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Illiad Easle

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  1. Illiad Easle

    Shadow Specters

    By Illiad Easle,


    Species/Races
    Shadow Specters are an entirely original species that I created with only minor inspiration from other works. I've been told that they bear a resemblance to Umbrums from the comics, but I haven't read the comics.
     
    Similar to Changelings, Shadow Specters are magical entities with some biological components, though these components are far more minute than in changelings. A Shadow Specter is often visualized by a dark shadowy orb with a number of tendrils extending off of the central mass. These tendrils can be used to manipulate objects in their surroundings, but Specters are not very strong on their own and more often will simply use magic and telekinesis to move things. 
    Specters feed off of heat, often sitting near creatures or fire, but are burned by direct sunlight. As such they'll often hide in the shadows of passing creatures and mostly travel at night. Many will live their lives in deep caves with access to hotsprings to sustain them.
    A specter's body is made up of tiny pieces that essentially form a swarm or hive mind. If split the two halves will each retain pieces of the original personality and memory, and the two halves can be reintegrated if large enough, but a small enough piece will simply lose cohesion and dissipate. Specters can grow larger overtime, either by being fed enough heat or by dominating another specter and absorbing their mass. Eventually a specter will, if allowed, grow large enough to become what is known as a Specter King. Large enough that movement becomes difficult, so they will spin off portions of themselves to serve as knights, each a specter in their own right and almost unquestionably loyal to their king. The longer and further a knight spends away from their king, the more unique their personality becomes and the more their loyalty might waver.
     
    If a creature is not magically shielded or engulfed in sunlight, a specter will be able to communicate with them telepathically so long as direct contact can be maintained. Many ponies practicing dark magics will choose to form symbiotic bonds with specters, allowing the specter to live inside them. As a specter is made up of many tiny pieces, these pieces are small enough to pass through ponies without causing damage, but only a willing host will be suitable as the body's internal magics would try to push out the specter otherwise. Once bonded, the pony will gain access to many spectral abilities, the most notable of which is the ability to move through shadows and to move as a ball of darkness, as done by Princess Luna and King Sombra.
     
    Spectrals are also known to be common vectors whereby godly powers are bestowed. In essence the specter serves as a conduit for the power that can be revoked by either party at any time.
  2. Illiad Easle
    As to not make the previous post too long I decided to put all of the details regarding special changeling types into their own post. Most players playing a changeling will play a standard changeling, but might know about these special types and use them as secondary or background characters.
    Note that I don't consider most of the Other types cannon in my own works, but I have encountered them on the forums so I'll provide information on them, and recommend more lore-friendly alternatives.
     
    Queens
    Changeling Queens are quite well known and mostly understood already. As stated in the previous post, Queens are the primary method whereby new changelings are made, as such they are often the leader of the hive, and biologically they are far more robust and powerful than a standard changeling. Chrysalis being able to beat Celestia in a 1v1 was not a fluke, Changeling Queens, when properly healthy and energized, are equal in raw magical power to alicorns. This is due to their innately stronger connection to the magical field, due to them primarily being magical entities. 
    Despite this level of power, Queens are still vulnerable to physical assault. Like standard changelings, they will burn if their magical field is dispelled and they are not nearly so physically strong as an alicorn, Even a well trained Earth Pony could beat a Changeling Queen in hoof to hoof combat. So the Queen will rarely leave the hive and will prefer to do all fighting magically and from a distance, utilizing personal guards to maintain separation from combatants whenever possible.
    Similar to Alicorns, Changeling Queens are also remarkably long lived, the youngest queen, before the introduction of Oracle and Maripose (Of my own design) was several centuries old with the average age for a queen being a full 1000 years. Queens are biologically immortal, in that they do not die of old age, but they are prone to various dangerous mental deteriorations once they get too old. Queen Geletine, whose hive turned to bloodlust after a betrayal is an example of this, while Queen Nirvana, the oldest known Queen, has managed 3000 years without any sign of deterioration, which she credits to her time spent among the Himallaman monks and her hive's focus on inner peace and her namesake.
    Queens are formed in a similar process to standard changelings, albeit much more resource intensive. While a standard changeling only takes a few months to gestate in the cocoon, a Changeling Queen takes a full year at the shortest, and up to two years at most before they are ready to leave the cocoon. They also take longer to fully mature than a standard changeling. Instead of being ready to enter the world at 3 years old, a Queen will not be considered ready to leave until 7 years, and not fully matured until 12.
    While this is still quite fast compared to pony development times, this is a significant increase compared to standard changelings. Finally, while standard changelings can be made in batches, Queens can only be made individually. Queen Geletine, during her psychosis, tried to make two queens at once, and the result was Queen Sleipnir, who despite having double the number of appendages was still just one Queen.
    In the rare event that the Queen dies, traditionally the remaining changelings would be adopted by other nearby hives or simply do their best to keep moving in the absence of their queen, often deluding themselves into believing that their queen is not dead, but rather trapped or otherwise incapacitated. There is however a way for a hive to make a new queen, called an Ascended Queen, utilizing one of their own standard changelings and putting them through a similar process to how a normal Queen is made. The changeling selected for ascension is sealed in a cocoon filled with emotion gel, and the gel is charged with all available types of emotional energy. After a full year of constant charging the new queen will emerge, but their personality will be altered slightly depending on the emotional mix and who was doing the energizing. Thus it is important to either ensure that the mix is as even as possible and the chargers are rotated evenly, or that the mix is predominantly the same as the hive's original mix, and that the chargers are exclusively from the same cocoon as the one being ascended in order to minimize alterations to the new Queen's personality.
    This is a risky method to gain a queen, and as such is only performed in dire circumstances.
     
    Kings
    A Changeling King is a special type of Pony/Changeling hybrid created via the same method as ascending a changeling to a Queen. However, changeling Kings have more in common with Reformed Changelings than standard, as they retain a biological gender (In that they are still capable of producing equine offspring in whichever manner they were capable of before the transformation), do not require emotional energy to survive, and will not burn when killed. Kings are about halfway between a changeling and a Queen in terms of strength and size.
    In my experience, Kings only appear when a Queen is in love with a pony, which very rarely happens, due to the cost of forming one being equal to making a new queen, Kings are seen more as an indication that a hive is doing exceptionally well.
    In my stories, only 3 changeling Kings were ever made. Rasputin Stalliongrad with Queen Geletine, who betrayed her. Trojan Horse with Queen Permutation, who was murdered as part of a coup in Troy. And, in some timelines, Daxter Blackwater with Queen Oracle.
     
    Other
    Partially Converted Ponies
    This is a common one in fan-fiction, a pony is captured by changelings and converted into a changeling by force. I don't like this concept as it's less efficient than making new changelings the normal way, more often than not produces inferior changelings who are not keen on helping the hive, and often the conversion just fails and the pony dies either during the process, or soon after when their magic fails.
    You could say that an insane hive, either due to an insane queen or one who lost their queen, might try this to bolster their numbers.
     
