The Sparkle Essays

Chapters

On the History and Geography of Cloudsdale (To be Edited)
On the History and Geography of Canterlot (To be Edited)
On the History and Geography of the Everfree Forest (To be Edited)
On the History and Geography of the Crystal Empire (To be Edited)
Naming Conventions and Titles of Nobility in Equestria
A Biological Overview of Equus mannulus terrenus
A Biological Overview of Equus mannulus pegasus
A Biological Overview of Equus mannulus monoceros
A Biological Overview of Equus mannulus caelestis

On the History and Geography of Cloudsdale (To be Edited)

On the History and Geography of Cloudsdale

A Short Essay by Twilight Sparkle

Of all of the great sky cities in the world, from the neon lights of Las Pegasus, to the great pillars of Grypholis, none can match the productivity and unique atmography of Cloudsdale. Known as the ‘Fountain of the Skies’, Cloudsdale has provided Equestria with controlled weather for over a millennium. Though its population numbers only 84,000, it carries the largest density of Pegasi in all of Equestria, with over 93% of the population consisting of Pegasi citizens. Despite its size, Cloudsdale is often referred to as being one of the most important cities in all of Equestria, seconded only by Canterlot and perhaps Manehatten.

It is not common knowledge that the great sky city of Cloudsdale has had many past iterations. The towering metropolis floating two kilometers above Equestria is in fact less than thirty years old. Structures made from clouds and levitating platforms rarely last a decade, requiring constant upkeep and replacement. In past times when the entire city was required to be permanently transported, up to 50% of building material was replaced. None of Commander Hurricane’s original settlement of Pegasopolis remains in existence, leading many Pegasi architects to refer to Cloudsdale as a ‘Living City’, with each portion being constantly renewed.

Cloudsdale, unlike most other large sky cities, is fully mobile, using self-generated wind currents to transport itself to various locations as needed, relying on its enormous weather factory as an engine. Cloudsdale, while remaining largely atmostatic for most of the year, has held the task of annually relocating itself to different reservoirs located around Equestria in order to reduce the draw upon the Neighagra Falls Lake. The Cloudsdale Weather Factory (CWF) usually employs local Pegasi to use a controlled tornado operating at over 800 Wing-Power (WP) in order to draw in millions of liters of water into CWF’s airborne reservoir.

For the past nine centuries, after the end of the Second Reconstruction, Cloudsdale has largely remained fixed to a single atmostatic location. The sky city usually resides above the Unicorn Range, west of Canterlot for 340 days out of the year. The decision to anchor Cloudsdale was adopted by the Cloudsdale City Council in order to encourage trade between the Pegasi community and the surface dwelling inhabitants of Equestria. By forming this permanent location, many geographical and atmographical changes were made to the surrounding region.

Cloudsdale, like all sky cities, is not a single continuous structure. The city is instead separated into groups of substructures designated by cloud group, function, and layer. For instance, ID-CWF-1 designates the lowest level (1) of the Cloudsdale Weather Factory (CWF) in the Industrial District (ID). The Cloud Location Order of Pegasopolis (CLOP) was first developed by Grand Architect Pansy, better known as Private Pansy during the Great Migration. The CF (Central Formation) houses most of Cloudsdale’s residents as well as the markets. Other cloud groups include the Flight Academy group (FA), the Griffon District (GD), the Cloudsdale University group (CU), and the Arena District (AD), which is also home of the Wonderbolt Headquarters.

Though the Central Formation cloud group houses over 70% of all of Cloudsdale’s residents, the full extent of Cloudsdale’s city limits is vague. The cloud layers vary from 1.5 to 4.5 kilometers above the surface, with the average height of the cloud structures being 2 kilometers above the ground. At most times, Cloudsdale covers an area of sky roughly the size of Baltimare. This area is usually encased in an invisible atmoshield that protects Cloudsdale from all outside weather patterns. The atmoshield was created in 923 ALN (After Long Night) by technicians at Cloudsdale and Canterlot University after an immense cyclone from the Everfree Forest destroyed 40% of Cloudsdale’s Griffon District. Relying entirely upon magic extracted from rainbows in the Cloudsdale Weather Factory, the atmoshield is the pinnacle of Pegasi architecture.

The land beneath Cloudsdale is one of the most unique environments in the world. Directly below the Weather Factory and the Flight Academy is Winsome Falls National Park, known for its immense rainbow falls. The river that feeds into Winsome Falls acquires its distinctive color from the liquid rainbow produced by the CWF. Though many ponies consider it an environmental disaster in action, the local wildlife has long since adapted to the rainbow spill that first began during the First Battle of Cloudsdale in 0 BLN (Before Long Night), and any change to the amount of rainbow in the falls will produce disastrous effects.

To the south of Winsome Falls, below the Central Formation, is a geographic region commonly known as the Dale. After over a millennium of sustained precipitation from the city above, the foothills of the Unicorn Range have had their topsoil eroded away, leaving nothing but hard stone. The exposed rock has allowed for the creation of strip mines and rock farms in this region, providing Equestria with the largest production of gemstones in the world. The magical runoff from the levitating platforms on Cloudsdale infuses a small amount of enchantment into the rocks of the Dale, producing runes and magical ores. On a rock farm, Earth Ponies with a high tolerance to magic arrange rocks into piles in order to create magical resonance structures capable of creating runestones and enchantments. The long term effects of working on the Dale eventually give creatures there a near immunity to magic, which can lead to loss of emotion and eventually depression. Recently, attempts have been made to combat this depression and progress is being made by researchers at Cloudsdale University.

When the city of Cloudsdale was first anchored in 45 ALN, a small town below the Market District (MD) sprung up instantly. The town of Landale houses nearly 17,000 ponies, many of them rock farmers, miners, flightless Pegasi, and merchants. Landale is also known as the ‘City of Balloons’, with over 4,000 piloted balloons on record. Landale has been instrumental in building the Trans-Equestrian Railroad System, and has made its name as being pioneers of infrastructure. The Landale Locomotion Company is the single largest owner of railroads and airships in Equestria and is currently building the Nimbus Elevator, a structure capable of transporting goods and ponies from Landale to Cloudsdale at minimal cost.

Historically, Cloudsdale is known to be one of Equestria’s oldest settlements, despite the actual structure being replaced periodically. It began as a military cloud encampment headed by Commander Hurricane at the end of the Great Migration and at the beginning of the Classical Era. Known as ‘Fort Pegasopolis’, the encampment housed the majority of the Pegasus Military, numbering 18,000 soldiers, along with 27,000 Pegasus refugees fleeing the Northern Winter. After allying with the Unicorns and the Earth Ponies to form the Equestrian Union, Pegasopolis became the center of weather control and military power in Equestria.

At the end of the Classical Era, when Discord was released upon the land, much of Pegasopolis was destroyed during the Battle of the Dale, in which the entirety of the fort was used to attack Discord’s fortress atop Mt Horn, now the location of Canterlot Castle. Commander Hurricane's signature tactic was the focus of the assault, which involved turning Pegasopolis itself into a small tropical cyclone. To repel the attack, Discord caused an incredible wind to tear the fortress apart, scattering the remnants across the Dale.

