Equestria

**Other Names:**Land of the Houyhnhnms

**Founders:** Princess Platinum, Clover the Clever, Commander Hurricane, Private Pansy, Chancellor Puddinghead, and Smart Cookie

**Notable Leaders:**Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Mi Amorre Cadenza(Cadance),  Princess Twilight Sparkle

**Capitol:**Canterlot

**Population:** somewhere between3,100 to 4,500. No census exists yet.

**Government Type:**Monarchy

**Language:**Ponish(audibly identical to English)

**Currency:**Bits

**Religion:**None.

Equestria is a mystical land inhabited by Equines, including three main Pony Races. The Earth Ponies, The Pegasi and the Unicorns. It is presided over by the Alicorn race, with is a mix of natural born Alicorns that presided over the land before it even became officially recognized as a country, and a handful of ponies of other races that achieved ascension and transformation into the status of Alicorn. Equestria is a generally peaceful place that promotes ideas of friendship, despite this the Ponies are shown to have difficulty getting along with other races, some having a sense of superiority.

## **History**

### **Pre-Equestrian history**

* **The First Emperor of Ancient Equestria** - Grogar, "Father of Monsters" is active before The Three Tribes united as one, Grogar ruled the land that would become Equestria. He created terrible monsters to terrorize the populace; many of his creations have continued to terrorize Equestria to present day. He was confronted by a pony named Gusty the Great; Gusty took his magic bell and weakened him, and thusly, he was banished.
* **The Founding of Crystal Empire** - The Crystal Heart is discovered and the Crystal Empire is founded.
* **The Greatest Hero Who Ever Lived** - Star Swirl the Bearded was, according to Twilight, "the leading expert at everything: Transfiguration, Dimensional-calibration, Teleportation, etc..." In his attempts to create "time spells", he instead created an "age reversal spell" and successfully used it on himself. Starswirl creates more than two hundred spells and has a wing in the Canterlot Archives dedicated to him. Over time, he created dozens of portal mirrors linking to various worlds, and traveled throughout the multiverse, accumulating vast sums of knowledge. Before his vanishment, Star Swirl participated in many important events in Equestria's early history, and is stated to have lived, at minimum, one thousand years.
* **Alicorn Reign-**The Alicorn race rules at this time, presumably having established the Crystal Empire as well. A war with an unknown enemy, presumed to be the Draconequis wipes out all but a few Alicorns, namely Celestia and Luna, who are hidden. They go on adventures during which they meet Discord and journey across the land. In the meantime, the duties of raising the Sun and the Moon is undertaken by the Unicorns, though it takes many and leaves them exhausted, possibly killing several in the strain(Ink Rose's Headcanon, it became popular among the fanbase, hence its inclusion).
* **In year 1322...** In year 1322 of the "pre-Equestria era", Abraxius the Bold did "a bunch of boring stuff" "for a really long time". As Starswirl's apprentice, Clover the Clever undergoes seven trials, one of which involves pursuing and defeating an evil sorceress in possession of a memory-erasing artifact with the artifact being lost in the human world. That Same year, Chancellor Puddinghead tries to pass a law mandating Earth ponies drink carrot juice at every meal.
* **The Fire of Friendship** - The Age of Eternal Winter was a time of darkness and frozen ice that "topples the tribes' precarious peace." It was caused by the Wendigos, who fed off of the hatred between the three pony tribes. Earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi tribes lived under extremely hostile conditions. The Pony tribe leaders set out to find a new land. When they all discover the same land at the same time, their feud starts over, attracting the windigos and causing another blizzard. As the tribe leaders freeze, their cohorts become friends, and the Fire of Friendship is created. The tribe leaders thaw out of the ice, make peace, and agree to share the land as one unified nation.

### **Old Equestria history**

#### **The Founding of Equestria**

"Hearth's Warming Eve" describes the founding of Equestria as the result of when the pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies united to defeat the Wendigos and prevent an eternal blizzard.(It is roughly analogous to Earth's Christmas).

