Formatorium

"The First Formatorium was created in Equestrian pre-history, about 500 years before the first Hearthswarming..."

- Encyclopedia Orosirianica, 7th Ed., 25 O.A.

Gusty appeared suddenly near the mouth of the cave in the Everfree Forest. He'd gone to everypony he could, all the dozens of friends he'd made in his travels across Equestria, and asked them to gather in this corner, far from the reaches of the Empire's terror.

He had no idea if anypony would show. It seemed an unfair expectation, asking a pony to stand against the hellish goat and his monsters. As he stepped into the cave, though, he heard activity inside, and he knew his call had been answered.

Slowly, he made his way to one raised end of the cavern, where he cleared his throat to address his guests.

"I've called you all together today because our livelihood is dying."

A quiet rumble of agreement went through the gathering.

"Grogar's onslaught against ponykind continues. Every day is another field destroyed, another village sacked, more families murdered and more ponies on the run. We can't go on like this. We need a way to fight back. A way to change Equestria for the better."

"But what can we do against that goat and his monsters?" a lone voice called in askance.

"We have to unite and put our power together. At least, the best of us have to. Living in our disparate settlements isn't working. He'll just bleed us to death."

"So, an army?"

"Sort of. We need a way to show ponies that it's possible to fight back. To change how they think about these threats.

"We need a Formatorium."