Highway South and The Elements of Prosperity
Intro: The Faraway Kingdom
To many of the residents of Ponyville, their part of Equestria is all they've ever known. The schools teach of faraway lands beyond the boundaries of the land itself. A great ocean that separates the lives of many ponies from one another. That ocean is known as the the Barrier Ocean.
It is deep and blue, with all kinds of amazing sea creatures below. Because it is larger than the continent of Equestria itself, many ponies have a hard time crossing it. Even the pegasi have trouble; with no food for so many miles there is a risk of starvation.
What lies beyond you wonder? A whole new continent, with relatively different rules. Although Celestia is still the supreme ruler of the land, she has appointed ponies to take over in her absence. Two such ponies are the rulers of the city by the ocean. They are mortals, meaning that they won't live forever like Celestia.
In the lands to the north of the city is a desert. The desert is quite large as well, though not even close to as long or vast as the ocean. It's heat is relatively easy to deal with using a spell or two from a unicorn, or a pegasus who's trained themselves physically. Across the desert to the north is the homeland of all pegasi, New Harmony. There, the sky Alicorn rules over the area. In the kingdom where she rules there is an almost exclusive pegasi population.
The continent that these new areas are located upon is known as the Maneland. It houses its own mysteries and legends just as Equestria does. Many bringing forth cultural differences between the continents. One such difference is the reliance on technology. The earth ponies use huge automated farms to grow their food.
Things like "companies" and "work force" are commonplace for them. The pegasi enjoy their freedom of the skies, constantly challenging the engineers of the city to build in new and interesting ways for them. As a result, the cities of Maneland have become enriched with what can only be described as "an artistic style of practical architecture." They are tall buildings, having a minimum of eighty stories tall each.
The city ruled by the king and queen next to the ocean is known as Starlight City. The city got its name from its appearance at night. "During a time when the skies are clear of clouds, and the water rests still, look upon the city from an the waters. You will see nothing but the light of stars in the night sky." These are the words of the last king of Starlight city. On nights like those described by the king, the city offers tours with such a view as the one described.