“Darling, you look absolutely dreadful.”
It was Rarity speaking, the human Rarity. She’d come by to drop off the rest of the protective suits they needed for today’s expedition.
“I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night,” Sunset replied. Her dreams had been filled with dust and rot and decay.
Rarity held up a scolding finger. “You’ll be of no use to anyone if you don’t take care of yourself, dear.”
“Noted.”
“Regardless,” Rarity said, “Here are your suits. From my boutique to your, erm, tent.”
The neatly folded bundles of cloth changed hands. “Thanks, Rarity,” Sunset said, smiling. “You’re a life-saver.”
“I try.”
“Alright,” Sunset said, turning towards the five ponies-turned people lined up against the wall of the tent. “Here you go. Put these on.”
She handed a suit each to Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity (the pony Rarity), and Fluttershy.
“What are these for?” asked Applejack.
“They’re just a precaution,” Sunset said. “But they’ll also keep the dust off of your clothes.”
She turned around, scooped a set of respirator masks off of one of the tables. “These are more important,” she said. “They’ll keep the dust out of your eyes and lungs. You probably don’t want to be breathing too much of the stuff.”
“Got it,” Applejack said.
“And these,” Sunset said, gesturing to a line of metal casings, “are your Black Boxes. Twilight, do you want to explain?”
Twilight nodded. “They’re equipped with a variety of sensors, as well as communication equipment. They’ll allow us to stay in radio contact while you’re in the field, and provide us with a lot of data back here in the tent.”
Half of that seemed to have gone over the ponies’ heads, but they nodded anyway.
Twilight gestured towards the mess of devices and electrodes attached to the pedestal.
“Now, this is the Can Opener,” she said. “The Can Opener discharges a series of arcano-electrical pulses which interact with the remaining magic in the pedestal, temporarily re-opening the wormhole that connects our worlds. The duration that the portal remains open is proportional to the strength of the pulse when we open it, which is why we use that capacitor bank over there. Once it’s open, it self-sustains until the initial charge dissipates.
“Because of this, we don’t have much leeway in keeping the portal open. We have an emergency shut-off, but if we use it, we don’t conserve any time. It’s back to square one.”
“Luckily, we built up plenty of charge over the last couple days,” Starlight said. “So don’t worry about taking things a little slow. You should have a little over three hours before the portal closes.”
Twilight nodded. “Right. But try not to waste time, either.”
“Don’t be slow,” Rainbow said. “Got it.”
“That about sums it up,” Sunset said, stepping forward. “So, here’s the plan. We’re going to split into three groups of two. The castle’s on the edge of town, so we’ll fan out. Each group will go straight on until they reach the end of town, then double back. We’ll regroup at the castle.”
Rainbow scratched the back of her neck. “Why groups of two? We could cover more ground on our own. Heck, I could probably cover all of Ponyville myself from the air!”
Sunset shook her head. “Remember, you won’t be a pony when you cross over. Twilight hasn’t got that aspect of the portal working.”
“Yet,” Twilight interjected. “I’m still working on it.”
“Right,” Sunset said. “So you’ll still be human on the other side. And we’re splitting up into groups of two because it’s safer, just in case… just in case we run into something.”
“Run into something? Like what?” Rarity asked.
“I don’t know,” Sunset replied. “Probably nothing, but… well, we still don’t know what caused all of this.”
“It’s just a precaution,” Starlight added.
“Right.” Sunset nodded. “Alright, everybody. Let’s get suited up, and then it’s back to Equestria.”
Sunset was the first to step through the portal. Her skin prickled, hair standing on end as she passed between worlds, but she was used to that by now.
She looked around. The same disorganized library greeted her.
In her hands was the cable. She dragged it over to the balcony, plugged it into the back of the radio antenna. “Testing,” she said into her mic. “Can you hear me, Twilight?”
“Loud and clear,” came Twilight’s response over the earpiece. “Alright, everypony, we’re good to go. One at a time through the wormhole, please.”
“So we just… walk through?” Rarity asked.
“Yep,” Starlight replied. “The same way you came here.”
It was Rainbow Dash, not Rarity, who came through the portal first. She stumbled a little.
“Whoa,” she said. “That is trippy.”
