The sky shimmered as embers rose to join the stars above. The orange glow seeped into the sky, mingling with the moonlight that paled with the flames below. No house was left untouched. Flames licked the walls and roofs of every building, eating to fill it's eternal appetite.
The two ponies just stood and watched helplessly as their home was consumed. The roof of a building nearby by gave way, sending a flurry of sparks into the night. Smoke billowed as a small explosion went off in the distance, probably the flames reaching the gas cookers at Sugarcube Corner.
Pinkie wondered what happened to the Cakes. Had they got out in time? What about the foals? Were they among the charred corpses that littered the streets? Only a year old. Too young.
The Golden Oak Library shone on the other side of town, its leafy canopy now a ball of flames. A large hole in the side revealed the buildings precious knowledge now feeding the flames.
At least the ship hadn't gone down without it's captain.
Carousel Boutique stood just beyond, the flames within illuminating the large claw marks in its roof. Not even Twilight knew where they had come from. The monsters of steel, fire so hot even Spike had struggled against the blaze they had spread. He hadn't been thinking when he ran into the Boutique. Rainbow Dash had called for him, told him it was too late. Then part of the roof collapsed, the tiles crashing down.
Ponies ran in all directions as they waited, hoping he would emerge from the burning store. When he didn't they turned and ran, following the crowd as the town fled from the blaze. The ground shook as it landed, screams intensified, only to be drowned by the roar that came from behind them.
They reached the edge of town, the road to Sweet Apple Acres lay ahead. They sprinted down it, hoping at least somepony would survive.
They lost hope before the farm even came into sight, the smell of burning apples hung in the air. They watched the farmhouse from a distance. They could see the four bodies clearly enough from a distance.
Something flew into Rainbow, floating gentle on the ember breeze. A worn brown Stetson, its brim slightly charred. She picked it up, feeling its soft leather.
Staring towards the blazing orchard she donned the hat, hoping that its previous owners bravery could somehow find its way to her.
***
They had left Sweet Apple Acres several hours ago, leaving the inferno behind them. Ash rained from the sky, coating the road in a thick grey blanket.
Pinkie's eyes leaked profusely, tears carving channels down her ash covered face. Rainbow Dash stood beside her, her mane also filled with ash, a small shower of grey falling from her with each sorrowful step she took. No tears fell from her eyes. Rainbow Dash didn't cry.
Trees stood on either side of them, their branches blacked with soot. These ones hadn't escaped the blaze, they stood devoid of foliage, reaching out towards them, hoping for a spark of life.
They almost walked past her, the grey of her mane blending in with the ash on which she lay. Her purple eyes were open, staring at the night sky, the stars looking back. Neither of them had seen her for days, she was always too busy calming the citizens, calling for help.
But no help had come. The other cities and towns were all in the same situation. Lizards of metal, fire hotter than any furnace.
She hadn't got very far. She must have stayed to the last moment, making sure everypony was out. Now she lay here, covered in the ash of the town she had loved so dearly.
Pinkie's crying got heavier, gasping between sobs. Rainbow Dash just stared. With a single hoof she closed the mare's eyes. If she thought hard enough she could pretend she was sleeping.
The two ponies walked on, leaving Mayor Mare to rest in the dust.
***
The moon was high in the sky when they reached the cave, its dark mouth outlined in the moonlight. They entered wearily, their energy sapped by walking and mourning. Without a word they lay in the dark, each with their own sorrow. The horror was still too fresh in Pinkie Pie's mind. She din't want to sleep, lest it come back and haunt her. But no matter how she struggled sleep found her eventually, it's cruel nightmares sneaking into her minds.
The four of them stood in the library, listening to the screams from outside. They had yet to reach the library, they other should have arrived by now. A loud crash came from outside and the ground shuddered. It was outside. They could hear its metal joints screeching as it moved. With a smash its clawed arm came through the wall, grabbing at the group. They backed up, avoiding the grasp. It lunged, its claws heading straight for Twilight. She bucked, flinging Spike off her back as it encircled her in steel. The three of them screamed as it withdrew its fist. They heard her scream in terror. It was cut short, replaced with a wet gurgle.
It roared as it flung a bloody purple mess into the room. They screamed. It killed her! It killed her!...
Pinkie woke with a start, her eyes streaming again. Why? Why her? Why any of them? She sobbed into her hooves, oblivious to the cyan pegasus who listened.
Rainbow Dash didn't cry.
She just looked at the dark stone wall ahead of her, brooding in her own thoughts. What now? Where did they go from here?
Ponyville was gone. Canterlot had fallen. Dragons flew above, searching for them, their skins of metal unlike anything Equestria had seen before. What hope did they have?
She just stroked the worn leather of the Stetson and stared forward at the wall
Because she couldn't cope if she looked back.
It came some time in the early morning, just before the began to rose. Its metallic underbelly shone with the inferno it had left behind as it circled overhead. The two ponies huddled together, watching the mouth of the cave fearfully. Should I decide to land and investigate they stood no chance, no way out.
Rainbow often wondered where they came from. Twilight hadn't know, none of her book even mentioned them. Where they machines of war from another nation? A mad inventors chance at domination? Each situation was as likely as the last. They just came, burnt and left, never leaving a trace to follow.
Its roar echoed as it landed some distance away, the ground shaking with the impact. Screams rang through the night, shouting drowned out as pressurised flames shot through the air, their light illuminating the mouth of the cave even from a distance. The screaming didn't last very long. Soon, with another roar they heard it take to the air once more, its wings beating heavily as it flew to the east.
They waited, listening for any sound of it's return. When none came they cautiously emerged into the sunlight, trying not to look at the smoke still rising over the trees. They still had no where to go and no plan to survive. Pinkie was in no condition to talk strategy, her eyes were still wet with tears. Rainbow Dash, trying to keep some sense of rationality, decided their best bet was to head to Canterlot, if the sun and moon were still moving the Princess' must still be alive.
She bounded into the air, hovering as she examined the terrain. The forest continued for quite a while, leading onto the fields north-east of Ponyville in the distance. Just beyond was the mountain that held Canterlot. The royal capital was thankfully still there although she could see thick black smoke rising from its buildings.
If they started walking now they could be at Canterlot within four days. The forest was dense so walking through it would take valuable time. Normally she would fly over it. Unfortunately Pinkie couldn't fly and Rainbow didn't have the strength nor energy to carry her. There was also the problem of getting up the mountain, the train up the mountain wouldn't be operational so they would have to walk the track.
Slowly she descended, her stomach growling as she landed. They weren't going to get very far without something to eat and drink. With Ponyville gone their only hope of food was the forest. maybe they could find some berries and a creak?
With heavy hearts they set off, heading north for Canterlot, hoping to get there in one piece.
***
The journey was tough going. The undergrowth was often very thick, requiring them to circumnavigate to find a way through the dense foliage. Squirrels and foxes watched as they walked, scampering into the green if they got too close.
Rainbow Dash tried to coax some words out of Pinkie, its wasn't good for her to dwell on it so much. She could mourn when they were safe but for now she had to keep looking forward. Rainbow, not being the best conversationalist, barely got a mumble out of her, Pinkie just stared at the floor, her usual smile absent.
The forest was alive with sound and movement. Small rodents ran around in the bushes around them, Birds chirped as they flew from tree to tree above their heads. How Rainbow Dash wished to join them, up there in the sky. Free of all he weights that now hung from her heart. She was sick of sorrow, had both of them not endured enough?
Rainbow Dash stopped, holding out a hoof to halt Pinkie. Her ears pricked as she listen intently. It was faint but it was definitely there, a little off to their right. She stomped through the greenery, Pinkie walking slowly in her wake. She hadn't gone very far when she burst out onto a clearing, a small clear stream running through it.
Her throat cried in relief as she gulped down the water greedily, splashing the cool water over her face. Rainbow felt a prod in her side. She looked up at Pinkie, her mane dripping wet, Her companion pointed across the clearing to where another figure sat, the last person Rainbow had expected to see.
Jumping over the stream they warily approached the weeping figure, his tail was limp as he knelt on the ground, the mismatched parts of his body heaving with the sobs that racked him. It wasn't till they got closer that they saw the cause of Discord's grief, the sight caused them to stop, fresh tears forming in their eyes.
In front of him sat a grave, its freshly turned earth supporting a single rose. At its head was a grave stone, its smooth surface wet where it had been wrenched from the stream bed. It was not conjured with magic, it had been fashioned by hand, even its simple image had been carved with sharp rough lines. Three butterflies, set in stone.
He didn't even acknowledge them as they sat beside him. He just knelt at the foot of the grave, his tears mixing with the earth. Rainbow and Pinkie just watched, their own tears falling to join them.
Neither had really trusted Discord. He have never cared much for them
But he had cared for Fluttershy.
And that was good enough for them.
And so the three of them sat there, staring at her final resting place. It was a nice place to sleep. Peaceful. It was what she deserved.
Pinkie put a hoof around Discord's shoulders, she knew Fluttershy would have hated to cause somepony so much distress. He paused to look at her, his eyes streaming as for the first time in days, Pinkie smiled.
It was not her usual smile. It wasn't even joyous, just reassuring, he wasn't alone in his sorrow.
She, and every animal in Equestria, was right there with him.