The Crystal Shatters
One of Many Captured Castles Held by the Crystal Ponies
A lone quartermaster of Amore sat alone in his room; the reports in his hooves clearly unsettling him.
What he saw in the reports were impossible, as it seemed to suggest the complete disappearance of Mustafa's veteran army without a trace; no routed ponies, messengers or deserters. It was as if they were wiped out of existence in their siege of Canterlot.
"That's impossible! He thought, as there was no power in Equestria that could annihilate such a large force so completely. He began to pace around his room.
There had been no reports from their spy networks of any breakthroughs on unicorn magic, nor were there anything noteworthy about the upstart mud-ponies. The only possible cause for this anomaly, he theorised, was that the bribed nobles had lied, or Mustafa had left to seek personal glory or revenge. But neither made much sense to him.
The door to his room slammed open, revealing a panicking lieutenant, "SIR! We're under siege!"
"...How did they make past our forward defenc-" The quartermaster stopped himself, and was wide-eyed in realisation. "...No..." His hooves gave out, causing him to collapse to his flank.
"-Sir?!" The lieutenant reluctantly asked,
The quartermaster simply fell on his back and began staring at the ceiling in despair. "...Our main army is gone... All of our garrisons are bucked..." He quietly muttered.
Any gains made by the Crystal ponies were quickly lost, as their token garrisons easily fell against the earth ponies' rushed-together levies.
Due to the Crystal Empire's usage of 'modern' (modern for their time) tactics, they only had one main army, which meant they would have to scramble together another army at the last moment.
The Crystal Empire
Hysteria and panic had taken hold of the nobility, peasantry and to a smaller extent, the merchants, as the news of their main army being annihilated and their holdings being swept reached them.
Amore VI had locked himself in his royal chambers and refused to speak to anypony, as delusion and paranoia quickly took hold of him, which led to the quick and brutal executions of his spymasters, anypony related to the campaign or anypony that had disagreed with him in the past. This would, however, not work in his favour, as talks of replacements immediately circulated upon the swing of the axe from the executioner.
From the emperor's absence, and the seemingly ceaselessly campaign of terror and executions, four factions emerged to fill in the power vacuum once their majesty had 'a little accident'.
The Umbras, being predominantly consisting of wealthy nobles, merchants and disgruntled generals, advocated for the abolishment of absolute paternal rule, and instead championed for an electoral system, where the most successful and 'noblest' of blood would vote for their new emperor.
However, they would receive harsh criticism from the three other factions, as they accused the Umbras of conspiring to weaken the position of the emperor so they could have more self-control and dodge lofty taxes and fees. The Umbras would counter this by accusing them of betraying the Crystal Empire's citizens.
To solve the immediate crisis, they proposed a policy of scorched earth, civilian 'mobilisation' (forcing civilians to become akin to slaves), and giving full power to the generals to make military decisions. Again, they were accused, but the reasons for it contradicted the last, as the Umbras were accused of attempting to create a centralised military oligarchy.
The Amores were the moderates among the factions, who wished for the coronation of Amore's distant relative: Amore VII to take charge in his stead for an indefinite period. They had first advocated status-quo; letting Amore VI keep the throne whilst a provisional government took over the reins of governance, however, once the paranoia ramped up, and they began losing supporters as a result, they chose the aforementioned choice to win back their lost backers.
The Amores is mostly criticised by the Umbras and Carlists for being too weak and small, as their chances for the government is minuscule, and they simply advocate for a truce and maybe a minor territory concession to appease the earth ponies.
The Carlists are named after Carl List; an extremely distant relative to Amore VI who gained power, fame and prestige through his stewardship and martial, which garnered him great fortune and notoriety within the Crystal Empire's army.
The faction revolves entirely around him, as he acts the part of the head of the cult of personality to convince and wow supporters to his side. He and his compatriots promise the successes which Amore VI had promised, and swears to defeat the Equestrians to restore the Crystal Empire to its past glory days.