“It’s always worse on the way back,” Sunset said. “So be ready for that.”
“Roger.”
Next through was Applejack, then Pinkie (”Ooh, tingly!”), Rarity, and finally Fluttershy.
“Well,” Rarity said, looking around. “This place could certainly do with some tidying up.”
“I, uh, think there’s bigger concerns at the moment, Rarity,” Applejack replied. “Where’d all this dust come from?”
“We’re not sure yet,” Sunset said.
“It sure seems like there’s a lot you don’t know,” Rainbow said, “and not a lot you do know.”
Applejack elbowed her in the side. “Rainbow!”
“What? It’s true!”
“She’s right, unfortunately,” Sunset said, settling the two down. “Hopefully that’ll change soon.”
“I think we all want the same answers, darling,” Rarity said, laying a hand on Rainbow’s shoulder. “Let’s give Sunset and the others the benefit of the doubt, shall we?”
That settled, the group began to move. Down the hallway, down the stairs, through the throne room and into the entranceway, until at last they stood before the doors to the castle.
Sunset reached for the door handles, hesitated.
“You, um… you might want to brace yourselves. It’s not pretty.”
“How bad is it?” Fluttershy asked.
“Pretty bad.”
“Well, we’re not going to find anything if we don’t go out there,” Applejack said. She grabbed the other door handle.
Sunset nodded. Together, they opened the door…
“Sweet Celestia…”
You could see the state of things even here, even at the edge of the town. A series of gasps escaped the lips of the ponies.
“What…” Rainbow started. “What happened?”
Pinkie swallowed. Uncharacteristically, she said nothing. Fluttershy seemed to shrink, stepping back behind the other girls. And Applejack… Applejack just stared, stared at the sprawling landscape of browns and greys and silence.
It was Sunset who interrupted the moment of horror.
“I know,” she said. “I know. But we don’t have time to waste.”
And Applejack took a deep breath, and said, “Sunset’s right. We’re on the clock, here.”
This seemed to snap the others out of their daze.
Sunset stepped forward, took command. “Alright, everypony,” she said. “Pinkie, Rainbow, you two are a team. You search that way.” She pointed to the right.
“R-roger!”
“Applejack, Fluttershy, you go that way,” Sunset continued, pointing in the opposite direction.
Applejack nodded her agreement. “Fluttershy’s cottage is in that direction. We’ll check on the animals.”
“Good. Rarity, you and I will go straight through the middle of town.”
“Understood,” Rarity said.
“Try to cover as wide of an area as you can,” Sunset said. “You’ll be in constant radio contact with Twilight, so let her know if you find anything. Starlight will keep you updated on how much time is left. Alright?”
Everyone nodded their agreement.
“Okay, everypony,” Sunset said, turning around. “Let’s get this done.”
“It’s so… quiet,” Rarity said, breaking the silence.
“It’s the dust,” Sunset replied. “It muffles everything.”
The two of them were about halfway through the town, now; a little further than Sunset had made it in her last journey. They continued down the street they were on until they reached the town center. Town Hall loomed over them, a grim tower in the fading light.
“I shudder to think what’s become of my Carousel Boutique,” Rarity said. “Perhaps Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash have come across it. It was in their direction.”
Rarity was doing her best to keep face, but Sunset could hear the desperation that underlay her words.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Sunset lied. She wasn’t sure of any such thing.
“I hope so,” Rarity answered. “I do hope so.”
They continued onward for some time. Sunset had taken the lead, Rarity trailing behind her.
“Um… darling,” Rarity said; Sunset turned around.
Rarity was staring at her gloves. “Is it… normal for humans not to be able to feel their fingers?”
“Not usually,” Sunset said. “Twilight?”
“It might be a side-effect of crossing through the portal,” came Twilight’s voice through the earpiece. “We really don’t know what kind of effects trans-universal travel might have on the body.”
Sunset looked at Rarity. “Do you want to head back?”
Rarity shook her head. “Not at all.”
“Alright,” Sunset said. “Then we’ll keep going. Let me know if it gets worse, alright?”
“Of course.”
On they went, past broken buildings, dead flowerbeds, abandoned items, and the thin layer of dust that seemed to cover all of it.
Eventually, their street (if one could call it that; it was more of a dirt road) ended.
