Battlefield: Equestria Unit Reference Guide, Third Edition

Needs: Nightmare Moon in history

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Ponies are perhaps the simplest and most complex creatures on the planet, both being simple quadrupeds and also being divided into numerous subspecies, several of which possess great magical  abilities. Equestrians are made primarily of three pony subspecies: earth, unicorn, and pegasus. Earth ponies are the simplest. They are the most basic form and their magical ability is passive. It aids in areas such as physical strength or giving life to those around them, such as farm plants and animals. Unicorns use their magic in a more direct way.  Their horn channels their magical energy into more tangible manifestations, such as telekinesis, teleportation, and a myriad of other spell. Pegasi use their magic for mainly flight and weather manipulation.

History

Equestria began as small, ineffectual tribes that were of no threat to anyone. The three tribes, separated by subspecies, were held in a fragile alliance due to necessity. The Earth Tribe raised food and crops, the Pegasus Tribe protected the hegemony from outside threats, and the Unicorn Tribe managed the caste system and raised and lowered the sun. A great blizzard came to their land and caused massive famine, killing a third of the Unicorn and Pegasus tribes, while the Earth Tribe came away relatively unscathed. The three tribes soon formed into one greater nation, named Equestria. Despite their newfound unity, however, they were quite the underdog on the world stage. The militaristic and un-siegable Griffons Kingdoms to the west and the massive Crystal Empire to the north, Equestria was perched on a very precarious edge and relied on diplomacy and a massive defensive network to safeguard them from foreign aggression.

However, this would soon change. Under the influence of Chaos-corrupted King Sombra, the Crystal Empire weaned in power. As the Empire gradually lost its overseas lands and its local armies starved. Once they were ripe for the taking, Equestria moved in. The Equestrians waged a successful war against the Empire and pushed the Crystal armies back to the capital, where they surrounded and besieged the city for several years. When the city could not be breached, Equestria’s alicorn rulers, Celestia and Luna, personally came to the boundaries of the city and performed a powerful spell to make the city disappear for a millennia. Equestria then pounced on the rest of the weakened nation, appropriating resources and lands to feed a military powerhouse over the course of centuries. Six hundred years later, Equestria set its sights on the two human powers: the Commonwealth and the Greater Human Empire.

Equestria ransacked the two nations when they were preoccupied with war against each other. Equestria, like with the Empire, took their land for its own use as the human refugees fled to the northern continents. Despite this, however the Griffon Kingdoms were still untouchable in their mountain homes. Because they knew the cost of lives would be too great with very little gain, Celestia and Luna never attempted anything against the Griffon Kingdoms. Likewise, the Griffons could not attack without exposing their homes to Pegasus air power.

Eventually, the Crystal Empire returned. The last city appeared to the north of the Equestrians, who had by then lost their northern territory to terrible blizzards. The Equestrian Royal Guard quickly moved in to pacify the area, and were met with light resistance from King Sombra’s remaining army. With the city under Equestrian control, Celestia delegated Cadance and her husband, Shining Armor, as the new royalty of the Crystal Empire. However, King Sombra was still alive. Cadance set up a very physically taxing magical shield around the city while the newly arrived Elements of Harmony searched for an ancient artifact, the Crystal Heart. The quest was completed and King Sombra destroyed, leaving only Cadance on the Crystal Throne. The Crystal Ponies, seeing Cadance, Shining, and the Elements as liberators from Sombra’s reign, became extremely loyal towards Equestria, becoming a powerful asset at Equestria’s disposal.

Government

Equestria is run by two princesses, Celestia and Luna. Their word is absolute, although they make sure to surround themselves with competent and selfless advisors, and they are rather lenient on their people. They have the legal right to do as they please to deal with various crimes, but they often opt to rehabilitate and teach rather than punish. This policy has led to public adoration fierce loyalty from the people under them.

Units

Spear Squad: Twenty earth pony spearponies who charge at the enemy while two unicorns, armed with short swords, stay in the back to provide defense against ranged attack using shield spells. However, as very few unicorns have a Special Talent involved in shield-casting and wards, these shields are rather weak and fall when too much energy is applied in a short amount of time.

Pegasi Cavalry: Twenty pegasi who charge enemy lines from above who use disposable spears to impale enemies and quickly disengage. They are vulnerable to mass vollies from ranged weapons, but only a very good shot can take one down before it reaches its target.

