>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.