It's Hearth's Warming Eve, and everypony is happy. Except for a little filly, sitting outside, trying to sell matches.

This is the ponified story of Hans Christian Andersen's classic The Little Match Girl. I'm sure most of you know it, but if you don't, now you do. I hope you enjoy.

This was written for the Equestrian Writers Guild's contest of fairytales.

Welcome to an Equestria where nothing remains. Everything is filled with a black dimness, and the apocalypse itself is nothing but a dreaded memory. This is a typical day in the nothing that is now Equestria.

Starlight Glimmer had heard of the rumors. She thought it couldn't be possible, she had finished off those mares decades ago. But she had to come see it for herself...confirm those little rumors and put them to rest for good.

Unfortunately for Starlight, her return is exactly what they've been hoping for.

Inspired by the ending of FNAF 3.

Twilight Sparkle enjoys spending a little time with the cutie mark crusaders, if only to pretend for a short time that her life could have been different.

Perhaps in some other timeline, with some other princess, a life where monsters and the salvation of Equestria isn't her responsibility... a life that she knows she will never have.

A simple life.

A happy life.

Thanks for inspiration goes to Mysticalpha for the short comic.