From Equestria and Beyond

"Wow," said Applejack, as she surveyed the mountains in front of her. They rose up high into the sky, nearly, she would swear, as high as Stratopolis. Their peaks were tipped with snow, their sides heavily forested. A lone road wandered into their midst.

"We have to cross that?" asked Dash.

"Ayep. Looked easier from above, I can tell ya that."

"No kidding."

"Welp. Ready, partner?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

The pair trekked the entire day on the valley's rough trail beside the river. Taking only occasional breaks, they reached a small village before nightfall.

"Ya think this one's got an inn?" asked AJ.

"I dunno. Can't be too many ponies passing by, though."

"I guess you're right."

The village was bustling for a small place in the middle of nowhere. Many of the ponies they saw were loggers, although...

"Hold on, Dash. Is that... it is! Uncle Strudel!" called Applejack.

"Why... Applejack? What are you doing around here?" Strudel ran forward and embraced Applejack into a hug.

"It's a long story, one I'd be more than willing to share. But the short version of it is, we need a place to stay tonight. Do you have one?"

"Of course! Here, come with me."

"So, I was wondering." Dash sipped on some cider that Apple Strudel had poured her. "On the map we have, there's a bunch of towns that don't exist anymore. And some Earth pony settlements it seems like were abandoned quite long ago, for seemingly no reason. Could you know why?"

Strudel nodded. "Yup. Has to do with the pegasus migration."

"What's that?" asked Applejack.

"Well, just a hundred years ago, some French-speaking pegasi migrated to Equestria because of famine and war in their old country. So they were granted residence in the Central part of Equestria, in the hopes that they would cultivate the land there. You see, back then, Central Equestria was mostly forest. With pegasi working the soil, Equestria could prosper. And no one had any problems with that.

"Eventually, though, the pegasi wanted access to the better land down South. And who could stop them? But back in those times, many Earth ponies had a deep hatred of pegasi. So instead of working together and sharing their resources, ponies just... left. Sometimes, whole communities just up and went." He paused. "Ponyville, for example. Although now it's forgotten its past, Ponyville used to be a community right in the Southlands."

"That's it?" asked Applejack.

"Yup." Apple Strudel nodded.

Rainbow Dash cocked her head. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"Rainbow Dash!" admonished Applejack.

"It is stupid, though," said Apple Strudel. "And strange. But true."

They sipped at their ciders, until, at length, they went to sleep.

Almost heaven, West Virginia,

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River.

Life is old there, older than the trees,

Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze.

Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong.

West Virginia, mountain mamma,

Take me home, country roads.