This is a quick backstory of my new (and first) fanfiction! :)
First off, this fan-fic takes place in the alternate reality of Cutie Re-Mark Part 1. Specifically, the reality where Equestria is at war with King Sombra and the Crystal Empire. My fic will follow 5 of the Mane 6 (Pinkie, Rarity, Rainbow, AJ, and Fluttershy) in there efforts and parts against the war. This chapter is merely some information on each of those ponies that I couldn't fit into the story. Because it is not proved otherwise, I am going to assume that everypony has their original Cutie Mark. It isn't necessary for you to read this, but I defiantly recommend that you do. While the small amount of screen-time the war had, I found it inspiring, but because the episode doesn't go into detail about the detail I am making up lots of the story line.
The War
The Crystal War began when King Sombra regained control of the Crystal Empire. When Sombra began the war, Celestia fled to Cloudsdale, and immediately began the war effort. She demanded that groups of pegasi go to every town and city, and alert their mayor of the growing threat. Every city was assigned to a certain industry. Towns like Ponyville, Appleoosa, and Dodge City were dedicated to farming. Pegasi cities such as Cloudsdale and Las Pegasus were dedicated to training troops, and building sky bases. White Tail Woods, and the Smokey Mountain were used for lumber. Manehattan and Fillydelphia were the production capitals of Equestria. And finally Foal Mountain and Baltimare were full of hospitals and clinics. All the injured are transported to those cities. Instead of wandering around trying out different professions, the Cutie Mark Draft assigned everypony to a certain job. Based on everyponies Cutie Mark they were assigned a job. The fashion ponies made uniforms, farming ponies provided food for the troops, and athletic ponies became the troops. Unfortunately, ponies destined for singing, or floral arrangements had no purpose in the war. Those ponies underwent a series of physical and mental tests, based on those results they were assigned to different parts of the war effort. Of course everypony had the option to volunteer as a soldier. But unless they were drafted, almost nopony volunteered. Who would chose a life of battle over a miserably stable job.
Rarity
Rarity works for a company in Manehattan called Frontlines. This company has several buildings spread out across Manehattan and is one of Equestria's biggest war assets. Each building is set up the same, for optimal efficiency. The first five floors are residential. For all the laborers who work in the building. The sixth floor is the mess hall. Open all day because of the free-will based work schedule. Floors seven, eight, and nine are dedicated to food production and packaging. Floors ten, eleven, and twelve are dedicated to garments. All the floors above that are used for various war resources. Rarity works on level twelve and lives on level four. Her best friend, Glimmer Shine and her have workstations right next to each other. Each workstation has a sewing kit, a sewing machine, a red bin, and a green bin. The red bin is filled every Monday with all the orders the worker is expected to complete every week. Every time they complete an order, they put to order sheet into the green bin. Laborers are paid every month because of the few things workers need (everything is provided by Frontlines) they often save up, hoping for a better life after the war.
Fluttershy
Fluttershy owns and operates a ranch. The ranch is named Butterfly Ranch (after her Cutie Mark). She shears sheep, milks cows, and collects eggs. She is one of many farmers that sells her goods to the Frontlines company. That is her sole source of income. She lives a very solitary life, because she does not have time to socialize with other ponies. There is always farm work to be done. Butterfly Ranch is located South of Baltimare, and is set up as follows: Her small cottage is located in the center of Butterfly Ranch. Right before her front door, is her sheep. She shears them monthly. To the right of her house is the chicken coop and small enclosed area for the chickens. To the left is her cow barn. Behind her house is a huge pasture where her chickens, sheep, and cows roam daily. Every month she sells all of her products. She sells them like that in order to keep that schedule in sync with her sheep-shearing schedule. For food she has a small grain farm to feed the animals, but for herself, she travels to Baltimare to buy food. Every time she returns with food, she often preserves it into a less-perishable form. It's never a bad idea to prepare for disaster.
Rainbow Dash
Rainbow Dash is the Commander of the Cloud235 Legion. It is a little know secret, but the Cloud235 Legion is actually home-base of Princess Celestia. Rainbow Dash is in command of 250 troops, although the base is large for only housing 250 troops. Because it is the new home of the princess, powerful unicorns cast spells of protection on the border clouds, making them hard as stone but light weight as, well, a cloud. Because of her status, Rainbow Dash shares living quarters with Princess Celestia. Although Celestia is rarely in their living quarters due to meetings, summits, reports, and war planning. Cloud235 is set up for convenience. With living quarters set up on the outskirts, with the living quarters of Generals more towards the center. In the center, Is the mess hall, War Council Hall, and the living quarters of Rainbow and Celestia. The base is located Southwest of the Crystal Empire, but blends into its surroundings so well, that Sombra has no idea it even exists. Equestrian flags are hung from every structure. Always good to try and keep up moral.
Apple Jack
Apple Jack, with her brother, operate Sweet Apple Acres. They oversee the canning process while their hired farm ponies harvest apples, oranges, carrots, grapes, and when the season is right, zap apples. Every year the push out food for hundreds of troops. When the war began, they sold all their animals to some pegasus from Ponyville. Applejack and Big Mac are always coming up with ways to preserve and ship out their goods. They can, dry, and bake the apples, zap apples, grapes, carrots, and oranges. Ponies from Manehattan come every other month to take all of the food they produced. Some of the food is sent directly to the army, but most of it is sent to Frontlines. The cooks there make it into more appetizing food for the laborers and soldiers. Everypony has to eat, no matter how bad it tastes.
Pinkie Pie
Pinkie Pie is one of Rainbow Dash's 250 troops. Her and her sister Maud share living quarters on Cloud235. Because she and her sister are Earth ponies, Celestia cast a spell on them (and the other Earth Ponies and unicorns) that allowed them to walk on clouds. Their living quarters is simple, with bunk beds in the corner, a table in the middle, and two chests. One for each pony. Pinkie Pie collects something from all the places the war has taken her. A tree branch, a small crystal, and a jar of melted snow. Maud keeps more simple things. Specifically rocks. One from all three battles she has survived. They both keep a small pouch of Bits. Soldiers don't get paid much, because there is nowhere for the to shop and nothing they need to buy. Maud and Pinkie talk about opening a store one day. Pinkie wants to start a bakery, but Maud wants to open a rock store. Ponies always try to find hope, no matter how unlikely it may seem.
A/N This is just a prologue of sorts. I hope you enjoyed. The first chapter will be up very soon! Please tell me what you think of the backstory I've written do far, and I promise the actual chapters will be longer than this.
- Serenity Rose