Apocalypse Short

>The mid-day sky is darkened, but the shadow cast upon the ground grants no reprieve from the intense heat.

>Wavering lines constantly shift through the air all around; a testament to the quickly rising temperatures.

>A deep rumbling brings the earth to tremble beneath you in it's final hour; something you imagine as it's fear at the sudden exposure to it's own mortality.

>The world was supposed to keep on spinning forever; this shouldn't be happening.

>"Sis; ah'm so hot..."

>Applejack cradles her little sister to her gently, as her lips begin to crack and bleed.

>"Ah know, Sugarcube... Ya just sit tight now, it'll be alright soon..."

>The fillies quick breathing; her very death rattles bring you to tears once more.

>Nothing so young should make such a sound.

>"Will Ma and Pa... be there...? I don't... wanna... be alone..."

>Her eyes begin to droop shut as her internal organs shut down one by one.

>This environment isn't fit to sustain life; and it's only a matter of time until yours follow suit.

>Applejack speaks in a soft voice that barely shakes; her conviction carrying the truth of her words.

>"Yep, we'll all be there... Me, An' Granny Smith, an' Big Mac, an' Winona..."

>Her voice cracks at that; speaking of those already lost.

>Speaking to someone already lost.

>The eyelids are closed, and the panted breath has stopped it's fight to keep the filly alive.

>"Oh, Applebloom..."

>You want nothing more than to reach out and hug the broken mare that now bears the curse of being the last Apple.

>But it's just too hot; your skin is already blistering.

 

>"Darling... I'm so sorry..."

>The now singed white unicorn pone attempts to ease her friends suffering with apparent success; she isn't crying anymore.

>"Applejack...? Please, wait... I didn't get to tell you, please... Wait for me, I don't want you to go yet...!"

>Breaking down into a sobbing pile as the tears evaporate as quickly as they fall; Rarity kneels over her friend.

>Cradling the lifeless body of her sister, the proud southern mare has fallen silent.

>There are only a handful left now to stare down uncreation.

>If that's even a real word is beyond you, but that's all you can think of to describe this; the uncreation of all things.

>Wiping the slate clean.

>Celestia lied to you; all of you.

>She said she could move the very sun; but it wasn't the case.

>There was power in her; enough to slowly rotate the earth and give the appearance of controlling the sun, but not enough to help you now.

>The looming darkness is getting deeper; painting the sky the deep, dark red of dried blood and fire.

>It's the death of you and everything that you love; that shadow.

>Growing closer to pitch black as the meteor blots out more and more of the sun behind it; the temperature won't stop raising.

>It's no longer safe to be outside.

>Those unfortunate enough to have been the first to realize this are now nothing but charred bone and ash.

>You watched out the window as your closest friend burst into flames; reaching out a hoof as if you could have saved her.

>There was nothing you could have done; nothing but try to block out her screams of anguish as you turned from her and wept.

>Crying to yourself with your hands to your ears, you were almost happy that you wouldn't live to lay down to sleep for the night; those screams would have haunted you.

 

>A soft tap at your side sends your mind reeling in agony; but you can't work up the energy to do much more than keep breathing.

>"Anon...?"

>It's Fluttershy.

>Her beautiful wings are nothing more than burnt stumps now; the feathers having burst into flames.

>She looks up at you with more sadness than words could ever convey.

>"...W-will you hold me until it's over... Please...?"

>A rasping chuckle passes your parched mouth at that.

"The end of the world... Isn't my fetish, you know...?"

>Each inhale is punctuated by what feels like nails being pulled through your scorched throat; there's not much time left.

>Fluttershy almost crumples in on herself at the thought of leaving the world alone, and you can't stand that look on her face.

>As much pain as it brings you to even lift a hand; you do so and pull her into your arms.

>Rarity is no longer kneeling; her form draped over Applejacks in a final embrace.

"This is it... Huh?"

>She shivers in your grasp despite the terrible, all consuming heat; but you can feel her barely nod against your chest.

>"I love you... Please find me when we... Get to where we're going..."

>Smiling down at her; you feel the corners of your mouth tear.

"Deal..."

>And then the shivering stops.

>You don't want to look down; you don't want to see the vibrant mare that always tried so hard to get your attention, trapped in the eternal stillness of the end.

"I'll see.. You there... Fluttershy..."

>Closing your eyes as the world burns around you, and the sky falls down; you look forward to the next story with her at your side.