No plans or policies are currently set in stone, however, their tone implicates militarism and a cult of personality-type leadership. They are criticised by the Cadenzas and Amores for being usurpers, traitors, and warmongerers, but surprisingly is supported by the Umbras, despite the former not giving the latter their support.
Finally, the Cadenzas is a faction predominantly consisting of merchants who are detached from the political and historical rivalries between the two nations, and therefore, absolutely hated by the other three factions.
They wish for an unthinkably horrifying proposal; the vassalisation of the Crystal Empire to Equestria for an immediate truce, trade and free movement agreements.
It is led by a mare merchant named Cadenza; whose very non-crystal skin caused many in the opposing factions to draw swords to attempt to slice her.
By using her excessive wealth, she was able to buy Amore's name from an improvised branch of his family for an obscene amount of money to lay claim to the Crystal Empire's throne. By using threats of embargos and threats of ceasing trade to essential goods for weapons and armour, the Cadenzas are able to remain as the top four factions through economics and trade.
They are harshly criticised by every other faction, as many of its members risk to death to even show up at meetings in fear of assassinations or angry mobs.
If you want an oversimplification, here you go:
Umbra - will go for victory at any cost
Carlist - will go for victory more conventionally
Amore - will aim for the status quo
Cadenza - Neville Chamberlain levels of appeasement
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okay and interesting idea you got there
10938917
I don't think an anarchist could exist in an undereducated, underdeveloped society. Maybe it could work for changelings but definitely not anywhere else.
10939629
How are you always online?
Also thx for the first comment as always
10939650
got a lot of spare time and email notifications, as to react to updates as soon as possible
To be fair to Neville Chamberlain's appeasement shtick, it was deliberately to buy time for Great Britain to build up their forces. Shit, Hitler was pissed because he expected the deal with Czechoslovakia to result in the war starting sooner but Chamberlain took the deal anyway.
...but yeah we know where this is going anyway.
It's great to see you returning to this story, I love to see more of this alternate start of Equestria and the antics of Bismark and Mauser.
Depending on what exactly was on the treaty/agreement between the Republicans and the the German leadership, it may not be as unreasonable for Equestria to agree to German demands when we take into account that this Equestria was a Dark Age-to-Medieval society.
The Equestrians were probably expecting the Germans to demand vassalization, forced labor / serfdom, tribute, and conscription. But if the agreement only goes for military cooperation, recognition of German-Equestrian borders, most favored nation status, and trade agreements in Germany's favor, then that would be seen as incredibly lenient.
Having someone like Rommel, or really anyone from Germany after 1914 since that's when Mauser is from, would be a boon for the Emperors.
I could see Bismark taking Germany's fall from grace after the Great War, the instability of the Weimar Republic, and the madness and genocide under the Nazis as proof that the imperial system must prevail, that democratization would only lead to ruin.
It's great seeing the start of what looks like the end of hostilities between Equestria and the Crystal Empire, it's very interesting to see what (I assume) to be the start of the internal conflicts within the Empire that lead to Sombra taking over.
Like I said before, your story scratches an itch that other stories just don't.
So basically pony Spanish civil war
Got it
There's just something really delightful about this story that I can't place but I always make sure to read the newest chapter as soon as possible.
10939681
I swear, you are literally a mind reader
10939783
Literally guessed the next chapter I have in reserve
10939752
This time with less sleeping
10939668
Neville actually accomplished his goals. It's just that no one appreciated him for it
10939809
For example: the SS was the most diverse force in ww2
10939849
For the record, they were terrible
10939851
Yup. They were both corporals and I think Rommel thought Hitler would be like Bismarck (in restoring Germany to greatness)
10939853
Hopefully, Rommel would think differently of Hitler after being ordered to kill himself in threats against his family.
Oh wait... I'm the author...
10939783
10939785
I'm really into history and diving into the driving force, rationality, changes, and the effects of both war and domestic policy. I also frequent History and Alternate History forums for modern and medieval warfare.
