A screeching sound came to Spyro's ears as he layed in his bunk, He recognized it as the train stopping, and figured he should probably get up. That, or He could just ignore it, and go back to sleep. The dragon didn't feel like waking up just yet, it felt so peaceful in the cheep bed, despite the sounds of the others moving.

Rainbow Dash yawned loudly as she sat up, "I'm still so tired... it isn't even that bright out yet..."

Twilight shrugged, "The Crystal Empire isn't that far away from Ponyville." Twilight look out the window a bit drearily, "We've got an escort to Cadence's castle waiting outside, so we ought to get moving. I'll go get Spike, you girls get ready." She then trotted down to other cabins of the train to find Spike.

Rarity was already up and moving, levitating her bags out of their compartment with magic. It even looked like she managed to put makeup on before any of the others noticed.

Rainbow slumped to the ground, and looked at Rarity with confusion, "How are you so ready this early?"

Rarity shrugged, "I'm used to getting up early really, I have appointments all the time with, let's just say, almost nocturnal blood suckers."

Rainbow smiled, "Executives of fashion corporations?"

Rarity nonchalantly replied "Eeeyup." as she put on her saddle bags and retrieved her rollers.

As the other gather up their bags and tidied their beds, Applejack simply got her hat and bags, then stared at the others. "Y'all didn't need to bring yer entire households yah know."

Rainbow Dash chuckled, then went wied eyed with realization, "I actually could've hitched my house to the train and brought it along."

Pinkie Pie hopped infront of Rainbow Dash, "That would have been awesome!"

A response to Applejack came from Twilight as she just re-entered the room accompanied by Spike, "Well Applejack, I just figured I should be ready for anything."

Spike raised his eyebrow, "Yeah we can throw our books, they's make a great replacement for bricks."

Fluttershy fluttered down to the ground, placing a travel bag on the ground, "Oh, I just brought my usual firs aid kit, and blankets, stuff we might need."

Spike smirked, "See Twilight, she got something we might actually need."

Twilight rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Reading has saved us more than once or twice."

Rarity passed the others, floating multiple large bags with her magic, "A proprietors job is never done, I have to make a living you know."

Rainbow poked Rarity as she passed, "Yeah, you wouldn't be making a living if Equestria was ruined by one of our enemies though."

A face of annoyance came onto Rarity, "I could manage with Sombra or Nightmare moon, but Discord... he'd be to polka dotty form my tastes..."

Suddenly, a loud "SSHHHHHH!" came from Pinkie at the far end of the cabin, "He's still sleeping!"

Spyro stirred a bit in his bed, causing Sparx too fall off of his back, "No.... no, just.... getting ready..."

Pinkie poked Spyro's snout, "Aren't you just the cutest little fella!"

Spyro opened his eyes a bit and waved his claw weakly, "Not cute, just tired..."

Every equine in the room said "D'aaawww" silently, as Spike just groaned. He used to be the one being called cute you know! Despite the fact he didn't like it at all, his irritable mood towards Spyro made this, in his mind, and offensive attack at him. However, Twilight noticed Spike's glaring, and swiflty picked him up with her magic.

"Don't think I forgot about you my little book burner." said Twilight.

Spike groaned with embarrassment, "Twilight, I told you not to call me that in public anymore!"

Twilight giggled, "Whatever you say." as she set him on her back.

In short time, the ponies went outside, Spyro on Pinkie back only half awake, met with the beautiful Crystal Empire, and a group of rather shiny guards waiting to escort them. However, unlike it's usual festive look, the Crystal Empire's citizens were quick on their feet, and security was amped up. It appeared the threat of danger was taken more seriously in these parts of the woods.

The shininess was still there though, and it managed to stir Spyro awake, "Man, Sparx, is this your homeland."

Sparx's eyes widened, as thousand of thoughts went through the small dragonfy's mind, befor he replied "No" flatly in bug speak.

"Come with us Mrs. Sparkle" spoke up the guard leading the escort, "Princess Cadence is waiting in the castle.

Spyro hopped off of Pinkie with new coming energy, "Thanks for the lift."

Pinkie Smiled as the group began to trot towards the castle, "Thank you for taking ground Pinkie! Please come again!"

Spyro rolled his eyes with a smirk, "I would, but the Agents are too annoying and creepy."

Pinkie huffed comedically, "I know! I don't want them having a picture of me naked!"

Rarity turned back, "Your already naked, dear."

"Oh yeah!" Replied Pinkie, "Doesn't mean I want to be all felt up by some weirdos though."