    Pony/Changeling Hybrid
    This stems from the fandom's obsession with hybrid everything. Just pick a species and stick with it! You'll find better ways to make your character unique than just making them a new hybrid type.
    Further, as changelings are infertile in my fanon, they simply can't be made, at least with standard changelings. The presence of Reformed Changelings makes this subset possible and practical with either parental configuration, and the abilities of the hybrid will be the same or similar to a reformed changeling.
     
    If there are other types that I've missed, please let me know so I can add them, or if anything is unclear I'd be happy to expand this like all other posts.
  3. Illiad Easle

    Changelings

    By Illiad Easle,


    Species/Races
    Exactly what Changelings are and how they operate is something that few people here on the forums have a concrete consensus on, at least in my experience in the Roleplay section. This is additionally complicated by the introduction of 'Reformed' Changelings, which I will discuss at the end of this post.
    I personally derive most of my changeling functionality from the FiMFiction story, A Novel Tale, but I have made some modifications. For the sake of clarity, I will write here assuming that you have not read the story.
    If there is anything below that is confusing, or an aspect that I missed, please let me know in a comment or message so I can improve this resource.
     
    Biology
    Most creatures on Equis can be described as biological creatures with magical abilities. Changelings are an exception to this, being better described as magical entities with biological components. Changelings are, in essence, primarily composed of magic. This allows them to change their physical form and outward appearance at will, but also gives them a need to consume energy in order to sustain themselves. A Changeling has a physical body covered in chitinous plates composing an exoskeleton, making them especially lightweight yet durable, and a magical barrier that covers their body. The barrier is malleable, and is what allows them to change their appearance, as well as protecting their body from being exposed to air. A changeling's body is highly flammable, and will combust whenever exposed to air, which is why they are engulfed in fire when they change disguise, as the barrier temporarily disappears as it changes. This barrier is always present, even when undisguised, except when a changeling dies or is entirely drained of energy.
    When a changeling dies, the barrier disappears and the body is burned. This leaves behind a pile of ash, called Changeling Ash, whish is itself highly flammable and useful as a fire starter, often mixed with fire salts or used as a pyromancy ingredient.
    Reproduction
    There are a few ways whereby changelings can reproduce, but all methods require a Queen. Changelings, biologically speaking, are genderless. While they are capable of properly disguising as any gender, they are incapable of impregnating or becoming pregnant. The technical exception to this is a Queen, who is the only type of changeling capable of producing ovum, and a King, who is a transformed pony and retains their gender from their original form.
    A Changeling Queen can make new changelings in one of two ways. The preferred way is via cocoon, but the queen can also lay eggs directly if a cocoon is unavailable or in emergency situations. For the cocoon option, a cocoon is made and filled with emotion gel, which is described in greater detail below, and this gel is charged with the primary emotions of the hive, with some others mixed in. The exact mix is rarely consistent, and is attributed with being the driving factor for the predispositions of the changelings grown within. Once the cocoon is prepared, the Queen deposits a number of eggs inside depending on the size of the cocoon, typically 6-12, though larger cocoons can be made to hold upwards of 40 at a time. The gel in the cocoon is periodically recharged as the eggs grow, and after a few months of gestation the eggs hatch and the young changelings, referred to as foal-lings, emerge. These foal-lings will continue to grow and develop over the next few years, being educated by their hive and working different jobs inside the hive both to help the hive grow and to build skills that they'll use when they go out into the world.
    In the case where a cocoon cannot be made, the Queen can lay eggs directly, like any other egg laying species, and these eggs are then covered with emotion gel which is charged and recharged the same way as above. When done this way, typically only 1-3 eggs are laid at a time.
    Physiology
    A Changeling has the same body shape as an equine, which is to say quadrupedal, and has wings and a horn. Their bodies are almost always a shade of dark grey, similar to thestrals, with accent colors on their backplate, tail, mane, wings, and eyes, representing the primary emotions of their hive. In this way, changelings from different hives can be visually distinguished, which changelings from the same hive will look similar.
    That is not to say that all changelings from a hive will look the same. In their undisguised form, the arrangement and size of the holes in their legs is mostly unique. Further, the relative sizes of their legs, wings, and horns, can vary drastically between members of a hive, though are often similar among changelings hatched from the same cocoon. These are referred to as Predispositions, and often influence the type of disguises that changelings from that cocoon will choose to wear and how they will view themselves. 
    Diet
    While it is accurate to say that changelings feed on emotion, it is more accurate to say that they feed off of the emotional energy given off by those around them. In emergency situations this energy can be drained directly, but this can be damaging to the one being drained and is less effective of a food source for the changeling.
    The optimal food source for a changeling is emotion gel charged with the primary emotions of their hive. Emotion gel is typically made in the hive in large vats utilizing boiling mineral water, usually sourced from an underground hot spring, and changeling bile which they produce inside their bodies. This substance, also called changeling spit, is highly viscous and can be hardened with magic, making it a very good building material or restraint method.
    Once the neutral gel is made, which will often be the same color as the changelings who made it, it is barreled and shipped out to the Harvester changelings who charge it with the emotional energy they have collected rom the creatures around them. The charged gel is sent back to the hive to then be distributed to all of the changelings who need it, as well as to feed the changelings currently living in the hive.
    A changeling who is out scouting can also make their own gel with any water, though mineral water is preferred, so that they can digest the emotions they are collecting without having to return often or carry a lot of food with them.
    Interactions
    Optimally, changelings interact with other species in order to cultivate their desired emotions in those they come into contact with. In a way, they act like bees where the other species are flowers. The changelings strive to ensure that those around them are healthy and capable of producing their desired emotions naturally, encouraging them to experience them. For example, a hive with a primary focus on awe would likely be involved in the tourism industry, building things that would generate awe and encouraging those around them to visit and see it. 
    There are then two types of changelings involved in the energy collection process, the Cultivators, and the Harvesters. A Cultivator's job is to do whatever is necessary to inspire the desired emotions. This will often involve engaging with other creatures directly. A Harvester's job is to discretely collect the cultivated emotions. This process can depend on what the desired emotions are, some take time to fully cultivate, some are quite fleeting and have to be collected quickly, and some will last a good long while after they have been cultivated. Usually a Harvester will take a job that allows them to interact with many creatures for short durations with minimal notice, like a mail carrier, waiter, or checkout attendant. Ideally, the cultivated creature will never even know that their excess emotional energy has been collected, and will generally be better off for having, unknowingly, interacted with the local changelings.
    In addition to their jobs in the hive, changelings will often seek fulfilling relationships with the creatures around them both out of social need and to better integrate themselves in the local community.
     