If this were two Medieval states then I would see a lot of contention between Equestria and Germany, but Germany being a (relatively) modern state means that they are both playing with different rules and expectations.
I'm not saying that Germany is entirely benevolent, economic imperialism is much more effective at influencing and controlling weaker nations, but they are by far the lesser of a few dozen evils.
10939681
Yo you mean Rommel gonna teach them about mass spam bombers and tiger heavy tanks?
10939873
I think Germany is already well acquainted with Tanks and have made a lot of development into making them larger, faster, sturdier, and stronger in the past few decades.
Without the context of just how horrific WW1 and WW2 were, Rommel's testimony of the advancements of weapons and the devastation they bring would be seen as an inspiration rather than a warning (at least to Bismark).
10939853
Rommel was also very anti-democratic and admired Hitler for ending democracy in Germany.
Having heard that the Bulldog was taken as the peoples choice, my pride has mildly soared. However, my position as it stands means I must ask he be treated correctly, I am aware of the hero-worshipping nature of this story. I know that Churhcill is no fool - hubristic perhaps, but no fool - and will likely bend the knee should he have to. Any true-conservative royalist would. My only hope is that he doesnt land somewhere his prejudices can be redirected into... even worse positions.
Grand chapter as always, by'n'by.
It's going to be interesting to see how different the Cystal Empire and Equestria will turn out in The Black Baron. As I am definitely going to take inspiration for my rewrite. (I bought Wrangel's book Always With Honor.
We gonna get an image of the new borders when they show up?
10940596
I'll work on it
10940815
You can just draw over the old one in MS paint if it's too much to bother with.
The results are in! And the race chosen was changeling with 26 votes!
Winston Churchill & Franklin D Roosevelt was chosen with 16 votes! Beating Trotsky and Stalin by a narrow 1 vote.
New chapters with their introductions have already been made, and they will be published in time.
Also don't blame me for their addition. I'm merely a tool of fate; simply following my viewer's orders. The polls control me, and I have no part in the decisions of choosing the new characters. I simply give you, the viewers the options.
Alright bye.
Don't do my boy chamberlain like that he had a clear goal but these guys are just rolling over and dieing and hoping for the best and most of them are merchants and business so of course they want this trade and lower taxes because there not at war
What is Bismarck and Mausers empire a kingdom or something like that or do we have fasicm. And no fasicm and nazism are different things they follow the same economic principles but they are different in many ways. A constitutional monarchy
10941132
Yeah! FDR is in the House! Pity about Trotsky and Stalin, it would’ve been hysterical watching Bismarck flip out when the Socialists and the Communists showed up.
maybe do JFK, patton, montgomery, sherman, grant and lincoln for the deers.
a bastion of democracy, and an imperialist german nation...
WHAT CAN GO WRONG?!
everything
10942194
You, my friend, have the right idea. Let’s get Washington, Madison, Hamilton, Jefferson and all the other founding fathers in there somewhere!
maybe do something new, like the romanovs being changelings
The story is great so far can't wait to see some interection between the Allies and Germans I'm just shaking with anticipation
.
Hope ya have a great time writting.
10943788
If its anyone that can screw up a second chance its the romanovs I once thought they were just normal royals but they were much worse.
Remember king Louis of France at least he new what was going on outside his castle and tried to flee the romanovs completely issolated themselves from their people and on Tsar Nick's coronation day 1,389 people died and more than 4,000 injured during a stampede of people who came to witness and instead of visting the hospitals like a good ruler he just partied the night away and don't get me started on the disastrous outcome of the russo-Japanese war ( the pacific fleet destroyed and the baltic fleet sent by tsar nick almost completely annihilated after ignoring his advisers advice).
So I don't think its a good I idea for the to appear.😑
Yay 200 likes.
10944260
well, after their deaths, they wouldn't repeat the mistakes, they would get a second chance.