The Crystal Empire [Alternate Universe]

by AestheticStory_Cathe

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Main 6, Princess Cadance, Flurry Heart, Adventure, Shining Armor, Thorax
Length: 5668

Basically "The Crystal Empire" Episode from MLP: FIM... With a bunch of plot twists! A few plot twists...

Cadence and Shining Armor had their wedding and had a daughter named Flurry Heart. Twilight had been crowned the Princess of Friendship. The Mane 6 had already found their special someponies, or rather, some creatures and they've aged...

And they have kids as well. Flurry Heart has also aged and is currently 17 while the other kids were about 12 or under...

But when the Crystal Empire returns... Can they protect it from the Evil King that once ruled over the Empire? Can they seek out the Crystal Heart and retrieve it before Sombra does?

And what if the episode held a bit more mystery to it? And what if it had some other interesting plot twists to it?

The Pairs That Will Be Included in the AU...

- Twilight Sparkle x Flash Sentry [FlashLight]
- Rainbow Dash x Soarin Skies [SoarinDash]
- Fluttershy x Discord [FlutterCord]
- Rarity x Fancy Pants [RariPants]
- Pinkie Pie x Cheese Sandwich [CheesePie]
- Applejack x Spike [AppleSpike]
- Starlight Glimmer x Sunburst [StarBurst]
- Flurry Heart x Thorax [Flurrax]

And lots more! Read the AU to find out!

An Alternate Universe to Episode 1 & 2 of Season 3, The Crystal Empire.

Published 2021-04-01 07:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2021-04-01 07:00:00 UTC

The Crystal Empire AU: Part 1

Another bright and sunny day in Equestria. In Canterlot, Celestia was signing papers while her Grand-Niece, Flurry Heart, was writing and signing letters beside her. Everything was going smoothly until the doors burst open and a random guard burst in.

He broke into a gallop into the Throne Room in a hurry, “News from Northern Equestria. Uh, your Highnesses.”

Celestia stopped signing the paper and turned towards the guard while Flurry just remained calm as she thought it was nothing, “Yes?” Celestia asked.

The guard took off his helmet and said, “I am simply to tell you that ‘it’ has returned.”

Celestia gasped and Flurry’s head jolted up as she heard this news. “Find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor,” Celestia ordered.

“Yes, your highness.” The guard beside her spoke as all the guards in the room broke into a run out of the room to find the Royal Couple.

Flurry put down her envelopes and slowly walked to her Grand-Aunt as Celestia used her magic to lift up a scroll and quill. She was about to write down something when Flurry asked, “Aunt Celestia?”

“Yes, Flurry Heart?”

“What’s going on? What are you all talking about?” She asked with a hint of worry in her tone, “And why’d you ask the guards to find my parents?”

Celestia shook her head, “I’m afraid that is something that I can’t discuss with you now, dear Flurry.”

“Auntie Celestia, please.” Flurry looked up to her Grand-Aunt with pleading eyes, “If my parents are involved, I need to know.”

Celestia thought about it for a moment and decided, “Alright. But you must go with your parents to the Crystal Empire and find out yourself.”

Flurry looked confused for a second, but then bowed and trotted out of the room to find her parents as she thought, “The Crystal Empire? I wonder what that is...”

As soon as Flurry left the Throne Room, Celestia focused her attention back at the scroll as she started writing down, “My dearest Twilight, you must come to Canterlot at once...”

Panting and hoofsteps could be heard even from outside of the Golden Oak Library. Even though Twilight was a princess and she had kids, she still studied with the Mentor.

“Where are all my quills?” Twilight panicked as she ran around the library, looking for her materials. She found her quills and instantly threw them at Spike, who caught all of the things she threw at him, professionally.

Twilight used her magic to pick up random books while flying as she repeated, “No, no, no, no. No! Ugh! I need the Magical Compendium Volumes 1 to 36! Where is it?!” She yelled as she ran around the house looking for it.

All her friends and their coltfriends were watching her panic on the sidelines. Some looking worried, some looking annoyed, and some looking as if she was taking this too seriously.

