The Crystal Empire - Part 1

Dear Princess Luna...

It seems like not too long ago Season 3 was but a distant dream, far, far into the future, yet earlier today, it hath begun.

Episode begins with nice tranquil music and a shot of Canterlot. Princess Celestia is shown doing paperwork with a secretary pony or somesuch.

The doors are kicked open and a royal guard rushes in with news from Northern Equestria.

"The general sends his regards, but no reinforcements."

His message is simply that 'it' has returned. Celestia is immediately freaked out and dispatches her guards to fetch Shining Armor and Cadence.

After they leave, she immediately begins writing a letter for Twilight Sparkle, summoning her to Canterlot at once.

We resume at the Ponyville Library, where Twilight Sparkle is freaking out, trying to collect supplies such as quills and the Magic Compendium volumes 1-36. Her friends minus Pinkie Pie are giving each other 'the look' as Twilight is ransacking the place with magic looking for this stuff.

She finds the tome she was looking for, and less than a minute-thirty into Season 3, Spike gets hurt by Twilight as she just drops the massive book on him.

Less than 2 minutes in, we have our first Twilight rage, possibly even earlier if I missed it, as Twilight is stressing over a test, asks Spike to quiz her on everything she's ever learned, ever, and Spike tries to downplay the importance of it. 

So, already S3 is off to a good start as we've seen magic usage, Twilight rage, and Spike smashing in less than 2 minutes. Twilight explains that Celestia wants to give her some kind of exam, so either whatever 'it' up north is is part of some exam, or Twilight has had a failure to communicate.

So Twilight was raging to Spike asking him if he's really  telling her to calm down because it's 'just a test,' Spike has actually learned something, as he dons protective gear.

Twilight's friends have the good idea to get the hell out of there, and Applejack says Twilight is handling things pretty well, considering. Twilight is at the breaking point, and seeing Spike's open defiance sends her over the edge.

She starts channeling magic and after a burst of energy, the library goes soaring into the air.

 

Back to Canterlot, where Celestia and Luna are looking at a stained glass window, which appears to have Shining Armor and Cadence upon it.

Celestia apparently calls the shots, as Luna has to ask if Celestia is sure she doesn't want Luna to go as well. Celestia says she's sure, because Shining Armor and Cadence are there and the others will soon be as well.

Luna then says that the empire's magic is powerful, and cannot fall again. You'd think Celestia would want to send her sister here if it's such a big deal, or that Luna would just go on her own, but no. Celestia, presumably talking about Twilight, says that when she succeeds, which Celestia knows she will, that they will know she is that much closer to being ready.

Twilight enters with her saddlebags laden with supplies. Celestia tells Luna to trust her, and Luna slowly walks away as Twilight comes in.

It looks like Celestia did actually say there was going to be a test, as she explains that it's a 'different kind of test' and that the Crystal Empire has returned. Twilight freaks out, apologizing because she doesn't know about it and it's not in her books. Celestia admits that even she knows little about it and uses her magic to pull a crystal out of a display case and then activates it, displaying a map.

Celestia says the empire contains a powerful magic, and that 1,000 years ago, King Sombra, a unicorn with a heart as black as night, took it over.

Celestia says he was eventually overthrown, turned to shadow, and banished into the ice of the arctic north, and she knows all this because she and Luna were the ones that destroyed him, seemingly with straight up magic and not the Elements of Harmony.

Before he was vanquished, Sombra put a curse on the empire, causing it to vanish into thin air. Celestia then explains that the crystal empire is really some kind of foci,  and that if it's filled with hope and love, those are reflected across Equestria, and the same if it's full of fear and hatred.

Celestia decides to show this to Twilight by going dark side as seen above, a shadow springs up crystals around Twilight, which Celestia then destroys with her normal, golden magic. She tells Twilight that her test is to help protect this Crystal Empire, and that Shining Armor and Cadence are already on the ground. Twilight is excited that her brother is there. Celestia says Twilight's Ponyville friends will be there too, and that once she succeeds, which Celestia knows she will, that the next level of her studies can begin.

