The Solar Empire.

That's how Equestria and its citizens came to be known under the rule of Princess Celestia, mover of the sun. Her rule was absolute, but not harsh. Everypony had their place, and everypony knew what that place was.

Luna, the mare of the moon, had returned from her thousand-year imprisonment as Nightmare Moon on the lunar surface. After her defeat in the ruins outside of Ponyville, she returned to being Luna and returned with her sister to once again take over her duties of raising the moon and owning the night.

But something festered in the heart of the night mare. She saw how there were classes of ponies that sat higher on the ladder just because of their race or bloodline. The unicorns, with their inherent magic, were favored most by the Princess. They and the pegasi with their cloudborne homes had more freedom and independence than the earth ponies who worked the land and inhabited much of Equestria...and Luna grew upset. Before she had become the jealous Nightmare Moon, everypony under the sun and moon were equal. Those who worked did for the betterment of all, and those who sought knowledge shared with everypony else.

For many years after her awakening at the hands of Twilight Sparkle and the Elements of Harmony, she brooded over these facts and did her duties as lifter of the moon. She watched as the ponies in Canterlot and all over Equestria became more and more separated...until one day she could no longer stand to watch her people be subjected to this.

Fleeing the Royal Palace and taking up residence in the ruins she fought in not all that long ago, she began recruiting ponies of all races and birth with promises of equality and a new future.

The New Lunar Republic was born.

Many ponies immediately divided between the two factions. Those loyal to Princess Celestia migrated towards Canterlot, eager to ensure their Princess and society stayed safe. The followers of Luna flocked to her ruins and the nearby town of Ponyville, making it their new capital as the New Lunar Republic officially seceded from the Empire.

Princess Celestia was saddened at these events, but a more shocking turn of events was yet to come. So idealistic were the Lunar citizens that they demanded that the Solar Empire disband, and all ponies would be included in the Republic as equals. This call was met by defiance by the Solar Empire, and three months after the initial demands, the New Lunar Republic declared war.

Families have been destroyed. Friendships have been torn apart as loyalties divided. Some ponies fled both factions, determined to make a living on their own in the wilderness of Equestria. Others have turned to more malicious tactics, hiring themselves out as mercenaries to whichever faction is paying more at the time.

For 6 ponies from Ponyville, this will be the hardest time of their lives. Ideologies and battle have torn them apart and spread them far from their homes.

War has come to Equestria. The Elements of Harmony are broken and scattered. Can these 6 ponies overcome their differences and unite to end this war? Or will the conflict be too much for them, leaving them bitter and resentful for the rest of their lives?