Those couples included Fluttershy and Discord, Rarity and Fancy Pants, Rainbow Dash and Soarin, Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich, Applejack and Spike, and Flash. Rarity, Fancy, and Rainbow looked worried. Applejack, Fluttershy, and Soarin looked at her as if she was taking it all too seriously. Discord looked annoyed and entertained at the same time while Spike and Flash just looked at Twilight with wide eyes.

Twilight took out a bunch of books from a shelf and a gigantic book was taken out last as she smiled brightly at succeeding in finding it. She lifted it up over Spike and Flash, who looked up at it before Twilight let it go and they just barely caught it without getting smushed.

“Flashcards! I should make some flashcards!” Twilight shouted as she opened a drawer and took out a bunch of flashcards, ”Spike, I’m gonna need you to quiz me on everything! Everything I’ve ever learned. Ever.”

She threw the flashcards at Spike as he couldn’t catch them all and Flash grabbed the remaining. Twilight looked at the amount of flashcards she pulled out and declared, “That isn’t gonna be enough cards.”

“Twilight, calm down.” Flash said as he gave the flashcards to Spike and approached his wife while laying a hoof on her back.

“Yeah, it’s just a test.” Spike added as he put down all the flashcards.

Twilight instantly lifted her head up as soon as Spike said that, “Just a test?” Spike moved back in fear as Twilight got up in his face and yelled, “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?!”

“Twilight...” Flash said trying to calm her down, but it apparently didn’t work because of what happened next.

Spike put on some ‘gear’ and uncertainly said, “Uh, yes?”

Twilight broke and her horn dangerously lit up. Applejack turned to look at all her friends and said, “I’d say she’s handling things pretty well.”

Twilight groaned and the whole tree blew up into the sky and landed back down with a thud.

Discord laughed, “Wait till’ she sees her next task.” He said as he read a scroll.

The others were going to question what he meant, but decided to keep quiet as they thought that Discord was just being Discord. Though Applejack got up and helped Spike after he got blown by Twilight’s little outburst.

Gleam Star, who was taking a nap, woke up and asked, “Dad? Is everything okay?”

Flash sighed, “Yes. Your mom’s just having a small freak-out session again, sweetie.”

Gleam rolled her eyes playfully as she giggled, “Typical mom.”

The Royal Sisters were looking at the stained glass of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go as well?” Luna asked.

“Yes. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor are already there, and so are Princess Flurry Heart and King Thorax. They even have Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst in the Empire with them already.” Celestia assured her little sister, “The others will be joining them soon.”

Luna looked back up at the stained glass, “The Empire’s magic is powerful. It cannot fall again, my sister.”

Celestia looked back up, “She will succeed at her task and when she does we’ll know that she is that much closer to being ready.”

Twilight cleared her voice and smiled nervously, dragging Luna and Celestia’s attention. Flash Sentry was wearing his armor and was following right behind Twilight, keeping a professional look.

Celestia smiled while Luna frowned, but Celestia quickly added, “Trust me, little sister.

Luna started walking towards the door, where Flash was, while Twilight walked towards Celestia. “You wanted to see me? To give me a test?”

Luna passed by her with a blank look as she left the room and Twilight spoke again, “I brought my quills and plenty of paper to show my work. She let her magic drop the items and one of the scrolls unrolled itself until it reached Celestia’s hoof.

“Sorry, sorry!” Twilight apologized as she used her head to try and roll back the scroll.

But Celestia took the scroll in her magic to roll the scroll and placed everything back into her saddlebag, “This is a different kind of test.” She closed her eyes and opened them back, ‘The Crystal Empire has returned.”

Twilight’s expression went from confused to worry in mere seconds, “The Crystal Empire?” She took all the books she brought with her in her magic, “I’m sorry. I-I thought I’d study. Oh, I don’t think there’s anything in any of my books-“

Celestia cut her off, “There wouldn’t be.” Twilight looked up from her book in confusion once more as Celestia walked towards her throne, “You’ll remember it ever existed at all.” She used her magic to lift up a glass casing and take the lavender crystal inside it, “Even my knowledge of the Empire is limited.” She placed down the crystal in front of Twilight and shot a beam to it as it projected a miniature version of the actual Empire.

“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,” The once beautiful Empire turned into black.