Apparently Luna just walked outside the doors and was sitting there, as Celestia and Twilight walk out and find her glowering at Twilight. Twilight wilts under her glare as she asks Celestia, "What if I fail?" Celestia reassures her, saying that she won't.

Celestia states that in the end, it must be Twilight and Twilight alone that ultimately assists Cadence and Shining Armor in doing what needs to be done to protect the empire. Celestia asks if Twilight understands, and she says, 'Mm-hmm.'

 

Celestia tells her to get the hell up north then, there is no time to lose, and closes the doors in her face. So clearly there's a lot more to this than meets the eye and Celestia is well aware of it. Luna's reaction is interesting, as she seemed to be acting kind of bitter towards Twilight about not being allowed to go.

The action of closing the door in her face seems to have the desired? effect as Twilight finds Spike waiting for her and she is in mope mode. He starts asking her about the test, getting worried as she ignores him, then she begins to sing. Apparently she's kind of bummed out that this big responsibility just got dumped on her.

I was prepared to do my best

Thought I could handle any test

For I can do so many tricks

But I wasn't prepared for this

Levitation would have been a breeze

Facts and figures I recite with ease

The square root of five hundred and forty-six is twenty-three point three six six six four two eight nine one zero nine. 

 

 

 

I could ace a quiz on friendship's bliss

But I wasn't prepared for this

Will I fail, or will I pass?

I can't be sure... 

She can't be sure... 

My mind is sharp, my skills intact

My heart is pure... 

Her heart is pure... 

Oh, I've taken my share of licks

I've made it through the thin and thick

But no I wasn't 

Oh no, she wasn't 

Oh no, I wasn't
Oh no, she wasn't
No I wasn't
Prepared... for this!     

The song ends at the Canterlot train station, and Spike, who had been singing along, is kind of dumbstruck and asks what she wasn't prepared for. Twilight's friends arrive and Spike is rammed by Pinkie Pie's party cannon, which has its fuse lit.

The cannon and Pinkie both go off into the air and Pinkie asks if they're going to go celebrate Twilight's awesomeness with Celestia, to which Twilight replies that they are going to the Crystal Empire instead.

 None of her friends know what she is talking about.

They take the train into the Frozen North and they all shiver in the chilling arctic winds except Rarity, who smugly chides them for making fun of all the scarves she packed. (Which Spike is of course forced to carry) He slips and a suitcase breaks open, and he starts chasing the scarves as they get blown into the air.

Shining Armor calls out Twilight's name and emerges from the snowstorm wearing snow goggles and a heavy scarf. So already, Twilight's grade on this 'test' should be slipping as she presumably wasn't smart enough to pack winter gear for her trip into the Frozen North.

After a touching embrace, Shining Armor tells them they better get moving, there's some things there they don't wanna run into after dark. Twilight asks him what the things are, and he just says that the empire isn't the only thing that came back.  So we can presume that King Sombra is back.

As Shining Armor starts to lead the worried ponies into the snowstorm, he says that they think the evil unicorn king is back, as something keeps trying to get in to the empire. Twilight muses that if it can't get in, it must already be protected, therefore why is she even there. A horrid howling is heard and Fluttershy freaks out, asking if its 'one of the things.'

They begin running towards the Crystal Empire, which is some kind of orbed, sanctuary city. Shining Armor decides to try and fight this thing.

 His energy beam did little to no damage and the shadow just reformed itself, then engulfs him.

Twilight and the others make it inside the sanctuary, which is a grassy paradise compared to the neighboring clime, and Shining Armor follows soon after. His scarf and goggles are gone, and he has the same dark crystals on his horn that Celestia summoned earlier. He tries to use his magic, but the crystals negate it. And of course Celestia and Luna are hiding like rats back in Canterlot, good luck with that, Shining Armor!

We see a shot of the Crystal Empire and Pinkie proclaims it, "Sparklriffic!"

As they walk through the empire, Rarity is super excited.