    Reformed Changelings
    Many changelings view 'Reformed' changelings as a perversion of the natural way, this is due to their lack of familiarity with this development and the unfortunate connotations of the name 'reformed'. Many consider it a sort of social reformation, like how one would reform a convict, implying that changeling nature was originally evil and that reformed changelings are thereby good.
    In truth, reformed changelings are such in a more physiological sense. They have been literally re-formed into an entirely new species more akin to ponies than changelings. Where changelings are magical creatures with biological components, reformed changelings are biological creatures with magical abilities. Unlike traditional changelings, a reformed changeling:
    Does not have a magical barrier surrounding their body when undisguised Does not burn when exposed to oxygen or killed Does not need to collect emotional energy in excess of what they produce for themselves Has a biological gender, and reproduces using traditional methods Does not always have both wings and a horn, and may have neither Has reduced ability to adjust their size/shape while disguising
  4. Illiad Easle
    Continuing from part 1
     
    Changelings
    This differs from hive to hive, and builds off of my own fanon for how changeling operate (Which is inspired in large part by the story A Novel Tale) which I will detail extensively in a later blog post.
    Changelings are born or hatched with certain attributes commonly called 'predispositions'. These can vary from subtle to obvious but tend to be similar among those grown in the same cocoon with minor variations. These predispositions often affect what species, gender, or race the changeling is most comfortable portraying, but in no way limits a changeling's ability to disguise as whatever they want. While some changelings feel no particular attachment to any disguise, and change them often, most changeling would say that there is one or a few disguises that they feel a stronger attachment to than others. Those with the privilege of growing up in large, well-established, hives like Troy or Manehatten will have the ability to take special classes before entering the world in an effort to discover these forms that they resonate most closely with, which they call their 'true-selves'. Changelings will work for months or even years perfecting this form, integrating themselves as a new pony to society rather than replacing an existing pony.
    As it pertains to marks, given a changeling can choose the mark for themselves, they will often try out a few different ones inside the hive, meditate on options, or attend pony classes as a transfer student as an unmarked pony to experience the sort of things that ponies do to earn their marks, seeking inspiration. Those who do not choose to be ponies will often research similar events for those races and do their best to emulate it. They do this both out of respect for the culture they are entering, and to better complete their chosen persona.
    In hive Permutation, there is an additional option. Young changelings may visit the hall of remembrance, and look for candles that have recently burned out, researching the past lives and personas of deceased changelings, then requesting permission to replicate a previous identity to carry on the legacy, often even taking the persona of a changeling who additionally shared their name. This is also an option in hive Sleipnir, but it is less common.
     
    Minotaurs
    Minotaur culture is often described as a tightrope between animal and culture, similar to Klingons. From a young age they are taught discipline, how to contain the inner beast, and how to let it out appropriately and constructively. Once they manage to learn self control, usually around the age of 4, they start to see a maze in their dreams. They are encouraged to explore it, but not much importance is given to it until they have finished their first few years of education, at which point they are instructed on how to map and draw the maze in their dreams, revealing the consistencies and the changes over time. Minotaurs believe that this maze guides them through life, warning them of future choices by allowing them to catch glimpses of dead ends or dangers along paths.
    This is similar to the Deer's experience with the Path, but often less specific. Each maze is unique, but often similar between those who are closely related or associated. Comparing mazes in a group can help discover the best course of action for a team. 
     
    Zebra
    Zebra gain marks just like ponies do, though the meaning are often more abstract. Similar to Camels, a zebra's mark is often made of swooping lines and circles, without color. These marks can sometimes match alchemical symbols, indicating a talent for potions, or a type of potions, natural symbols, indicating a connection to nature, among others. Notable among zebra is that their marks are noted to change over time far more often than a pony's would. This is seen as natural and a sign that an aging zebra ought to step down and train an apprentice.
    When a mark first appears, the young zebra is brought before an elder, like with Camels or Deer, to have their mark read and better understood. 
  5. Illiad Easle
    As is shown in the show, ponies aren't the only creatures who have marks, but most of those who do have marks are pony-adjacent, like zebra. In one of my more extensive RPs, I discuss the concept of similar events to receiving a cutie mark for other sentient species and how this relates to their own coming of age. (Specific section)
    In this blog post I'll summarize some of what I put down there and what I can remember for the types not mentioned in that RP, splitting the species into a few different posts as to keep these entries from getting too long. If there's a creature you're very interested in seeing, please comment or message me so I can add them to the list.
    As a disclaimer, I'm not basing any of the following information off of any show canon, this is pure fanon that I believe has no conflicts with the show and should work well for anyone wanting to play a character of these species.
     
    Camels
    Camels are a mostly nomadic species found in the San Palomino desert south of the Mild West, and scattered about the deserts of Zebrica. They mostly roam in small family units, similar to the buffalo but often smaller groups. Their culture is focused mostly on the sands and the oases, their natural magic being a form of geomancy that allows them some control over the sand they walk on, making crossing the desert and caring for their oases an easy task.
    When a young camel receives a mark, it is not so much a mark on their bodies but one left behind when they rise up after a long rest, an effect caused by their natural magics shifting the sand beneath them. Like zebra, these marks are often abstract concepts with many wavy lines that often don't mean much on their own or to an outsider. This mark will then appear whenever the camel rests and is left behind when they leave.
    Upon noticing that they have left a mark, the camel's family will travel to the nearest oasis to meet with the local sand speaker, which is their equivalent to a zebra elder or shaman, who will interpret their mark and lead the young camel in a writing ritual to formalize the mark. A tent is erected in the sand to shield an area from wind and sun, and the sand speaker makes a larger version of the young camel's mark. The camel then writes in and between the lines of their mark their own understanding of it, along with their hopes and dreams, and fears for the future. Once they are done writing, the tent is removed and the wind allowed to erase the writings, symbolizing that the desert will hold their secrets and aid them to come to fruition.
     
    Diamond Dogs
    Diamond dogs do not have marks, nor much in the way of natural magics, but they still come of age and have some magic to guide them in their journey. From a young age dogs are taught to be self-reliant and how to survive in the wild. Once a dog is old enough, as determined either by their parents, the den leader, or their own volition, they leave the den in search of their own mineral. Dogs on this journey are to live on their own, without outside help, but they are allowed to form a pack with other young journeying pups if they are so lucky as to encounter others.
    After some time they will find a gem or mineral that resonates with them, often, but not always, it is the first one they find a good amount of. At this point the dog will make a choice either to return to their home den, join a new den, or build their own den and form a pack from those they traveled with. Historically, dogs would bring the mineral or gem they found to an elder for it to be interpreted, but few dogs today put much stock into old prophecies so it is becoming a rarer occurrence. Typically a dog will choose to name themselves after the gem or mineral they found, like Amber Shepherd, Gypsum Pointer, etc.
     
