Fluttershy awoke with a shock. She felt her heart beating as fast as she could bear. The drops of sweat on her brow trickled down her cheek and onto the dirt floor.

Dirt...

Dirt...floor?

Fluttershy panicked as she wondered where she was. She was just in the comforts of her own bed the night before, sleeping peacefully after a day of partying. Twilight had been coronated as a princess, and a great celebration followed. It wasn't often that somepony she knew and loved would become a princess! However, all of that was gone, and Fluttershy was alone, laying on a dirt floor. It was only then that she realized something was on top of her as well. Wood and metal.

She let out a loud squeal and struggled to her hooves. The debris fell to her sides and on the ground with a large thud. The sudden noise frightened the poor pegasus even more as she jumped into the air. It was hot and humid, the pegasus realized. Her eyes began to adjust to the light; when they did, she knew exactly where she was. On the floor was a collection of lettuce leaves, tree bark, and twigs. A broken picture frame lay on the ground nearby - a picture of her with her friends. She was in her own cottage.

Fluttershy was in a panic. She looked around to find that her cottage was decimated. Parts of the roof were singed, and the entire structure collapsed. Looking to the sky, she saw a sea of red and black. She was too scared to even register what was happening. Her first reaction was to look for...Angel!

Was he okay? Did he survive? ...What did he survive? Was all she could think about in the moment.

"Angel! Angel, are you okay!?? Please come out now, it's okay!" Fluttershy called as she flew around what remained of her cottage. There was no reply...in fact, there were no animals in sight. The birds, cats, and other critters she had taken care for every day disappeared. Fluttershy gathered that they ran off right after whatever happened....what did happen?

Fluttershy soon saw what made the air so hot: the surrounding trees were all ablaze. Charred wood and a sea of fire littered the forest she had known so dearly.

"Was it a forest fire? No...how did my cottage..." The yellow pegasus was confused as she couldn't handle what was happening. The air was still, and the only sounds were of the burning trees off in the distance. It all seemed...dead.

"The girls!"

At once, Fluttershy turned toward ponyville and flew as fast as she could. She knew that she couldn't fly fast, but in a time like this she just had to. She made a beeline through a part of the forest that had stopped burning. The intense smell of charred wood made her dizzy, but she kept flying. She flew so fast, however, that she almost crashed right into a burning tree. She squeaked as she veered out of the way.

She soon flew over ponyville...or, what was left of ponyville. Many houses were either destroyed or on fire. There were various craters in the ground, suggesting to the pegasus that a meteor shower took place. Some were empty, which was strange. Others contained rocks she knew had to have come from space. As Fluttershy flew past town hall, she saw that it was destroyed as well. The most haunting thing about it all was...that it was all silent. No screams, nopony wandering the town...nothing.

Before long, Fluttershy arrived at Twilight's library. Parts of the tree were scorched, and the bark was falling off of the base of the tree. It, like everything else, was silent. Upon noticing this, Fluttershy let out another squeal and charged right inside.

"Twilight! Spike! Are...you...here?" She yelled at first, but got softer as she went on. The books were scattered all over the floor of the library, but Twilight and Spike were nowhere to be seen. There was another crater right in the center of the room. In a panic, Fluttershy flew right to it to check if Twilight and Spike were...no, thank goodness! Fluttershy remained hopeful that her friends were still okay. Wherever they are.

Fluttershy...

"Oh, what do I do now?"

Fluttershy...

"I-I-I....C-Can't...Ha-a-ndle..."

"Fluttershy!"

The butter pony looked up to see a familiar face: Rainbow Dash! She was flying right towards Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash's face looked as if nothing were wrong, but Fluttershy could see her friend shaking as she approached.

"Oh, Rainbow Dash...I am so glad you are okay!" Fluttershy said as Rainbow Dash slowed to a halt. The yellow pony engulfed the other in a great hug, but Rainbow brushed her off quickly.

"Same with you...We were about to go to your cottage to see if you were okay! It...it was just a dumb meteor shower. At least...I think it was." Rainbow replied. The tone of her voice sounded weak, and Fluttershy knew that not even Rainbow Dash could keep her cool at a time like this, as much as she tried.

"Others? Are the girls okay too?" Fluttershy said in a hopeful tone.

"Yeah! They're at the Apple Farm right now as we speak!"

"What about anypony else?"

"I haven't seen anypony except you since leaving the farm...But don't worry! I'm sure everypony else is just recovering from it all."

Both Rainbow and Fluttershy flew quickly to Sweet Apple Acres. When they arrived, it didn't look that sweet. All of the trees were scorched, the barn was destroyed, and apples were all over the place. The air was still and there again was no sound in the air.

As the two landed, they were greeted by Twilight and Applejack. Fluttershy could see her friends were tired and covered in soot.