It was not until after Discord’s reign ended at the hooves of Luna and Celestia that Pegasopolis would be restored. Renamed ‘Cloudsdale’, the rebuilding of the city was one of the first decrees of the Equestrian Diarchy. The city was instrumental in the First Reconstruction, as the uncontrolled weather patterns brought upon by Discord were quickly tamed. Cloudsdale was also made the home of the Equestrian Air Force, including the Royal Wing Guard as well as the headquarters of the Thunderbolts and the Shadowbolts, the elite flying teams of both the Solar and Lunar Courts, respectively.

When the War of Long Night began in 0 BLN at the end of the First Reconstruction and the Diarchal Era, a massive coup immediately polarized the Equestrian military from Everfree City to Cloudsdale. When the sun did not rise during the first day of the Long Night, a series of surprise attacks led by Nightmare Moon’s rebel forces hit every major city in Equestria.

The attacks are now memorialized as Nightmare Night, as Nightmare Moon’s ability to enter the dreams of ponies allowed her to strike fear into the entire population of Equestria. The First Battle of Cloudsdale was a preplanned surprise attack led by Shadowbolt leader Captain Nightingale that targeted the Cloudsdale Weather Factory with intense thunderstorms during the middle of the night, causing the rainbow spill that created Winsome Falls. The Shadowbolts were able to take the Thunderbolts by surprise, and claim the city for the newly formed New Lunar Republic.

Cloudsdale remained under NLR control for much of the war, and was used as the Shadowbolts’ mobile headquarters until its liberation in the Second Battle of Cloudsdale, which took place 4 months later. Under the leadership of Commander Hurricane, the Pegasi garrison at Las Pegasus along with the remaining Thunderbolts and Celestia's Wingguard ambushed the Shadowbolts over the town of Tall Tale, recapturing the city with minimal casualties. The liberation of Cloudsdale by the Thunderbolts allowed for the Equestrian Military under Princess Celestia to press on to the Battle of Everfree Plains, ending the War.

After the War of Long Night, the remaining Shadowbolts, with the exception of Captain Nightingale and her Lieutenants, were merged with the surviving Thunderbolts to create the Wonderbolts, which to this day serve as Equestria’s elite flying team. The military was largely repurposed to aid the reconstruction of Equestria, moving Cloudsdale from location to location to house work crews and correct weather patterns.

After the city was anchored over the Dale, the government was restructured from purely military control to a City Council. The Council is made up of the Air Force Marshal, the Director of Weather, and three locally elected officials serving staggered 3 year terms. The Cloudsdale City Council would convene once per week to vote on legislation. In all other matters, each council member would see to their own areas of jurisdiction.

Though unused since the Council’s inception, the Air Force Marshal of Cloudsdale has the power to veto any action during times of war, effectively returning it to a police state. With the recent Changeling Crisis in Canterlot, as well as the growing number of rogue Dragons and the growing unrest in the Griffon Empire, such military action may not be so far away. If war ever comes to Equestria, Cloudsdale will be our citadel, the castle on a cloud.

Author's Note

This is the first story I have ever submitted. Do not go easy on the criticism however. I need to know what I did right and what I did wrong. Be constructive.
-Edit 7/14/2013: Just cleaning things up. No big changes.

On the History and Geography of Canterlot (To be Edited)

On the History and Geography of Canterlot

A Short Essay by Twilight Sparkle

The City of Canterlot is often called the ‘Crown Jewel’ of Equestria. This nickname both refers to its placement atop Mount Horn between the Unicorn Range to the west and the Foal Mountain Range to the East, as well as its status as the capital of Equestria. It holds Canterlot Castle, the Royal Palace of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, rulers of the Royal Principality of Equestria. Along with the center of Equestrian government, Canterlot is home to 735,000 citizens, with 42% Unicorn, 38% Earth Pony, and 11% Pegasus, with 9% of the population including non-ponies. The history and geography of this great city is as awe-inspiring as the city itself.

Mt. Horn was first named by the Unicorn Princess Platinum towards the end of the Great Migration and the end of the Pre-Classical Era. The mountain, located at the end of the Unicorn Mountain Range, is the tallest mountain in Equestria, measuring over 5000 meters above sea level at its peak. Though the mountain may be tall, almost all of Canterlot’s buildings are below 2000 meters, well below the cold, thin mountain air.

The first settlement on Mt. Horn was an encampment of Unicorn refugees fleeing the Northern Winter. Led by Princess Platinum, the encampment was composed of over 170,000 Unicorns, the bulk of those who embarked on the Great Migration. Princess Platinum’s advisor, Clover the Clever, created a gem-finding spell to find an entrance to the Crystal Caverns, a system of tunnels and cavities within Mt. Horn filled with magical gemstones. These gems were used to trade with the Earth Ponies on the Everfree Plains for food, as well as with the Pegasi in Pegasopolis for fair weather.

Upon this discovery, Princess Platinum founded Unicornia, comprised of the newly formed city of Canterlot and a smaller encampment at Manehatten, as well as multiple hamlets along the Unicorn Range. The declaration of this state caused a diplomatic crisis with both the Pegasi and Earth Ponies, as the limited numbers of the Pegasi military felt threatened by the larger numbers of Unicorns and the Earth Ponies of Everfree detested any forced trade.

As the tensions between Pegasopolis, Everfree and Canterlot increased, the weather began to take a turn for the worse. As crops failed, the Earth Ponies halted most trade, forcing the Pegasi to mobilize their military. Before a full scale war was called, however, Clover the Clever contacted Chancellor Puddinghead’s secretary, Smart Cookie, as well as Commander Hurricane’s bodyguard, Private Pansy, and called together the First Congress of Canterlot, in which the leaders of all three tribes would meet.

During the Congress, the winter intensified greatly, forcing the entire population of Canterlot into the caves, along with Chancellor Puddinghead, Commander Hurricane, and each of their entourages. The Windigos that caused the Northern Winter had forced the ponies to band together and travel south, routing the Pegasi military as far south as Las Pegasus, and forcing Unicorns and Earth Ponies to the cities of Baltimare and Fillydelphia.

The events of the First Congress of Canterlot are well known throughout Equestria. On that day, the three tribe leaders agreed to form a united force to combat the Windigos, forming the Equestrian Union. The momentous occasion is now immortalized as Hearth’s Warming Eve, as the following day marked the retreat of the Windigos, who have not been seen since.

Though the Windigos may have retreated and the Equestrian Union was formed, there was no designated capital of Equestria, and each city and settlement was largely independent. On occasion, congresses would be held from time to time in Everfree, Baltimare, Fillydelphia, or Manehatten, but the three races remained largely separate for much of the early Classical Era. This changed upon the releasing of Discord and his Reign of Chaos.

Ten years after the founding of the Equestrian Union, Princess Platinum had transformed Canterlot into a proto-industrial mining city that served to fund the Unicorn upper class and the building of Manehatten and other Unicorn cities. Obsessed with becoming ruler of Equestria, Platinum named herself Queen of Equestria and refused to attend the Equestrian Congress in Everfree. Soon afterwards, Platinum’s mine uncovered a chamber that contained Discord, spirit of chaos, unleashing him upon Equestria.

The unleashing of Discord was devastating to Canterlot, causing an avalanche that destroyed much of the city, though all of its inhabitants had already fled Mt. Horn. The rubble that remained was used to build Discord’s fortress. The sudden influx of refugees into neighboring cities and the strange magic emanating from Mt. Horn led Commander Hurricane to believe that the Unicorns had attacked, prompting him to use Pegasopolis to attack Mt. Horn in the Battle of the Dale. Discord created a great wind that swept the Pegasus force away, cementing his victory as Equestria's 'King of Chaos'.

