In Equestria, Spike, Stone, and the girls were on a train that traveled through Equestria while in their pony or dragon forms. Spike was looking out the window while recalling why he and the girls were there in the first place.

Spike and the girls were standing before Discord with Stone at his side, "The Crystal Empire?" Spike asked.

"That's right. It's about time for the Crystal Fair." Discord explained.

"Crystal Fair?" Sunset Shimmer wondered.

Twilight spoke up, "That's right. It's a festival held every year in the Crystal Empire to renew the spirit of love and unity in the Empire so it can continue to be protected from harm."

"That's right. And everyone here is invited to the occasion." Discord explained.

"Really?" Fluttershy asked.

"Correct. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor sent me to inform you and would like your assistance in setting the festival up."

"Yes! Yes! And Triple Yes!" Pinkie jumped around, "It'll be one hell of a party!"

"I'm also guessing there's going to be more to it than just the fair?" Applejack guessed.

"Afraid so. We also need extra security in case any uninvited guests pop in."

"Do the Princesses really think Sombra will strike?" Stone asked.

"They do. And I agree." Discord confirmed, "So any of you wish to partake in the Crystal Fair? Come on let's see a show of hands," the group raised their hands, "There they are. Now then you're to pack right away for we leave tomorrow."

"What do we tell our folks?" Spike inquired.

"Princess Celestia has already sent word to them and said you will all be participating in a school program outside the city."

Spike was surprised, "If she can convince our parents it's that it makes me wonder just what else she can get away with." the girls giggled.

Spike continued looking out the train window until he felt a hand on his own. He looked seeing Twilight smiling at him as if promising everything will be all right. Spike feeling reassured smiled back at her until they felt the train come to a stop.

"We're here." Twilight said.

So the group got off the train and went past the entrance of the Crystal Empire seeing it up close. They saw as the whole place sparkled from the reflective crystal surfaces of the buildings and the castle in the center thanks to the brightness of the sun.

"Welcome, my friends, to the Crystal Empire." Discord introduced.

"This is so cool!" Pinkie cheered.

"It's absolutely beautiful." Rarity gasped.

"That's the Crystal Empire for you." Twilight admitted.

Spike looked around and imagined how it would've been under Sombra's rule if he wasn't stopped a thousand years ago.

"Well, come along we mustn't keep the royal couple waiting." Discord said, as they walked through the kingdom.

As they walked they took notice of all the Crystal Pony inhabitants whose mane and coats were shiny and gradient.

"Shiny." Pinkie said.

"They look so transparent they look like ghosts or something." Spike noted.

"I wouldn't mind if I had a coat like theirs." Rarity smiled at the idea.

When they reached the castle, they saw close to it was a heart made of crystal spinning around in a particular contained in its pedestal spot.

"So that's the Crystal Heart?" Applejack inquired.

"That it is." Discord confirmed.

"So pretty." Fluttershy smiled.

"Hard to imagine a villain like Sombra would afraid of something like this." Stone replied.

"Come on, let's go inside." Twilight said, as she and Discord led them inside the castle.

As they walked through the castle halls where multiple Crystal Pony guards stood off to the side on standby, Spike and the girls marveled at the place seeing it looked almost as big as Canterlot Castle.

"And I thought the castle in Canterlot was hardcore." Spike told the girls who agreed.

They looked down the hall and saw flying right for them was a little alicorn girl with wings bigger than her own body.

She had light opal colored eyes, a magenta gray coat with a bit of light gray fuchsia, and her mane and tail were a mix of light cerise, grayish violet, and arctic blue. She was dressed in a little white crystal-style dress.

"Twilight! Twilight, you're finally here!" the little alicorn girl cheered, as she flew to Twilight and embraced the older girl.

"I've missed you, Flurry Heart. My goodness you've gotten so big since we last saw each other." Twilight patted the girls head.

Spike looked at the girl curiously, "Who's this little one? Your sister?"

"Not quite. Flurry Heart's actually the daughter of my brother Shining Armor."

