Rainbow was seething as she slammed the door to the girls' hideout shut. That she was alone closed down any arguments from the rest of the group. "I hate this! We run, we hide, and they still find us! What happens when we run out of places to hide? I'd rather die fighting than hiding like this."

Applejack gave her a sour look, even as she added another stick to the fire. "Fight em' with what Rainbow? Sticks and stones? Be our guest. Then we won't have to listen to ya bellyaching."

Rarity shot the farmer a curt look. "Honestly Applejack. At least Rainbow is doing something. You haven't gone out ever since we lost Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Big Mac. I miss them as much as you. But you can't keep blaming yourself for what happened."

Applejack looked like she was about to argue, but the fight melted out of her even as her shoulders slumped. "I know that. I just miss them. I was supposed to protect them. I promised ma and pa that."

Pinkie was quick to pull her into a hug, one that Applejack, though hesitant, returned. "At least Granny Smith didn't have to see this. I think she was the lucky one," Pinkie whispered.

As the two sat there for a moment, Rainbow joined the others around the fire. Where once it had once been a sizable group that had banded together, only Fluttershy and Sunset were left now.

Sunset sat staring into the fire, seeing things and a life that felt a lifetime ago now. Her life and memories of Equestria were a distant memory now. Now the only things she remembered were things that even in her worst nightmares, she had never imagined.

Her swagger, her pride, even her arrogance, had been burned away by the horrors they had all seen. Horrors that would remain with her for the rest of her life. For however long that was.

Fluttershy threw a blanket around Rainbow's shoulders as she joined them. "Anything?"

Rainbow shook her head. "Nothing good that's for sure. Venus went dark a week ago."

Sunset's heart dropped. "That's it then. The Inner Sphere is dead. Whatever's left on Earth isn't going to rebuild, even if they went for the Outer Sphere next."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, and there's something else." She looked at Fluttershy, and couldn't help but feel her heartache. "I found Wallflower's group. What was left of them."

Fluttershy's hands shot to her mouth in horror. "You mean?" She whispered, hoping against hope.

Rainbow nodded. "We're the only ones from Canterlot High left alive. She even had some of those snot-nosed brats from Crystal Prep with her. Didn't save them."

Fluttershy whimpered as Rainbow pulled her close, letting her friend cry as much as she needed. She looked at Sunset, who only shook her head sadly.

Sunset laid back against the ruined wall that formed part of what could laughably be called their shelter. Just a few pieces of broken buildings and two walls that they could all hide underneath for the night. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. All around them was a flat empty plane. Why this of all things was here none of them knew. But no one was complaining.

Sunset watched her friends hold each other, her hands balling into a fist at her sides. She hated this as much as Rainbow Dash did, though maybe for different reasons. She hadn't known any of the names the rainbow-haired girl had told Fluttershy, but it made her blood boil all the same.

It had been the same thing now for five years. Running and hiding, trying to stay one step ahead of the mobile armors and their Pluma drones. For a while it worked, but something always went wrong, and now from a staring group that had numbered over forty, only the six of them were left.

But what Sunset hated the most was that she considered all the girls here her friends, and she hated that there wasn't something she could to help them. Something that at one time in her life, she never would've believed possible. But that was the old Sunset Shimmer.

Pinkie, Applejack, and Rarity soon joined the three of them, and for a time, they all sat in silence. Rarity finally asked Sunset the question they were all thinking. "Where are we exactly darling?"

Sunset pulled out an old and ratty map, but it was legible as she unfolded it and looked it over. "Florida if we're lucky. One bit of empty plain looks like any other patch of empty plain to me. If we're lucky, Kennedy is still there and evacuating people off-world."

The girls shared a look. They had come this way based on the rumors the old Kennedy Space Center was still there and launching as many people off-world as they could. For a while, they had even been able to pick up radio broadcasts to that effect. But they had lost their last working radio a month ago. And even those had begun to become frantic.

