History: Discord's Reign

It's not specified when exactly Discord ruled Equestria, and this raises the first of many questions. On the show's timeline, his rule must have occurred after the foundation of Equestria (obviously, you can't rule a country that doesn't exist yet) but before the business with Sombra and Nightmare Moon. Yet, this still leaves a very large gap to be filled.

Where did Discord come from? Who ruled Equestria before him, and how long was he in control for? What of the origins of the two princesses, never mind the Elements of Harmony they discovered during this time? What was life like under Discord's rule, and how long did the ponies have to endure his antics? When Discord was finally turned to stone (and what were the circumstances of that moment, anyway?), what direction did the realm take after that; a new Golden Age, or a long and dark time in which new evils came to take Discord's place?

This is the thread to explore such questions, and probably ask a few of your own. And don't worry about making sense. After all, what fun is there in making sense?

Logic is but a guide through the universe no? Discords reign was defiantly predated before Nightmare Moons time-span yes? Could it be presumed that he outlined the region that is now Equestria and, if you were to link this in, the reason humans are gone?

Discord's power,derived from the local entropy of the universe, weakened as higher forms of life came into being on the planet. It was only a matter of time before one race devised a magical macguffin means to destroy him.

In the centuries following Discord's downfall, the princesses built a city-state called Everfree, which signified an end to subjugation by the enemies of pony. Tribes flocked from far and wide to the city, to the ordered, safe farmlands surrounding it, and to the shining cloudspires which rose precipitously above it.

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Alright let me give this a shot:

Rt.Hon. Lady Ink Scratch, Baroness of the Tears, SecState EC
Fyrefly Building, 1826 I Street, Sejr's Ward, Canterlot, Capital Territory

It has come to the attention of the Concordiat that you have requested information on the reign of the Chaos Tyrant Discord. Unfortunately most of the records of that era were destroyed by either Nightmare Moon once she took control of Equestria or by the siege of the old capital by Celestia's Free Army. But some record did survive in the White Haven Archives.

His origins are nearly unknown, what little that we do know comes from heresy and rumor so anything has to be taken with a grain of salt. He is believed to be a student or minion of Tirek the Abomination, but it is also thought that he was a construct created by Atlantis, the original inhabits of Atlas. Beyond that we do not know.

His rule last nearly 500 years during which he divided up the once united ponies into clans, factions, and city-states. He even shattered our once single language. While his rule wasn't as reality warping as his return it was still a harsh time even by the standards of the era. Slavery was rampant, food was used as tribute, and whole villages were burned to the ground for no reason other than to keep an aura of fear on the ponies. Anypony with a cutie mark were either killed or forced into exile. Antics would be an gross understatement.

The events leading up to his sealing are sketchy even for the era but I can give you a rough timeline thanks to Their Equestriani Majesties. First came the Great Conclave in which the western Earth Pony clans united and nominated Celestia of the Everfree Clan, then the destruction of Green Haven and foalnapping of Luna by slavers. Celestia Ascended after she found out, and Luna did so as well when made it to the slavers camp. Both took what remained of their clan and went into exile up into the Crystal Empire. It would be a few months later when the Sisters returned to Equestria again to stop Discord from using Sköll and Hati from collapse the Veil, the partially succeeded since they prevented the collapse but were unable to prevent the Shattering, the ceasing of the day/night cycle, both took full control of the Sun and Moon and later use the bodies of the two wolves to fashion into weapons. It would be another two years before the Sisters returned to Equestria at the head of an army of "Cutie Mark Crusaders" to oust Discord. They chased him to Gaea's Horn where the Elements were waiting. The rest is history.

The period afterwards wasn't a golden age, but neither was it a dark age like under the Tyrant's rule. Though it took time Equestria eventually became a single nation once again. Much like how it was under the rule of First Concordiat.

I hope that this answers you questions.

Sincerely,
Baroness Ink Scratch

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Another one I have some ideas about!

Where did Discord come from?

A total mystery. I originally had him as a petty god of sorts who was a smallish fish in his birth era and got himself imprisoned for playing pranks on "real" gods. After seeing more indications of his physical, bodily existence, I've amended that to a god's bastard son, the greatest child of Echidna, Mother of Monsters. Normally she could only blend three father's essences at most! The imprisonment has also become more complex - a labyrinth which fed on his own chaos to ensnare him. Oh, and almost everyone you meet for centuries being imaginary isn't exactly good for one's social skills.

Who ruled Equestria before him, and how long was he in control for?What of the origins of the two princesses, never mind the Elements of Harmony they discovered during this time? What was life like under Discord's rule, and how long did the ponies have to endure his antics?

Canonically, there is no longer room for him to be a relatively brief disruption of the Royal Sisters' reign - a decade at most. In my headcanon, though - well, it's officially the Century of Chaos becuse that was the longest period they could confirm. For some places it was just a few weeks. And this chronological discontinuity was only the beginning - the natural order broke down completely, and society followed suit, with most of the remnants either embracing the chaos or turning into full tyrannies to resist it. Notably, it was known that Discord could twist a pony's mind without outwardly observable signs, which almost totally destroyed trust between ponies.

When Discord was finally turned to stone (and what were the circumstances of that moment, anyway?), what direction did the realm take after that; a new Golden Age, or a long and dark time in which new evils came to take Discord's place?

A time of rebuilding, more stable at least than Discord's era -how much ponies appreciated that depended partly on how long ago the Classical Era was to them. The slowly recovering Equestria was at least a better place to live than many of it's neighbours, as it had it's new Harmonic philosophy and benevolent goddesses to soothe the harsh ways of the surviving societies.