înapoiaby Sue FlayChaptersPrologue: A World of Ash1: Memories2: The Cutie Map3: Oasis4: Diamond DogsPrologue: A World of AshThe world is gray, like a rock. The world is still, and unmoving, like a rock. I look out into the wastes, only to be reminded of how much the world has become like a rock. If it wasn’t so sad, I might have been happy. I just look blankly instead, knowing I couldn’t sit here for much longer. The storm billowing above me picked up the ash that covered the world, tossing the remnants of old Equestria across the sea of decay. It really was a sad sight to see. I pick myself up, and dust off the ash that clung to my frock. I knew it would be covered again, but holding onto something from the past is all I really had now. The world was not like it used to be. There used to be color, life, and happiness. Now there’s only ash, death, and despair. I don’t know how I’ve made it this far, living longer than all the rest, but I try to make the most of it. If not for me, then for them. The foundation of all that there is, is kinda like sedimentary rock. Layer by layer we build ourselves up until we break through some surface we strive for. In the end of it all, no matter how accomplished, we will all erode away, displaced to some other land via the elements of the world. I don’t think I’ve reached my surface yet. I would have eroded long ago like the rest if I reached the peak of my life. I think I understand why I have to wander these lifeless hills, because of that simile. There was this book I read once when I lived just outside Ponyville. In one of my many adventures into the Everfree to find rare gemstones, I stumbled across this castle from a time long past. Inside was like stepping into a whole other world, a little pocket of an older way of life that has long been forgotten. Time is unforgiving like that. I must have stayed there for a week studying all the geology books the place had to offer in its extensive library. Most of it was outdated, or already common knowledge to anypony with a beginners understanding in the field of study. But there was one thing that stood out, something I thought was just a legend that nopony really cared for. The book I was reading spoke of this ancient crystal that held all the magical energy in Equestria. its power the life of the earth. It was said to have been where life originated from to begin with. Again, a tall tale that had little merit in modern society. Now, however, I can’t help but believe there is some truth to the legend, if only to give me some sort of hope for a brighter future than the one I find myself in. My hooves are heavy, but I carry forward. With the weight of a fading world resting on your shoulders, it’s hard not to feel exhausted. I have to keep reminding myself I’m doing this for more than myself, I’m doing this for Equestia, for my sisters, my family. I’m the last pony alive in this dying world, left with only one task to accomplish. I have to find that ancient crystal, and I must give back the life we’ve taken from it. That is the only way I’ll be able to restart the world, and bring back everypony from the grave. 1: MemoriesI was surrounded by dilapidated houses, abandoned shops, and streets with no distinguishable path. I was back in Ponyville, or what was left of Ponyville. I looked down and then back towards the buildings. I remembered this street, it was the one that lead into town. It was also the path that exited towards the Everfree forest and Fluttershy’s cottage. I looked behind me, and noticed a broken bridge buried under a mound be pale ash. The water no longer flowed under it, any semblance of life that could have been dried up long ago, along with the creak. I pressed forward, stepping inside one of the many houses that littered the small town. The stairs that lead to the upper level of the place was torn to shreds, no longer able to be used. Off to the side, looking up, I saw a hole to what appeared to be the bedroom. Below there was a broken dresser, and a mangled bed frame, the mattress off to the side, covered in stains. Walking over to the dresser, I opened up the somehow preserved wood, noticing a couple articles of clothing that could prove useful. I reached inside to grab a black scarf, wrapping it around my neck. It was warm and toasty, unlike the unforgiving hellscape outside. I also saw a grey hooded cloak, something that would protect me from the intense winds. One thing that never moved, something that hadn't changed were the boulders. Their bulky bodies helped them stay in place, even under the pressure of the storms that plagued the world. I am not like a boulder, but I wish I was. It wouldn’t be so hard to travel otherwise. I also have to find shelter, also unlike a boulder. Another sudden memory breached my train of thought, making me reach into my frock’s pocket. I felt nothing. Even with all the layers of clothes I was wearing, my body still went cold. I missed my friend, my little rock named ‘Boulder.’ I could almost sigh, but I just chose do so on the inside. It’s hard for me to express my emotions openly, even at the end of days. I had to try my hardest not to think about it, no matter how difficult it was. If I did, the world would have won over me, and I could not afford that. I proceeded to exit the shredded house, back into the empty, dead, land. The hood over my head caught half of the stray dust and cinder that tried to find itself into my eyes. I only had to bleak half as many times as before; I’d call that fortune. Sometimes I wish my eyes were pebbles, if only to never have eye pain again. As I traveled through town, I sniffed the air a couple times. It was a fruitless effort, since all that invaded my nostrils was the smell of ash. It was like a great fire passed through the land, burning away everything in its terrible flames. In truth, I wouldn’t know for sure. I was inside Ponyville caverns when it all happened, when the destruction of the world took place. Still, I didn’t have too much trouble finding what I was looking for. In my peripheral was what was left of Sugarcube Corner. If I looked hard enough, I could have swore it looked the same as the first time I laid my eyes on it. I shook my head for just a moment, trying not to let my memories flood my mind. It was best if my head was as dry as the creak that used to run though the outskirts of town. I walked up to the door of the place, the vision slowly revealing that it was just an open hole into the building. My mind was playing tricks on me, and I didn’t know why. Inside the place gave me a sense of nostalgia, the memories of the times I’d come here and have lunch with Pinkie slowly became the only thing I could think about. “There you are, Maud. It’s about time you showed up, I’ve been waiting aaaaaaaages!” A bubbly voice boomed behind me, coming close to making me jump in fright. I turned around to see a sight I thought I never would again. “Pinkie, what are you doing here? Isn’t everypony dead?” I tried to put as much emotion into my voice as possible. I think I was successful to some extent, but Pinkie was always good about gauging how I felt. I didn’t have to worry so much, but