Sombra was on the balcony of the palace watching the enslaved Crystal Ponies chained up against their will. Celestia and Luna came and used their magic to banish him, “He was ultimately overthrown turned to shadow and banished to the ice of the Arctic North.” Twilight looked shocked, “But not before he was able to put a curse upon the Empire. A curse that caused it to vanish into thin air.” Celestia explained as the project picture of the Empire vanish and went back into the crystal.

Celestia lifted up the crystal with her magic, “If the Empire is filled with hope and love, those things are reflected across all of Equestria.” She shot a beam into it and the crystal reflected off bright colors, “But if hatred and fear take hold...” She shot another beam, but the magic caused the crystal to turn black. The shadow from it made a black crystal sprout from the ground in front of Twilight and the shadow from that crystal caused two more to appear beside Twilight.

Celestia’s eyes turned white and she destroyed all of the illusions. She landed back on the ground, “Which is why I need your help finding a way to protect it.”

Twilight looked down, “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,” She said as she placed the crystal back in the glass container.

Twilight looked back up with confidence and asked, “How do I begin?”

“By joining Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, and a couple of others in the Crystal Empire.”

Twilight's eyes lit up, “My brother is there?”

“He is,” Celestia responded as she kept walking towards the door with Twilight beside her, “And your Ponyville friends, as well as your husbands and kids, will join you there as well. I have every confidence that you will succeed and when you do, I’ll know you are ready to move on to the next level of your studies.”

Twilight stopped looking at Celestia and looked at Luna, who had a stern look on her face. She also looked at Flash, who smiled at her, and that gave her confidence, but she was still worried, “But what if I fail? And I don’t feel safe with bringing our kids to such a dangerous mission...”

“You won’t. And they will be safe with you.”

“But what if-“

She gasped as Celestia suddenly put her hoof on her shoulder and repeated, “You won’t and they’ll be safe. 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?” Twilight nodded, “Then go. There is no time to lose.” She shut the door.

Twilight looked at Flash and they both exited the castle to Spike, who was waiting on the stairs. Once he saw Twilight, he jumped up, “Ah, Twilight! That was fast. Let me guess, you got a perfect score!” He nudged her, but Twilight looked back down as she kept walking, “A-minus?” Twilight kept walking, “B-plus?” But when she continued to walk, Spike gasped, “Twilight, did you fail?” He whispered.

Flash walked up next to him and put his hoof on his claw to stop him. Twilight looked back at him with sad eyes as she started singing,

[Twilight Sparkle]

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 five hundred and forty-six is twenty-three point three six six six four two eight nine one zero nine.”

Professor Bill Neigh was calculating it and declared, “She is correct!” And Spike and Flash looked beyond impressed.

[Twilight]

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...

[Spike and Flash]

She can't be sure...

[Twilight]

My mind is sharp, my skills intact
My heart is pure...

[Spike and Flash]

Her heart is pure...

[Twilight]

Oh, I've taken my share of licks
I've made it through the thin and thick
But no I wasn't

[Flash]

Oh no, she wasn't

[Twilight]

Oh no, I wasn't

[Spike]

Oh no, she wasn't

[Twilight]

No I wasn't

[Twilight Sparkle, Flash, and Spike]

Prepared... for this!

Flash and Spike followed behind her. But Spike came to a halt as he asked, “Prepared for what exactly?”

“Oh, right. You don’t know.” Flash remembered. He was about to respond, but got off by their friends and their kids.

“Twilight!” Applejack yelled with the other behind her, “Did you pass?”

Gleam jumped on her mom’s back as she asked, “Yeah! Did you pass, mom?”

Pinkie and Cheese pushed two canons, knocking over Spike and Flash. “Are we gonna celebrate your awesomeness with Princess Celestia?”

“Yeah! Are we, Princess Twilight?” The canon blew and Pinkie and Cheese followed it with their kids blowing out of the canon as well.

“Not quite,” Twilight responded as Pinkie and Cheese both fell back down with their kids on their laps and the confetti went back in the canon, “We’re going to the Crystal Empire!” She yelled earning a few confused looks from her friends.

“I’ll tell you about it later, my dear.” Discord whispered in Fluttershy’s ear.

