(Morning)

"Discorrrrrrdddd!" Celestia's royal counterlot voice echoes though the throne room causing the chaos god to flinch out of fear.

Turning around Discord froze at the VERY angry-looking Celestia storming over to him.

"Now Tia I didn't-!"

"YOU UNLEASHED FOUR OF THE WORSE CRIMINALS UPON EQUESTRIA! WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!?!" Celestia roared her mane turning into a pure fire for a moment while Discord held up his hands.

"But they are all in custody are they not? That young man Salem beat them right I-"

"THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT!" Celestia pointed out a window to the giant holes between the castle and the city below causing Discord to shrink slightly out of fear.

"Okay I know this looks bad but in my defense how was I supposed to know Tirek or Chrysalis were to plant bombs or whatever caused the ground to crumble?" Discord defended himself but Celestia wasn't having it today.

Just the moment she was about to unleash a world of very colorful heated words upon the chaos god the elements along with Sunset and Spike respectfully entered the throne room.

"This is not over we will have a very long TALK before my sister raises the moon do you understand,"

"Yes ma'am,"

Calming down Celestia collected herself before turning to the group.

"I'm sorry to keep you all here my little ponies but I fear that this whole mess isn't over," Celestia glared at Discord while he shield himself from her gaze.

"Don't worry princess whatever you need just say the word," Twilight stood along with her friends ready for anything that was thrown at them.

"Yeah what twilight said!" The element of loyalty agreed but Fluttershy noticed someone was missing.

"Um... girls where's Mr. Salem?"

(The caverns)

"Dang, it these ropes weren't designed for this kind of thing,"

"Suck it up we have to make sure no pony was hurt during the cave-in,"

"Wait... did you feel that?"

"What now?"

"The rope!"

"I get it wasn't-"

"No, it's splitting!"

"What!?"

Before the guard above could grab the line the rope gave loss causing the two to fall, but not before an armored gauntlet grabbed one the closest guard to the line while the other tethered to his buddy stopped falling as well.

"You know gold armor is really fucking heavy buddy," Turning up the solar guard gasped at the dark armored figure that was Salem Grey.

"Holy mother Faust your-!"

"Hey what happened up there Flash?" The guard below asked not able to see Salem who had his clawed fingers dug into the rock wall behind him.

"It's Salem! Brick it's that Salem guy from the guest suite!"

"You bucking serious!"

"Yeah, it's me. Hold on to your helmets," Salem warned as he did a 'jump-climb' to the surface level.

Making it to the top Salem dropped the two guards while a of guards were grouped up at the mouth.

"Are you guys serious why do you need weapons and armor for rescue services? Come on guys use the thing in between your two ears and think," Salem tapped the sides of his helmet.

"Sorry Sir it wouldn't happen again," Flash apologized to which Salem blinked in surprise.

'Sir?'

"Look bud I'm not your commanding officer there's no need to call me Sir," Salem informed Flash while he got up dusting himself off.

"I know but Salem Sir you saved both the crystal empire AND all of Equestrian in under 48 hours! It's not every day you meet 'the black knight' sir," Flash remarked with a smile while the other guard hit the orange-coated pony before grabbing his neck.

"Hey leave the man alone kid he's got better things to do than hear you going off Rookie," The other guard hissed.

Salem was still processing what Flash had called him: 'The black knight'

Since when did he start having a nickname?

"Salem? Why am I not surprised to find you here my friend," Luna's voice met Salem's ear causing the survivor to look up seeing Luna and a unit of guards that Salem has never seen before.

There were about fifty of these pony... bats?

Unlike the gold of the regular guards, these pony-bats hybrids were done in a purplish-silver armor where they stand side by side marching forward.

"Seems like I've been nothing but bad luck to you," Salem joked causing the Night princess to give him a look of concern.

"Salem you aren't bad luck why would you think that I would say as a matter of fact your-"

"It was a joke princess. Sorry, seems like I need to work on my jokes," Salem interrupted but turned back to the group behind Luna. "Luna, who are these guys?"

Luna gave a proud smile at his question, holding a hand to the small force behind her.

"Dear Salem this is my Lunar guard when ever the sunset these fine stallions and mares switch with solar guards to defend cantorlot tower," Luna smiled back at the guard. "All through seeing how these cave-ins were so sudden I believe my sister's solar guard can use aid in this manner,"

"Well, this is your show princess. Just point me where you need me," Luna smiled grew at Salem's words before looking down at the cave in behind him.

"Glad your willing to help us yet again Salem," Looking at the entrance for a moment she clapped her hands together. "Alright enough chatting lets go in,"

(Two hours later)

"Anything to report Captain nightshade?"

The old batpony gave a salute before crossing his arms behind his back.

"No your highness we haven't found a single pony and from what the solar guard has learned no pony is missing in the city. We believe no one was out in the fields when the cave-in occurred," The grizzled voice of the captain said with a hint of relief in his voice.

Luna on the other have made her relief more known by giving a sigh, turning back to the lunar guard in the caves she noticed someone was missing.

"Captain, where is Salem?"

"Mr. Grey? I believe he went deeper into the caves to help for a squad I sent to check for any faults that could spread and cause another cave-in," Nightshade reported.

"When was this?"

