The Crystal What?
Princess Celestia was sitting on her throne, looking through paper after paper of important documents. Today was a slow day in the palace, even with Luna helping her through the papers. Being a slow day, this was enough reason for Celestia to think about what had occurred the last few weeks. Her faithful student becoming a princess and her being married and with a foal on the way. Her husband was also Equestria's newest prince as well.
Celestia was still surprised that Twilight fell in love with the one creature she had been able to fall in love with over a thousand years ago. Discord. He really had changed after being released from stone, thanks to Twilight.
Celestia smiled at the thought. So much excitement had happened from Apple Sweet invading the castle with her friend Bookworm and Star Mage, the later whom had been placed into the dungeons until further notice after his spell on Bookworm and Apple Sweet had been reversed, finally freeing their minds.
“Princess?” called a soft voice of a mare. Celestia snapped out of her train of thought and looked at her small secretary. “You and Luna must finish signing the documents to make certain that Princess Twilight can officially go on business.”
“Yes, of course.” Celestia signed as she grabbed a quill and began signing the documents she had and Luna with hers. She kept on signing more and more of the documents until the doors of the throne room, a guard running through.
“Princesses, we have news from Northern Equestria!” the guard yelled as he rushed through.
“What? What has happened?” Luna asked, putting the papers she had been signing down.
“All I'm supposed to say is that it and the mirror have returned.” the guard said as he removed his helmet.
“The mirror to the other dimension?” Luna questioned as she looked at her sister. “Sister, what are we going to do about it?”
“Guards, find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.” Celestia informed as she immediately grabbed a scroll and began writing on it. “Dearest Princess Twilight and Discord, you both must come to Canterlot at once. We need your help with an important matter...”
Back in Ponyville, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her husband Discord were in the library along with the rest of Twilight's friends. Twilight was flying around the library in a panic as she was levitating certain books off from the shelves.
“Will that be enough books?” Twilight questioned as she felt a small magic burst come from her horn, it producing bubbles. “Yes, I know. I know. You're awake now.” Twilight said as she rubbed her hooves over her stomach.
“Darling, I know the princess needs you, but aren't you bringing a little too many books with you?” Rarity asked, puzzled with just how many pregnancy books Twilight was pulling off the shelves.
“Rarity, I have a foal on the way and I need all the information I can have, ready at my disposal!” Twilight informed, panicked as she felt another magic burst, this time dropping a muffin into Twilight's hooves. “Ok, very funny little one.”
“You were never this book crazy when we were back in Canterlot or Manehattan all that time ago.” Discord said as he watched his wife just rush around the library. “You were just fine then, why would things suddenly go chaotic now?”
“We had bigger things to worry about then, Discord! Apple Sweet and her gang and before that, Celestia and her sleeping spell!” Twilight panicked.
“Twilight, you're just going on an overnight trip to Manehattan. You're going to be-” Spike started when he burped and green magic come up, forming and popping in as a little scroll. “Twilight, you have a letter from Celestia!”
Twilight, still flying, grabbed the letter with her magic and looked at the letter. It was tied with a bright red ribbon, meaning it was urgent. “Oh no, I hope nothing is wrong!” Twilight immediately unwound the letter and began to read its contents.
Dearest Princess Twilight and Discord,
You both must come to Canterlot at once. We need your help with an important matter. I cannot say much, but I can say that a civilization once thought to be lost has returned again, along with a special mirror as well. You both most get to Canterlot immediately. I will explain everything once you get here.
From,
Princess Celestia of Equestria
“Discord, we have to get to Canterlot immediately. Forget the trip back to Manehattan, Princess Celestia needs our help!” Twilight panicked.
“What about the books?” Discord joked. “I thought you wanted to be prepared for anything the foal may do.”
Twilight looked at the books and immediately picked them up with her magic. “Good point, we need them just in case Princess Celestia needs us to go somewhere.” Twilight quickly landed back on the ground and placed the large amount of books into her saddlebags.
“Twilight, what's wrong?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Do you need our help?”
