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Equestria: The Pacific Kingdom
The Kingdom of Equestria (1812)/The Land of Equestria (1896)
World of 1812 Following the Peace of Paris and Canterlot.
"The War of 1812 was a key moment in North American history as it finely established the borders bewteen the United States, Great Britain/Canada, and Equestria. Dispute had greatly arisen following the Louisiana Purchase, where Queen Celestia was not made aware of the sale by Spain or France. Leading the delegation to Equestria as the United States's first official ambassador to Equestria was William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition, their trip had finally found a land route to the fabled Pony Kingdom in 1806." -"First Contact" by Bold Justice as appearing in the Equestrian-American Foreign Relations Journal
The lands of Equestria and its inhabitants are considered by many to be the biggest mystery, to both humans and ponies at that. The fauna and flora found in Equestria are quite unique; some say would defy the proposal of evolution that Charles Darwin and subsequent writers on the subject have put forth. While Equestria is to an extent somewhat isolationist, Celestia has opened Equestria to trade and the poking around of human academics. The ruler of Equestria, perhaps knowledgeable of the storm that her very own origin could have on the wider scientific and religious landscape of mankind, the dominant species on the Earth, has kept quiet. All questions toward how she came to be in Equestria (questioners receiving a witty remark and a quick change of the subject) or her exact age (questioners sometimes receiving a angry stare and a reminder on how sharp her horn is) have gone unanswered and appear as if they always will be. Nonetheless, this situation has not stopped people from making observations, conferring with fellow Equinephiles, or just making random guesses at how the Ponies and creatures of Equestria came to be.
There have been established some notable theories, ranging from scientifically possible to being only possible in the mind of a conspiracy theorist. Such theories of the latter revolve around a ancient race of centaurs coming from space and separating their offspring to a time traveling doctor in a blue box creating Ponies on earth just to see what would happen to the timeline. Some say a ancient race of Alicorns built the pyramids while others say that all ponies are a time throwback from the future where mankind has mastered the ability to meld flesh in whatever image they wish. The more widely accepted theories focus on Celestia, namely if her origin is from earth or indeed from outer space.
The strongest Earth Bound Theory is particularly favored by Orientals. The theory goes that Celestia is a goddess on earth of the animal kingdom; some have interpreted this as Celestia being a physical manifestation of all Equines. She roamed the earth much earlier, and it was only with the dominance of man and the rise of the gods of men that she retreated to the lonely western continent which had not received much interaction with mankind. In ways this would account for the presence of evolutionary mysteries such as griffons, dragons, and hydras which are present only in ancient human myth. As mankind’s numbers and sophistication grew all species of intelligent ponies and the previously mentioned mythical creatures died out, but in Equestria under Celestia’s protection their species has survived. Though there have been to date no ancient remains found anywhere in the world outside of Equestria of any of these animals.
The Celestial Arrival Theories are more popular then the Earth Bound Theories, citing that Celestia and her former sister did indeed come from outer space. Some say that Celestia came to the Earth on her own violation and upon seeing the primitive creatures of man and the similar equines of the planet made a home for herself and her offspring the Ponies. Other theories state that there were many more Alicorns besides Celestia, and they came to Earth and manifested as ancient gods but eventually they died out through age or fighting among each other with Celestia being the youngest Alicorn (besides that of the ‘Mare on the Moon’) she survived and has since lived, not entirely knowledgeable of the technology or magic possessed by her race but just enough to ensure her life and dominance.
The various races of Ponies and their origin are likewise tied with Celestia, depending on which of the above theories one believes in the Ponies evolved naturally or were created after the extinction of the Alicorns or the arrival of Celestia. If one were to observe that Adam and Eve were more pure and supreme humans and we today are pale offshots of the first humans in creation then likewise it is possible a similar event could have occured for the Ponies, with possible inbreeding by the ancient Alicorn race (who in ways are as mythical as the Atlanteans but the prescence of Princess Celestia puts them in actual fact) to the point where the key traits of their race seperated on a evolutionary level to form the earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns that we see today.
The earliest record researched shows signs of habitation of the Equestrian Valley (Willamette Valley) as being BEFORE the arrival of humans into the continent.
-“The Land of Equestria” by Jacob. B. Stantton (1896).
