A bomb's life is never long.

At best, the explosive-filled shell of titanium is expected to last several weeks. Any longer and it becomes a security risk. A single stray spark and the whole installation could go up in flames. Expired bombs are removed from their silos and promptly dismantled. Taken to a waste dump, the uranium core is carefully removed, barrelled, and buried deep underground. The radioactive bomb shell is melted down and used to make new weapons of war.

00:05...

This bomb, however, has lived for far longer. Over the span of several hundred years, it laid dormant in a storage closet, rusting. Even as the castle around it crumbled, the weapon stood firm, resting upright on its tail fins. Unfeeling and emotionless, it rested in its closet, a forgotten sentinel to the dying world around it. Even as the floor became polka-dotted, and pink clouds showered it with cola, the bomb stood silent, refusing to go out, or go up.

00:04...

The power cord had fallen off its timer. The bomb could not detonate. Although fully armed, and ready to destroy, it never let loose its deadly payload of smoke, fire, and radiation. The uranium core slowly degraded inside the shell, the neutron cap endlessly aiming at it in a staredown that lasted for eternity.

00:03...

Many new things had handled it in this new world. Many others had poked it, opened its hatch, prodded its computers. But none of them managed to plug it back in. None of them would seal their fate. And so the bomb relaxed in its ancient home as it was cleaned, explored, and exploited. Strange quadrupedal creatures walked past it without so much as batting an eye: others managed a tiny glance. But to the strange new visitors of the crumbling palace, the bomb was just another prop in a ruin full of them.

00:02...

The neutron cap prepared to detonate the payload. A faint beeping sound emerged from inside the bomb. Directed by the computer, the mechanism holding the small hemisphere slid into position. With a few metallic clicks the metal detonator locked into the end of the barrel. The uranium glowed bright green at the other opening. It was ready, too.

00:01...

A bruised, battered creature limped towards the bomb. Her once-shining mane was covered in dirt, and cracks lined her jewelry. Golden horseshoes clattered against the broken stone floor. Her wings bled red blood, and several crimson holes lined the left side of her flank. Crying out in pain, she raised a hoof towards the bomb. Her broken horn lit up with a fizzling blue glow. She screamed as her broken leg failed her again, sending her crashing to the ground. Desperately, she crawled towards the weapon. Her hoof tapped the  titanium shell, sending a small, resounding clack through the desecrated room.

00:00

This bomb has overstayed its welcome. As the neutron cap flew towards its final destination, the world seemed to hold its breath.

BLEEEP!

"NO!" screamed the fallen mare.

A second sun erupted from the ancient castle, swallowing everything around it in a massive, all-consuming fireball.

The sky rained fire, and the ground cracked in pain.

Everything stood still.

The mushroom cloud reared up into the clear blue sky.