Applejack tells her to focus on the mission, not the scenery, and Rainbow says it's just another old castle. Rarity is incredulous, but Rainbow and Applejack were just messing with her and they all laugh at Rarity.

 

Inside the crystal palace, we find Cadence, looking mighty depressed upon the throne, her horn constantly glowing as she channels magic.

She is elated to see Twilight and they do their sunshine, sunshine routine.

Cadence seems happier and then Sombra attacks and she has to reinforce her magic. It seems to be taking a toll on her. She remarks that perhaps they ought to get together sometime when the fate of Equestria isn't in the balance. Twilight asks if she is okay, Shining Armor explains that Cadence is using her magic to spread love and light, and that seems to be protecting the empire. She hasn't slept, barely eats, and Shining Armor's own protection spell has been countered by Sombra.

He explains that since he is patrolling for threats in the arctic and Cadence is putting all her strength into her spell, they haven't been able to gather intel from the crystal ponies. Rarity is super excited about there being 'crystal ponies.'

Shining Armor says they believe a crystal pony must know how to protect their empire without Cadence's magic. Twilight is excited and proclaims, 'A research paper!' Shining Armor is confused, since, you know, his wife is slowly withering away while he's risking his life in a frozen wasteland every day. Twilight believes part of her test is to get information and compile it into a research paper for Shining Armor.

Twilight is talking to a crystal pony, who says she can't remember anything before King Sombra came into power. She also doesn't want to remember anything about his rule. She asks if they've really been gone a thousand years, and says it feels like it was just yesterday. Twilight hopes the others are having better luck.

"I can't remember anything, can't tell if this is true or dream. Deep inside I feel to scream, this terrible silence stops me."

We see Rainbow Dash getting physical with a crystal pony as she asks her if she knows a way to protect the empire.

Fluttershy is too Fluttershy to get any ponies to bother talking to her. We then see Pinkie Pie leaping around and going Sam Fisher mode to try and gather some intel.

Two crystal ponies are commenting how it looks the same, but something is missing, it doesn't feel the same. Pinkie hangs down from a rope and tells them, "That's because it isn't!" and they run away in fear after saying, 'A spy!'

Tom Clancy's Splinter Pie

Rarity is trying to get info by fantasizing about herself as a crystal pony.

The crystal ponies are disgusted and mortified beyond belief. I think Rarity just did the Ponyverse version of blackface.

Twilight and her friends begin to regroup, Rainbow and Rarity say they got no info. Fluttershy approaches, but is really Pinkie Pie in a Fluttershy costume! Pinkie says her cover has been blown and runs off.

The real Fluttershy, or so we think, arrives and steps on the costume of her. Applejack says that the only thing she was able to get out of the crystal ponies was something about a library. That's the magic word for Twilight.

Outside the library, we see crystal griffon statues. Not quite sure what the pink thing is up on the right building, might be a pegasus.

The library is massive, Twilight is overjoyed.

Applejack takes over asking the questions as Twilight is clearly going loopy about all the books. The librarian can't remember where the history books are, or if she even works there.

The mane 6 begin searching through the library. Rainbow and Applejack team up to knock shelves of books down using a ladder. Pinkie is jumping all over the place pulling random books. Spike is showing books to Rarity. Fluttershy is reading ground level ones, and Twilight is pulling an endless chain down with her magic.

Applejack wonders if any one else thinks it's a lost cause, and Twilight finds a book she thinks will help. It's the History of the Crystal Empire. Back in the palace, Twilight is reading from the book to Cadence and Shining Armor. The crystal ponies used to do a Crystal Faire that was established by their first queen and held every year, with the purpose being to 'restore the spirit of love and unity in the empire so they could protect it from harm.' Twilight says she and her friends can put it together, Shining Armor approves, they see Cadence slipping further into death and Twilight says she'll do it right away. Spike is made to carry the tome, and struggles under its weight.

