Twilight awoke from her slumber. Her bed was unlike her bed at the library or the back of the Duke. She got up and looked around. There were books upon books on the shelves as well as a large telescope for observatory reasons and even her own lab. She could not help but smile.
“He’s such a caring goof,” Twilight said to herself about her… master. She decided to step out and marveled at the interior of the castle. The halls were decorated with amber-colored metals and beautiful mahogany floors. She noticed there are more empty rooms in this hall. She walked through before ending up in a massive room. She could see the beautiful view from the enormous window in front. She saw several desks and equipment around.
“Morning Twilight!” a sudden voice said as she was hugged from behind.
Twilight Sparkle made a loud ‘Eep!’ before turning to see her laughing master. “Very funny, D Anomaly,” Twilight Sparkle said as she rolled her eyes. D Anomaly is still dressed as he was a few days ago.
“It’s almost time for breakfast!” D said cheerfully. He looked less troubled and more vibrant. “It’s time for all of us to eat something!” D said as Twilight got a puzzled face. “What do you mean all of--” she began before D made a loud whistling sound with his two fingers. A blue blur came into the room and landed on Twilight.
Twilight turned her head to see a beautiful azure-colored bird. “I had Iaiunus find me a phoenix. This guy is pretty old and had turned to ash when he arrived. I then decided to place the ashes in flames before making the fire into… negative fire, or cold flames. The ashes turned to snow white and he arose like this” D stated proudly. Twilight stood in awe at the ice phoenix as it looked around before flying off to an interesting collection of strange items. She then faced D.
Knowing the truth of his powers, but not much else, she knew that he is capable of powerful acts. In this case, he made flames that instead of giving off heat, removed it and ended up changing a phoenix from a firebird to some sort of ice bird.
She felt giddy and terrified at the prospect of what else he could do.
They were on large pedestals with a plush cushion or stand was there to hold the item. Over the item was a glass container. Twilight walked over to examine these strange items. “I couldn’t go to sleep so instead I decided to create my own magical items,” D said as the ice phoenix observed the one it was perched on.
Inside the case rested a large gem. Shaped as a heart, it reminded Twilight of a fire ruby though it was smaller than the one Spike gave Rarity. It was… prismatic. It changed color constantly. It changed color upon Twilight’s fascination.
“I call it the Empathy Heart. This is perhaps one of the most powerful objects created,” D Anomaly told her as he admired it with pride.
“What’s it do?” Twilight stated, her researching compulsions acting up.
“I’ll show you,” D Anomaly said as he phased his hand through the case and grabbed the gem. He channeled emotion into it and held out for Twilight. Cautiously, but excitedly, like about to test a brand new spell for the first time, Twilight proceeded. She placed her hoof on the gem and felt a rush of emotion flood over her.
She felt happiness.
She didn’t know why, but she felt really happy. She felt joyful, mirthful, and just so fun-fun-fun!
Twilight got a hold of herself as she realized she said the latter out loud. She blushed a lovely shade of pink as D chuckled mirthfully.
“Empathy, Twilight Sparkle,” D said as he let the gem float in his hand while staring at it with reverence.
“Do you what empathy means? Give me the definition,” D asked her expectedly. Twilight wracked her mind for the definition of the word from her time of reading the dictionary as a minor hobby.
“Empathy- the intellectual identification of the thoughts, feelings, or state of another person” Twilight said automatically, causing D to raise an eyebrow. He understood what that mean, but hoped she wouldn’t just copy it
“Uh, Twi, how about in a better definition,” D replied, causing Twilight to raise an eyebrow in response, but decided to give another one.
“The capacity to understand another person's point of view or the result of such understanding,” Twilight stated before realizing.
“You’re telling me that the Empathy Heart allows one to share emotions with one another?” Twilight asked incredulously.
“Close, Twilight Sparkle. The Empathy Heart allows the wielder to share experiences and emotions, being able to feel and understand what it is like for the other person. It is very powerful and frightening aspect when you dwell on it too long. Despite that, a lot of good can from this,” D says before putting the Empathy Heart back in its case.
“The others are not as good, but they are still unique,” D says as he shows off a few of the other trinkets he made. One was called the Song Soul, a wisp-shaped glass about the size of a banana. D explained that it allowed one to play powerful music.
“Music is powerful and has magic of its own,” D explained cryptically before admitting he did not fully understand it.