"So she's your niece." Fluttershy realized.

"Now be a good girl and say hello to our guests." Twilight told the little alicorn.

"Ok," she answered, as she presented herself before them, "My name is Princess Flurry Heart. It's a pleasure to meet you all." she bowed her head in respect.

The girls smiled, as Rarity cooed, "So adorable."

Stone noticed Spike looking at Flurry heart before nudging him, "Spike, by any chance you're not into little girls, are you?"

Spike seeing what Stone was getting at glared at him, "No! I may be girl crazy, but I am in no sense at all a pedophile."

"Ok, just had to make sure." Stone replied.

"Besides, Shining Armor may not have a problem with me loving his sister, but his daughter. No chance in hell."

"True." Stone agreed.

They walked before entering a room where Cadence and Shining Armor waited, "Mom, dad, Twilight and her friends are here!" Flurry Heart cheered, as she ran to her mother.

"Now, Flurry Heart, let's not get over excited." Cadence calmed her daughter.

"Hey, guys. Glad to see you made it."Shining Armor greeted them.

"Wouldn't have missed it." Twilight replied.

"Especially when we heard there's going to be a festival involved." Pinkie smiled.

"You did see all the empire's inhabitants preparing for it, didn't ya?" Shining asked.

"Yeah. They're all hard at work." Applejack said.

"But with our help it'll be done in no time." Sunset added.

"Yes, but right now why don't we all break for dinner?" Cadence offered, as the group agreed.

Later on at a big dinner table sat Spike, Stone, the girls, Cadence, Shining, Flurry Heart, and Discord. They ate politely, as Twilight spoke up.

"Aren't Princess Celestia and Princess Luna going to be joining us?"

"Actually, we received word they were held up back in Canterlot. So they'll be coming in tomorrow for the Crystal Fair." Cadence answered.

"Better late than never." Stone replied.

As Spike ate, he spoke, "This is delicious. My compliments to your cooking staff."

"Thank you, Spike. We want you all to feel at home during your stay here." Shining Armor told the group. Everyone agreed, as they continued to enjoy their dinner.

Meanwhile in Sombra's lair, the Umbrum pony spoke to his brainwashed knights, "Tomorrow my minions we shall take the Crystal Empire by surprise, and then take it for ourselves!"

One of the guards spoke, "Sir, how is it we're going to get in there when it's protected by a force-field?"

"Not to worry. There is an underground pathway under the empire that only I know about. My enemies will never see us coming. And once we arrive take anyone you see prisoner, but the elements of harmony and the dragon boy are mine."

"Yes, master." they knights answered, as Rabia spoke to Sombra.

"And remember the top priority, Sombra."

"I know. Release the rest of our Umbrum brethren."

"And then the Crystal Empire will be ours just as it was millenia ago." Rabia added, as Sombra nodded.

That night back at the Crystal Empire's castle, Twilight was meeting with her brother, Cadence, and Discord in another room.

"So the Doc and Derpy have already traveled to Equestria from a thousand years ago?" the young princess asked.

"That's right. Celestia had just informed us." Discord confirmed.

"Now that they made it, it's up to them to find Radiant Hope and get what information they can from her." Shining Armor said.

"We'll need any kind of hint or clue that can give us an edge of defeating Sombra for good." Cadence put in.

Twilight nodded, and thought about Spike, 'Sombra was trying to get Spike to doubt himself and our friendship. He almost succeeded, but he underestimated how strong our friendship is. Still, he may try something worse.'

Meanwhile in Spike's room, the boy who changed out of his dragon form for the night laid in bed in his shorts and undershirt. The bed he laid on was like a triple king sized bed with open curtains hanging from the tell bed knobs, along with a long pillow. The room itself was so big you'd think it was an office building meeting room.

Spike looked down past his feet seeing how long the bed was, before glancing around the room, "Jeez, I didn't think I'd be stuck with a room so big," suddenly there was a knock at the door, "Yeah?" he asked.