Twilight turned back completely confused, "What are you talking about?!"

Spyro and Pinkie looked at each other, "It's and inside joke." they replied at the same time.

Twilight turned away unsure of herself, "Riiiiiight...."

The group looked around the city with awe, as Spyro especially was fascinated. However, the dragon did note the appearance of a martial law state, as there were very few ponies other than guards outside. The guards escorting them also wanted to get them inside in a hurry, as if something might grab them from the sky.

Upon Reaching the Castle, Spyro looked around with curiosity. However, the group was practically pushed through the halls with speed, before arriving in the throne room abruptly.

"Twilight!" Said Princess Cadence as she rand forward and hugged her, "Are you alright?!"

Twilight nodded as she pulled back from the hug, "Yes, of course! Is something wrong?"

The other ponies and dragons with Twilight looked at Cadence oddly, before she sighed and said, "Yes, I thought they told you already. Shining Armor was hurt."

Twilight gasped, "Oh no! Is he alright! What happened?! Can I help with anything?!"

"I brought my first aid supplies." suggested Fluttershy quickly.

Princess Cadence raised he hoof to Twilight before speaking, "He is alright, he's just in the infirmary with his guards who were also hurt. The Black Dragon attacked the Empire, and Shining lead a force out thinking it was after the Crystal Heart. But he was injured badly..."

Applejack spoke up quickly, "Well what happend to the Crystal heart? Y'all still have it, right?"

Cadence looked down somberly, "As of now, the city is defenseless outside of our guard. It's not that the heart was taken, but the population is in a state of fear, and the heart just, blackened. I don't know what to say!"

Rainbow Dash flew up to Cadence, "Well can't we just organize another festival, get he spirits moving again?"

Pinkie hopped up, with party supplies that appeared to come out of nowhere, "Yeah! Let's get started!"

"No!" warned Cadence, "We don't want to risk having the dragon swooping down and burning everything up! It was able to get through the magic shield like it wasn't really alive. So the best we can do is keep and open eye and put up another shield if an army shows up."

Twilight scratched her head, "This is a predicament... I guess the first thing should be seeing Shining Armor, he may know a thing or two about it."

Cadence nodded somberly, "The doctors said he should gain consciousness shortly this morning, though they are worried about an infection that has appeared on him and the others."

One of the guards came into the room and spoke up, "We just got word that Shining Armor is awake and wants to speak to you Princess."

"Convenient." commented Spike.

"Let's get going then." Said Princess Cadence to the guard.

The group was lead through the castle at a slower pace this time, likely due to the royalty being among them. In this time Spyro walked up next to Princess Cadence, eying her, then eying on the guards, then her again. Cadence noticed him then, and greeted him, "Hello, Your Spyro if I cam correct?"

Spyro nodded, "Yeah, I'm Spyro. But... Why aren't you all crystal-y like the others here? Aren't you the Crystal princess or what-not?"

"I wasn't actually born here, I was appointed to come get things in order here when the Empire reappeared, but that's a whole other story."

Spyro raised his eyebrow, "Okay then... also, why do you get a stabber and flyers? All the others if seen only have a stabber, or a pair of flyers, not both."

Princess cadence raised and eyebrow, then realize he was referring to her horn and wings, "Oh! I'm an Alicorn. Princess's tend to be that around here. I guess it's a symbolism thing." she finished with a giggle, "Twilight actually asked me the same thing when we first met."

Twilight blushed, "I was eight and behind on my studies..."

Suddenly, one of the guards coughed, "We're here."

Upon entering the room, Shining Armor immediately sat up, "Cadence! Twilly!"

Princess Cadence ran forward and hugged him, "You should be sitting up just yet."

Shining smirked and grunted with a bit of pain, "I'm a man honey, I can man through this."

Twilight came to his other side, "He big brother", She got a closer look of his wounds now, a cut of the face, and deeper claw marks down his stomach, accompanied by bruises and what appeared to be a infection beginning in the blood vessels.

"Hey Twilly, your big brother got in a bit of a pickle." said Shining with a smile.

Spike looked up from next to Twilight with worry, Shining immediately noticing him, "Hey Little guy, don't worry about me! I'll bounce back in no time!" he said with rubbing Spike head.

Cadence spoke up again, "Shining honey, Twilight wants to find out anything she can about the Dragon that attacked you."

Shining smile faded fast, "Hmmph, I can't, remember much... My magic didn't work on it..."