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Equestria: The Pacific Kingdom
Brony101.com: Fauna of Equestria Report (2007)
Brony101.logblog.com
Hello people of the internet! This is Kyle P. bringing you the latest chunk of information that I have to offer about Equestria! This started out as a ‘alternative media’ project for one of my anthropology classes here at Miami University (Ohio) by detailing the use of the internet for spreading awareness of foreign cultures. Overtime though I have enjoyed it and so from the archives I bring back to you one of my earliest additions to the blog which goes over a slight overview for the inhabitants of Equestria.
Anthro105Project.logblog.com
Continuing from my last entry about the nature of Equestria’s geography I will be making a observation about the inhabitants of Equestria (it is inappropriate to say ‘creatures’). Namely the unique beings found in Equestrian borders and some detailed information about present and past information, at the bottom of my entry can be found my cited sources.
Native Equestrians (Americans) and Expats: The name “Native Equestrian” is used as much as “Native American” or “Amerindian” but I feel for the purpose of this blog that “Native Equestrian” is the best way to describe those humans living in Equestria. Estimated population numbers range for these Native Equestrians range to about 300,000 in total with uneven concentrations in the eastern border of the Colombia Plateau and more isolated northwest coastline. The population was likely much larger before the introduction of disease that only afflicted the human inhabitants of Equestria, and some say that the population has only just recovered. The number of Expats, those studying in Equestria or working on limited travel or work viasa are only about two thousand in number and are restricted from entering the Equestrian Valley (Willamette Valley), as while Canterlot is the official capital, Manehatten is the main economic hub and the site of diplomatic embassies.
Equestrian Ponies: The origin of the Equestrian Ponies is a hotly debated issue as being of extra terrestrial or earth born, as is the nature of Celestia’s origin. In my own opinion on the subject, while Celestia may be a extraterrestrial the Ponies of Equestria may be a offshoot of the early horse mammal (Equus scotti) in North America that largely were wiped out by humans in the western hemisphere. Archaeological evidence supports this in that remains of horses or ponies resembling the modern day Ponies have been found as far east as the Mississippi alongside primitive man. Though these remains are dated several thousand years after the extinction of the Equus scotti.
The estimated population of the Equestrian Ponies ranges to about 10,000,000 with a fairly even distribution amongst the Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns though it is noted that Earth Ponies are more common than Pegasi, and Pegasi more than Unicorns in a margin range of possibly only a few ten thousand. It is the distribution of these races of Pony that are different, Earth Ponies can be found throughout Equestria fairly evenly (having a legacy of being the most expansive minded). The Pegasi’s population while common throughout Equestria is mostly found in the floating, cloud-city of Cloudsdale, they have always been the most far ranging of their king and isolated with their cloud-city forming and reforming constantly through the ages as they have traveled around Equestria and the North American continent (see Cumulusopolis, Stratus, New Stratus, and Nimbus City). The Unicorns are mostly concentrated in the Equestrian Valley and Equestria’s major urban centers; this may be a facet in that most of Equestria’s nobility are Unicorns.
Griffons: The most secretive and reclusive of Equestria’s population, population numbers are unknown. Officially they are independent of Celestia’s rule, but they more or less differ to her on dealing with the outside world, the only major Griffon population outside of the Mountains of Dawn and Dusk (the Cascades and Oregon Coast Range) being in Cloudsdale and they number only a few hundred, and possibly Olympic Mountains. Griffons may have had a much larger population range, as remains have been found on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains but for whatever reason they have restricted themselves to the highest peaks in Equestria.
Dragons: Like Griffons and Unicorns, Dragons have had a very global apperance in cultures throughout the world so it is quite possible that at one time they may have been present across the globe but in modern times outside of Equestria the only known dragon lairs are in the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Kashmir region bewteen India and Pakistan. The population of the Dragons is likewise unknown, somewhere bewteen 20-50 being the guessed range. The reason why Dragonologists are so unsure is that Dragons are very lazy, or more that mature dragons due to changes in their chemical balance with their immense size go through extreamly long periods of hibernation. The last dragon to wake up was in 1980 but before that it was in 1504. Inside of Equestria their known lairs are deep within the Mountains of Dawn and Dusk, perhaps only Celestia knows how many dragons their are or maybe she doesnt. In older times, humans and ponies living in today's Equestria used to raid Dragon nests and steal their eggs (they are made out of pure gold in the inner lining of the egg shell), with a legend going that one human theif stole a egg but the dragon saw him and chased him from modern day Equestria down to the Valley of Mexico (where some believe the apperance of the dragon may have inspired Quetzalcoatl).
