//------------------------------// // Analecta Unum (Random) // Story: Varia Visive // by journcy //------------------------------// Prompt #504: “It Was the Spring of Hope, It Was the Winter of Despair” “The fourth age of Equestria.” The following excerpts were taken from the Princess Twilight Sparkle's newest work, A Summative History of Ponydom. + + + Chapter 1: Before the Founding Approximately nine thousand years ago, ponykind as we might recognize it today arose, far to the north of what we know today as Equestria. They lived peacefully amongst each other for a time, cooperating in harmony. In fact, their society is actually relatively accurately captured in the classical Hearth's Warming Eve play put on annually both in Canterlot and across the country. Earth Ponies provided the food, Pegasi guarded against any threats and took care of the weather, and Unicorns controlled the Sun and Moon... This nation lasted for around a thousand years, until the disharmony witnessed in the Hearth's Warming Eve play broke them apart, and sent them South, where they would eventually find the land we call Equestria, as would they, in time... Chapter 2: Early Equestria Upon its founding, Equestria was led by a cross-racial council of ponies. This time was known as the First Equestrian Age. It lasted for a scant number of decades, and was a less than prosperous period of pony history. As the ponies of this time had to rebuild a whole nation from nothing more than the land around them, this is perhaps understandable... Chapter 3: Rise of the Princesses The end of the First Equestrian Age was marked by a threat that nopony could have ever prepared for: the draconequus Discord. Known best for the strife caused some years ago, what Discord did to the ponies of old was much more thorough and went on for a much longer period of time. Indeed, the only reason his original reign ever came to an end was the appearance of two Alicorns--our Princesses Celestia and Luna. They, along with the Elements of Harmony, defeated Discord. They were crowned for their feats, and with their rulership came the second age of Equestria, the Diarchan Age. The Diarchan Age spans the majority of pony history. Lasting for nearly seven thousand years, Equestria enjoyed immense prosperity in her time under Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, even though not much remains from this ancient time... Chapter 5: Nightmare The Diarchan Age ended with the rise of Nightmare Moon. Thought for decades by most present-day scholars to be nothing more than an old pony's tale, the existence both of a second princess and of an actual Nightmare Moon were shocking discoveries, such that they ended the age begun by her original uprising and subsequent defeat... Chapter 6: Lone Rule Having banished her sister to the moon, Princess Celestia became the sole ruler of Equestria, and in doing so ushered in the Second Equestrian Age. Ponykind was shaken by the rebellion of one of their rulers, and in this time Princess Celestia was forced to relieve herself of much of her political powers and status, becoming much more the reserved ruler we know today. A new council was organized, to be advised by the Princess and nothing more. It was also agreed that a propaganda campaign be organized... Chapter 9: Return of Luna The present day is most easily identified as the time after the return of Nightmare Moon, the Elements of Harmony, and Princess Luna. Many other threats from before the Second Equestrian Age have returned in what scholars are calling the Harmonious Age, but so far none have posed a serious and lasting threat to Equestria... + + + To learn more about the history of Equestria and ponykind, pick up A Summative History of Ponydom at your local bookstore today!