Canterlot remained under Discord’s control until the newly crowned Princesses Celestia and Luna encased him in stone. The two regal sisters did not initially adopt Canterlot as their capital, though they chose to rebuild it and return it to the Unicorn Royalty under House Platinum. Instead they chose to keep the wartime capital of Everfree City and the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters as the center of Equestrian government. Celestia’s decision to maintain the Canterlot Nobility was extremely popular among those in Canterlot and Manehatten, but extremely unpopular to the ponies of Everfree and Baltimare. When Nightmare Moon’s coup in 0 BLN occurred, Celestia was forced out of Everfree and to Canterlot, where she called the Second Canterlot Congress.

During the Second Canterlot Congress, Commander Hurricane, Princess Platinum, and Chancellor Puddinghead agreed to recognize Princess Celestia as the ultimate ruler of Equestria, while declaring war on the newly formed New Lunar Republic. A week after Nightmare Night and the beginning of the War of Long Night, the ground forces of Everfree City convened with the air forces of Cloudsdale led by the Shadowbolts and attacked Canterlot. Though much of the city was damaged and the Royal Library was destroyed, the Battle of Canterlot was a victory for Celestia’s forces, which rallied together with reinforcements from Manehatten and Hollow Shades.

Canterlot became Celestia’s base of operations during the war, eventually being named capital, as Everfree City remained the capital of the NLR. Celestia herself led many battles, including the Battle of the Everfree Plains, in which the war was ended. Following the War, Everfree was swallowed up into the forest, and Canterlot became the capital of Equestria. In light of Canterlot’s contributions to the war, Celestia adopted the Unicorn Nobility into Equestrian Royalty, though also weakening their power.

Today, very few positions of power in Equestria are not governed by a democratically elected leader. The largely ceremonial position of Grand Mayor of Canterlot, for instance, is appointed to the heirs of Princess Platinum. The actual legislative power in Canterlot lies in the Municipal Council, which convenes once daily with either the Night Court under Princess Luna or the Day Court under Princess Celestia. This council consists of the Captain of the Royal Guard, the Chief Architect, the Grand Mayor of Canterlot, and the elected Heads of District.

During these councils, the various members would suggest actions and make requests of the Princess in the cases of changing legislation, though for the most part each official acts autonomously within their office, giving full reports to the council every week. The Heads of District ensure that the day to day activities of each district run smoothly. Among the most important districts is the Cloud District, home to many of Canterlot’s upper class, the Market District, consisting of the areas around the Mountainside Gate, and the Lower District, governing the lower portions of Mt. Horn as well as the Trans-Equestrian Railroad Hub.

Of course, the most prominent of the districts is the Palace District. Though smaller than any of the other districts, it houses the seat of power of Equestria. The Canterlot Royal Palace is a sprawling structure with many towering spires dating back to the reign of Princess Platinum. Among the rooms and buildings that make up the complex is the Royal Chamber, the throne room of the Royal Princesses (though the Thrones are usually stored away), the Grand Hall, lined with stained glass images depicting Equestria’s past, and the Royal Auditorium, where the Hearth’s Warming Eve Play is shown each year.

One feature that the Palace District boasts is the Canterlot Royal University. Centered around the Royal Observatory, a facility that boasts the most powerful telescope in Equestria, the University also contains the Royal Library, where, within the combined space of the Hall of Knowledge, the Clover the Clever Wing, and the Star Swirl the Bearded Wing, over 2 million books, scrolls, and other items are stored. The University also hosts Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, a program that seeks to further magical knowledge in young Unicorns.

Also alongside the Palace is the Royal Guard Barracks. Currently being expanded to house over 10,000 soldiers, the Royal Guard is one of the last remnants of the Equestrian Military, overshadowed only by the Wonderbolts Corps. The Guard is currently divided into two divisions of three regiments each. The Solar Guard is known for their bleached white coats and gold encrusted armor while the smaller Lunar Guard is identified by their dyed grey coats and dark purple armor. Each division is given almost identical training, equipment, and instructions by each Princess, though all answer to the Captain of the Guard.

Among each division are three regiments. The Hornguard, a specialized group made entirely of Unicorns trained in teleportation, barrier making, and battle magic, usually protect the Princesses while they are in Canterlot. The Wingguard, a far larger regiment, consist of Pegasi known for their extensive mental training. They follow the Princesses around to different locations, and many are armed with magical wingblades that allow for more effective aerial combat. The final regiment, known as the Hoofguard, is a growing force of heavily armored Earth Ponies renowned for their strength and ability to deal with large military threats. This was shown during the Changeling Crisis, when the Hoofguard’s Gate Battalion under Lieutenant Snowblind held off a force of Changelings ten times their size, allowing many of the citizens to evacuate into the train tunnels.

With the return of Princess Luna, the Night Court has resumed from 8 PM to 8 AM, while the Day Court lasts from 8 AM to 8 PM. All legislative decisions must be reviewed by the other Princess for approval, with most decrees being agreed upon by both Princesses at dawn and at dusk. Though the past few years have been erratic for the thousand year old system’s reimplementation, legislative efficiency has increased 75%.

Many people in Canterlot, however, are calling for a new system. Democratically elected representatives would make up a ‘Parliament’ that would issue federal law. Though the reign of Princess Celestia had lasted over a millennium, with Princess Luna also returning to power, the idea of creating a constitutional monarchy or a democratic republic may lead to many changes in the Crown Jewel of Equestria.

Author's Note

Second Chapter. I hope i didn't kill anyone's headcanon.
-Edit 7/14/2013 Chapter title change, not much else.

On the History and Geography of the Everfree Forest (To be Edited)

On the History and Geography of the Everfree Forest

A Short Essay by Twilight Sparkle

In the land of Equestria, a nation of peace and harmony, there is a place where evil still lurks. Where Timberwolves howl into the night and Manticores roam wild. Where Ursas lurk in dark caves and the remnants of Old Equestria lie abandoned, like ghosts among the trees.

The Everfree Forest is wild, untamed, and dangerous. It is a place shrouded in myth and mystery where the tales of monsters and malice are all too real. The night is dark and full of terrors, though the days offer neither refuge nor relief. It is often said that the Everfree itself is alive and filled with malice, and that anypony that wanders into the depths of the forest will fall victim to its inescapable embrace. For anypony that goes into the Everfree never comes out.

This is a falsehood of course. A colorful lie meant to warn young foals. It is true that the Everfree is a largely uncharted area of wilderness, exhibiting unusual topographical, atmographical, and magical characteristics, though many of the legends that surround the forest are entirely false. While fantastical creatures such as hydras and cockatrices may be native to the forest, claims of necromancers, sea ponies, and sentient trees are unsubstantiated old mare’s tales.

As for the origin of the Everfree Forest, much of that lies beneath myth and superstition as well. Was it the wrath of the Draconequine lords of chaos? Did Tartarus itself rend the ground asunder and unleash its horde? Did the Windigos of the sky somehow sow the land with darkness? Or was it always there, the eternal dark heart of Equestria?

From what historians know today, it was none of these things. A thousand years ago before the Equestrian Reneighssance and before the Second Reconstruction, the land now swallowed up by the forest was then known as the Everfree Plains. Stretching from the Unicorn Mountains to the Rambling Rock Ridge and the Macintosh Hills, the Everfree Plains made up the heart of Old Equestria. And though a millennium has passed since its demise, recent discoveries now give insight into the creation of what we now know as the Everfree Forest.

