Equestia: Ballad of a fallen world

31 December 2099 - Moon

"Charging ninety per cent complete. Operation Ragnarok will be active in these minus ten minutes."

The computer's quiet voice said when I had already waited a good hour until all systems were operational. I flipped a few switches, entered new data and pressed a few buttons. I had already been sitting on this moon idly for days preparing the greatest human desperation. Almost two years have passed since the Shadows attacked Earth. Tomorrow will be the second anniversary of that. I would rather make myself useful there. Especially since it's been night for almost a year now that the Shadows have obscured our sun. But I guess the best I can do is sit on the moon, which we barely got to, and prepare our desperation. However, it is even peaceful here. Insofar as the ubiquitous fighting and firing guns can be considered calm.... and yet. Since the Shadows attacked, the planet has become a war zone. It's terribly noisy, it's virtually impossible to sleep, the fighting is exhausting and the only safe refuge is shelters.

"Now should we divert another twenty per cent of power to the reactor?" Asked my son, who is deep inside the facility.

"Yes. And you Zeira carefully irradiate the reactor core. Just be careful. We don't want to have Chernobyl in space."

"What in space?"

"That's really a lot of explaining. Sasha. You're good at shortcuts."

"Do you remember Fallout? You played it."

"Yes."

"Imagine that kind of thing actually happened over a hundred years ago in the Ukraine but without the mutants.... I think."

"That's yours I guess, but I wasn't sure."

"Nah. At least no mutant was proven."

"Can we fly there?"

"Sure but that's later. The Shadows are mutating there now. One was reportedly seen turning into a cow."

Shadows are mutating in Chernobyl? That's interesting. I didn't expect that. But well. I should know that even the strangest scenarios can come true. And just as I expected. The irradiation will accelerate the download slightly. Only seven percent more and we can activate this weapon. Not now, however, because our guess is that the biggest attack will come in three months. That's when the mothership will arrive and it's possible we'll be able to defeat them all on the first try, but I honestly don't think so. The Shadows are tough motherfuckers. Our plan, which is that after Raganrok, all humans are frozen and dormant for four million years. After that time the Shadows should be gone or they will be in retreat. We have communicated with most of the races in this way. They trust us so as soon as they detect our signal they go to sleep. Let's hope this works. Otherwise, it an be very bad. Just five per cent... Why is my cup shaking?

"ZEUS?"

"It surprises me too. I'm trying to detect something."

"By being quick."

If it was the Shadows who discovered this base then we're screwed. Five more minutes to go and I don't know if extra time won't be needed. Four minutes and with each passing minute it's not just the mug that's feeling these vibrations anymore but me too. They are getting stronger and I don't like it. I looked at the camera view outside the facility. You can see the battles in space and on Earth perfectly but what is this vibration.... Wait a minute. What is that shadow? It looks like... Oh no.

"Sasha! Zeira! They've sent a cruiser here! One of the biggest ones I think! You guys have already finished. Charging is about to finish. Run to the armour! I'll be right there!"

No. It wasn't supposed to be like that. The Glim Glams were supposed to keep them at bay! Shit. Now we're totally screwed. So I started getting my stuff together, set up my defence turrets and prepared my armour, which I would fly to Earth. The fighters would have been shot down immediately and such small objects are practically invisible to their scanners. That's very good but I don't know if the cruisers won't pick us up. Damn. All right. Cargo bay completed. We're good to go. Fortunately, this base isn't needed for Ragnarok so if they detect us and destroy us it won't be a big problem. Don't think about that now. The most important thing now is to get back to Earth.

"Activate your armour! It's already running!"

"Mom, they can see us! They know we're here!"

"What, how do you know!"

"Kit intercepted their conversations. The bombing is about to start!"

"I'll be right there. If anything happens, use all the base's energy!"

All I heard was a quiet ok and sudden gunfire from the cruiser. He is almost as huge as this moon. Since this one is that size I don't even want to think about the size of the mothership. So I ran along the corridor with the knowledge that they might be after us soon. If they kill us then activating the Ragnarok will be more difficult as impossible. No. I can't think like that. We'll be fine. We're about to get into the armour and fly to Earth. Shit. The power went out. It's terribly dark but thanks to the torch I found the way to our rescue. The kids have already arrived so we put them on. It's pretty simple armour similar to what Iron Man had. It's Sasha's design. The helmet over the eyes is semi-transparent so that everything is clearly visible. The rest, apart from the tabs on the head, is plain. We were about to take off when suddenly we heard something I never wanted to hear....

