Prologue 1
Concerning Equestrian History as documented
by Royal Scribe and Historian Penn Inkwell
15 years ago, the people of Equestria saw a glorious development in our history: The bestowing of the title of Princess to the newly ascended Alicorn, Twilight Sparkle. However, while some greeted this special occasion with happiness, others looked upon it with growing suspicion. Many Earth Ponies were suspicious of the former student of Princess Celestia and whether or not this would become a growing trend. Whether or not more Unicorns had the capability of becoming like Twilight Sparkle... whether or not this was the start of a sinister Unicorn plot to take all of Equestria.
Paranoia spread like wildfire among many non-magical ponies including a group of Pegasus Separatists. Protests against Twilight Sparkle taking up the crown and title of Guardian of Magic began to take place. At first they were peaceful with hardly any incident. As time went on though, the protesters felt they were not being heard and resorted to more desperate measures under the guidance of their leader, Soapbox Sal. Riots started to break out across Equestria with cries of “Dethrone the False Princess” and “Equality in Equestria” being heard across the land. Even when Twilight Sparkle tried to appeal to the herds of protesters she was shot down and called an abomination and a freak. Sometimes when she tried to help, she was called a blasphemer that had stolen the image of the “Goddesses”.
Even the attempts of Twilight Sparkle's companions to end the riots failed. Ms. Fluttershy and Ms. Rainbow Dash tried to calm the Pegasus Separatists and dissuade their fears of being “invaded” by legions of Unicorns lead by Twilight Sparkle, but nothing helped. Ms. Pinkie Pie and Applejack appealed to the Earth Pony Equalists, as they called themselves, that Twilight Sparkle represented the hopes and dreams of all of Equestria, but they were shot down by Soapbox Sal as conspirators with the “False-Princess”.
At the same time, the Royal Army of Equestria began to build up their defenses and arsenals. New types of weapons were created as if in preparation for a battle that was just on the horizon. News of a new technology being developed by the Ministry of Magi-Technology was released to the public. It was called “a firearm”. It had the ability to shoot projectiles utilizing gem magic and could be used by Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies. These “firearms” were made in various types, from “pistols” to “rifles”. When word reached the public of this new development, tensions rose even higher. Rumors of a Unicorn Coup D'etat began to spread and the riots became more violent. Eventually, things got just much more worse.
It had been three years since the protests had started when the final nail was driven into the coffin. At a rally, Soapbox Sal was assassinated by what appeared to be a Unicorn Magi-Tech weapon. This was the final spark on the powder keg. Cries for war were made and soon the Earth Pony Equalists and the Pegasus Separatists formed the First Equalist Army of Equestria and war began.
For the next 2 years, Equestria was torn apart as family fought family. Lives were lost as the Equalists pushed forward across Equestria lead by three Separatist Generals, General Stormhoof, a Pegasus Mare, Former head of the Earth Pony Division of the Royal Army, General Salamander Red, and General Bloodmane, an Earth Pony and Salamander Red's apprentice. The 6 Heroines of Equestria and keepers of the Six Elements of Harmony soon found themselves embroiled in the War Effort with Princess Twilight Sparkle directing the Royal Canterlot Army, General Applejack and Flight Commander Rainbow Dash leading the Earth Pony and Pegasus armies, Ms. Rarity as the designer and taylor of Army Uniforms and armors, Ms. Pinkie Pie as Moral Officer and PR Pony, and Ms. Fluttershy as Head Medical Pony.
It seemed as if the war would always continue. It was not until the Siege of Canterlot that the war saw an end in sight. Though armed with Zebra Shield Charms, fatigue and the lack of the ability to use proper magic were the causes of the Equalists' defeat. During the chaos, General Salamander Red was killed and General Bloodmane retreated. General Stormhoof surrendered to the three Princesses. The Equalist troops were granted amnesty while Stormhoof was put on trial and found guilty of treason against the Equestrian Government. She was imprisoned for life in the Canterlot Prison, where she remains to this day. Efforts have been made to find General Bloodmane so he may be brought to justice for rumored war crimes against Prisoners of War, but sadly he has not been found.
Ten years have passed since the end of the War and Equestria is at peace. Though the scars on the land may heal, it is clear that the scars of war will never heal inside the hearts of ponies. Still, with the Six Elements of Friendship in our hearts and minds, we carry on towards the unknown.
Penn Inkwell-Royal Scribe.
Prologue pt 2
DJ Vinyl Scratch Radio Interview with Equestrian Augmentation and Technology
Founder Doctor August Rain
“GOOOOOOD AFTERNOON, EQUESTRIA! This is DJ Vinyl Scratch with News Updates morning, noon, and night to keep you little ponies up to speed with what is happening in the world! Today we have a special treat for you. For what is probably his first public interview, we here at Vinyl Scratch Radio have been graced with the presence of Equestrian Augmentation and Technology's Founder...”
Snare Drum Roll
“Doctor August Rain!”
Studio Audience cheers
“Doctor, it is quite an honor to have one of the most revered and respected ponies in all of Equestria here with us today.”
“Thank you, Ms. Scratch. It is a pleasure to be here today, especially since it gets me out of that office of mine. I must say that your voice does nothing to compliment your loveliness.”
“Tee-hee… Oh, stop it, Doctor. We are here to interview you today and my little ponies would love to get to know the stallion behind the commercials and the gossip columns. So, if you could answer some questions, I think they’d appreciate that.
“Well, who am I to deny the public? Well, Ms. Scratch, fire away.”
“First off, Doc: your cutie-mark. What’s it mean?”
“Oh, this old thing. Well, as you know very well, a cutie-mark is what defines a pony's virtue. It is what shapes his or her destiny. What he or she is meant to be. Mine is a light bulb. My parents thought that this meant I was to be an electrician. That I was meant to work in a power plant or fix broken wiring. Well, I for one did not believe that was my destiny. I began to analyze my mark and then I realized that it meant so much more. It is a symbol of inspiration and knowledge. Of the will to make a dream become reality. To make a fantasy fact. This is what my cutie-mark symbolizes, at least to me it does. Anything else, Ms. Scratch?”
“Well yeah, I do have some more questions to ask. You were an inventor before founding E.A.T. yet there are rumors that before the war, you were a medical pony. Tell me, are they true?”
“Indeed they are. I realized that I would need a job before embarking on my dream, so I decided that if I was going to create a device that would aid ponies, I would need to learn the basics of medicine. So I quit my job as an electrician, my parents were not overly fond of that, and entered into medical school. I had just graduated in the studies of prostheses and was planning to take my idea to the patent office when it was announced that the Equalists had declared war upon the kingdom. I was drafted, of course, and sent to the front line as a medic. Obviously, I did not have time to work on my project in the medical tents. Eventually, I was wounded during a skirmish. My left hind leg was torn apart by a Pegasus mortar and was beyond repair. The bones were shattered and would have eventually caused the wounds to turn gangrene, so amputation was the only way to go.
After the war, I had no clue what to do with my life until I realized that because of my idea, I could be my first patient. With a bit of funding from my family I was able to build my first prototype leg augmentation. With some fine tuning, I was not only able to build it, but was able to integrate it with my nervous system so that it would move and function like a normal leg, unlike a normal prosthetic leg. I took it to the patent office and eventually the Equestrian Science Council. They were so impressed that they gave me a grant to perfect my design, which you now see here today. I was able to create my own clinic that would aid veterans that had suffered the effects of war as I had. Two years later, I had expanded my single story clinic in Manehattan into a full building. Three years after that, my augmentation clinic had become an industry that serviced ponies with bad limbs, faulty organs, or those that simply wanted a... shall we say an upgrade. Artificial limbs, wings, organs; E.A.T. has it all. We even took steps to insure that nopony would have a problem with the implants, like my joint venture with VersaLife Pharmaceuticals to create a serum to combat the integration problems. We have even expanded into the Griffon Market by making augmented claws and paws. Even the Ministry of Magic and Technology has jumped onto the Augmentation Assembly train. But... I guess to answer your original question, I was a medical pony and in many ways, I still am.”
“Very interesting, Doc. Very interesting indeed. Now tell me, what are your opinions of the recent protests by the group known as “Ponies for Purity”?
“Ah, of course. The “terrorists” as the newspapers have dubbed them. They are nothing more than a group of protestors that see my inventions as “impure” or “evil devices that desecrate our bodies”. I do feel bad for their denouncement of my creation's true potential. The number of lives that they have saved are incalculable and if they are going to dwell on the negatives of my inventions, such as the integration problems, instead of focusing on the vast number of positives they have brought then I do not know what to do for them.”
“Strong words, Doctor. Now before we sign off, I have a question: Is there a special somepony in your life? A nice mare, or a handsome stallion?”
“Ha-ha-ha! It seems you are doing the tabloid's job for them, Ms. Scratch. I thought this was a 'news' show.”
“Obligatory question, Doc. No offense”
“None taken, Ms. Scratch.”
“Well that is all the time we have, Doctor Rain. Thank you for your time. This has been very enlightening, getting to know the real you.”
“It has been my pleasure, Ms. Scratch. I must admit that I am a bit of a fan of yours. This was a definite pleasure, but my head of security is waiting for me and he is a stickler for schedules. Same as me.”
“That was Doctor August Rain, my little ponies, Owner and Founder of Equestrian Augmentations and Technology, the company that helped pull Equestria out of the ashes of war. Now sit back and relax to the lovely voice of Sweetie Belle, Equestria's Number One Song Idol!”