Equestia: Ballad of a fallen world

Present times - Canterlot

I didn't expect that in the age of humans there were ponies or any creatures like us but apparently I was wrong. In addition to the horse, we also met a Shetland pony. A very similar species to us, which I think at least could be our ancestor. In humans, evolution has just created humans from an ape-like creature. They and humans had a common ancestor and not, as many supposedly erred and claimed, that man descended from an ape. And that is exactly what happened. Monkeys have not survived to our time but I have seen one. Even cute creatures but the only one I met was a so-called capuchin. Playful and cute but there was also a gorilla in our path. A mighty ape classified as a great apes.Oh my. There is so much information, research and documentation here that I don't know what to do. ZEUS didn't know what he was doing by giving us full access to all sorts of information. This is so exciting.... and surprisingly not just for me. Rainbow reads articles about flying machines that humans have created.

"Humans could fly faster than light?!" Exclaimed my friend as she browsed through one of the computers. "They could fly from this planet to the nearest one in a few moments!"

"Rainbow please. Be quiet." Replied Rarity, who is reviewing human mode throughout history. "I'm trying to understand human style. Maybe Sasha will need clothes.... although I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't happily borrow that style."

"Sory but just listen. The fastest flight between our planet and Mars, the nearest planet, was just over 3 seconds and that's over 100 million kilometres! I would so love to fly like that..."

"That seems too fast to me." stated Cadance, who, together with Princess Luna, is playing the human game. ZEUS taught it to us. It's called air hockey. It is simple but very rewarding. It involves trying to get the puck into the opponent's goal using strange dynxes. So far, Cadance has won against all of us. "Humans as well as other races probably had to do a ton of things to achieve it.... YES! I WON!"

"Are you kidding me?!" Shrieked the princess. "Sasha will beat you. For sure."

"That's right. When will she finally wake up?" Asked AJ, who was watching a so-called video on the popular platform in people's time YouTube. She's watching the big agricultural machines do their work. "I want to give him an apple eventually," she said.

"He probably needs a lot of time. He's been asleep for so many years and he needs to recover." stated Fluttershy, who had already made friends with her new pet beak. An absolutely strange creature. "ZEUS. Maybe you know?"

"I'd like to know that too. It is needed. The mass of systems need human authorisation. By then most of the broken units will be broken.... Wait a minute. What?" He seemed to start talking to someone else. "What do you mean fluid? Shit."

"What happened?"

"Sasha's dying. I have to go there!"

Wait a minute. What do you mean she's DIEING! No. That can't be right. The last man is going to die even though he had a chance of surviving? I looked at my friends and we immediately ran towards where he was lying. The whole bunker must have been alerted to this because suddenly Shining and the Crusaders ran out of a room and joined us. We ran as fast as we could, but unfortunately we were not as fast as ZEUS, who was probably already there. However, after a while we finally arrived where after a while Princess Celestia and Discord appeared. We entered the room where little robots were trying to help him and the monitor, which had previously sort of rippled now looked like a thin long line. Kit was flying from the table to Sasha in a panic. I don't blame him so honestly.

"What's going on?!" Shouted Celestia, who was trying to get to him.

"Cryogenic fluid has suddenly appeared in his lungs. We are trying to do something about it but more and more problems keep coming up. Necrosis, damage, choking.... We're fucking losing him!"

Shouted the EIR trying to help him in any way possible. Unfortunately, he was losing life with every passing second. No. This can't be happening. Fluttershy looked like she was about to cry and Rarity took the Crusaders into a hug. I'm trying not to panic either but I can't. We've been through so much already. No no no. In the midst of the chaos, trying to keep my sanity, I walked over to his bed and came up with a very stupid idea. But I don't think I see any other way out.

"Sorry Sasha."

I started to charge my horn and once I had pronounced the spell in my mind I fired magic at his head. The rest of us stopped and watched what I was doing. I honestly don't know myself but I learned this spell recently. I got into his mind and I'm trying to find something to help him. It's not for him to look into something private but you don't always have a moment. I have something. Eventually I stopped and was slightly dejected. I couldn't get up and I was barely panting but I know what to do. Meaning probably.