    Deer
    Deer are an example of how gender dimorphism affects both magic and coming of age. Among deer, only the males grow antlers, and they only have antlers seasonally, meaning that they are only able to effectively cast spells for part of the year. They are not entirely without magic when their horns are not present however, but that can be discussed in a dedicated Species post.
    Bucks
    Male deer grow antlers at the start of Spring after about 8-12 years of life (Adjusting normal deer lifespan to make it the same length as ponies) and they fall off towards the end of Fall. When a fawn grows his first antlers, those in his glen will watch for when his magic fully develops, which culminates in a First Spell. This first use of magic is often wild, but reveals the buck's natural talents and desires. This will lead the buck to be presented to a mentor capable of guiding them in fully developing their skills until they become a full adult.
    Does
    Female deer do not grow antlers, instead their natural magics are directed towards a guiding force which many call The Path or The Roots. This stems from a cultural belief in the great tree that binds all of nature together, and unites all creatures. It's roots stretch everywhere and guide those who seek it to what they desire. Most does only see the path when meditating, but some especially gifted does can use the path to guide them in combat or other intense activities, or can use it to locate creatures or items at great distances as well as knowing instinctively how to get there.
    When a young fawn comes of age, she will see the path in her dreams for the first time, getting a look at all the ways her life could go and a few ideas as to which path she should take in life to achieve her desires. It is an unmistakable experience for a young doe, though there may be a few false starts before it happens. After the dream occurs, the young doe will be presented to an elder well versed in the path, or one will arrive at their glen having been guided there by the path. This elder will guide them through meditative exercises in order to better see the path while it is fresh, and teach them how to use it in their lives going forward.
    Together
    Due to the gender dimorphism, young bucks and does will often pair up soon after coming of age, each one using their gifts to compliment the other. This starts out as simple friendships, often forming into groups of 3-5 for the first few years, before officially pairing off once they've more fully matured.
  6. Illiad Easle
    The subject of cutie marks and what they mean or represent for the ponies that have them is something that I've found quite divisive during my time on the forums and when reading fanfictions that cover the topic. This post is not meant to say that I am right and all others are wrong, but simply to explain how I've come to understand cutie marks and what they represent in the works that I produce. So far as I'm aware, my understanding does not contradict the show canon, and often times is supported by it, but I am not an expert on all show events so there may be inconsistencies.
     
    To start, I'd like to go over a few things that a cutie mark is NOT.
    It is not an indication that you are the best at something. It is not necessarily what you are best at. It does not grant power. Now let me explain what I consider a cutie mark to be, circling back to these points of what it is not towards the end. I have always considered a cutie mark to represent self-actualization, an indication that the pony in question has realized what sort of pony they want to be, and such realization has resonated with something deeper inside them. It can be taken as an indication that they are on the right path, and while they may not have fully actualized themselves yet, they know who they want to be and are working towards that ultimate goal.
    As this is not true self-actualization, as is represented in the hierarchy of needs, the other needs do not necessarily need to be fulfilled for one to obtain a mark, but it leaves the possibility open for the mark to change later once more needs are met and their self perception changes. This also allows for the mark to change after amnesia, societal collapse, or traumatic events that drastically alter the pony's psyche, though in most media these events are rare and more often the pony recontextualizes their understanding of the mark, rather than their mark changing, essentially seeing the mark as a representation of them, rather than it being part of their representation, like a logo or brand whose meaning changes.
    To go further, while a mark is often obtained during an activity, it is rarely the activity itself that triggered the mark, but rather a realization inside the pony that this activity deeply fulfills them. That they want to be the kind of pony that does this thing. This builds into the second point where it isn't necessarily what they're best at, but what fulfills them. Over time, it is likely that this activity will become what they are best at, but they are not prevented from having other talents, hobbies, or jobs in addition.
    Some marks, like those in the Apple Family, demonstrate a form of family unity where almost all in the family have apple themed marks even when their talents may not specifically involve apple cultivation, like Apple Bloom who I'll discuss later. It instead represents that part of their identity, how they see themselves, is as a member of this larger family. In essence, members of the Apple family have apple themed marks not because of genetics or being raised in the family business, but because they see being part of the family as a crucial part of who they are, and they want to be part of the family going forward.
    Since I mentioned Apple Bloom, she and the other CMC members represent my interpretation of marks in a fairly clear way. Before they got their marks, there were many stories focused on their talents and skills, activities they seemed good at, and neglected to focus on who they were and who they wanted to be. I'll admit that I wasn't too happy about their marks when they were first revealed, but after giving it some thought I found that they most accurately represented who they were. They had defined themselves as ponies who sought marks, and who found enjoyment helping others along the same path. They realized that they were most fulfilled doing that, and so that's what they got their marks in.
    In short, a mark represents fulfillment. Not the culmination of a life's journey, but often the start of it.
     
    Circling back to my earlier points:
    It is not an indication that you are the best at something.
    This is fairly easy, if a mark meant you were the best at something, there couldn't be duplicates since there can't be two bests, and either you'd quickly run out of things to be good at or the distinctions would end up so minute as to make it indistinguishable from my above interpretation, where the only thing they're the best at is being themselves.
    It is not necessarily what you are best at.
    I went over this in my main section, but if ones mark indicated what they were best at, it would be very limiting. Especially if they weren't very good at that thing. It would then mean that they are worse at everything else and could never get much better at anything that wasn't their specified talent. Under this system getting a mark would be like locking in to a particular skill tree and never being able to do anything else.
    To summarize from above, it's not necessarily what you're best at, but what brings you fulfillment.
    It does not grant power.
    This is one that I've found fairly contentious both in stories and in the forums.
    So far as I'm aware, there is no evidence in the show canon that a mark grants the one who has it any additional skills or ability beyond what confidence and self assurance would provide. In almost all cases, the power existed prior to the mark appearing. To use a show example, Rainbow Dash performed the sonic rainboom before her mark appeared. Twilight demonstrated unparalleled magic potential before her mark appeared. Rarity, while she wasn't fully in control of it, used the gem finding spell before her mark appeared.
    The only exception I'm aware of is when curses are in effect, like the Cutie Pox or the Equality curse. In those cases the cursed marks imposed restrictions or abilities on the wearer.
     
    Inversely, the removal or magical swapping of a mark does not remove power or ability. I've already spoken to the Equality curse as it was the cursed mark that prevented them from using their abilities rather than the loss of their original marks. And in other cases where a mark was removed, mostly Tirek, there was an underlying additional cause of magical manipulation. Marks are magical, so the removal of magic could also remove a mark, and the removal of magic could also make many talents and abilities harder or impossible to perform. When the princesses swapped places, Discord was involved, and all bets are off when Discord is involved.
    The other example that I think best represents this point, is Magical Mystery Cure. All of the elements had their marks swapped, except for Twilight, but NONE of them were any good at their supposed new talents. If marks granted power, why did they not have the skills associated with their new marks? The obvious answer is that marks don't grant power, and that marks represent self perception rather than ability.
     
    Like I said at the top, this is a contentious topic. I'm sure there are points that I've missed or things I haven't explained clearly. I encourage you to comment or message me if you think there's some important aspect I've missed, or any other topic you'd like to see explored in greater detail.
  7. Illiad Easle
    As a warning for this post, as the title may suggest this section delves into true horrors inspired in part by Cupcakes and Rainbow Factory. If you are aware of those stories then you know that they serve as adequate warnings for what is to come. If you are unaware of those stories, then you are not prepared for the horrors below.
    If you intend to proceed regardless, the trigger warnings are Coercion, Torture, Body Horror, Death, and Murder.
     