* **The First Summer Sun Celebration** - Before the arrival of Celestia and Luna, Equestria was suffering terrible hardships. Raising and lowering the sun and the moon every morning and evening required five great unicorn sorcerers to perform, and the strain placed upon them consumed so much magic they lost their powers forever. When the leaders of Equestria discovered two alicorn sisters with the talent to move the celestial bodies without draining their magic, they moved to coronate the sisters as rulers of Equestria and entrusted Starswirl with the responsibility of raising and mentoring the alicorn sisters. Star Swirl begins mentoring Celestia and Luna in magic. Discord hides to avoid persecution.
* **The Journal of the Two Sisters** - Celestia and Luna are crowned princesses and meet Star Swirl the Bearded. The princesses begin keeping a journal. The princesses discover the Tree of Harmony. The Castle of the Two Sisters is built. Princess Amore of the Crystal Ponies(the only other known surviving Alicorn) establishes the Crystal Faire. Star Swirl relinquishes his duties of raising the sun and moon to the two princesses, who earn their cutie marks for doing so.
* **The Rise of the Changeling Hive** - Queen Chrysalis and the Changelings are born from the corpses of dead Ponies(presumably being creatures like maggots).
* **The Rise of Lord Tirek** - Lord Tirek and Scorpan travel to Equestria, seeking to steal its magic. Scorpan, having come to appreciate the ponies' ways, betrays Tirek to the princesses. Tirek is banished to Tartarus for his crimes. Scorpan leaves.
* **The Cutie Pox Epidemic** - During the "Paleopony Period," a "cutie pox" epidemic afflicted the population of ponies. Random cutie marks appear all over ponies' bodies, causing them to uncontrollably perform the talents that come with them. The cause of the breakout is never discovered, and the cutie pox disappears as mysteriously as it arrives. One village begins to kill any Pony that displays a cutie mark(*Story of the Blanks*).
* **The First Hearts and Hooves Day** - An unnamed Earth pony prince gives the Alicorn princess a love potion/poison and starts Hearts and Hooves Day(analogous to Earth's Valentine's Day). This is presumably Princess Amore who is given the potion.
* **The First Grand Galloping Gala** - Canterlot is designed and built by Mistmane; its completion is celebrated annually as the Grand Galloping Gala.

#### **The Pillars of Old Equestria**

Six legendary ponies who defended Equestria from many threats and are responsible for creating the Elements of Harmony. By planting the Tree of Harmony, they strived to ensure that future generations could defend Equestria in its darkest hours.

* **The Sirens' Song** - A group of Sirens invade Equestria, causing disharmony between ponies with their singing. Stygian brings Rockhoof, Mistmane, Flash Magnus, Somnambula, Mage Meadowbrook, and Star Swirl the Bearded together to stop them. They discover a village they would soon attack and wait for them to arrive. When they do Stygian summons them. Star Swirl banishes the Sirens to a realm without magic—the Human World known as Earth—believing they will cause no harm there as they are rendered powerless(going against the Comic, the Sirens are immortal and spend close to a thousand years on Earth).
* **The Nightmare Realm** - Celestia and Luna are abducted by evil Nightmare forces from another dimension; Stygian and the Pillars join forces to rescue them. The Pony of Shadows appears to stop them. He explains that Celestia and Luna have the potential in them to become Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon; he plans to infuse them with his dark magic, bring them under his control, and use their limitless-power to take over every reality in the multiverse. Though they succeeded, Luna's heart is permanently tainted by evil, foreshadowing future events. Star Swirl, ashamed by his failure to protect Celestia and Luna, abandons his portal research. Most of the Magic Mirrors are subsequently destroyed.
* **The Return of the Pony of Shadows** - When the evil, alicorn-like monster called the "Pony of Shadows" arose from the abyss, Star Swirl determined that the only way to save Equestria was to send the Pony of Shadows to Limbo, a space between worlds and universes; however, to complete this task, it was needed for the Pillars to send themselves to Limbo as well. By sacrificing themselves, the Pillars locked themselves along with the villain, saving the entirety of Equestria.

#### **The Sister Princesses**

Now of age, Celestia and Luna lead Equestria without the wise counsel of Starswirl, who had mysteriously vanished. While the Sister Princesses were not the first rulers of Equestria, they have ruled Equestria for most of their(and its) lifespan. Their reign is characterized as benevolent, prosperous, and peaceful.