Celestia is known to have a ongoing program of exchange with a few dragons, namely trading their dragon eggs for gold and jewels (which the dragons seem to have a affection for not unlike a raccoon for shiney objects). Normally the dragon mothers would be too tired and too prone to hibernation to watch after their hyperactive young which would often lead to the dragon baby to wander away and get killed by predators or starvation or luckily sometimes adopted by Pony or Human tribes. The purpose of Celestia's trade seems to be to instill Friendship for Ponies and Humans so that when they grow up they will be less prone to burn down either's homes.
Equestrian Buffalo: The Buffalo of Equestria mostly live today in eastrern Equestria (Columbia Plateau and North Nevada) where they are wary of both Human and Pony encroachment (especially the Earth Ponies with their drive to plant farms on Buffalo grazing lands). Population numbers are estimated to be around 200,000 in Equestria. Once their population ranged across a large portion of the American continent where they lived sometimes peacefully and sometimes not-so-peacefully with the Native American Tribes and Ponies. Though with the expansion of both, especially the coming of Europeans who saw the Buffalo as fodder their numbers plummeted, becoming largely extinct or cowed the few retaining their independence and intelligence joinning with certain Native Human tribes on reservations or going into Equestria.
Sentient Animals: Interesting enough the animals of Equestria such as Buffalo, Ponies, Cows, Rabbits, etc seem to possess a unusual degree of intelligence compared to their counterparts across the globe. The reasons why may be due to a certain background radiation in Equestria (Magic as they call it) or a interesting evolutionary quirk in their dna.
Alicorn: Celestia is the only known living Alicorn in the world (unless one believes in the Mare on the Moon theory but Lunar imaging and the various space missions to the moon have found no evidence, unless you believe in the conspiracies) and the extent of her powers and are are unknown. She is at least 5,000 years old some scientists have veantured. The nature of her powers such as her ability to move the sun may actually not being able to physically move the sun but the ability to effect the photons and atoms that make up the world's atmosphere by being able to manipulate the movement of the sun's light (which normally is going so fast it passes through the earth) and make it appear she is able to raise or not raise the sun and moon (when infact she is able to influence the light, even block it out for a 'eternal day or night'). The extent of her powers are unknown, some believing she may be able to only commit to a regional affect, while others say she has a worldly influence. Those in favor of the former site the 1987 Canterlot Protocol, where she had to travel to Antartica to fix the Ozone Hole in exchange for world countries adopting more environmentally friendly policies, while warning that she would not totally fix it again in the future if it reopened due to human negligence. While those prefering the later or worldly affect cite a event in 1010 AD, where on the Summer Solstice of the Northern Hemisphere it was reported the night lasted longer rather then shorter.
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Equestria: The Pacific Kingdom
Equestria's Dark Ages to The Dance of Discord (2012)
Equestria's Dark Ages to Dance of Discord
The fact that Queen Celestia holds a very tight leash on the borders of Equestria and likewise its history makes delving very far into the origin of Ponies and the general history of Equestria very problematic. Historians more or less must get on their knees and beg Celestia to delve into certain details or hand on her words like hawks, hoping to pick up any information she may accidentally give off or purposely give off (such information usually is minor but historians have taken a putting-together-a-puzzle like attitude towards any tidbit of information). While the vast history of Equestria is unknown, the farthest back we are able to trace Equestrian History is 500 BC.
Before the Foundation of Equestria.
This is actually due to a rare occurance, finding Equestrian artifacts outside of Equestria which while in many cases Celestia asks returned this find being unique in nature. Compared to being the Rosetta Stone of Equestria, the object in question is The Kansas City Tablet. While found close to the Kansas City Hopewell mound its origin is actually older, but its arrival in the Kansas area being somewhere around 1200AD. The stone the tablet is set in matches up with that common in Equestria and historians can only speculate it once belonged to one of the Equestrian Humans tribes that lived on the Columbia Plateau and at somepoint it was carried eastward-possibly by raiders or even lost in trade.