seeing her face again filled me with joy, with just a hint of sorrow. “What do you mean, silly.” Pinkie bounced her way over to a dusty counter. “Look, here’s Mrs. Cake.” She gestured at empty space. “There’s nothing there, Pinkie.” I stated matter of fact. I walked over to the counter with her, and threw my hoof towards where she said Mrs. Cake was. “See, nothing’s here?” Pinkie gasped, “Maud, what’s gotten into you? Why’d you hit Mrs. Cake like that?” She put on the most stern face she could muster. “You could at least apologize, look, she’s crying now.” Pinkie went over and hugged the air, “There, there, she didn’t mean it.” I’ve never been more confused in my life. I then notice her starting to become transparent, the littered kitchen clearly behind her. “Maud, please tell me what’s wrong.” Before she went to wrap me in a hug, she vanished. I needed a rest, I think I was becoming unstable, the line between reality and my imagination blurring into a murky fog. I made my way upstairs, the upper level somehow still intact after all the time it spent being battered by the world it now found itself in. I entered Pinkie’s room, noticing that the bed was a mess. It would have to do. Grabbing the blankets that were scattered across the floor, I rested my head on the smelly pillow, allowing sleep to overtake me. The memories that invaded me non-stop ceasing to follow. 2: The Cutie MapI jolted up in bed, close to having a need to gasp for breath. I felt a cold chill wash through my body, and a sense of dread in my heart. I look down at myself to see that a bit of sweat covered my forelegs. I could also feel it on my back, so I knew my frock would stick to me for the rest of the day, or what could be considered day. The sun was locked behind a thick layer of brown, unforgiving, clouds. To me, it was always dark in some capacity. It made me grateful for all my years spent inside caverns, and other areas of geological significance, because I’ve grown accustomed to such a lack of light. Light, my mind goes back to the images that plagued me in my nightmare. I was in some sort of void of grey, surrounded by the sounds of ponies talking with each other. Some about me, others about mundane things. It was unnerving, to say the least. Off in the distance, under some lonesome tree on a desolate hill I saw my sisters, mother and father. I couldn’t just stand there, I had to run towards them, my emotions on overdrive. When I got there, I was greeted with something so unsightly, so terrifying I could barely look. They were all consumed in some great fire in front of me, and there was nothing I could do. My body refused to move, and I could only stare on as they burned to nothing but ash like the world around me. The smiles on their face hauntingly surreal. For once in my life, my stonelike face, my inability to express emotions was dashed away. I shed a single tear in thought over such a gruesome image. When I was a filly, I always wanted to get away from the farm. I always wanted to become my own mare without the need of family to support me. For the most part, I was successful, but in doing so… I made this life I live all the more difficult. I miss them more then ever, and I regret not visiting them more. I want to hold them, squeeze them, and never let go. All those years studying geology could go to Tartarus if it meant I could just see them one last time, one final moment to show them just how much they mean to me. If I can reverse this all, if I could turn back time and reset this all to the way it used to be, I will never let them go again. I will always be there for my family. I jump down from the bed, stretching my aching muscles, and popping a few out of place vertebrae. It felt good to loosen up after such a poor night's rest. I was downstairs and out the door in no time, the storm from before seeming to calm down just a bit. It was still bad, but not by the standards I’ve come to know. I knew where I had to go next: The Friendship Castle. Pinkie told me about her adventures each time we hung out with one another, and she spared no details. If I’m to find this Ancient Crystal, then I’m going to have to use The Cutie Map. It’s the only way I’ll find out where to go. If it can’t give me answers, then I have no idea what will. Making my way through town was sure to be a simple task; the castle was not hard to spot. It towered over all the other buildings, what was left of them, and shined like a colorful beacon in this otherwise bleak world. As I took a couple more steps forward, I noticed a technicolor haze cast over the castle, obscuring its visage for just a moment. After it started to disappoint, I noticed the damage the castle had suffered over the years. Chunks fallen off, and there was huge holes that lead inside that weren’t there before. Even the tallest of the spires seemed to disappear out of thin air, making the place seem almost like a jagged, overgrown, crystal. I was having another one of those visions of the past, and it bothered me greatly. I pressed onward, blocking out any and all thoughts that tried to invade my mind. It helped greatly, and in no time I stood at the foot of the castle, its image casting down upon me. I walked up the stairs, but when I got to the final step, the haze came over it again. Looking up, I could almost swear I saw Twilight standing on one of the many balconies of the place. Why am I having these visions? Perhaps it has something to do with latent magic leftover from the catastrophe, like a ghost from the past? That was my best guest, anyway. I stepped inside, and in the center of the main room was the table I’ve sought after. It was darker, more sinister looking than before. It glowed red, and had an ominous sort of cloud hanging over it. It must have been affected deeply by the end of the world. Walking up next to it, I tried to lay a hoof on it, but there was some sort of barrier stopping me from doing so. “What?” I asked aloud to no one but myself. “Check the Library, I’d personally check the section under C~” came the same bubbly voice I’ve grown to love. I turned around quickly, “Pinkie?” There was nopony there, making me realize how foolish it was for me to fall for the hallucinations trick again. Though, it did have a point, the library might have some answers as to why The Cutie Map has befallen such a fate, even tell me how to fix it and use the thing for my benefit. I left the room, searching up and down the halls for any sign of the Library. Even though the place was covered in dust, and giant, gaping holes were abundant, I still couldn’t quite find my way around the place. It was like being a mouse in a maze, the library the cheese. I needed to find it soon, or else I feared going without answers for another day. I could maybe hold out in the castle for a week at most, but if it brought me nowhere closer to my goal, then what was the point of it all? I almost gave up in my search for the day when all proved useless, but when I turned the corner of what I thought was the same place I was at just a few minutes ago, I was greeted with a sight that made me gasp in joy on the inside. It was the library, and it seemed to