* **The Reign of Disharmony and Chaos**- Discord and Cosmos rise to power and rule Equestria "in an eternal state of unrest and unhappiness.". Discord plants "plunderseeds" to drain the magic of the Tree of Harmony. Celestia and Princess Luna collect the Elements of Harmony from the Tree of Harmony and use them to petrify Discord for over a millennia.
* **The Fall of the Crystal Empire**- King Sombra battles and is corrupted by a shadow version of himself. He overthrows Princess Amore, killing her(leading to what is believed to be her resurrection as Princess Cadance) and becomes the new, tyrannical ruler of the Crystal Empire, enslaving the Crystal Ponies. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna battle Sombra. Celestia is knocked out but Luna defeats him by channeling Nightmare Moon(*Fall of the Crystal Empire*). The war reduces the Crystal Empire to a single city. Luna defeats Sombra, turns him to shadow, and banishes him beneath the ice of the Frozen North. upon Sombra's downfall, a dark magic curse enacted by Sombra causes the capital of the Empire and its population to vanish.
* At this time at the latest, a Blind filly named Snowdrop creates the Snowflake and presents it to the Princesses(*Snowdrop*).
* **The Great Celestia–Luna Rift**- 1,000 years before *Friendship is Magic* began, the taint overtakes Luna's heart, and she began to believe the ponies' preference for daytime over nighttime is evidence that they hate her. Thus, she rejected her sister and Equestria, transformed into Nightmare Moon, and attempted to create eternal night. (In the show the conflict is depicted as one battle where Luna becomes Nightmare Moon and soon after defeated, but this is not true. Nightmare Moon could shift between her armored form and Luna and did this in the flashback. The battle was actually the conclusion of a long war). Celestia attempted to reason with her, but was forced to use the Elements of Harmony to banish her own sister to the moon
* Sometime after this, the Rainbow Factory begins committing ritual murders, though its mostly the ancient warrior like Pegasi using it as a method to "Cull the weak"(*Rainbow Factory*).

### **Celestian Equestria history**

The "Golden Age of Princess Celestia is the defining point in Equestrian history as marked by Celestia's ruleship; during this era, Equestria transformed itself from an underdeveloped Dark Age feudal kingdom into a superpower with an advanced economy.

#### **After Luna's Banishment**

* **The E.U.P. Guard** - Princess Celestia establishes the E.U.P. Guard. During "the anniversary of the first Celestial year of peace," General Firefly establishes the Wonderbolts.
* **On the Moon-**While banished Luna and Nightmare Moon both creates life in several forms. Luna creates the Lunar republic, which is eventually almost completely destroyed by the Vashta Narada(*Doctor Whooves: Shadows of the Lunar Republic*)
* **The First Nightmare Night** - Being *physically* banished did not prevent Luna from entering ponies dreams. For the next thousand years, Celestia's power maintained a "mental barrier" upon Equestrians to keep The Nightmares at bay, as Luna sought to undermine her authority. Except for "the longest night of the year", when Luna's power was strong enough to overcome Celestia's, was she able to spread fear, if only briefly; Nightmare Night is established on this day(Analogous to Halloween).

#### **Dawn of the Changling Wars**

* **The Siege of Timbucktu** - Queen Chrysalis and her changelings besiege Timbucktu; Chrysalis seizes King Orion's crown.
* **The Siege of Trottingham** - Princess Celestia defeats Chrysalis during the siege of Trottingham and banishes her inside a volcano.

