Derpy was having the time of her life. She was in a time machine. A time machine! This was more awesome than any Summer Sun Celebration could ever be!
"So, Doctor, where are we going?"
"You tell me. Forwards or backwards?" That was her friend, the Doctor. He was a dark grey pony in a black jacket who had a short, brown mane and smiled like a madpony. Oh, and then there were the ears. Huge. That's the only way to describe them.
"Forwards."
"How much?"
"Um... One hundred years." A few seconds of TARDIS travel later, they landed.
"Alright. Outside those doors, it's Princess Flurry Heart II's first time participating in the Summer Sun Celebration."
"Who's Princess Flurry Heart II? For that matter, who's Princess Flurry Heart I?"
"...Right, that hasn't happened to you yet. Further?"
"Further. 10,000 years in my future maybe?"
"You got it!" A few more seconds of TARDIS travel later, they landed.
"Step outside, it's the year 12005, the new Lunar Empire"
"...Lunar Empire?"
"Right. She was imprisoned in 1005, not 1000."
"You think you're so impressive, but you can't remember the year something important happened!"
"Right. You asked for it." Grinning like a madpony, he fiddled with some controls. "Hold on!"
The Doctor charged out of the TARDIS somewhat grandiosely, declaring:
"You ponies, spend so much time thinking about death, you never realise you might live!" Derpy followed him out,and wondered:
"So when have we lived to?"
"The year 5.5/🍎/26. Recently, the sun has been giving Celestia migraines, so she's gonna..." The doctor paused for effect as the sun turned red "Blow it up! Welcome, Derpy Hooves, to the end of Equestria!"
Suddenly, a voice came over the intercom:
"Shuttles nine and ten coming in. Shuttles five and six now docking. Visitors are reminded that The Platform forbids the use of weapons, teleportation and magic. Sun-death scheduled at 15:39, followed by drinks in the Manechester suite. Enjoy your visit to the end of Equestria."
"So why here, exactly, Doctor?"
"This is an obesrvation deck. A planet's burning, the great and the good are going to want to see it!"
"Why?"
"Fun. And it's not exactly the 'Great and Good'. It's the rich."
"Bureaucrats?"
"Eeyup." Derpy laughed at the way the Doctor confirmed.
"Excuse me, but I don't think you two are supposed to be here." A blue pegasus was standing ahead of them.
"And who are you then?"
"I am the steward. Could you please show me your tickets?"
"Ah, yes, of course." The Doctor pulled out a ticket-sized sheet of paper from a pocket in his jacket. "Here you go: The Doctor plus one, she's my plus one, her name is Derpy." The steward looked closely at the paper.
"Well, that seems to be in order. You didn't... teleport in, did you?" He handed back the paper.
"No, no. I wouldn't dream of it." The steward left, and at this point Derpy interjected:
"Can I see that?"
"Oh, yeah. sure."
"But it's blank!"
"No, it's slightly psychic. It shows you whatever the owner, me in this case, needs you to see."
"Presenting... The Moxx of Balhoon! A selection of trees, from the Forest of Cheem! The Face of Boe! The Adherents of the repeated meme!" Steward was reading off the guests as they came in.
Then came the time for gifts. The Trees were giving out cutting from their leader's grandfather, the Moxx was replying to gifts in kind, the Adherents were giving out metal balls as 'a gift of peace in all good faith' and the Doctor was giving air from his lungs.
"And now... presenting the one, the only, Lady Cassandra O'Brien.delta-17, the last Pegasus, and the last pony!" At this introduction, Derpy quickly hid her wings.
"No, no, Derpy, it's okay, she's only the last pure pegasus. Ponykind, you've spread across the stars! The Pegasi just... interbred with the aliens they met. They'll think you're half-Thal or something. By the way, do you have a scroll on you?"
"Yes, why?"
"This whole gift-giving thing reminded me. Here, I'll sonic it."
"What will it do?"
"It will allow you to write a letter to anyone, anywhere, anytime."
"How do I tell it where to go?"
"Just point and think."
"Okay. I'm gonna write to my mum."
"Do it in a side room, they have more advanced technology now."
"Okay. By the way, why Thal?"
"They all have yellow manes."
When Derpy found a private enough spot to write her letter, another blue pony came out of the vents.
"So you work here, then?" Derpy asked. The mare remained silent, and then mumbled:
"You have to give us permission to speak, miss."
"Oh. Well, permission granted."
"Yes, I do work here. There's something wrong with the vents."
"Oh, well I hope I wasn't disturbing you."
"No, it's okay. Soon have it sorted."
"Okay, thanks for the chat. Bye."
"Bye, miss."
The repair mare heard a scuttling deeper in the vents and chased after it. When she reached it, she saw a metal spider.
"Well, hello there. Are there more of you?" In response, dozens more dragged her into the vents, and nobody heard her scream...