I woke up to a wonderful morning as I sat up and looked through the beside window to see another glorious sunrise. The seven of us became more caring towards each other since we saved Canterlot from the Changeling invasion. Chrysalis and her changelings may have been defeated, but she hasn't been defeated permanently and we do not know when she'll return, but next time she does, every single pony will be ready.

Thankfully, it's been very peaceful and we've been enjoying our times together, especially the days whenever Trixie misses me and loves me when I visit her home in the forest. Today, the seven of us and Spike were going to be in the park to have a picnic and I had to get dressed and ready for the day. So having a quick breakfast and cleaning myself up, I got dressed into my normal clothes and left the house before trotting towards the park.

By then, all seven of us had become more famous so everypony I walked by, they looked and greeted me with a smile and I would reply with a warming response, like I was about to prove here.

"Morning Bond Racer." Golden Harvest greeted.

"Morning Golden." I replied. "Keep those carrots looking well."

"Hello to you, Bond." Roseluck said.

"Heya Rose, your flowers are lovely today."

"Hey hey Cousin!" Vinyl Scratch yelled from her bedroom window, "Have a day of wubs."

"Same to you, Vinyl." I called back gently. "Say hi to Octavia for me."

"Hello Bond, letter for you and Twilight." Derpy said as she handed out a letter from her bag.

"Morning Derpy..." I then took the letter and thought about opening it later at the picnic as I placed it in my pocket. "...keep the muffins coming."

Derpy smiled and flew away.

Yep, life in Ponyville was about as amazing as I wanted it to be and I couldn't be happier. I also feel incredibly happy to have a loving sister in Sweet Chocolate as well as a marefriend in Trixie. As I trotted out of the village and towards the park, I spotted most of the girls already there, along with Rainbow Dash who flew down to the ground and Applejack who had just arrived with a bag of apples.

"Morning girls." I said as I walked towards them.

"Well howdy Bond, ya'll ready for the picnic?" Applejack asked.

"I sure am." I replied.

"It is going to be a fabulous picnic." Rarity said

"And it's gonna be fun." Pinkie added.

"With a moment shared with a few animals." Fluttershy also added.

"So where's Twilight?" I asked.

I then saw my question being answered already as Twilight turned up with a few bags and Spike on her back.

"Guess I didn't need to ask that."

"Hey there all, hope we're ready cause I'm vanished." Twilight said.

"Me too, let's get to the grub." Spike added as he jumped off Twilight's back and walked to the baskets.

"By the way, when we're done, you've gotta see this letter Twilight, it's addressed to both of us." I said to her.

"Oh okay, I'll be sure to remember." she replied.

We all sat down and then began our picnic time that lasted for an hour during the morning.

When we were done with the food and relaxing, I took the letter out of my pocket and opened it with my magic.

Twilight then read the letter. "Dear Twilight Sparkle and Bond Racer, you must come to Canterlot at once. I have a test prepared for you both. Princess Celestia."

"A test?" I asked.

"Oh no, a test and I haven't studied for it!"

"Calm down dear, whatever it is, I'm sure the Princess will understand." Rarity assured.

"We'll come along with you if that helps." Spike added.

"Alright, thank you." Twilight replied.

We then wrapped up our picnic time and boarded a train to Canterlot and made our way to the castle. The five mares and Spike were asked to wait outside by the guards as Twilight and I went on inside. We then walked through the hallway and into the throne room, where we saw Celestia and Luna looking through one of the stained glass window images.

"Excuse us, Princesses." I said which got their attention.

"Trust me little sister." Celestia whispered to Luna as Luna walked out of the throne room in her calm state.

"You wanted to see us?" Twilight asked as we walked towards Celestia, "To give us a test?"

"This is a different kind of test." Celestia replied as she turned to see us and walked to the centre where we were. "The Crystal Empire has returned."

"The Crystal Empire?" Twilight asked worryingly.

"I guess Dr. Cortex did get rid of that bandicoot in the end..." I muttered randomly.

"I'm sorry, I-I thought I'd studied. Ooh. I don't think there's anything in any of my books th–"

"There wouldn't be." Celestia assured as she went over to a crystal that had a glass cover around it. "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." she then brought out the crystal to the centre and it created a tiny sized empire. "One thousand years ago, King Sombra, a unicorn whose heart was black as night, took over the Crystal Empire." the image then showed the King himself.

"Damn, he's ugly." I commented to nopony in particular.

"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." and then the city disappeared and turned back into a crystal, "If the Empire is filled with hope and love, those things are reflected across all of Equestria. If hatred and fear take hold..." Celestia paused to show us an example which saw dark spiked crystals appearing around us before disappearing. "Which is why I need your help finding a way to protect it."

"You want us to protect an entire empire?" Twilight asked.

"No offence Celestia, but could you explain why we have to do this when you and Luna can easily dispatch this foe?" I asked without even thinking better of it.

"As much as I want to accompany you, I can't be everywhere at once and neither can Luna." she answered as she put the crystal back inside the glass cover. "It is, as I said, a different kind of test. But one I'm certain you two will pass."

