The Equestrian Frontier, while a popular setting in many forms of entertainment, is not nearly as thoroughly researched as other locales of the same period, such as Canterlot or Manehattan. To some extent, this is understandable-- there are far more first-hand sources for information on the cities, due to their denser populations.
However, I fear the real reason the Frontier has gone relatively neglected so long is due to proponents of the “Great Pony” school of history. Quite often, “Great Pony” is something of a cipher for “Unicorns, or perhaps the occasional Pegasus,” which in turn means a locale populated primarily by Earth Ponies is unworthy of in-depth study. At least, such is the general sentiment amongst certain individuals at certain conferences who I shall refrain from naming not out of politeness' sake, but rather so to save the time of my readership from bothering with such nakedly biased views of history.
Ironically, the Flash Sentry Papers could be viewed as a prime example of the “Great Pony” theory, at least at a glance. However, as anyone who's studied the Flash Sentry Papers to any degree of detail can attest, while Sentry's actions may have changed the course of history, such influence was never intentional (as Sentry himself repeatedly attests in his memoir).
With this in mind, I am happy to present this latest installment of the Flash Sentry Papers, which not only present a hitherto unknown glimpse of life in Appleoosa, but also demonstrate the unpredictable cascade of events that defined his career-- and likely the career of just about any other “Great Pony” that certain academics could name.
As such, once again, I hope that you, dear reader, find the following account both entertaining and educational.
-G.M.F.