Hey guys, the story is back on. Progress is halted, though. Go read the blog post.

The Ponyville Mayoral Election is coming up, and Twilight is excited to root for Mayor Mare alongside her friends. That is, until she discovers that in Ponyville stallions are not allowed to vote. Twilight quickly gets mixed up with the Ponyville civil rights movement, but when the time comes, will she stand against her friends?

Before harmony graced the species of ponies a period of hatred existed between the three tribes. But before the time of mistrust existed a far more brutal era existed where the strongest thrived on the exploits of the defenceless. Amid the power plays and clan struggles that plague the lives of an earth pony family a child dreams of bringing peace to the land and vows to bring order and unity toward his land amidst the chaos of racial warfare.

Captain Iron 'Riot' Venture; Soldier, Storm Trooper, Murderer, Father. After the bloody conclusion to the War for Hoofington, Riot finds himself discharged and hurled back to civilian life. Except, this time, he can't go back to the military. He can't bide his time until he's back in the field. He has to live, breath, and suffer like everypony else.

To top all that, Ponyville is about as far from war as one could get, to the point where the staples of war; things like firearms, artillery fire, brutal murder, and mass graves simply don't exist. Somepony from that world of constant fear of death and mortal anguish would be considered 'dangerous' to the general populace. Somepony could cause some serious damage if they were to snap. Somepony like Captain Iron 'Riot' Venture, Retired.

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Props to Drunkenfist and Saivost Rast for their awesome work and support! Image deds go to http://gordonfreeguy.deviantart.com/
Go give him likes! DO IT! DO IT NOW!

Equestria, but not as you know it.

Welcome to the radiant capital of the Solar Kingdom. Gargantuan skyscrapers line the streets and mechanical transports dot the skies. AI constructs reign over most electronics built within the last decade.

The streets of Canterlot and New Ponyville are embroiled in a corporate cold war while more obvious international conflict threatens to engulf the borders. A young, sheltered Twilight Sparkle embarks on a perilous tour of this brave new world with the aid of a select few others: less-than-fortunate outcasts and calculating socialites among them.

An amalgamation of classic and modern cyberpunk in controlled doses. Inject directly into bloodstream.
For the more genteel among you: story contains measured amounts of violence and profanity.

This is it. No more running. No more hiding. This is war.

For months now, two forces have been battling all over creation: one seeking to preserve harmony for the sake of the millions of species that populate the multiverse, and one to destroy it. Now, the forces of good have discovered that the darkness has Equestria in its sights and must ready a counterattack. Leading the charge is a strange, semi-omnipotent being known as "Swarm," who will confront the forces of evil together with his allies from Earth and a few familiar faces from around Equestria. But will it be enough? Can Harmony and Light stand against the encroaching darkness, or will Equestria become the first in a long list of conquests? And just what is responsible for this madness, anyway?

Bit of continuity with my other fic, "Trixie's Burden," so go check it out to find out how Swarm convinced Celestia to let a bunch of Jarheads into her kingdom!

The sun crashes with Empress Celestia's fall. In the aftermath, the Solar Empire desperately attacks the Lunar Republic, but was it really Luna's doing? The answers are locked up tight in a disturbed pegasus mare. As heroes fight a losing battle to stave off tyranny and cold darkness, mysterious powers loom.

Definitely earns TEEN for language and implicit sexual content.

To the far east across the vast sea is the forgotten homeland of the diamond dogs. A land once full of poverty, sickness, and famine has become an industrial super power that threatens Equestrias economic dominance/standing. Can Equestria survive as countless ponies are put out of work from the influx of cheaper and higher quality goods from Britannia or will they be forced into an war against a technologically superior foe? And just who is the Emperor and is every thing they know a lie?

How did King Sombra take over the Crystal Empire? What were his motivations? How did the princesses defeat him?

This story is a prequel to The Trouble With Unicorns, and is part of the Unicornverse.

War is a rare occurrence in Equestria, but after over a century of peace, it has come again. To defend their home, ponies have answered the call to arms from far and wide. For one young pony, that decision may have come a little too easily. Will the weight of war prove too much for her, or will her new found comrades be the foundation she needs?

***

Originally created alongside this image.

I wish I had posted this earlier, but here is an incomplete visual list of the characters of The Line. For the characters not listed here, please consult the cover image.
You can also find a depiction of the standard armor suit here.

An abridged history of Equestria, exploring over two-thousand years of pony history, from the Equestrian Exodus to the Return of Luna and everything in between.

*Be aware that this is very much a fluid work-in-progress, and is subject to any and all relevant developments in the show's canon. Predominately head-canon based chapters are marked with an asterisk.*

*Edited and revised for Season 4!*