not have been affected too much by the raging world outside. I thank all of my lucky stars, and Celestia’s sun. Even though it can’t cast its rays upon me, I know it’s still up there watching me, and waiting for me to bring the world back to proper order. I’d personally check the section under C~ Pinkie’s voice rings though my mind, telling me exactly what I needed to know. Walking through the library, it took a moment to find the section, but when I finally did I looked through the area up and down, hoping for something that could lead me to the right answers. I grabbed books both on ancient magic and anything relating to geology. Something, anything that can tell me about that magical table made of precious crystal. I must have spent hours reading, looking over the same pages over and over again, pleading for something to come of it. Nothing, there was nothing on The Cutie Map, not a single word had been written down. It was hard to believe that Twilight didn't write anything down, or perhaps she did, but kept it in her personal study. My thoughts went back to the missing spire at the top of the castle, letting me know that the study had long since been destroyed. My head slammed against the table, and I just rest my head. It hurt, not just emotionally but physically. My head throbbed with a terrible migraine, and my heart ached from knowing there was nothing I could do to get the The Cutie Map to work again. I’m no unicorn, I can’t summon magic at will. I passed out, not knowing what to do, and I was sure it would reflect with my dreams to come. A tingling sensation came over me just before I passed out, making me slowly raise my head in confusion. It seemed to be coming from my lower end, so I looked down towards my flanks only to see them glow with some sort of magic. I quickly lifted my frock to see my cutie mark resonate mysteriously, letting me know exactly what was going on. I could jump in joy, and kiss somepony right now. I rushed out of the library, grabbing paper, and a inkwell along the way. I needed to write down all The Cutie Map was going to tell me. When I got to the main room of the castle, I was shocked to see the same sinister glow lingering over the map, but I tried to pay it no mind. As I walked up to the place, four different areas had my cutie mark hovering over them. One was in the Badlands, another in Griffonstone, a third in the Crystal Kingdom, and one last one at Canterlot Castle. I wrote it all down, each one being a likely candidate to the Ancient Crystal’s location. I needed to give the thing a name, so I settled on calling the Ancient Crystal ‘Meridian.’ It would have to do for now. After I finished scribbling down the coordinates, I put the map in my Frock’s pocket, keeping it safe and as close to me as possible. I counted on the piece of parchment with my life, and if I lost it I might as well be dead. As I took a step towards the door, I heard my sister’s voice once again. “I wish you luck, Maud. I’m rooting for you, and I’ll be sure to throw a party when you save everyone. A hero needs a party, after all.” It made me happy to hear those words, but I didn’t turn around. I knew I would be greeted with nothing, so I just exited the castle to continue on with my quest. 3: OasisWack! Wack! Wack! I drove in the nails to keep the horseshoe in place. The pain shot through my body, making me freeze for just a second before I started to make the adjustments to make sure the horseshoe was secure, and on properly. I repeated the process three more times, each one seeming to bring more pain than the last. I had to get it done, no matter how painful it felt. In the wastes of Equestria, on the journey I must face, I needed to have a way to protect myself, a way to do damage when the time demanded it. I took a deep breath when the process was done, staring at my work with a sense of pride. I never applied horseshoes to myself before, but now they’ll be here to stay, and I’m glad for that fact. I exited the barn, and headed off into the wastes, finally leaving behind the place I’ve come to know as home. * * * * I opened the saddlebags I acquired from Sweet Apple Acres, pulling out a canister of water. The liquid felt like heaven down my throat, quenching the thirst that clawed at me with intense fury. Water was rare to come by, and I had to drink in short spurts, conserving the precious commodity as much as I could. The same went for food, but to a lesser extent. Around me was hills of nothing, just an endless sea of dunes made of the ash of a dying world. I decided to head to Griffonstone first, perhaps some survivors could still be trying to live in the ruins of the city. No ponies I’m sure, but griffons were always more stubborn than our race. To my surprise, when I conquered yet another hill, I was greeted with an interesting sight. Off in the distance lied an oasis of sorts, some green trees and what appeared to be the sounds of flowing water. It had to be a mirage, but it wouldn’t hurt to at least check. I slid down the dune, ignoring the stray ash that got stuck in the nooks and crannies of my hooves. When I got to the bottom I noted the skeletal remains of at least four different ponies. What caught my eye was that there was also some bits of wood scattered about, it seemed that some Timberwolves were around, possibly escaping from the Everfree when the world went to Tartarus. I brushed it off, no use paying it any mind. As I got about halfway through the plain, I felt a rumble course through the ground below me. I jumped off to the side, noticing that the ground began to open up, a turquoise aura flowing from the fissures. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen, and I would be lying if my curiosity wasn’t on overdrive. I saw the aura flow into the skeletal remains, and the bits of wood around me, my heart sinking when I saw them start to reanimate themselves, the turquoise color appearing in the sockets of the skeleton ponies eyes. The timberwolves were half-formed, missing pieces they obviously needed to be a threat, but none-the-less startling. I braced myself for a fight; they did not come back to life to be friends, I was sure of that. As two of the skeletons lunged towards me, I ducked under their blows, and uppercutted the one on the right, it’s body breaking apart from the impact; bones flying every which way. I then jumped to the right, using the empty space to get some distance. I noticed that one of the Timberwolves went in for the attack, so I jumped on top of it, letting my rear hooves land squarely on its head, smashing it to bits. Two down, four more to go. Pain fired in the back of my head, as one of the skeletons snuck up on me, and struck the back of my head. I pushed past the pain, and sweeped under the skelton's legs, knocking it down on the ground. I slammed a hoof on its skull, finishing the job. Swoosh! Another skeleton tried a direct assault, but missed its one and only chance to do some damage. I punished the action by knocking its skull right off its shoulders. It fell to the ground, its new found life leaving its body. I was down to just one skeleton and timberwolf. I eyed them both, and they did the same. The both charged me at once, and I jumped back from their onslaught of kicks, scratches, and punches. I picked up one of the stray bones off the ground, and threw it at the timberwolf, hitting it on the nose. I used that as a distraction to best the skeleton, making it become much like the others. As the timberwolf eyed its fallen comrades, and reared up, and bucked it across the plain. I was alone again, having won the battle I was forced to fight. I scavenged some spare meat off the bones of the skeletons, knowing full well I had to put it to use. I did not like the idea of eating meat, but in this world I had no choice. I even grabbed some of the timberwolves remains, that way I could start a fire later. After that was completed, I looked back towards the oasis, only to see that it had vanished from sight. It was time to move one, so I began to wander once again. 