History

Early history

Despite its proximity to the mainland, the Vines had not been inhabited for most of its history. The earliest record of colonization is of the Discordians, who fled from Equestria after Celestia and Luna came to power. Their settlement lasted from 915 to 1063, when it collapsed from a parasprite infestation.

From 1070 through to the 1400s, the Vines was used as a place of exile by the Celestial government, mainly for those charged with heresy. As the island was not marked on maps of the time, it later fell into obscurity along with the punishment that used it.

In 1642, Equestrian explorer Able Body sighted the landmass and called it the Isle of Vines, after the dark flora growing there. Subsequent cartographers adopted the name which continues to be used today.

Foundation of a republic

The Vines experienced a revival during the Neodiscordian movement. The Manifesto of 1923, written by Purple Rose, raised interest in building a sovereign state on the land. Backed by 80 farmers, businessfolk, and scholars, the Free Republic of the Vines was established on May 23, 1935.

This move was not well received by the Celestial administration, which considered the region under its authority. On the first day of June, the Royal Guard approached the island and threatened it with invasion. Despite lacking their own military, President Aster Risk chose to resist. This decision ultimately worked in Risk’s favor, as the Guard fell to the natural defenses of the forest itself. No casualties were reported, and a ceasefire was declared on the fifth day.

Negotiations began in Canterlot during the next few moons, with the resulting Treaty of the Vines ratified on January 14, 1936. The residents of the Vines were granted self-determination, on the following conditions:

  1. That goods and services may be traded freely between both states;

  2. That the Royal Guard may pass unhindered though the Isle;

  3. That all subjects of Celestia be treated with fairness and respect.

It is through this treaty that the Isle of Vines became a protectorate of Equestria.

Modern settlement

The ponies faced many challenges during their settlement of the Vines. The forest was thick and difficult to clear, and most Equestrian crops could not grow in Vinyl soil. Plunderseed attacks were common, with settlers lacking the means to prevent or counteract them.

Despite these obstacles, the settlers quickly adapted to the new environment. In particular, the methods used by Vinyl farmers foreshadowed modern permaculture. The ponies often shared their discoveries, starting a culture of collaboration that continues to this day.

By the late 1940s, the Vines was a net exporter of foodstuffs. The population had also begun to grow, with immigrants arriving from Manehattan and Baltimare.

While welcomed by the populace, this growth exposed flaws in the early system of government. The nation did not have a formal constitution at the time, and elections were poorly held if at all. In practice, this meant that all power was vested in Aster Risk.

This lack of accountability caused unrest among Vinesfolk, especially those among the pioneer generation. To them, the absence of free elections ran counter to the nation’s Discordian roots. Tensions came to a peak on March 15, 1949, when a group of young ponies threw a torch into the town hall. The subsequent riot resulted in 26 injuries, and the death of one pet bunny.

In the aftermath, Risk established a committee to draft the new constitution. This committee included West German lawyer Gunter Guttmann, and Herdian politician Coup d’Etat. After a year of public consultation, the result was put to vote on May 23, 1950—​the 15th anniversary of Vinyl independence—​where it passed 565-78. The Council was elected later that year; Risk remained as President, which was now largely a ceremonial role.

Expansionary period

The years of 1950-1962 were marked by political stability and economic growth. Much of this expansion was driven by agriculture, in particular exports of oats and hay. In 1955, despite only 1 in 5 citizens working in the sector, agriculture formed 63% of GDP.

With this prosperity came social development and innovation. During this period the government rebuilt the Asterville town hall, nationalized the utilities and finance sectors, and established a welfare state.

However, this growth came at the expense of the environment. That year, only 51% of the land remained as forest, down from 72% in 1950. The eradication of the parasprite in 1959, while beneficial to the ponies, also made extinct many species that fed on it. The plunderseeds also became more hostile, as the usual appeasement rituals began to fail. It was clear that this expansion was unsustainable.

Most academics agreed that strict environmental regulation and a shift to tertiary industries would be the only way to sustain the economy. Councillor Middle Way noted in a speech that "we [the citizens of the Vines] will fall with the forest that raised us." But strong lobbying from farmers and merchants, along with the pro-growth sentiment of the time, made these plans impossible to implement.

After a string of failed proposals, the Council passed the Green Act of 1962 without referendum. It declared 5100 km2 of land as a protected area, while ordering the destruction of all plunderseeds by a megaspell. This met opposition from both sides of the debate, with environmentalists criticizing its treatment of the plunderseeds, and business owners criticizing the amount of land that was closed off.

Plunderseed revolution

There were many issues with the destruction plan laid out by the Green Act. First, most magi who specialized in destructive spells were overseas at the time, and could not arrive on such short notice. Because of this, none of the magi available at the time would have had the skills to perform the ritual. Second, the chaos of the time made the plunderseed stronger than usual. This meant that even if the spell worked, it would not have been powerful enough to overcome the plant.

Despite these issues, the government continued with the Act. Six unicorn magi were chosen by First Minister Blue Rose to perform the megaspell: three sex magi, a clinical psychologist, a botanical mage, and a student in pyrotechnics. The ritual itself was performed on December 10, 1962, in a secret location near Greifswald.

As predicted, the spell failed to destroy the plunderseed; instead, the plunderseed absorbed the energy and grew to cover the island. Pockets of sex and fire magic emnated from the newly grown branches, driving citizens into a nation-wide orgy, and again lighting the Asterville town hall on fire. While Rose was later recovered with minor injuries, the magi were never found.

There were some positive outcomes in the aftermath of the spell. After the orgy, many Vinesfolk discovered a part of themselves that they didn’t know of before, and became more open about their sexuality as a result. The plunderseed no longer attacked the ponies, and began to communicate telepathically with them. These changes had a profound effect on Vinyl society in the coming decades, as plunderseed transitioned from an nuisance to a collaborator.

Finance and technology

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