“Which way, Rarity?” Sunset asked.
No response.
“Rarity?”
“Oh!” Rarity started. “Oh, um… left, I should think.”
“Everything okay?” Sunset asked.
“Fine,” Rarity replied. “Just fine.”
“Sunset,” Rarity said. “Do you think we could make a… small detour?”
Sunset turned her head. The other girl was trailing behind, just a little.
“Why?” she asked. “Where do you want to go?”
“Well, my parents’ house is right over there,” she said, pointing. “I thought we could perhaps go and pick up some blankets and such.”
“Sounds fine to me,” Sunset said. “Twilight?”
“You’ve got plenty of time. Just be careful.”
“Will do.”
The two of them headed off down the side street Rarity had gestured towards. Eventually, they came to a house. Miraculously, it was still in one piece.
Rarity let out a breath.
“You okay?” Sunset asked.
“I’m just glad… well, you know.”
“Mhm.”
The door to the house hung open on loose hinges. It creaked slightly as they stepped inside. Sunset found herself holding her breath; it was like she’d intruded on a tomb. But, of course, it was an empty one.
She hoped.
“I’ll just be a minute,” Rarity said, stepping forwards. “The linen closet is at the back of the house.”
“Alright,” Sunset replied. She stood there awkwardly as Rarity disappeared off down the hall, into what looked like a kitchen.
Her eyes wandered. There were photographs on a short table beside the door. One depicted what Sunset assumed was a younger Rarity; the mane certainly matched the girl’s hair. Another was a pony Sunset couldn’t recognize, with a white coat and pink and purple mane, and a bare flank. A third photo showed Rarity and the other pony in front of a pair of adults, a stallion and a mare. Sunset guessed that those were Rarity’s parents.
It felt… strange, to see ponies again, after so long, even if just in a photograph. Sunset found herself staring. She’d just gotten used to humans, she supposed.
It was also interesting to see the pony version of someone she’d only known as a human. Usually it was the other way around, for her. Finding human versions of ponies she recognized. Though she supposed she’d gotten used to that, too.
She was still staring when Rarity reemerged, a pile of blankets in her arms. Rarity followed her gaze and chuckled.
“My parents do love their photographs,” she said. “The house is full of them.”
“Sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?” Rarity looked around. “Perhaps on our next trip I should attempt to salvage some of them. Just in case.”
“Who’s this pony next to you?” Sunset asked, pointing at the family photo.
“That’s my sister, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity replied.
The name brought recognition. “Oh! Oh, right, that makes sense. Our—the human Rarity has a sister named Sweetie Belle, too.”
Rarity’s eyebrows raised. “Let’s hope they never meet. Sweetie may be a darling, but I don’t think either world could handle two of her.”
Sunset chuckled. “Or the rest of her friends, either.”
Rarity did not chuckle.
“Celestia forbid.”
It took a while before Sunset noticed the buzzing. It was quite faint, like a mosquito.
They were near the outskirts of town, now. The larger buildings had given way to smaller cottages, with more space between them.
“What is that?” Sunset said aloud. Rarity did not reply, but Sunset was too focused on the sound to appreciate that.
She listened close. It was an odd sound, out of place amongst the dust-choked silence. It came in intervals; a buzz, then a pause, then more buzzing, a pause, and repeat. On closer listen, it sounded… almost artificial, too rhythmic to be natural. On second thought, not like an insect at all.
“Do you hear that?” Sunset asked, not waiting for a response. It was coming from somewhere in front of them, but she couldn’t quite…
“Sunset, I… I don’t feel…”
And then there was a new noise. Behind Sunset.
And this wasn’t a buzzing noise.
Sunset whipped around. Rarity was on the ground.
“Rarity?” she said, then again, running towards her, “Rarity!?”
She put her hand on the other girl’s shoulder, flipped her over. Her eyes were open; she wasn’t unconscious, but her gaze was distant. The blankets she’d been carrying lay strewn on the ground, forgotten.
Sunset pulled her up by her shoulders. “Rarity, can you hear me?”
“Sunset… I don’t feel… right…”
Sunset swallowed. “Twilight, can you hear me?”
“What’s up?
“Rarity collapsed,” Sunset said.
