Before Luna's attempt at claiming the Equestria's throne over a millennia ago, she had attempted different means than her pact with the Nightmare. Means that would shape a race of ponies forever.

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A fanfic mostly inspired by the lyrics in Full Moon (Leaving Home) by Przewalski's Ponies. It contains no small amount of headcanonical speculation.
It also ties in with the Courage is Magic campaign my friends and I are running, not that any of you would know that.