Nova, a pegasus mare, was born and raised in a place of safety and security by a proud and noble family. Stable 181, a Stable dedicated to teaching and preserving the pre-war virtues known as the Elements of Harmony, allowed its residents to live a life of peace, knowledge, and honor. But when the Stable falls under attack by a raider war party, Nova and the remaining residents are cast out into the wasteland of the Equestrian southeast.

Without a home, Nova and her fellow survivors must band together to make a living out on the surface. They must start from scratch, find a new home, learn to trade and explore, and establish a foothold in the wastes. But during her efforts to help her people, Nova comes across strange recordings and artifacts pointing to a hidden pre-war nation. And when a mysterious pony calls upon her to discover what it is that the writings portray, Nova and her closest friends find themselves cast into a war fought to claim a legacy left behind by a secret pre-war society. Nova's quest leads her to test her heart against the unrelenting force of the wasteland, to discover the meaning of the word honor, and to seek out and unlock a concealed pre-war secret, revealing to Nova that she is a part of something greater than she could have ever imagined.

(This story is set twenty-five years before the adventures of Littlepip.)

Contains scenes of gore and strong language.