"Ah'm so glad you're okay, sugarcube!" Applejack said as she gave Fluttershy a big hug.

"I'm so glad you are too. Where are Rarity and Pinkie Pie?" Fluttershy questioned, noticing that neither were there at the moment.

Twilight stepped forward. "Pinkie went with Spike to Carousel Boutique to find Rarity." She said quietly. She stretched her wings out a little and looked to the ground. The red sky began to fade away as the night sky began...however, it felt different than the usual nights.

"Twilight, do you know what happened?" Fluttershy asked in a small voice. Her head was low to the ground, looking up at the purple alicorn. Twilight has to know, she knows everything!

Twilight gave a small smile. "It was some sort of meteor shower. It was definitely...one of the biggest on record." She said uneasily, looking around. "In fact, I've never heard of a meteor shower of this intensity before."

Rainbow Dash was the first to respond. "Maybe this was Discord's doing! I knew he didn't really change!" She said quickly.

"Oh no, Rainbow Dash. I...don't think..." Fluttershy began.

"I don't think even Discord would be capable of this...this is just..." Twilight responded, interjecting as Fluttershy was speaking.

"This is just chaotic!" The blue pegasus shouted. "He must think this is some sick joke or something! Where is the snake hiding!? I'll pummel him until he turns everything back to normal!"

"Rainbow Dash, he's a draconequus, first of all. Besides, that won't solve anything! Not even Discord could-"

"You don't know that! He must have hid his true power!"

Just as Rainbow Dash and Twilight were about to butt heads, Pinkie Pie emerged from behind a burning tree and surprised everypony. She began to bounce up and down in her usual Pinkie way.

"Hey guys! I was hopping over to Rarity's house with Spike and I saw what happened to most of ponyville and it made me sad for a little but then I remembered this joke Rainbow Dash told me the other day with made me laugh and then I ended up at Rarity's house. I almost forgot why I was there for a second but then I remembered Twilight telling me 'Pinkie Pie, go see if Rarity is okay' so then I knocked on the door..."

One thing was certain, even after a tragic event like this happened, Pinkie Pie was still Pinkie Pie. However, it relieved Fluttershy a little. After something like this, everypony would need some cheering up.

"...And then we came back here and -GASP- Fluttershy, you're okay!" Pinkie stopped in mid air before gently settling down and running to give Fluttershy a hug. Rarity was right behind Pinkie as she waved to the others, although the expression on her face was far from happy.

"Have any of you seen Sweetie Belle?? I looked everywhere but I couldn't find my Sweetie Belle!" Rarity sobbed as she was comforted by the other girls. Applejack looked like she was about to cry, but she held it back.

"Applejack, where is the rest of your family?" Fluttershy asked bluntly. They might be checking the fields, or Ponyville for anypony else...

Instead, the orange mare put her head down. "Apple Bloom is out in the orchards, but...." the tears she had stored began to pour out now. Fluttershy was immediately sorry she brought it up.

"I'm-I'm sorry..." She said quickly, placing a hoof on Applejack's shoulder.

For the first time since Fluttershy woke up in this terrible world, the wind began to pick up. It felt bitter, as if the wind itself was dead as well. The girls looked up to see a dark cloud form over ponyville. As soon as this happened, Spike started coughing, and out came a letter. Twilight immediately opened it up and read its contents out loud:

Twilight Sparkle,

Princess Celestia

"What's going on?" Rainbow Dash said out loud. Just then, a loud boom came from the sky, and drops of rain began to pour onto the ponies. They all quickly ran for cover under the debris of the barn.

"Don't worry, I've got it!" Rainbow said in a confident voice as she flew up to the giant storm cloud. Fluttershy saw her friend fly quickly up to face the cloud, but as the rain hit her, Rainbow Dash began to scream.

"Ow Ow Ow!" Rainbow yelled as she fell back down to the ground. "It feels like it's burning me! I've never seen the rain do this!"

Twilight paused for a moment before responding: "Acid rain! Get away from it, Rainbow Dash!"

Rainbow wasn't going to let this acid rain stop her, Fluttershy knew. She flew as quickly as she could towards the cloud again, this time trying her best to avoid the drops. She eventually made it and proceeded to buck the cloud. However, her hooves just passed the clouds as if they weren't there.

"What?" Rainbow said with a puzzled look on her face. The cloud not only kept its form, but it got bigger as well!

"I can't do anything about the cloud!" Rainbow yelled as she zoomed down to the ruins of the barn. The rain was hitting her wings, which made them twitch a bit. Her flight pattern was shaky, but she made it down to the shelter of the barn.

Fluttershy didn't know what to do. We're stuck here until this rain goes away...IF it does.

