In the year 1069, Ponykind landed on the moon. Not long after, they discovered a revolutionary new mineral buried beneath its surface: selenium. The seemingly boundless magical properties of this wonder-material propelled Equestria into a magical and technological renaissance. It allowed for the development of arcanetics, magic-based augmentations that could enhance living bodies, and overcome the limitations of mere flesh. It didn't take long for such enhancements to embed themselves into society and become a foundational technology that is now essential to the Equestrian way of life.

By the dawn of the 12th century modern society had become completely dependent on a constant supply of selenium being delivered from the moon. So when a mining complex which serves as a source of the vast majority of the mineral misses a shipment and stops responding to messages, a team is sent to investigate the cause of the disruption.

Nothing could have prepared them for what they found...