This is how Equestria was founded and the stories of a long gone era.
Part of the Meanwhile... verse... well I guess that's one way to put it.
Anyways, you don't need to read Meanwhile... to read this. In here I delve into the history of the three pony tribes and why things ended up the way they did.
I modified the cover art. It's originally from Icognito-chan on Deviant Art.
King Mercury and Queen Iridium do decree the following:
It has come to our attention that no pony has entered the Copper Flail Mine for a while, and it has been abandoned. We decree our trusted guard and two unicorn architects shall build into thus mentioned mine a large sanctuary within the year. It is of utmost importance word of this sanctuary not meet any pony that includes loved ones. Failure to do so well be considered an act of treason and well be handled as such. Supplies shall be transported under cover of darkness. Any pony who finds out about this and is not a unicorn shall be dealt with on the spot. Any unicorn that finds out about this shall be sworn to secrecy or they shall be considered a traitor of the crown and handled quietly. Details of what is expected will described to our trusted guard.
The architects shant find out where or why there service is being requested until they have proven their worth. They shall be made aware of the terms before they have any idea of what will be requested of them. Payment shall be received in anonymous letters.
King Mercury or Queen Iridium shall do a final inspection of the sanctuary upon claimed completion.
Signed King Mercury Queen Iridium
King Mercury and Queen Iridium do decree the following:
The guard shall have the ability to pay for undocumented amounts of flour, salt, sugar, jams, dried grapes, pickles, and other such food items to be used by the crown. It shall be stored in the castle, unless told otherwise. Documenting these transactions in any way will lead to a hefty fine and time in the dungeon. Payment will be ten percent above the current market price.
Signed King Mercury Queen Iridium
It has been two years since those decrees had been made. The three pony tribes had been barely living peacefully together. Always on the edge of war. The only things preventing a war was a treaty and the Celestial Counsel. The treaty was one of trade. Pegasi and Unicorns could make their own food but not fast enough to feed everypony. The earth ponies however, could produce food fast enough to feed even the pegasi and unicorns. The pegasi would shape the land and water the plants. The unicorns did research as control over the sun and moon was seized by the Celestial Counsel.
The earth ponies have a Republic government of sorts. They for the most part are farmers. Most earth ponies lived in giant trees. Their villages are kind of like a farmers forest of huge trees lined and spaced up evenly. Their main hub of government, trade, and anything else could be described as a world tree. A massive tree shooting to the sky casting a large shadow over the land. They in general didn’t like the unicorns, but were kind of okay with the pegasi.
The pegasi have a huge cloud city that keeps them isolated. They also have a few underground villages scattered around. Their government is much more militaristic in nature. Every pegasi is prepared for war as part of their schooling. They till the lands for the earth ponies and provide rain for the crops. The pegasi were faithful to the treaty but remained aloof in their isolation.
The unicorns have a monarchy. They usually ended up doing any odd jobs that needed to be done that pegasi or earth ponies would have some problems with. They had a grand castle and surrounding city, and a few scattered villages. The unicorns once had control of the sun and moon and used it as a weapon to starve their enemies. Sure it was a double edged sword; but, with the multiple ways they could use magic they could outlast their enemies and strike before they lost their ability to. The unicorns never liked the earth ponies or the pegasi races. They thought and still think them below them for their lack of magical diversity. They were forced into the treaty thanks to the Celestial Counsel.
The Celestial Counsel was formed eighty years prior to those decrees. The details of how it was formed are fuzzy, but its purpose is not. It was made to ensure the three pony tribes didn’t wipe each other off the map. It’s comprised of a total of six members. Two of each tribe. Their first act was to destroy and/or seize all information on how to raise and lower the sun and moon. After that they forced the treaty on the three tribes that still has yet to bare fruit. All the tribes respect the counsel for at least what they accomplished. If not then they feared them for what they could do. Each member lives on the outskirts of their respective tribes capitals. In the time since the treaty things for each tribe has improved greatly. Citizens felt they were no longer plagued by the threat of war and invasion. Their populations expanded and the cities grew. Even though things got better, their hatred of the other tribes remained steadfast as that’s how they were raised. Sure there have been several deadly skirmishes throughout time that threatened another war, but the counsel always settled the matter.
The king and queen of the unicorns have recently been reaching out to the earth ponies. They began to offer as many services as they could, and began getting in meetings with the leaders of the earth ponies. They tried the same with the pegasi but they weren’t receptive at all to their attempts. Ties between the earth ponies and unicorns slowly began to strengthen while the pegasi remained out of touch. This has been going on for about a two years now. Trust was beginning to build between the leaders of both tribes. The unicorns kept their city closed to earth ponies, but they did begin to invite them over. They even got the earth ponies to sign a mutual alliance. It basically stated that in the event of an emergency the other nation shall bring aid to the other. What kind of aid depended on the emergency.
Today marks a special occasion. Paintings, festive decorations, and marble sculptures neatly placed around the castle ballroom. Clean-cut tables near the entrance and a stage with a dancing area near the back. Several unicorns filled the ballroom, with only a few earth ponies. The king and queen were out about entertaining their guest and making sure things ran smoothly. After all it is their daughters fourteenth birthday. Their daughter is a purple unicorn, with emerald eyes, and a long snow white mane that curls near the end. She often wears a purple cloak with a white border and today was no exception.