#### **Prelude to Friendship is Magic**

* **The Founding of Ponyville** - One hundred years before *Luna's Redemption*, a Young Granny Smith discovers zap apples, and the Township of Ponyville is founded. The Apple family begins holding family reunions in Ponyville "every hundred moons." The ponies of Ponyville establish the tradition of "Winter Wrap Up".
* **The Perfect Pear** - The Apple family starts to have a feud with the Pear family. Chiffon Swirl gets her cutie mark in baking with the help of Pear Butter. Pear Butter marries Bright Mac and becomes a member of the Apple family. Grand Pear and the rest of the Pear family relocate to Vanhoover. Appleloosa is founded.
* **The Crystal Heart Spell** - Cadence is born a Pegasus pony; an orphan found in the woods by Earth ponies. Cadence became an alicorn after reversing a love-stealing spell cast by a pony called Prismia. After defeating her, Cadence was transported to a strange place where she met Celestia. As with Twilight's ascension, Cadence was surrounded by magical energy and transformed into an alicorn. Celestia recognizes Cadance's abilities and adopts her as her royal niece. Shining Armor meets and falls in love with Princess Cadance. Princess Cadance becomes foal-sitter for young Twilight Sparkle.
* **Sunset Shimmer** - Sunset Shimmer becomes Princess Celestia's personal student. Her origins are unknown even to her but she was adopted by Celestia and may even have been her daughter.
* **Fizzlepop Berrytwist**- Fizzlepop Berrytwist loses her horn in an ursa minor attack and runs away from home.
* **Yakyakistan Isolationism** - Eight years before *Luna's Redemption*, Prince Rutherford of Yakyakistan closed off its borders to Equestria for the next "hundreds of moons".
* **The Rise of the Storm Empire** - Fizzlepop renames herself Tempest Shadow and becomes the Storm King's new second-in-command, leading his assault on Hippogriffia and driving the Hippogriffs into hiding. The Abyssinian kingdom (may be analogous to our world's Abyssinia or Ethiopia) was annexed by the Storm Empire: its capital of Panthera was later destroyed by the Storm King "out of boredom".
* **The Fall of Sunset Shimmer** - Two years before *Luna's Redemption*, Sunset Shimmer's arrogance got the best of her, causing Celestia to grow concerned over her student's future. As with Twilight, Celestia ordered Sunset to make friends; however, with Sunset's repeated failures at making friends, Celestia tried to teach her patience and humility through the use of the Mirror of Erised, However, her plan backfired when Sunset witnessed a possible future of herself as an alicorn. At first, the projection was of a beautiful and powerful pony, but soon became into a dark, wrathful pony who sought only to control others. Sunset was mortified by the reflection within herself, but grew ever curious. Her obsession with the mirror grew as Sunset disobeyed Celestia's orders by repeatedly breaking into the Forbidden Dark Magic wing of the Royal Library of Equestria. After weeks, Sunset and Celestia blew up at each other, leading to Celestia to denounce Sunset as her protégé. Enraged, Sunset searched for the mirror, found an identical mirror and leaped through it. The mirror led to the human world; the portal connecting the two worlds would not open again for another three years. Earth time. More time passes in Equestria until the worlds become connected again, at which point it evens out. Sunset had time to return and retrieve a Journal that could contact Celestia if need be.

#### **The Cutie Mark Chronicles**

* **The First Sonic Rainboom** - A little over a decade before *Luna's Redemption*, Rainbow Dash broke the speed of sound and magic during a race, creating a phenomenon known as a sonic rainboom. This event, the first of its kind, awarded Rainbow Dash her cutie mark, simultaneously with her future friends, the "Mane Six".
	+ Fluttershy falls toward the ground and is saved by a swarm of butterflies. She quickly becomes enamored with the world on the ground. Rainbow's sonic rainboom frightens Fluttershy's new animal friends. When she calms them, her cutie mark appears. Rainbow Dash befriends Gilda at Junior Speedsters flight camp. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash moves to Ponyville on her birthday.
	+ Pinkie Pie is dissatisfied with her life as a rock farmer. Upon seeing Rainbow's rainboom, she is overwhelmed with happiness and throws her first party, gaining her cutie mark. Pinkie Pie moves to Ponyville and holds a party in Ponyville; this inspires Cheese Sandwich to become a party pony.
	+ Twilight witnesses the Summer Sun Celebration and starts studying magic. Her parents enroll her in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. During Twilight's entrance exam to the School for Gifted Unicorns, Rainbow's rainboom causes Twilight's magic to temporarily overload. Spike is hatched from his dragon egg, Twilight obtains her cutie mark, and Celestia takes Twilight on as a personal student and protege. Celestia's gives Twilight first assignment: to raise Spike as her child. Twilight befriends Minuette, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, Lyra Heartstrings, and Moon Dancer while attending the School for Gifted Unicorns.
	+ Applejack leaves Sweet Apple Acres and moves in with her Aunt and Uncle Orange in Manehattan. Unable to fit in among the social Manehattan elite, Applejack becomes homesick. She sees Rainbow's sonic rainboom pointing toward Ponyville. She races home to reunite with her family, and she gains her cutie mark. Applejack goes to Camp Friendship and befriends Coloratura.
	+ Rarity makes costumes for a school play. As she suffers a creative block, her horn lights up and drags her off in an unknown direction. Rarity's horn drags her all the way to a giant rock. Rainbow's rainboom causes the rock to split, revealing a deposit of gems. Rarity uses the gems for her school play costumes, and her cutie mark appears. Rarity moves to Ponyville to start her own business

**The Time Travel Incidents**:

* Starlight Glimmer, Twilight Sparkle, and Spike appear from the future.