Sitting back at the edge of the room, Spyro began to trail off listening to the conversation, as he admired the room. The crystal was gorgeous, and was well cut. the room even looked as the it was carved out, and this whole castle was originally a giant crystal behemoth. Part of him wanted to take as much of it home as he could, but the rational side of the dragon's brain knew that wouldn't work.

After a few moments, Spyro began to figure something was odd. It was a lack of sound, and with Sparx knocking on his noggin to pay attention, he realized everypony was staring at him.

With a cough, Twilight repeated herself, "Spyro, Shining Armor wants to get a better look of you."

Spyro smiled awkwardly, "Sorry, your castle is just so... yeah, got to stop looking at it." With that, he slowly walked up to shining's bed, his head just high enough to look over. He could almost feel Shining Armor's stare, as he appear to judge eveyr part of the dragon.

After a moment, Shining began to talk, "So, are you carnivorous then?"

Cadence shot Shining a bit of a glare, but Spyro quickly replied, "Well, I like plants too, well, some of them. I guess other dragons are meat exclusive though."

Getting a good look of Spyro's teeth, Shining nodded, "Okay..." he grunted a he shifted position upward, "Can you tell me anything about how to stop a large dragon? It was a similar shape of your's, but with black fire around its body, and larger claws."

Spyro looked at Sparx, who looked at him unsurely, "Well, I don't know..."

Shining huffed a bit, "Do you know, or do your just not want to tell me?"

"Shining, please." Cadence responded, while Twilight looked at her unsurely.

"Sorry honey, but I need to know."

"Look", Spyro spoke up in a slightly more serious tone, "It all depends, I guess I know i should tell you a weakness, but..." Spyro shook his head, try to dismiss a strange hissing in hi ears, "I-It's not right."

Shining grumbled, before Twilight interjected, "What do you mean not right?"

Spyro rubbed his head and sat back, as Sparx had a concerned look on his face. "It's a..." The crystal room began to light up to his eyes, but non of the others seemed to notice, "There's a poison you can m-a-" he suddenly stopped, holding his head, feeling an unusual sense of discomfort.

Twilight noticed Spyro's discomfort, "Are you alright?"

Spyro looked up to Twilight, "Yeah, It's just head stuff."

Cadence and Twilight exchanged a concerned look, and Cadence spoke up, "I think that's enough for now."

Suddenly, another guard burst into the door, "Princess, It's back!"

Shining immediately tried to stand up, but Caden stopped him, "No shining, your wounded, we can take care of this."

Shining armor sighed and looked down, "Careful Twi!"

Twilight and Cadence Nodded, and headed out with the rest of their friends.

_____________________________________________________

Spyro Twilight, and the others ran to the large balcony off of the Crystal Castle, as they looked down to see the Black Dragon everyone's been talking about circling above the city, spiting explosives at the ground below in a very synthetic manner. Black fire surround it, as it circled, then speed down in a dive, spitting a row of explosives and causing more damage, as if it wanted the attention.

"I take it that's what were here for?" asked Spyro as he observed the Dragon.

"Yes, but we need to figure out how to stop it. Magic didn't seem to work well, so maybe if Rainbow Dash-"

Without Twilight noticing, Spyro quickly backed from the balcony, then charged forward and off of it, surprising Twilight suddenly. Rather than taking to the air, he dived down and began running down the side of the castle, a trail of smoke forming behind his feet as he speed up.

"Or he can just do that." said Twilight with a frown.

Rainbow Dash's mouth gaped open, "I have a feeling this will be awesome."

Spyro speed up fast, as the slope of the building began to curve up, and the smoke behind him turning red with the high speeds. He grinned widely and determined, as he came off the building, and seconds later launched of the curve of the one nearest the castle. Using his wings to aim for the Black Dragon, Spyro then bashed literally head on into it's side. However, it was a LOT harder than he anticipated, which REALLY hurt. However, both him and the dragon fell to the ground.

Rainbow Dash flew down Quickly, as Twilight and the others gasped, and turned to run down to the ground floor of the castle. Spyro was sent rolling along the ground, before he smaked into the side of a crystal, and fell back. His head hurt like a female dog, and Sparx noted that, using his special magic to sooth the pain a bit, also turning the dragonfly himself blue.

The Dark Dragon slide across the ground, with a harsh cutting sound, as it's claws scratched the ground light metal spike on a chalkboard. It then straightened it posture upright, with an odd sound of hydraulics moving it's legs. The fire around it then began to dissipate.

Rainbow landed next to Spyro as he looked up at the dragon, and she immediately said, "Oh my gosh! That was AWESOME! You've got too... show... me... Wait, the dragon is silver?"