No one wanted to think about why that might have been, but the worst-case scenario was never far from their minds. And so, they had turned their steps south, hoping against hope that a chance for rescue and escape was possible. During their journey, they had also been able to contact several other groups of survivors, and they had planned to meet as soon as possible to try and get there together.

That was no longer an option it seemed. But that didn't stop the girls from hoping that they were only a few days away from safety. Or so they hoped. That the radio had worked as long as it had meant there was no Ahab Reactor close by to render it useless, as the reactors did to all electronic devices.

Sunset gave Rainbow a look. "How long had Wallflower and her group been like that?"

Rainbow shook her head. "A while I guess. I ain't no doctor, but they'd been dead at least a week. Maybe longer. I didn't stick around to find out."

Pinkie gave her a look. "Was there anything at all left worth taking?"

Rainbow shook her head. "Nope. Kinda surprised they lasted as long as they did with what they had."

Rarity smiled slightly. "We're all on our last legs darling. That they made it this far says something for their determination and the human spirit."

Applejack nodded, before looking at Sunset. "How far ya reckon we gotta go before we get there?"

Sunset shook her head with a sigh. "I have no idea. It could be tomorrow. It could be another week. I have no idea where we even are at the moment. I'm just hoping we're on the right track."

Fluttershy nodded, trying to smile. "I say why all try and get some sleep then. We're not getting anywhere like this."

No one could argue that, and with Applejack taking the first watch, the rest of the girls soon turned in for the night.

As it turned out, they were a lot closer than Sunset had thought they were. They had only gone a few miles the next morning, pausing every now and then to listen for any signs of pursuit, before they came to what they had hoped to find.

They had been following the map called the Indian River but was now nothing but a dried-up watercourse that seemed to go nowhere. Somewhere along the river was Merrit Island, on which the space center was supposed to be located. Whether it still existed was another question of course. But the girls had no other ideas.

It was Pinkie Pie who finally broke the silence that cloaked the group. "I see something!" She said, bouncing happily and pointing away from them. Looking, the group could see what looked like a bridge that linked the mainland to what looked like an island. The bridge was run down to say the least, big chunks missing from the road, but it still looked like it was possible to cross.

Sunset grinned. "That must be the old NASA Causeway. I'm surprised it's still standing."

"But how are supposed to cross it? It doesn't look very safe," Fluttershy gulped.

No one could really argue with that. While it did look possible to cross over the bridge, it also looked like the whole thing would topple over in a stiff breeze, and none of them wanted to be on it if that happened.

But they couldn't see any other way across it, as they walked closer. The river bed, while as dry as the rest of it had been, was filled with rusting hulks and other trash. They weren't getting across like that it seemed.

Sunset's eye was drawn to what looked like the head of some huge robot. Mono eyed, and with what looked like a gas mask style mounting around its mouth, it stood out. It was as rusty as the rest of the trash.

At the foot of the bridge though, the girls came across the first signs of human life they had seen for some time now. A single tank stood guarding the end of the bridge, its engine running.

A single crewman was smoking on the engine cowling. He looked up in shock as the girls approached, but he soon grinned in relief. "Oh, man. You have no idea how great it is to see someone new! We thought we were the only ones left."

"What do you mean?" Rarity asked in concern.

The man shook his head. "We haven't seen anyone else come this way for six months. This is the last shuttle we still have. We've been waiting and waiting, hoping someone showed up. The last girl to arrive came all by herself. Said she was the only one left from her group. Never got her name though."

That was some relief to the group, small though it was. But it was soon cut short, as an explosion went off in the distance, followed by a wail that made their blood run cold.

The man's eyes widened in horror as he threw his cigarette away and clambered up the turret. "Christ." He looked at them, a resigned look in his eyes. "Go! Tell them they have to launch now! They won't get another chance."

"What about you?" Sunset asked.

The man smiled. "We'll give you all the time we can. The bridge is safe enough. Just watch out for the holes, and you'll be fine." He slipped down the turret but said one more thing as the girls ran past. "Keep going, and don't look back. Don't worry about us."

