News from Northern Equestria!
Um... Your Highness.
Yes?
I'm simply to tell you that...
IT has returned.
Find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor!
Yes, your Highness.
My dearest Twilight, you must come to Canterlot at once!
Where are all my quills?
No, no, no, no, no! Ugh!
I need the Magical Compendium volumes 1-36. Where is it?
Flash cards! I should make some flash cards.
Spike, I'm gonna need you to quiz me on everything.
Everything I've ever learned. Ever.
That isn't going to be enough cards.
Twilight, calm down, it's just a test.
Just... a test?!
JUST A TEST?!
Princess Celestia wants to give me some kind of exam
and you're trying to tell me to calm down because it's JUST A TEST?
Ugh... yes.
I'd say she's handling things pretty well, considering.
Are you sure you don't want me to go as well?
Yes. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor are already there.
The others will be joining them soon.
The empire's magic is powerful. It cannot fall again, my sister.
She will succeed at her task.
And when she does, we'll know she is that much closer to being ready.
Trust me, little sister.
You wanted to see me? To give me a test?
I've brought my own quills. And plenty of paper to show my work.
Sorry, sorry!
This is a different kind of test.
The Crystal Empire has returned.
The Crystal Empire?
I'm sorry, I thought I'd studied...
Well, I don't think there is anything in any of my books...
There wouldn't be.
Few remember it ever existed at all.
Even my knowledge of the Empire is limited.
But what I do know is that it contains a powerful magic.
One thousand years ago, King Sombra,
a unicorn whose heart was black as night,
took over the Crystal Empire.
ПШШШШШШШШШ
He was ultimately overthrown, turned to shadow and banished to the ice of the arctic north.
But not before he was able to put a curse on the empire.
A curse that caused it to vanish into thin air.
If the empire is filled with hope and love,
those things are reflected across all of Equestria.
If hatred and fear take hold...
Which is why I need your help finding a way to protect it.
You want me to help protect an entire Empire?
It is, as I said,
a different kind of test.
But one I'm certain you will pass.
How do I begin?
By joining Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in the Crystal Empire.
My brother's there?
He is.
And your Ponyville friends will join you there as well.
I have every confidence you will succeed.
And when you do, I'll know you are ready to move on to the next level of your studies.
But... what if I fail?
You won't
But... what if...
You won't.
But Twilight,
in the end, it must be you and you alone
who ultimately assists Princess Cadance and Shining Armor
in doing what needs to be done to protect the empire.
Do you understand?
Then go, there is no time to lose.
Oh, Twilight! That was fast!
Let me guess, you got a perfect score?
A-?
B+?
Woah, Twilight, did you...
fail?
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.
She is correct!
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!
Umm, prepared for what, exactly?
Twilight!
Did ya pass?
Are we gonna celebrate your awesomeness with Princess Celestia?
Not quite.
We're going to the Crystal Empire!