     
    Following the post on the original conflict, the three nations are at war. Peace talks have failed, expeditions lost, hope and supplies are reaching all time lows. All three nations are seeing a rise in casualties due to lack of supplies and a gradually lower quality of troops as younger and younger members are conscripted. Remember, casualties are not just those who have died, but those who are incapable of fighting due to injury. Those living casualties incur an ongoing cost for weeks, months, or years until they return to fighting strength, and some may never fully recover. Each nation was posed with the same problem:
    How do we convert our casualties from liabilities into assets?
    Each nation had their solution, all of them horrific.
     
    Terrans
    The Enigma Machine
    A curious contraption built by one of their chief scientists gone mad with grief after his only son became a casualty, losing the use of his legs. The machine itself was a wonder of engineering, and it itself was not the horror, but rather the purpose it was used for, and the things it was used with.
    The inventor presented the machine to the Terran Scientific Council for approval, and while they were impressed with the machine's ability to convert raw materials into manufactured goods, the outputs were wildly inconsistent, and so they were posed to reject it before he stopped them, proposing one last demonstration. The inventor had his own son enter the machine along with a small pile of raw materials, and what emerged was the first of the Terran super soldiers. His son emerged from the machine under his own power, able to walk for the first time in a year, and covered in an impenetrable armor of legendary quality that shifted like a second skin. He could move and fight like never before, and was still in control of his faculties.
    The scientific council was quite impressed, and ordered more tests to be done. Even if the results were inconsistent, the ability to turn their wounded into armored killing machines was invaluable, even if these machines would never be able to be anything else afterwards.
     
    Over the years, the quality of the casualties dropped, less pony went in, more machine came out, more horrors were committed by the machines on the battlefield until it was unsafe for even the Terrans to occupy the same front as the machine soldiers. Ruthless killing machines that would attack anything they saw. They were effective, but uncontrollable, they showed no mercy.
     
    Pegasi
    The Pegasus Device
    Taken from Rainbow Factory with some slight alterations. The Pegasus Device as depicted in the original story converts pegasus ponies into the magical elixir needed to make rainbows. This elixir is also a potent drug for use on the battlefield, but that is only the effect the device has on impure pegasi, which were the first to be put through the device "for the good of the flock".
    When a pure pegasus was finally put through the device, the first windigo appeared. A manifestation of the pegasi's pure weather elemental form. Not all pegasi would produce a windigo when processed, but they were attracted to conflict and thus would head straight to the battlefield when created. Uncontrollable, but suggestable, and ultimately the pegasi weren't too concerned with the ground freezing from up in the clouds, so collateral damage on their side was at a minimum.
    This also provided some extra motivation for their generals to succeed, as any underperforming officers would also be selected for processing, believing that an additional windigo would be more useful to the flock than a failing leader.
     
    Unicorns
    The Arcane Nexus
    In modern Equestria, a Nexus refers to when two or more unicorn ponies pool their magical energy together in order to cast a spell more powerful that either of them could cast individually. This was also the case in the ancient world. In the ancient world it was discovered though, that if a unicorn was killed while their magic was still pooled in the nexus, their magic and soul would remain connected to the nexus until the spell was completed.
    This provided the unicorns with a way to harvest the souls of their wounded in order to charge powerful spells, which was useful enough to start, but the soul would be wasted at the end of the spell. So, deeper research was conducted into forming an unending spell that would pool the magic, and a way to syphon out energy from the unending spell to cast any number of powerful spells without freeing the souls at the end.
    A solution was discovered, and a large runic structure built deep within the Unicorn capital city where it would be housed. What it lacked was a director, someone inside the spell that could control it, someone who would not succumb to the overwhelming power and refuse to take orders from without. The Empress selected her own daughter, Aurum, younger sister of Princess Platinum, to be the center of the Arcane Nexus. Aurum was taken, encased in amber, and sealed as the center of the Arcane Nexus. This deeply traumatized the young unicorn, but it was the initial sacrifice that broke her. 100 captives were made part of the spell and executed so that their souls would fuel the nexus. Aurum could not handle the weight of their suffering and disassociated, forming a split personality which called itself Nexus to handle everything else, which was even better than the Empress had imagined when selecting Aurum for this role.
    Over the years, more and more were sacrificed to the Arcane Nexus to grow its power, yet despite all of it the horrors produced by the Enigma Machine and the Pegasus Device continued to push the front closer to the capital.
     
    The End of the War
    In a last desperate bid to end the war, Empress Arcana ordered all of her subjects into the throne room, and bound them all to the same spell before killing them. Without orders, the Arcane Nexus issued one final spell, and the entire continent was frozen solid to a height even the pegasi could not escape, and those who survived, quickly ran out of food as nothing could grow in the new harsh terrain, forcing them too to leave the continent they had fought so dearly for.
    Many tried to escape the Empress's final order, boarding ships to sail away, and some succeeded, while others stand to this day frozen in the docks.
     
    It is well that few know of these horrors, lest some think that they could replicate them and not be corrupted by the power they bring.
  8. Illiad Easle
    In trying to come up with a satisfying answer to pony genetics, I stumbled upon this idea that the different types of ponies may actually be hybrids of distinct species rather than races of the same species. This would better explain why some traits are common to all types while others are unique, as well as the very occasional cross breed like a pegacorn. This also adds some explanation as to the ponies' ability to cross breed with just about every other species, at least according to the fanon.
    Essentially, the species of ponies are all of the Equus genus, which also includes zebra (a common cross breeding option), and Thestral.
    This post will discuss the three mentioned in the Pre-Equestria post, with a brief mention to crystal ponies, with other species and hybrids being discussed in later posts depending on interest.
     
    Unicorns
    The unicorn species is a bit taller than unicorns depicted in the show, not quite alicorn height, and a fair bit more slender. In terms of build, Fleur De Lis is an excellent example. Unicorns also tended to have longer, but more fragile, horns, and were capable of great feats of magic that now only alicorns can replicate, hence why they had no issues with the sun, moon, and stars, before the alicorns arrived. The final distinction between the species is the tail. A unicorn's tail was much more similar to our traditional depictions, appearing like a lion's tail with a long slender prehensile portion ended with a tuft of hair.
     
    Pegasi
    The pegsus species is a bit more birdlike than depicted in the show. While their build is mostly unchanged, ancient pegasi did not need magic to fly, having hollow bones to reduce weight and significantly larger wings, about twice the wingspan as a modern pegasus pony. Hollow bones made pegasi fairly ineffective at hoof to hoof combat, so they relied much more on weapons with reach and ranged weapons, as well as aerial bombardment. They also put more effort into armor and padding, developing lightweight but effective defensive measures. These larger wings also allowed them to achieve greater heights than modern pegasus ponies, and allowed them to travel much farther distances. In terms of total area, the pegasus nation was the largest of the three. Pegasi also had more feathers than modern pegasus ponies, most notably they would often have a good number of feathers in their tails, giving them much greater control in flight.
     
