Prologue

Mulewaukee began as a small lakefront town founded by families of fisher-ponies and farmers –all of which were Earth Ponies- but slowly grew into a large city that begun to incorporate industry as well as agriculture. For centuries pony folk worked on boats or farms and in factories or mills. It was a time where the Stallions went to work from 9 to 5 and the Mares stayed at home to take care of their little ones. The ponies of this era grew old, and the new generations introduced new traditions and values. The oldest of these generations always regard the years of their prime as the best, and this does not go without reason. Some values are lost as Father Time plays his games, and it seems to some that respect for these morals has also faded. But of course, each generation provides a contribution to the history of their community that lasts throughout the ages. About a century ago, one such historical event occurred away from Mulewaukee, but spread faster than the Cutie Pox. However, unlike the Cutie Pox, this didn’t disappear.

It was called Hoofball.

The true origins of this game are unknown, but some experts believe it began as a game started by university students in a city on the Eastern edge of Equestria. Its popularity spread throughout the country, despite being so dangerous. The main objective is simple, have a pony carry a ball into a specific area labeled the “End Zone” without being tackled. Naturally, it is the tackling that made this such a dangerous game. Since its creation, more than a dozen poor souls have perished because of the roughness of the sport, and countless others have been severely injured. Because of this danger, official rules were set in place that included several equipment obligations to ensure the safety of the players, including the requirement of a helmet and pads to cover a player’s upper body. The diversity of the ponies living on the surface increased over the years, and soon both unicorns and pegasi wanted to play this game. Because of this, the equipment and rules were modified to fairly suit the three different kinds of ponies. Pegasi were allowed to use their wings, but only to catch and hold the ball. Flight of any kind was grounds for disqualification. In addition, Unicorn helmets we changed to allow the horn to fit in the helmet comfortably, but they were suffused with a powerful force that limits the unicorn’s abilities to levitation magic within close proximity of the ball to catch or throw it. These new rules were deemed fair by all three groups. Consequently, this led to segregation of positions on the field as time progressed. Their versatility with the ball combined with their precise control, instinct, and knowledge led to the majority of quarterbacks being unicorns, while rarely playing defense. Pegasi, with their naturally stellar reflexes and agility slowly led to them dominating as receivers and running backs on offense, and pass stoppers on defense. While the Earth ponies, often showing the most brute physical strength, became blockers, tacklers, and specialists. Of course, these were not set in stone positions for each pony type. There have been many ponies who excel in a field outside of the stereotype for them.

Hoofball itself is played at multiple levels of competitiveness, ranging from young colts playing it when they start school, to the professionals, where stallions are paid to play in front of thousands of fans at huge stadiums. The trends in positions and pony types follow suit in all of the levels. But our story happens right in the middle of these tiers; where colts are growing into young stallions, fillies become young mares, and these teenaged ponies all fight, flirt, love, learn, laugh, and live. Our story revolves around the once humble port town of Mulewaukee. Our story is one that follows these adolescents and their experiences with each other, but in particular one Earth Pony and his experiences with Hoofball and life both on and off the grid iron.

Our story begins with a house…