By the time the girls made it across the bridge and into what they could only guess was the space center itself, the sounds of battle had already broken out behind them. That it was still going on said that the tank crew was giving as much hell as they were getting.

Fluttershy sniffed. "We never should have left him."

Sunset pulled her close. "There's nothing we could have done. Let's not waste the chance they're giving us."

That seemed to help the shy girl a little, as the group rounded a corner and came to a halt. In front of them, a small crowd of people was getting what looked like a plane with a booster rocket attached to its rear, ready for launch.

One looked up as the girls ran up to him. His gaze though fell as he saw how few they were. "Go on," he waved at the shuttle. "There's more than enough room on that thing for seven."

"Seven?" Applejack asked.

The man nodded. "I and the boys aren't going with you. The girl who showed up before you is already on board. You'll be the last ones to leave Earth behind. Everyplace else is already dead, or they soon will be."

"Why aren't you coming too?" Rainbow asked.

The laughed. "Kid. I've never been off-planet before in my life, and I don't plan to start now. I'm too old to be worth saving anyway. So are the boys," he said, as the rest of the crew around them nodded. He smirked as he pulled out a plunger-style detonator. "Besides, we have a little surprise for that thing in store."

Sunset couldn't believe what she was hearing, even as the sounds of battle behind them began to die off. "You're insane. That won't stop it. It'll be lucky to dent it."

The crew all shared a smirk before their chief responded. "Maybe. But it'll buy you enough time to escape. And that's all that matters." He turned serious a moment. "You'll be the generation that ends this nightmare. Don't make the same mistakes we did."

Something in his tone of voice finally got through to the girls. With a small smile, they all ran up to the base of the shuttle, but not before Fluttershy hugged the chief as tight as she could, crying even as she did. He didn't care at all, as he happily returned the hug. "Go. Don't let your friends wait," he whispered.

Fluttershy nodded, pulling apart, doing her best to smile at him, before she too joined the girls.

Sunset stood by the hatch a moment longer, watching the plume of dust in the distance get closer and closer every second. She locked eyes with the chief one last time. He smiled, and she couldn't help but smile, saluting him, one that he returned, before she too entered the ship and made her way up to the passenger compartment, the hatch closing behind with solid finality.

The engines had begun to rumble by the time Sunset found her friends. All were strapped in, none of them looking sure if any of this was a good idea. A seat had been left open for her, one she gladly took, and strapped herself in as well.

Across from them sat another girl, one about their own age. She and Sunset locked eyes for a moment before the girl looked away shyly.

Sunset rolled her eyes, as the engines ignited to full power, and everyone was pushed back in their seats, as the rocket sped toward space.

The shaking was something none of them had ever felt in their lives before, and the noise level prevented any of them from trying to say something to the others. After a few moments though, the roar subsided, as the blue of the sky outside their windows turned black, and stars began to come out.

Before any of them could say anything, a bright flash of light filled the window, before fading away. None of them had to say anything to know what it had been. Fluttershy began to cry once more, as Rainbow Dash pulled her close, her own eyes misty as well. They were all not much better it seemed, as each dealt with it in their own way.

Earth was gone, and they were all alone now.

Sunset punched her seat in frustration, even as her own tears fell. "Damn it all. Damn it."

The girl across from them hugged her legs, even as she too cried. She didn't know these girls. But a part of her felt like she should like they were meant to know each other. It didn't make sense, but it felt right all the same.

Sunset finally managed to get her emotions under control, as did most of her friends, though Fluttershy still sniffed. She smiled across the way to their companion. "Sorry about that. None of this is right."

The girl nodded, even as she dried her tears and cleaned her glasses. "Don't be. I don't like any of this more than you probably."

Pinkie bounced excitedly in her seat, even as zero-g began to affect all of them. "So. What's your name? I'm Pinkie Pie!"

The girl smiled slightly. "My name? It's Twilight Sparkle."

