All the ponies plus one human stared in shock at the shattered remains of the Crystal Heart. They still couldn’t believe what happened. Rarity walked up to the crystal shards.
“So…” She started. “Not only can we not take part in a fabulous ancient ceremony, but we’re also about to be frozen solid!”
“Without the Crystal Heart’s magical protection, the entire city’s about to become a winter wasteland!” Twilight exclaimed.
“But what about when King Sombra ruled the Crystal Empire and the Crystal Heart was missin’?” Applejack wondered. “The city wasn’t covered in snow then!”
“The Heart wasn’t missing.” Twilight explained. “It was still in the castle. King Sombra had just hidden it.”
“I’m afraid Twilight is correct,” Celestia said, as lightning flashed across the sky. “And the storm clouds are already forming.”
“I can totally fly up there and bust those puppies! No problem!” Rainbow boasted. She tried to fly through the curtains but was pulled back by Celestia’s magic.
“I wouldn’t advise it, Rainbow Dash.” She told the blue pegasus. “Those storm clouds are not like the ones you know.”
“This far north, the weather has a will of its own,” Luna continued. “And now it will only grow stronger, enveloping everything in its path.”
“Including the Crystal Empire!” Cadance worried, holding the baby closer to her.
“And us along with it!” Twilight moved away from the curtains as the wind blew in. “There must be a spell that can restore the Crystal Heart!”
“Perhaps,” Celestia said thoughtfully.
“But it isn’t something that either of us know,” Luna replied.
“The library here at the castle is nearly as extensive as the one in Canterlot. There’s a good chance we can find something there!” Cadance suggested.
Twilight turned to Celestia and Luna. “Can you hold off the storm?” She asked them.
“Yes, for a time,” Luna answered. “But even our magic will eventually succumb to the power of the Frozen North.”
“We will do what we can, but you must hurry,” Celestia said, before the sisters flew out of the castle to battle the storm.
“I don’t know how long it will take to find the right spell,” Twilight said, turning to her friends. “But you should probably tell the crowd outside to get somewhere warm!”
“And try not to mention the Crystal Heart. We don’t want to start a panic,” Cadance cautioned.
“Yes, ma’am. C’mon girls!” Applejack nodded, then she, Fluttershy and Rainbow ran outside.
“I’m gonna need all of your help. The crystal library is enormous!” Twilight pointed out to the remaining ponies and human.
“I’ll help as best as I can,” Sunset nodded.
“Thanks Sunset,” Twilight said.
“You can count on us Twily!” Shining said.
The baby then teleported herself over onto Sunset’s face, who jumped a little, “Whoa.” Once she was calm, she gently pried the baby off her face and held her in her arms. “Take it easy there, kid. We don’t need you hurting yourself. Geez, first magic lasers, then the royal Canterlot voice and now teleporting, you are quiet the handful. Though, you do remind me of someone.” Sunset looked thoughtful.
The baby giggle before teleporting from Sunset’s arms onto Pinkie’s face, causing the pink pony to shriek and pulled the baby off, sending her flying. Shining tried to catch her but she disappeared before he could. “Where’d she go?!”
They listened as they heard her giggling everywhere. Cadance finally pinpointed where she was. “This way!”
“Oh my god,” Sunset said, clicked her fingers in realization, as they followed Cadance. “She’s like a pony version of Jack-Jack.”
“Who’s Jack-Jack?” Rarity asked, as she run next to the human.
“Oh, um,” Sunset forgot that ponies don’t have animated movies yet. “He’s basically a fictional superhero.”
“Oh, so a bit like Spike’s power ponies’ comics,” Rarity wondered.
“In a way, yeah,” Sunset smiled sheepishly.
“I found her!” Shining shouted as they arrived at the library, where Shining was holding the baby.
Once they were in the library and started looking for a spell to fix the Crystal Heart, it didn’t take long for the baby to escape again. While Twilight, Cadance and Sunset looked for the spell, Shining, Rarity and Pinkie tried to catch the baby, who was giggling non-stop as she shot lasers everywhere.
“Young filly… come back here!” Shining exclaimed, trying to catch up to her.
“Come to your Auntie Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie bounced after her.
“Bridle Buck’s Boat Chants, Hayhoof’s Intonements, Mystic Maps and Mazes…” Twilight read out as she flipped through the books. She looked over at Sunset, who was also flipping through books. “Anything, Sunset?” She asked.
