The Crystal Empire had a long history, stretching far into the past, even past the founding of Equestria. Though it may have shrunk over several hundred years, the Northern Empire had remained independent for the entirety of that duration. When Princess Cadance became Empress, it had remained that way until Princess Twilight expressed an interest in annexing the Empire into greater Equestria. This announcement had been met with huge support from the populace.
Until certain facts were brought to light.
The second hoof of Princess Cadance, and Sombra before her, had been Minister Clear Rites cut Emerald. He was described as having the sharpest edges and clearest body compared to any crystal pony that resided in the Empire. Many attributed it to his virtuous honesty, but that could not be further from the truth.
Clear was a schemer, but he only cared for the greater good of the crystal ponies. Not the Empire, the populace. He had survived the rulership of Sombra, he knew the assimilation of their culture was inevitable with the appointment of an Equestrian ruler, and he feared for the loss of what made the Empire the Empire.
So, to counteract the annex, he framed himself.
This hadn’t been a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather several smaller plans set in motion as early as the Empire’s return to the modern world. He faked crimes of dark magic, wicked sorcery that did nothing but happen. To create a fear that mayhaps some wicked beings hid within the dark recesses of the Empire.
Years of fake crimes were committed underneath the royal couples’ noses. All of them were pinned on Clear by investigators working under him. He pled guilty despite never directly being involved with the actual use of the magic. With outside pressure from Equestria and the ongoing horrific reputation of black magic, he was executed for his actions.
As planned, he was shortly thereafter shown to be innocent. He was made a martyr, an innocent taken by the bungling of their Empress. They had lost one of their greatest, and the Equestrian royals had been the ones to take him away from them.
Cadance was expounded immediately, a ponies’ government was installed in its place, independence was redeclared, and all favour of the annexation was discarded. This was further supported by Princess Twilight, who feared for her extended family’s lives and couldn’t justify a war against a country that was seen as the victim.
Klugetown didn’t have the pedigree of the Crystal Empire, nor was it really worth the trouble of keeping watch over. Something I hoped would work in its favour when Klugetown pushed to become an independent state.
Velvet, as the next-most-powerful aristocrat, would become my successor. She shared my ideals and would see them through, with or without me present. She had already brought the lower class into her vision; they only needed a reason to revolt.
I would be punished, that much was certain. I didn’t know what that would be, but it certainly wouldn’t be just a slap on the wrist. I would take the blame, wrongly, and become a martyr, just like Clear. There was no way the residents of Klugetown would take this information well, between the abhorrent practices and the exclusion from the profit margins.
Princess Twilight was smart, she wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice, but she wouldn’t be prepared for the twist that the slave trade did, in fact, exist. It would be more than enough to ruin any of her prepared countermeasures. A situation she hadn’t prepared for and the only way to get one over the Princess.
But that wasn’t important anymore. The plan had already been set in motion and soon I wouldn’t be able to do much of anything anymore.
Capper sat in the grand foyer, which seemed bigger than it normally did, the ceiling stretching far out of his reach. Capper felt like he did as a kitten, as he waited for the lambasting from his boss after screwing up a gig. The difference was that, this time, that Capper wasn’t going to get away with just a few lashes over the back.
It was quiet, empty. Nothing moved or made a sound within the house. This giant hollow monster that took up too much space had never felt like a place Capper could live in, and the silence only served to compound that.
“Tick-tock” went the nearby clock as he waited for his appointed time. Not a day passed after speaking with Rarity that he received a curt letter dictating the time of the Princess’s arrival. The aggressive prose had been clear that he was, under no uncertain terms, to stay. In preparation, he had spent the last few days squaring things away, ensuring everything would be ready for when Velvet made her move, but, with all that finished, all he had to do was wait.
So he did.
He mused about his decisions, his past, and his failures. Everything that had led him to that moment. The culmination of his greatest, most absurd scheme. It felt good, pulling a scam for the benefit of others, even if none of them would truly know what he had done for them.
Some thoughts Capper refused to focus on were his regrets. Things he wanted to do. Things he wanted for himself. Because if he did, the fear might settle in. Cowardice could overtake him at the last moment and cause his resolve to waver, to let up the ruse and ruin everything he had worked for.
Surveying the colourless foyer, the dull nothing that carried through much of his home and Klugetown, he couldn’t help but see how pony it was. How watered down it had all become.
Hopefully, that would change.
The doors burst open.
Princess Twilight had arrived, with the midday sun ringing her in an ethereal glow. She was dignified, regal, poised as a royal should. She looked at him with cold indifference, already judging him for what he hadn’t done.
His fate was sealed. He would be taken soon, potentially never to return.
Goodbyes were hard. Goodbyes were sad. Goodbyes meant leaving the familiar behind. But a departure with dignity, with knowledge of the good that might arise from it, couldn’t be more joyous.
Capper smiled.
He had faith that everything would be better.