Rainbow nearly fell out of her seat when she heard Twilight's name. Her face lit up in a huge grin that made Twilight scoot back a little. "Oh. My. Gosh. The Twilight Sparkle? Agnika Kaieru's sister?"

Twilight gulped. "Um. Yes? And I'm adopted by the way." Her brows came together. "How do you know my brother?"

Rainbow scoffed. "Are you kidding? He's only the best fighter pilot in the Earth Federation. I saw him once. I've wanted to fly ever since." Her eyes had stars in them at this point. "He's so awesome."

Twilight giggled. "That's him. But he's nothing like that at home. He's the nicest man you will ever meet. He's part of the reason I have a family at all now. After mine was killed, he took me in and helped raise me like I was his own sister."

The girls all shared a look. All knew of what had happened to the Sparkle Family. Some called it an accident, while some called it sabotage (for what, no one could say), what had destroyed the family's shuttle. That the family's youngest daughter had somehow survived made her a minor celebrity.

Applejack undid her belts and floated over to Twilight, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry what happened to your family. It wasn't right that happened to them. Name's Applejack by the way."

Twilight's smile fell, as she sniffed. "Thanks. I was so young though, that I barely remember them. Agnika and his family gave me a home. He and my brother had been best friends. It was the right thing to do, he said."

That brought the mood in the cabin down even further than it had been. "But how were you on Earth?" Rarity asked. "Your family is one of the most important in the Earth Sphere. I am Rarity by the way."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Mother and father didn't want to send me to the schools on Jupiter, so I went to a school on Earth. Agnika wanted to send me to Canterlot High, but father insisted I go to Crystal Prep instead. All of my family had. Both of them, so he felt it was only right."

Sunset had a feeling of where this was going. "And then the horseapples hit the fan?"

Twilight squinted at the strange word but shook it off for the moment. "And then everything hit the fan. Some of my classmates and I were able to escape. But they never liked me. I think some of them even hated me, and I'm shocked they never left me behind when they had the chance."

"That wasn't very nice of them," Fluttershy added.

Twilight nodded, her gaze downcast. "I know. But it's probably what saved my life. They left me alone one day, said they were going to look for anything ahead of us on the road." She pulled her legs close. "They never came back. A day after they had left, I finally went after them. I found what was left of them a few miles from where they left me. A Pluma found them, most likely. I've been alone ever since."

That was too much for Pinkie Pie, as she propelled herself across the aisle and pulled Twilight into a hug. Once the shock had worn off, Twilight was soon to return the hug as well.

After a time, they parted, but Pinkie just continued to float around the cabin. In fact, she started doing laps around the whole area, causing Rainbow and Applejack to join her in an impromptu race.

The rest of the girls just rolled their eyes and stayed put for now. "I guess you guys have the same story?" Twilight eventually asked.

Sunset nodded, sharing looks with Rarity and Fluttershy. "Pretty much. I didn't know the girls until the attack that brought us together five years ago. We've been running ever since."

Fluttershy nodded. "I and Rainbow have known each other since we were little. We didn't meet the rest of the girls until Freshman year at Canterlot High."

Rarity nodded. "As much as they drive me crazy sometimes, I consider Rainbow, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie as dear friends." She pulled Sunset close. "Sunset may have been new to us at first, but she's now as much one of us as anyone."

Sunset nodded, but seeing the look in Twilight's eyes, she sighed. "I haven't had a family or a home to go back to in a long time. My parents all but disowned me after our last fight, and my teacher..."

Sunset's hands balled into fists, her glare hot enough to melt steel. "The less said about her the better. I haven't forgotten some of what she said to me, and I doubt she's forgotten either."

Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy all shared a look. They could feel there was more to this story than Sunset was telling them. But before any of them could say anything, an intercom buzzed to life.

"Coming up on the east coast of Australia now ladies. Get a good look. We break orbit in thirty minutes," a gruff voice said matter of factly.

