Crystal Empire Worldbuilding

In partly due to its temporal displacement, the millennium-long modern culture of Equestria was a new and exotic thing to the native Crystal Ponies. Restaurants and shops dedicated to Southern Culture, as the Crystal Ponies called it, propped up everywhere, with groups devouring bundles of literature, music and plays that were already considered archaic by modern Equestria standards.

Past predictions and sequels to long-awaited stories the natives have awaited with bated breath were brought up to speed. Some welcomed the growth in scope, complexity and depth of new stories while others lamented the seeming erosion of traditional values.

Likewise, books, scrolls and precious works of art kept in the Empire were invaluable treasures lusted after by various collectors. Considered an open, living eye into a world that existed a thousand years ago, historians, equinologists and ponies of various disciplines flocked to the city in droves, hoping to record down information that could be used to cross-check with current incomplete and incorrect historical sources.

Basic Points:

-Crystal Empire believed to have precious information, goods and culture of interest among many specialists of various professions.
Groups of specialists in question flock to the Crystal Empire in the hopes of preserving, using their newly acquired information to their advantages.

-Chefs->Cuisine. Majority of information lies in era before Sombra's rise to power, food for the late tyrant.

-Historians->Study historical sources, literature in Empire. More second-hand information than first due to memory suppression of Sombra's reign.

-Biologists->Doubles up as doctors, help catalogue various diseases, microorganisms and diets Crystal Ponies had.

Horticulturalists->Catalogue plant species

Geographers->Survey landscape, study crystal mines. Reluctant natives slow progress.

Artists-> Study designs, inspirations to create inspired artworks. Extends to fashion designers.

-Committee set up to help Crystal Ponies recognise various tricks and tools hucksters and thieves use to steal from them; members vetted by Shining Armor, with detectives that used to work under him sent to help train field workers.

-Artisanal district small, ordered by King Sombra to make baubles and mantelpiece artworks.

-Crystal Ponies fear the Palace itself, refuse to set hoof in it. One so far, Follows-Chalk (Placeholder name) does not hold the same sentiments, agreeing to help Shining and Cadance point out safe and dangerous areas before they settled into the castle prior to the Season 3 Premiere.

-Excessive tourists may destroy nature, dilute culture by excessive commercialisation. Committee set up to enforce limit on traveling tourists. Exceptions for the Mane 6, selected political diplomats and envoys.

-Foals put on plays once memories are restored. Plays in question immediately make Equestrian ponies squick out due to exploration of mature topics including but not limited to: Torture, slavery, dark magical experimentation, possible sexual abuse and public executions.