    Terrans
    The Terran species was the most varied in appearance, and may well have contained several subspecies. Their notable differences compared to the other species was, as in modern day, more described by what they lacked, rather than what they had. Still, Terrans were quite physically robust, able to take and give quite a beating, and they had a strong culture for science, making up for their lack in physical advantages with technology. With their strength they were quite proficient in mining, metalworking, and machining, similar to modern minotaurs. They leveraged machines to defend themselves from the other nations and to close the distance, as they would excel in close combat.
    One example of a subspecies still present in modern depictions are the Saddle Arabians. Trouble Shoes is also a good depiction of what a Terran would have looked like.
     
    Crystal Ponies
    Crystal ponies fall into the same boat as the sea pony version of hippogriffs (Not to be confused with the Griffon/Pony hybrid of the same name) in that they originated from an expeditionary group that would have been utterly destroyed had they not been changed. The Crystal ponies came to be in order to be able to survive in the harsh cold of the frozen north. It is lost to history what exactly caused this change in them, whether a god or some lost magical ritual stepped in to save them, but they would have all died had it not occurred.
    Sea ponies have a similar origin, an expeditionary group marooned on a sinking island converted from whatever race they were originally into sea ponies. Given their wings in their land forms, it is likely that this was originally a pegasus colony, which matches the architectural style.
     
    Bonus:
    Alicorns
    While most modern ponies are hybrids of the original species, the Alicorns could be said to be a true fusion of the three. They possess the stature and magical power of the Unicorns, the wings and agility of the Pegasi, and the strength and tail of the Terrans. They, in this way, represent a perfect unity of the warring species, and often manifest when one overcomes the limitations of their hybrid nature to serve a higher purpose. There are rumors that Alicorns existed before the great war, and perhaps during. Some alicorns are born, and others are made.
     
    Draconequui 
    Alternatively, Draconequui are an imperfect fusion of species, parts jumbled and forced together often without rhyme, reason, or symmetry. They represent unions formed out of convenience or desperation, tenuous, chaotic, and unpredictable, and often represent base forces of nature and culture like Discord, Fury, and Avarice. Unlike alicorns, no one is born a draconequis. All draconequui are made either from a creature aspiring to something they should not, and are corrupted by the natural magics (Fury and Avarice), or they are formed directly out of the natural magics to fill a gap (Discord?).
  9. Illiad Easle
    It seems as good a place to start as any, the oldest known events as presented in the show's canon, the conflict between the three types of ponies before Equestria was founded.
    Simply put, the Hearth's Warming story is a sanitized version of events meant to inspire unity and serve as a founding story of Equestria, but there are darker truths as to what really happened before the characters named in the story came to Equestria. While these characters were real creatures in history, they were not the true leaders of their respective nations, but rather subordinates sent by their leaders to explore options while the war raged on around them.
    Yes, it wasn't a simple dispute that brought the windigos, but actual war between the ponies.
    It is also worth mentioning that the three types of ponies at these times were distinct species, rather than races, but that will be discussed in a later blog post. Essentially, the ponies we see in the show are all hybrid races of the three original species (Hence pegasus ponies instead of pegasi and unicorn ponies instead of unicorns. Pony denotes that they are hybrid rather than pure.)\
     
    Each nation, which I'll refer to as the Unicorns, the Pegasi, and the Terrans, had its own spoken and written language, with modern Equestrian or Equish serving as a combination of the three.
    The Unicorn language was Unique, words were written in spirals and predominantly were monosyllabic, concepts being conveyed by the combination of smaller parts, which came from their spellcrafting. Rather, their use and understanding of magic influenced their language. It is similar in sound to Latin based languages.
    The Pegasus language was Cirrun, concepts conveyed in symbols and pictographs that could be built out of clouds to be conveyed and understood over large distances, or scaled down for books. Their easy access to feathers led them to having a dye based writing system first of the nations, where the Unicorns and Terrans relied on etchings and carvings until they started interacting with the pegasi. It is similar in structure to Asiatic languages.
    The Terran language was Terran, a rough language where words were assembled to suit a purpose, often extending for many syllables, reminiscent of the Unique language but with the syllables stuck together rather than remaining individual words. It is similar to germanic languages.
     
    This language barrier made initial contact difficult and cooperation tenuous at best. initially there was only communication where the borders met, and where curious and open minded members of bordering nations caused the first hybrid ponies to come into being. They were uncommon, and mostly considered inferior to the pure form, but they were not persecuted before or during the war. They were however considered the more expendable of their nation's citizens, forming the front lines and the expeditionary bodies.
     
    Eventually, there was war between the nations. Each side vying for total supremacy over the original continent. The true leaders locked in conflict and refusing any form of compromise, many subordinates sought some form of peace in remote areas or to seek out new lands where they could be free from the unending conflict. This is were the tale as it is told enters history. The six named characters attempted a peaceful negotiation, failed, and then sought out new lands. They ended up in the same land and founded Equestria together. They were not the only groups to leave the original continent however, and so as other expeditions succeeded or failed, other nations emerged. Germaney, Prance, Japone, Marelantis, are all examples of other groups that escaped the conflict and founded their own nations on the new continent and the surrounding islands and oceans.
     
    As these groups all left before the conflict was resolved, and none were able to return to the original continent, they did not know of the horrors that came to be in their absence, nor of the ultimate conclusion.
     
    Next subjects: Original Species, Horrors of the Ancient World
  10. Illiad Easle

    Troy

    By Illiad Easle,

    Unlike Canterlot, Troy's founding was not surrounded by pomp nor circumstance, but rather dust and tents. A humble beginning to a reserved nation. There is much doubt and debate as to the official date that Troy changed from a Camel owned oasis to an Equestrian territory, and some would argue that it is still, at least in part, a camel owned oasis. Nonetheless, the date of Troys founding was close enough to the date of the revolution that the celebration has since been a combined remembrance of the two events. Those present at the signing of the charter include Trojan horse and Mare Grace, a pair of camel representatives...
    The Trojan Oasis, 99 BNMM
    The oasis stood still under the night sky, the pool reflecting the many stars of the sky. While Trojan had objected, the camels and buffalo had insisted that, for the treaty to have any worth, it be signed under the full moon, one which Princess Luna had so graciously provided this night. Surrounding the oasis were three groupings of tents, those with Trojan were unofficially the Equestrian delegation, across stood those of the camels and the buffalo. Surrounding all was a temporary fence of wooden posts and cloth that served to keep most of the wind and sand out of the oasis and tents. Distant lights showed that a trade caravan was coming from the east, more likely than not from Northport. They, combined with the Equestrian caravan he had brought with him, would be the first of many large scale trades to occur at the oasis under Equestrian rule.
    Mare nuzzled Trojan affectionately as the camels and buffalo emerged from their tents, and began their way across opposing ends of the oasis to where Trojan sat at the negotiating table. Trojan straightened out the garb he had been given as an Equestrian ambassador, and was silently jealous of the far more comfortable garb of the camels.
    Once all were sat at the table, the negotiations would begin, and Troy would be founded.
  11. Illiad Easle