“We’ll tell you guys on the train.” Flash said as they all entered the train.

The train drove all the way through the snow. And after a while, they had reached the train station. They opened the door only to be met by the howling wind of the Frozen North.

“Hah! And you all made fun of me for packing so many scarfs.” Rarity mocked as they all got out of the train.

“I didn’t.” Fancy said as he wore one of the scarfs while carrying the bags and suitcases with his magic.

Discord noticed Fluttershy shaking, so he snapped his fingers and a scarf and winter hat appeared on her. He also noticed the kids looking cold, so he snapped his fingers again and they all appeared in winter clothing attire.

The Mane 6, minus Fluttershy, looked at Discord while the boys looked around. Discord raised his hands up, “What? I helped them.”

They just rolled their eyes. AJ felt a tug on her mane and looked down to the colt on her back, “Mummy, it’s c-cold...”

“Don’t worry, sugarcube. Ah’ll get you to safety soon.” Applejack smiled and her youngest son, Saffron Drake, smiled at her.

All their thoughts or interaction with their family was interrupted as someone suddenly shouted, “Twilight!”

“Shining Armor?” Twilight looked at the snow as she saw her brother and niece walk towards them with proper winter clothing.

Shining Armor took off his mask while Flurry kept them on, “Twily, you made it!”

“Auntie Twily!” Flurry yelled as the three ponies embraced each other.

Shining and Flurry both let go and Shining Armor added, “We better get moving. There are things out here that we really don’t want to run into after dark.”

Some of the kids shuddered at the thought. Essence, Fluttershy and Discord’s daughter, asked, “What kind of things?”

Fluttershy was also scared, but she had to stay strong for the younger kids. So, she draped a wing over her daughter. Shining Armor looked back at the blizzard and so did Flurry as she said, “Let’s just say the Empire isn’t the only thing that’s returned...”

Everyone had worried looks on their face as they looked at each other. And all the adults placed their kids on their backs. They kept walking and walking through the blizzard. And soon enough, they almost reached the Empire.

“Something keeps trying to get in. We think it’s the unicorn king who originally cursed the place.” Shining Armor explained as he looked back to the others.

Twilight had a look of confusion on her face as she used her alicorn wing to block the wind, “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.” She said.

And before anyone could respond, a loud howl echoed around them. Fluttershy looked around in fear, asking, “Th-That’s one of the things, isn’t it?”

As soon as they heard this, Shining Armor yelled, “We have to get to the Crystal Empire! Now!”

No sooner as he said this, a giant shadow with King Sombra’s eyes appeared behind them. And they all started running or flying. Fancy had to drop all the luggage as he started running. They all ran as fast as they could as King Sombra kept chasing behind them.

As they kept running, they could see a giant shield and it was protecting the Empire, “Almost there, everyone!” Flurry yelled.

Though as everyone ran, Shining Armor and Discord stopped to try and slow down King Sombra. Everyone didn’t notice, but Flurry did as she yelled, “Dad!”

Shining looked back and yelled, “Keep going!” And Flurry did as she was told.

Discord and Shining Armor looked at Sombra as they both shot a beam towards him, but he quickly dodged it as the shadow engulf the both of them. Everyone else were running and they eventually made it into the Empire, gasping and panting for breath as they did so.

“Everypony okay?” Twilight panted and everyone currently in there nodded. But as soon as Discord and Shining Armor entered, “Oh, no. Shining Armor, your horn!”

“Dad!” Flurry yelled as she saw her dad’s horn.

The tip of his horn was covered in dark crystals that prevented him from using his magic. And as soon as he realized this, he shook his head.

Fluttershy and her kids ran up to Discord, “Discord! Are you okay?”

There were no visible crystals on him, but when he snapped his fingers, nothing happened. He sighed and they kept moving towards the castle.

The others were just taking in the view of the Crystal Empire, “Sparkleriffic!”

And when they reached the castle, Rarity was in awe of the sight, “It’s gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!” She started mumbling nonsense as she took in the castle’s sight, “There are no words!”

“I agree, m’lady.” Fancy agreed as he took in the sight as well, but more professionally.

AJ placed her hoof on Rarity’s shoulder, “Focus, Rarity. We’re here to help Twilight. Not admire the scenery.”