"Their guns are loaded. I advise you to run away. NOW!"

ZEUS shouted and I looked at Sashe and Zeire. I nodded to them and after the ceiling opened up we flew out at full speed. Unfortunately they had already managed to shoot into the base. Fortunately not in the part where we were but some tens of metres away from us just where the fighters were. They exploded with tremendous force and immediately afterwards there was a chain reaction. Parts of the base were exploding. We could feel it. It looked like a huge fiery trail was coming towards us.... because it was getting closer. And worst of all immediately after that the room below us exploded. While I managed to create a technological shield and Zeira with magic, Sasha was not so lucky. His shield was just forming when the fire caught up with him. He was thrown to the surface several metres away.

"Sasha!" I shouted as the Shadows began to fly out of the ship.

"Fly! I'll deal with them!"

Zeira created spears and, thanks to her armour, flew to fight them. And for that I flew to Sasha avoiding the explosions and firing at the Shadows that approached me. Oh dear. Sasha is conscious. Good. He started to get up as I flew to him. However, he couldn't get up not knowing why so I helped him up.... and I got scared. The glass over his eyes started to crack and the air started to escape which made him breathe hard and you can see he's terrified.

"Sasha! Breathe easy!"

"Mo... m. Help. I can't breathe!"

There's voice was barely audible. I try to think of something but I don't know what. The fighters have been destroyed, the nearest base is five kilometres away but even on the fastest mode of this armour I won't survive the journey. "ZEUS! Send the nearest fighter! AHHH!"

Another cruiser shot, this time at the moon's surface made us fly up and that only made things worse for my son. He was already even choking and I could already feel the tears in my eyes.

"ZEUS!"

"All bases on the moon have been destroyed. The nearest fighter jet is already flying from Mars. Five minutes!"

"He won't last that long! Speed it up!"

"I'm sorry but if I turn on above light speed I won't have time to brake him and he may fly into the surface and destroy himself."

He will die. He won't last. Already his skin is turning blue, his lips have become like Zeira's. Purple and the veins in his eyes were already slowly bursting. Looking at it with fear in his eyes I don't really know what to do anymore. We are in a dark asshole. The fighters will only arrive in a few minutes. By then he'll be dead when the glass breaks. Zeira fights on but there's such a horde of them that she's unlikely to make it for long. I try to think of something but all I can think of is.... Eh. I stared at Sasha's eyes, which were fading with each passing second and growing fear.

"ZEUS. Give the message to Flash Novákový. I love you darling. I always will. Do you remember how we used to look up at the stars and dream that one day we would live among them? I had another dream. I wanted to die among the stars... This is about to come true. Please remember me. Look up to the stars because I will always be there. Done ZEUS."

"Miss Sunset. You don't seem to think..."

"ZEUS." I touched two hands to Sasha's head. "Begin armour transmissions."

"Miss Sunset. You will die in a few moments. The damaged glass will not withstand the transmission. Please wait for the fighter. Maybe Sasha will survive..."

"He may not MAY survive. HE. MUST. SURVIVE!"

"But..."

‘That wasn't a request ZEUS. It was an order. NOW!"

"As you wish. Goodbye Miss Sunset. You were a brilliant scientist and friend."

I heard a screech and suddenly our helmets swapped places through the liquid metal. For half a second we were exposed to a lack of air but that quickly changed. We both gained the ability to breathe.... unfortunately only for moments. I momentarily felt the air escaping and the glass cracking faster. When Sasha was finally able to breathe I smiled but tears came to his eyes when he saw what I had done.

"Mom no! No!" He wanted to do the transmission himself but I wouldn't let him. "Mom no! What are you doing?!"

"Sasha." I spoke up quietly. "This is where my story ends."

"No, no no. Please don't do this. You can do more. You will be better than me! The new Earth will need you. A new world..."

