//------------------------------// // The Crystal Fair // Story: Fear Strikes in Equestria // by Big Imagination E //------------------------------// Twilight was happy to see that the fair was all ready. She had to make one check to make sure she got everything. “One last check to make sure everything is in place, and then the festivities can begin!” Twilight said. “What's this thing for?” Applejack said about the sculpture. “The last page of the book mentioned a Crystal Heart as the faire's centerpiece, so I used my magic to cut one out of a crystal block.” Twilight answered. “Nice work, Twi. Think we're ready to get this faire up and runnin'.” Applejack said. Meanwhile Kyle and his Crystal Warriors are planning to find the real deal. They were looking around for any signs of it. ”Master. I think that Sombra had it hidden somewhere where no one can get their hands on it.” Emerald said. ”And your right. Okay boys. We better find it soon. Cause Cadence can’t last forever.” Kyle said as they all went to get Twilight. At the balcony Pinkie draws a deep breath and blows a flugelhorn. “Flugelhorn!” Pinkie said and takes a deep breath. “Hear ye, hear–“ Twilight said but was cut off by a flugelhorn. “Flugelhorn!” Pinkie said and laughed nervously. “My bad.” “Ahem. Hear ye, hear ye! Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor do cordially invite you to attend the Crystal Faire!” Twilight said. The Crystal Ponies were all chatting when they heard that. “Come on in, y'all. Got food and drinks thataway, games and crafts are thataway, Crystal Heart to the back near the Princess.” Applejack said. “Did she say... Crystal Heart?” One of them said. The Crystal Ponies were talking when they heard about the Crystal Heart. “We totally nailed it, right? Must be feeling a lot of love and unity about now! Gonna have some grub, huh? What are you thinking? Crystal Empire berry pie? Maybe some crystal corn-on-the-cob!”Rainbow said when she heard a clang. “What is with these ponies?!” Rainbow said. “Seeing all of this, I feel like I'm starting to remember. Remember things from before the king.” One said. “Me too.” Another said as they gasped. “The Crystal Heart!” They said together. "Do you think they really have it?" A female pony said. "Of course we have it! Can't have a Crystal Faire without the Crystal Heart, right?" Rainbow said. "Of course you can't. The whole purpose of the Crystal Faire is to lift the spirits of the Crystal Ponies, so the light within them can power the Crystal Heart, so that the Empire can be protected!" The librarian said and gasped. "I do work at the library!" "W-what's that about 'powering the heart'?" Rainbow said. "I just can't believe you found it. King Sombra said he'd hidden it away where we would never see it again! I only hope it will still be as powerful after all these years...! Mm, funnel cake!" The librarian said. Rainbow made a strangled sound realizing the real answer of the Crystal Heart. She took a flag and covered the fake heart. That made Twilight a little mad. "Why did you–" Twilight said. "I think we may have a problem..." Rainbow said. The two headed off for the Crystal Empire. Meanwhile Kyle and his Crystal Warriors heard the news. "Master. I think they just now discovered that the Crystal Heart was a real relic and the ponies have their memories restored." Raging Ruby said. "Oh shit. Come on boys! To the Empire now!!" Kyle said as they headed back. Back at the Empire we see everyone at the balcony. Twilight didn't know that it was real all this time. "I didn't know it was an actual relic! The book didn't mention anything about the Crystal Ponies powering the Heart! There was a page missing... How did I not notice?!" Twilight said. "Because Sombra will do anything to prevent anyone stopping him. We were the only ones that knew this." Sapphire said. "It's alright, Twilight." Cadence said. Then suddenly she couldn't hold the spell any longer and fell. But Shining caught her and her horn stopped glowing. Kyle and the Crystal Warriors gasped. "Twily..." Shining said. "You idiot!! Do you have any idea what you did?!" Diamond said. They all heard howling and the shield came down. There were dark clouds and shadows coming to cover the Crystal Empire in pure darkness. Kyle knew who is was when he heard growling. "King Sombra's coming. For the Crystal Empire. Not good." Kyle said. This spells trouble for our heroes.