The Time of Reconstruction
2149-2158 AW
The Reign of Discord was over. He had been defeated, thanks to the determined effort of the two sisters and the general population. His influence remained, though. While the war was over, the damage was widespread, and the population of ponies were governmentless. It is estimated that the fall of the Republic and the Harmonious Revolution had claimed over one point four million lives, military personnel only. We have no way of estimating the damage done to the civilian population. On top of this, the settlement that was the site of the Second Battle of Ponyville was reduced to rubble, alongside many other towns and cities. Pegasusoplis is the most noteworthy in this example, having been the site of at least two separate large-scale battles and countless smaller ones. Technologies were being reinvented, but progress was slow due to destroyed records, famine, and occasional changeling raids. Many challenges still faced the reborn nation. For instance, the nation had shrunk, losing the vast San Palomino Desert, Macintosh Hills, all of the coastal territories, and much more. The only possessions the nation retained was the smoking ruins of the Ponyville settlement, Pegasusoplis, the Everfree Forest, and the mountain that would later hold Canterlot. In addition, while they were very much weakened from the Revolution, the changelings held vast territories and still presented a substantial military threat. If the nation was to retain its independence, they needed allies, and they needed a strong leader.
The obvious choice for leadership, and least controversial, was the two sisters that lead Equestria out of Discord’s shadow. That is, Celestia and Luna. Everypony agreed to appoint the sisters to a temporary position of absolute leadership. This was only a temporary arrangement, and was only meant to last a year. It was renewed in 2150, and the ponies started to draw up the Constitution of Equestria in late 2150, giving the sisters near unlimited power over the fledgling nation. This solution was a less-than-universally popular decision, and would bring about political strife. That will be addressed in the next chapter.
Bear in mind, the Age of Reconstruction has never truly ended. Rather, Equestria was - and has been - continuously rebuilding and repairing the damage inflicted by Discord. Hopefully, Equestria may one day rise back to its glory and technological advancement.