Twilight's eyes widened in glee as she floated over to one of the many windows lining the cabin. "Oh. I've always wanted to see this. I hope we can see it," she squeed.

Sunset floated over to another window close, curious as well. "See what?"

Twilight only smiled knowingly. "You'll see."

A few moments later, the coast did in fact come into sight. It all looked the same to Sunset if she was being honest. Except for one, major thing. Something that didn't make any sense to her. "What is that? Why is there a chunk of the coast missing?" She asked.

The rest of the girls came around to see what Sunset was talking about. Indeed, a sizable chunk of Australia's east coast was simply gone. From this high altitude, it looked like a crater. But that didn't make any sense. Did it?

Twilight nodded. "That's the Sydney Crater. No one knows what happened, or why it's shaped like that. Some say there used to be a city there once, but that a colony was dropped onto it."

"Ya really think someone would ever do that?" Applejack asked, trying not to look green at the thought.

Twilight shrugged. "I don't know. But I wouldn't be shocked if it's true. It's not called The Black History for anything. Maybe it's better that we never know for sure."

Sunset shook her head in disbelief. "Mankind has a really stupid habit of trying to wipe itself out if someone was crazy enough to drop a colony on anything. Why do they even call it Sydney?"

Twilight shrugged. "Another question no one has an answer to. Old maps just have that name attached to where the crater is. Maybe there was a city called that there once."

The girls watched the crater for as long as they could, but it soon passed out of view as the shuttle reoriented itself. As they took their seats once more, Rainbow finally asked what they were all thinking. "So where's this thing going anyway?"

Twilight sighed, as she pinched her nose. "Mars. That's what I heard from the pilots anyway. Supposedly, there's something going on there. Rumors about how someone might have found a way to end this."

Rarity chuckled, but there was no mirth to it. "Twilight, darling. We've heard rumors like that before, and none of them ever amounted to anything. Or if they did, it didn't work out very well."

Twilight slumped in her seat. "I know. I really don't believe it either. But I also have family there as well. It's not much, but I'll be happy to see them even if there is nothing else going on."

"What about us?" Pinkie asked.

Twilight smiled a little at that. "You're more than welcome to join me. I won't make you of course, but I wouldn't mind if you did come. And," she paused, hugging herself tightly. "I'm jealous."

"Of what?" Fluttershy asked.

Twilight sniffed. "Of you girls. Of what you have. You girls have a bond that I've never had with anyone. I never had friends growing up. I see you, and I want to be a part of it. But I can't be. You barely know me. Why would you care?"

Pinkie floated over and pulled her into another hug. "Silly. I'll be your friend! I'm friends with everyone anyway."

Fluttershy soon joined them. "It isn't right to be alone like this. Especially now."

The girls all nodded. Sunset smiled as she placed a hand on Twilight's shoulder. "Maybe we still don't know each other all that well, but that doesn't mean a thing. The girls barely knew me when we all first came together, but they made a part of the group anyway."

Twilight brightened up considerably. "You mean?"

Applejack placed an arm around her shoulders. "I say we got plenty of time to get ta know one another." She paused. "Uh. How long till we get to Mars again?"

"Six months," Twilight replied.

Rarity smiled. "I say that is plenty of time darling. No time like the present."

Twilight's smile lit up the cabin. And even as they all felt the engines ignite, and the Earth begin to shrink in the window, the girls began to properly get to know one another.

Author's Note

Ah, the fun of doing a war story. Where killing off the useless wastes of space characters (which is literally everyone but the Rainbooms to me) works, and I don't feel bad doing so. So yes. Everyone who isn't one of the Main 7 in Equestria Girls? Dead. Why? Because this is a war of extermination, and mankind is losing. Badly. Deal with it.

As for the Sydney Crater? If you look at the map of the Post Disaster timeline, there is a massive chunk of Australia missing. Right where the central cylinder of the Side 2 colony from Operation British fell during the One Year War. H

Here is the map. Circa P.D. 001. https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/0/06/Post_Disaster_Earth_Map.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20151025084301.