Darkness is Rising

"What happened?!" I wailed. The castle lay in ruin. For as far as I could see, destruction spread across the kingdom. Blackened houses were dusted with tiny flakes of permeating charcoal. It filled the air, making I and my Guards sneeze uncontrollably. I climbed out of the chariot and cantered to the large pile of stone, marble, gold, silver, and ivory. I felt like I needed to search for something... I began to push aside chunks of expensive building material and other valuable items. I pawed furiously through the dusty belongings before I struck something I recognized instantly. "Mother..." I whimpered before murmuring an inaudible sentence. I stuck my ink colored muzzle into the hole I had made and pulled out a silver chained. A large diamond charm hung at the end of the necklace. I slowly slipped it over my head. "Aunt Celestia gave Mum this when she was just a filly." A sigh escaped my parted lips. Where is my family? Where is everypony else? What happened to Canterlot? A zillion questions zipped through my mind. I carefully picked my way through the rubbish, tail dragging. I reboarded the chariot and gave Court Jester and Captain Crown a curt, tense nod. They knew exactly where to go. We ascended into the sky. Twilight had fallen. Colors were painted across the sky in an airbrushy manner. It was absolutely stunning. "We are approaching the designated destination, Madame," Captain Crown announced. "Ponyville," Court Jester added.