4: Diamond DogsI found myself in a long abandoned quarry. The pit sinking into the earth, almost like a giant slammed his foot onto the ground. I made my way on the side of the decline, making my way towards the center of the mineral pit. Looking at the rocky surface I walked by I saw traces of limestone, which immediately made my mind wander towards my dear sister. I need to be like my sister, Limestone. Strong, fierce, sometimes callous. In this land, only the toughest will make it for any extended periods of time. The sedimentary rock was made with some calcium, something to make your bones strong, powerful; Limestone was the perfect name for her. I looked down towards the ground. I missed her more than I let myself believe, and I wish she was here with me. She’d probably ignore my lecture on limestone and how it was the perfect name for her, and how I wanted to be more like limestone. That goes for both the mineral and my sister. I decided to take a piece of limestone with me, a reminder of the life I used to live, and to help me move forward, even in the most dire of times. I pushed onward. It was about halfway through the quarry I started to feel vibrations under my hooves, and feared for another wave of dreaded reanimated corpses. As I braced myself for another fight, I was shocked, and a bit relieved to see Diamond Dogs jump out of holes they dug from underground to the surface. Their eyes were on me, and even more so on the limestone that poked out of my frock’s pocket. “Eh, what do you have there, pony girl?” One of the mutts asked, his voice sounding exactly how I’d imagine; slobbish and gross. “I think she plans on taking some of our limestone, Rocco.” Another one commented, he too had the same tone in his voice. “What should we do with her?” Asked what appeared to be the runt of the group. He was far smaller than the others, even a bit malnourished from what I saw. Not even hounds can scavenge themselves into prosperity at the end of it all, it seems. “Ooooh, Diamond Dogs. They tried to kidnap Rarity once.” Pinkie’s voice resonating inside my head, making me forget my surroundings for just a moment. I didn’t hear what they were asking of me. “Hey, pony girl! You listening to what I’m saying?” Rocco exclaimed, making me come back from my reviere. I ignored what he was saying, their expressions clearly telling me that they meant trouble. “Oh come on Maud, you could at least throw them a bone.” Pinkie giggle-snorted at her own joke, falling onto the ground in hysterics. It was a nice distraction, and I enjoyed the joke quite a bit. “So, you’re not one for words, huh. Well, we’ll get some out of you real soon. Ace, Rufus, lets teach this pony a lesson she’ll never forget.” They both charged me, forcing my to jump back to get some distance between us. They were all close together, not straying away from one another. I needed to seperate them, so I decided to dash away from them, making my way towards a linear path on the other side of the quarry. It was a path that was blocked in on both sides by towering walls of rock, and would make it to where they only had one way to go if they wanted to catch me. I turned to see them hot on my tail, getting close to grabbing me. I zeroed in at the end of the path, knowing that if I did nothing soon they’d be sure to have me in their claws. I looked up and saw my answer, I then jumped onto the rock-face next to me, jumping back and forth between the two walls. When I reached the top, I noticed how the three were looking at me. Now was the time to attack. I grabbed one of the boulders next to me, and dropped it below, making them run in two separate directions, effectively splitting up the group. I jumped back onto the side of the rock face, letting my hooves slide down the surface as I made my way towards the Diamond Dog that was separated from the others. I then let myself free fall the rest of the distance, landing on top of the mutt, knocking the air out him. I then got off of him, knowing he was out of commision for the rest of the fight. I leaped over the boulder I previously dropped, and made pursuit after the remaining Diamond Dogs. I noticed Rocco was standing at the exit, Rufus right next to him. I then jumped to the wall, and while he took in that motion, I lunged at him, connecting my hoof to his face. I held back some, not wanting to give him a fatal blow. He was knocked out, leaving just me and the runt of the litter. I took a step forward, and he took a step back. “Why are you attacking me?” I asked him, I needed answers as to why they’d needed limestone so badly. “You were taking our stuff, what were we supposed to do?” He replied. “Why do you need limestone, it’s not a precious gemstone like your kind usual hunts down.” I walk right up next to him, never leaving eye contact. “W-what’s up with your voice, got any emotion in ya?” I slapped him across the face. “Alright, alright, I get it, sorry. We use it to make cement to build walls to protect us from the scourge, ya understand? We need it to survive.” I could see he was on the verge of tears, and I did feel some pity for the runt. “Rufus, was it?” “Yeah, what’s it to ya?” “Take me to where your kind is hiding out. We could come to a beneficial understanding if I could have a word with your alpha.” I narrowed my eyes a little, the best I could do to show I was angry. “A-are you serious?” He stated, before realizing he didn’t want to be slapped again. “Sorry, just you don’t understand what you’re asking. The alpha will have your head, and I know you don’t want that.” “Just take me to him.” I didn’t have time to waste going back and forth with him. “Alright, alright, just follow me, okay?” He began to walk off, beckoning me. “If you make any rash decisions, I will punish you. Do I make myself clear?” He needed to know his place, and know that I meant business if he tried to lure me into a trap. “Trust me, I’ve had enough punishment today as is.” He stopped in his tracks, getting down on his knees before he began digging a hole. In just a moment the hole collapsed into a larger chamber, and as soon as I saw that I went and grabbed a large rock off to the side of it, lifting it up and jumping in. The rock snagged on the hole, and I let go of it to let it block the entrance to the place. Rufus’s friends would not be following after us.
