To my dearest Equestria, I have been allowed to speak plainly, by the blessings of Materfamilia Striker and the Doo’s Paterfamilia (honored is his name), on the matter of our exodus: We, my Equestria, have made a grievous wrong to you and the world. For many years, pursuing the matters of our means of employ, I have sought not merely enemies, but truth. Over the many campaigns I’ve attended, I have read and returned with entire libraries worth of knowledge of our world, our history, and have now, in these later years, realized that our war with you, whatever our reason, was not what might call the evil we inflicted.

No, my little pony… and I mean all of you, not only my tribe, but all. Our great sin was to think so little of you, to think ourselves above you as those we loath, and yes, we sought to seat ourselves as to rule. But only for your benefit, my Equestria! Always and only ever, and when we were ash and exiles, could we even begin to mend our rift. And we came here, my Freeport, and through her come to a place where, by my good clan leaders blessing, tell you what we should have years past.

We are sorry, dearest ponies. We thought you unready, dullards and as cattle to be herded. We saw you, my Equestria, as we would a group of wayward pegasus: needing a firm hoof to be brought into Pegasopolis. And yes, we have found such things, poor ponies with ignorant minds and barely held sense of rationality. When we find such pegasus, we take them, and reforge our blades. We strip away the rust of years, see them sharpened and made whole again. But pegasus are stubborn by nature, and oh how we will bilk and scream when any seek change.

And so, we must be firm, and hit them hard. Daze them and keep them close. We must train them my ponies. They don’t, and until ready, cannot understand. We saw you much the same, but we were wrong. We should have remembered, before Crown, Clan, or petty, we are all of us Ponies. We are the light of this world, the last bastions in a world mad. You were forced into one tyrany, and then again by us. But we thought our ways, traditions, laws and philosophy were not for the likes of you.

And we were wrong. Wisdom, my ponies, is not a thing to be hoarded, but one to be shared! Tell me, does your clan Kicker speak to you? Do they come down from their gilded and be jeweled cage to have anything to do with anyone of you? They seek as all pegasus do: a fight. We seek conflict to better ourselves, to grow strong. We had done it so long, and to our shame, so close and so far from you, my Equestrians, we forgot we were ponies as any other. That you wouldn’t, couldn’t, understand.

We were wrong. The greatest way to defend history, ideas, wisdom is not to sit on them in a hold, but to share them, to show our fellows what mere mortals can do, the superior pegasus way of law, society, to have one make up their own minds. And, although it hurts my foal foolish pride to say so, an Equestrian had inspired me. Sunset Shimmer, Magus, apprentice to Celestia… she came to us, to Freeport, because of this. Your Celestia lies, my ponies. She hides, and schemes, and sends her children to risk all on her tests… but when has she ever said so? When has Celestia ever spoken plainly to anyone, to “lower” herself to us mortals.

Sunset, our dear Magus, I believe was working towards a glorious thing. Or, more precisely, being led by the nose to something that can do much good in our world. She never had a choice, merely assumed a future as above others. Power, my Equestria, is not a sin. Those who claim to not desire such things are those who do not desire change. And when she learned of this truth, and was thrilled, her teacher stole it away, deeming her unready. And, perhaps, she is right. But who is she to deem such things? And who can say what might have been if she had been clear from the start.

Power is a thing made, earned, not to be thrusted upon one unawares, to be declared that their future with no asking to the one its given. This is the future your Princess desires, my Equestria… to hide the truth, to not show her true face or intent, and its an abhorrent act of hubris whether for the greater good or for ones self.

We, the last true pegasus of the City Above, did not show you anything. We are superior, yes, but we should seek to act as such. We must be, not conquerors or liberators, but teachers, mentors, the ones with cell keys who allow those enslaved their will. You are not children or savages to be quelled or razed, but ones who I know will see that Pegasopolis, our ways, is what will build Equestria.

