"It looks like my Grandpa's castle in photographs! Except it's more crystal! And bigger" Gohan said.

"It's marvelous!" Rarity said.

"Sparklerific!" Pinkie Pie said.

They entered the massive place.

"It's gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!" Rarity said.

She kept sputtering on about how amazing the place was.

Eventually, Applejack stepped in.

"Focus, Rarity." She said.

"We're here to help Twilight, not admire the scenery." She added.

"Eh. I don't know what the big deal is. It looks like just another big castle to me." Rainbow Dash said.

"Oh- P- Gah- Just another old- HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?" Rarity asked, running up to Rainbow Dash.

"Look at the magnifi-" She said before her friends were laughing.

It was a joke.

"Very funny." Rarity said with a smile.

They all entered the palace.

Cadence was there, she had been performing a spell for ages now.

She was REALLY tired.

"Cadence!" Twilight called.

Cadence looked up to see Twilight.

They did their best friend dance.

Then, Cadence almost let the spell stop.

"We need to meet up sometime, when Equestria is not doomed." Cadence joked.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked.

"I could give you a boost, if you want." Gohan said.

"Please... I'm so tired." Cadence said.

"Alright." Gohan said, sparing a nice cup of energy to Cadence.

Cadence was no longer tired. "Thanks! That's amazing!" She said.

"No problem. But why is she doing the spell for so long?" Gohan asked. "Is it for that thing we saw earlier?" He added.

"Cadence has been able to use her magic to spread love and light. That seems to be what is protecting the Empire. But she hasn't slept. Barely eats!" Shining Armor said.

"We need a defense? I could take over." Gohan said.

"Really? Oh no, I couldn't... You're but a child!" Cadence said.

"It's alright, really. Watch." Gohan said, spreading his arms out.

He closed his eyes, and yellow glows illuminated around his hands.

"Ha!" He yelled, opening his eyes.

The yellow flew outward, setting up a ki barrier around 75% of the city.

"Oops. Need a little bit more power." Gohan said, turning Super Saiyan.

That covered the town, and more. Even more than Cadence's long spell.

"I got it." Gohan said.

"W-Wow... If it really works, then..." Cadence said, stopping the spell.

It did, it was preventing the cold from getting in and also the spirit, which was King Sombra.

Gohan set his arms down.

"Okay, I have the barrier up. It should stay up until I stop it. Or if I don't have energy." Gohan said.

"You never cease to amaze us, Gohan." Shining Armor said.

Gohan chuckled. "I'm just trying to help out." He said.

"Our next problem is trying to gather what's happening in the Arctic, and we couldn't find anything out from the Crystal Ponies!" Shining Armor said.

"Crystal Ponies!? There are Crystal Ponies!?" Rarity asked, pulling her mane.

But then she realized how she acted. And acted normal again.

"Uh, please. Continue." She said.

"But we have to believe one of them knows we can protect the Empire without Cadence or Gohan's magic." Shining Armor said.

"It isn't magic. It's ki." Gohan said.

"Sorry. But we need to find out from one of the Crystal Ponies that we can protect the empire without Cadence or Gohan." Shining Armor said.

Twilight thought about it, and got the solution. "A research paper!" She said.

"Huh?" Shining Armor asked.

"Oh, yeah! We could go to the library and find out how they did it back then!" Gohan said.

"Huh? I was just going to ask the Crystal Ponies. It must be part of my test! OOH! I love research papers!" Twilight said.

"Yeah, who doesn't love them." Rainbow Dash joked, nudging Pinkie Pie.

"OOH! Let me guess," Pinkie Pie said, before picking up and/or dragging the ponies.

"Is it Spike? No, is it Fluttershy? Rarity? Gohan?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Hey, I like to study!" Gohan said.

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

"Okay, now we need to feed you." Shining Armor said, pointing a hoof at Cadence.

***

"So, the plan is Crystal Ponies first, then the possibly not there awesome library second?" Gohan asked.

"Yes." Twilight said.

"Jeez, even though you have awesome powers, you're an egghead!" Rainbow Dash said.

"I wanted to be an orthodontist when I was four." Gohan said.

"Ugh. I don't even know what an orthodontist is." Rainbow Dash said.

"An orthodontist does-" "I didn't ask." Rainbow Dash interrupted.

"Oop. Sorry." Gohan said.

The Mane 6 and Gohan were at the center of town.

"Alright, let's each ask the Crystal Ponies!" Gohan said.

Then, the seven each went around town, searching for answers.

But they all had the same answer.

"Sorry, but I don't remember anything before King Sombra took over. I don't even want to remember the time he ruled over us." They said.

"I don't have any information." They said.

But, they didn't feel the same.

Gohan didn't bother checking the Crystal Ponies, because he pieced together what Shining Armor said.

He was looking for the awesome library.

And he found it!

His mouth was agape looking at the many shelves and shelves of books.

***

Now, Twilight had her turn at her mouth being agape.

But, there was another elderly Crystal Pony. She was the librarian.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"Yes, we're looking for a book!" Twilight said.

"We have plenty of those." The librarian said.

"You do... You do! You really do..." Twilight said, staring at all the books around her.

"We're looking for a history book. Something about how the Empire might've protected itself from danger before." Applejack said.

"History... History... Ah, yes." The librarian said.

This got the seven to smile.

But, after a long silence, Twilight couldn't take the suspense.

"Uh... Where is it?" Twilight asked.

"I... I can't seem to remember..." The librarian said.

Twilight groaned.

"I can look." Gohan said.

"Alright, but you better be qui.......ck?" Twilight asked before seeing Gohan moving at speeds faster than Rainbow Dash.

He looked at every single book on every single shelf with precision and speed. He even put the books back.

"W-What!?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"You STILL think you're faster than him?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"I... I... I don't know." Rainbow Dash said insecurely.

"Wow! We could hire that... Monkey to help me organize." The librarian said.

"Wait... Do I even work here?" She asked.

Gohan found the history book. "I got it!" He said.

"Let me see!" Twilight said, using her magic to take the book out of Gohan's hands.

"I just hope it has the answers we need." Twilight said, opening the book.