"Applejack!"

It was Apple Bloom, running out from under an apple tree. She ran quickly and into her sister's arms, and both collapsed on the ground right in front of the others.

The sisters were crying as they held each other. Fluttershy heard the sound of magic being used, and saw the barn roon lift up right overhead. Twilight was able to lift up part of the barn roof to use as a shield.

"We have to try to get to Canterlot from here." Twilight said, straining as she did. Fluttershy knew that Twilight was able to perform magic like this, but she had never seen her strain so much. It was as if her magic was weaker now. "Hopefully the train is at the station..." The other girls looked on solemnly as Twilight gave a small smile. "It'll be okay, girls. Princess Celestia probably needs us to use the Elements of Harmony, and this will all be over." Apple Bloom began sniveling and a tear formed in Rarity's eye. As Rainbow Dash joined the girls under the roof, they all took off for the train station.

Fluttershy herself was just as depressed, even with Pinkie Pie trying to cheer everyone up. The yellow pony felt the wind die down a little bit, but the rain kept pouring. The sky was now gray, although a very twilight-esque feel could be seen on the horizon.

"Oh, I hope you're right, Twilight..." Fluttershy said softly as the 7 ponies and Spike all made their way to the station.

The rain didn't let up at all as the group wandered through what remained of the town they all knew and loved. After passing by Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie herself felt a little down as she saw the charred remains of her home. Rarity gave a sob as they passed her boutique, barely standing after the destruction that occurred.

Here, the rain began to pound harder, chipping away at the frail rooftop Twilight held above her friends' heads. Before long, her grip on the roof broke and it snapped in half. Panicking, Twilight yelled "Into the boutique!" To which everyone else immediately ran for it. The rain stung as it hit the ponies. Spike wasn't affected too much because of his dragon scales, but the air was still a little thick to breathe properly.

After scurrying into the little shelter they had, Twilight collapsed on the ground. "Are you okay!?" Applejack asked as she went to help. Twilight looked tired, as if she had been lifting a whole castle instead of a roof.

"I feel like my magic's been drained..." Twilight said breathlessly.

"I know this is Discord! I can feel it!" Rainbow Dash boasted, but nopony responded.

Rarity stepped from the group. "I know what I must do! I have to protect my dear friends!" She said with her front hoof over her face, and she ran to another room.

"Rarity," Applejack started with a stern look. "Ah don' think now's the right time to be makin' no dresses."

"Darling!" Rarity said in response. "This fabric is one of the rarest I have come across. It is said to be able to withstand deterioration! Meaning...we can use it to protect us from that dreadful rain!"

"That's good thinking, Rarity!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, jumping up and down. Doing so started shaking the whole building, leaving Rainbow to hold her down before their shelter came crashing down. The boutique was partly destroyed. Fluttershy caught a glance at it outside while she ran in. One room was completely destroyed, while the rest of it looked weak on its foundation.

One by one, each pony was outfitted by Rarity. "Stylish hoods, a most fascinating collar design...and yes, goulashes." This made Applejack smile. "Normally I wouldn't be seen with something so...unpleasing, but seeing the situation... I must reconsider!"

Fluttershy's mind was fixed on her animals, especially Angel. Oh I do hope he's okay... was all she thought about, even as Rarity threw a green hood above her head.

Before long, ten outfits were completed. "I call it..." Rarity started. "...My end of the world line! Even after something as dreadful as this - we simply cannot lose our own civil ways!"

"Leave it to Rarity to still worry about fashion even after the world ends." Rainbow Dash said with a smirk.

"Girls, don't say that!" Twilight said. "The world didn't...end..." the princess sounded like she was trying to convince herself of that as well.

Applejack interrupted. "Sugarcube, why did ya make ten of them outfits?"

"Darling, we must plan ahead! There's one for all six of us, one for Apple Bloom, one for...Sweetie B-Belle ...once...we f-f-find her...and...two extras: one for a mare or stallion, and one for a filly or colt." After saying this, she placed the extras in a saddlebag that she found along the floor. "I never knew nature could be so...uncouth at a time like this. The other ponies couldn't help but laugh.

Spike spoke up. "What about me, Rarity?"

Rarity replied, "Oh there's no way I could have forgotten about my Spikey-wikey! I made you a small fedora with the same material, darling!" She used her magic to place a fedora on the dragon's head. He sighed lovingly in response.

After everypony was fitted, Twilight spoke to the crowd. "Now then, let us get going! ...Or, would you like us to find Sweetie Belle, Rarity?"

A tear formed in her eye as she nodded slowly.

Twilight stepped up again. "I say we divide into two groups: Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and myself will go look for Sweetie Belle. Everypony else is to go to the station and wait there."

