For Years Trafai lived in peace, with the help of the Elements. After they passed away, they continued to inspire many leaders, as well as their subjects. Trade flourished, travel was popular, new cultures were taught and enjoyed, and to many creatures, this was a golden age of peace and prosperity. However, about 50 years after the Passing of the Elements, things began to heat up. This time of peace lead to many technological advancements in food growth, infrastructure, medicine, and basic machinery. One mixture, which had been used for years as firework propellant, and other small things, became a popular study during this time. They called it Explosive Powder. However, researchers in Equestria found a way to use it to launch projectiles, creating the first artillery cannons (different from the air powered confetti cannons that the Element of Laughter made popular) . After that, it became commonly known as Gunpowder. This new weapon struck fear into the other neighboring nations, and they quickly made their own to keep protected. This then lead to the Great Arms Race, which lead to the creation of Guns, even bigger and scarier artillery, and Magically Powered Vehicles (MPV's) were developed in a rapid period of time, as countries continued to outdo each other, to remain superior and relevant. MPV's ended up becoming popular to many civilian creatures, especially the ponies in Equestria, as they only needed to be maintained to run, rather than relying on steam or other ponies to move them around. The Military, as they usually did, found a way to militarize them as well, adding guns, and small artillery pieces to them. In Yakyakistan, which had vastly modernized and opened up politically over the course of this, the Military Researchers invented the first Heavily Ordinance Vehicle, which became commonly known as Tanks, due to their bulky and slow nature.
Looking at all of this, everyone started wondering what would happen if war broke out between the nations of Trafai? The last war that had happened was still fought with swords and shields, and the thought of an actual war happening scared everyone. Yakyakistan allied with the Griffon Kingdom to ensure each other's independence. The Griffon Kingdom, which wasn't a very big or important nation east of Equestria, had a lot of unrest, due to unpopular leadership. The leader of the Crystal Empire, Princess Flurry Heart, decided to visit The Griffon Kingdom, to see is she could fix the problem. Flurry Heart, who was the Daughter of the previous ruler of the Crystal Empire, was one of the only reasons that the world was at peace. She held many diplomatic meetings with many countries to work out problems between them, and almost everyone looked up to her. She did, however, have her enemies. Griffonstone, which had been taken over by the Griffon Kingdom prier to Flurry Hearts rule, had the most unrest in the Griffon Kingdom, due to the unique culture there compared to the rest of the Kingdom. The biggest rebel faction in the Kingdom was based in Griffonstone, and they hated Flurry Heart. Her ideas were just incompatible with the group, and they believed she was actually the cause of all problems in the world. Before her visit to the Griffon Kingdoms capital, she stopped threw many towns to bring joy and support peace in the towns. On her visit to Griffonstone, however, she just so happened to go down a street, next to a bakery. At this bakery was a young Griffon named Grevel, who was eating a scone at the time. He was part of the Rebel group in Griffonstone, and when he saw her carriage going down the street, with many griffons cheering and laughing, he saw his chance. He bolted towards the carriage, and before the guards could react, fired three rounds into the carriage. Two hitting Flurry Heart, one hitting a guard next to her. They both died on the scene. Grevel was Arrested and was sentenced to Death.
The Crystal Empire was crushed with this loss. The Temporary council in charge was adamant on going to war, but Yakyakistan, which was just north of them, was allied to The Griffon Kingdom. They sent a letter to Celestia, leader of Equestria, asking for support. Celestia says "We'll back whatever you do, just act, and act quickly, Equestria is with you". Celestia believes that as long as The Crystal Empire strikes quickly, while the world is outraged by the assassination of Flurry Heart, they can avoid a full scale war. However, the Crystal Empire decided to wait until they had a new leader before declaring war. After around a month of looking, Snow Blossom was elected the first non-alicorn leader of the Crystal Empire. She begins her rule by issuing an Ultimatum to The Griffon Kingdom, saying that if they don't comply with the requirements, war will happen. The requirements in the ultimatum are absurd, and no nation would ever comply to it, but that was the Crystal Empires plan. If The Griffon Kingdom declined it, and they would, the Crystal Empire would look like the good guys, trying to give a peaceful option, even though they wanted war. When Yakyakistan see's this Ultimatum, it's instantly realized what's about to happen, and they begin partial mobilization of there army. When The Griffon Kingdom hears this, they finally reply to the Ultimatum, minutes before it expired. They agree to all but 1 demand. At the bottom, it says something masterful however. It says if the Crystal Empire doesn't find The Griffon Kingdom's term fair, they would be willing to submit to the resolution of a conference between the nations of Trafai. Not knowing what to do, the Foreign Minister of the Crystal Empire visits Equestria to figure it out. Celestia was on a short trip, so they went to the heads of the Equestrian Military.
They are outraged. They say "You haven't Declared War yet, a whole moon has gone by!". They are afraid that by this time, most sympathy for the Crystal Empire and Hatred against The Griffon Kingdom has faded, and the fact that The Griffon Kingdom was willing to accept most demands and meet in a conference wasn't going to work in there favor either. It made it look like The Griffon Kingdom was the reasonable one. With the angry remarks the Heads of the Equestrian army said, the minister returns to the Crystal Empire and visits the Head of the Crystal Empires army. He too is outraged. He says hes not prepared for war! He would need weeks to mobilize the army. And who would he be mobilizing against? Yakyakistan is already mobilizing against us, so we would need to mobilize against them and The Griffons? he said that if he could get a promise that Yakyakistan would remain neutral, then they could talk about mobilizing. With this information, he returned home. He thought, maybe if he declared war now, he could scare the griffons into surrendering before he even needs the army! So the next day, The Crystal Empire declares war on the Griffon Kingdom.
That morning, Celesta happened to return from her trip. When she reads the Griffons response to the ultimatum, she says that with this there is no reason for war. She tries to convince the Griffons and Crystal ponies to hold a conference, or open peace talks, but neither is willing. Yakyakistan begins full mobilization, after hearing false rumors that the Crystal Empire is shelling Griffonstone. All hope seems lost. The next morning, there is one more speck of hope of the war ending. A Equestrian Diplomat, Perfect Lightning, has one more attempt to stop the war. She is in Yakyakistan at the time of all of this. She holds one last meeting with the Foreign Minister of Yakyakistan, Sasonov. She says "call off the mobilization", and Sasonov says "No". Perfect pleads "For Celestia's sake, there will be no winner in this war! This will be the end of entire Nations, the end of Kingdoms, the end of us both! Please call off this absurdity?". And Sasonov says "No". Perfect drops down and begins to cry, slightly, "If you do this, it will be slaughter. I beg of you, in all that's right and likable, call off the mobilization". And Sasonov says, "No". Then, standing up again, Perfect grabs a paper from her saddlebags, and says "In that case, sir, I have the honor to inform you that we're at war". She begins to cry, trying to collect herself , to remain professional, but she can't. She says "I never thought I'd be leaving Yakyakistan like this, how will I pack up and leave?". Sasonov Generously offers to send someone to help gather her things. And so it began, the war to pointlessly end 17 million sentient creatures life's.
