You are now aware that the Crystal Empire is an Equestrian puppet state/colony.
Trickquestion 
Does it strike anyone else as weird that the Empire has been back for less then a year, and they’re already ready for the games? A massive overhaul of the Empire’s infrastructure and buaracratic systems would be necessary to accommodate the huge influx of visitors. Does the Crystal Empire have hotels to hold all the guests that will be coming to watch the games? Do they have stadiums to hold the events in? Do they have any kind of large scale food to sate the visitor’s hunger, seeing as they were literally being feed slave rations up until now. Do Crystal Ponies even know what most of the games actually are?
Itsthinking 
🅱
Par for course with Celestia.
@Trickquestion
Sounds like South Korea preparing for the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
@Trickquestion
Sounds like South Korea preparing for the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Soufriere
Sunset Shimmer Fan
Does it strike anyone else as weird that the Empire has been back for less then a year, and they’re already ready for the games? A massive overhaul of the Empire’s infrastructure and bureaucratic systems would be necessary to accommodate the huge influx of visitors. Does the Crystal Empire have hotels to hold all the guests that will be coming to watch the games? Do they have stadiums to hold the events in? Do they have any kind of large scale food to sate the visitor’s hunger, seeing as they were literally being feed slave rations up until now. Do Crystal Ponies even know what most of the games actually are?
There is a stadium at least. We saw it in “Games Ponies Play”. No on everything else, AFAIK.
I just realized, the Games have also been held in Cloudsdale, a venue which by definition shuts out at least 2/3 of the Equestrian populace. So I doubt the organizers care about things like accommodation.
ANYWAY… Yeah I was just thinking about this yesterday. A thousand years ago, before the whole place got time-shifted, Celestia heavily implied that the Crystal Empire was independent. It’s not exactly clear what its official status is now, but it is clear that the current leaders have spent their entire lives loyal to Celestia and have no reason to not be so now. So… yes; until and unless Cadance is shown to make a decision counter to Celestia’s interests, we can assume the Crystal Empire has become merely a puppet state. (and if Cadance does, will Celestia overthrow her too?)
I just realized, the Games have also been held in Cloudsdale, a venue which by definition shuts out at least 2/3 of the Equestrian populace. So I doubt the organizers care about things like accommodation.
ANYWAY… Yeah I was just thinking about this yesterday. A thousand years ago, before the whole place got time-shifted, Celestia heavily implied that the Crystal Empire was independent. It’s not exactly clear what its official status is now, but it is clear that the current leaders have spent their entire lives loyal to Celestia and have no reason to not be so now. So… yes; until and unless Cadance is shown to make a decision counter to Celestia’s interests, we can assume the Crystal Empire has become merely a puppet state. (and if Cadance does, will Celestia overthrow her too?)
The Smiling Pony 
I headcanon that Cloudsdale has a moving town that follows it around, basically a bunch of caravans with wagons like Trixie’s that relocate every few weeks to wherever Cloudsdale proper goes. Would be where the non-pegasus denizens of the city live, as I doubt they’re all SUPER RACIST enough to only mate inside their race, and there are always things like recessive traits (which are canon).
As for the Crystal Empire, I see it as a polis that went “rogue” under Sombra’s control, and now after its appearance is simply seen as an annexed territory of the Greater Equestrian Empire. I imagine that before Sombra took control they were another “tribe state”, like the Pegasus, Earth and Unicorn tribes seen in Hearth’s Warming Eve.
( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡° )
Does it strike anyone else as weird that the Empire has been back for less then a year, and they’re already ready for the games? A massive overhaul of the Empire’s infrastructure and bureaucratic systems would be necessary to accommodate the huge influx of visitors. Does the Crystal Empire have hotels to hold all the guests that will be coming to watch the games? Do they have stadiums to hold the events in? Do they have any kind of large scale food to sate the visitor’s hunger, seeing as they were literally being feed slave rations up until now. Do Crystal Ponies even know what most of the games actually are?There is a stadium at least. We saw it in “Games Ponies Play”. No on everything else, AFAIK.I just realized, the Games have also been held in Cloudsdale, a venue which by definition shuts out at least 2/3 of the Equestrian populace. So I doubt the organizers care about things like accommodation.ANYWAY… Yeah I was just thinking about this yesterday. A thousand years ago, before the whole place got time-shifted, Celestia heavily implied that the Crystal Empire was independent. It’s not exactly clear what its official status is now, but it is clear that the current leaders have spent their entire lives loyal to Celestia and have no reason to not be so now. So… yes; until and unless Cadance is shown to make a decision counter to Celestia’s interests, we can assume the Crystal Empire has become merely a puppet state. (and if Cadance does, will Celestia overthrow her too?)
I headcanon that Cloudsdale has a moving town that follows it around, basically a bunch of caravans with wagons like Trixie’s that relocate every few weeks to wherever Cloudsdale proper goes. Would be where the non-pegasus denizens of the city live, as I doubt they’re all SUPER RACIST enough to only mate inside their race, and there are always things like recessive traits (which are canon).
As for the Crystal Empire, I see it as a polis that went “rogue” under Sombra’s control, and now after its appearance is simply seen as an annexed territory of the Greater Equestrian Empire. I imagine that before Sombra took control they were another “tribe state”, like the Pegasus, Earth and Unicorn tribes seen in Hearth’s Warming Eve.
Soufriere
Sunset Shimmer Fan
@The Smiling Pony
Funny you mention that, because my own headcanon on Cloudsdale (see the Crazy Headcanon thread) is that it IS “super-racist”. I’m not going to go into it any further, because this isn’t the thread for it.
Speaking of which… From what we’ve seen, all the Crystal Ponies are basically Earthponies with iridescent coats. How might they react to yet another leader forced upon them from the outside who isn’t of their race (though I believe Cadance herself is a Crystal-pony descendent, Shining Armor had no connection to the Empire before going there with his wife and he’s the same race as Sombra).
I like your idea of TCE as a rogue tribal state.
Funny you mention that, because my own headcanon on Cloudsdale (see the Crazy Headcanon thread) is that it IS “super-racist”. I’m not going to go into it any further, because this isn’t the thread for it.
Speaking of which… From what we’ve seen, all the Crystal Ponies are basically Earthponies with iridescent coats. How might they react to yet another leader forced upon them from the outside who isn’t of their race (though I believe Cadance herself is a Crystal-pony descendent, Shining Armor had no connection to the Empire before going there with his wife and he’s the same race as Sombra).
I like your idea of TCE as a rogue tribal state.
Itsthinking
🅱
@The Twelfth Doctor Whoof
Cadance’s talent is symbolized by crystal heart. Crystal pony ancestry maybe, but she was born a pegasus…
Cadance’s talent is symbolized by crystal heart. Crystal pony ancestry maybe, but she was born a pegasus…
The Smiling Pony
( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡° )
@The Twelfth Doctor Whoof
Another theory I have is that they may be descendants of the original Earth Pony tribe. Pegasus could flee to Equestria expediently, even taking their cities with them; unicorns could generate warmth as they traveled to their new homes. But Earth Ponies? They were pretty boned. Perhaps those that didn’t start travelling soon enough or decided to stay found the Crystal Heart? A mystical artifact that made them capable of surviving extreme temperatures, and of crafting anything they desired out of pure crystal?
poni
Another theory I have is that they may be descendants of the original Earth Pony tribe. Pegasus could flee to Equestria expediently, even taking their cities with them; unicorns could generate warmth as they traveled to their new homes. But Earth Ponies? They were pretty boned. Perhaps those that didn’t start travelling soon enough or decided to stay found the Crystal Heart? A mystical artifact that made them capable of surviving extreme temperatures, and of crafting anything they desired out of pure crystal?
poni
Sjogre
@Trickquestion
First off, we don’t know how long a gap there is between a city being selected and the actual games being held. Might be a few years.