The others nodded in agreement as they went off in their separate ways.

Fluttershy, although confident that Rarity's invention would actually protect them from the acid rain, was still a little scared as she made an attempt to leave the shelter. The rain beat down on the earth, splashing up as it made contact. The pegasus squeaked when she saw a drop appear right in front of her.

"Oh!" She would give out a little squeal when the rain bounced off of her hood. Fluttershy gave a small smile as she heard Applejack calling for her: "Fluttershy, yer fallin behind!" The yellow pony ran after her friend in response.

It didn't take long to get to the train station. And to their luck, the train was still there. There was nopony inside, and it looked relatively unharmed. The rain slipped off the train's roof and onto the ground.The girls and spike all scrambled into one of the train compartments and sat down on the benches. Apple Bloom looked outside in tears as Applejack comforted her. Pinkie Pie was busy examining the front of the train to see if it would work.

Applejack spoke up first. "Where d'you suppose everypony is? Ah mean, there's nopony screaming fer help, no...bodies...no nothin!"

Fluttershy didn't want to respond to that. She had her own theory, but she didn't want to put any kind of image in her friend's head, especially in Apple Bloom's. No, this is just a bad dream...a nightmare, she thought to herself. One more look outside didn't help confirm that, though.

Pinkie Pie, however, managed to jump in. "I think everypony's hiding! Maybe they're throwing a surprise party! Wouldn't that be fun!! Oh, and the train won't work!" She said as she bounced through the compartment.

"Wait, why in tarnations not?" Applejack retorted, letting go of her distraught sister.

****************

"Sweetie Belle! Can you hear me, my dear!?" Rarity screamed out into the air. The acid rain made it hard for Rarity to even hear her own voice. Rainbow was flying slowly above her, with Twilight walking behind the both of them. They soon approached the schoolhouse, also destroyed and dismal. Rarity ran inside and called for her sister.

"Sweetie Belle!"

****************

Applejack, Fluttershy, and Spike all stared at Pinkie Pie. "You gonna explain yourself, sugarcube?" Applejack eyed the pink pony carefully, but Pinkie Pie was unmoved.

"Of course, silly!" Pinkie quickly said in reply. "Because none of us can drive a train!"

Applejack facehoofed.

Just then, a sound came from outside of the train. "It's Twilight!" Apple Bloom said as she saw the purple princess coming from a distance. "And Rainbow Dash, Rarity...and Sweetie Belle! Oh, is that Scootaloo too!? They're all okay, big sis!" She said excitedly. The train door opened and the girls were all reunited.

"Ah'm glad they're alright!" Applejack said, placing a hoof around her sister.

"They were hiding in the schoolhouse." Twilight said. "Nopony else was there, though...This is rather odd. Why could we only find Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo?"

"We might..um...have a problem." Fluttershy peeped as Rarity hugged her sister again. Twilight looked at her with a puzzled face.

"What's wrong, Fluttershy?" She asked.

"It's...um...well, you see..." the yellow pegasus stuttered as Pinkie Pie interrupted.

"There's no driver for this train and I'm not sure that any of us know how to drive it!" Pinkie gave a big squeaky smile, but it didn't help lighten the situation.

Twilight hesitated for a second, then her horn began to glow. With that, the entire train was surrounded by Twilight's purple aura...and it began to move! However, this took a great deal of stress out of the princess, and after a few minutes she collapsed. Her grip on the train broke as much as the train floor broke her fall.

"I'm sorry...it seems like my magic is being blocked somehow..." She said in a worried tone. Not only was the train rather large in the first place, but Fluttershy could sense that Twilight's magic was weaker as well.

"Wait!" Rainbow Dash stepped in. "Don't we just feed those rocks to the train to make it move?" Applejack nodded in agreement.

"Well, I suppose we could..." Twilight began as Rainbow Dash rushed into the front train compartment. She took about a dozen pieces of coal and threw it into the furnace. "Fire...Hey, Spike!" She said as the purple dragon stepped in. She pointed to the coal, to which he responded with a belch of flames. Pinkie Pie entered the room and began pushing all of the buttons.

"Pinkie! What are you doing?" Rainbow Dash said.

"I don't know!" Pinkie Pie responded. "But something's bound to happen eventually!"

Soon after, the train began to move. Rainbow got a feel for the controls, and after pushing Pinkie out of the room, made the train move faster. It screeched and hollered as it began chugging out of the station. The sudden movements made Fluttershy trip and fall. With a small smile, she found a seat and planted herself.

"Good work, girls! See, we can get through this!" Twilight said as the others sat down on the benches. Fluttershy nested herself in one of the benches, and looked to the other girls.

"Do...any of you...know what happened?" She asked in a small voice.

Twilight was the first to speak up. "Well..."