Flam, saying that "their energy and optimism infuses the actual writing". Manehattan characters (voiced by Cathy Weseluck) – An earth pony costume and fashion designer who works in Manehattan. She is introduced in "Rarity Takes Manehattan" as the assistant to Suri Polomare (voiced by Tabitha St. Germain), Rarity's chief rival in a fashion competition, and quits after observing Suri's unscrupulous tactics for winning. Rarity's generosity was a huge inspiration for Coco, who grew up being told: "It's everypony for themselves!". Coco designs costumes for plays over in Bridleway Theater District and is currently chief manager of Rarity's Manehattan branch of fashion stores, Rarity For You. Her name is a reference to fashion designer Coco Chanel; it was later changed to "Miss Pommel" for "legal reasons". Crystal Empire characters (voiced by Ian Hanlin) – A unicorn with vast knowledge about magic and Starlight's childhood friend. After Sunburst earned his cutie mark and left to study magic in Canterlot, he lost touch with Starlight. Following the events of "The Crystalling", he is appointed as Flurry Heart's "crystaller" and magic advisor and rekindles his friendship with Starlight. Later in "A Horse Shoe-In", Starlight hires him as the School of Friendship's vice-head stallion. (voiced by Jim Miller in season three; Alvin Sanders in season nine) – The former tyrannical unicorn ruler of the Crystal Empire. A thousand years ago, Sombra took over the Crystal Empire, until Princess Celestia and Princess Luna banished him to the frozen north. Before his banishment, Sombra put a curse on the Crystal Empire that made it vanish into thin air. He first appears in season three's two-part premiere, "The Crystal Empire", when he returns along with the city, but his efforts to reclaim it are thwarted when the magical Crystal Heart that protects the city obliterates him. Sombra returns in season nine's two-part premiere, "The Beginning of the End" when he is resurrected by Grogar to join him in his plot to take over Equestria. He refuses to team up with him and the other villains in favor of conquering Equestria by himself. He destroys the Tree and the Elements of Harmony and takes over Ponyville and Canterlot, but is vanquished once again by Twilight and her friends.Miller based his performance on the vocals of the Mastodon song "Crystal Skull". (voiced by Vincent Tong) – A Pegasus who works as a member of the castle guard and announcer Everfree