The pain I feel is getting worse. The cold and the lack of air are getting to me but I adorned myself still to stroke his hair. "Promise me. Promise that in the new world...you will help everyone. You will be their role model. You will be their guide."

"I don't know if I can manage without you..." He said in a broken voice. I gained myself to smile despite everything. I touched him by the cheek when suddenly something I hadn't seen in a long time began to come into my eyes. The sun. The sunset.

"You'll be fine Sasha. I believe in you." The glass has almost completely broken now. "Smile for me. Please. I want to see your smile. I love you."

My vision finally began to darken. However, the sun was setting again and I could feel my fingers becoming more and more numb and I could no longer feel the skin of my face. So with my last strength I hugged my son and so that he wouldn't have to see my face I pushed myself away from him. I heard a crack.... and everything went black...

Current times - Canterlot

My mother sacrificed herself, my father died for me.... my aunt, Zeira and hundreds of lives given up just so that no one but me would survive? This... all this for nothing? Yes. There is a new species but no human survived? How is that possible? What happened? After all, it shouldn't have happened. They were supposed to be awakened after five million years. What failed. Why did all the artificial intelligence of the base go crazy? What happened? There are so many questions and so few answers. We were supposedly awakened five million years ago but no systems caught it. Nothing. No capsule was opened. And now they're all dead. Apparently... everything we worked for was in vain. There are no people. And if the same thing happened on other planets then there's no one I know. Then I guess I have nothing to live for.

"Sasha. I understand this has hurt you." Rarity spoke up. "I'm honestly not the best at comforting but the princesses want to see you. They are good at it. I don't want to intrude on your personal space but if you want me to hug you then just say so."

The white unicorn is really trying to help me. He hasn't taken a step away from me for a good ten minutes. She sits with me, talks to me and gives me encouragement. She seems really nice but there's no point in me living if nobody survives. I was supposed to be a guide for people. I was supposed to be where they couldn't. And now. Eh. What's the point of all this.

"ZEUS. Rarity's race has full access to technology and everything here. Of course, this one depends on Rarity who she gives it to."

"I see. And what are you going to do?"

"Get Hades ready. It's over."

"Sasha. Your mother..."

"You have no right to mention my mother."

"Wait a minute. What's going on? I don't understand. Why are you giving us all this?"

"I have nothing to live for Rarity. Tell the others I didn't make it out alive or something."

I was about to go to destroy my consciousness. However, practically immediately I felt something strange and was pinned against the wall. What is it? Like... Is that Rarity's horn glowing? Tal. I think. I saw it when she pulled her sister off me. She looks very upset.

"We've tried so hard, we've been there for you and we've done everything for you to survive and now you want to give up?!"

"I was supposed to be a guide for the people. I promised my mother when she was dying so that I could live! If there are no others then why should I live?"

"For your mother! Do you want her to die for nothing? You said she sacrificed herself for you so tell me. Why do you want her sacrifice to be wasted? She died so that you could live. Sweet Celestia. Me and my friends sat by you for so long and you want to squander it all?"

"I'm not going to squander it. I have turned on the authorisations. I have given you full control. ZEUS and the rest will assist you. With this technology you will leap forward hundreds of years in a few months."

"I understand. I really get it but we need you. We need you to be human. The Princess I want to renew alliances, I want a museum to be built in your honour and we need you to defeat the Shadows if need be. Please. Understand that we need you. Please. If not for us then for your mother."

I started to think about it. Indeed, my mother sacrificed herself so that I could live. Eh. I really don't know what I'm going to do in this world but if everything has indeed been reborn and their princess needs me then ok. This sounds more like a Wattpad shtick story than real life but ok.

"Fine. I will help you. But I will also have my conditions."

"As long as you live." Suddenly we heard a loud shout and like something crashing down. ‘Sweetie Bell!’

"What happened?"

"I don't know but something bad."

The first to run was Rarity, who directed me to her friends. The light turned red and guard robots ran past us. What do you think this is? I tried to ask ZEUS but he didn't even answer me. He must be busy with something else. Okay. Never mind. We're getting there now. The closer we got the more familiar sounds I heard. No. How the hell...

"Shadow."