Prologue: A World of AshThe world is gray, like a rock. The world is still, and unmoving, like a rock. I look out into the wastes, only to be reminded of how much the world has become like a rock. If it wasn’t so sad, I might have been happy. I just look blankly instead, knowing I couldn’t sit here for much longer. The storm billowing above me picked up the ash that covered the world, tossing the remnants of old Equestria across the sea of decay. It really was a sad sight to see. I pick myself up, and dust off the ash that clung to my frock. I knew it would be covered again, but holding onto something from the past is all I really had now. The world was not like it used to be. There used to be color, life, and happiness. Now there’s only ash, death, and despair. I don’t know how I’ve made it this far, living longer than all the rest, but I try to make the most of it. If not for me, then for them. The foundation of all that there is, is kinda like sedimentary rock. Layer by layer we build ourselves up until we break through some surface we strive for. In the end of it all, no matter how accomplished, we will all erode away, displaced to some other land via the elements of the world. I don’t think I’ve reached my surface yet. I would have eroded long ago like the rest if I reached the peak of my life. I think I understand why I have to wander these lifeless hills, because of that simile. There was this book I read once when I lived just outside Ponyville. In one of my many adventures into the Everfree to find rare gemstones, I stumbled across this castle from a time long past. Inside was like stepping into a whole other world, a little pocket of an older way of life that has long been forgotten. Time is unforgiving like that. I must have stayed there for a week studying all the geology books the place had to offer in its extensive library. Most of it was outdated, or already common knowledge to anypony with a beginners understanding in the field of study. But there was one thing that stood out, something I thought was just a legend that nopony really cared for. The book I was reading spoke of this ancient crystal that held all the magical energy in Equestria. its power the life of the earth. It was said to have been where life originated from to begin with. Again, a tall tale that had little merit in modern society. Now, however, I can’t help but believe there is some truth to the legend, if only to give me some sort of hope for a brighter future than the one I find myself in. My hooves are heavy, but I carry forward. With the weight of a fading world resting on your shoulders, it’s hard not to feel exhausted. I have to keep reminding myself I’m doing this for more than myself, I’m doing this for Equestia, for my sisters, my family. I’m the last pony alive in this dying world, left with only one task to accomplish. I have to find that ancient crystal, and I must give back the life we’ve taken from it. That is the only way I’ll be able to restart the world, and bring back everypony from the grave.
1: MemoriesI was surrounded by dilapidated houses, abandoned shops, and streets with no distinguishable path. I was back in Ponyville, or what was left of Ponyville. I looked down and then back towards the buildings. I remembered this street, it was the one that lead into town. It was also the path that exited towards the Everfree forest and Fluttershy’s cottage. I looked behind me, and noticed a broken bridge buried under a mound be pale ash. The water no longer flowed under it, any semblance of life that could have been dried up long ago, along with the creak. I pressed forward, stepping inside one of the many houses that littered the small town. The stairs that lead to the upper level of the place was torn to shreds, no longer able to be used. Off to the side, looking up, I saw a hole to what appeared to be the bedroom. Below there was a broken dresser, and a mangled bed frame, the mattress off to the side, covered in stains. Walking over to the dresser, I opened up the somehow preserved wood, noticing a couple articles of clothing that could prove useful. I reached inside to grab a black scarf, wrapping it around my neck. It was warm and toasty, unlike the unforgiving hellscape outside. I also saw a grey hooded cloak, something that would protect me from the intense winds. One thing that never moved, something that hadn't changed were the boulders. Their bulky bodies helped them stay in place, even under the pressure of the storms that plagued the world. I am not like a boulder, but I wish I was. It wouldn’t be so hard to travel otherwise. I also have to find shelter, also unlike a boulder. Another sudden memory breached my train of thought, making me reach into my frock’s pocket. I felt nothing. Even with all the layers of clothes I was wearing, my body still went cold. I missed my friend, my little rock named ‘Boulder.’ I could almost sigh, but I just chose do so on the inside. It’s hard for me to express my emotions openly, even at the end of days. I had to try my hardest not to think about it, no matter how difficult it was. If I did, the world would have won over me, and I could not afford that. I proceeded to exit the shredded house, back into the empty, dead, land. The hood over my head caught half of the stray dust and cinder that tried to find itself into my eyes. I only had to bleak half as many times as before; I’d call that fortune. Sometimes I wish my eyes were pebbles, if only to never have eye pain again. As I traveled through town, I sniffed the air a couple times. It was a fruitless effort, since all that invaded my nostrils was the smell of ash. It was like a great fire passed through the land, burning away everything in its terrible flames. In truth, I wouldn’t know for sure. I was inside Ponyville caverns when it all happened, when the destruction of the world took place. Still, I didn’t have too much trouble finding what I was looking for. In my peripheral was what was left of Sugarcube Corner. If I looked hard enough, I could have swore it looked the same as the first time I laid my eyes on it. I shook my head for just a moment, trying not to let my memories flood my mind. It was best if my head was as dry as the creak that used to run though the outskirts of town. I walked up to the door of the place, the vision slowly revealing that it was just an open hole into the building. My mind was playing tricks on me, and I didn’t know why. Inside the place gave me a sense of nostalgia, the memories of the times I’d come here and have lunch with Pinkie slowly became the only thing I could think about. “There you are, Maud. It’s about time you showed up, I’ve been waiting aaaaaaaages!” A bubbly voice boomed behind me, coming close to making me jump in fright. I turned around to see a sight I thought I never would again. “Pinkie, what are you doing here? Isn’t everypony dead?” I tried to put as much emotion into my voice as possible. I think I was successful to some extent, but Pinkie was always good about gauging how I felt. I didn’t have to worry so much, but seeing her face again filled me with joy, with