And have come to realize our mistake! Indeed, dearest Equestria, we may have been from you in the ashes of war blown far away in body, but our hearts have ever been yours. Our first love and concern was for our fellow ponies, despite what certain political circles might claim. And yes, you and us have had our differences, but we had not the right nor reason to think that granted us our war. And look, here, the husk of my tribe, how far we have fallen, to live amongst brutes, slavers, and the wretched true kings of this world. And there, our Equestria, a future so long denied, a people beset on all sides by enemies, ones you know naught of, all for your Celestia. How we, all of pony kind, allowed our people to be splintered, divided, put there and dragged here, to let our hearts be shackled.

But the time, my Equestria, to mourn our losses is past. The time to claim old debts is long gone, and there is nothing to be gained with resentment. Its time to look forward, to a future where you do not stumble blind into some unknown oblivion that none will ever know, where we need not slaughter to feed our bellies or must endure one more moment this place.

And yes, my Equestria. Freeport is your salvation, where we will show the wisdom of my tribe, where no veils will cover the past or shroud the future, is a horror. It grants us the freedom to have our ways, to share them, and were we whole we would see the based creatures here dashed and scattered. And they know this, and laugh.

I have spoken of this with our clan heads, both, and shown this truth: and they agree, but also agree there is naught we can do. And both agree, we, though some of our clan would protest, speak the truth, to show weakness…

You see us, pegasus, as wanton, heartless. You think we only act in selfish desire to slake our lusts of blood and pleasure. You think as little of us as we you… but we never thought to say why we do what we do. Our clans, here, we are mercenaries, but what else is there for us to do? What reason does clan Kicker have? Why do they continue to place such a burden on mere foals, why do they demand such tithes? We know some wander and spy, but do nothing to stop any of this.

We discuss our place here often, watching the goings on from our bastion in this place. What can be done, we ask? Some, like myself, see salvation through knowledge, that we need not nobles, royalty, nor gods to impose and force us into their morality. And it is theirs, my Equestria. I’ve seen countless books from lands about over matters of law, philosophy, of all things espoused as Equestrias goals. But none there, not the Crown, the Nobles, your academics, actually speak of them, merely impose them once they’re told. You do not know why stealing is wrong, or why your life is valued, only that it is. And you look at us, and judge us monsters.

I walk these streets, Equestria. A Striker, a slayer, a stallion who takes coin for blood. But I take no pleasure from it. To your mind, I am not a pony. Perhaps… but have you stood where I have? I have no heart, you say… then what aches in me each day as I watch zebras, a people so apart from us as to be near unknowable, as I watch them on the auction block. I do not care for any but my clan… so why do I feel my blades screech for me to use them as I watch some stallion insult and beat his mare, screaming she exists only for him? I am harsh and demanding of my sons and daughter, so I see them as only as matters of pride and care not for foals, and even less if they are not of my tribe… so why is my daughter, a unicorn, raised as my sons are, and why, as I watch more foals, of all sorts, being ripped away, sold off, and brought in from Equestria not wish I had the strength of an alicorn to see these things undone and did lose much favor in my clans eyes when I bought her, even if it were to save her? I’ve seen your crowns claims, that its a rarety your sold… Well, they must be catching them in nets as they get pushed off, because if theres so many here you must be breeding like hares.

You judge us, my Equestria. But I know you only do so in ignorance. Not only of my tribe, but the world. You don’t think for one moment, as ruthless as we are, as proud of our heritage as we are, we would not shuffle away and burn it all and be Celestia’s again, if she would only actually do something? Do you believe she holds sway over the world? I see this place, my Freeport, in all its glory and horror: and I see acts of greed, avarice, and lust done that even the cold stony hearts of the Epochs could not bear for a moment.