The Everfree Plains were first settled by the Equestrian Alliance of Rightful Tribal Holdings (EARTH), led by Chancellor Puddinghead at the end of the Pre-Classical Era. Puddinghead began the years-long exodus known as the Great Migration after the food stored by the Earth Pony farms in the North began to run out. In the face of the Northern Winter, the Earth Pony Tribes were the first to embark upon the Migration, with an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 ponies in the first wave alone.

After Chancellor Puddinghead’s secretary, Smart Cookie took over the navigation of the Earth Pony tribes, the bulk of EARTH’s settlers crossed the Unicorn Range and spread out to form smaller encampments all over the land they called Equestria. 230,000 ponies made up the initial settlement of Dirtville, which was later renamed Everfree.

Everfree was a lively city of farmers and merchants that thrived off of the fertile Everfree Plains. When the Pegasi and Unicorns first came to Equestria, the citizens of Everfree were content to trade with them, though they still harbored harsh feelings from the forced trade they endured in the North. Thus, it was not unforeseen that when the Northern Winter overtook Equestria, Chancellor Puddinghead denied all trade with Pegasopolis and Unicornia, instead storing the food for later use.

When the First Congress of Canterlot was called, the climate became too cold for the citizens of Everfree. Many of them branched out and formed the cities of Baltimare and Fillydelphia, which became integral city-states upon the founding of the Equestrian Union. After Hearth’s Warming and the retreat of the Windigos and the Northern Winter, Everfree thrived as the largest city in the Equestrian Union. Further waves of refugees from the North bolstered the city’s population to half a million, most of them Earth Ponies.

Everfree’s motto was, “Semper Liberi, Semper Prosperum,” “Ever Free, Ever Prosperous.” And these words held true until Discord began his Reign of Chaos. It is said that in an attempt to stop Discord from taking Everfree, Earth Ponies instead chose to set their fields alight, known as the Razing of the Everfree Plains. This event is now immortalized in stained glass in the Canterlot Royal Palace Grand Hall, with Discord shown dangling ponies over the inferno.

Though there is no evidence showing that Discord was behind the Razing of the Everfree, the city was nearly destroyed in the fire and with it all opposition to Discord’s rule. With Everfree left abandoned, Discord focused instead on the other cities of Equestria, unaware or unconcerned with the remnants of the Equestrian Military that regrouped among the ruins.

Though the exact details remain uncertain, two Alicorns, Celestia and Luna, appeared in Everfree one day and called the Last Congress of Everfree, uniting the forces of Princess Platinum, Commander Hurricane, and Chancellor Puddinghead for an assault on Discord’s fortress atop Mt. Horn. The Battle of Mt. Horn resulted in Celestia and Luna using the newly discovered Elements of Harmony to encase Discord in stone, ending the Reign of Chaos.

With the demise of Discord, Celestia and Luna were named Princesses of the Royal Principality of Equestria, with the reconstructed city of Everfree being named its capital. The First Reconstruction restored Everfree to its former glory and resulted in the building of the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters, the ruins of which are now located in the heart of the Everfree Forest.

Though Equestria was united into a single nation, the division among its people was never wider. Celestia’s decision to maintain the Unicorn Nobility was extremely unpopular in Everfree. Shortly after the disappearance of the Crystal Empire, Princess Luna underwent a dramatic transformation creating the persona of ‘Nightmare Moon’. Nightmare Moon consolidated her power in Everfree in the months before Nightmare Night, and by the time she launched her coup, Everfree had turned against Celestia entirely.

When Nightmare Night began, Nightmare Moon refused to allow Celestia to raise the Sun. When a crowd gathered in the courtyard of the Palace, Nightmare Moon declared the formation of the New Lunar Republic, a nation ruled not by the ‘Canterlot Elite,’ but solely by their immortal leader, Nightmare Moon.

With the people of the city against her, Princess Celestia was forced to retreat to Canterlot along with those still loyal to her. Chancellor Puddinghead, Smart Cookie, and a thousand other ponies made the midnight ride to Mt. Horn, while Nightmare Moon used her dream walking abilities to terrorize the rest of Equestria.

Everfree then became the capital of the New Lunar Republic, from which Nightmare Moon staged attacks on cities still loyal to Celestia. Nightmare Moon used her ability to enter the dreams of ponies to indoctrinate the populace of Everfree, forming a loyal army of 60,000 soldiers. Though this force was repelled at the Battle of Canterlot, it managed to sack the city of Manehatten a month later.

Two months into the War of Long Night, Nightmare Moon began using dark magic to create additions to her army. She enslaved the Manticores of the Badlands and created Parasprites to devour the supplies of Celestia’s armies. Nightmare Moon released Hydras from Tartarus and enlisted the help of mercenary Dragons, Changelings, and Hounds. Her magic even enchanted the trees of the forest to create the first Timberwolves. After two months her army numbered at least 100,000 strong, though she had lost Cloudsdale only a week before. With her full force assembled, she marched on Canterlot, meeting her sister’s forces on the Everfree Plains.

Celestia’s ‘Solar Army’ was slightly larger than those of the NLR. With the aide of the Griffon Empire to the East and the Buffalo Clans to the West, Celestia’s forces were able to attack the front of Nightmare Moon’s army as the Buffalo and Griffons struck from the flanks. Even with the numerical advantage, however, casualties were expected to number in tens of thousands.

Faced with this, Celestia herself led the attack, defeating dragons and hydras singlehandedly as she fought her way to the Palace where Nightmare Moon resided. In the halls of the Palace, Nightmare Moon and Princess Celestia fought with ancient Alicorn magic, rending the very fabric of Equestria asunder. With the Battle of the Everfree Plains underway and the lives of hundreds of thousands hanging in the balance, Princess Celestia called upon the Elements of Harmony to banish Nightmare Moon, even knowing that her sister, Luna, will suffer the same fate. Nightmare Moon was defeated and her armies surrendered, though Everfree itself lay in ruins.

With the end of the War of Long Night, the city of Everfree, as well as the land around it, lay empty. Its inhabitants scattered to other cities, leaving the wild beasts of Nightmare Moon’s army to reside within the forgotten streets and buildings. During the Second Reconstruction, Everfree was left to the forest that quickly grew around it. The Everfree Forest was born, swallowing the remnants of Old Equestria in darkness.

Few ponies dare enter this forest. Even after a thousand years, the area once home to the greatest city in Equestria can now only be described as an anomaly. Whether it was the Alicorn magic used in the Battle of the Everfree Plains or the strange powers released by the Elements of Harmony, the Everfree Forest defies the laws of physics and magic that govern the rest of Equestria. Weather patterns are erratic and unpredictable while the animals roam wild; many of them being feral.

Of the mapped portions of the forest, several locations have been described that lend credence to the destruction caused by the clash of Nightmare Moon and Princess Celestia. The Ghastly Gorge is a formation partially extending into the forest that is not seen on maps predating the War of Long Night. Local legend tells that Nightmare Moon attempted to use dark magic to wipe out Celestia, though Celestia dodged the attack, the spell caused the land itself to tear open. Though this is merely a myth, it offers explanation to the strange aspects of the Gorge, namely the bizarre Quarray Eels that inhabit its walls.

