-Somewhere else, nowhere and everywhere. Beyond time.
"This has gone too far." An old man wielding a golden staff sentenced.
"But she has brought her world to a new era of perfect harmony and peace. How is that bad?" The bringer of miracles asked.
"Yes, but at the cost of an entire kind. How is that fair?" The ancient warrior replied.
"And even worse, she has altered the balance of order and chaos." Added the conscience of existence.
"Irrelevant, what she does with her universe only concerns to her." The wielder of the thunder contradicted.
"Then we should just ignore these acts, whether good or bad?" Was the question of the lord of order.
"Maybe." Was the answer of the dark one.
"NO!" The wrath of the Creator shouted. "She has crimes to answer for, vengeance must be delivered."
"You can't blame her more than you can blame a watch for the pass of time." Said the watchmaker.
"Chaos can not be denied. " Were the words of the chaos bringer.
"Then is clear that we're not of one mind." The sage concluded. "She must be judged."
The stranger looked up to the beings adobe him and whispered. "I know my position. The message will be delivered."
***
-New Canterlot, Earth.
The great palace stood in the middle of one of the biggest cities of the old world, although only a bunch of ponies remembered the original name of it, Celestia decided that it would be better to move the palace to a place more connected with the rest of this brave new world in order to be more closer to her subjects.
Five year have passed since the events of what the historians called "The unification."
Luna calculated that there where more than eight thousand million of ponies along with other species in the world, so they were looking for each one of them, even the changelings where under their protection (as far as they weren't attacking other beings).
New Canterlot was a beacon of true order, Celestia's pupil Twilight Sparkle along with her friends were in charge of that, meanwhile she and Luna watched for the rest of the planet. Everything was right with the earth.
Every adult had a job, every child had a proper education along with a hobby, everybody had a home. There were no crime, not even accidents. There wasn't rain if the pegasi in charge of the weather weren't sure that everypony under them had an umbrella first.
Almost nine thousand million of ponies and almost none complained, not even in private.
Almost none.
Since the disappearance of the humans Celesta had been questioning herself, she remembered the last day of humanity, she even remembered the exact coordinates where the barrier finally closed: Three degrees, five minutes and forty one seconds North. Fifty three degrees thirty five minutes and twenty five point five seconds East. Over five hundred kilometers from the Somali coast.
***
In a cruiser carrying the last of humanity Celestia awaited with them for the last moment.
"I'm sorry, I should have done better." The Princess of the sun was trying to keep her peace while at her side was the Captain, an old man whose eyes had seen it all across the world and even now his expression only said 'I dare you to show me something that I haven't seen before'.
"My Princess, you are not to blame for all of this."
"But I can't understand. Why you want to die here?"
The Captain looked at the ocean where the barrier was closing around the ship. "I can't tell for the whole humanity, or what is left of it." Lighting his pipe. "Every person here has a story for that." He pointed to the ship's bow where a couple was sharing a last kiss. "Those two over there for example, they love each other as a whole, virtues and defects for equal. None of them can stand to the idea of having even a minimal part of the other erased." Then he looked to the bar on board. "Others, like our HLF leader on the bar, just says that human race is superior to any other species and will prefer death before changing to something they consider lower." And he finally looked directly to the sun pony. "And some of us just want to finally have some peace."
"I still have enough potion for every human in this ship, it's not too late." Celestia made appear a wooden box full of jars filled with the serum. "You just have to drink it and you will..."
"Will renounce what makes us who we are? I've seen the effects of that drink you have there and I'm not interested in loosing part of what defines me."
"I..."
"You had the best intentions." The Captain said. "But at least I don't blame you." He finally smiled. "Now if you excuse me your highness, it's the end of the world and I'm not gonna face it sober." He walked away singing 'What should we do with the drunken sailor' and entered to the bar.
***
Now she was still trying to understand 'Why they chose death?' she was deep in her thoughs on the highest place she could find (the humans used to call it the Everest) when a silhouette appeared in the corner of her eye. At first the mysterious being was covered in shadows, despite of being at noon, but she could tell that it was covered with a cape that flowed like her mane. When she finally could see well she couldn't believe it.
"A human." She said without noticing that she said it out loud. In front of her was a man dressed in a formal black suit and covered with a blue cape and hat. all in perfect condition except for the shoes, they where nearly destroyed as if they where used to walk for a long time.
The caped figure stood still in front of her and with a voice that sounded like the calm of space he talked. "I'm sorry to disappoint you young sun, but I'm not more human than you are a pony."
"Who are you?" Then she remembered where they were, in a place where only she, Luna an Cadence would be capable of stand, but this one didn't show any sings of being bothered by the extreme cold and lack of oxygen around him. "Are you a ghost?" It was the only explanation in the alicorn's mind.
"Neither a ghost nor a mortal, but always a Stranger." The Phantom answered. "I'm here to deliver a message to the Princess of the Sun."
"Here I am." Beside all of her doubts she was still the ruler of the Earth and she stood strong in front of the Stranger.
"Very well then. The higher powers of the other realms want your presence with them to discuss about the fate of this world." Said the Stranger without showing a single emotion.
"Sorry but my ponies need me, Luna can't handle all of this by herself." She looked away, seeing this being was like seeing at those who she failed.
"I'm afraid that this is beyond your choice." His expression softened a little. "But I can explain to your family and subjects where are you going." Now she was sure that the Phantom was showing compassion.
Before Celestia could add anything the Stranger took her hoof in his hand transporting both to a place beyond mortal reach.