My Little Pony: The First Nations

Chapter 1: The Unconquered Ones

There is a story that most Ponies know that states that Princess Platinum, Clover the Clever, Commander Hurricane, Private Pansy, Chancellor Puddinghead, and Smart Cookie were the ones who founded Equestria. The truth is, the lands that would become Equestria were already inhabited upon their arrival. This was a story few want brought to light.

The truth is that there were already Ponies in Equestria along with Griffons and Hippogriffs that called the lands home, and had been their homeland for over 10,000 years. In the Southeast were the Painted Tribes. In the West and in the lands the Ponies call the Badlands are the Mustangs which lived in harmony and roamed among the Buffalo Tribes.

When Mustang and Painted Ponies went up to the Northwest or the Northeast to see the Griffon and Hippogriff Tribes, they were not greeted with animosity. They shook taloned paws to hooves among the stallions, and embraced sister-to-sister with hugs and nuzzles among their mares to the hens. There truly was harmony among all of the species

In the Northeast are the Hippogriffs of the Swiftwings, and in the Northwest Coast are the powerful Thunderbirds. This was their land, and they had trade routes and friendships between tribes. There is peace between Buffalo and Pony and between Griffon and Hippogriff. Thus, they all state that: 'The Founders did not establish Equestria, they invaded it'

The Ponies of the Painted Tribes, and the Mustang Ponies are bigger than those that were looking to colonize their lands, and their mares are stockier in the flanks and hooves. They are swift on their hooves, fast on their wings, and powerful in their magic. The Founding Ponies stated that it is 'Manifest Destiny' that the homelands now belong to them.

To that, Chief Swift Hoof of the Mustangs stated to a Pony Captain "The day you take our lands is the day hair grows on our hooves"

The drums sounded in the hills, and the war cries echoed on the winds. Messengers were sent far and wide to the Hippogriff Tribes of the Swiftwings and Griffon Tribes of the Thunderbirds. For the Thunderbirds had made their decision to fight after they attacked a trading ship, stole the muskets and cannon, and burned it in the waters of Salmon Bay.

Now their war canoes have swivel guns on them. The Hippogriffs of the Swiftwings made it dangerous to travel in the Everfree Forest as they became notorious for the lightning quick ambushes with ball head war clubs, bows and arrows, spears, and muskets. Founding Ponies will put rebel villages to the torch. In revenge, they had their manes scalped.

Such a custom was also done by the Mustang and the Painted Ponies to their enemies. The only tribe that did not embrace the custom were the Thunderbirds. They are the only tribe that wore armor into battle made of wooden slats as well as leather armor with a wooden bevor and war helmet often carved in the likeness of the wolf, bear, orca, sea lion

The Pony Tribes of the Mustangs and Painted Ponies used various weapons in combat. The Painted Ponies used the gunstock war club and the ball-head club often with an iron blade or spike on the head. A Mustang war club was made of wood and covered in hide with a stone head. Their drop point knives are 17in long with handles made of deer antler

They were armed with like war clubs made of wood in a ball bead type or carved wood with six whale teeth, muskets, and spears, but one weapon the Thunderbirds are famous for is the double-bladed dagger. Often 25 and 1/4in long with a steel blade, copper fittings, and a tan hide grip, some forms of the dagger have a carved wood handle and pommel

Chief Mountain Eagle of the Thunderbirds had once said "You take land that is not even yours, you Colonizers are nothing but thieves and butchers"

The Northwest Coast was dotted with fortified villages and Plank Houses. The Everfree Forest provided shelter and wood for the Swiftwings to build their Longhouses. The Mustangs made Wickiups while the Painted Tribes made lodges of various types depending on the seasons. All the tribes have their harvest times, and their crops that they harvest

For the Thunderbirds, it is seafood which include salmon, clams, crab, oysters, mussels, and even potatoes. For the Mustangs and the Painted Ponies, their crops include pumpkin, squash, corn, and beans. The Swiftwings also harvest beans, corn, and squash which are known as the 'Three Sisters' as well as maple syrup and various berries and nuts

Their were many 'final straws' that led the tribes to come together to go to war against the Colonizers. To all the tribes, entire villages were massacred and put to the torch while sparing the fillies, colts, and hatchlings to be brought to orphanages to be taught English as well as their ways and customs. Ponies also hunted the sacred whale in the Northwest

The Thunderbirds never hunted the whale, but the Colonizer Ponies did and needed it's oil for their lamps, soap, textiles, lubricants, varnish, paint, and even explosives. The Humpbacks, Minke Whales, and Gray Whales are not safe from the harpoon of the Colonizer Ponies and the whaling vessels. Because of this, their ships are the first to be attacked

Chief Soaring Hawk of the Swiftwings made a speech to his tribe amid the roaring fire in the middle of the village "Let it be known to these Colonizers that they cannot take what they want, that this is not their land, we were here first, this is our sacred ground, may their children, and their children's children look upon this time in our history as a crime!"

(Author's Note: If you can name which tribe each of the tribes is influenced by you are awesome)