This is our home. And it breaks our heart and gelds us in absolution knowing that all we can do is sit, and cover our ears and huddle together as just outside the sound of whips and clatter of chains dins on, as the pleas and begging of those captured in some zebrica warmasters latest campaign, to have along ago abandoned concepts of coddling and draw our children to us as someone elses is bargained away to die under an uncaring sky in some forsaken patch of the world… Equestria is not the world, my ponies. And the wickedness we live in, the evil we see, the deeds we do, and learn each day anew we are unable to do anything

We hold this line, in our exile… But its not enough. We have thus begun a campaign, a cause, to see these tomes and philosophies and forbidden works on display. No magic tomes to summon a demon, no rituals of sacrifice, simply ideas. And here we will speak plainly of our ways, in all openness of what we’ve witnessed, shall guard you as we show you the cages and shackles. Then leave you with a choice. You can, if you desire, remain here, but there is nothing that can be done. The world wants this, Equestria. It wants all of this, and we can do nothing as all are ground into the mauls of this juggernaut.

Or, you can return to your safe life and comfort. And though some might scowl, I can assure you, I don’t blame you for that. I don’t want to know this is the world, that the safe and colorful bumblers of stories are the worlds people are not them… but I’ve learned. Not only will people slit open others throats in the streets over a scrap of bread, they’ll gleefuly burn every wheat field and grainery in every nation just to watch as people everywhere do the same. Its one thing to do whats needed, but nothing done here besides us is even acceptable as an option.

Or… you can realize that being a pegasus isn’t merely having wings. Its not war or rutt or pride or glory. Its not rigid conformity to tribal fetish of Pegasopolis. Its the knowledge that, as much as we wish otherwise, we are not the world. Nothing out here cares if your a foal, or a mare, or a stallion with a family or a mother about to birth, they will have you in collar and making coin in an hour. Its not even the acts of unthinking beasts… they know what they do, and simply enjoy it. In essense, being a pegasus should, and is, less a matter of form… but of perspective. Because as horrid as the world is, there are those like us. None in power, of course, or even much listened to, for those of the world, the serfs, would drag us down with them if it meant no one ever made the world better. You can have the world… or tyranny like Celestia.

But thats not all there is. Freeport grants one the freedom, if one has the skill, wits, and cunning to do much. And how they would love to see us burn, the slavers and true kings,,, if we allowed them. But we hold the line… and we’re waiting for you soldier. We can see you here, safe, and see you to our works. Can keep you under guard and make copies for you to return to Equestria with. We shall, as we always should, show you our ways. Not the trappings and dressing and strutting proud, but our hearts, our views. We are no ones king or master, but we can be your teachers.

This is what you’re crown and Guard would see made gone. They look at the pirates and slavers and would burn it all for that. If we were merely traitors, do you believe Shadow would have taken such a chance we’d garner our forces and return? Do you believe that, after all these years, we remained the ponies we were?

Here, we learned. No Crown to turn to, no endless supplies, and what point is there in honors pursuit without a noblity to sell ourselves too. And that is what the clans were: we have always been so. But now, if we died, then our foals died. We all pitched in and cared for each other, but now must learn that we couldn’t demand a life for anything but that. We had to actually speak and understand our allies, had to work with Doo’s then hide behind some Epoch. We had to see them with suspicion. We hate that… we hate having to see our Mater as anything other then a mare with only our best interests in mind, but its not about just us. If she cannot settle a blood dispute, its not just war. Its our end. The Strikers and Doo’s cannot survive without the other.

This is our Freeport, Equestria. It offers one thing: choice. We choose to remain, choose to keep our clans, choose what to reform and what remains, to stay and leave as we will. We are mercenaries, but we choose our employer, and the battle fought. We loath the pirates, and detest slavery. But unlike Equestria, we don’t have the luxury of looking at matters more then they are. I bought my daughter… I paid my blood soaked bounty to a smirking gryphon and was handed the chains and this little unicorn at its end. And she just… looked at me. Not broken, or scared. She had been washed and their not about to damage their property, but she was still a slave. Maker knows what she’d seen…

I undid her collar, placed it on the table, and we went home. No big too do, no grand statement. I bought her, went home, introduced my sons to their new sister, then went to our Mater and tell her what I’d done. She sighed, called on our mind doc, had her look at my girl with our physician, and told me and my children would have to be quaranteed. And after that… twenty lashes for my troubles. We’ve gotten quite adept at our punishments. Was a time a whip could snap a wing, but our clan mates learn to wield it like a scalpel.