Also located alongside the forest is Froggy Bottom Bogg, so named for the massive amounts of amphibians that inhabit the swamplands there. Though it is not as wild as the rest of the Everfree, the Bogg is known to have strange creatures lurking through the murky water. Caution is a pony’s best asset among the Everfree.

As for the rest of the forest, little is known. Expeditions into the Everfree are dangerous and the features mapped by one scouting party often do not match those of another. Fear of the unknown keeps most ponies well away from the forest. As for what is known, the Everfree is a place to avoid, for the night is dark and full of terrors and the dawn brings no peace.

Author's Note

Sorry this one took so long. I wanted to expand on the details introduced by the earlier essays in order to develop an actual timeline in which most of the events take place. I try to stick to the official Hasbro map and the source material in order to make it seem more in line with the show, but if there are any criticisms, I would gladly welcome them.
-Edit 7/14/2013 Title Change, nothing else

On the History and Geography of the Crystal Empire (To be Edited)

On the History and Geography of the Crystal Empire

An Overview of the Newly Rediscovered Territory by Twilight Sparkle

In the year 1003 After Long Night, or more modernly known as year 3 After New Moon, during the night of the Spring Equinox, a brilliant flash of light illuminated the Arctic North beyond the Crystal Mountains. Outshining even the brightest star, the strange burst of magically-produced light was observed throughout the Frozen North. Though few ponies lived in such areas to witness the event, this strange anomaly would come to affect the very foundations of both Equestria and the world as a whole.

The event that has come to be known as the Northern Flash, was no mere magical anomaly or strange curiosity. It signified the return of a place long held in stasis, a forgotten city that once ruled an empire that spanned leagues beyond counting. The Crystal Empire has returned, more than a millennium after it has been lost.

During the Pre-Classical Era, the Crystal Empire held dominance over the northern parts of the world, from the Crystal Mountains and the Northern Reach to present-day Moosecow and most of the Hooviet Union. These lands were controlled by the Crystal Emperors from their Palace in the Crystal City. The Empire flourished for many years before its capital mysteriously disappeared over one thousand years ago.

Less than one dozen ponies in all of Equestria were aware that a place once called the Crystal Empire existed in the Frozen North of this world in an age long forgotten. No text or book is known to mention it, and even works dating back to the Classical or Pre-Classical Eras rarely imply the existence of such a place. It is thought that most of the texts detailing Pre-Classical Era history were destroyed in the many cataclysms since then.

Smart Cookie’s ‘Journal of the Great Migration’ revealed that, “to survive, [the Earth Ponies] left most of the scrolls behind and used the rest for kindling when the nights grew cold,” offering evidence to the loss of written history during the Great Migration. It is also recorded that Discord’s Reign of Chaos and the Razing of the Everfree also led to a loss of many historical texts. During the War of Long Night, the forces of the New Lunar Republic frequently burned the libraries of occupied and besieged cities and towns in a concentrated effort to demoralize and ‘reeducate’ the citizens of areas under NLR control.

The loss of historical texts is the most-cited hypothesis historians give to explain the little information known of times dating before the Classical Era, also known as the ‘Dark Ages’, though it does not explain how ponies such as Star-Swirl the Bearded have remained well known, despite living in the Pre-Classical Era. Theories of an effort to remove the Crystal Empire from historical knowledge are therefore not completely unfounded.

In the months and years to come, more of the Crystal Empire’s origins, history, and culture will be revealed to us through the findings gleaned from local inhabitants, the Imperial Library, and even texts from the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters. As it is, the Crystal Empire that exists today is not a true empire at all. Of the vast and powerful nation that once ruled the ancient North, only the Crystal City remains. This is only called the Crystal Empire for traditional reasons.

The Empire reappeared only two miles east of Fort Snowshield, a small Royal Guard outpost linked by train to the Trans-Equestrian Railroad on a direct route from Ponyville. The Fort was established in 984 ALN by Sergeant Snowblind of the Hoofguard and Lieutenant Stalwart Shield of the Hornguard. Snowshield was built to garrison only a maximum of one hundred ponies to both secure the Northern Reach and condition members of the Royal Guard and the Wonderbolts for sub-zero climates.

When it first appeared during the Spring Equinox, the Crystal Empire was completely surrounded in a magical shield about 10 kilometers in diameter and 5 kilometers in height. The central point of this shield was is located at the Crystal Palace in the center of the city, and can only function as long as a continuous stream of magic is sustained. The shield itself produces an atmoisolation effect that is able to contain its own atmography and sustained moderate climate. This shield has also been observed to carry barrier and ward effects, isolating the Crystal City from any outside magical effects, especially that of necromancy and battle magic. Though shields similar to this have been created within Equestria, the shield is far older and more powerful than any modern spells in Equestria.

Within the shield, protected from the harsh polar climate around it, the Crystal Empire maintains a temperate climate that needs no weather control to maintain. The various plant life within the shield flourishes under the ideal conditions, though almost all of the species recorded so far are not native to the Northern Reach. Around the Crystal City lies a small amount of farmland reaching from the outskirts of the city to the shield itself. This farmland produces such native crops as crystal berries and crystal corn, the subject of many years of exposure to the magic exclusive to the Crystal Empire.

At the center of the Crystal Empire is the Crystal City itself. Famously, the city’s pattern resembles that of a snowflake, which is also the sigil of the Crystal Empire. The architecture and municipal planning of the city exemplifies the Crystal Ponies’ values of order and structure. Radiating from the center of the city are twelve primary roads dividing the city into six districts. Each district is both bordered by a primary road and bisected by another, with secondary roads joining at exact angles to produce a ‘point’ in the six-pointed star that forms the Crystal City’s basic layout.

While each district is well defined by the ‘snowflake’ layout, there is not much specialization among different sections of the city. Every district carries a sizable portion of shops and vendors as well as housing for the city’s inhabitants. It is a general observation that the buildings closest to the center of the city are older than those farther away, and that most of the markets are located along the edges of the six districts. Almost every building is constructed out of crystalline materials native to the Northern Reach, and the brilliant shine given off by the city arranged in the shape of an immense star gave it the Pre-Classical name, ‘the Star of the North’.

At the center of the city, where all districts and roads meet, stands one of the largest structures ever built by ponykind. The Crystal Palace is a towering monolithic spire over 350 meters in height, making it a contender for one of the tallest ground-based buildings in the world. This structure is balanced upon four archways to form a square-shaped enclosure underneath the tower that forms the center of the Palace Plaza that the castle stands upon. Each leg of the palace holds a doorway to a flight of stairs leading up to the Hall of Emperors, which connects to the oldest and most important chambers in the castle. The Crystal Throne is located in one of the rooms along the Hall of Emperors, and has been in use since the first Crystal Queen founded the Empire thousands of years ago.

Due to the inherent magical qualities of the Crystal Empire, many secrets of the Palace still remain unknown. Hidden passageways leading from the Crystal Throne to the very top of the Imperial Keep have been discovered, and most of the palace’s upper floors remain empty save for curious artifacts left by forgotten Emperors.

Below the palace, located in the exact center of the Crystal Empire, is the resting place for an immensely powerful object known only as the Crystal Heart. This object was recovered shortly after the rediscovery of the city and played a critical role in the defeat of King Sombra shortly after. Not much is known about this artifact save for its apparent role in the upkeep of the magical shield protecting the city.

