Beyond the Borders

by Loolaalee

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Romance, Adventure
Length: 583

What goes on outside Equestria? This story deals with the danger, drama, and conflict of living in an area without harmony.

Long has Equestria had harmony holding it together. It remains a strong nation to the present day, peace reigning through the land. But what about everywhere else? Certainly there are other ponies besides the ones living in Equestria. Beyond the borders lies what seems to be an entirely different world full of deception, hatred, and a struggle for survival.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-08-04 03:59:04 UTC

Prologue

Over a thousand years ago, as many ponies of Equestria may recall, two beings from beyond the Equestrian borders came to the mainland in hopes of taking over this unique land of love and harmony. The two beings were brothers, by the name of Scorpan and Tirek. As legend tells, Scorpan grew to love the ponies of Equestria as they loved each other, and eventually returned to the land from which he came, while his brother was imprisoned in Tartaros. And thus, the legend comes to a close. What ponies don't know is what happened to Scorpan after he left.

Having no brother nor real friends beyond the harmonic borders, Scorpan wandered the wasteland alone for years before coming upon a colony of ponies, felons who had been banished from Equestria. They had banded together in a desperate attempt for survival. Scorpan taught these ponies what he had learned, and eventually, the colony grew to know love. Harmony, however, was an unattainable goal. Monsters constantly attacked the colony, monsters who craved for the rare delicacy of pony blood. Scorpan helped to protect the ponies, and for a thousand years, they kept the monsters at bay as the colony steadily grew. The ponies perfected ways of combat, learning how to forge weapons and armor to use in the war against evil. Unicorns used their magic to create barriers that would temporarily hold the monsters at bay. Pegasi were the air force, with swords and spears modified to be easily held by their wings while still in flight. Earth ponies were the most vital resource, building protective barriers and providing the ground force, many of whom specialized in ranged combat, such as archery.

Generations passed, and the ponies fell into a system, monster attacks being all they knew. Scorpan's power was enough to protect them if they couldn't  protect themselves. But as a fail-safe, combat schools were built, and young ponies were taught how to defend the colony. All seemed to be well until about two years ago, when Scorpan mysteriously disappeared. Nopony knows where he went or why, but once he left, chaos broke loose. The ponies didn't know how much they had until it was gone. Battles which would once have been easy to win became gruesome defeats, with ponies falling by the dozens. As the colony was nearing extinction, a stallion by the name of Seto rose up and named himself leader of the colony. He seemed to have unlimited resources, from unknown locations, and he asked so much. But what he had was enough to hold the monsters at bay. Books with powerful spells, stronger metals for weapon making, better styles of combat, all of that he had. All that he asked was a tax, one seemingly heavy upon the already poor ponies. But as long as they survived, they were willing to sacrifice anything.

Seto became the hope for most ponies. But there are the few who cling to the stories of the mythical land of Equestria that Scorpan loved to tell. Those few who remain long to make the journey, to see if they can find the land themselves. But none of the ponies who leave ever return, leaving a deep sadness and bitterness among the ponies, who claimed that the stories were untrue, just made up to give them a false hope.

Me? I'm one of the few who believe. Everypony tells me that it's all a lie, but I haven't given up hope. I never will.