just a hint of sorrow. “What do you mean, silly.” Pinkie bounced her way over to a dusty counter. “Look, here’s Mrs. Cake.” She gestured at empty space. “There’s nothing there, Pinkie.” I stated matter of fact. I walked over to the counter with her, and threw my hoof towards where she said Mrs. Cake was. “See, nothing’s here?” Pinkie gasped, “Maud, what’s gotten into you? Why’d you hit Mrs. Cake like that?” She put on the most stern face she could muster. “You could at least apologize, look, she’s crying now.” Pinkie went over and hugged the air, “There, there, she didn’t mean it.” I’ve never been more confused in my life. I then notice her starting to become transparent, the littered kitchen clearly behind her. “Maud, please tell me what’s wrong.” Before she went to wrap me in a hug, she vanished. I needed a rest, I think I was becoming unstable, the line between reality and my imagination blurring into a murky fog. I made my way upstairs, the upper level somehow still intact after all the time it spent being battered by the world it now found itself in. I entered Pinkie’s room, noticing that the bed was a mess. It would have to do. Grabbing the blankets that were scattered across the floor, I rested my head on the smelly pillow, allowing sleep to overtake me. The memories that invaded me non-stop ceasing to follow.
2: The Cutie MapI jolted up in bed, close to having a need to gasp for breath. I felt a cold chill wash through my body, and a sense of dread in my heart. I look down at myself to see that a bit of sweat covered my forelegs. I could also feel it on my back, so I knew my frock would stick to me for the rest of the day, or what could be considered day. The sun was locked behind a thick layer of brown, unforgiving, clouds. To me, it was always dark in some capacity. It made me grateful for all my years spent inside caverns, and other areas of geological significance, because I’ve grown accustomed to such a lack of light. Light, my mind goes back to the images that plagued me in my nightmare. I was in some sort of void of grey, surrounded by the sounds of ponies talking with each other. Some about me, others about mundane things. It was unnerving, to say the least. Off in the distance, under some lonesome tree on a desolate hill I saw my sisters, mother and father. I couldn’t just stand there, I had to run towards them, my emotions on overdrive. When I got there, I was greeted with something so unsightly, so terrifying I could barely look. They were all consumed in some great fire in front of me, and there was nothing I could do. My body refused to move, and I could only stare on as they burned to nothing but ash like the world around me. The smiles on their face hauntingly surreal. For once in my life, my stonelike face, my inability to express emotions was dashed away. I shed a single tear in thought over such a gruesome image. When I was a filly, I always wanted to get away from the farm. I always wanted to become my own mare without the need of family to support me. For the most part, I was successful, but in doing so… I made this life I live all the more difficult. I miss them more then ever, and I regret not visiting them more. I want to hold them, squeeze them, and never let go. All those years studying geology could go to Tartarus if it meant I could just see them one last time, one final moment to show them just how much they mean to me. If I can reverse this all, if I could turn back time and reset this all to the way it used to be, I will never let them go again. I will always be there for my family. I jump down from the bed, stretching my aching muscles, and popping a few out of place vertebrae. It felt good to loosen up after such a poor night's rest. I was downstairs and out the door in no time, the storm from before seeming to calm down just a bit. It was still bad, but not by the standards I’ve come to know. I knew where I had to go next: The Friendship Castle. Pinkie told me about her adventures each time we hung out with one another, and she spared no details. If I’m to find this Ancient Crystal, then I’m going to have to use The Cutie Map. It’s the only way I’ll find out where to go. If it can’t give me answers, then I have no idea what will. Making my way through town was sure to be a simple task; the castle was not hard to spot. It towered over all the other buildings, what was left of them, and shined like a colorful beacon in this otherwise bleak world. As I took a couple more steps forward, I noticed a technicolor haze cast over the castle, obscuring its visage for just a moment. After it started to disappoint, I noticed the damage the castle had suffered over the years. Chunks fallen off, and there was huge holes that lead inside that weren’t there before. Even the tallest of the spires seemed to disappear out of thin air, making the place seem almost like a jagged, overgrown, crystal. I was having another one of those visions of the past, and it bothered me greatly. I pressed onward, blocking out any and all thoughts that tried to invade my mind. It helped greatly, and in no time I stood at the foot of the castle, its image casting down upon me. I walked up the stairs, but when I got to the final step, the haze came over it again. Looking up, I could almost swear I saw Twilight standing on one of the many balconies of the place. Why am I having these visions? Perhaps it has something to do with latent magic leftover from the catastrophe, like a ghost from the past? That was my best guest, anyway. I stepped inside, and in the center of the main room was the table I’ve sought after. It was darker, more sinister looking than before. It glowed red, and had an ominous sort of cloud hanging over it. It must have been affected deeply by the end of the world. Walking up next to it, I tried to lay a hoof on it, but there was some sort of barrier stopping me from doing so. “What?” I asked aloud to no one but myself. “Check the Library, I’d personally check the section under C~” came the same bubbly voice I’ve grown to love. I turned around quickly, “Pinkie?” There was nopony there, making me realize how foolish it was for me to fall for the hallucinations trick again. Though, it did have a point, the library might have some answers as to why The Cutie Map has befallen such a fate, even tell me how to fix it and use the thing for my benefit. I left the room, searching up and down the halls for any sign of the Library. Even though the place was covered in dust, and giant, gaping holes were abundant, I still couldn’t quite find my way around the place. It was like being a mouse in a maze, the library the cheese. I needed to find it soon, or else I feared going without answers for another day. I could maybe hold out in the castle for a week at most, but if it brought me nowhere closer to my goal, then what was the point of it all? I almost gave up in my search for the day when all proved useless, but when I turned the corner of what I thought was the same place I was at just a few minutes ago, I was greeted with a sight that made me gasp in joy on the inside. It was the library, and it seemed to not have been affected too much by the raging world