Spyro and Sparx squinted at the Dragon, the last of the black flames dissipated, "No, it's a machine! I've seen robot before, just not that, uncanny!"

Rainbow stared at it, "Robot? I've only heard rumors of them."

The yellow glass eyes of the twelve foot machine stared down at Rainbow and Spyro, As Sparx was absent on account of an animation error. The machine then groaned, and steam let out of it's sides.

Twilight finally arrived with the others and Princess Cadence, as she gasped at the sight of the machine, "That's no dragon at all!"

Pinkie gasped as well, "Ooow, Spyro, that must've hurt head bashing into..."

Spyro felt his horns to make sure they weren't broken off, then replied, "And it did!" while Sparx was suddenly yellow again, on account of another animation error.

Suddenly, the chest of the Dragon Machine opened, and a short, familiar man came out of it. Wearing a dark purple robe and pants, with a white shirt and red crystal necklace, it was Spyro old nemesis, Ripto. However, his appearance was... less appealing, with burned marks and wrinkles all about his red skin, Spyro felt a bit nauseous looking at him.

"Hello old friend" Said Ripto bitterly, as he held his hands together, "How have you been? I've been really busy being burned by lava."

Guards now surrounded Ripto and the machine he emerged from, as he simply glanced at them, only really focusing on Spyro much, with a mix of bitterness and fear. Twilight looked at Spyro then, "You know him?"

Spyro nodded, "I kind of, sent him into a pit of lava, which he made trying to kill me."

Princess Cadence suddenly stepped forward, accompanied by two guards directly to her sides, while countless others surrounded Ripto, "You! Why have you been attacking us?! What did you do with the Elements of Harmony?"

Ripto smirked, "Oh, I just figured i'd put them in my own safe, for safe keeping. Though if you ever needed them you;d have to ask me."

"RETURN THEM." Scolded Cadence in a more threatening tone than the others thought she could reach.

Ripto frowned, "Or what? You going to arrest me?" He then glared towards Spyro and yelled, "Or are you going to just have that purple bastard beat me up for you?!"

Ripto the n glance to the side, then stared to the side again, directly at Spike, "There's another one?! GREAT! Just great!"

The guards had had enough, "Your under arrest, put your arms up!"

Suddenly, a shadow appeared over everyone there, and it shrunk more and more, before a large green creature landed on the ground, sending a wave of energy across the ground knocking all of the guards back. As the creature emerged from the crater of smashed crystal, and revealed itself to be Gnasty Gnorc, sporting nordic type armor.

"Gnasty Gnorc?!" Exclaimed Spyro.

"Shaving cream just got real!" Said Pinkie π.

Spike huffed, "Jeez Spyro, it seems like all of your exes are returning."

"SHUT UP!" Yelled Gnasty Gnorc, "I need to monologue!"

Rainbow Dash suddenly flew forward, "Why don't I just smack you in the fa-" She was abruptly cut off by being smacked by Gnasty's mace, sending her rolling back to the others.

Fluttershy and Applejack immediately came to help Rainbow up, before glaring back at Gnasty.

"Now then," Gnasty Began, "You may think you have us surrounded, But Ripto gave me the go, so my army of Gnorcs, created by your very own crystals, are besieging the city already!"

Ripto laughed, "Basically, if anyone is going to be read the miranda rights, it's the lot of you!"

The ponies glared back, unsure of what to do, when Spyro stepped forward, "Is this really your plan?"

Ripto and Gnasty were taken slightly aback, as Spyro continued, "You go through the work of stealing these ponies weapon-y things, build a bad arsenal mecha-dragon, all to just have a army of Gnorcs attack the city? I could beat you both right now if I didn't want to make fun of your strategy."

Twilight spoke up, "Spyro, I really think we have a bigger situation then you think."

Spyro rolled his eyes, "Sure it will be a bit of work, But really, two of my old enemies unite, just to face me head on, while I have a bunch of allies here now? It's just so poorly planned."

Ripto charged forward, but Gnasty picked him up by the head holding him back, "I'm gonna get him! I'm going to get him!"

Gnasty rolled his eyes, "Ripto, the plan."

Ripto stopped, "Oh yeah, the plan."

"What?" Asked Spyro, getting ready to jump.

Ripto Smirked, "You're our secret weapon, Dragon!"

Author's Note

DUN DUN DUUUUUNNN!!!

What would you prefer? Stabbers or flyers? I guess neither is an option, but that is quite boring...

And yes, I would script animation errors if I had the chance.