Banded Agate and his family flee across the snow-swept wasteland to escape their life of slavery in the Crystal Empire under King Sombra.

One thousand years later, a group of ponies arrives in the Empire with a story to tell.

Written for Everfree Northwest's Scribblefest 2017 Contest. Winner of the coveted Fluttershy Award!

I saw the signs. I saw the proof. I should have acted, swallowed my pride, told Celestia it was all my fault. But I was scared. Scared for my title, my freedom. If I wasn't so selfish, Fluttershy would be here with us. But she's not. I stare at the blood sucking creature with her face, and yet not her face. What monster have I allowed to flourish? I feel guilt. I have cost countless ponies lives. Fluttershy included. I have no voice, but I must scream. No one knows I am responsible, but I keep hearing the same sentence over and over again.
Why did you keep hush, Twilight Sparkle?
And to be honest, I don't know.

Equestria provides safety for all its citizens. There is no discrimination. No economic strife. It's a flourishing country under righteous leadership. For Twilight, it's the epitome of perfection. She never imagined that the life she knew could be ripped away in a moment's notice.
The invasion was swift and terrible. The attackers' king, a lying and manipulative stallion known as Salvator, has a different opinion of Equestria. Twilight doesn't believe his lies - his seditious claims about Princess Celestia. Her ruler can't be a tyrant. Celestia is perfect.
But then Twilight finds the clues. The clues that force her to consider the legitimacy of Salvator's claims and rethink her zealous devotion to Celestia.
Now, with both her life and the future of Equestria hanging perilously by a thread, Twilight must ultimately decide who she trusts. She then comes face to face with the most critical choice of her life - harmony, or freedom.

Cover art by the talented CMBrony. He graciously provided not only the picture for this story, but also helped enormously with story arc consultation.

Rated T for harsh language and moderate violence throughout.

This story is a sequel to Obama Goes to Equestria

Not a trollfic, just perverse.

The humans had been coming to Equestria for a while. One, Barack Obama, had caught Twilight's eye. He told her of a world she could only dream of—a world of freedom and democracy. A world where people made their own decisions, and were not the playthings of a millennia old immortal who had long since shed her concept of morality.

Only one thing stood between her and that world. Princess Celestia.

So, she killed her.

Only one problem—Celestia never died. After hiding for two years, and letting the world crumble without her guidance, Celestia came back, split up the mane six, banished Obama to the moon, and resumed her tyranny with typical royal flourish.

She never killed them.

Maybe that wasn't the best idea.

Special thanks to my prereaders, LeoneHaxor and Chaotic Serenity for all their help with this series. I hope you enjoy finally seeing the fruits of all our effort.