It has been eleven years since the Stable dweller trotted into the wasteland, and changed things forever, leaving equestria better then she first found it. But life in the wasteland has not become sunshine and rainbows, being as it has always been, where no matter how much things change they stay the same. The parting of the clouds have given way to an oppressively hot sun, the clearing of the radiation has opened the land to new dangers, and what of the raiders, well they have only changed their tactics.
In this new budding age the small town of New Appaloosa found itself under the eye of New Canterlot Republic as a possible extension of their quickly growing territories, the young civilization grasping at all they can take as they attempt to bring back the old ways of equestria. Wanting to hold onto their independence, New Appaloosa embraced new governance, along with a strong hoof of law and order in which to show the NCR that they were not up for the taking.
Their defiance to the NCR encroachment having proven effective, the eyes of other groups would then fall onto the town, among them the Lightbringer foundation, followers of the Stable Dweller, they have chosen to hold their upcoming lightbringer festival at New Appaloosa. A celebration to the hero who opened the skyes, it attracts ponies from all over the wasteland, and now they are coming to this town, becoming an opportunity for the town to truly become independent through the money they may make from it. But not all attention is good, and like wolves smelling blood, dark forces now circle the town, seeking to gain power through this idea of independence. Yet the greatest danger may come from within as the town's grates protector, Sheriff Ashy Oaks, who firmly holds on to her ideals of justice may become a noose for both her and the town itself.
This is where three ponies find themselves, as outsiders looking in; the stallion out of time Slowtrot, the Mare out of place Harp Melody, and the troublemaker Star Charter. It is here where they learn one cold truth of the wasteland, that War, war never changes.