"I understand Princess...how do we begin?"

"By joining Princess Cadence and Shining Armour in the Crystal Empire."

"My brother is there?" Twilight asked with a happy expression.

"He is and your Ponyville friends will join you there as well. I have every confidence you two will succeed." Celestia added as we began walking out of the throne room. "And when you do, I'll know that you Bond are worthy enough to keep your alicorn powers and Twilight, you'll be ready to move on to the next level of your studies."

Twilight then looked at Luna who seemed to be feeling a little down.

"But what if I fail?" she asked with a bit of worry.

"You won't."

"But what if-"

Celestia cut her off, "You won't." she said a little firmer. "But Twilight and Bond, in the end, it must be you both and you both alone who ultimately assists Princess Cadence and Shining Armour in doing what needs to be done to protect the Empire. Do you understand?"

We nodded.

"Then go, there is no time to lose."

Twilight and I shortly left the castle to join up with Spike and the other five mares.

"Ah, Twilight and Bond! That was fast! Let me guess, you both got a perfect score?" Spike asked us.

Twilight didn't say anything which worried me a bit.

"A-minus? B-plus?" Spike gasped, "Twilight, did you...fail?" he asked quietly.

"Shhh, I think a musical number is about to start." I replied to him.

Twilight began to sing, here we go again, I thought to myself with a smile.

"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."

"That is correct!" I exclaimed.

"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 then joined in on the song.

"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!"

The song was then finished

"Uh, prepared for what exactly, darling?" Rarity asked.

"Twilight! Uh, did you pass?" Applejack asked.

"Are we gonna celebrate your awesomeness with Princess Celestia?" Pinkie added.

"Not quite. We're going to the Crystal Empire!"

"Huh?" the five mares said un unison."

"Crystal what?" Dash asked in confusion.

"There's not much time to explain all, we gotta go to Canterlot station." I  replied.

We then boarded a train from Canterlot to The Crystal Empire and the ride was a bit of a long one. By the time we approached a station, it was already beginning to feel cold and there was a huge blizzard of snow as soon as we get off.

"Good thing you kept my scarf before we got here." I said to Rarity.

"Quite right dear and you all made fun of me for packing so many scarves." she replied as she had one around her neck.

Spike then came out with several cases, obviously Rarity wanted to be ready for anything.

"I didn't say a word." Spike said to himself before dropping the cases and several scarves fell out. "Hey! C'mere..."

We then saw a stallion with a scarf and eye mask coming towards us.

"Twilight!" he exclaimed.

"Shining Armour?" Twilight responded as he walked closer.

"Twily! You made it!"

They then ran to each other and shared a brother/sister hug.

"We'd better get moving. There are things out here we really don't want to run into after dark."

"What kind of things?" Fluttershy gulped.

"Let's just say the Empire...isn't the only thing that's returned."

We then began walking from the station and through the cold snow, it appeared that even with the scarves, it still felt cold.

"So what else has returned?" I asked despite the howling winds of the blizzard.

"Something keeps trying to get in! We think it's the unicorn king who originally cursed the place."

"But Princess Celestia said Bond and I were being sent here to find a way to protect the Empire! If King Sombra can't get in, then it must already be protected." Twilight said before we heard a disturbing howl.

"Th-That's one of the things, isn't it?" Fluttershy shivered as we looked back.

We saw a dark black fog approaching with a head on it.

"Guh. We have to get to the Crystal Empire! Now!" Shining yelled as we all began to gallop as fast we could.

The black fog was catching up with us, I was sure that was the King Sombra that Celestia mentioned about, just as we were about to leave the coldness, Shining got knocked down and we helped him up before galloping onwards and finally made it through some kind of shield.

"Everypony okay?" I panted as we laid down on a green grass with some sort of tower in the distance.

All the others replied in agreement that they were, until we saw Shining making it through the shield with us.

"Oh, no! Shining Armour, your horn!" Twilight exclaimed as she noticed tiny dark crystals on his horn.

There was nothing we could about it right now as we walked onwards to see the Empire itself.

"Sparkleriffic!" Pinkie exclaimed.

I had to agree, upon arriving into the city, it was quite a dazzling place, even more sparkling than Canterlot. If it had gems, this would be Spike's dream of a permanent home and he would never want to leave.

"It's gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!" Rarity exclaimed excitedly, "There are no words!"

"Focus, Rarity. We're here to help Twilight, not admire the scenery." Applejack said.

"Eh, I don't see what the big deal is. Just looks like another old castle to me." Dash added.

"A- p- guh! Another old...have you lost your mind? Look at the magni-"

Rarity got cut off as Applejack and Dash laughed, doing a sister-hoof of sorts.

"Very funny." Rarity muttered as I giggled slightly.

We walked on inside the castle and it was more sparkling than the outside. When we walked into the throne room, we saw Princess Cadence who looked very tired, but she lifted herself up when she saw us.

"Cadence!" Twilight yelled as she trotted towards her.

"Ooh" Cadence replied as they shared a quick hug.