outside. I thank all of my lucky stars, and Celestia’s sun. Even though it can’t cast its rays upon me, I know it’s still up there watching me, and waiting for me to bring the world back to proper order. I’d personally check the section under C~ Pinkie’s voice rings though my mind, telling me exactly what I needed to know. Walking through the library, it took a moment to find the section, but when I finally did I looked through the area up and down, hoping for something that could lead me to the right answers. I grabbed books both on ancient magic and anything relating to geology. Something, anything that can tell me about that magical table made of precious crystal. I must have spent hours reading, looking over the same pages over and over again, pleading for something to come of it. Nothing, there was nothing on The Cutie Map, not a single word had been written down. It was hard to believe that Twilight didn't write anything down, or perhaps she did, but kept it in her personal study. My thoughts went back to the missing spire at the top of the castle, letting me know that the study had long since been destroyed. My head slammed against the table, and I just rest my head. It hurt, not just emotionally but physically. My head throbbed with a terrible migraine, and my heart ached from knowing there was nothing I could do to get the The Cutie Map to work again. I’m no unicorn, I can’t summon magic at will. I passed out, not knowing what to do, and I was sure it would reflect with my dreams to come. A tingling sensation came over me just before I passed out, making me slowly raise my head in confusion. It seemed to be coming from my lower end, so I looked down towards my flanks only to see them glow with some sort of magic. I quickly lifted my frock to see my cutie mark resonate mysteriously, letting me know exactly what was going on. I could jump in joy, and kiss somepony right now. I rushed out of the library, grabbing paper, and a inkwell along the way. I needed to write down all The Cutie Map was going to tell me. When I got to the main room of the castle, I was shocked to see the same sinister glow lingering over the map, but I tried to pay it no mind. As I walked up to the place, four different areas had my cutie mark hovering over them. One was in the Badlands, another in Griffonstone, a third in the Crystal Kingdom, and one last one at Canterlot Castle. I wrote it all down, each one being a likely candidate to the Ancient Crystal’s location. I needed to give the thing a name, so I settled on calling the Ancient Crystal ‘Meridian.’ It would have to do for now. After I finished scribbling down the coordinates, I put the map in my Frock’s pocket, keeping it safe and as close to me as possible. I counted on the piece of parchment with my life, and if I lost it I might as well be dead. As I took a step towards the door, I heard my sister’s voice once again. “I wish you luck, Maud. I’m rooting for you, and I’ll be sure to throw a party when you save everyone. A hero needs a party, after all.” It made me happy to hear those words, but I didn’t turn around. I knew I would be greeted with nothing, so I just exited the castle to continue on with my quest.
3: OasisWack! Wack! Wack! I drove in the nails to keep the horseshoe in place. The pain shot through my body, making me freeze for just a second before I started to make the adjustments to make sure the horseshoe was secure, and on properly. I repeated the process three more times, each one seeming to bring more pain than the last. I had to get it done, no matter how painful it felt. In the wastes of Equestria, on the journey I must face, I needed to have a way to protect myself, a way to do damage when the time demanded it. I took a deep breath when the process was done, staring at my work with a sense of pride. I never applied horseshoes to myself before, but now they’ll be here to stay, and I’m glad for that fact. I exited the barn, and headed off into the wastes, finally leaving behind the place I’ve come to know as home. * * * * I opened the saddlebags I acquired from Sweet Apple Acres, pulling out a canister of water. The liquid felt like heaven down my throat, quenching the thirst that clawed at me with intense fury. Water was rare to come by, and I had to drink in short spurts, conserving the precious commodity as much as I could. The same went for food, but to a lesser extent. Around me was hills of nothing, just an endless sea of dunes made of the ash of a dying world. I decided to head to Griffonstone first, perhaps some survivors could still be trying to live in the ruins of the city. No ponies I’m sure, but griffons were always more stubborn than our race. To my surprise, when I conquered yet another hill, I was greeted with an interesting sight. Off in the distance lied an oasis of sorts, some green trees and what appeared to be the sounds of flowing water. It had to be a mirage, but it wouldn’t hurt to at least check. I slid down the dune, ignoring the stray ash that got stuck in the nooks and crannies of my hooves. When I got to the bottom I noted the skeletal remains of at least four different ponies. What caught my eye was that there was also some bits of wood scattered about, it seemed that some Timberwolves were around, possibly escaping from the Everfree when the world went to Tartarus. I brushed it off, no use paying it any mind. As I got about halfway through the plain, I felt a rumble course through the ground below me. I jumped off to the side, noticing that the ground began to open up, a turquoise aura flowing from the fissures. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen, and I would be lying if my curiosity wasn’t on overdrive. I saw the aura flow into the skeletal remains, and the bits of wood around me, my heart sinking when I saw them start to reanimate themselves, the turquoise color appearing in the sockets of the skeleton ponies eyes. The timberwolves were half-formed, missing pieces they obviously needed to be a threat, but none-the-less startling. I braced myself for a fight; they did not come back to life to be friends, I was sure of that. As two of the skeletons lunged towards me, I ducked under their blows, and uppercutted the one on the right, it’s body breaking apart from the impact; bones flying every which way. I then jumped to the right, using the empty space to get some distance. I noticed that one of the Timberwolves went in for the attack, so I jumped on top of it, letting my rear hooves land squarely on its head, smashing it to bits. Two down, four more to go. Pain fired in the back of my head, as one of the skeletons snuck up on me, and struck the back of my head. I pushed past the pain, and sweeped under the skelton's legs, knocking it down on the ground. I slammed a hoof on its skull, finishing the job. Swoosh! Another skeleton tried a direct assault, but missed its one and only chance to do some damage. I punished the action by knocking its skull right off its shoulders. It fell to the ground, its new found life leaving its body. I was down to just one skeleton and timberwolf. I eyed them both, and they did the same. The both charged me at once, and I jumped back from their onslaught of kicks, scratches, and punches. I picked up one of the stray bones off the ground, and threw it at the timberwolf, hitting it on the nose. I used that as a distraction to best the skeleton, making it become much like the others. As the timberwolf eyed its fallen comrades, and reared up, and bucked it across the plain. I was alone again, having won the battle I was forced to fight. I scavenged some spare meat off the bones of the skeletons, knowing full well I had to put it to use. I did not like the idea of eating meat, but in this world I had no choice. I even grabbed some of the timberwolves remains, that way I could start a fire later. After that was completed, I looked back towards the oasis, only to see that it had vanished from sight. It was time to move one, so I began to wander once again.
