The Burning Pasture

by Fluffy Shogun

Rating: teen
Tags: Tragedy, Slice of Life
Length: 1625

How will the Equestrians cope, when a series of events leading to destruction occur, and the Elements are useless against it?

The ponies of equestria have always been a hardy bunch. Over the years they have been held captive under the tyranny of discord, attacked by the shapeshifting changelings, and faced endless night, always coming out with a smile on their faces. But even a group of ponies who live in constant happiness, could not maintain this jolly outlook on life without the help of the elements of harmony, in every case the elements have saved them from despair and allowed them to continue their lives in happiness. However, when Equestria falls apart at the seams, and the elements are futile against it, how will they cope?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-01-13 23:10:01 UTC

Letters from the Damned

Dear Princess Celestia,

                  This letter will not contain a lesson I’ve learned about friendship today, as instead I believe there to be a larger issue at hoof. Around ponyville for the past week there have been a few select ponies spreading rumours of ‘The end of days’, now I would find this strange to begin with, but what is really bothering me is that others are beginning to believe them. I’ve already had at least eight ponies coming into the library asking for books with information on this ‘apocalypse’ that is going to happen.

I have tried to tell them that there are no signs of any dangers, and to calm them down, I’ve assured them that if there are any signs of a cataclysm I will inform them. However, this method doesn’t seem to quell their worries.

The fear isn’t the end of the issue either, some ponies have let their fear become panic, and there have been several incidents of ponies getting hurt due to a crowd rushing to the market to stock up on non-perishable foods. A surprising amount of fillies and colts have also been off school recently, despite the fact that there have been no viruses going around recently. Sweetie Belle, Rarity’s younger sister, has assured Rarity that she has seen them with their parents at home and that they looked perfectly fine. This suggests that their parents have been taking them out of school because of this end of the world nonsense.

As you can see, this problem has gotten seriously out of hoof. We can’t just let this foalishness continue, it could be very damaging to the community! With this information, how do you recommend I proceed?

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle.

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Dear Diary,

          There have been some SUPER weird ponies going around recently! They keep talking about the world ending... how crazy is that! The world can’t end yet! The writers have already written another season!

But there have been some problems... Ponies don’t seem to get it when I tell them that they shouldn’t worry, they’ve also been really stressy when they come to Sugarcube Corner, they keep on asking for our ‘canned goods’, even when Mrs. Cake says they aren’t for sale! I don't really see the problem. I could put a LOT of good things into cans! Like party decorations! It could be like a handheld party cannon!

Oh well, I’m sure it will all blow over. Besides! I’ve got a ‘Party Bomb’ to make!

See ya later Diary!!

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Dear Cousin Braeburn,

                           Howdy there cousin. I hope y’all are holdin’ together alright. Recently there is all this talk about the world endin’... I don’t know what to think of it really. Over here things turned sour real quick. Just yesterday we had a mob of ponies outside our barn tellin’ us to give ‘em all our stock, some of ‘em even tried to break through the doors ‘till Big Mac chased ‘em off... I swear, these ponies are gettin’ riled up over nothin’.

I don’t know how bad things are gettin’ in Appleoosa, but I hope y’all fend better than us. That mob must’ve terrified poor lil Applebloom... she’s locked herself into her room since last night and she ain’t talking to us... I hope she’s alright.

Anyway, I hope to see y’all soon.

Best wishes,

Applejack

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Dear Diary,

           It has come to my attention recently that the ponies around ponyville have been acting most strangely... Just yesterday a stallion came to the boutique, and demanded that I provide him with armour! The nerve... The day I create something so rugged and unrefined is the day that Pinkie begins to make sense! Oh, and of course I would need to be paid...

However, this is beginning to worry me. I talked to Fluttershy at the spa and apparently she is having issues as well, and of course I couldn’t ignore all of the ponies wearing sandwich boards with ‘THE END IS NEIGH’ written on them, seriously I could not get away from them! I expected as much from Lyra Heartstrings, she is rather headstrong, but I was surprised at Carrot Top buying into this. It seems as though it’s almost infectious; luckily Sweetie Belle isn’t impressionable enough to believe this nonsense. Well, I hope its nonsense at least... I suppose there hasn’t been any proof to say otherwise... Oh Rarity get a hold of yourself. Nothing’s going to happen and you know it.

