Prolouge
Grandmaster of the Canterlot Council, Starswirl the twelfth, sit at the head of the governing body of Equestria. Many were tricked into thinking that Celestia and Luna were in charge of the government, but in reality, the Canterlot Council was in charge, and they were spearheading Operation: Paradigm.
Operation: Paradigm was a ruthless scheme masterminded by Starswirl the twelfth. It targeted the marketing and social peaks of Equestria, and slowly dissolved them from within. This was meant to bring Equestria to its knees, forcing the income of foriegn sympathy money. Once they had the money, the Canterlot Council would introduce Plan Paradigm, which would 'rebuild' the economic foothold of Equestria. This whole operation was a huge con, for the Council had gathered the money back in the time of Starswirl's grandfather, Starswirl the tenth. Instead, the money would go towards Operation: Resurgent, in which Equestria would be split up into four countries: Central Equestria, Trotskae, Garmaney, and Amareica.
*****5 YEARS LATER...*****
Twilight Sparkle was infuriated. First, Ponyville, the social highpoint of the country, was shut off to the surrounding cities by Fort Dusklight, a stronghold that walled the area around the city, and was placed squarely on the railroad to Appleloosa,and now she was being taxed out of every bit!
She hesitantly levitated her weeks 'rent' off of her table, and forced a fake smile as she passed it to the guards. This payment was so that she was allowed to live in Ponyville, not that she had a choice. Like said before, Fort Dusklight blocked all entrance and exit involving Ponyville, except the railroad. But even then, the train would have to undergo manual search and seisure, making sure everything is in order. Many had tried to escape Dusklight, including a particularly charaismatic Pegasus named Hurricane. He tried to gather up a rag-tag militia to fight against the guards, but were foiled during their first attempt, which they called the 'Battle of Fort Dusklight.'.
It wasn't so much a battle, as a surrender. Twilight saw it all out her window. As did most of Ponyville. Hurricane lead his force out of the town square, and over to the large gate that lay exactly over the train tracks. Many of the citizens had gathered at the town center as well, to watch the battle. They expected Hurricane to put up a fight. The Pegasus and his group all lined up in front of the gate, and took out muskets they stole from a nearby warehouse. They pointed their guns, and each fired a shot into the air. This caught the attention of the guards, who immediately came down from the fortified walls to confiscate the weaponry. Hurricane's militia, for the most part, quickly surrendered, and lay their weapons on the ground, to be confiscated by the Dusklight Guard. A few charismatic militiaponies started to fight back, two or three getting a few good jabs off at the guards, before being beaten into submission. One Unicorn, named Nexus, actually got a shot off at a guard, leaving him wounded, but alive. Nexus was also beaten down to the point of unconditionable surrender. Hurricane himself didn't want to go without a fight, and started jabbing and shooting at every close guard.
He was backed into the city center, still firing at the Dusklight Guard. he managed to kill one of them, and wound another, and thus, the guard didn't show him the same mercy as some of his companions. They didn't let him surrender. Instead, they beat him into submission, cuffed and blindfolded him, and took him to the middle of the town center. Here, the Dusklight Guard used a rope to tie Hurricane by his hooves onto a jutting out portion of a house. He hang there, flailing his hooves about in a plea for mercy, still blindfolded. The Guard captain came from the crown, holding in his magical levitation a large stick, that almost resembled a club. He swung the club, and hit Hurricane right in the flank. He swatted again and cracked one of his ribs. He did this for a few minutes, with Hurricane still pleading, and sobbing, and howling out in pain.
Eventually, the Guard Captain knocked Hurricane unconsciouss, and dropped him to the ground. He lay there for a while, before nurse Redheart came to his aid. She took him to the hospital, and he was healed of his wounds. But Twilight and the others got a very important message that day:
Never try to escape.
*****3 YEARS LATER...*****
It was finally happening.
The guards had been talking about it for a few months, but now it was actually happening! The Canterlot Council had revealed themselves six months ago, and had introduced Plan: Paradigm. They said that this would rebuild many of Equestria's jewels. But Twilight had overheard some patrolling guards talking about how Plan: Paradigm was only a coverup for Operation: Resurgent.
Now was the exact date that the Guards said the Council would announce total failure.
Twilight and her friends now gathered in the center of Ponyville, watching a monumentous television screen. There were guards armed with muskets standing at either side of the TV. It crackled to life, and Twilight saw three ponies. One was dressed in a dark blue cloak, standing on a pedestal in the Canterlot Council speech room. Beside him was a dark grey Pegasus, who Twilight believed to be part of Luna's Royal Nightguards. The third, Twilight couldn't believe she was actually seeing: Shining Armor! Her own brother now stood at the side of who she assumed to be the head of the Canterlot Council. The one behind all this. She suddenly felt an urge of hate and anger towards her brother, even before the cloaked one began to speak.
"LISTEN UP!" He shouted through the microphones and out the speakers set up in every large town and city in Equestria. "I am Starswirl the twelfth. I am the great grandson of Starswirl the Bearded. You recognise me from my announcement six months ago about Plan: Paradigm. I am sorry to say that Plan: Paradigm..." He paused to take a sentimental breath, though Twilight knew it was fake, "...Has failed."
The entire crowd burst into gasps and shouts, outraged by the next turn of events.
After everypony had calmed down to listen, Starswirl said again, "And so, it seems as if Equestria has reached its last grip on the economy. It's only a matter of time before we go bankrupt, and Equestria loses that last grip. In three years time, Equestria will economically collapse."
This brought about a lot more stirrups and shouts.
"BUT," He said, getting everypony's attention again, "this does not mean you should give up. Continue your lives as you would for three years. Then I'll be back."
The screen flickered off, and the entire crowd was outraged. They began throwing rocks at the screen and it's guards. They cracked, and finally obliterated the screen, and caused severe wounds to one guard. The other saw no other choice.
He loaded his gun.
He rammed his gun.
He aimed his gun...
And a single blue stallion did a backflip onto the ground, and didn't move.