"What was that Twilight?" ZEUS asked.

"Project Ultron."

"Excuse me?"

"Project Ultron. I entered his mind. I don't know what it is but it might save his life."

"Twilight. It's a very powerful spell. You could have died." Princess C said.

"But she's alive. And I hope it comes in handy. What is this project?"

"It's an initiative that was, by design, ahead of its time." replied Kit, "It involved downloading consciousness from a dying body into a computer at a time when the body could quietly be healed or grow a new one. It's Sasha's project but there hasn't been any practical trial yet."

"This kid really liked Marvel." Heard ZEUS.

"Apparently today is the day of the trial and it needs to work."

"Okay but it needs more power and without his authorisation we're only working with half of it."

"I think magic will be good. Tell me what to do."

ZEUS, Kit and EIR looked at each other then at Princess Celestia. They nodded then EIR started to put some suction cups on Sasha's head. ZEUS and Kit instead disappeared somewhere. All systems began to seem to flicker. EIR ordered a powerful dose of magic to be shot straight at Sashe. She was reluctant but decided that if it was the right thing to do then so be it. She positioned herself and shot straight at the man. She was very focused. Purple flashes appeared on his body, his life monitors began to go crazy and literally everywhere light flashed until finally everywhere was dark. After a while, the electricity returned. All the machines that helped with breathing, for example, switched off and the EIR prepared a huge tube. The princess looks unmoved. She only looks curiously at the strange tube.

"And how? Did it work?"

"That's what we'll find out in a little while. For now we have to wait. For now there will be nothing here so please. Spread out somehow because I need the space."

I so honestly don't know what's going on. It feels like I'm in a void. There is darkness everywhere. I can't feel anything. I know that something should be hurting me but it's not. I tried to move my hand but I was not able to. I am tired but at the same time I do not feel tired. I don't know how to explain it. It feels like I'm in some kind of lethargy. Ygh. What has happened? Why am I in this situation? What is it about? Wait a minute. What's the last thing I remember?

Shadows. Shadows everywhere. They were attacking from everywhere. People were dying before my eyes. My father... my father died. It was a dream or a figment of my brain after something hit me and I died and now he's in some afterlife. What's going on here. Hm. No. That's not possible. I remember meeting my aunt later. She herself ran to save us. Zeira? She died. Wait a minute. I'm in a cryogenic capsule? Yes. I went in there and then the conversation with the Shadow King but I don't remember what happened after that. I was frozen... And what, now I'm in the chamber?

"Project Ultron ninety percent complete." What? What was that? Who said that and why did I hear it in my head? "Transfer of consciousness completed. Simulation of all brain hemispheres successful." Simulation of the hemispheres? "Subject fitness is good. Simulation of limb movements successful. Activates Project Ultron."

I didn't understand... or I'm just too tired to understand what it's about. In any case, I finally started to feel something. I felt my hands. I moved my finger, then my foot, my whole hand until finally I opened my eyes without thinking. The light momentarily blinded me. What is it? Awakening was not what it was supposed to look like.

"ZEUS. The room was supposed to be dark when you woke up. Do you want me to go blind?"

"Normally I would confirm this but in this situation I am glad to see you.... admittedly you are more handsome but it is you."

"ZEUS you compliment. I already have a girlfriend..."

As I was saying this my... 'eyes' got used to the light and I could see my metal hand. I seem to remember that I lost it and they could give me a prosthesis but the other one too? Wait a minute. I looked at the glass where I saw that I was a robot similar to Ultron from the Avengers. What is it? Wait a minute. Isn't that Project Ultron?

"ZEUS? Can you explain that to me?"

"Well... Maybe... Kit will explain it to you."

He took my friend in front of him, who was confused at first but then put out his hand and showed him the middle finger. Then he also looked at me. "Well... There have been minor complications..."

"Minor? That's like saying that after Mexican grub you get baked lightly twice.... Eh. I'm going to miss those tacos."

"Isn't that racism?"

"The racism is gone."