    Democracy

    By Illiad Easle,

    While the concept of public rule existed in many nations before the founding of Troy, democracy as we know it now has its roots in the dealings that took place for the approval of the Trojan province. While Princess Celestia is credited with officially proposing it, recent findings corroborate Trojan tradition that the governmental system was Princess Luna's idea from the beginning. The proposed form of government served as a combination of tribal leadership such as found among Thestrals and the Camels, and the hierarchical leadership of the Griffon Kingdoms and Equestria itself. Then as today the populous rules both directly and indirectly...
    Castle of the Two Sisters, 99 BNMM
    Trojan bowed his head in dismay before the princess, "I... I accept thy wisdom, thy highness." He respectfully gathered his proposal and began the long trek out of the audience chamber.
    "Wait." Princess Celestia held a small roll of parchment in her magic, she had been reading it throughout Trojan's proposal. Trojan stopped immediately, but did not turn as he had not been instructed to. "A new development graces our mind. Perchance thy plan containeth some merit yet. Return."
    Trojan dutifully turned himself back towards the throne, halting to bow a respectable distance away.
    Princess Celestia passed the paper she had been reading to him, he recognized the writing as Princess Luna's. "We will approve thy plan, on the condition that it be organized at set forth here." She allowed him to hold the document.
    Trojan bowed deeper in gratitude. "We are ever in thy debt Princess Celestia. I assure thee, this plan will not disappoint."
    Celestia had an enigmatic smile on her face as she dismissed him with a wave. "We shall see."
  12. Illiad Easle

    Red Red Rose

    By Illiad Easle,

    While the Noble family of Rose did not feature prominently into the history of Troy, their descendants include none other than the Bearer of Vengeance, as such I thought it proper to include their rise to power in this brief story centered on the prominent matriarch of the family. Red Red Rose was born in the city of Everfree, which surrounded the Castle of the Two Sisters until it was overtaken by the forest of the same name. Similar to Trojan Horse records are incomplete for the time period and she did not mention the names of her parents in any of her journals…
    En Route to Canterlot from Everfree, 100 BNMM
    I’m not theirs’, and they aren’t mine. Red Red Rose blew lightly on the page to dry it before closing the journal. Dark splotches of ink stained the cream color of her hooves. It had taken quite the effort considering the bumpy ride of the carriage, but she had blotted out every instance of her parents from the journal.
    She idly rubbed her hooves together in a vain attempt of removing the ink as she stared out the window, it had been quite the trip up the mountain, but already she could see the construction that was being put forth on the new city.
    Ludicrous, truly she’s daft! She remembered her father’s reaction to the news of Princess Celestia’s decision to build a city on the side of a mountain. Although he was certain to never voice his opinion in public, he had never had much faith in their rulers. Rose on the other hoof thought it was a wonderful plan, and made the unfortunate decision to voice said opinion. This among other things her father considered distasteful to their family name resulted in her being sent away. Why don’t you go live there if you love it so much! Because I certainly won’t have you living here to disrespect me!
    It wasn’t all terrible though, she for one thought it a wonderful way to gain the freedom she had so long desired, the freedom especially to be with the one she had so secretly loved for some time now. Thorny Rose was the one pulling the carriage, a secret gift from her mother, with their scant belongings on top. They would build a new family together in this new town as founding members, their fame and fortune would depend on the town’s success.
  13. Illiad Easle

    Canterlot

    By Illiad Easle,

    There are few even among scholars of Trojan history that have come to understand the true depth of the relationship between Canterlot and Troy. Many are simply content to label them as rivals, given their respective nations were such, and thus lose the more basic nature of their relationship. As many forget, Canterlot was not always the capital of Equestria. It only became the capital a few years after Nightmare Moon, when Princess Celestia decided to abandon the old capital in the wake of the then expanding Everfree Forest. Before it was the Capital of Equestria, Canterlot was a mining village, and before that just a mine witch fed a town at the base of the mountain.
    At this point many may wonder what this has to do with the history of Troy, the fact of the matter is that both Canterlot and Troy were surveyed and plotted by Trojan Horse. In that way, they are two sister cities and their subsequent rivalry of a more familial nature...
    Castle of the Two Sisters, 101 BNNM
    Trojan Horse and Mare Grace stood together before the grand doors of the audience chamber, one uncharacteristically anxious, the other as calm as ever. Mare Grace put a comforting hoof on her trembling husband's withers. "Calm my love, you'll do fine." Her words seemed to work as he ceased trembling with a few steadying breaths. "We both went over the proposal countless times, they just have a few questions for you."
    "I wish you could be in there with me... you always know just the words to say."
    She smiled at that, "You know they explicitly asked for you, you'll be famous after this when they discover all that crystal you found in the survey."
    He sighed, "I never wanted to be famous..."
    "You lost that when you married the most sought after mare in Stalliongrad, but you'll need pull with the royalty if we're going to make that dream of yours a reality."
    He nodded, steeling himself up for what was coming.
    It was a few minutes later when the doors parted, and a snobbish stallion stepped out. He had to raise his muzzle nearly to the ceiling in order to look down it at the taller Trojan, and the yet taller Mare. "Ze Princess vil see zhu now."
    Mare grace offered a parting nuzzle, which seemed to give the stallion a boost of confidence as he walked into the audience chamber.
    ...
    Two hours later he emerged, the slight worry on Mare's face vanishing the moment he walked out with a tired, yet positive, though a bit confused, smile on his face. They didn't talk of the even until they had returned to their lodging. "She wants to build a castle there."
    Mare looked surprised, "Up there? There's hardly any room for a town around it."
    He nodded, "Indeed, but she had quite the plan for it once I told her of the crystal deposits she seemed quite adamant that a fortress be built there. The plans she pulled out... I think she was waiting for someone to propose it. It all works, the mine will clear out more of the ledge we had suggested to make more space, but then she intends to build supports out in a platform to further expand the build-able space, in time nearly half the city would sit off the side of the mountain!"
    Mare shook her head with a laugh, "It sounds crazy, but so long as she approved it that's all that matters to our plans. In a few years time we'll be able to move forward."
  14. Illiad Easle