The door opened and peeking in was Rainbow and Fluttershy wearing their sleep attire, "Hey, Spike. You awake?" Rainbow asked.

"We're not intruding, are we?" Fluttershy asked in worry.

"No, girls. What's going on?" Spike wondered.

The next thing Spike knew, he was laying in bed with Rainbow on his right and Fluttershy on his left, "Not that I'm complaining or anything, but seriously?" he asked the two.

"I just can't stand sleeping inside such a big room by myself." Fluttershy explained.

"Same here. What's the the point of giving us each a big room when we got no one to share with?" Rainbow added.

"True, though why come to my room?"

"Well, we're part of your harem, aren't we?" Fluttershy asked, as she turned to the side in order to face Spike.

"Well, yeah." Spike answered, as Rainbow turned to face him.

"Then there's nothing to worry about. After all couples do this kind of thing, right? Even harem couples."

Spike unable to argue with them any further, plus secretly didn't mind this in the slightest answered, "Well, if you put it that way then by all means."

Fluttershy smiled and draped herself onto Spike, "Good. Then would it be ok if I snuggled up to you?"

"Sure." Spike replied, as he could feel Fluttershy's rack pressing into his arm.

Spike was suddenly snuggled on his other side by Rainbow, "Tell anyone I snuggle with you, and your ass is mine." she warned him before whispering, "In the sexy way."

Spike panted from the sound of her sultry voice, and received a kiss from both sides by the two girls. The three fell asleep, with Spike holding both girls close to him.

Doc and Derpy wearing winter attire were walking through the Snowy Crystal Mountains, as the snow fell.

"Any readings, Doc?" Derpy asked, as she bundled up some more.

Doc checked a high tech compass that was registered to locate the one called Radiant Hope. The arrow in the middle was pointing in the direction where they had to follow.

"According to my device, we should be getting closer." Doc explained.

Derpy looked ahead and saw a log cabin, "Doc, look at that! Maybe we can ask for directions there."

Doc checked the compass aiming it in the direction of the cabin seeing it was emitting a strong reaction, "Signal's stronger. Derpy, I think we might have found what we've been searching for! Come on!" he hurried through the snow with Derpy following.

They arrived at the entrance to the cabin before knocking on the door as hard and loud as they could. Suddenly the door opened, and they saw a unicorn mare wearing a warm cloak.

"Oh, my goodness. Please come in before you catch your death." she showed the two inside, and closed the door.

Derpy and the Doc removed their winter jackets, and the mare took them, "Thank you so much, ma'am. Sorry for the intrusion." Doc thanked her.

"None at all. I rarely get visitors out here. Can I offer you two some hot cocoa?"

"Yes, please." Derpy answered.

The mare went to her kitchen and came back with a tray of freshly made cocoa. She laid it on the coffee table before the two who sat on her sofa.

"Thank you, ma'am. My name's Time Turner, but everyone calls me Doc."

"And I'm Derpy Hooves."

"Nice to meet you two. What were the two of you doing out here? The weather up here is dreadful for traveling. Especially at this hour."

"We were looking for someone." Derpy answered.

"Oh, well no one else has lived out here but me."

"Then perhaps you can answer us a question?" Doc inquired.

"What is it?"

"Are you Radiant Hope?"

The mare gasped as she removed the hood of her cloak to reveal the same mare from Sombra's history, "How do you know who I am?"

"Because you're famous where we're from." Derpy explained.

"Famous? Me? You must have me mistaken for some other pony."

"No mistake about it," Doc assured, "You see, Ms. Hope. My friend and I have come a long way through time to find you."

"Through time?"

"That's right. Derpy and I are from the future, and we've traveled back a thousand years to find you Radiant Hope."

"This can't be. Such magic doesn't exist." Hope denied.

"This wasn't the work of magic, but science. But we have no time to debate. We have important matters to discuss regarding an old friend of yours." Doc explained.

"Wait, you don't mean?"

"Yes. He's returned." Doc said seriously.

"Sombra." Hope gasped.