You’ll never know who I am really. And scars are not a rare sight here. But I tell you this story, something I don’t speak of to anyone and one my daughter has put behind her, to show that double side of this coin: you are the one who will pay for your choice. It doesn’t matter if its right or wrong, as things are, if you make a decision that undermines or gives anyone the excuse, they’ll cut you off. Fully. Equestrians like to boast how they never leave anyone behind: they’ve never had too. They’ve never had to say I want to save you… I don’t want to leave you in this cage, in the sun or rain, hear the broker as he praises my good eye and tells me how well the young ones work out, how I could raise them up to be whatever pleased me. They never had a satchel of coin, easily able to afford at least five of them, and been forbidden on pain of clipping and death not able to spend a single one towards those bastards.

We have to say, If I do this, I’m just paying for someone elses daughter or son to take their place. My clan had to be harsh on this, and absolute: no slaves. No buying of them. In no way were we to engage in any sort of underground or act against the slavers. I was allowed an indulgence since this matter has long been adhered too, and I’ve proven a loyal and profitable Striker, but even then, I was punished. What morals we have, we cannot compromise on.

When have you, my pony, ever had to do such a thing? When have you had to endure evil simply because you must? You needn’t have endured Sunbeam, and whatever matter has brought the Magus here Celestia should not have compromised on. Thats the why: Because your morals, law, your very fabric is not yours. Its hers. And she is willing to compromise because she ultimately pays nothing. Perhaps she can do nothing of the world, but she could at least be consistent in her own house.

And thus why we’ve decided to make such an endeavor: we cannot be your slaves, and will live under a tyrant, especially one who won’t even enforce her own rules. But we cannot affect change. We can hold our line, have done so for centuries, but we can’t face this war alone. We need our Equestria. Not the Crown, not its coin, not its Harmony or well wishes. We need its ponies. We need you to tell the world of all we show, bring all we print to as many people as will listen, to tell of the world outside your borders.

I am a Striker. I am a merciless, hard hearted, uncompromising murdering bastard. I endure all this because its that, or be at the whims of a mare who blinds her ponies from all the workings of the world, or worse if another, one who would use us and her Guard to force the world to their ways. Freedom or Tyranny… or we can draw our lines in the sand and say “Here world is as far as you’ll go. Here, and no further.”

I can’t go further. We cant. We can hold things here, but the change the world needs… You, my little. You can be shown the door, be handed the key… and move forward. What you do from there, I cannot say. I can’t tell you what to do, or offer empty platitudes of being better. All I can offer, all we can offer, is Freeport. A chance.

Sincerely
A brother in Freeport

Author's Note

This was written way back before The Lunar Rebellion end, and still, I've found, to be relevant to the main issue surrounding the Chengar writings: that much of their characters and worlds issues stems from tribalism.

Think about it: The ponies were, as per their writing, under three different forms of governance, which I'm sure wasn't the alicorns idea. And I suspect the only reason they even took the Crown, as opposed to simply raising the sun and moon, was to stop much of what was happening and to cease hostilities. In short, solely because they were alicorns, embodiments of three tribes, they were impartial. In other words, put there solely for racism. In fact, a lot of Equestria in this verse is based on racism. Yes, we see them espouse the superiority of one school of thought, but never actually discuss it. And at times, said espousal not only is hypocritical, but completely disconnected from who the ponies are, in canon, and the story itself: Star speaks of how she would have been shunted down to a unicorn family in the past to highlight the good points of the current era to Luna.

... In short, the pegasus of old, ones who extolled the virtues of duty, family, and responsiblity would chuck junior out the window if he didn't have wings. Yes, I'm certain someone will point out their cloud homes and so on, but again, given how unbelievably devoted most outside of the political elite were to their foals, this action is beyond the pale by even their standards of decorum.

No doubt this will down voted because I'm taking this position, but feh...