Because of this complete lack of knowledge about the Crystal Empire, it is the duty of historians and archeologists today to research and renew our understanding of the ancient world.

Author's Note

I am very sorry for any readers that thought this was a dead project (are there any readers?).
A few things; this is incomplete and will be edited as soon as I have time. Also, since I didn't verify my email, I got shut out of my account until I remembered my password.
I know the info in this chapter and earlier ones is outdated, and I will remedy that. Season 5 will probably further expand the canon, so that means more editing work! I just wanted to get this out so that it doesn't look like a dead story.

Naming Conventions and Titles of Nobility in Equestria

An Overview by Twilight Sparkle

“Every subject of the world possessing sentient thoughts and/or citizenship as defined by Article I, Section I is, regardless of species, race, color, gender, orientation, religion, political stance, opinion, origin, title, status, family, or history, to be entitled to the right of having a name. Names can only be bestowed upon citizens by their parents or guardians, and cannot be unreasonably infringed upon or revoked by any other power save for that of the citizen’s own choosing.” -Declaration of Rights, Article II, Section IV.

Everypony has a name. Every citizen is entitled to one, regardless of status, crimes, or any other condition. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna first enacted this in the year 11 BLN in the Declaration of Rights, a document that has since been reaffirmed every half decade since.

While the right to have a name is not a subject of question, what constitutes a proper name is the cause of some debate. The ‘Full Name Decree’ of the Griffon Empire requires that every citizen be given at least two separate names, a practice that is already widely in use. Though Equestria has not yet produced any legislation on the subject, the two name system has been growing steadily for the past few hundred years.

One recent development in the naming conventions of Equestria is the introduction of family names. A family of ponies would adopt a last name that would be passed down to their offspring. While this practice was in limited use in the Crystal Empire during the Pre-Classical Era, it has only seen resurgence in Equestria’s large cities in the last three centuries.

As of now, most ponies in Equestria are only referred to by a single name, such as Rarity or Fluttershy, and have no current family name. Other ponies have multiple parts to their given name, such as Twilight Sparkle or Rainbow Dash. These given names are not always passed down, and a pony may be referred to by either the first part or the full name (Twilight or Twilight Sparkle). Families in Equestria may adopt family names to differentiate themselves, creating families such as the Apples of Ponyville. Family members are rarely referred to by their full name (ex. Applejack Apple would only be referred to as Applejack), unless a pony prefers to be named in the style of their choosing (Pinkamena Diane Pie may be shortened to Pinkie Pie).

Many family names hold significant weight in Equestria, though the concept of holding a single family name is relatively recent. The Unicorn Nobility in Canterlot largely revolves around House Platinum, the sigil of which is a prominent compass rose, selected in memory of what is said to be the ‘excellent navigation’ shown by Princess Platinum during the Great Migration at the end of the Pre-Classical Era. Many of the members of House Platinum hold the compass rose as their cutie mark, the most prominent member being Princess Platinum’s direct descendent, Prince Blueblood.

Newer families in Equestria, while not possessing many generations of history, can also be seen climbing the social ladder of Equestria. The widespread Apple Family of Earth Ponies is a prime example of the benefits of a tight-knit family, rising from migrant seed collectors, niche farmers, smiths, and pilgrims, to become one of Equestria’s most successful food producers. The fact that this was accomplished in only two generations and led to the founding of towns such as Ponyville and Appleloosa makes the Apple Family one of the most prominent family houses in Equestria, overshadowing many older and nobler houses even without formal titles.

Titles and name suffixes, while important in Equestria, are usually only used in formal occasions. This excludes members of royalty and members of the military, where only close family or friends are not expected to address a pony by their title. A pony that is knighted by either Princess Celestia or Princess Luna is almost always addressed by ‘Sir’, usually following any other ranks or titles before his name (ex. Guard Captain Sir Shining Armor), unless another title overrules the knighthood (Prince Shining Armor).

In the case of the Royal Princesses Celestia and Luna, special designation is given. Unlike the Unicorn Nobility in Canterlot, a pony is expected to bow in the presence of an Alicorn Princess and address them as either “your Highness”, “your Grace”, or “your Majesty”. Though Celestia has called this practice “dated and rustic,” other members of both the Solar and Lunar Courts insist on its use.

The full title of Princess Celestia is “Her Royal Majesty, the Mare of Morning, Princess Celestia of Equestria, Protector of the Realm, Ruler of the Solar Court, Bringer of the Dawn, Empress of the Sun, and Diarch of the Day,” though the title is so long that she prefers “Princess Celestia of Equestria”.

Princess Luna’s full title is “Her Royal Majesty, the Mare of Midnight, Princess Luna of Equestria, Protector of the Realm, Ruler of the Lunar Court, Bringer of the Dusk, Empress of the Moon, and Diarch of the Night,” though she has taken the similar title, “Princess Luna of Equestria” or simply “Luna, Princess of the Night”.

The reason why the Princesses prefer not to use the title of ‘Queen’ is one they refuse to comment on, though it is revealed in the recovered texts of Smart Cookie, who acted as a scribe for the Last Congress of Everfree, in which Celestia and Luna called upon the leaders of the Equestrian Union to unite to overthrow Discord. They decided that because neither Luna nor Celestia held ultimate authority, the title of ‘Queen’ was unjustified. To overthrow Discord, the self-proclaimed ‘King of Chaos’, and simply install another autocrat, would achieve no end. Thus, the Equestrian Union became the Royal Principality of Equestria, and Celestia and Luna became the ruling Diarchal Princesses.

Even without Luna’s input as a diarch the practice of Princess’ rule remained. After the Second Congress of Canterlot, Celestia decided to keep the title of ‘Princess’, despite Nightmare Moon’s self-appointed title of ‘Queen of the Night’. For over a thousand years Equestria has not had a Queen or King in power, a freedom not always shared by the rest of the world.

Author's Note

Just to establish what I think social protocol would be like in Equestria.

A Biological Overview of Equus mannulus terrenus

A Physiological Study of Earth Ponies by Twilight Sparkle

Many ponies and non-ponies make the mistake of underestimating the ‘ordinary’ and ‘dull’ earth ponies. Though they comprise almost 45% of Equestria’s population, few attempts have been made to understand their physiological and magical attributes. To an outsider, it may appear that earth ponies are bereft of any magic and equivalent to a unicorn without a horn or a pegasus without wings. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, earth ponies bear some of the most unusual traits out of all the pony subspecies.

The strength of the earth pony is common knowledge throughout Equestria and beyond. During the Classical Era, the Equestrian Alliance of Rightful Tribal Holdings under Chancellor Puddinghead kept the motto, ‘velut terrae’, or, ‘strong as the earth’. Any earth pony can be expected to be able to overpower a pegasus or unicorn of similar size in almost all occasions. The natural athleticism of the earth pony spawned events such as the Iron Pony competition and the Everfree Games (later rechristened as the Equestria Games). Earth ponies have denser muscle mass that develops even without exercise, giving even the laziest of ponies a wiry strength. Even so, the strength of the earth pony is not merely physical, but bears magical properties as well.

When stressed, an earth pony’s strength can amplify by orders of magnitude. When in this state, objects as large as a house can be moved with little effort, boulders can crumble beneath ironclad hooves, and almost no creature on land can overtake a determined earth pony. Little is known about this ‘stress response’; details on how to stimulate it, how long it lasts, or even the upper limits of the pony’s abilities remain unknown. What is certain is that this state is a defense mechanism that draws on the innate magic of earth ponies, much like involuntary spellcasting can be to unicorns. The magic supersedes the limitations of the muscle and bone that defines most other actions, though the bone structure seems to be built for such outbursts of power.

