
♪ Do you know you're all My very best friends? ♪
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: Where are all my quills?
( pants )
No. No. No. No.
No. Ugh!
I need the Magical Compendium, Volumes 1 through 36.
Where is it?
( dramatic theme playing )
Flash cards. I should make some 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.
( Twilight Sparkle screaming )
Are you sure you don't want me to go as well?
Yes. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor
are already there.
The others will be joining them soon.
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.
( clears throat )
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'm sorry. I-- I thought I'd studied.
Ooh, I don't think there's anything in any of my books--
There wouldn't be.
Few remember it ever existed at all.
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...
( ominous theme playing )
Which is why I need your help finding a way to protect it.
You want me to help protect an entire empire?
It is, as I said, a different kind of test
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.
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 are ready
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,
in the end, it must be you and you alone
who ultimately assists
Princess Cadence and Shining Armor
in doing what needs to be done to protect the empire.
Do you understand?
Mm-hmm.
Then go. There is no time to lose.
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 ♪
♪ Levitation Would have been a breeze ♪
♪ Facts and figures I recite with ease ♪
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 ♪
♪ I've made it Through the thin and thick ♪
♪ 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 ♪
Uh, prepared for what, exactly?
Twilight.
Did you pass?
Are we gonna celebrate your awesomeness
with Princess Celestia?
TWILIGHT: Not quite.
We're going to the Crystal Empire.
Huh?
Crystal what?
( train whistle blows )
Ha, and you all made fun of me for packing so many scarves.
Ugh! I didn't say a word.
Ah!
Hey. Come here.
SHINING ARMOR: Twilight!
Shining Armor?
Twily, you made it!
We'd better get moving.
There are things out here
we really don't want to run into after dark.
What kind of things?
Let's just say the empire
isn't the only thing that's returned.
Something keeps trying to get in.
We think it's the unicorn king who originally cursed the place.
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 it must already be protected.
( creature howling distantly )
Ah! That-- That's one of the things, isn't it?
We have to get to the Crystal Empire now!
( snarling )
Go! Go!
SHINING ARMOR: Almost there.
( sighs )
Everypony okay?
( ponies pant )
Oh, no.
Shining Armor, your horn.
Sparklerific!
RARITY: It's gorgeous.
Absolutely gorgeous.
( stammers )
There are no words!
Focus, Rarity.
We're here to help Twilight, not admire the scenery.
RAINBOW DASH: Eh, I don't see what the big deal is.
Just looks like another old castle to me.
( scoffs and spits )
Another old--
Have you lost your mind? Look at the magni--
( laughs )
Very funny.
Cadence!
Oh.
BOTH: Sunshine, sunshine. Ladybug's awake.
Clap your hooves and do a little shake.
( both laugh )
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.
APPLEJACK: Why we're all here.
ALL: 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?
( laughs )
There are Crystal Ponies?
Um, ahem, please continue.
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.
To gather information from the Crystal Ponies
and deliver it to you.
This is gonna be great. I love research papers.
Yeah. Who doesn't?
Oh, oh, oh, let me guess.
Is it Spike? No, no, no. Fluttershy? Rarity?
Don't worry, big brother.
I am really good at this sort of thing.
Are you sure? Absolutely 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.
( shuddering )
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.
If you think of anything, even the smallest thing...
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.
Oh, hello. Um, I was just wondering...
Oh, oh, that's okay. Um, you all look really busy.
( laughs nervously )
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!
( screams )
A spy? How did they know?
Ah, must have noticed my night-vision goggles.
Ooh, night visiony.
( hums )
And when you flip your mane,
it simply must create a rainbow of color.
Wouldn't I look just magnificent?
So sparkly.
( giggles )
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
was something about a library.
( gasps )
A library? Well, why didn't you say so?
Uh, thought I just did.
I just-- I don't even know what to--
There are no words.
( clears throat )
May I help you?
Yes. We're looking for a book.
We have plenty of those.
You do. You really do.
We're looking for a history book,
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'm not sure I actually work here.
Ugh!
We'll just take a look around.
I'm sure we can find it on our own.
Let me know if you find anything.
I like her.
Uh, anyone else starting to think this is a lost cause?
No. No. No. No.
No.
Yes!
History of the Crystal Empire.
I just hope it has the answers we need.
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.
That sounds pretty promising.
We'll get started right away.
Come on, Spike, we've got a Crystal Faire to put together.
( groans )
♪ Princess Cadence Needs our help ♪
♪ Her magic Will not last forever ♪
♪ I think we can do it But we need to work together ♪
♪ We have to get this right ♪
♪ Yes, we have To make them see ♪
♪ We can save the Crystal Ponies With their history ♪
♪ It says that they Liked jousting ♪
♪ They flew a flag Of many hues ♪
♪ Made sweets Of Crystal Berries ♪
♪ They had a petting zoo With tiny ewes ♪
♪ Oh, we have to get This right ♪
♪ Yes, we have To make them see ♪
♪ We can save the Crystal Ponies With their history ♪
♪ There was A Crystal Flugelhorn ♪
♪ 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 ♪
♪ We can save The Crystal Ponies ♪
♪ 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.
Think we're ready to get this faire up and running.
( inhaling deeply )
( playing off-key notes )
Hear ye, hear--
Flugelhorn!
( laughs nervously )
My bad.
( clears throat )
Hear ye, hear ye!
Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor
do cordially invite you to attend the Crystal Faire.
( Crystal Ponies murmuring )
Come on in, y'all.
Got food and drinks thataway.
Games and crafts are thataway.
Crystal Heart's in the back near the princess.
Did she say, "crystal heart"?
( murmuring )
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.
( gasps )
BOTH: The Crystal Heart!
Do you think they really have it?
Of course we have it.
Can't have a Crystal Faire
without the Crystal Heart, right?
Of course you can't.
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.
I do work at the library.
What's that about powering the heart?
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.
Mmm, funnel cake.
( squeaks )
Why did you--?
I think we may have a problem.
I didn't know it was an actual relic.
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.
( creature howling distantly )
( ominous theme playing )
( wind howling )
♪ My little pony ♪
♪ Friends ♪