"I'm sure I've heard at least two Twilight stories about..."

"Kit!" I shouted.

"Oh. Yeah. Well look. There were... a lot of complications when we were about to wake you up. Cryogenic fluid, limb necrosis, etc. Like a full package. But you're alive even though we're only operating at half power!"

He gave two thumbs up as did ZEUS smiling. I slapped my forehead. I regret a little that I can't feel anything but I guess that's even better. I'm frankly tired that a conscious artificial intelligence that was supposed to be smarter than everyone else is so incompetent. I at least hope someone else helped them. Ok. But first I got up. I had to hold on to something to catch my balance. Good. Now somehow I took a few steps trying not to fall which I succeeded in doing. Wow. That's not even that bad. What is it? Why are my eyes glowing?

"What is it?"

"You turned on a torch. A very weak torch. Why did you mount it when you've incorporated seeing in the dark?"

"I honestly have no idea. But all right. Let's get off the subject. At least say you woke someone up before me to go through at least partial authorisation?" My voice is terribly mechanical but what a surprise.

"Well that's exactly what the problem was with that." he says.

"How many times have I explained to you and even written down that the capsules won't open just like that? Just because mine is automatic doesn't mean they all are. What day is today anyway? It feels like Monday."

"Well. According to the native's calendar, it's Monday."

"I knew it... natives?"

"Well, yeah. Well because here's the thing that ... there's a new dominant species. Or rather, several. And they discovered us and woke us up."

"A new species? By what miracle? After all, after Operation Ragnarok the Earth was uninhabitable. Eight million years would have taken and yet it took six." They looked at me quizzically. "Right?"

"Well..."

"------------------------"

We heard a loud shout and a clatter of hooves. It couldn't have been hooves. But what were those strange words? It was the language of this new species. I looked at my friends who looked at me and before I could do anything Kit pushed something into my head claiming it was the translator then flew off after shouting. Oh dear. I'm curious to see what the new dominant species looks like. So I went in the direction of the scream. After a while I heard a cry. In one of the lounges sat a white Shetland pony.... With a horn? Have they taken to some unauthorised genetic crossbreeding experiments again? And it's even fertile because she has cubs. I guess I have to take them into the pen so they don't do anything to themselves but why are Kit and ZEUS talking to them?

"Did they try to make a narwhal and horse mix again?"

When they didn't hear this little one cuddled even more into the body of this big pony. "Monster!"

Wait a minute. Who said that? I started to look around for the voice of the little girl who said it but saw nothing. Kit flew up to me saying to the ponies that it was me.

"Emm. Kit. Why are you talking to these hybrids?"

"Mr Sasha?" The big white hybrid spoke up to me. Honestly my jaw dropped and I tried to recognise if there was another human here.

"ZEUS. Are you making fun of me?"

"Thanks for the compliment but even I wouldn't have come up with a joke like that."

"Sasha. This is Rarity and her sister Sweetie Belle. They are part of the new dominant species on this planet. Ponies."

"Mr Sasha turned into a robot?" Sweetie asked.

"He had to. That's what keeps him alive. Sasha. Aren't you going to say hello?"

I so honestly didn't know what to say. Shetland ponies have evolved into unicorns that can talk and.... are like humans? Okay. Like I understand that the ancestors of Greys were mice but come on, no exaggeration. But oh well. Since this is the new dominant species I guess we need to come to a diplomatic agreement. A task perfect for someone who hates politics.

"Hello Miss Rarity. Eh. Sorry. It's just..."

"In your time, my race was a mere animals? I see. Nothing happened."

"I didn't mean to be so direct but well. Yes. It was but now I would like to say hello. I'm Sasha Miss Rarity. And hello little lovely Sweetie Belle."

"Oh how kind you are but enough Rarity."

"Hi." Quietly said Rarity's increasingly bold sister. "You look like a metal scarecrow."

"Oh. Young's right." ZEUS said. "In his body it looks all the more so."

"One more word ZEUS and I'll turn you into a toilet-cleaning AI."