“Nothing so far,” Sunset replied, not looking up from the book she was reading.
Twilight looked up to where Cadance was sorting through the shelves. “Anything up there?”
“Not yet!” Cadance replied. “I’m not even sure how these are organized!” Suddenly the baby popped into existence near her. She tried to reach for her, but the foal sneezed out an magic blast before popping to the other side of the room, where Shining chased after her. “Shining Armor, I thought you were taking care of the baby!”
“I’m trying!” He exclaimed.
“Whoo!” The baby sounded.
Rarity jumped into of the baby with a net. “Gotcha!” She shouted, only for the baby to teleport to behind her. “Oh! Or not…”
It was as Pinkie was running after the baby, that Starlight and Spike walked in, having been in the storm outside. They ducked down as a blast of magic went over them.
“What is going on?!” Starlight exclaimed.
“You want the long or the short version?” Pinkie asked as she was dragged along by the baby.
“Short?”
“The baby’s an Alicorn and she accidentally destroyed the Crystal Heart, so Twilight, Sunset and Cadance are looking for a spell to put it back together and save the Crystal Empire from turning into a giant wasteland of ice and snow,” Pinkie explained in one breath.
“Oh.” Was all Starlight could say.
Cadance gasped as she pulled a big tome out of the shelf. “What about this? Trotter’s Tome of Reliquary?”
Twilight quickly flipped through the book before stopping on a page. “I think this is it!” She exclaimed, showing Cadance the page.
“‘Spell of Relic Reconstitution’! I can’t believe we found it!” Cadance smiled in relief.
“It’s a good thing, too! Without this, I don’t know what we’d do!” Twilight said.
Sunset’s eyes widened in realization. “Um, Twilight, I think you just…” She started to say, before they all turned to the baby in Pinkie’s hooves as she released another magic blast that bounce off everyone’s shields, and ended up going right through the book that Twilight was holding, creating a massive hole in it. “…jinxed it,” Sunset finished as everyone else gasped in shock.
“Oops,” Pinkie said, still holding the baby.
“That spell was the only thing we found in the whole library that was even close to what we needed!” Twilight said, aguishly.
“I’m so sorry, Twilight!” Starlight apologized.
“It’s not your fault, Starlight. None of us were expecting any of this,” Twilight said.
“Do you think you can remember the spell?” Cadance asked.
“I only read it through once!” Twilight countered.
“Well, if anypony can exactly remember something she read for the first time two minutes ago, it’s you, Twilight,” Rarity encouraged.
“I’ll try. But I’m not sure how long it’ll take,” Twilight said. They turned to one of the holes made by the baby to see the storm intensifying.
“Is quickly an option?” Pinkie asked.
“I’ll help if I can, but we should evacuate the city just in case!” Cadance suggested. She turned to Shining. “You need to lead everypony to the train station before the tracks freeze over!”
“We will. But between you, Sunset and Twilight, I’m sure you’ll remember the spell,” Shining said, giving the baby to Cadance before he and Rarity left to evacuate the city.
“I only hope this spell is the one we need,” Twilight floated a piece of parchment over and start writing down what she could remember.
“Is there anything I can do?” Starlight asked.
“I don’t think so. I’m just sorry about your lesson,” Twilight apologised.
“Oh, that doesn’t matter now,” Starlight waved her off. “Sunburst and I don’t have anything in common anyway. He’s a big important wizard! And I’m re-learning everything I ever thought I knew.”
“Sunburst? I don’t recognize the name, but if he’s an important wizard, you should bring him here. Maybe he’ll know what to do if the spell fails,” Cadance suggested.
“Of course!” Starlight exclaimed before running out of the room.
“You better go with her, Spike,” Twilight said to the dragon.
“While you two figure out the spell, why don’t I try and keep the baby entertained,” Sunset suggested.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Cadance said, as she handed the baby over to Sunset. “Thank you, Sunset.”
“Not a problem,” Sunset smiled down at the filly in her arms. “C’mon, kiddo. You can have fun with Aunty Sunset while your Mom and Aunt Twilight help save the empire.” The simple giggled as Sunset walked out the door to find a room that was close but out of the way, while thinking of possible games to keep the baby entertained.