Unicorn Artillery: Squads of ten unicorns who stay near the backlines and fire arching vollies of magic blasts toward the enemy in support of advancing Spear Squads. They are vulnerable to close-quarters-combat, but the trick is getting to them in the first place. They are more protected against ranged weaponry as the unicorns comprising these squads are more practised in protection magic, and magic overall.

Special Units

Royal Guard Unicorns: Squads of five specially trained unicorns who are veterans of both Spear Squads and Unicorn Artilelry squads. Not only are they adept at ranged and protection magic, but their training in close combat allows them to hold their own and, in some cases, overpower Earth pony and other infantry units. Their experience in magic also allows them to be used more effectively in an anti-air role.

Royal Guard Pegasi: Squads of five specially trained pegasi who are veterans of Pegasi Cavalry squadrons. Pegasi Royal Guard units are trained in prolonged close-combat, allowing them to hold their own against Earth pony and other infantry units. This means that, as well as attacking from the air, they can also land and seize strategic positions behind enemy lines.

Solar/Lunar Knights: The elite soldiers of the Royal Guard, they use their magic to dual wield deadly type of short sword known as the Gladius. On the battlefield, the Solar/Lunar Knights serve as the Princesses’ personal bodyguard.

Royal Assassins: Every Monarchy needs a team of good assassins. These Unicorns are experts in illusion spells, meaning that they can make themselves invisible to the naked eye. In battle, they wield long daggers, and are primarily used to attack officers and other important figures. However, they must un-cloak before they can attack.

Heroes

Princess Celestia: While some other rulers falsely claim to be gods, Celestia certainly has the grounds to make such a claim. With incredible magical power, control of the sun, and immortality to boot, she is a being of immense power. In battle, asides from her magic, she wields an elegant sabre, wreathed in magical flames. Although she is immortal, she is not invincible. A sword, an arrow or a spell could still her life.

Princess Luna: Freed from her torment by the soul of a demon that possessed her body and turned her into Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna feels intense remorse over her actions. What she wants more than anything is to take her rightful place beside her sister once more. And, like her sister, she wields incredible magical power, possesses immortality and the ability to control the moon. In battle, she wields a sabre identical to her sister's, except hers is engulfed in a freezing blue mist.

Twilight Sparkle (Unicorn): Personal student of Princess Celestia, Twilight is also the element of magic. Asides from her great magical prowess, she wields an elegant dagger, given to her as a present by her teacher.

Twilight Sparkle (Alicorn): Previously a unicorn, she has recently been transformed into an alicorn. She retains much of her past self, really, with the only differences being the added physical strength and more magic reserves and higher possible output of said magic with less physical exhaustion. Along with her coronation, Twilight was given by Celestia a new set of armor and a sword, to coincide with the battle-leading duties a princess might have to take up. Her ability to multi-task makes her very deadly, sword and magic combined. Notably, she has the least fighting experience compared to Celestia, Luna, and Cadance. Not to say that she isn't skilled, as her brother in the Guard surely trained her. Celestia, her mentor, also decided that periodical training sessions would be good even before coronation. After her coronation, improving her combat abilities were one of the things emphasized.

Rarity: A dressmaker by trade, rarity is an expert at manipulating objects through magic. Aside from this, she also uses an expensive rapier, handed down to her by her father, a now retired Guard Captain.

Fluttershy: Timid by name and nature, Fluttershy possesses the unusual ability to control animals through direct eye contact. While she is horrified at the idea of warfare, she can summon various animals to defend her and her friends.

Rainbow Dash: Rainbow Dash's incredible speed and unswerving loyalty to her friends makes fighting her an intimidating prospect. Her cocky bravado emboldens those around her to fight harder, but also to take greater risks.

Applejack: Years of hard work on the farm has given Applejack increased strength, stamina and endurance, making her good in a fight.

Pinkie Pie: So far the only earth pony known to able to teleport, Pinkie Pie also possesses the strange ability to predict the near future, making her impossible to hit with all but the fastest projectiles. Her incessant joking and general silliness also gives everyone around her a morale boost. However, there is suspicion that she is mentally unstable, and may break if exposed to prolonged combat.