Another was a large cube with colored gems on the side. The cube itself was white while the gems were on golden and ornate bezel settings. The gems were red, orange-yellow or goldenrod as D called it, green, light blue, purple and magenta. They reminded Twilight of the Elements of Harmony.
“I call it the Tranquility Cube,” D says as he observes it with a critical eye. “I made it in case Discord ever came back and messes with the Elements…” D says as he looks it over.
“A cube… six sides… six elements of harmony…” Twilight notes as she makes the connection.
However, she notices D’s… lackluster look. “Something is lacking… I just know it,” he mumbles before walking to the final item.
The last item is a very strange one, Twilight thought immediately as she looked at the strangely shaped item.
In human terminology, it resembled a vajra of Buddhism lore. Unlike most vajras, which had three, five, or even nine spokes, this one has twelve at the end. The vajra is gold-colored while the spokes had small gems of differing origins. In the center, it was a pearl that swirled of differing colors.
“This one… I do not remember what it does. However, from the little I recall from my inventing frenzy, is that it involves magic, so it is probably best you don’t go near it until I remember how it works,” D advised Twilight. She nodded as she took a step back. She noticed that the ice phoenix observed each one of the items while sitting on their glass containers, it seem to avoid the final item.
“I think… I called it the Mirariclavis…” D said before Twilight turned to him. “What does that mean?” she asked him. D could only shrug his shoulders. “Well, I better get to work for breakfast. I’ll make us pancakes,” D said cheerfully before going to the kitchen, carrying a cookbook and… a history book?
Twilight watched him go off before seeing the ice phoenix go to her. She lifted her hoof and let the ancient and unique bird land on it. “D hasn’t given you a name yet, has he?” Twilight asked the icy bird. He looked to her and nodded. “I think I will call you Elder. D says you must be an old phoenix,” Twilight told him before hearing a loud sound.
She jumped before looking around. She found a glass rectangle, a monitor. It was of the Duke of Crawlington! Twilight noted he grew even larger and more colorful. He also had a collar of fur around his neck.
She then faced the window and saw something extraordinary…
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Princess Celestia smiled as she saw her little ponies come back, smiles on their faces. “Well everypony, it appears we all learned something important about friendship. When your friend Zecora arrives, she will assist us in finding Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia announced to them before seeing a messenger arrive.
“Your highness, your highness,” the messenger pony nicknamed Grankuwaga announced to Princess Celestia before pausing to catch his breath.
“A hundred apologies, your highness, but it has returned…” Grankuwaga told her as he kneeled. Princess Celestia looked surprised before she began getting the guards ready. Her face became solemn as Princess Luna also entered.
“Princess Celestia, what’s going on?” Spike asked her upon seeing the sudden news. “My little ponies, the Crystal Empire has returned,” Celestia announced to them.
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"What is that?!" Twilight cried out as she pointed to what she saw through the window. D Anomaly rushed to see the marvelous sight before him through the window and his expression darkened. He had read this through one of the books.
"It is the Crystal Empire, Twilight... and I think it has a connection to Princess Cadence..." D Anomaly began before Twilight looked at him confused.
“Don’t be surprised. In fact, only reason I know is luck. One of the books I summoned happened to be a well-preserved journal, apparently from someone whose’s family once lived in the Crystal Empire,” D explained.
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Upon seeing the confused faces, Princess Celestia began to explain. “To be honest, my own knowledge of the Crystal Empire is limited,” she began as she made a certain crystal hover over to present a hologram of the Crystal Empire.
“From what I do know, is that it contains a powerful and ancient magic. However, all of that changed when, 1000 years ago, a powerful unicorn with a heart as black as night took over…” Celestia elaborated.
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“His name was King Sombra. From what it was described in the journey, the citizens were enslaved and despair ruled the kingdom. Ultimately, he was turned to shadow and banished to the northern ice by Celestia and Luna,” D told Twilight as he paraphrased and summarized what the journal said.
He then looked out the window. “I betcha the Princesses will send your friends over to investigate along with your brother and Princess Cadance,” D said before Twilight gave him a suspicious look.
“What does Cadance have to do with this?” Twilight asked.
“To be honest, not sure. She’s a Princess and her cutie mark is some sort of crystal heart so there’s probably a connection,” D said while shrugging his shoulders. However, he then realized, what will he do about this. He looked to Twilight.