The tablet depicts a scene of a valley hemmed in with large mountains, and on it groups of Earth Ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, and Humans trading amongst each other. The top portion of the tablet is broken, but a edge in the upper left corner indicates a leg of another pony of some kind (possibly the sister of Celestia). The clumped and clustered groupings of humans and ponies seems to indicate that each group were seperate from one another and that this tablet may have been in commemoration of a trade deal between the Human tribe and the various Equestrian Pony groups. This is the oldest evidence of Pre-Equestria, before the Kingdom of Equestria was established by the Alicorn sisters.
Following this discovery, Celestia slowly released more information about Equestria before her total rule and gradually a picture began to take shape for historians everywhere.
During a unknown period until the establishment of Equestria, Celestia and her sister, Luna are said to have taken a off hands approach to the inhabitants of the Equestrian Valley. While it is said she did not discourage the migration of Ponies from the Equestrian Valleys he made it clear that she would not be able to protect them from the dangers (mostly humans). Therefore at this period, the majority of Ponies were concentrated in the Equestrian Valley from the site of Fillydelphia (Portland, Oregon) to Hoofington (Eugene, Oregon) in various city-states. The city of Canterlot is said to be established by 20AD, where the residence of the Alicorns before that is unknown but some rumors say that is to Canterlot around the town of Ponyville (Sweet Home, Oregon). While the majority of Ponies did live in the Equestrian Valley, evidence points out that settlements of ponies did exsist around the area of Manehatten (Astoria, Oregon) and Seaddle (Seattle, Washington). Also the past incarnations of Cloudsdale did exsist, traveling out of Equestria and over the Clydes Plateau and the Buffalo Range (Eastern Oregon), and over the Diamond Dog Hills, close to Big Apple (Yakima, Washington).
A clear seperation is made amongst the Ponies, with the Earth Ponies living close to the Equestrian River and being the main agricultural produces -mostly a native type of oats-, the Pegasi mostly sticking to their cloud city (though evidence points that some may have founded the first settlements outside of the Equestrian Valley like Manehatten and Seaddle) but being the biggest traders with the outside world, and the Unicorns sticking to stone fortress-monasteries in the hills. Prior to Equestria, it is said by Celestia, the Ponies were rife with battle amongst themselves, humans who periodicly made raids across the Clydesia River, Griffons who attacked anyone, and occasionally Diamond Dogs and Dragons (and their related Hydra cousins). Various forms of government practice exsisted variously, from tribalism to monarchism to even democratic socialism amongst the city-states. While the Ponies revered the Alicorn Sisters as goddesses, they were prone to not listen to either of their words, especially as both Alicorn Sisters seemed to be in seclusion.
This chaotic order changed in 10 BC with the arrival of Discord. It is unknown where he came from but it is very possible that he traveled across the globe inciting various forms of chaos (it is a common thing said amongst Ponies that his influence never left the remainder of the world outside of Equestria). However long he had been, in 10 BC he suddenly make proclamation that reached even the ears of the Alicorn Sisters. He proclaimed that everyone was invited to a dance on his stone boat which he sailed up and down the banks of the Equestrian River inviting the leaders of the various Equestrian Pony City-States and villages for a evening of fun, afterward he would leave with those invited not remembering what had happened the night before. Finally he arrived at the doorsteps of the Alicorn Sisters, both refusing his invitation. Discord was not one to give up, and tried many times to break into the Castle of the Alicorn Sisters but it is said that the sun, moon, and stars would get in his way at every attempt he made. Finally he did give up and sailed to Fillydelphia, and declared that the first song of his dance was done, but the next was about to begin so he took a pipe insturment in his claw and paw and began to play sending out a horrorific series of ear biting notes across Equestria, he called it The Dance of Discord. Across Equestria, those leaders that had accepted his invitation suddenly went barking mad as they began to explode with chaotic magic and the areas around them began to change into scenes of physics defying madness, afflicting even their fellow Ponies who went insane (or as it is termed 'Became Screwballs'). In this disorder Discord was able to move freely thoughout all of Equestria, his powers growing with the anarchy as leaderless areas of Equestria surcumbed to madness and Ponies blamed other Ponies and attacked each other.