"About half an hour ago your grace. I believe they went down the northern system closer to the castle," The old veteran informed.

Not able to ask another question about the squad and Salem the two snapped their attention to a loud scream of pain coming from the northern tunnel system causing the Princess and her lunar guard to take flight through the system.

-

"My leg!" Salem stared down at the 'batpony' before him who had slipped when part of the ground where he gave way down into a cave trench which resulted in breaking his leg against a rock. "How bad is it doc?"

The purple-armored batpony gritted and narrowed his eyes while looking down at the pony.

"Doesn't look that bad might be worse than it looks don't worry Tuck you'll be back on it in no time," Doc answered while Salem overlooked the batpony.

"Don't worry bud it's only a minor fracture," Salem stated as he rose up.

"How you know," Doc asked.

"I just do," Salem bluntly replied.

"Oh wow! Cruch look at this!" The youngest batpony pointed out while the leader of the small group grew.

"What is it now priv-ate," Cruch's jaw dropped as did Tuck and doc's own.

Confused by what they were seeing Salem looked over to see and nearly dropped his own jaw at the thing before him.

Malo on the other hand was bouncing up and down shaking Salem's shoulder while pointing to the giant piece of metal covered in rocks.

"That can't be," Salem whispered while Malo 'appeared' closer to the metal then pointing to something on it.

A symbol.

Salem bolted forward without a word to the giant metal object leaving the small team behind him.

"Man and I thought the ladies ran fast when they see me. Bow chicka- OW!" Tuck hissed while Doc flinched back.

"Sorry,"

Running through the broken door hatch Salem smiled under his helmet while the optic sensors allowed him to see clearly in the pinch black corridors of within the metal halls.

He still couldn't believe what that this was down here!

This was from Earth he knew it that symbol on the outer haul was one he read about.

Sure this wasn't a foundation craft but from what he read about 'the church of the broken god' were also trying to find a way off world before the end.

How was it here? Hell if he knew, he might have to ask about it later but a dark thought came to his mind suddenly without warning.

He shook it.

If there was even a slight CHANCE for anyone to be on this craft then by whatever being is watching over him now let there be at least a single shred of hope!

The tunnels were long and the deeper in he went the more intact it looked, perhaps they got here when he did and maybe they crashed here on this world or...

Wait then how-?

He suddenly stopped...

That feeling he had moments ago was gone and that dark thought crashed back upon him with the strength of a tidal wave.

For at his feet made him go completely cold.

Laying down face down was a being cloaked in a faded red robe, one hand was metal while the other was bleached bone.

Malo stared down at the skeleton before shaking her head out, her teeth chattered like she was trying to speak but no words were spoken. Dread filled his heart as he slowly brought a hand down on the cloaked figure's hood before pulling it back causing a human skull to roll out.

"No," Salem's heart sank deeper than it did that day so very long ago, but he shook his head in refusal.

"No this can't be it!" Rushing down the halls he turned into the first room he entered.

But all he came across as more of the dead.

"No!"

"No!"

"NO!"

Making it to the bridge of the ark Salem just stared at the skeleton's that littered the deck, some were on the floor while others were still on their seats, and a few were hunched over on the control panels.

Feeling completely light Terrian stared at the body of a skeleton giving a silent scream up at the ceiling.

Staring at the body for what felt like an hour Salem felt a mix of overwhelming emotions indescribable feelings rush through his veins before he just screamed.

"DAMNIT!"

Crashing down against the wall behind him Salem slowly slid down his hands holding his faceplate while he felt nothing but pain and despair. Sitting there among the dead the last earthborn just sat there in complete dismay that the human race was truly no more.

He at least hoped that some other foundation sites or other organizations found a way off the world like how he did.

But if this Ark was any proof of what happened to the human race then his hope was all but gone.

All that was left of humanity was him... Yet he was barely even human anymore, Salem felt his eyes water but held back the pain.

That was until he felt a hand grab his shoulder causing the Chimera to turn and look toward his partner, she look at him and gently removed his helmet. Placing it on the ground Salem looked at her face seeing tear stains over her boney cheeks while she looked at him.

Her actions spoke for her.

'Let it out,'

Salem clenched his teeth while leaning forward, Malo once again held him close to her while Salem began to break down in tears within the dead Ark.

Author's Note

Well damn... didn't expect to end this here but man my hands went and I followed.

Also since one of my favorite shows ended on a cliffhanger so will this chapter.

Salem had found an Ark or what's left of one and it was a part of the church of the broken god which before certain SCP guys go off saying.

"The broken god (Mekhane) is pure evil! So is the church!"

First off Mekhane wants humans to progress into a bright future sure he's considered a 'villian' but I'm not getting into that whole rabbit hole. Mekhane's sister on the other hand... well damn she's the complete opposite.

And yes there are some bad followers of Mekhane but they are considered heretics by the actual church of the broken god. Plus they (the actual church) are on decent terms with the foundation, both have worked with each other and learn to co-exsist.

I believe there is a form where Mekhane is said to be preparing humanity to defend themselves when the crimson king. Like I think it was a foundation director or something that had some kind of vision like Cawl did with the emperor about the whole thing.

But seriously I tried to make this last part give a feeling sure it's light-hearted at first but that is how some parts of SCP might be for you learn the dark truth.