//------------------------------//
// Free Winds, Bloody Skies (1975) 
// Story: Equestria: The Pacific Kingdom 
// by BrightIdea 
//------------------------------//



Free Winds, Bloody Skies: A Brief Introduction and History on Pegasi Gladiatorial Culture and the Cloud Revolts of Equestria (1975)

By John ‘Dry’ Derviry 

When comparing the breeds of Pony in Equestria one would say that many Unicorns are aloof or self-centered, or that Earth Ponies are stubborn. For Pegasi the characteristics or perhaps caricature often painted by their fellow Ponies, Humans, Dogs, Gryphons, and so forth is one of a culture of being impulsive, adventurous, and always seeking attention or anything to wash away their boredom. Discussion and review of historical texts opens up the psyche of the Pegasi culture as one that generally speaking is based in adrenaline highs and in the past one based on bloodshed and conflict. 

Looking at Pegasi history their culture was and to a extent still is a very martial based culture which may come from two principal sources.

One being Pegasi biology, namely connected to the Pegasus ability to fly. Studies have shown that Pegasi have a much more fast moving internal system work which allows them to not only focus intensely on any task set in front of them but ensures they can beat it in record time. Pegasi adrenaline levels are on average much higher than any other Pony and Humans in the world and combined with special wing index muscles and equine bone density gives them bursts of energy and durability that allows Pegasi in cases to crash through walls completely unhurt. This is an aspect that also makes them very popular demolitionists in cases where the use of explosives is undesirable. 

The second factor is that most of the Pegasi population throughout the majority of its history has lived mostly separated from the majority of Pony population in Cloudsdale and past incarnations of the city. Pegasi that are born in Cloudsdale are literally born looking down on the rest of Equestria. Even so, Pegasi are the most traveled of the Pony species, interacting with other species when Celestia has ordered isolation from the rest of the world. This though raises a issue or attitude of competitiveness as they constantly set themselves up against the unknown.

If early Pegasi culture could be compared to any human culture it would most likely be pointed at as being most kin to the Romans. This being that unlike the merit based or democratic traditions more common with the Unicorns and Earth Ponies, the Pegasi have had a long history of Emperors who took power through a combination of might of arms and political intrigue.  That will be covered later, but another startling aspect is the ‘Domes’ of the Pegasi are akin to the Coliseum’s of Rome and its culture. 

Predating the rule of Celestia, the domes had two distinct types of gladiatorial combat. Namely the Thunderdomes featured in Pegasi cloud settlements and the Lightningdomes that featured on the ground. The Thunderdomes got their name from the fact the style of battle is Pegasus vs Pegasus in a combination of armed weapon fighting and aerobatic display which could in some cases be heard from the ground as the crowd roared and weapons clashed against each other. The Lightningdomes in contrast featured Pegasi vs Groundwellers, be they Pony or Human or Hydra and Dog. This name coming from the fact that lightning strikes the ground. Unlike the Thunderdomes which were considered a ‘noble warrior’s test of skill and arms’, the Lightningdomes were in contrast the Pegasi playing the hunter against any non-Pegasi who were captured to become their prey. In fast constructed wooden palisades or in some cases in open pits or gullies, fully armed Pegasi warriors would battle or hunt down anyone they had captured in warfare or slave raids against the ground dwelling sentients. Non-Pegasi combatants were noted to not always be given weapons, and only a rare few incidents have occurred where a grounddweller who killed a Pegasi hunter was allowed to live.   

Notably the ‘Dome Combat’, ‘Death Flights’, and ‘Pit Drops’ along with other bloody and violent Pegasi Games have faded out over the course of Pegasi history since Celestia took active steps to curdle their love of bloodshed. Despite this the act of weaning out these habits in Pegasi culture has not been blood free or complete. The so-called “Cloud Revolts” occurred nearly every other generation in Equestria when a young, hot-headed King would come to the cloud throne and revolt against the Queen of Equestria. The weather in Equestria would go somewhat out of balance and Cloudsdale itself would drift out of Equestria for stretches of time from months to years, but upon their return they would be put down by force or ‘persuasion’ on the part of Celestia. The last such revolt occurred under the self-proclaimed “Emperor Thunder Struck” in 1480 AD as the Pegasus ruler attempted to take over Equestria but at the end of events he was swallowed by a dragon. 

Since the last Cloud Revolt the Pegasi have been directed by Celestia through violence and non-violence. The first in that the Royal Guard of the Celestial Throne is Pegasi and make up the majority of Equestria’s standing military force. The second being the introduction of sports and fandoms based in flight skill over martial skill, such as the creation of the Wonderbolts in 1751 AD.

Though to this cultural generalization there are notable Pegasi who are examples of the complete opposite of this mainstream Pegasi culture. These Pegasi are timid or klutzy, having no stomach for the bloodshed or competitiveness that many Pegasi exhibit. Often enough in Cloudsdale Flight Schools they are bullied and ridiculed for what is perceived as a mental or physical weakness. These Pegasi for the most part decide to abandon their homes in the clouds or in more dramatic and tragic cases are forcibly abandoned by their family to the ‘wild and dangers of the ground level’. Often enough these cases are accepted by most of Pony society, becoming weather ponies, veterinaries, mail mares, lookouts, and so forth. Many Pegasi born to Earth or Unicorn ponies can trace their lineage to these outcasts from the clouds.