Those that became Screwballs attacked their fellow ponies, sometimes in harmless pranks and in other instances horrofic displays such as baking ponies into cupcakes! Even the Alicorn Sisters were affected by this, weakened as the Chaos that Discord spread became like posion to them, weakening their powers. Soon Discord with his wicked insturment began to control the Screwballs into an army, attacking those Ponies still sane. The Earth Pony farms suddenly became flooded as the Equestrian river turned to choclate and overflowed its banks, he threw acidic tomatoes at the Pegasi Cloud City, and the Unicorn stone cities turned to swiss cheese! As he tormented the Ponies, the Alicorn Sisters slowly regained their strength after they fled into the Mountains of Dawn where they found Ponies, Humans, Griffons, Diamond Dogs, and even Dragons who were tormented by Discord's regin. Gathering those tormented by Discord together, Celestia lead a army of friendship and order to battle Discord's Screwballs and reclaim Equestria; meanwhile Luna left with a small group of Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns deeper into the Mountains of Dawn. Following the words of the Dragons who slumbered in the deepest caves of the mountains she found the oldest and most brilliant of jewels...from these she would instill in each the most endearing and greatest ideas that represented friendship amongst ponies...creating the Elements of Harmony.
In the Battle of Fillydelphia, the Alicorn Sisters lead their army against Discord's maddned one. Earth Ponies and Humans lead the charge against maddned Screwballs and warped creations of flesh and earth created by Discord. Pegasi and Griffons bombarded the Discordian army with hail and lightning. Unicorns popped in and out of the battle field taking away the injured, while Diamond Dogs dug pits under the pawns of Discord. At the height of battle as Discord seemed poised to win as he used his full magical power to fuel his insane creations-Celestia and Luna struck with the Elements of Harmony! Discord was encased in stone, his chaotic magic was cut off from the world but inside his stone prision it would grow...
Those who became Screwballs were cured of their madness and rejoyced at being reunited with their friends and family. Then and there, Celestia and Luna declared that they would forever guard Equestria from chaos and anarchy, starting with all disharmony amongst Ponies.
The year was 0 AD. The foundation of Equestria.
Equestria: The Pacific Kingdom
The Equestrian Age: 0 AD- 1010 AD (2013)
Equestrian Age (Pre European Contact Period: Reign of the Two Princesses: Early Principality of Equestria) 0 AD-1010 AD
This roughly thousand year period is described as following the defeat of Discord as the Alicorn Sisters put a stop to his Dance following the Battle of Fillydelphia. It marks the formation of Equestria, where following Discord's demise the Sisters formally became the rulers of Equestria through formal acceptance of their divine right to rule via all of the Equestrian polities throughout the Equestrian Valley including to an extent the Dragons and Griffons. Equestria extended throughout the Equestrian Valley to either side of the Mountains of Dusk and Dawn and slightly up the banks of the Clydes River (Columbia River). Nominally the government was something of a confederation as the previous City-States retained their old boundaries and rules of law while seceding right to rule to the Two Alicorn Sisters who rules as Princesses from their castle in the southern Equestrian Valley. The City-States were quite keen on keeping their power (especially the Pegasus Cumulopolis which had reformed as Stratus) and for this period had no major complaints about the style of the Sisters rule.
This period is marked by a isolationist periods known as the Interim and a expansionist phase, the First Interim lasted from 0 AD-800 AD as both sisters did not care to intervene in political affairs but mostly attended to their heavenly charges and sought to bring peace between ponies. For the most part this worked until towards the end of this period when 746 AD saw increasing aggressive raids across the Clydes River by both Humans and by Diamond Dogs, but especially the latter, who sought out the wealth of Equestria and the relative technological superior products such as the steel the Equestrians were producing. This prompted a response from a coalition of City-States lead by King Puteulanus Cruor who crossed the Clydes River in 780 AD and began attacking the Diamond Dogs and hostile Human tribes. Eventually with reluctance on Celestia's behalf but urgings by Luna, the two sisters put forth their full support behind not only Puteulanus but also the Pegasi in extending Equestria's borders to include those Ponies that had settled outside of the Equestrian Valley. This expansionist phase lasted from 800 AD-1010 AD and was marked by the borders of Equestria extending to the mouth of the Clydes River, west into the Columbia Plateau (bordering the Nez Perce and Buffalo lands) and north into the Diamond Dog Hills. This saw not only Ponies but also Diamond Dogs and Humans giving allegiance to the Alicorn Sisters and the establishment of such settlements as Stalliongrad (Boise, Idaho) as Ponies migrated in greater numbers far from the Equestrian Valley.