Dash walked around casually, “Eh? I don’t see what the big deal is. Looks like another old castle to me.”

“Yeah.” Soarin nodded.

That seemed to broke Rarity as she came up in Dash’s face, “Another old- Have you lost your mind? Look at the magni-“

Rainbow and AJ started laughing as they hoof-bumped and Rarity said, “Very funny.”

And they all started walking inside the castle. They reached the Throne Room where they saw Cadence struggling to keep up her spell and Thorax walking around to try and help her.

“Cadence!” Cadence looked up and saw Twilight as she came up to her.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake!” They sang, “Clap your hooves and do a little shake.”

They both laughed, but stopped as soon as Cadence struggled again with her magic, “One of these days, we need to get together when the fate of Equestria isn’t hanging in the balance.” She sighed.

Flurry took off her winter gear and instantly ran up to Thorax as they embraced each other. Twilight then asked Cadence, “ Are you okay?”

Shining Armor came up to explain, “Cadence hasn’t 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’s been encountered by King Sombra.”

“It’s alright, Shining Armor. I’m fine.”Cadence lied.

“She’s not fine,” Shining firmly said, “She can’t go on like this forever and if her magic were to fade, you saw what’s out there waiting for that to happen...”

Twilight looked at Flurry, who kinda looked as tired as her mom but tried looking fine, and asked, “But what about Flurry? Doesn’t her magic spread light?”

“Flurry’s magic is light, but she’s still getting it under control.” Shining explained, and Flurry nodded the best she could.

Twilight sighed, “That’s why we’re here.”

“Why we’re all here.” And her friends came up behind her, “Mhm.”

“Well, with Cadence putting all her strength to 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 up much information from the Crystal Ponies.”

“Crystal Ponies?!” Rarity asked in excitement, “There are Crystal Ponies?!-“ She primmed her mane, “Please, continue.”

“But we have to believe one of them knows how we can protect the Empire without having to use Cadance's magic.”

Twilight looked into her thoughts and came up with an idea, “A research paper!” Shining looked at her with confusion, “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!”

Cadence, Shining, Flurry, and Thorax looked at each other with confusion. Dash nudged Pinkie and sarcastically said, “Yeah, who doesn't?”

But Pinkie took the question seriously and answered, “Oh-oh-oh! Lemme guess! Is it Spike? Nono, Fluttershy! Rarity?”

Cheese also decided to answer, “Oh! Soarin! Flash? Applejack?”

Twilight got up to Shining Armor’s height, “Don't worry, big brother. I am really good at this sort of thing.” She looked around to find two certain ponies, “Speaking of, have you seen Starlight and Sunburst?”

“Oh, they went off to gather information as well.” Thorax answered and the rest of the Royal Family nodded.

“Alright. Hopefully, we’ll find them. I need to speak with Starlight...” Twilight said.

“Are you sure? Absolutely sure?” Twilight asked the crystal pony.

The pony answered with no emotion, “ I'm sorry. I wish I could help you. But I can't seem to remember anything before King Sombra came to power,” A flash image of King Sombra appeared in her head, “And I don't want to remember anything about the time he ruled over us.” She shuddered.

Twilight leaned over to Flash and whispered, “King Sombra's spell must be why their coats aren't... crystally.” Flash nodded.

“Have we really been gone a thousand years?” She asked.

“Yes.” Twilight answered as Flash nodded.

“It feels like it was just yesterday.” She answered dully.

Flash asked, “If you think of anything, even the smallest thing?”

“Of course.” The crystal pony said as she closed the door.

“Well, that was a total bust.” Flash stated to Twilight.

“Maybe the others are having better luck.”

“A way to protect the Empire! You know anything about it or what?” Rainbow asked.

“I wish I could help you. Really.” The pony answered.

Soarin got up in front of her, “Hold on! You gotta know something!”

She started walking again, “But, I don't have any information.”

Soarin and Rainbow smacked their face with their hoof.

Fluttershy was having small luck as she tried talking to the crystal ponies, but they kept ignoring her, “Oh, um. Excuse me! Oh! Hello! Umm, I was just wondering,” She was about to slam the table, but quickly retracted her hoof, “Oh, oh, that's okay, um, you all look really busy.” She laughed nervously as she backed away.

