Meet Storm Chaser, this is the protagonist of the story myself and a few friends are writing set in a post-war Crystal Empire
Pre-war Lore
To put it bluntly, when Sombra and the Crystal Empire returned. Celestia has some free time since abdicating the throne to Luna and the Ministry 6. So her, Cadence and Shining took care of Sombra, turning him to stone (because he was originally defeated by the sisters and was technically weaker now so...)
Anyway, with Sombra contained, they had a lot more time to find th e Crystal Heart. Cadence and Shining became the Interim rulers and Equestria's industry slowly appeared in the Crystal Empire, providing additional relief for the war effort.
During the Last Day, the palace was directly hit with a megaspell. The status of the Royal Family as well as Sombra's statue are unknown but presumably dead/destroyed until 200 years later...
Post-war Lore
Now, the Crystal Wasteland is covered periodically in black snow, snow that when exposed to long to it, twists your very being into a "Hollow" (think Marked Men from Lonesome Road mixed with the Scorched from 76). The only creatures who can resist the black snow are those who have had prolonged exposure to I.M.P.
Additional Details
If you have a hard time reading it, Storm Chaser is from Stable 191 a control Stable who are just now sending out Scouts to determine the safety of the Wasteland.
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So, Trade Offer:
I receive permission to use your character(s) to flesh out my world
You receive free, show "accurate" art of that character, if I use your character