All though was not to last as gradually division grew and formed between the two Alicorn Sisters as the popularity and worship of Celestia grew while Luna's waned. Somesay that it was on purpose by the Rulers of the City-States who were quick to influence the older but much more praise seeking sister whereas the younger but more political truthful Luna stayed away from the special invitations and gifts sent by the City-States. The issue at hand was the neutrality of the Alicorn Sisters in the framework of Equestria, as if both or either one could be swayed by any individual or group of individuals then less popular Ponies or City-States could potentially start as Civil War. Thus over this period rulers began to enact very Daytime favorable events and decrees such as the Summer Sun Celebration and ordering works of art of Celestia and the Sun playing on Celestia's mild but goddess level vanity and quickly Luna's increasing insecurity and jealousy. Gradually between the two sisters it became a popularity contest that blinded both sisters to real concerns over the increasingly static political atmosphere of Equestria as the Rulers of Equestria used the opportunity to oppress Ponies, Humans, Buffalo, and Dogs alike.
It had to end with one of the Sisters totally refusing the other and surprisingly it was Luna who crumbled first, refusing to end her Night and taking on the much more dominant and in-control persona of Nightmare Moon which grew out of a meager jealousy to a fullblown dark hatred that shocked even Celestia. Celestia though realized what was happening in the bonds between her and Luna too late as the Elements of Harmony erupted deep within their castle sending up waves of energy that destroyed part of the castle and created beasts such as the Manticore and Hydra as well as the Everfree Forest that suddenly sprang up and wiped out the Unicorn city of Hipposvilla (eventually Earth Pony settlers managed to cut away sections of the Everfree Forrest and found the town of Ponyville). Celestia knew that there was only one way to stop the release of energy and power from the Elements of Harmony and that was to harness their energy, which she did quickly engaging Nightmare Moon in a battle across the nighttime sky of Equestria eventually banishing her corrupted sister to the Moon for a thousand years in hopes to dispell both her sister's dark power and the negative energy from the Elements of Harmony.
Following this Celestia changed, refusing the wishes of the City-State Rulers she stood alone but above their rule and gradually began to dissolve their power. This new period would see Equestria united under a much more centralized role and downgraded the former independent Rulers of Equestria into the Thoroughbred, the Aristocracy of Equestria who while still owning large amounts of land would become powerless. This next period for Equestria would be known as the Late Principality Period and would end with the arrival of Europeans into Equestria and the common misconception of the Kingdom of Equestria.
Equestria: The Pacific Kingdom
Free Winds, Bloody Skies (1975)
Free Winds, Bloody Skies: A Brief Introduction and History on Pegasi Gladiatorial Culture and the Cloud Revolts of Equestria (1975)
By John ‘Dry’ Derviry
When comparing the breeds of Pony in Equestria one would say that many Unicorns are aloof or self-centered, or that Earth Ponies are stubborn. For Pegasi the characteristics or perhaps caricature often painted by their fellow Ponies, Humans, Dogs, Gryphons, and so forth is one of a culture of being impulsive, adventurous, and always seeking attention or anything to wash away their boredom. Discussion and review of historical texts opens up the psyche of the Pegasi culture as one that generally speaking is based in adrenaline highs and in the past one based on bloodshed and conflict.
Looking at Pegasi history their culture was and to a extent still is a very martial based culture which may come from two principal sources.
One being Pegasi biology, namely connected to the Pegasus ability to fly. Studies have shown that Pegasi have a much more fast moving internal system work which allows them to not only focus intensely on any task set in front of them but ensures they can beat it in record time. Pegasi adrenaline levels are on average much higher than any other Pony and Humans in the world and combined with special wing index muscles and equine bone density gives them bursts of energy and durability that allows Pegasi in cases to crash through walls completely unhurt. This is an aspect that also makes them very popular demolitionists in cases where the use of explosives is undesirable.