Second off, the Crystal Empire has a lot of empty houses from all the ponies that died during Sombra’s reign. Plenty of room now. Same with the farming. Former miners can go back to the fields, meaning that they actually have a potential surplus, since they have a larger percentage of farmers to miners than they did previously.
Assuming that Cadance or Shining learned Sombra’s crystal control spell, they’d be able to grow new buildings very quickly.
@The Smiling Pony
The Empire was established to be independent originally. Even aside from Celestia lacking knowledge of the place, I can’t imagine that Sombra would be able to take over a city in Equestria proper without Celestia and Luna coming to stop him. Sombra was ruling for some time, and pegasi runners would be able to report back quickly.
@Itsthinking
Her talent is said to be spreading love, which really doesn’t have anything to do ruling, and is only vaguely connected to the Empire.
First off, we don’t know how long a gap there is between a city being selected and the actual games being held. Might be a few years.
Second off, the Crystal Empire has a lot of empty houses from all the ponies that died during Sombra’s reign. Plenty of room now. Same with the farming. Former miners can go back to the fields, meaning that they actually have a potential surplus, since they have a larger percentage of farmers to miners than they did previously.
Assuming that Cadance or Shining learned Sombra’s crystal control spell, they’d be able to grow new buildings very quickly.
@The Smiling Pony
The Empire was established to be independent originally. Even aside from Celestia lacking knowledge of the place, I can’t imagine that Sombra would be able to take over a city in Equestria proper without Celestia and Luna coming to stop him. Sombra was ruling for some time, and pegasi runners would be able to report back quickly.
@Itsthinking
Her talent is said to be spreading love, which really doesn’t have anything to do ruling, and is only vaguely connected to the Empire.
Itsthinking
🅱
@Sjogre
Well it’s spreading love yes, but she’s said to be good in diplomatic situations. Her book mentions her defusing situations in Canterlot while being raised as Celestia’s “niece.”
Well it’s spreading love yes, but she’s said to be good in diplomatic situations. Her book mentions her defusing situations in Canterlot while being raised as Celestia’s “niece.”
Trickquestion
@Sjogre
Generating spontaneous good feelings would be immensely useful for a ruler.
Angry mob of protestors? Now it’s an orgy.
Stubborn diplomat? Now they’re madly in love with you and willing to make concessions.
An enemy army at the gates? Now they all love you and defect en mass.
Generating spontaneous good feelings would be immensely useful for a ruler.
Angry mob of protestors? Now it’s an orgy.
Stubborn diplomat? Now they’re madly in love with you and willing to make concessions.
An enemy army at the gates? Now they all love you and defect en mass.
Sjogre
@Itsthinking
Again, I’m not sure how canon to take the book, but it doesn’t change the fact that her cutie mark doesn’t seem actually linked to the Empire.
Again, I’m not sure how canon to take the book, but it doesn’t change the fact that her cutie mark doesn’t seem actually linked to the Empire.
Sjogre
@Itsthinking
The picture on Cadance’s butt, or the thing that no one from Equestria had ever seen?
The actual Heart was powered by the Crystal Ponies, not Cadance.
At best, the princesses are enlightened despots.
So, Cadance is supposed to mind control her subjects into loving her? That’s not even enlightened.
The picture on Cadance’s butt, or the thing that no one from Equestria had ever seen?
The actual Heart was powered by the Crystal Ponies, not Cadance.
At best, the princesses are enlightened despots.
So, Cadance is supposed to mind control her subjects into loving her? That’s not even enlightened.
Itsthinking
🅱
@Sjogre
Now that I think about it, Celestia and Luna are, Cadance isn’t. Though I’d imagine keeping defense over them while they found the thing that keeps them safe won her some hearts and minds.
As long as the Crystal Heart exists, she doesn’t need to mind control her subjects. That does it for her, as long as people know it exists they’re fine.