Should he let her go?
On the one hand, that would mean letting her go and if Celestia recognized that mark, he would be in loads of trouble. On the other hand…
Helping her friends, her family…
It was the right thing to do…
SiNcE wHeN dId We CaRe AbOuT tHaT
…since always… that is my way…
“…I won’t stop you. The Kingdom’s in Northern Equestria, near the icy areas,” D Anomaly told her as he faced away.
“You sure?” Twilight asked after a brief pause. She recalled on how she could no longer go back and yet he was letting her go back. Part of her wanted to ask why he could not come and investigate matters, but she didn’t want to push it.
“Yeah, go help out your friends,” he told her before he began walking off. Twilight stared at his retreating form. She wondered how his life was back on his world. She quietly trotted to him before hugging him, much to his shock.
D Anomaly froze upon receiving the hug. Back on Earth, he was a very huggy person, but the only people who bothered to hug him back were his family. So getting a hug from someone… not of family… but…
But…
A friend…
“Thanks… Twi,” D told her as he gave a small smile before giving Twilight a scarf. “It’s cold. You better get going,” D told her as Elder landed on her.
“I’m taking Elder with me,” Twilight told Diego before she began heading out. D Anomaly looked back at her, specifically the mark. He snapped his fingers as it made itself invisible. Besides serving as a mark indicating her loyalty to him, it would allow to know when she was in trouble.
D wondered about what to do next before hearing his stomach growl. D ran back to the kitchen to serve himself some breakfast. However, thoughts of his new friend made him ask questions.
“Uh… how do I get there?” Twilight said as she returned, realizing she went ahead without a plan. “I’ll teleport you there. However, have some breakfast first,” D told her. Twilight and Elder along with D Anomaly settled for breakfast.
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“I still feel like I should have gone with them, sister,” Luna stated as she saw the train go off toward Northern Equestria. “Without Twilight Sparkle, it seems like the group will not do well,” Luna explained before turning to Celestia.
“I know your fears, but I trust them. Not only that, I feel Twilight Sparkle will go over there. I have faith in my student,” Celestia said with a hint of pride. Looking back, she thought of the accomplishments her student underwent and decided to show more appreciation toward her student.
“Princess Celestia, I present to you, Zecora of the Everfree Forest,” Golden Star said as he introduced the zebra.
Zecora approached before bowing. She had great respect for the monarchs and it was interesting to meet them for the first time.
“First of all, I want to thank you for taking care of my little ponies, Zecora,” Celestia said in a friendly tone.
“No trouble, for them, I am a friend. I wish to help you and the others amend,” Zecora spoke in her native rhyming style as she did a quick bow.
“And I thank you for your kindness,” Celestia said as she walked over to her before facing the window where the Crystal Empire laid.
“You said you can concoct a solution to aid us in finding Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia asked.
Zecora nodded. “With the aid of this potion and amulet charmed, we can find her before she is harmed,” Zecora proclaimed before she took out the mixture and the amulet.
“You stated you needed a hair of Twilight Sparkle?” Celestia stated as a manebrush was floating. The violet hair from it levitated into the mixture before Zecora dipped the amulet in it. The amulet glowed and caused the potion to spread in a mist. The amulet emitted a light to show off the magical aura.
Zecora was then lifted to the back of Celestia as she began flying to find the trail. Luna remained behind to keep an eye on the events. Celestia followed the trail. It went from Ponyville, but then all the way to the distance where she saw an unknown structure.
She saw some of Twilight’s magic flow to it. Celestia began flying there to investigate. Zecora herself had a strange feeling about the place.
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D Anomaly sensed strong magic. He excused himself while Twilight decided to wash the dishes. She enjoyed the breakfast. Elder flew to D’s shoulder before D opened a hatch. He nodded and Elder flew through the hatch and exited through an opening of the castle.
Elder looked around and saw the Princess and Zecora. It then flew down, leaving faint ice crystals and went to D Anomaly.
“It’s her, isn’t it?” he asked the ice phoenix. Elder nodded. D sighed. He needed to get Twilight Sparkle over to Northern Equestria before
“All right, I’m done with the dishes,” Twilight said before she trotted back in. D then gave her a scarf. “Here, it will protect you from the cold,” D said as he placed it on her. Elder then went onto Twilight’s back.
“…D Anomaly?” Twilight asked.