4: Diamond DogsI found myself in a long abandoned quarry. The pit sinking into the earth, almost like a giant slammed his foot onto the ground. I made my way on the side of the decline, making my way towards the center of the mineral pit. Looking at the rocky surface I walked by I saw traces of limestone, which immediately made my mind wander towards my dear sister. I need to be like my sister, Limestone. Strong, fierce, sometimes callous. In this land, only the toughest will make it for any extended periods of time. The sedimentary rock was made with some calcium, something to make your bones strong, powerful; Limestone was the perfect name for her. I looked down towards the ground. I missed her more than I let myself believe, and I wish she was here with me. She’d probably ignore my lecture on limestone and how it was the perfect name for her, and how I wanted to be more like limestone. That goes for both the mineral and my sister. I decided to take a piece of limestone with me, a reminder of the life I used to live, and to help me move forward, even in the most dire of times. I pushed onward. It was about halfway through the quarry I started to feel vibrations under my hooves, and feared for another wave of dreaded reanimated corpses. As I braced myself for another fight, I was shocked, and a bit relieved to see Diamond Dogs jump out of holes they dug from underground to the surface. Their eyes were on me, and even more so on the limestone that poked out of my frock’s pocket. “Eh, what do you have there, pony girl?” One of the mutts asked, his voice sounding exactly how I’d imagine; slobbish and gross. “I think she plans on taking some of our limestone, Rocco.” Another one commented, he too had the same tone in his voice. “What should we do with her?” Asked what appeared to be the runt of the group. He was far smaller than the others, even a bit malnourished from what I saw. Not even hounds can scavenge themselves into prosperity at the end of it all, it seems. “Ooooh, Diamond Dogs. They tried to kidnap Rarity once.” Pinkie’s voice resonating inside my head, making me forget my surroundings for just a moment. I didn’t hear what they were asking of me. “Hey, pony girl! You listening to what I’m saying?” Rocco exclaimed, making me come back from my reviere. I ignored what he was saying, their expressions clearly telling me that they meant trouble. “Oh come on Maud, you could at least throw them a bone.” Pinkie giggle-snorted at her own joke, falling onto the ground in hysterics. It was a nice distraction, and I enjoyed the joke quite a bit. “So, you’re not one for words, huh. Well, we’ll get some out of you real soon. Ace, Rufus, lets teach this pony a lesson she’ll never forget.” They both charged me, forcing my to jump back to get some distance between us. They were all close together, not straying away from one another. I needed to seperate them, so I decided to dash away from them, making my way towards a linear path on the other side of the quarry. It was a path that was blocked in on both sides by towering walls of rock, and would make it to where they only had one way to go if they wanted to catch me. I turned to see them hot on my tail, getting close to grabbing me. I zeroed in at the end of the path, knowing that if I did nothing soon they’d be sure to have me in their claws. I looked up and saw my answer, I then jumped onto the rock-face next to me, jumping back and forth between the two walls. When I reached the top, I noticed how the three were looking at me. Now was the time to attack. I grabbed one of the boulders next to me, and dropped it below, making them run in two separate directions, effectively splitting up the group. I jumped back onto the side of the rock face, letting my hooves slide down the surface as I made my way towards the Diamond Dog that was separated from the others. I then let myself free fall the rest of the distance, landing on top of the mutt, knocking the air out him. I then got off of him, knowing he was out of commision for the rest of the fight. I leaped over the boulder I previously dropped, and made pursuit after the remaining Diamond Dogs. I noticed Rocco was standing at the exit, Rufus right next to him. I then jumped to the wall, and while he took in that motion, I lunged at him, connecting my hoof to his face. I held back some, not wanting to give him a fatal blow. He was knocked out, leaving just me and the runt of the litter. I took a step forward, and he took a step back. “Why are you attacking me?” I asked him, I needed answers as to why they’d needed limestone so badly. “You were taking our stuff, what were we supposed to do?” He replied. “Why do you need limestone, it’s not a precious gemstone like your kind usual hunts down.” I walk right up next to him, never leaving eye contact. “W-what’s up with your voice, got any emotion in ya?” I slapped him across the face. “Alright, alright, I get it, sorry. We use it to make cement to build walls to protect us from the scourge, ya understand? We need it to survive.” I could see he was on the verge of tears, and I did feel some pity for the runt. “Rufus, was it?” “Yeah, what’s it to ya?” “Take me to where your kind is hiding out. We could come to a beneficial understanding if I could have a word with your alpha.” I narrowed my eyes a little, the best I could do to show I was angry. “A-are you serious?” He stated, before realizing he didn’t want to be slapped again. “Sorry, just you don’t understand what you’re asking. The alpha will have your head, and I know you don’t want that.” “Just take me to him.” I didn’t have time to waste going back and forth with him. “Alright, alright, just follow me, okay?” He began to walk off, beckoning me. “If you make any rash decisions, I will punish you. Do I make myself clear?” He needed to know his place, and know that I meant business if he tried to lure me into a trap. “Trust me, I’ve had enough punishment today as is.” He stopped in his tracks, getting down on his knees before he began digging a hole. In just a moment the hole collapsed into a larger chamber, and as soon as I saw that I went and grabbed a large rock off to the side of it, lifting it up and jumping in. The rock snagged on the hole, and I let go of it to let it block the entrance to the place. Rufus’s friends would not be following after us.