* The adult versions of the Mane 6 are transported to the past and meet their younger selves. In order to preserve history, Celestia seals away the memories of the younger ponies. The fact that Twilight was an Alicorn—with a cutie mark identical to the Tree of Harmony's symbol—was not lost on Celestia.

### **Modern Equestria history**

Modern Equestrian history was dominated by a chain of events that heralded significant changes in the nation's history; all of which coincided with three key events.

* The return of Nightmare Moon and Luna's subsequent redemption
* The ascendancy of Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship
* The Sister Princesses abdicate the throne, the first shift in royal power in over a millennium.

In modern times, Celestia continues to govern Equestria, adopts Cadence—the first new alicorn in centuries—as her niece, and mentors promising young ponies; her most gifted students were Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle. Due to the efforts of Twilight Sparkle and her friends, Equestria has been enjoying its longest period of prosperity and harmony in recorded history. Centuries of tension between the griffins, ponies, dragons, and changelings peacefully concluded, with all factions becoming unlikely allies.

This is the era most detailed by the main comics, television series, and video games, and is therefore fully canon, according to the show writers.

#### **Year of Luna's Redemption**

This time period lasted approximately one year, during which events brought about positive developments: Buffalo and ponies gained an understanding, Dragons and ponies grew friendlier, the citizens of Equestria grew to love Princess Luna instead of fearing her, the Crystal Empire regained its former glory, and many ancient villains were defeated.

* **Return of Nightmare Moon** - Nightmare Moon returns and is defeated by the new wielders of the Elements of Harmony, known as the Mane Six. Each pony is associated with one of the six Elements of Harmony: Applejack with honesty, Pinkie Pie with laughter, Rainbow Dash with loyalty, Fluttershy with kindness, Rarity with generosity, and Twilight Sparkle with magic. The defeat of Nightmare Moon and her transformation back into Princess Luna. At least one version of the time travelling alien known as the Doctor arrives on that same night and with the help of Derpy Hooves, attempts to stop Nightmare Moon on his own but does not do so in time, only causing things which inconvenenience the Elements of Harmony indirectly(*Doctor Whooves and Assistant*)
* **Return of Discord** - Discord escapes from his imprisonment as a stone statue and attempting to spread chaos throughout Equestria. He then captures Ponyville for his "World Capitol of Chaos", but is subsequently defeated and transformed back into stone. Discord escapes several times but is usually returned to being imprisoned, one time even being defeated by Vinyl Scratch and her bass canon(*Musicians of Ponyville*). Discord is later released again from his stone prison under Princess Celestia's orders to reform himself, which succeeds after Fluttershy treats him like a friend.
* **Return of the Crystal Empire** - The Crystal Empire reappears as does King Sombra with it. With the help of Cadance and Shining Armor, the Mane 6 venture to the Crystal Empire after it reappears. They stop King Sombra from retaking the Crystal Empire by finding the "Crystal Heart" that protects it, with help from Spike, Twilight's dragon assistant. After the event, Princess Cadance became the ruler of Crystal Empire, with Shining Armor serving as her prince regent and consort.

#### **Ending the Changeling Wars**

The Changeling Wars were a series of persistent conflicts between Equestria and the Changeling Hive, particularly against the Changeling queen, Queen Chrysalis. As masters of psychological manipulation and infiltration tactics with the ability to shapeshift, the changelings are one of Equestria's oldest and greatest threats. Faced with such an asymmetrical enemy, Equestria was forced into fighting an unwinnable irregular warfare and could not bring its full might to bear upon the Queendom, as Chrysalis's throne nullified all magic not of changeling origin.

