Approximately two hundred years ago the Great Equestrian war with the Zebra Nation ended suddenly. It had started as too many have, over a misunderstanding that grew out of hoof, and greed. Both sides learned to hate and fear each other. Each side produced propaganda to vilify and de-equinize the opposition and motivate the citizens of both nations. The drums of war began to beat. Finally, the hellhounds of war were released. Death, fear, and destruction were free to travel the lands.

Ten years after the start of the war, Princess Luna created the Ministries to assist in the war effort. These ministries each ran a part of the government of Equestria. Behind the scenes, they worked quietly with a company named Stable-Tec to devise underground shelters called stables to protect a part of the population. That way if the worst should happen then at least some ponies would survive and act as seed stock to repopulate the world once it was safe to come out of the stables again.

The war did not go well for Equestria, in fact, it became a time of desperate measures. In response to these measures, the Zebra Nation grasped at even more desperate ones. Eventually, the worst did occur, a full Balefire bomb and Mega spell attack from the Zebra Nation with a full retaliation in kind. Canterlot, Hoofington, Manehatten, Cloudsdale all hit, some multiple times. Many of the smaller cities that were of some military importance also warranted a Balefire bomb such as Manesville with its railroad hub and carriage factory. Equestria, and with it the world known to Celestia, Luna, Discord, and even the Zebra Nation's Cesar died in balefire, magical radiation, and mega spells.

Of the stables, not all of them survived. In fact, some died during the mega spell exchange. Some survived the exchange but were already dead and just did not know it yet. Others, well, let’s just say some survived and flourished while others just made do, and a few were found and things did not go so well for those inside them.

There are many tales that have been told, and many yet to come, of the events that occurred as a result of the Equestrian war with the Zebra Nation. Oftentimes these stories do not involve those famous individuals such as the Mane Six who lead the ministries during the days leading up to the Fall, or those brave soldiers and airponies such as Big Mac and Rainbow Dash, or even the Stable Dweller and Security that we hear about from DJ Pon3 on the radio. This is one of those tales. It is of a simple life and those who met and became friends, family, and herd in an area called the Co-op during that time.

The Co-op sometimes called the borderlands, is in an area between what were the plains and the urban expanse that once thrived. Before the war, this area was a very large agricultural center. It is said that trains were constantly traveling the rails providing fresh hay, apples, and other produce to the rest of our nation. We were part of the hay bale for Equestria. Now when we call ourselves the borderlands, we are not really describing our physical location, but instead our position of being between what is left of civilization and barbarism.

The Co-op is a cooperative agreement of mutual support between several settlements of survivors in the ruins of villages and towns that were east of Manesville. Most of us who live in the Co-op are descended from either the refugees that stopped here during the great migrations that occurred after the day of the Fall or from those who had been sheltered in Stable 48. However, in recent years we have had some migration into the Co-op.

This Co-op is protected by members of the Co-op Guard, also known as the Co-op Defense Force, which has grown from the original security force of Stable 48. The guard consists of just over one thousand ponies, cows, and mules that defend the Co-op. We rotate time as operational military soldiers, then as a ready reserve back at the stable, during which we perform civil service through public works such as helping with the crops in the field, salvage in the co-ops area, and supporting the security and law enforcement ponies and cows when needed. We not only defend our communities but are a part of them. The headquarters of the Co-op Guard is in Manesville and is based out of what was once Stable 48. Most of the buildings are run down and while we are trying to make an effort to grow crops once again it has not always been easy, and hunger can become a well-known companion.

Currently, events seem to be speeding up again. The actions of those in the outside world, such as those in Fillydelphia and Hoofington, seem to be carrying over again. We are now seeing an increase in refugees on the move and small raids on the Co-op. Even more ominous is the secretive reappearance of the Pegasi, as well as the propaganda-filled messages on the radio from Red Eye in Fillydelphia.

These changes have caused our leaders to begin to look not only at our own defense but to send out scouts and spies into the wastelands. To gather information and to build alliances. Even to plan on how to strike out to assist in the good fight if needed. For the past century, we have been trying to run under the detection spell, however, this does not seem like it will be possible for much longer.

Thank you KKat for Creating the rich world of FoE. I would also like to say thank you to Somber and Fuzzy VeeVee for further building upon that world. You have not only entertained me but helped me during some very hard times.

I would also like to thank those of you who assisted me in proof and test reading my story. There are several of you and each of you is appreciated.

Finally, to the readers, I apologize for the lack of the use of contractions in my writing. However, I write in the same manner as I speak every day. I also feel that this gives a further taste of the mannerisms and speech patterns of my characters.

I have chosen to explore a rarely looked at part of Equestrian culture and hope that the readers enjoy this tale as much as I have in creating this portion of the Wastelands. Where life can change from almost idyllic to horror and tragedy in the blink of an eye.