"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" they chanted together before sharing a laugh, until Cadence was interrupted by her magic horn going off for a moment before she got her magic back on.

"One of these days we need to get together when the fate of Equestria isn't hanging in the balance." Cadence said before sighing.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Cadence has been able to use her magic to spread love and light. That seems to be what is protecting it." Shining explained, "But she hasn't slept, barely eats. I want to help her, but my protection spell has been countered by King Sombra."

"It's alright Shining Armour, I'm fine." Cadence assured despite showing that she isn't.

"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." Twilight said.

"Why we're all here." I added.

"Well, 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?! Hahaha, there are Crystal Ponies?!" Rarity asked in her exciting mood again, "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!"Twilight said happily.

"Huh?" I asked in confusion.

"That must be part of our 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?" Dash asked sarcastically.

"Oh-oh-oh! Lemme guess! Is it Spike? No no, Fluttershy! Rarity?" Pinkie asked whilst bouncing everywhere.

"Don't worry, big brother. I am really good at this sort of thing."

"In that case, go on and bring back any information that might be useful to us." Shining replied.

"Alright team, let's split up and find some answers." I declared.

Everypony else nodded as we left the crystal castle and walked on outdoors to the town, we agreed to split up in the hope we find answers as quick as possible. I stuck with Twilight and Spike, since we had to "pass this test" together, I wouldn't wanna be any other pony type than an alicorn.

We knocked on a door to one of the houses and a pony answered it.

"Yes?" the mare asked us.

"Hi, we're here to require information about the origins of the Crystal Empire and King Sombra, do you know anything about it?" I asked her.

"I'm sorry fellow ponies, but I don't know much about what you're looking for." she replied.

"Are you sure? Absolutely sure?" Twilight asked.

"I'm sorry. I wish I could help you. But I...can't seem to remember anything before King Sombra came to power." she was cut off when she got spooked by something. "And I don't want to remember anything about the time he ruled over us." she added, shuddering afterwards.

"King Sombra's spell must be why their coats aren't...crystally." Twilight pointed out.

"Have we really been gone a thousand years?"

"Yes." I replied.

"It feels like it was just yesterday."

"If you think of anything, even the smallest thing." Twilight said.

"Of course." the mare replied before closing the door.

"Well, that was a total bust." Spike commented.

"Maybe the others are having better luck." Twilight replied as we walked around to other parts of the city.

After a while, we regrouped at the centre of the tower, hoping the others found anything useful.

"Alright girls, any luck?" I asked them all.

They all looked down slightly with disappointing looks.

"Sorry, Twilight and Bond. 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." Applejack replied.

"A library?" Twilight gasped, "Well, why didn't you say so?!"

"Uh... thought ah just did."

We then trotted to a big store with a book plaque above, indicating that this is the Library, we walked on inside to find a huge place with books, it looked glimmering.

"I just... I don't even know what to... There are no words." Twilight said excitedly.

"Umm Twilight, remember what we're supposed to be doing." I said as I tapped her on the shoulder.

Twilight squeed and sighed as we walked to the reception.

"Oh hello ponies, May I help you?" the receptionist asked.

"Yes. We're looking for a book." I answered.

"We have plenty of those."

"You do. You really do!" Pinkie said as she jumped slightly.

"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." Applejack explained.

"Yes. Of course. History, history... Ah, yes."

"Which is where, exactly?" Rarity asked.

"I...I can't seem to remember. I'm not sure I actually work here."

"Ugh." Dash groaned as she put a hoof on her face.

"We'll just take a look around. I'm sure we can find it on our own." Twilight assured.

"Let me know if you find anything." the receptionist said as she walked off slowly.

"I like her!" Pinkie commented.

Soon, we began searching through many books in the history section and after a while, we kept coming up with nothing.

"Uh, anyone else startin' to think this is a lost cause?" Applejack asked.

"No, no, no, no, no... Yes! 'History of the Crystal Empire'. I just hope it has the answers we need."

We then left the library with the book we needed and galloped back to the crystal castle to let Shining know about it.

"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 could put it together. Everything we need to know is in the book!" Twilight explained.

"That sounds pretty promising." Shining replied with a slight smile for the first time.

"We'll get started right away. C'mon, Bond, we've got a Crystal Faire to put together!"

"Right!" I replied.

We then walked outside the throne room to rejoin with the others and music began to play. It was time for another musical number to play, but this time, I wanted to start it so Twilight nodded and allowed me to sing the first part.

"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"

The other girls then joined in.

"It says that they like jousting

They flew a flag of many hues

Made sweets of crystal berries

They had a petting zoo with tiny ewes"

We then all sung together for the first time.

"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 every pony liked to play

And the Crystal Kingdom anthem

Can you learn it in a day?"

We then all sung together one last time.

"Oh, we have to get this right

Yes, we have to make them see

We can save the Crystal Ponies with their history"

We then finished the song, not knowing that we had all we needed set up and ready to lift the spirits of the crystal ponies up.

Next Chapter: The Crystal Empire Part 2. Estimated time remaining: 16 Hours, 4 Minutes