Earth ponies have an incredibly dense bone structure, with a strength-to-weight ratio similar to some steel alloys, yet still flexible enough not to impede movement. The entire skeletal structure of an earth pony is coated in layers of cartilage that negate impact damage in many injuries. This tough endoskeleton combined with the dense muscle mass surrounding it, causes earth ponies to weigh more than similarly sized pegasi or unicorns.

The strength and endurance earth ponies possess makes them well suited for tasks involving manual labor and physical prowess. Occupations such as construction, heavy lifting, and farming usually employ large amounts of earth ponies. Farming is especially exclusive to earth ponies due to their innate connection with the earth and with all living things. This magical connection is not well understood, defying most attempts at explanation. Earth ponies seem to influence nearby organisms to their liking. The initial effect is minute, but extended exposure causes crops to quadruple in output, weeds and unwanted growth to diminish, animal life to become tame, wounds to heal, and even the most barren of ground to become fertile.

With the power to tame the soil and the wildlife, it is no wonder that earth ponies are the most numerous out of the pony subspecies. Their strength, endurance, and ability to dominate the land has truly earned them their name as the ponies of the earth.

Author's Note

This one is short but it says all I need it to say. Don't worry, I'm still editing previous chapters!

A Biological Overview of Equus mannulus pegasus

A Physiological Study of Pegasus Ponies by Twilight Sparkle

Of the three primary pony subspecies, the pegasi are arguably the most physiologically interesting. Though they do not possess the magical talent of the unicorn or the raw power of the earth pony, pegasi rule the skies along feathered wings, able to perch on clouds and control the weather itself. These abilities grant them roles in Equestrian society and elsewhere that otherwise cannot be filled, ensuring the wellbeing of Equestria from the skies.

The most striking feature of any pegasus is the pair of wings connected to the medial dorsal surface of the body. The Ala Humerus connects to a ball and socket joint along the blade of the Scapula, and, along with the Ala Ulna, Ala Radius, and the Ala Digits, makes up a third pair of limbs separate from the legs. The wings are extremely similar to their avian counterparts in terms of skeleton, muscle, and feather structure, with the Ala Trapezius connecting the wing to the Dorsal Keel, a specialized vertebra developed for flight motions. The wing is coated in primary, secondary, and tertiary feather groups with Coverts, Scapulas, and Alulas to provide flight. Pegasus feathers are sometimes used as alchemical ingredients due to their inherent magical properties. The wing is extremely flexible and strong, with many muscle groups controlling the coordination of even the smallest feather groups. The effect is a highly maneuverable, extremely agile flight system capable of carrying out difficult motions at speed.

The anatomy of the pegasi is remarkably different from the other pony subspecies, even without taking their wings into account. Pegasi have hollow bones, much like Aves, but like Griffons, the bones encase a matrix of bone marrow, cartilage, and stem cells. Further layers of cartilage surround each bone, each with a small amount of stem cells for healing purposes. This results in a lightweight skeletal structure required for flight, but includes structures for healing injuries that may occur upon collisions at speed or from altitude, thus pegasi bones are quick to break, but heal within days.

Surrounding the skeleton of the pegasus is the most complex muscle system in the Equus genus. For takeoff, the leg muscles, especially the Popliteus, Cranial Tibials, and Digital Extensors, are heavily reinforced. The forelegs of the pegasi are especially strong, even by earth pony standards, in order to cushion the impact of landings. Pegasi are naturally athletic, and fast even when grounded, even though they lack the skeletal strength and muscular endurance of earth ponies.

Like Griffons, the internal organs of the pegasi are heavily adapted for flight. The lungs of a pegasus are 20% larger than those of an earth pony and 30% larger than a unicorn’s. Likewise, the heart of a pegasus is 50% larger than an earth pony’s and nearly double the size of a unicorn’s. The large cardio-respiratory organs can only fit due to the diminished digestive system. Like birds, pegasi excrete uric acid to improve water retention and lower weight. This mode of salt excretion is unlike anything else in the Equus genus, as is the crop and gizzard digestive system in the abdominal cavity. These adaptations give pegasi high metabolisms, which is countered with napping behavior or high caloric intake. Even without active magic, the average pegasus has an energy intake higher than most unicorns and almost double that of any given earth pony.

It is a common assumption that the only magic pegasi possess is the ability to physically interact with clouds and change weather patterns. In fact, the magic of pegasi reaches far beyond weather and to flight itself. Aerodynamically, no pegasus is capable of flight. The wings are too small, the body is too heavy, and the drag would keep speeds to a crawl. All pegasus flight is magic based, easing them through the air and allowing higher speeds than physically possible. If a pegasus trains well enough, they can strengthen this magic, which directly increases flight aptitude (measured in Wing Power). The magical field surrounding a pegasus allows for the control of weather formations including the creation and destruction of cloud formations. Large numbers of pegasi can upkeep structures as large as Cloudsdale or Las Pegasus. If an individual pony’s Wing Power is high enough, they can reach speeds high enough to release immense bursts of pegasi magic in phenomena known as a Sonic Rainboom. Few of these have ever been recorded.

The powers possessed by the pegasi heavily influence their culture, especially in the Pre-Classical Era. The pegasi tribes were fierce warriors who often threatened the unicorn and earth pony tribes with foul weather in exchange for tribute. Commander Hurricane first united them under one banner, instilling a deep military tradition that continues to this day with the Wingguard and the Wonderbolts. Most pegasi contribute greatly to public services; though they comprise only a quarter of Equestria’s population, the majority of them are employed as weather engineers, military members, mail workers, or in other areas that emphasize their talents.

Pegasi contribute much to the wellbeing of Equestria, and are marvels of natural efficiency. Further study of this subspecies may yield greater findings into their abilities and potential. For now, they rule the skies of Equestria, a testament to their abilities.

Author's Note

I'm a bio major. Might as well put it to use.

A Biological Overview of Equus mannulus monoceros

A Physiological Study of Unicorn Ponies by Twilight Sparkle

As a unicorn, one might expect me to be biased towards my own race. As a researcher and a student of Princess Celestia, I can assert that I remain objective throughout this essay and others. The physiology of unicorns is largely unremarkable in comparison to other members of the Equus genus, and virtually unchanged in comparison to the evolutionary ancestor Equus ferus genesis, save for one feature: magic. Unicorns are remarkable among ponykind for their active magical ability, use of spellcasting and sorcery, and presence of a horn used for the manipulation of the magical aether as described in by Starswirl the Bearded in the Studium Magicae. Unicorns are defined by magic, which pervades across all aspects of their culture and physiology.

As stated above, the majority of Equus mannulus monoceros’ physiology is unremarkable. The skeletal system is neither as strong as that of an earth pony, nor as light as that of the pegasi. Similarly, the muscular system is less developed than the brawn earth ponies possess or the agile grace of pegasus physiology. Athletically, most unicorns can’t hope to compete with members of the other pony subspecies, as even with muscular training the cardio-respiratory systems of the unicorn are underdeveloped in comparison to the rest of ponykind. These drawbacks limit unicorns from many jobs requiring manual labor and as a result further emphasize their other talents.