“Princess Celestia has requested Discord and I to be in Canterlot ASAP. We'll return from Canterlot if you are all needed.” Twilight informed.
“Mama, is everything alright?” Screwball asked, rubbing her eye. “I heard panicking.”
“Oh Screwball. I didn't mean to wake you up.” Twilight said as she looked at her adopted daughter. “But your father and I are needed in Canterlot. We were going to back soon.”
“Not without me.” Screwball said as she started the top of her hat, causing her to start flying into the air, despite beginning a Earth pony. “I helped you with Apple Sweet and them. Whatever it is this time, I'll be there.”
“That's my Screwy.” Discord smiled as Screwball gave him a happy smile.
“Fine, you can come along but we must get going, Discord.” Twilight informed. “Discord, can you get us to Canterlot?”
“When pigs fly.” he stated when he made a pig with wings appear in front of them all before making it disappear again. “And I guess that will be now.” he laughed as he snapped his fingers, causing the three to be enveloped in light and disappearing from the library.
~~*~~
“Sister, are you sure Twilight and Discord are going to be able to handle this task? I mean, the mirror's magic is legendary. We can't let it fall into the wrong hooves again.” Luna informed her sister as she and Celestia were looking at the newest stained glass formation of Twilight and Discord becoming the newest members of the royal family.
“I think they can handle this after all that has happened.” Celestia informed. “What they have been through is more then qualifying.”
“But is it wise to send Twilight on this mission, especially with a young foal on the way? It cannot be healthy for her or her unborn foal.” Luna reminded her sister. “I have read too much stress on a pregnant mare could have dire effects on the foal, most of which are negative.”
“I know, Luna. Since she is still very early in the pregnancy, only still in the first quadrant, she can still handle this things without it harming the foal.” Celestia informed her little sister. “Besides, we need-”
The doors busted open as Twilight flew in with Discord simply walking behind her, a smirk on his face. Screwball also flew in, herself with a slight giggle. “I'm here, Princess! What did you need us for?”
“Twilight, please land and I will show you, Discord, and Screwball what I mean.” Celestia said as she glanced at her little sister. “Do not worry, she can handle this.” she spoke as Luna walked past the family and out of the throne room, a worried expression on her face.
“What is it? What's wrong?” Twilight panicked. “What civilization has returned?!”
“Calm down, my student but the Crystal Empire has returned, as has the Crystal Mirror.” Celestia informed.
“The Crystal Mirror has returned, eh?” Discord spoke. “I almost had that mirror in my grasp before it disappeared on me.”
“The Crystal Empire?” Twilight questioned. “But I've never read about it.”
“You wouldn't have been able to in the first place. Very few remember it ever even existed, and even my knowledge on the Empire is fading...” Celestia spoke sadly.
“It faded away?” Discord questioned. “When did this happen? It was shining with a slight gleam when I was ruling.”
“Years after you were first sealed Discord is when the Crystal Mirror gave off a powerful burst of magic that sent the Crystal Empire into a void that was untouched by the fabric of time.” Celestia explained. “I believe the magic was caused by the last ruler of the Crystal Empire, King Sombra.”
“King Sombra?” Discord said. “I'm afraid my memory has gone for a jog.” After speaking, Discord's brain popped from his head and literally began jogging around the room for a bit before bouncing itself back into Discord's head.
“King Sombra. He took over the Crystal Empire and ruled with a iron hoof. He turned all of the crystal ponies into slaves and forced them to mine crystals for their magical properties.”
“Crystal ponies?” Twilight questioned. “But I thought that species of pony was simply a myth, a legend.”
“They are most certainly real, but they all disappeared when the Empire disappeared.”
“But why was this King Sombra imprisoning these ponies? What are so special about these crystals?”
“Its quite easy. The Crystal Empire has the special ability to broadcast hope and love all over Equestria with the crystals it has but the King wanted them in order to prevent that from happening. If the crystals could not send that across Equestria, then the rest of country would be unaffected emotionally. Luna and I eventually overpowered him and turned him to shadow, but I fear he is trying to come back and get the Mirror.”
“But I thought this King wanted crystals?” asked Screwball with a tilt of her head. “What's so special about this mirror?”
“While he did want the crystals, his most prized possession was the Crystal Mirror and he vowed to not let any pony get it. It serves as a gateway into an alternate dimension where different creatures not found in Equestria live and thrive without magic. He wanted to enslave that world's creatures for his own use but it didn't work.”
“But what I don't understand is how did the Empire disappear exactly?” Twilight questioned.
“I believe when we turned Sombra into shadow, he still manged to slip into the Empire unnoticed and was trying to get the mirror. I believe when he came into contact with the mirror, the magic that had turned him into shadow triggered the Crystal Mirror's magical properties, causing a magical vacuum that sent the Empire into another plane of existence, until now.”
“I see.” Twilight said as she pulled out a paper and quill to write down all of the information that Celestia had given her. “But why did you call us here for then?”
“I want you to go join your brother and Princess Cadence in the Crystal Empire and make sure that King Sombra does not emerge from his dormant state and try to get the Crystal Mirror again. I don't know what would happen if he came into contact with the mirror again. He might be able to slip into the other world or cause another power surge like before.” Celestia explained. “Whatever it is, I do not want him getting near that mirror. The empire must be protected from him.”
“But you want us to protect an entire empire? Do you think we can handle it?” Twilight questioned.
“I know its a lot but nothing that a Princess and Prince of Equestria couldn't handle.” Celestia smiled. “Please, I need you both to find a way to protect the empire.”
“Of course, Princess Celestia. We'll go to the Crystal Empire right away.” Twilight spoke.
“Why should we go to some boring Empire to save an old mirror? I know I wanted it before, but its most likely just gathered dust by now.” Discord complained.
“Discord! An entire nation is in danger and you don't care?!” Twilight fumed. “As a prince of Equestria, you should be greatly concerned for the well-being of these crystal ponies!” As her anger grew, small puffs of smoke were coming out of her muzzle as it slowly appeared that her mane and tail were on fire.
The sight was enough to cause Discord to start laughing uncontrollably. “Oh my goodness! You should see the look on your face, my dear! It's just completely priceless!” he laughed as tears formed in his eyes. “You really think I'm that big of a jerk? Geez, don't get your tail in a knot. Besides, I haven't seen the Crystal Empire in years. I could use some new crystals for my ever-growing collection.”
Discord snapped his fingers and up popped a box with crude writing on top of it that read My Crystals. He opened the box, which revealed nothing. Discord looked at the box in fake surprise. “What's this? I have none. Go figure! I was stopped before I could ever reach the Empire. How in Equestria did I forget something like that?” Discord spoke in fake surprise.
Twilight's hair returned to normal as she shot Discord a glare. “We do not have time for games, Discord. We need to go to the Crystal Empire. Besides, this is a great opportunity to learn about a lost civilization! Think about the things I could learn!” Twilight smiled happily at the idea. “And protect it too.” she added in when she saw Screwball giving her a questioned look.
“I'll have a train ready for you immediately, Twilight. I want you to get the rest of the Elements before you go for I know their Elements might be able to help the Empire.” Celestia spoke. “Hurry along now. I'll have the train ready for you in one hour.”
“We'll be back.” Twilight said as Discord snapped his fingers, sending the three of them back to the library in Ponyville, where Twilight's friends were still standing. “Girls, pack your bags. Princess Celestia requests our services immediately.”
“Wait, where are we going?” Rarity asked.
“The Crystal Empire.” Twilight spoke. “We need to protect it and the Crystal Mirror.”
“The Crystal what?” Rainbow asked with a tilt of her head.
“I'll explain everything later. Please, pack your saddlebags and be back here within the hour. Hurry, Princess Celestia really needs our assistance.”
“Right then.” Rainbow said as she and the other Elements rushed out through the library's door.
“I really hope we can find a way to protect the Crystal Empire.” Twilight muttered to herself.