The second factor is that most of the Pegasi population throughout the majority of its history has lived mostly separated from the majority of Pony population in Cloudsdale and past incarnations of the city. Pegasi that are born in Cloudsdale are literally born looking down on the rest of Equestria. Even so, Pegasi are the most traveled of the Pony species, interacting with other species when Celestia has ordered isolation from the rest of the world. This though raises a issue or attitude of competitiveness as they constantly set themselves up against the unknown.
If early Pegasi culture could be compared to any human culture it would most likely be pointed at as being most kin to the Romans. This being that unlike the merit based or democratic traditions more common with the Unicorns and Earth Ponies, the Pegasi have had a long history of Emperors who took power through a combination of might of arms and political intrigue. That will be covered later, but another startling aspect is the ‘Domes’ of the Pegasi are akin to the Coliseum’s of Rome and its culture.
Predating the rule of Celestia, the domes had two distinct types of gladiatorial combat. Namely the Thunderdomes featured in Pegasi cloud settlements and the Lightningdomes that featured on the ground. The Thunderdomes got their name from the fact the style of battle is Pegasus vs Pegasus in a combination of armed weapon fighting and aerobatic display which could in some cases be heard from the ground as the crowd roared and weapons clashed against each other. The Lightningdomes in contrast featured Pegasi vs Groundwellers, be they Pony or Human or Hydra and Dog. This name coming from the fact that lightning strikes the ground. Unlike the Thunderdomes which were considered a ‘noble warrior’s test of skill and arms’, the Lightningdomes were in contrast the Pegasi playing the hunter against any non-Pegasi who were captured to become their prey. In fast constructed wooden palisades or in some cases in open pits or gullies, fully armed Pegasi warriors would battle or hunt down anyone they had captured in warfare or slave raids against the ground dwelling sentients. Non-Pegasi combatants were noted to not always be given weapons, and only a rare few incidents have occurred where a grounddweller who killed a Pegasi hunter was allowed to live.
Notably the ‘Dome Combat’, ‘Death Flights’, and ‘Pit Drops’ along with other bloody and violent Pegasi Games have faded out over the course of Pegasi history since Celestia took active steps to curdle their love of bloodshed. Despite this the act of weaning out these habits in Pegasi culture has not been blood free or complete. The so-called “Cloud Revolts” occurred nearly every other generation in Equestria when a young, hot-headed King would come to the cloud throne and revolt against the Queen of Equestria. The weather in Equestria would go somewhat out of balance and Cloudsdale itself would drift out of Equestria for stretches of time from months to years, but upon their return they would be put down by force or ‘persuasion’ on the part of Celestia. The last such revolt occurred under the self-proclaimed “Emperor Thunder Struck” in 1480 AD as the Pegasus ruler attempted to take over Equestria but at the end of events he was swallowed by a dragon.
Since the last Cloud Revolt the Pegasi have been directed by Celestia through violence and non-violence. The first in that the Royal Guard of the Celestial Throne is Pegasi and make up the majority of Equestria’s standing military force. The second being the introduction of sports and fandoms based in flight skill over martial skill, such as the creation of the Wonderbolts in 1751 AD.
Though to this cultural generalization there are notable Pegasi who are examples of the complete opposite of this mainstream Pegasi culture. These Pegasi are timid or klutzy, having no stomach for the bloodshed or competitiveness that many Pegasi exhibit. Often enough in Cloudsdale Flight Schools they are bullied and ridiculed for what is perceived as a mental or physical weakness. These Pegasi for the most part decide to abandon their homes in the clouds or in more dramatic and tragic cases are forcibly abandoned by their family to the ‘wild and dangers of the ground level’. Often enough these cases are accepted by most of Pony society, becoming weather ponies, veterinaries, mail mares, lookouts, and so forth. Many Pegasi born to Earth or Unicorn ponies can trace their lineage to these outcasts from the clouds.
