//------------------------------// // The Equestrian Trade Route (Lore/Backstory/Setting) // Story: Fallout Equestria: Odd Jobs // by SumDankPony //------------------------------// Just below the Badlands and the Forbidden Jungle on the map, Lies a land that is prosperous in Trade, Banditry, and History. The Equestrian Trade Route, or T.E.T.R., is the longest road that connects Equestria and the Zebra Lands (spanning from the city of Canterlot to the border of the Zebra Lands), probably the longest road in all of Equestria! Most of the land was brought from the native buffalo and bull population, who agreed with the terms as long as only a road was to be built. The road itself was build shortly after after and Equestria established trade with the Zebra Lands as it's main use. The long stretch of road was a key access point for the coal/gem trade. Trade was constant on the road and it eventually became a popular tourist attraction, spawning startup towns, roadside attractions, and plans for Stables were made. Huge bunkers, military offices, and checkpoints were also built to ensure the safety of local ponies during the war. Of course, the native buffalo and bull populations were against the building of other structures. Angry letters of confusion were sent to the nation's capital but none were ever answered properly. These events led to The Buffalo Uprising, where 12 ponies were killed but 43 buffalo were slaughtered or badly wounded. The Bull Uprising followed a month later, where 6 ponies were injured and 4 bulls were killed/injured. These events forced the Buffalo and Bull population to sign off the remainder of their land and their freedom for the acts of treason. When the bombs fell, they were denied access to Stables. Stable 45 was built mostly by the local population, who made full use of how the buffalos and bulls owed them, forcing them to do the blunt of the hard work. Slave Labor. Nowadays, most of the T.E.T.R. is now known as a long stretch of land called The Long Walk, and is still an important and prosperous trade route, even though contact with the Zebra Lands and most of Equestria has been almost completely cut off. At one end of the road now lies small city run by both Zebra and Pony, This city is commonly called Borderline since it is based around and inside the four massive walls that separated Equestria from the Zebra Lands built right before the war began. At a hefty fee, one could travel between the two countries, not that the Zebra Lands are safe. There are tales of the land ravaged and destroyed by megaspells that would give a dragon nightmares... Of course, one could sail around the border with some effort, if you can find a working boat that is, and you survive whatever lurks in the Zebrinica Sea. On the other side of The Long Walk is the remains of the Forbidden Jungle, almost all of the trees were cut down during the war. Above that in the Badlands of Equestria lays a larger city, filled with occupants that keep ponies from entering and leaving, hence the name: Dragon Town. There's also the railway that leads into The Long Walk, but you'd be blessed if you can get past the train-worshiping tribals that camp on the edge and inside of the cliffs on either side. The startup towns and roadside attractions from before the war are now trade towns filled with ponies that will always be kind to you as long as you toss a few caps their way, after all they all live by the same motto: "Either you trade, or the raiders will be trading you." The surplus of caps and trade has also given The Long Walk the largest raider and bandit populations compared to any other area in the Equestrian Wasteland. Some of the meanest as well. The buffalo and bull populations are still around too, most are now feral ghouls though; they travel in large herds, and despite now being mindless ghouls, they still have a burning hatred for ponies. There are Zebra tribes that have been around longer then the trade towns. Worse of all, there are huge bloodworms that are like landmines, once you stand on the loose soil above them, they spring from the ground and kill you before you can blink. So when you visit the long walk, doesn't matter why or how, bring protection, watch your back, be smart, and whatever you do, Don't Leave The Road.