The Fall of Equestria

It didn't take long for Ponyville to crumble, all the buildings were either ashes or rubble. Sugar cube corner lays in warm, glowing ashes. Rarity's boutique crumbled to nothing, Sweet Apple Acres was nothing but a hot pile of ashes and splintered wood. Everywhere bodies lay with flies feasting upon the flesh, nopony was alive. The Appleoosans had all returned to Appleoosa leaving Ponyville behind them. But even though Ponyville seemed vacant it was not for a small being had wandered from the Everfree Forest mere minutes after the Appleoosans had left. The small creature walks through the small town making sure to step over the various bodies and not step in their crimson blood. The early morning hours are cold giving him a small chill up his spine. He continues on his way through Ponyville, his light green eyes darting from left to right, then right to left and back again. He felt very paranoid and sore in his leg, even though it had been a while since he was shot he still felt tiny dull pains in his leg from time to time. A few ashes lie to his left, at first he does not know what this place once was until he feels a sign touch his foot. It reads.

Sugar Cube Corner

He looks at the sign for a while and then at the ashes. He sighs and continues on his way on the straight path toward Twilight's house. A few minutes later and he is at the house...well at least where it should be. Instead of the large tree house/library standing before him it is only ashes and a few twigs. He starts to dig through the ashes attempting desperately to find something of importance to him. He continues going through the ashes until he feels something hard in the ashes. He quickly grabs the hard thing and pulls it from the ashes, it appears to be a picture frame but the actual photo is covered in ashes. He dusts the ashes off with his claw and smiles at the photo. In the picture is a smiling Twilight holding Spike close to her. He holds the picture close to his heart, this was his home, that purple mare is his caretaker, his boss, his friend...but now, she is gone leaving Spike alone in this world.

                                                                                           ***

Celestia sits in her throne the floors shining from the sunlight streaming through the windows. Nothing interesting had happened this day making the day very boring for her and Luna. Eventually they started to play a game of poker with each other making small bets.

"Luna keep winning like this and you'll have my throne!" Celestia jokes.

Luna laughs. "Sister do not worry, for we are only making small bets."

"I was joking Luna."

"Oh."

They both laugh their laughter echoing through the grand hall.

Slam!

The magnificent golden door opens. Celestia and Luna attempt to put away their bits and cards before the guard can see them, but the cards all fall to the floor along with some of Luna's winnings. A white stallion with brown eyes and a blue mane bows before them. Celestia motions with her hoof for him to rise which he does.

"Speak honorable guard." Celestia says.

The white stallion takes off his helmet. "Your highness I bring grave news concerning Ponyville." The white stallion says plainly.

Celestia's eyes go wide. "Go on."

"Three days ago Ponyville was attacked by the Appleoosans. Thousands were massacred."

"A...anything else?" Celestia asks stuttering a little.

"Yes there is more, your highness Appleoosa has seceded from your empire, along with Manehatten and Las Pegasus."

Celestia doesn't say anything. Why would they secede? She had always been a good ruler over Equestria for a thousand years, why would anypony ever want to secede?

"Are there any survivors?"

"Why actually yes, but only a few, they came this morning."

"Did they identify themselves?" Celestia asks hopefully.

"Some have but I don't have the list of ponies names with me at the moment."

"Guard."

"Yes your highness?"

Celestia rises from her throne. "Tell your general to ready the army. And attack Manehatten in five days."

"Right away your highness." The white stallion gallops away from the two princesses closing the door behind him.

Celestia sits back on her throne now feeling stressed. Never before had she actually used her army, the thought of countless ponies dying sickened her. But if she doesn't stop the Appleoosans now, then more bloodshed will occur.

"Sister we don't have to do this, maybe...maybe we could strike up a deal or a treaty with them." Luna says.

Celestia shakes her head. "No Luna if we do not act now then our subjects shall be slaughtered."

"But sister Equestria was not founded upon hatred and violence. It was founded upon love and kindness."

Celestia sighs. "Luna I know that but it must be done."

Luna lowers her gaze to the floor. "Sister even though I do not agree with this at all, I shall stand with you." Luna says looking back into her sisters pink eyes. Even though she did not agree with Celestia she is still her sister, and she will always stay loyal to her, no matter what.

                                                                                          ***

Braeburn never thought he would be able to come to Manehatten, or even live in it. But he is now, since Manehatten had seceded from Celestia's empire. He looks out of a window from his new condominium. The lights of Manehatten are dazzling, billboards line the streets along with hotels and various casinos. But even with all this he does not feel right. He got it through murder. He shot a stallion, he burned two mares alive, and he killed Spike. He continues to look out the window, looking down at the street. What if he were to just jump off right now? He would just fall and die, after all they are on the sixtieth floor. Braeburn is tired, tired of killing to stay alive, tired of leading a life that revolves around senseless murder. But something still urges him to keep going, his cousin. He couldn't just leave her where would she be without him? He is the only reason why Applejack is still alive. Because if Braeburn were to drop dead right now his leader would have no problem with putting a bullet through her head.

Ding.

The elevator had come to his floor, who could that be? Braeburn turns from the large window and looks at the silver door of the elevator. When it opens Applejack trots in and sits on a small couch in front of Braeburn. She looks around a bit, but then looks at her cousin.

"Nice place ya got here."

"Thanks cousin it was-"

"Is this what they reward murder around her with?" She asks.

"What do ya mean cousin ah' just-"

She rises from her seat and approaches him pointing her hoof at him. "MEAN!? WHAT DO AH" MEAN!? You know exactly what ah' mean Braeburn!"

"But cousin ah'-"

"You burned two mares alive! Ya don't think ah' saw that now did'ja? She yells in her southern accent. "Why Braeburn? Why would ya do that? This ain't like you cousin. The Braeburn that ah' know wouldn't kill ponies in cold blood like that. Especially not you!"

Braeburn pushes away her hoof. "Ah' did that to protect ma'hself." Braeburn says cooly.

"If ah' were you ah' would have died!"

"Ya don't understand Applejack. He had his gun pointed at me!"

"Ya think that makes it alright Braeburn!?"

"No, no it doesn't! Listen Applejack I'm not a bad pony."

Applejack crosses her hooves. "You keep tell'in yerself that."

"I don't take pride in doin' this Applejack. In fact every night ah'm eaten by guilt!"

Applejack goes back to the elevator pressing the button for the lobby. "Whatever Braeburn, you keep doin' what yer doin' and ah'll keep doin what ah'm doin'." The elevator doors open and Applejack goes in, looking at Braeburn one last time before the elevator doors shut.

Braeburn turns around looking once again out the window.