Princess Platinum was surprised to say the least. Her father and mother have always kept her sheltered and away from their subjects. They have enlisted the aid of a couple unicorns they trusted to teach her about many subjects. With nothing to else to do with her time while they did their many duties, she spent her time learning everything she could. When she was younger they taught her to be good and some basic morals on some things she may have to deal with when she got older. She was a quick learner and had a pretty good memory to boot. That could be because she didn’t have much else to spend her time on. In any event, two years ago her parents decided it was time she learned how to defend herself. She didn’t like it and still doesn’t but they claimed and maintain it’s useful to know. Now that she is in a public forum for the first time she didn’t really know what to do. Sure she has been there on the sidelines to watch her parents work but this is much different. They assured her everything would be fine and she would be safe. That wasn’t what she was worried about at all.
She looked around her and saw lots of unicorns standing around and chatting. She recognized some of them but her attention was drawn to one of her teachers. She quickly but dignifiedly walked up to her. “Miss Noble,” Platinum said slightly bowing in respect.
Noble looked at Princess Platinum and quickly replied with the same type of bowing. “Princess Platinum how do you like the party so far?”
“It’s been very unexpected, but I must confess I have no clue what I’m doing,” Platinum then noticed the pony she had been talking to and did a double take. It was an earth pony, she has only heard things about them in passing. When she has asked about them they only told her that they were trade partners from another nation. She stared at the earth pony awkwardly.
Noble noticed this and quickly interjected, “Oh how terrible rude of me, Princess Platinum this is Minty Rock she’s an ambassador from the earth pony republic,” as she said that Minty gave a nod of respect and held out her hoof.
Confused by this action Platinum merely looked at the extended hoof. Noble quickly realised what was going on, “Oh that’s how earth ponies greet each other, here watch,” Minty quickly extended her hoof to Noble and they shook.
She then re-extended her hoof to Platinum and she repeated the process. “Nice to make your acquaintance Princess Platinum,” Minty said happily.
“You aswell Minty Rock, I must confess Miss Noble I know you taught me what to do in these situations but actually being in them is entirely different than just you and me practising,” Platinum was struggling to get her bearings. With everything that was happening around her she felt like a lot was expected from her and she couldn’t deliver.
“And what situations would those be?” Minty interjected.
Having been taught to respect other ponies she didn’t think much on whether or not she should answer that question. “Well, a party. I know I’m supposed to walk around and meet new unicorns… sorry ponies, but there’s so many and it feels like I can’t meet them all when, and I don’t want to sound vain here but, I’m the reason they’re here, or at least I’m supposed to be the reason they’re here.”
“That’s an interesting conundrum you got there Princess Platinum, and you’d be right. I’m here for dual purposes, one is to increase ties between the earth pony republic and your parents kingdom, and the other is I like birthday parties. So happy birthday,” as she said those last words she pulled out a small box and presented it to her.
Platinum looked at the box questioningly, “What is this?”
“Why it’s a birthday present Princess Platinum,” Noble nudge in.
“What I mean is why is she giving me one, not to sound ungrateful, but we just met,” Platinum clarified.
“Like I said before Princess Platinum I’m here to increase ties between our nations, and I like birthday parties. Congress has allowed me to bring you a gift of my choosing as an ambassador I take pride in finding civil solutions to uncivil situations. That part of my duty now seems mostly over, however the other part of my duty is maintaining civil discourse and building strong ties,” Minty said with pride, “What better way to create stronger ties than earning trust and respect from the future leader of the nation?”
Platinum didn’t want to think about it and she often found other things to think about than her future. Minty however, brought the issue in an elegantly blunt way that she couldn’t help but smile at her, “Yeah, I guess you’re right, but don’t think for one moment this or any future gift will earn my trust and respect because that’s not something you will be able to buy from me. However, I do appreciate the gift.” Platinum bowed and took the gift in her magic.
“Oh I wouldn’t dream of it Princess… Go ahead open it I want to see your reaction, and you will also probably have some questions,” Minty said in an excited tone. Noble looked a little apprehensive thinking things could go horribly wrong but kept those as mere thoughts.
Platinum hovered the box away from her a little and untied the ribbon and slowly opened the box. She looked inside and saw three golden objects in the box. “What are they?”
“Those are rare golden seeds. After a year of near constant maintenance of the wilting flower they produce one of these seeds, which can do many spectacular things. For example they can sprout a huge tree house within seconds, which is very convenient for travel. Create a months worth of food for a family of five. The possibilities are almost endless. Sadly you won’t be able to use them because you’re not an earth pony,” Minty explained.
“Why are they rare if they can be produced in a year?” Platinum asked.
“Ah good question, it’s because the amount of maintenance needed to keep the wilting flower alive for one year is too much for any one earth pony to do alone, in fact it usually takes six to twelve ponies to do that, one month at a time. It’s boring to sit and watch three to five plants all day everyday. If somepony were to mess up at any point before it’s created they will have wasted their time, and not many ponies sign up to do it for those reasons, which is why they’re rare,” Minty said in a lectury way.
Platinum gained a new respect for the seeds she was given, “I can see why you would consider these a good gift. Thank you,” she said with a nod of approval.
Minty looked up and behind Platinum and nodded, “Well it looks like I’m being called over by Dutchess White Script, before I go I would like to say that I think you’re doing fine princess you met me after all. Miss Noble, Princess Platinum,” She bowed respectfully as she said their name and left.
The rest of the party went without a hitch and Platinum had a good time. She met lots of new unicorns. Some of them she felt were leeches tossing her easy compliments and copied opinions. Some seemed real worthy of respect. Her parents requested her to do a speech at the end and she did. That day she saw earth ponies for what they are and she had no complaints.