Now that I think about it, Celestia and Luna are, Cadance isn’t. Though I’d imagine keeping defense over them while they found the thing that keeps them safe won her some hearts and minds.
As long as the Crystal Heart exists, she doesn’t need to mind control her subjects. That does it for her, as long as people know it exists they’re fine.
Sjogre
@Itsthinking
… I’ve had the impression that the Crystal Heart was what King Sombra used to put the mind whammy on the crystal ponies, but you just took that to an even darker place.
You just implied that Cadance would use it to make the Crystal Ponies want to be her slaves.
… I’ve had the impression that the Crystal Heart was what King Sombra used to put the mind whammy on the crystal ponies, but you just took that to an even darker place.
You just implied that Cadance would use it to make the Crystal Ponies want to be her slaves.
Trickquestion
@Sjogre
I’ve always wondered why Sombra didn’t just shatter the thing when he first seized power, seeing as it’s the one thing that could beat him, and didn’t have any stated use he could exploit.
I’ve always wondered why Sombra didn’t just shatter the thing when he first seized power, seeing as it’s the one thing that could beat him, and didn’t have any stated use he could exploit.
Itsthinking
🅱
@Sjogre
Nah, he hid the Crystal Heart since it was the uniting factor. The crystal ponies don’t really need a princess to control their feelings, the heart is what keeps them from being depressed. Cadance just is there to manage the empire, I guess.
Nah, he hid the Crystal Heart since it was the uniting factor. The crystal ponies don’t really need a princess to control their feelings, the heart is what keeps them from being depressed. Cadance just is there to manage the empire, I guess.
The Smiling Pony
( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡° )
>notice thread in my notifications, two posts
My memory is awful.
Also Cadance is a rather terrifying creature. She can just magically inject you with the happy feel goods for her to shut anyone up. Or just mess with random people for fun. Scary stuff.
My memory is awful.
Also Cadance is a rather terrifying creature. She can just magically inject you with the happy feel goods for her to shut anyone up. Or just mess with random people for fun. Scary stuff.
Itsthinking
🅱
@The Smiling Pony
I like to think that she doesn’t do that anymore and only does it when she knows what’s going on. She got lucky with her shenanigans as a teen, and doesn’t want to risk anything now.
I like to think that she doesn’t do that anymore and only does it when she knows what’s going on. She got lucky with her shenanigans as a teen, and doesn’t want to risk anything now.
Trickquestion
@The Smiling Pony
Way before Madmax made a comic about it, one of my brony friends I went to school with told me the first thing she thought about Cadence was that she made Armor love her. She told me this in our first conversation the day after CW premiered.
Way before Madmax made a comic about it, one of my brony friends I went to school with told me the first thing she thought about Cadence was that she made Armor love her. She told me this in our first conversation the day after CW premiered.
The Smiling Pony
( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡° )
@Itsthinking
@Trickquestion
I can totally see that happening. Maybe she just gives him a light crush on her while she’s babysitting Twilight, nothing “mean spirited”, but it eventually builds up into “the only girl for me” while he’s away in the armed forces.
@Trickquestion
I can totally see that happening. Maybe she just gives him a light crush on her while she’s babysitting Twilight, nothing “mean spirited”, but it eventually builds up into “the only girl for me” while he’s away in the armed forces.
Sjogre
@Trickquestion
Aside from the fact that it does have a stated use that would help him, we saw it restore him to his pony form. Just being near it helped him, until the crystal ponies took control of it. From that, the only conclusion is that it had at least some positive effects on him.
The Heart itself was part of the broadcasting system. Probably the most important part. Broadcasting emotions over all of Equestria? That sounds like something that he would want control of.
Aside from the fact that it does have a stated use that would help him, we saw it restore him to his pony form. Just being near it helped him, until the crystal ponies took control of it. From that, the only conclusion is that it had at least some positive effects on him.
The Heart itself was part of the broadcasting system. Probably the most important part. Broadcasting emotions over all of Equestria? That sounds like something that he would want control of.
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