    Mare Grace

    By Illiad Easle,

    Of course, no history of Troy or Trojan Horse would be complete without his counterpart and wife Mare Grace. Despite the norms of the time she rose to be a prominent figure in history, an equal in all respects to Trojan himself. Her past is a bit better known than Trojan's, given her rather prestigious upbringing under the famous Lord Rasputin Stalliongrad, the very same featured in countless works of theater and the subject of speculation by many historians. Through my own research into her family they have confirmed that many of the details found in common history for the two are extreme embellishments on one end and outright fabrications on the other. Nonetheless, Mare Grace and Trojan horse first came together in Stalliongrad...
    Stalliongrad, 104 BNNM
    It had been a full year since she had first noticed that stallion looking at her in the market, she found him interesting. Most of the stallions, and the occasional mare, looked at her with a bit of fear, if not outright terror, while others thought themselves superior to those who had fallen before them at her father's hoof. Most all who had dared approach her had met the same fate, they didn't please her father, much less her mother, and thus were quickly and permanently removed.
    But this stallion, he was different.
    When there eyes had met that day, there was no superiority, but respect, there was no fear, but a sense of duty. She was sure that were her father still in the picture, he would approve. Nonetheless, her father had disappeared suddenly about a month prior to her meeting the stallion in the market, and it had driven her mother mad with grief. Already the empire he had built was starting to crumble in his absence, and Mare Grace knew she needed to get out of the city before it came down on top of her. She also knew, or at least hoped, that this stallion would be the one to carry her away to safety.
    In the months that followed after their initial encounter she had caught the stallion's eye more than once, he was watching her that much was certain, looking to make his move as his affection towards her grew, but he had yet to make a move towards her.
    It was on a somewhat cloudy day that things changed. Mare Grace was in the market, as she usually was in the afternoons, she was coming a bit more often now hoping to catch a glimpse of the stallion again, but this time she was approached by three cloaked figures, two in front and one behind her, slavers if she correctly recognized the bands they wore. One of the ones in front spoke up in a low voice, "Your father's been getting a bit lax with the 'protection' money, a shame."
    The other spoke up, "Not for us though, we've been waiting for this chance. We take you... and we'll have all the money we'll need."
    Mare took a step back, and found that the one behind her had gotten much closer than she had expected, they spoke nearly right into her ear, "Either he'll pay what we ask for you, or somepony else will..."
    Scared, she looked out at the crowd, to find that most of the ponies had taken a few steps back. Clearly her father's power had faded more quickly than she had anticipated. But there, moving towards her through the crowd, was another cloaked pony, the same stallion from before. She hesitated as the slavers continued their approach, her eyes met the stallions, and he nodded to her.
    Mare moved quickly, ducking down to spin on her forehooves to buck the first slaver back, right into the stallion's waiting hooves to knock the slaver to the ground with a heavy blow. The other two bolted, clearly having expected the pampered mare to be an easy mark, while the battered slaver struggled just to get up.
    She approached the stallion who ad come to her aid, "We must thank thee kind sir, we do not know what wouldst have happened to us hadst thou not intervened." The stallion looked nervous, despite the courage he had just demonstrated.
    "Well, umm... I j-just thought that... well, it's not nice to..." He attempted to clear his throat and tried again, for the first time unable to hold her gaze, "I m-mean... slavery is a rotten thing to, um, d-do..." He seemed to realize that he had forgotten to do something, and he suddenly (and quickly) made an effort to bow - and when he did, his flank smacked into one of the nearby potted plants and tipped it over.  Before it hit the ground however, he jumped up and tried to catch it... though his leap for it sent him right into the front of the stand selling the plants, where his head connected with it and made a sound akin to thumping a coconut with a rock.  
    He rebounded, almost as if he were performing some sort of calamitous ballet, and tried to keep his footing... which was where the corner of his cloak caught on one of his flailing hooves, and with a jerk he made a flip where he went head-over-hooves, and with a yelp he landed muzzle-first on the floor, his rear leg striking one of the stand again and causing a single potted plant to fall, the pot breaking on his head leaving a small pile of dirt and a single desert lily like some sort of horn on his head.
    He was clearly embarrassed by the whole endeavor and started to slowly pick himself up when Mare grace's soft laughter reached his ears. She carefully took the flower from his head and placed it in her mane after shaking the dirt from it, then carefully lifted the stallion up. She let him shake the dirt off himself as she payed the mare running the stand for the flower before turning back to her stallion, "Our favorite, how didst thou know sir...?"
    "Horse,"
    She raised an eyebrow in confusion
    He chuckled, "Yeah, it's unfortunate I know, my name is Trojan Horse."
    She smiled in understanding as she moved to stand beside him, gently prodding him to walk with her, "Ah, tell us about thyself, Sir Horse. We feel that we have much to discuss with thee."
  15. Illiad Easle

    Trojan Horse

    By Illiad Easle,

    If one is to understand the circumstances surrounding the founding of Troy, one must first know its founder, Trojan Horse. Records from this period are difficult to come by, but reliable sources indicate that Trojan Horse was born approximately 130 years before the first occurrence of Nightmare Moon...
    Stalliongrad, 105 BNMM
    Trojan Horse stood in front of his unassuming office space on a side street that led to one of the local markets. Despite the rather substantial success he had had in his surveying endeavors, as such was his talent, he elected to keep a low profile so as to not attract the attention of the local gangs and their 'protection' services. He was a somewhat imposing earth pony stallion in his own right, his clear strength a by-product of his time working in the first few mines he surveyed, and his icy blue eyes held a similarly cold gaze at the best of times. He kept his mane and tail short and trimmed, further adding to the almost military visage he had cultivated over the years, he messed with no one, and no one dared mess with him.
    He turned to the market, content that none of the loiterers on the street were planning anything towards his office, and made his way casually down the street. He had thus far in life been satisfied with a simple life, surveying new mines and quarries for local business, and living each day and week the same as the one before. He was happy, or at least he thought so. It was when he entered the market that day that he realized his simple life might actually have been missing something.
    The market was abuzz with activity, but it wasn't the usual noise. Everyone there seemed to either be focused on one pony in particular, or doing their best to be obviously not looking at said pony. Trojan was intrigued at the occurence, and sought out who was causing such a stir, the crowd parted and for a moment their eyes met. Trojan, while a bit of a social recluse, was no stranger to the local politics and thus recognized the pony instantly, Mare Grace, the only daughter of the notorious Lord Stalliongrad himself and by far the most beautiful mare of the city, as well as the most dangerous. Hardly a week went by where the local paper didn't mention that a new potential suitor of the mare had been found dead, each bearing the signature mark of Lord Stalliongrad's gang.
    Despite all that, and thought their eyes met for just a moment, Trojan had decided: That mare will be mine.
  16. Illiad Easle

    A Preface

    By Illiad Easle,

    Hello, and welcome!
    I am Play Write, and I have taken it upon myself to compile a collection of the stories that made up the history of our great nation. Rather than present this history in a plain and uninteresting manner, I have sought out through journals and family accounts the personal stories of those who directly witnessed the events.
    Whether you're new to Troy, simply passing through, or looking to move in, I hope that this book will serve you well.
    I would like to offer a special thanks to Queen Permutation, who's first hoof accounts were instrumental in the initial stages, and to Mrs. Goldenrod, who's rich family history she so kindly shared to make this possible.
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