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Equestria: The Pacific Kingdom
European-Equestrian Relations: A History (1999)
European-Equestrian Relations: A History
By Professor of Theology and History, Professor Waddle of the Canterlot University
(1999)
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“What is this filled with so many wonders? Casting its spell that I am now under…” Speedy Delivery hummed to herself as she soared across the sky, looking between the rolling waves of the ocean to one side and the rise of mountains to the other side.
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‘It really is so wonderous here. None of the other pegasi at New Nimbus ever described the world below the clouds ever so beautifully.’ She thought to herself, trying not to remember the memories of the other pegasi her age ridiculing her or the older pegasi looking at her with such scorn for her curiosity about the world below. Instead she focused back to the cart hitched to her flank, it wasn’t very large just the size of her, but what it contained had the value and importance of a wagon ten times the size of her cart.
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“Soon. Soon everything will be all better.” She spoke to the wind, and then prayed to Celestia, her wings flapping faster as she dived into an air current, using its momentum to clear the distance over several leagues as her destination came into sight.
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“Los Pegasus!” she sighed with joy, but no sooner had she uttered her words she sucked them back down her throat with a sharp intake of breath as her heart seized in her chest and her wings nearly froze in midair from pure terror.
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Los Pegasus was on fire, but that was not all. The large bay that Los Pegasus sat upon for the first time in human history contained three ships: three Spanish Galleons to be precise. The turquoise and yellow, filly, pegasus would not know that the arrival of modern mankind had come upon Equestria.
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“E-everyone…” Speedy Delivery croaked, sailing on her wings down closer to Los Pegasus where she could see that fires consumed a third of Los Pegasus, down below she could see a group of Pegasus ponies grouped together into two groups: one living and the other dead. She also saw dozens of other man-shaped figures on the ground, but before she could get any closer something small and fast whizzed past her. Followed by another and another, as bullets and crossbow bolts soon filled the air, snipers had climbed on top of the houses in Los Pegasus that were not on fire and were attacking her. She felt the shock of pain as a crossbow bolt sank into her right hind leg, but the pain soon paled in comparison as several of the flying projectiles impacted her cart-one of the straps holding it to her snapping and sending its contents into midair as it tilted to one side.
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For a moment the sound of the wind, the scream of projectiles, the water hitting the coastal shore, and even the burning of Los Pegasus were all blocked out as she focused on the vials of medicine falling…and falling…Speedy Delivery reached out for them, but everything became a blur.
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On November 12, 1542 of the human year span the Spanish explorer and conquistador Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo arrived at Los Pegasus and became the first European humans to make contact with ponies. Los Pegasus was founded by outcast, pegasus ponies from the main pegasi population center at the time (New Nimbus) and had attracted the settlement of a few earth and unicorn ponies as well. The community thrived on trade with the local natives who through a series of deals had become friendly to the local pony population. A month prior the village had been hit by a plague of the cutie pox that was working the young ponies without their real cutie marks into death by exhaustion. Speedy Delivery volunteered to travel to Canterlot and retrieve medicine for a cure to the cutie pox.
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The Spanish had arrived in Los Pegasus surprised at the presence of houses and strange looking equines. Their attitude turned to fear as one of the unicorns used a translation spell for each group to understand each other. It then turned to greed as the Spanish attempted to enslave the ponies, the majority of the population were caught, a few were killed and the struggle and a few more made their escape to friendly human native tribes. Speedy Delivery somehow managed to fly back to Canterlot in half the time it had taken her the first time to make the trip and bring news to Celestia about the presence of the Spanish.
Celestia’s response was swift and crushing.
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The sun over Los Pegasus grew brighter and brighter, the Spanish camped in Los Pegasus had for the last day since the return of Speedy Delivery searched the lake for the ponies that had fled but the human natives had not given up their friends. Without warning though a magical vortex appeared in the center of Los Pegasus, the energy throwing many of the Spanish soldiers and sailors to the ground as from within the vortex Celestia appeared. Casting a flash of blinding light she was soon followed by the Royal Guard, earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies clad in golden armor flying at the murderers of ponies. Earth ponies smashed them to the ground as pegasi flew like missiles knocking down or slicing through the Spanish, as unicorns either raised protective barriers or sent blasts of magical energy that seared flesh and melted iron.
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The battle for Los Pegasus was swift and crushing, ending when Celestia herself used a spell that burnt the Spanish ships to a flaming crisp….