"Eh. No jokes allowed? All right. Come on. We need you to meet the princesses. And get your authorisation finally done."

"I'll go with you." Rarity stated. "We've waited so long to meet you..."

I nodded to her and we walked slowly towards the ponies. Whoa. How many years has it been that there is a new dominant species on Earth. It takes millions of years for that to happen. And I'm sure there were no Shetland ponies on the surface. Eh. Okay. Maybe I'll get to that later. One thing is bothering me though. I'm doing calibrations and already have most of the systems working but why can't I see any humans in the bunker. The system only detects a few lives including three whose species it can't recognise. Is it possible that... no. They are alive. They certainly are.

To stop thinking about it I looked at our new companions. Rarity looks like a mythical unicorn.... and I'm sure she is, but I don't know how. She is quite tall. Including her head she is about sixty metres tall. Ultron is over two metres, but in my normal body she'll reach my chest and she's probably not the biggest so they'll probably be bigger. Sweetie by my calculations will reach my knees. Normally she will probably be too heavy for me and now she looks stressed so I took her on my shoulder. At first she didn't know what it was about but after a while she was enjoying it and laughing.

It's even cute. I remember Zeira had a younger brother and I carried him the same way. Oh my. I hope he survived the war. Her race is very long-lived so maybe he is still alive. There have been some who were older than this universe. They lived in another but I don't know if there will be anything to collect after that. Maybe it was humans who marked the end of the war but that end was too late. I don't want to know how badly they've overrun the galaxy. Eh. Better not to think about it. Rarity must have noticed that I was sad because somehow she telepathically took her sister off my back and told me to follow ZEUS to the rest and she wanted to talk to me. So we went to one of the rooms which, thanks to full authorisation, was changing to our needs. Nanotechnology tuned into Rarity's appearance and created a seating area that suited her.

"How did you do it?"

"Authorisation. I don't know why no one did it before or why they didn't wake up some diplomat but apparently I have to do everything myself. It's nanotechnology. And translated into the language of normies.... A sort of liquid metal that can change as needed."

"And I thought what I saw earlier was the pinnacle. Well, nothing. But that's not why I took you here. I wanted to talk to you. Are you all right? I don't know how it all works for you but you don't look so good."

"Eh. It's nothing like that. I just woke up from a very long sleep.... still in a body not my own, there's a new dominant species on earth and I don't know why I can't detect other people. It's... It's just very confusing."

Judging by Rarity's facial expressions she knows something that I don't seem to know. There's something wrong here. She looks quite sad but quickly looked at me smiling artfully. "Well, I understand. For me it was a big shock to discover you guys and all that. A friend of mine had found the dodo on you before. Nobody wanted to believe her but apparently she was right."

"I need to talk to her. And say. Do you know ... what happened once?" She nodded slightly and the word Shadow came quietly from her lips. "They made everything look lifeless. What does the Earth look like now?"

"So honestly it bears no traces of that war. Like it never happened. Everything is normal. Admittedly, sometimes we find large valleys that look like craters but we thought it was from something else.’ She looked behind me. "Should it blink like that?"

"Blink?" I turned and walked over to the computer. The screen read one big sign, ‘Death Authorisation.’ In Japanese. Eh. I'd forgotten that this was part Japanese. "Someone must have died in their sleep." I heard a quiet squeak and when I looked at Rarity she looked very sad. "Rarity? Do you know anything about this?"

Her only words to me did not give me optimistic thoughts. "Look at it yourself. I'm scared."

Scared? But why should she be afraid of anything? I didn't understand. I turned on the authorisations and suddenly there was even a wave of red dots, symbolising the dead people in this facility. In an instant a million dots became red. Each dot was a person, each had a name. Even though I am not in a position to cry it made me want to cry a lot. At first I didn't want to believe it. I stepped back and had the system do all the recounts again several times. Each time it was the same. All dead. And not just here. In every outpost on Earth where there were capsules people were dead. I fell to my knees covering my mouth with my hand. Rarity hugged me and I realised that was what she meant.

‘I'm the last...’ That was the only thing I could get out of me before letting out a loud scream of despair....