//------------------------------// // Prologue: Affected // Story: A Fear Worse Than Most Feared // by Josh Crapo //------------------------------// ..."Hey mom! First day at Ponyville Elementary! It was really fun. On the off hoof, I don’t usually get much homework. That’s a plus. I hear that a pony graduates a full school year after they get their cutie mark. Well, I’m off. I better get started on that algebra."... ..."Come in, Station Canterlot. Do y’read? Ah repeat. Do y’read? We’re gettin’ rumors that Ponyville is wiped off the map. Is it true?" "Hear ya loud ‘n clear, Station Appleoosa. From the looks of it, Ponyville seems fine at the- wait. What’s happening?"... ..."I need to reach my daughter! S-she attends Ponyville Elementary! Every building in Ponyville looks to’ve collapsed! Perfect Pitch, if you hear this, please come to Canterlot. Come for me, okay?"... ..."Still getting word from all nearby towns that it seems Ponyville has somehow turned to rubble and dust. Somehow, no other city in Equesrria seems to have witnessed any effects from this. And now, let’s see what the ninth Princess of Friendship, Cloudy Glisten, has to say about this matter."... "*Cough* Good, I got a signal. *Sigh* As some of Equestria may know by now, a few days ago, Ponyville was mysteriously wiped off the face of the earth *Cough* *Cough* Only select few from former Ponyville have survived up to this point. And since these past few days, Canterlot and Cloudsdale are the only safe places now *Cough* *Cough* Even in those places, dust has been getting very dense. And now, the weather doesn’t work properly anymore because of it… It’s quite a shock I’d be the last Princess of Friendship in Equestria *Coughing spell* Even the royal pony sisters are getting ill from the rising dus.t.. *Coughing spell* The only thing we could do for now is p- *Cough* plan for the worst *Coughing Spell* and exp...ct the bes…" A natural disaster, that’s what this all is. A natural disaster. Equestria has witnessed quite a few natural disasters by other countries for well over a century ever since the first Princess of Princess started her three term reign. Every term as the Prince or Princess of Friendship is 527 moons, approximately five years. The point of this system is to ensure there’s more than one pony to go to for those who encounter in a friendship problem. Down the list of Princesses of Friendship, the ponies who’ve gained this title were as follows: Twilight Sparkle, serving three terms Starlight Glimmer, serving two terms Diamond Tiara, serving three terms Flurry Hearts, serving five terms Blue Flow, serving three terms Nova Blink, serving three terms Flame Rush, serving two terms Stellar Shine, serving three terms Finally, as of today, it’s been one hundred and thirty two years since Twilight Sparkle began her first term as the Princess of Friendship. Cloudy Glisten has been on her third term for almost two years. Unfortunately, she’d died in throne as she’s succumbed to the risen dust. it’s been half a week and all of Equestria lays in heavy dust, sending ponykind on its knees. Ponies move underground and keep dust away from the foods they have left. And their supply is running out. All seems lost. This is the story of the last nine survivors of Equestria.