The chariot ride to Canterlot was interesting to say the least as Twilight was panicking during our entire flight there which didn't help me, while I knew I couldn't take fall damage we were still over a forest which could hurt me, Arriving in Canterlot we were greeted with some guards whom directed Twilight to Celestia and I waited with Spike to have. Twilight come out It was awkward to say the least. but soon she came out. "Ah! Twilight! That was fast! Let me guess, you got a perfect score? A-minus? B-plus? (gasp) Twilight, did you... fail?" Spike asked as Twilight started singing.… Really?

"Twilight I don't think this is the time for a musical." I said as she stopped.

"Okay fine let's head to the train station." She said in a grumpy voice, not getting to sing.

"Why, did you fail?" I asked.

"No. I'll explain with the others."

"Explain what?"

"You have to wait and see." she said as we got to the train station.

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

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

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

"Crystal what?" Rainbow asked.

"I'll explain on the train ride there.”

**

"So you're telling me a shadow man is trying to take over this Crystal Empire and we need to stop him." I said as Twilight rolled her eyes.

"Yes it's almost as if I just explained it." she said sarcastically.

"Hey no need to get jumpy I was just making sure I understood besides if this Sombra returns he could have Heartless under his command." I said as they all looked at me.

"Heartless what's a Heartless?" Rainbow asked.

"Basicly a shadow monster that eats your heart." I said as Fluttershy fainted.

"There's no such thing as a heartless you're pulling our legs." Rainbow said as I shrugged.

"Believe what you want." I said as the horn of the train blowed "Looks like we're here." I said as the train stopped.

"Hey how come there are train tracks to this ancient and forgotten city?"Pinkie asked as they all looked at her wondering why that happened.

As we got out of the train Rarity has wearing one of many scarves she had brought giving the rest to the others except me and Spike "Ha! And you all made fun of me for packing so many scarves." she mocked as I looked at Spike.

"We didn't say anything." I said as a shadowy figure approached us I prepared my Oblivion Keyblade to fight what I thought was a heartless or Sombra.

"Twilight!" the figure called out as Twilight recognized the voice.

"Shining Armor?" she said as she hugged her brother.

"Twily! You made it! We'd better get moving. There are things out here we really don't want to run into after dark." he said as we all followed.

"What kind of things?" Fluttershy asked.

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

"Is it heartless?" I asked.

"I don't know what those are, but if you are talking about the little shadow monsters then yes, but that isn't the only thing. Something else keeps trying to get in! We think it's the king who originally cursed the place." Shining said.

Twilight stopped. "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 as we heard a howl coming from behind us.

"(Gasp)Th-That's one of the things, isn't it?" Fluttershy said as we ran towards the bubbled City as the thing behind us roared.

"Go, go!" Twilight shouted.

"Almost there." Shining said as I turned around and pulled my keyblade.

I shouted "Strike raid!" as I through my keyblade at the shadow Titan causing to lose some of the Crystal on its head. Just as we had gotten in when we found that Shining armor's hands were covered In crystals

"Everybody Okay?" Shining asked.

"Shining, your hands!" Twilight said.

"It's alright Twilight." He said getting up as and electricity crackled.

"Sparkleriffic!" Pinkie said as we all looked at her. "What?"

**

On our way to the castle Rarity was gushing about how everything was made out of crystal "It's gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!" she said as she spoke incoherently. "There are no words!"
"Focus, Rarity. We're here to help Twilight, not admire the scenery." Applejack said as They dragged Rarity to the castle.

As we got into the castle we saw. "Cadence!" Twilight said as I grabbed her by the collar of her shirt "Gah" she said.

"Wait Twilight take a good look at her before you do your little dance" I said as I let go of Twilight
"Are you okay?" Twilight asked

"Cadance 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." Shining said

She took a deep breath before saying, "It's alright Shining Armor, I'm fine. One of these days we need to get together when the fate of Equestria isn't hanging in the balance." she said giggling.

"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." Shining cut in.

"That's why we're here." Twilight said as I tapped her on the shoulder.

"That's why we're all here." I said stealing, Applejack's thunder.

"Well, with Cadance 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 People." Shining said.

"There are crystal people!" Rarity interrupted as we looked at her funny.

"But we have to believe one of them knows how we can protect the Empire without having to use Cadance's magic." Shining finished as Twilight Chimed in.

"A research paper!" she said as we all looked at her.

"What?" I asked as the others agreed with me.

"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!" she said.

"Yeah, who doesn't?" Rainbow said sarcastically as Pinkie chimed in.

"Oh-oh-oh! Lemme guess! Is it Huxley? Spike? No,no, Fluttershy! Rarity?" She said as I covered her mouth.

" Don't worry, big brother. I am really good at this sort of thing." She said as we were off.

**

In the Library Twilight found somebody who was standing around and asked her about information after asking outside was a dud "I just... I don't even know what to... There are no words." Twilight said drooling at all the books.

"Twilight, you're drooling." I said as she closed her mouth.

"Ahem. May I help you?" Somebody, an elderly woman, asked.

" Yes. We're looking for a book." Twilight said.

" We have plenty of those." She said as Twilight giggled.

"Sorry about my friend here do you have any history books?" I asked.

"Yes. Of course. History, history... Ah, yes." she said as Twilight squeed.

"Which is where, exactly?" Twilight asked.

" I... I can't seem to remember. I'm not sure I actually work here." She said as she walked off.

"We'll just take a look around. I'm sure we can find it on our own." Twilight said as we all went in different directions.

We spent an hour looking through the library and found nothing "Uh, anyone else startin' to think this is a lost cause?" Applejack said.

"No, no, no, no, no... Yes! "History of the Crystal Empire". I just hope it has the answers we need." Twilight said as she started to read.

We told shining armor what we had seen in the book "A 'Crystal Fair'. According to this book, it was established by their first queen and became their most important tradition. 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 explained to her brother.

"That sounds pretty promising." he said.

"Except the last page is missing so we don't know if there is anything special we need for this" I said as they all looked at me.

"What could be so important at the last page?" Rainbow said mockingly.

Next Chapter: Chapter 18 the Crystal Empire part 2 Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 29 Minutes