Another song begins, one of the preview songs they put out months back. I actually watched it back then, and just like Cadenza's 'perfect,' I love the way Rainbow Dash says 'jousting.' <3

Princess Cadence needs our help

Her magic will not last forever

I think we can do it

But we need to work together

We have to get this right

Yes, we have to make them see

We can save the Crystal Ponies with their history

It says that they liked jousting

They flew a flag of many hues

Made sweets with crystal berries

They had a petting zoo with tiny ewes

Oh, we have to get this right

Yes we have to make them see

We can save the Crystal Ponies with their history

There was a crystal flugelhorn

That everypony liked to play

And the Crystal Kingdom anthem

Can you learn it in a day?

Oh, we have to get this right

Yes we have to make them see

We can save the Crystal Ponies... with their history!

Twilight thanks her friends for their help and wants to do one last check before they get it started. Applejack notices a crystal heart and Twilight says she used her magic to carve it from a block of crystal, and that the book mentioned it as a centerpiece of the Faire. This is obviously going to be of importance I would assume given the way it was shown, and probably is some kind of artifact/magic thing, not just artwork.

New? use for magic: gem carving

Pinkie Pie, for some reason, is allowed to have the flugelhorn and she blows it before Twilight announces the Crystal Faire. Then she blows it again as Twilight begins announcing, provoking some of dat delicioso Twilight Rage.

Twilight announces that Shining Armor and Princess Cadence invite every pony to the Crystal Faire, and the Crystal Ponies seem to be rejuvenated.

The crystal ponies enter the Faire and are murmuring about the crystal heart after Applejack briefly mentions some of the stuff the mane 6 set up. Rainbow Dash decides to get all up in some ponies face. Not the same one as before, either.

 Two crystal ponies are talking and say that they think they are starting to remember things.

They wonder if they really have the crystal heart, and they become even more renewed. Unfortunately for them, Rainbow Dash was right there, and again, gets physical. Is it just me, or does that seem like it should have been Pinkie Pie in that role? Maybe I'm forgetting, but I don't remember Rainbow Dash getting all up on strangers.

Yep, Twilight goofed up. The librarian overhears Rainbow's reassurance that of course they have a crystal heart, and she explains that the Crystal Faire only exists to lift the spirit of the crystal ponies, so that the light within them can power the crystal heart, which then protects the Crystal Empire.

The librarian continues to say that King Sombra had told them he hid it where they would never see it again, and that she remembers that she does work at the library. Rainbow Dash takes off and makes a beeline for Twilight's ersatz heart and covers it. Twilight asks what's up, Rainbow says they might have a problem.

Cut to Twilight, Cadence, and Shining Armor. Twilight is apologizing for not knowing it was an actual relic. She gets to the end of the book and finds there is a page missing, which she somehow missed. For being so book obsessed, and your sister-in-law's and many other's lives on the line, you'd think lives-in-a-library Twilight might have noticed.

Cadence collapses into Shining Armor's grasp and her magic seems to have run out. 

 

The sanctuary shield around the Crystal Empire begins to collapse and the horrid howling can be heard. Shadows begin to seep into the Empire, and the episode ends with King Sombra's face sneering out of the shadow cloud.

What I learned from this episode:

•  So this villain, King Sombra, instead of going after the two that gave him this curse worse than death, goes after the Crystal Empire. I guess if he could wreck it up again it would use its foci powers to transmit that fear and hatred across Equestria. Perhaps he doesn't know Celestia and Luna are still alive?
• Twilight Sparkle really doesn't seem ready for whatever Celestia has planned for her after this. She went into the Frozen North without any winter gear, didn't even notice page(s) were torn out. Yet Celestia is sure she will be ready for it, and sure she will save the Crystal Empire. Twilight's Anakin-esque prophecy?
• Good to see Shining Armor and Cadence using some magic. On that topic, we saw a few new uses plus some generic uses such as teleportation, but even those for the most part were interesting.
• Overall not too bad, Applejack seemed to take over as leader for a bit, Rainbow was acting kind of Pinkie Pie-y, had some Twilight rage and d'aww moments, interesting plot.