Despite the great intelligence of its inhabitants, Equestria had always been considered a backwards nation in terms of technological advancements. With the readily available resource that was unicorn magic, it was perfectly understandable, of course; there had never been the need to develop new and power-efficient technologies.

Or so it had seemed until roughly one hundred years prior when the rebuilt army of changelings, under the vicious command of Queen Chrysalis, and Sombra's army of brainwashed crystal ponies had attacked the otherwise peaceful Kingdom. And, lo, the ponies' incapability of stopping an invasion—both thanks to the lack of technology and the pitifulness of the existing offensive magic—came to be known.

It was sheer desperation which ended the war. With an ancient battle spell at the ready, written at the time of the three rival tribes, Celestia recalled her forces and unleashed the magic on her attackers. As promised, the enemy armies fell—but, within the hour, the spell's true nature revealed itself and the entire land of Equestria was poisoned with a deadly and unstoppable disease.