* **Changeling Invasion of Canterlot** - The marriage of Princess Cadance to Prince Shining Armor, the captain of the Royal Guard of Canterlot and Twilight's older brother. Queen Chrysalis, a changeling who imprisons and impersonates Cadance prior to her wedding in an attempt to invade Canterlot, the capital of Equestria. Chrysalis' strength arises from her ability to consume love, so she shapeshifted into Cadence to feed off of the love Shining Armor has for Cadance. However, Twilight Sparkle discovers this, frees Cadance, and reveals Cadance's impostor before the wedding. Cadance and Shining Armor defeat the changelings with the power of their love and with help from the Mane Six.
* **Changeling abduction of Equestrian leadership and Changeling Revolution**- Starlight Glimmer discovered a changeling conspiracy in which all four Princesses and her friends have been replaced by doppelgangers and assembles an unlikely team of heroes to save her friends. It was at this point that the "reformed" changeling Thorax showed his fellow Changelings if they shared friendship, they would longer need to feed off of love. Subsequently, the Changelings turned against Chrysalis, accepting friendship and becoming reformed versions of themselves.
* **Chrysalis's Attempt at Revenge** - Less than a year later, Queen Chrysalis attempted to seek vengeance against Starlight Glimmer and the Mane 6 and regain control of the Changeling Hive by creating clones of the Mane Six. However, her plan failed after the Tree of Harmony stopped the clones from stealing the Elements and subsequently killed them. Disregarding a few minor mishaps during their day, the Mane 6 and Starlight Glimmer were left completely unaware of Chrysalis's plan.

#### **Ascension of Twilight Sparkle**

The era began almost exactly a year after the return of Princess Luna; this era is notable for the coronation of Princess Twilight Sparkle and the opening of the School of Friendship. This period brought about increases of peace, prosperity, hope and love, as Princess Twilight continued her scientific research and made her diplomatic mission to spread the friendship to every creature in need. Large battles and conflicts against villains were also held during its time period.

##### **Season 3**

* **The Return of Sunset Shimmer**- Celestia uses the Journal in Sunset's position to inform Sunset of Twilight and the other princess attending a Summit, hoping Sunset would be willing to return. Sunset speaks with an agent of Celestia's Flash Sentry, who he uses to convince Celestia she wishes to return. Sunset is actually enraged by being replaced by Twilight, arrives early and takes the Element of Magic for her own nefarious ends to the human world. Twilight follows and defeats Sunset with the aid of the human counterparts to the Elements of Harmony wielders, who are able to use the energy of the elements. Sunset(either from the Elements destroying her evil or the humiliation of her defeat) vows to reform. Twilight returns to Equestria.

##### **Season 4**

* **The Return of Lord Tirek** - After the centaur Lord Tirek escaped from Tartarus and stole the magic of every pony in Equestria, the princesses gave their magic to Twilight Sparkle, who was able to defeat Tirek and reimprison him in Tartarus.
* **Rainbow Rocks** - Six moons after redeeming Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle returns to the human world and helps the Rainbooms defeat the Dazzlings; the sirens previously banished by Starswirl. Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze, and Sonata Dusk enroll at Canterlot High and turn the musical showcase into a battle of the bands. Sunset proves to be an instrumental part in defeating the Dazzlings which helps to redeem her in the eyes of many. Twilight and Sunset begin messenging each other frequently through the Journal in Sunset's possession. The Dazzlings eventually reform(*Multiple MLP "Fanon" works*).

##### **Season 5**

* **The Vengeance of Starlight Glimmer** - Starlight Glimmer had formed a cult which stole the cutie marks of hundreds of ponies, and twice attempted to destroy Twilight and Spike, and almost led Equestria to its complete destruction (See: Alternate continuity timelines.). She eventually surrenders to Twilight and becomes her apprentice when it is discovered she genuinely is apologetic for her actions. It helps that few in the public were aware of her criminal activities.
* **The Crystalling** - Princess Cadence gives birth to Flurry Heart, the first naturally-born Alicorn in Equestria(since Celestia and Luna existed prior and Cadance and Twilight ascended). Starlight Glimmer reunites with her old friend Sunburst. Flurry Heart inadvertently shatters the Crystal Heart, threatening the Crystal Empire with an eternal winter(King Sombra's doing as the Heart kept it at bay). The Mane Six and their friends restore the Crystal Heart with Flurry Heart's Crystalling ceremony.

##### **Season 6**

* **The New Dragon Lord** - During this period, the Gauntlet of Fire was held to determine the new Dragon Lord, because Dragon Lord Torch was retiring. During the gauntlet, Spike was crowned Dragon Lord, but gave the title to Ember.