“Oh for Scorpan’s sake!” He saw a megaphone on a table and took it, “Anyone here have any information?!” He asked in the megaphone, only to get a series of no’s.

Cheese and Pinkie got into a spy outfit. They secured their rope onto a lamp post.

“Time to gather some intel!” Pinkie said.

“Yeah!” Cheese whisper-shouted.

“It just feels like something is missing.” A mare crystal pony coversed.

A stallion crystal pony replied, “I know. It looks the same, but it doesn't feel the same.”

“Because it isn't!” Pinkie and Cheese said at the same time.

Both of the crystal ponies gasped, “A spy!”

Pinkie screamed and fell, so did Cheese, “A spy? How did they know?”

“Ah!” Cheese put on his goggles, “Must have noticed out night-vision goggles.”

“Ooh! Night vision-y!” They both moved but smacked their faces into a lamp post.

Rarity was daydreaming of her in a crystal form, walking down the streets.

“And when you flip your mane, it simply must create a rainbow of color.” Everyone that was watching her backed away nervously, “Oh! Wouldn't I look just magnificent? So sparkly!”

Fancy looked at his pocket watch and grabbed Rarity’s hoof as they head back to the castle.

Everyone gathered back up at the bottom of the castle to share any information they got.

Rainbow Dash sighed and Soarin said, “We got nothing so far.”

Rarity primmed her mane, “Oh, me neither.”

‘Fluttershy’ and ‘Discord’ came up to them, but Pinkie and Cheese quickly took off the disguise, both of them saying, “My cover has been blown. I repeat, my cover has been blown!”

“Okay?” Twilight replied with confusion.

Fluttershy and Discord came up and stepped on the disguise. Applejack and Spike came next and she said, “Sorry, Twilight. These crystal ponies seem to have some kinda collective amnesia or somethin'. Only thing I was able to get out of 'em was somethin' about a library.”

Twilight gasped, “A library? Well, why didn't you say so?!” She got up into AJ’s face.

Spike said, “Uh... I thought she just did.”

The doors to the Crystal Library opened and Twilight was stunned to see so many books, “I just... I don't even know what to... There are no words.”

“Ahem,” The librarian cleared her throat, “May I help you?”

“Yes. We're looking for a book.” Twilight informed.

“We have plenty of those.” The librarian looked towards the books.

Twilight spun around, “You do. You really do.” Though she fainted on the spot and Flash caught her before she fell to the ground.

Applejack stepped up, “We're lookin' for a history book. Somethin' that might tell us how the Empire might've protected itself from danger back in the day.”

“Yes. Of course. History, history...” She looked around, “Ah, yes.”

Everyone looked at her, waiting for her to tell where the book is. But she didn’t say anything and Spike asked, “Which is where, exactly?”

“I-I can't seem to remember. I'm not sure I actually work here.”

Rainbow groaned, “Ugh.”

“We'll just take a look around. I'm sure we can find it on our own.” Flash said as he carried Twilight.

“Let me know if you find anything.” The librarian told them as she walked away.

“I like her!” Pinkie informed the others.

Everyone started looking around the library. Taking out book by book, trying to find the right one. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Fancy were walking while looking around. Rainbow was on a ladder and AJ kicked it as Dash took out random books at a rapid speed.

Pinkie and Cheese jumped around the place grabbing random books while reading the titles. Spike was at a book pile and Rarity yawned beside him. Spike grabbed random books and pulled them out to show Rarity. Soarin was flying around the library looking at books.

Applejack looked at books that were on the floor and she asked, “Uh, anyone else startin' to think this is a lost cause?”

Twilight was taking books with her magic, “No, no, no, no, no...” A book floated by her and she grabbed it while the rest dropped all around her, “Yes!” Everyone heard her yell that and they all approached her, “‘History of the Crystal Empire’. I just hope it has the answers we need.”

“A ‘Crystal Fair’. According to this book, it was established by their first queen and became their most important tradition.” Twilight explained, “The Fair 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 could put it together. Everything we need to know is in the book!” Twilight suggested.

