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// The History of Equestria Under Alternia Part 20, 589 AR to 600 AR, The Aftermath of the Saddle Arabian War 
// Story: Princess Celestia The Changeling Queen:  Stories Behind the Mask 
// by vren55 
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Although the Saddle-Arabian war had ended in an Equestrian victory, the subsequent years after the war put great strain on Alternia’s nation. The war had been two years long and the treasury had expended a great deal of money, which meant that a lot of the infrastructure projects that pushed the Equestrian economy and assisted in the growth of cities were cut in later years. The author supposes that this explains why there are many locales in Equestria, but very few fully urbanized city centres.

Furthermore, Equestria had the mammoth task of finding new jobs for the veterans that had returned, and especially for those who had received debilitating wounds and amputations. It didn’t help that they had to cut out so many building projects.

On top of that, the slaves that had followed Equestria’s returning army home needed to be taught how to live in Equestria, settled somewhere, and given jobs. 

Alternia and her prime minister, Rapier Apple’s solution was complicated, but it needed to be. The first part was to settle areas of Equestria that hadn’t been settled yet, which included harsher terrain between established cities, and areas on the frontier. This was why Hayseed Swamps, Neighagra Falls, Rainbow Falls, Sire’s Hollow, Stratusburg and Applewood were settled, and less populated settlements like Las Pegasus and Baltimare experienced a population boom. Moreover, Alternia encouraged former slaves and veterans to head to old “ghost” towns that had been abandoned. These towns included Sonambula, and Hollow Shades, though, Sonambula was far more popular for former Saddle Arabian former slaves, as they liked the hot climate. As for the thousands of trained soldiers who still wanted to serve in the army, Alternia put them to use fortifying and clearing out those new settlements of monsters, and then gave them tracts of Equestrian land to settle them when they reached retirement age.

However, although Equestria’s population expanded, both in ponies born from returning veterans, and freed slaves settling Equestrian lands (which is why there is a large minority of minotaurs, griffons, horses, and donkeys in Equestria), the military shrank. Alternia and the United Parliament seemed to have jointly agreed to this because the money had to come from somewhere and Equestria’s politicians and military leaders were frankly tired of war. Military formations were maintained, but instead of at the Saddle Arabian War’s typical 1000-2000 strong brigade strength, they were reduced to 300-500 strong battalion strength. Wooden ships were put into reserve (which is actually very easy as long as you have enough shoreline to beach them) and reserve arms and armour were quite literally turned into farming tools. 

Partly to deal with the trauma of the war, partly to integrate it’s new migrants, Equestria essentially demilitarized and embraced the pacifistic elements of the Magic of Friendship. Although this made Equestria into a utopian paradise, Alternia and the Equestrian public’s decision also sowed a weakness into the military apparatus of Equestria, which would create problems in future years. Yet, this author still finds it hard to blame the leadership at the time for their decision. With Equestria’s position in the world having been secured, there was little sense in such a large military.

Rapier Apple would dedicate his last years as prime minister to reintegrating veterans and ensuring Equestria would transition from its wartime footing to peacetime. Helping him through this was Jade Glimmer, who primarily acted to settle former Saddle Arabian slaves. The two married after Rapier Apple stepped down in 592 AR, two years after the Saddle Arabian War ended, and would settle in Manehattan, the city of Rapier’s birth, often visiting Alternia in Canterlot. Rapier would spend the rest of his days lecturing at Manehattan University, writing his memoirs, and raising his children and grandchildren. After his death, Alternia would organize a state funeral for him in Manehattan, where thousands turned out to mourn the former prime minister.

Jade Glimmer found permanent, everlasting happiness in her marriage with Rapier, the kind, and yet intelligent husband she always dreamed of. She found herself unable to sit still, though, and would constantly volunteer her time and money for various social causes. Published only recently by her descendants, her diaries reveal the strength of will and generous character of this young mare. She would die shortly after Rapier, surrounded by her grandchildren. However, she declined the state funeral Alternia had organized for her husband, and instead, asked to be buried in a quiet ceremony beside her husband. The ceremony was of course anything but quiet as thousands of former Saddle Arabian slaves and their children turned up to see the mare who had helped them find new lives in Equestria.

Jade Glimmer’s good friend, Winding Sheets, would marry Aventail Armour’s son, Lord Barding, who spoke on her behalf to the Royal Equestrian Intelligence and Naval Service all so long ago. Although Winding Sheets would take some time and much support to overcome her experiences as a slave, Aventail helped in her blunt manner, and Winding Sheets would settle into the Armour family. Like her friend, Jade Glimmer, Winding Sheets was unable to simply enjoy life, but instead turned her efforts to the Canterlot social scene, as an advocate for charitable causes.

Aventail Armour’s injuries in the Battle in the Desert would lead her to retire from the military and become a veteran’s advocate. She championed veteran rights alongside her daughter-in-law Winding Sheets until her death from old age.

The brilliant Admiral Dreadnought lamented the budget cuts to the navy, but took the opportunity to leave the fleet and go exploring. She charted the southern jungles of the Tenochtitlan Basin, finding a number of ruins and sites, before finally settling down with her friend Admiral Warspite. Many speculate on the nature of their relationship, but it seems that the two were simply friends that just wanted to retire together. 

General Ginger never held field command again, but became an integral part of the Saddle Arabian government when she was elected by popular acclaim to be the next Sultan of Saddle Arabia. Despite Equestrian worries, she turned out to learn from her predecessors and ruled wisely, rejecting slavery and reforming Saddle Arabia to be far more harmonic. Historians figure that she was in part, worried about Equestrian reprisal and understood that the Saddle Arabians started the conflict because of their practice of slavery. That being said, she never did abolish the practice of the harem, but passed laws to ensure the participants were willing. As such, she married both her lover, the now disfigured Zanthos and her friend Mountague.  Her line still holds the Saddle Arabian sultanate and regularly visits Equestria.

Alternia continued to pretend to be Celestia, but although she maintained control over Equestria’s administration, it was noted by most chroniclers that she started to take more time for herself. ‘Celestia,’ in what perhaps was an attempt to lighten the mood, began to pull pranks and tease her subjects in the aftermath of the war. This was a strange change to many at court, but they welcomed it. Eventually, Equestria entered into the 600th year of the Alternia Regency.