Positioned atop the dorsal surface of the cranium is the defining structure of the unicorn. The Corneus Unus is a true horn, with a core of bone (Corneus Summa), surrounded by layers of keratin and protein. As the horn grows, the keratin and protein sheath develops along a spiral path along grooves in the Corneus Summa. This sheath carries pigment cells that assume the same color as the rest of the unicorn’s body, and differences in horn color are rare and may signify disease. The horn is very sturdy, and can heal from most non-magical injuries with no issues, allowing a unicorn to reliably use it for magical purposes.

Housed inside the Corneus Summa is the Corneus Nerve, a nerve that connects the horn directly to the Hippocampus and to the Magnus Gland, which translates synaptic messages into base spells for casting. Spellcasting takes an amount of exertion in direct correlation to the difficulty of the spell, with spells such as telekinesis becoming more difficult in relation to the mass, volume and range of the manipulated object. If a unicorn becomes practiced enough in magic, the exertion required for spellcasting lessens, and higher tier spells can be safely attempted. Magic proficiency varies between ponies, however, and much of it is based in the talents of the spellcaster.

The magical abilities of unicorns are far reaching, comprising the entire scientific branch of Thaumatology. Different schools of magic interpret unicorn spellcasting differently, but that is a matter for another essay. Unicorns are able to do much with their magic, with Pre-Classical examples of groups capable of moving the Sun and Moon. Such abilities have a high cost, however, as the caloric intake of a unicorn skyrockets with intense magic use. This required the Unicorn Kingdoms of the Pre-Classical Era to demand large amounts of food from the earth pony tribes under their control, a feudal system of serfdom that continued until the Great Migration in Equestria and until the Grand Revolution in Prance across the sea. The power held by unicorns influences their high-society culture even to this day.

Unicorns are known for the many noble houses in Canterlot and the many successful businessponies in Manehatten and beyond. With the abilities allotted to them by magic, many unicorns have pursued employment in manufacturing, engineering, and especially business jobs. This yields them higher incomes on average than pegasi or earth ponies, especially among the nobility. As Equestria industrializes, however, many of the old ways will soon be obsolete. Unicorns must adapt to the new world, or find that their power may perish with the last.

Author's Note

I kinda rushed this (sorry), but I wanted to get this set done before editing earlier ones and continuing on with this project and my other super-secret one. :ajsmug:
Unicorns are, with the exception of their horn, the most boring of the three subspecies. I also hoped to lessen their OP status in this way.
Hope you liked it!

A Biological Overview of Equus mannulus caelestis

A Physiological Study of Alicorn Ponies by Twilight Sparkle

Do gods walk among us? Are we in the presence of divine beings? These are questions that alicorns raise and ponies have asked for millennia. While ponies are born, live, grow old, and die within a century, alicorns are ageless, lasting hundreds or even thousands of years, rendering them biologically immortal. They possess the magic and capabilities of all three pony subspecies, bearing the strength and power of the earth ponies, the wings and speed of the pegasi, and the magical abilities of the unicorns. Such is their power that they have become royalty in every instance of their existence. They walk the line between kings and gods, leading many ponies to believe that they are a little of both.

Currently, only three alicorns are known to be living in Equestria. All three are princesses with large amounts of legislative and executive powers. The oldest and longest ruling of them is Princess Celestia, who raises the Sun each morning and for most of the past 1000 years has been the sole leader of Equestria. Her younger sister, Princess Luna, is the other ruling Diarch of Equestria, raising the Moon each night. Luna has spent most of the last millennium imprisoned on the Moon as the ‘Mare in the Moon’, due to the actions of her alter ego, Nightmare Moon. To the North, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza (or simply, ‘Cadance’) of the Crystal Empire, is the youngest of the three and the only one with a defined origin as a pegasus pony. All three have extraordinary abilities, beyond any unicorn, earth pony, or pegasus.

Alicorns are not merely ‘winged unicorns’, but a separate entity on their own. Very little is known about them due to their rarity and the unwillingness of the current population to divulge information. Researchers are certain of a few things: their biological immortality, possession of unicorn, pegasus, and earth pony magic, and that they possess an additional type of magic beyond the sum of the three subspecies. Though a commonly held belief states that they are immortal and invulnerable, the existence of historical alicorns no longer thought to be living implies that death is possible and therefore inevitable even to alicorns. The fact that Princess Cadance was once a pegasus until her encounter with the sorceress Prismia gives evidence that ponies can become alicorns and therefore earn titles of royalty, though it is not known whether this differs from ponies born as alicorns or if all alicorns were once ordinary ponies. The alicorn princesses declined to comment on this matter.

Little to nothing is known about the anatomy of alicorns in comparison to other ponies. The princesses are quite careful to withhold information regarding their physiology (not to mention the history that they witnessed), but it is assumed that they possess a mix of features possessed by all three subspecies. Alicorns may not appear to have the muscle mass of a fully developed earth pony, but observations show that their strength is beyond that of most, if not all, ponies in existence. Whether their muscles are enhanced with innate magical charms, or their every motion is reinforced with kinetic spells is unknown, but most researchers assume this strength is derived from alicorn magic in some way. Similarly, the skeletal system has never been directly observed as no alicorn has been recorded dying in the history of Equestria, but it is thought to be nigh indestructible in either material or enchantments (similar to unicorn horn magic), though is light enough to be analogous to pegasus bone. This structural support is key when it comes to the larger body size alicorns possess.

Alicorns are larger than their counterparts in the other pony subspecies, and seem to grow larger in respect to age and power. Princess Celestia is the tallest known pony in Equestria and beyond. She and her sister also possess a mane and tail with innate enchanted qualities that seem to derive from alicorn magic. As Cadance is a recently crowned alicorn, it is thought that she does not yet possess the magical abilities of the Diarchal Princesses. Whether she ever will is a mystery.

The magical abilities of alicorns are truly awe inspiring. What took the combined might of Princess Platinum and her court mages, including Clover the Clever, to move the Sun and Moon was accomplished singlehoofedly by Celestia for over 1000 years. Using her alicorn magic, Princess Luna is able to enter the minds of dreaming ponies, a feat that no unicorn could replicate in countless attempts. Even Princess Cadance, who does not possess the same amount of power as the other two, has mastered rare and difficult love spells that few sorcerers can accomplish. Alicorn magic breaks the laws of Thaumatology that all unicorns abide by, allowing spellcasting of ludicrous power and duration. The same is true in regards to pegasus magic, allowing an alicorn to actively funnel in magic to increase Wing-Power. Similarly, they possess an enhanced version of earth pony magic, allowing them to heal from injuries that would kill lesser creatures instantly. It is no wonder that such powerful beings are revered as rulers and deities.

It seems odd then, that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have actively condemned the worship of alicorn princesses. If one has the abilities of a god or goddess, would it not be correct to be revered as such? Celestia admits that she often makes mistakes, while Luna’s infamous actions during the Long Night Crisis implies corruptibility. The fact that Cadance has ascended to their ranks suggests that more ponies can earn this gift. Princesshood is not hereditary or even voluntary, but requires worthiness. They may not be gods, but the alicorns are something else, perhaps something greater. They are an ideal to aspire to, a symbol that shines like a beacon to guide Equestria with love and patience, and if we can follow them into the light we too can become one of them.

Author's Note

This may need editing, but otherwise I'm finished with the Biological Overviews! :twilightsmile: