Twilight awoke, still with the black eye, she was inside a crystal and she easily broke it into pieces. The alicorn noticed that she was in the Canterlot Castle, no signals of Celestia, Luna or anypony whatsoever. When she left the castle she discovered the entire city in ruins: maroon wasteland, dried trees and collapsed buildings. Suddenly, an animal appeared and because of the recent events Twilight got scared and was about to crush it.

“You” she pointed to it and prepare her magic. “Say your last words.”

“As paranoid as ever, Twilight Sparkle.”

She was surprised of the animal knowing her name. “Who are you?”

“Don’t you recognize me? When Dashie was lying on her bed depressed because I was going to hibernate?”

She stopped, turned her magic off and realize who this animal was.

“Tank?” Twilight was surprised but skeptical. “How long you’ve been able to talk?”

“Since always. But only recently all the animals broke that pact.”

Twilight took a look around. “What’s going on here?”

“Angel convinced all of us to hate you ponies as a whole so he declared war on your species. After the rev he and Fluttershy erected an absolute dictatorship. I escape from Ponyville and the war as fast as I could trying to find you.”

“I don’t get it. I only leave Ponyville for one day and now everything is in ruins.”

“That was a long time ago.”

Twilight was astonished and scared. “...How long was I gone?”

“...About 200 years.”

Twilight soon realized that both Celestia and Luna crystallized her to save her life.

“So... my friends, my family... they’re all gone.”

“We are two now. I can’t stop thinking about the time I chose my life over hers. I’m near the end of my life and it will be your duty to reunify our species and prevent this to expand to the rest of the world, gryphons and dragons among others are counting on you. I’m sorry to leave you Twilight... but Dashie is waiting for me.”

Tank got into his shell, Twilight turned him around and both looked at the sun, glowing above the desolated wasteland while the tortoise sang his swan song.

“Dear friend, I’ve always been so careful about what I told you. I never really wanted you to get too involved in my life because I knew I’d hurt you someday.♪”
“Eventually I did. ♪”
“And I will regret that moment every second of my life. ♪”
“Out of all the ponies I hurt you. I should have been completely honest with you from the start. I hope you’ll be able to forgive me. ♪”
“I do truly love you with my whole heart and am so glad to have you as my friend. I’ve know I hurt you. Please forgive me, please be my friend forever. ♪”

Author's Note

Orwellian facts

-Almost every single one of Fluttershy's companions used in the story have appear in the show. Not only the pets but also Mousey (A Bird in the Hoof), Elizabeak (Stare Master), Hummingway (May the Best Pet Win!, Maud Pie), Fuzzy Legs (Maud Pie, name canonized in Scare Master), Constance (Flutter Brutter) and Harry (almost every Fluttershy episode, name canonized in Scare Master). Only Samantha, Margaret, Mordecai (noticing that Fluttershy in the show has 2 jays, red and blue, I referenced to Regular Show, which I also really love) and Tim were invented for the story.
-Fluttershy's face paint was inspired by Paige the notebook from Don't Hug Me I'm Scared.
-Multiple characters were added and cut during the writing, the most consistent was Mayor Mare. Shining Armor and Cadance were planned but in the end scrapped and Starlight was added later despite not originally being in.
-While I was studying qualitative market research I investigate a law which implemented VAT to pets and their care, which was ultimately the core of the plot. So you can say this was partially based on a real story.
-The next video was uploaded a day after this fic was published. Despite its differences it's curious how many of the sketches involve animals chasing or surrounding humans or in creepy angles like in the story. And it's from the same person I analyzed some time ago.

Coincidence? I think not.