Well, on the bright-side I have got several orders for some sort of farewell party in Manehatten, so once I’ve got those finished I can have a nice warm bubble bath... Oh well, I’d better get working.

Rarity

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Dear Diary,

           I was feeding the animals today, everything was so peaceful and quit. It felt really nice. But for some reason, around lunchtime, the animals started to act really strangely; the chickens were all shaking in their nests, the squirrels and mice were all hiding in their homes and weren’t coming out, even when I asked nicely. Even the bears I’m caring for were visibly shaking, all huddled together with their cubs, it looked really cute, but It makes me feel really scared that even those big and strong animals acting like that.

The bird’s behaviour worries me more than anything. For some reason, when I was tending to the chickens in the hutch, my birds flew away. All at the same time, they even left the chicks and un-hatched eggs behind which is something they’ve never done before. It worries me because I’ve heard somewhere that animals are more attuned to nature than ponies, and often flee areas where disasters are going to occur.

When I’m working in the mornings I usually hear the birds in the trees singing along with me, but now that all the birds are gone; leaving behind only those too young, old or injured to fly. Adding the fact that my other animals are acting weirdly as well, my days have become very quiet and... it‘s disturbing. I know I’m usually quiet around others and I do like to find peaceful places to relax and be myself in. But for some reason the silence around my cottage feels eerie. Almost as if Equestria is preparing for the worst.

Fluttershy

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Dear Daring Do,

                 I have read ALL of your books! Really, ALL of them, even ‘Daring Do and the Escape from the Calamity Canyon”, and there were only 20 copies ever made! I suppose I did have a little help from my egghead friend in getting it, but still! I am your biggest fan. Only the wonderbolts can match you in awesomeness! And radicalness!

Unfortunately though, that isn’t the idea of this letter, all the stuff I said is still true though! The point is, well, I don’t really know if you do all the things in the books, but, if there’s even a hint of hope I’m going for it.  Basically, a whole load of ponies around Ponyville are going absolutely loco. They keep talking about how the worlds gonna end; I keep telling them if anything tries to kick up any problems good old Rainbow Dash will send ‘em packing, but apparently they don't think I can’t stop it. I don't know whether to be offended or pitiful, I mean, it’s pretty rude of them to insult me like that, but they gotta be pretty stupid to think that I of all ponies can’t stop whatever they think is comin’ for us.

So, I thought that, maybe, you’d come over to calm everypony down? It’s just that, I’d never let anything happen to any of my friends, and they are going completely crazy. But these ponies are sure to calm down if YOU come down and tell them everything’s fine. Seriously, how can they not believe the pony that kicked Ahuizotl’s butt!

Oh, and, do you think there actually is going to be an apocalypse or anything? I mean, not that I’m scared or anything... I just wanna know so I can protect my friends! I’m not the element of loyalty for nothing ya know.

Your number one fan,

                     Rainbow Dash

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Dear Doctor,

                Where are you? I think I fell out of the TARDIS and now you’re gone... I don't know where I am either, there are loads of trees, but I don't think it’s the everfree forest. Also there have been really weird flashing lights in the sky, and the animals I’ve seen are all running away, and every now and again the ground shakes, I’m scared Doctor... Please help me...

Ditzy

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The Doctor closed the letter and put it in his pocket. A lone tear escaped from his sombre eyes. The moment of weakness passed quickly however, and he collected himself, After all it is not befitting for a brave knight to break down before he rescues the damsel in distress. The brown stallion set off, following his only lead in the area, the trail of destruction leading away from the location of the letter.

Ditzy was in trouble and it was his fault. What made the Doctor feel worse was this was not the first time it had happened, he had been careless too often with Ditzy. When she was around he seemed to forget to be aware of his surroundings, and that led to many an accident.

The Doctor, as usual, had placed every ounce of blame on himself. He could only attempt to keep the feelings of self-loathing under control, and pray to Celestia that Ditzy had not been hurt.

He disappeared into the forest, the shadows consuming him and his thoughts of despair.