The Blackwater Quarry is the biggest and most industrious emerald mine in all of Equestria. From its' massive iron wall surrounding the quarry proper, to the modern marvel of the Gem Refinery Plant, to the huge hollowed-out boulder that serves as the vault, to the magnificent Manor House that sits above the property… it's truly an unsung marvel of the Equine world.

But if the quarry seems to have a bright future, the Blackwater family itself is a name shrouded in shadow. Since the days of Discord's reign, the Blackwaters have had a reputation for being mean, cold, cruel, callous and downright nasty when it came to the family business.

This story is a montage of a trek through the history of the quarry, finally focusing on the current generation of Blackwaters… and one young stallion's struggle to prove that a pony can become more than what others expect of them, regardless of their history.