I said when we finally reached. He attacked the rest of the ponies. The biggest one with white fur wings and a horn protects the rest with a shield and the dark, pink and purple one tries to help her hold it. I know him. This is the Shadow that Zeira fought. How did he survive? That means he killed her and he escaped. It's fortunate that Ultron has combat functions in him. I also don't know why this Shadow had a sizable scar on his chest and a heavily scarred hand. It looks like he was looking at the big white one with rage and the other little blue one.... pegasus? It lies unconscious against the wall. EIR has secretly taken her but those there are in danger.

"Alfa! Why don't you fight me?!"

Alpha looked at me with her red eyes. She momentarily started sniffing me. After a moment, I think she found out who I was because she stood up on two legs and roared at me. "Human." He said in a husky voice. "You are alive. Unlike Thalven."

"Yes. I'm alive but you're scion is already dead. You're the one who killed those people!"

"We have nothing to do with it. But we're happy about it."

"So like all the rest. Just plain cowards."

"Was it the last time your Thalven didn't defend you?"

"Yes." I created a blade from my hand. Good. I didn't expect it to work like that. "But now it's going to kill you!"

"That'll show human. RAAAAA!"

He threw himself at me first. Pinning me against the wall. I drove the istra into his shoulder as deep as I could. He roared in pain and threw me against another wall. He whined and ran at me. The robot guards started firing at him but it didn't do anything. Once he was close to me and wanted to bite me I grabbed him by his open mouth completely disabling him. He jerked and tried to knock me down with his tail but the big white one snatched his tail with magic screaming that vengeance was hers. Unfortunately he kicked it in the muzzle with all his strength sending it into the big dark one. Gosh I need to know their names. No matter. I instead grabbed him better and slammed him against the wall. When he lost his orientation for a moment I tried to shoot him in the head but he jerked and I shot his paw off instead.

‘Not again! You'll pay for this!’

He didn't seem to mind the guard robot shots. The Goliaths are still inactive so they're unlikely to help us and Purple and Pink's magic rather just pisses him off. So he breathed black fire at them, which went through their shield. Fortunately, fairly quickly ARES put a holographic shield in front of them, which destroyed itself and exploded slightly disorienting them. I, meanwhile, jumped on it and pounced on it with everything I could. He tried to throw me off by hitting me many times against the wall which made Ultron destroy himself a bit. Eventually, though, I jumped up. I bounced off the ceiling and knocked him down. I stabbed the blade into his neck and charged the cannon. However, I didn't manage to kill him when he somehow grabbed me pinned me to the ground and ripped my arm out then started massacring with his claws. He managed to inflict some single blows, but it was of little use. Once he even pierced me through with his whole paw. Fortunately, when he exposed himself, I think the white princess shot at him with magic. I think it was fire because it burned him but then some form of energy that made him start to retreat. Increasingly pissed off he didn't notice he was approaching a wall. I knew I could take advantage of this, but he massaged me so badly that I could barely move anything. I managed to get up somehow, but only one leg is functional. The other... let me put it this way. If it was a broken leg in the real body I would howl in pain. It's literally holding on to a few cables but it's not the only one. Most of the body is jagged and half of the head is smashed. There's a huge hole yawning in place of the cage.

"Sasha!" Shouted the princess, who walked up to Shadow and seemed to start hurling him with magic. "Kill him before I lose my strength! Kit! Twilight and Cadance need help!" Suddenly, another magic started pressing down on him from three sides. A dark probably princess and a rather rather massive unicorn guy. And a strange thing that looked like a hybrid of some drunken scientist.

‘Coming.’

Because of one damn Shadow, the Ultron project has been so destroyed that rebuilding it could take a ton of time. It already took four years just to build it. Eh. I will avenge my work. I will avenge Zeire. Apparently I'll help the white princess too.... How that sounds. I wonder if they have racism here. Okay. It doesn't matter. The important thing is that I approached him. I created a gun and put it to my head.

"For Zeira. For my family. And all my species!"

"For Chrerry. For my son."

Silently said the princess until I finally fired. Shadow's last roar rang out across the outpost and the energy I had used to do this ran out. I had no control over what I was doing so I fell and in front of me I saw information that consciousness was being transported to the main computer and I felt nothing again....