“Yes?”
“…If my friends see the mark, what should I do?”
D remained silent before he turned to her. “Whatever you think is right,” he confessed to her after a moment of pondering.
Twilight stood there before she let out a small smile and nodded. “D… Don’t worry. Everything will be all right. We’re friends, right?” she said.
D turned to face her suddenly. His face is a painfully obvious mix of shock, happiness and gratitude. He then puts his own small smile. “Yeah,” he said before he got his fingers ready.
Twilight took a moment to observe the mix of emotions on D’s face. Her words seem to have impacted him greatly.
D snapped his fingers and Twilight and Elder were gone to where the others were. However, he also vanished, deciding to investigate another matter.
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Shining Armor could say he felt lousy… if he wanted to make an understatement. He was on special potions to help cure him of the effects that that Changeling Queen had on him. After being awaken, he was out cold for a few days.
When he got up, he asked to be briefed of the situation. Hearing how Twilight saved the day, he wanted to go and apologize to his sister for everything that transpired. Unfortunately, he was still ill and the fact he was here in the field was only because of sheer importance of the matter.
That and he snuck out.
“So, you’re Shining Armor?”
Shining Armor was snapped out of his musing as he turned to see a mysterious figure walking beside him, in a black cloak.
Shining Armor became suspicious. After all, this stranger appeared out of nowhere and was on two legs, not making him a pony. His size meant that he was no dragon either.
What was he?
Meanwhile, D Anomaly examined Shining Armor. Just from the circles in his eyes, the slight green tinge and the posture meant the guy was pretty tired.
Looks like he hasn’t healed. Why is he here?
“Why are you out here in this area?” D Anomaly asked Shining Armor.
“I’m here to examine the Crystal Empire’s reappearance. You’ve seen it, right?” Shining Armor said. Despite his exhaustion, he was examining the mysterious man’s every move.
D simply nodded before Shining let out a lamentful sigh. “I’m also here because I need to apologize to my sister,” he added. D raised his eyebrow in interest.
“I said some things I shouldn’t have said and just… well I have wanting to say sorry, but I have been in the hospital for a while, getting my strength back. Only now I was able to leave,” Shining explained, carefully choosing his words.
More like sneak off. But… he snuck off and came here to be with his wife and to apologize to Twilight D thought to himself. He confessed he did not put much blame on Shining, his judgment impaired by the mind toxins of the Changelings, but the fact he still went out and said it.
“…Here,” D Anomaly gave Shining Armor a thermos filled with… soup? It was warm and filled with veggies. “This will help you feel better,” D stated to the Captain. Shining took a small sip before smiling and took some more.
“Thank you…?” Shining stated before seeing that he was gone. He was reminded about the strange figure Cadance mentioned…
As he levitated the thermos, he saw a note on it,
“Thank you.”
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Spike and the others shivered as they began making their way away from the train station and through the blizzard.
“Hey! Heyy!” a voice broke through the wind. The girls and Spike looked to see Shining Armor.
When he arrived, he noticed a certain lavender mare was missing.
“Hey, where’s Twilight Sparkle?” he asked them. Spike and the others looked at one another. On the train, they discussed what to do in case they were asked about her.
“She’s um… arriving later!” Rainbow Dash stated while the others nodded with what she was saying.
“…Y-yes. Twilight will be here soon enough…” Fluttershy added, though she was shivering from the cold.
“All righty then,” Shining Armor stated. “We better get going. This is a dangerous area,” Shining said as he led them.
“Why, what’s out here besides cold?” Applejack asked.
“Let’s just say that the Crystal Empire isn’t the only thing that returned…” Shining said ominously as he led the group through the across the frigid wasteland. However, great billowing towers of black smoke appeared as an evil face appeared from them.
“It’s King Sombra!” Spike pointed out, recognizing the frightening face from the hologram that Princess Celestia showed them.
The ponies began running toward the empire and the dome surrounding them. Spike tumbled and fell, but he was levitated onto Rarity’s back as they continued being pursued by Sombra.
Shining Armor turned and attempted to launch a beam of magic at it, but he dodged and attempted to attack Shining. Before he could plunge at the prince, another burst of magic hits Sombra from the side and causes him to growl in pain.
Shining Armor, Spike and the Mane 6 turned to see who was it and big smiles were on everypony’s faces.
It was Twilight Sparkle.