##### **Season 7**

* **The Celestial Advice** - Starlight Glimmer, Trixie, Thorax, and Discord are awarded Pink Hearts of Courage, and Starlight graduates from being Twilight's student after defeating Chrysalis.
* **The Shadow Play** - Twilight and her friends gather together the magical artifacts of the Pillars of Old Equestria. Twilight releases Star Swirl the Bearded, the Pillars, and the Pony of Shadows from limbo. The Cutie Map summons the Mane Six to the Hollow Shades. The Mane Six and the Pillars of Old Equestria free Stygian from the darkness, and the darkness is banished to limbo again.
* **The Invasion of the Storm Empire** - Twilight oversees Equestria's first Friendship Festival in Canterlot. The Storm King, a fearsome satyr-like conqueror attacked Canterlot and captured the princesses with an army of monsters led by his unicorn second-in-command Tempest Shadow. Twilight Sparkle and her friends were able to defeat him with the help of new allies from beyond Equestria and Tempest herself.
* **The Spring Breakdown** - Some of the Storm King's magic leaks into the human world as the Human Counterparts to the ponies celebrate spring break on the Luxe Deluxe cruise ship. The Storm King's magic manifests as a magical lightning storm. Sunset, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash discover a second portal to Equestria; they use the Staff of Sacanas to absorb the Storm King's residual magic.

##### **Season 8**

* **Tempest's Tale** - Tempest Shadow leaves to help ponies around Equestria and spread the news of the Storm King's defeat.
* **School Daze** - Twilight opens the School of Friendship.
* **The Rise of Cozy Glow** - Cozy Glow, a pegasus filly enlisted at Twilight's School of Friendship, conspired with Lord Tirek to drain Equestria of its magic. She was defeated by the Young Six and imprisoned next to Tirek.
* **The Best Gift Ever** - The Mane Six do a Hearthswarming Helper for Hearth's Warming. Pinkie Pie meets the Gift Givers of the Grove(who seem to be Equestria's equivalent to Santa Claus).
* **The Beginning of the End** - After Celestia and Luna decide to retire and hand off the ruling of Equestria to Twilight and her friends, it sends Twilight into a tailspin of self-doubt. Around this time, King Sombra, previously presumed dead, returns after being revived by Grogar, a ram warlock from ancient times, but is defeated by the Mane Six, even after he destroys the Tree of Harmony.

##### **Season 9**

* **The Ending of the End** - Queen Chrysalis, Lord Tirek, and Cozy Glow turn the pony races against each other and empower themselves with the Bewitching Bell. The three villains defeat and capture most of the Mane Six, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, the Pillars, and Discord; they destroy Canterlot Castle in the process. Twilight's friends escape and regroup with her to challenge the villains. The windigos return to Equestria. The School of Friendship students reunite Equestria and convince all of Equestria's allies to assemble an army to fight the villains. The Mane Six, Young Six, and Pillars banish the windigos and defeat the villains with the magic of friendship. Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow are imprisoned in stone by Discord and the princesses. Twilight is crowned ruler of Equestria, and Celestia and Luna retire to Silver Shoals. Twilight establishes the Council of Friendship with her friends.

### **Twilightian Equestria history**

##### **Season 10**

* **The Last Problem** - Celestia and Luna have retired, with Twilight as the official sovereign ruler of Equestria, and Spike as her regent and royal advisor. Twilight takes ownership of the School for Gifted Unicorns. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo become full-time teachers at the School of Friendship. Luster Dawn moves to Ponyville. Gallus is the current captain of the Royal Guard, and Rainbow Dash commands the Wonderbolts. Lyra and Sweetie Drops marry. Derpy publishes a muffin-themed cookbook. Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich marry and have a son. Big McIntosh and Sugar Belle have a son. Rarity opens new boutiques for non-ponies and hires Yona as an employee at Carousel Boutique.

### **Alternate continuity timelines**

In "The Cutie Re-Mark", several alternate versions of Equestria are created as a result of Starlight Glimmer changing history. In the first alternate timeline shown, King Sombra returns and expands the Crystal Empire's borders to cover half of Equestria and the Griffon Kingdom. In the second, Queen Chrysalis and the changelings have conquered Canterlot and forced many ponies into hiding. In the third, Nightmare Moon rules Equestria in eternal night after banishing Celestia to the moon. Further alternate realities include one ruled by Discord, one in which Tirek ravages the land, one in which Flim and Flam bulldoze the Everfree Forest for development, and one in which Equestria is reduced to a barren wasteland. Thanks to Twilight Sparkle's actions, these alternate realities are undone.