“What!?”
Now that Sunset was closer, she could see that Rarity’s pale skin had taken on a sickly grey pallor.
“Tell me what you’re feeling,” Sunset said.
“Numb… And—”
Rarity coughed. Red spattered across the front of her suit.
“Twilight, is anyone else feeling any numbness?”
“I’ll ask, hold on…”
Her reply took but a few moments.
“Rainbow and Fluttershy say they are, in their fingers and toes.”
“Alright,” Sunset said. “Get everyone back to the portal. Now!”
Sunset slipped her arm under Rarity’s, hoisted her to her feet. “Can you walk?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
She turned back towards the castle, too small in the distance, and began moving the two of them as quickly as she dared towards it.
“I’m going to get you back,” Sunset said. “Just hold on. For Celestia’s sake, just hold on!”
Sunset and Rarity were the last to arrive at the tent. Pinkie, Rainbow, Applejack and Fluttershy had all made it back before them; they looked on in horror as Sunset stumbled through the portal, Rarity barely holding on to her shoulder.
Applejack and Rainbow rushed forwards, took hold of Rarity and gently laid her down on the floor. Sunset collapsed to her knees, her breathing heavy. She was spent.
Twilight ran over to her. “Are you okay?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“Call an ambulance,” Sunset gasped out.
“Wait, we can’t—” Twilight stammered. “W-we can’t bring her to a hospital. She isn’t supposed to exist!”
“And she will stop existing if we don’t,” Sunset snapped. “Call. An. Ambulance. We’ll figure it out later.”
Twilight pulled her phone out, stood up. Sunset took the moment to catch her breath, then focused on Rarity.
“How’s she doing?” She asked.
“She’s breathing,” Fluttershy said; she seemed to have taken over. “But unconscious.”
“Twilight’s calling a doctor,” Sunset said. “Is she going to be okay?”
No answer. Sunset grit her teeth. She turned to Rainbow. “You were feeling numbness too, right?”
“We all were, by the end,” Applejack said. She was panting, Sunset noticed. “And weak. Felt like all my strength was bein’ sucked out of me.”
“So, all of you were… were being affected by this?”
They nodded.
“I don’t understand…” Sunset said. “I’ve never—”
“Alright,” Twilight interrupted. “Paramedics are on their way.” Her phone was still in her hand.
Sunset stared at it for a moment. Why? She wasn’t quite sure.
Her phone.
A phone.
Phone.
Sunset’s eyes grew wide as realization set in.
“I need to go back,” she whispered, then louder: “I need to go back.”
“What?”
She stumbled to her feet. Twilight ran over to her, supported her. “What are you talking about? You’re in no shape—”
“Don’t worry about me. Focus on the others. They’re more important right now.”
“But—”
“I’ll be back in no time, okay?” Sunset tried her best to look convincing. “Promise.”
And with that, she went back through the portal.
Sunset ran. She ran as fast as her weary legs would take her. Through the castle halls. Down the stairs, through the entranceway, out into Ponyville. Past houses and restaurants and candy shops, past flowerbeds and driveways and cottages, until she was back on the outskirts of town, where she’d been with Rarity not that long ago.
She stopped, listened. There it was again, the buzzing, barely audible over her own laboured breaths. She turned her head one way, then the other; the sound was coming from ahead of her. She stumbled towards it.
It carried her further out of the town, off the paths and into a field. In the distance, the shadow of the Canterhorn loomed.
Something white caught Sunset’s eye, then, in the middle of the brown, withering grass. She stumbled towards it. As she grew nearer, the thing started to take shape.
It was a pile of bones. Pony bones. Swimming in a puddle of rot, just like the bird had been, in her first trip to this forsaken place.
Sunset grew closer, her hand to her mouth. She could see a horn, jutting out of the skull…
…and a pair of wings.
“No,” Sunset breathed. “No, no, no…”
She was upon it now. Her breaths were quick, she felt faint. Her eyes were wide, her pupils small.
Sunset collapsed to her knees.
There was only one pony this could have been.
Only one.
Because there, in the skeleton’s hooves…
…was a brown journal, emblazoned with a picture of the sun.
An inhuman wail filled the air. It took Sunset a few moments to realize it was her own.