Crystal Empire

[Ayame_ExGoddess]

So I'm guessing many of you have seen this by now:

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/06/n ... n-set.html

So what about this Crystal Empire? Ordinarily, I wouldn't expect something like this to be canon but the first info we got on Shining Armor and Cadance was from the toys so...speculation? Will we hear more about this Crystal Empire do you think? Maybe in the Season 3 intro episode (assuming it's like Season 2's two-parter) or the Season 3 finale?

Inside Equestria? Outside Equestria? Speculation people. I'm bored.

[Macabre Haze]

I'd really like to see more of this stuff actually. I mean there was the crystal stuff under the castle..

[AppleTart]

I'd bet this is pointing to a show tie in as well, as the rest of the toys have (Friendship express, Royal Wedding, The Gala) and I'd say the Crystal Empire is totally outside of Equestria.

And maybe it'll do with the Changelings, really too early to tell at this point. Though unlikely as we haven't actually seen a recurring villain in the show.
But hey, more Cadance!

[Tek Croon]

Maybe they'll have the ponies with jewel eyes there.

[Sandy_Rivers]

My hypothesis:

Equestria resides in an area that was once part of a much larger kingdom known as the Crystal Empire. The Crystal Empire encompassed not only pony lands but lands of all variety of species from Pony to Griffon to Goats and Buffalo and beyond. Long ago, the different kingdoms all resided together in harmony and peace, perhaps as kingdoms with mutual understandings or even under the rule of a single governing body (The princess' parents perhaps?). However, disharmony of some variety turned the kingdoms against one another and now they are all distinctly separate and, for the most part, keeping to themselves aside from the occasional exception (thus the rare appearances of griffons, mules, minotaurs and the like). However, with the wedding of Cadance and Shining Armor, it could mean the rise of a new King and Queen to re-unite the kingdoms and restore the Crystal Empire.

I know it's all wild theory, but you can't say 'I told you so' if you don't throw out your wild theories before they're proven true. X3

[Kind Shadow]

My prediction for the Crystal Empire arc:

After invading Equestria using strange new weapons called Knightmare Moon frames, the powerful Empire of Crystal takes over the country and renames it "Area 11" and its ponies, "Elevens." In the socially stratified society, the Equestrian ponies are forced to live poor, suppressed lives while the Crystal ponies are respected and live lavishly. Although rebel groups of Equestrians do rise up, they are usually crushed by the superior Crystal forces.

When his wife is banished to the moon for 1000 years, former prince of the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor renounces his entitlement to the throne and accuses his unconcerned father in law (the king of the Crystal Empire) of leaving his wife defenseless. Instead, the King points out that Shining Armor failed to protect his daughter and banishes him to Area 11. After being banished back to Equestria along with his sister Twilight (who lost her ability to use magic after getting caught up in her sister in law's violent banishing), Shinning Armor swears to his best friend Big Macintosh that he will destroy the Crystal Empire some day. Years later, while hiding out in Area 11 and attending the Crystal Empire school Ashfoal Academy, Shining armor accidentally gets caught up in a freedom fighter raid on a military secret; that "secret" ends up being a mysterious pony named Starswirl, and when Shining Armor unwittingly discovers her, she grants him the power of Friendship, which allows him to control anypony just by being their friend. At the same time, Shining Armor also discovers that Big Macintosh is now working for the Crystal Empire military, the very military that Shining Armor is hoping to destroy.

...well... no... no not really... but hey, maybe the Crystal Empire is actually Princess Cadance's home country, the one she now rules with Shining armor?

[Skyblaze]

Generosity. Honesty. Loyalty. Kindness. Laughter. Magic. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace when the Elements of Harmony kept balance between the Unicorns, Earth Ponies, and Pegasi. But that all changed when the Crystal Empire attacked...

[Tek Croon]

The Crystal Empire is a myth! A fantasy! An ideal world where the traits of generosity, honesty, loyalty, laughter, and magic all exist together between all races on the planet! It will never be achieved you hear me? There are too many ponies who still harbor discordant feelings toward their fellowspecies!

[Obsidian]

Generosity. Honesty. Loyalty. Kindness. Laughter. Magic. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace when the Elements of Harmony kept balance between the Unicorns, Earth Ponies, and Pegasi. But that all changed when the Crystal Empire attacked...

I vote for this one

[AppleTart]

I'd say this points pretty clearly to Season 3 opener.

[Skyblaze]

Did I see.... sugarfluffs?

[Sandy_Rivers]

Those looked like fluffs to me!!!

Oh yes, it's cannon now. X3