“That sounds pretty promising.” Shining smiled, but when he looked at Cadence, that smile diminished.

Twilight noticed it, “We'll get started right away. C'mon, guys, we've got a Crystal Fair to put together!” Twilight ordered, “Hey, where’s Flurry and Thorax?”

“They left to go find something... I think.” He replied.

“Alright. I’ll let you know if we found them! Come on, Flash! Let’s go!” She said as Flash closed the book and brought it with them.

[Princess Twilight]

Princess Cadance 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

[Rainbow and Soarin]

It says that they liked jousting

[Rarity and Fancy]

They flew a flag of many hues

[Applejack and Spike]

Made sweets of crystal berries

[Fluttershy and Discord]

They had a petting zoo with tiny ewes

[All]

Oh, we have to get this right
Yes, we have to make them see
We can save the Crystal Ponies with their history

[Pinkie and Cheese]

There was a crystal flugelhorn
That every pony liked to play

[Twilight and Flash]

And the Crystal Kingdom anthem
Can you learn it in a day?

[All]

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've done this without you!” Twilight awed, “One last check to make sure everything is in place, and then the festivities can begin!”

“What's this thing for?” AJ asked as she touched a crystal heart statue.

Twilight opened the last page of the book, “The last page of the book mentioned a Crystal Heart as the Fair's centerpiece, so I used my magic to cut one out of a crystal block.”

“Nice work, Twi,” Applejack complimented, “Think we're ready to get this Fair up and runnin'.”

Pinkie and Cheese took a deep breath and blew the flugelhorn, “Flugelhorn!”

“Hear ye, hear-“ Twilight started, but got cut off by another blow of the flugelhorn.

“Flugelhorn!” The Royal Family looked at them and the party ponies laughed nervously, “Our bad.”

Twilight cleared her throat, “Ahem. Hear ye, hear ye! Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor do cordially invite you to attend the Crystal Fair!”

The Crystal Ponies’ coat turned brighter and they started chattering with each other in excitement. Twilight and Pinkie looked at each other and high-hoofed each other.

Applejack explained, “Come on in, y'all. Got food and drinks thataway, games and crafts are thataway, Crystal Heart to the back near the Princess.”

“Did she say... Crystal Heart?” Some Crystal Ponies asked and they started chattering with each other.

Rainbow Dash flew towards one of the ponies which scared her, “We totally nailed it, right?” The pony ran away, but Dash caught up, “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!” The moment she turned back to the crystal pony, she was gone, “What is with these ponies?!”

“Seeing all of this, I feel like I'm starting to remember. Remember things from before the king.” A crystal mare said.

The other crystal mare she was conversing with replied, “Me too.”

They both gasped and their coats turned brighter, “The Crystal Heart!”

“Do you think they really have it?” She asked.

Rainbow, who was eating some corn, heard them and came up to them, “Of course we have it! Can't have a Crystal Fair without the Crystal Heart, right?”

“Of course you can't.” The librarian spoke up, “The whole purpose of the Crystal Fair 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!” Her coat turned brighter, “I do work at the library!”

Rainbow and Applejack came up to her, “W-what's that about 'powering the heart'?”

“I just can't believe you found it,” The librarian replied, “King Sombra said he'd hidden it away where we would never see it again! I only hope it will still be as powerful after all these years!” She saw some cake and got distracted, “Mm, funnel cake!”

Rainbow and AJ looked at each other and Rainbow quickly flew back to the Crystal Heart, grabbing a flag in the process, and covered the heart.

Twilight was confused and asked, “Why did you-“

Rainbow covered the heart, “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!” She opened the very last page and saw a rip, “There was a page missing... How did I not notice?!”

Princess Cadance looked at her, “It's alright, Twilight.”

Cadence stirred and she fainted on Shining Armor with her magic stopping, “Twily...”

They heard a howl, but after Cadence’s shield dispersed, there was another one. They looked confused, but after a few seconds, the other shield dispersed as well.

And King Sombra’s shadow quickly came into the Empire...

Author's Note

Ooh, who do you think put up the other shield? I don't know if it's obvious, but maybe it isn't?
Anyway, THIS is my story post this week! Next week I might post for FFL and TCE AU next week! :pinkiehappy: