//------------------------------//
// Equus is Dying, Earth is Surviving 
// Story: The Great Transition 
// by Bronyfordays 
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I sighed as I gathered my belongings, 'what else do I need?' I thought to myself. I checked my list of things I needed to pack, 'only the essentials,' I repeated in my head. "Let's see," I said aloud, "I've got my data chip, extra food and water in case of an emergency, portable computer, headset for long range talking, and my photo book. I think that about covers it!" I turned around, put my travel pack on my back, and went out the door, "Spike!" I called as I went downstairs. 

"Hang on!" came Spike's voice from his room.

I sighed and waited at the front door, this gave me time to think of everything that has happened in the last 20 years. My name is Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship and Element of Magic. Born nearly 40 years ago, I was an isolated pony when I was young. Always wanting to study and read, I never had any true friends. Until I went to Ponyville, there, I met my five very best friends. We went on so many adventures together in this wonderful land. Eventually, I became a princess which, let me tell you, was hard work. That was back in my early 20s. Even though we had our struggles, life was pretty good in Ponyville. Eventually, technology started advancing too. 

There were luxuries we never even dreamed of! Computers were soon being made, which used voice control systems for navigating. Long range headsets were made to communicate with one another, and the newest advancement, was the construction of spaceships. They were in early development when the news came. That was ten years ago, a year of twisting emotions for me. 

By this time, four of my friends had actually starting dating somepony else. Rainbow Dash was finally a wonderbolt at this point, and she started to date this tall stallion by the name of Flaming Strike. Applejack was still a hard working farm pony who, to our surprise, started dating Rarity of all ponies, who by the way, was a top fashion designer. Then there was Pinkie Pie, she surprisingly, announced that she was dating a changeling by the name of Prickle. Changelings were now allies to us after Queen Chrysalis had a shocking change of heart. Though ponies were apprehensive, and still are today at times, Celestia agreed to the peace treaty. That left Fluttershy and I, though Fluttershy eventually found a stallion much like herself, together they started an animal shelter. This shelter was now the largest one in all of Equestria, though it won't really matter now.

Anyway, depressing thoughts aside, later that year the news came. Delivered by Celestia herself via our portable hologram emitters, it stated that somehow, our planet Equus was dying. Even she didn't know why, this nearly caused world wide panic as news spread to other kingdoms. Luckily, Celestia stated that all citizens of Equestria were allowed to go on the three massive ships that were to lead us to our future. Other intelligent beings on Equus tried to head to Equestria so they could leave too, but Celestia had closed the borders. There was no way we could take every life form on the planet into space. 

Sadly, some empires didn't like that, so they tried to start wars with us. But their leaders thought against it since Equestria was the most technologically advanced nation. So the years went by as we prepared for The Great Transistion, as Celestia had called it, for we would be transitioning to a new life. Today we were ready.

"Um...Twilight?" Twilight was snapped out of her thoughts as she was poked in the side by Spike. "Ready?" 

Twilight looked at Spike, he was pretty much her height by now. He was a purple dragon with green spikes trailing down his back. Twilight sighed again, she remembered all the good fun they had here. He was like a little brother to her.

"Yes, I'm ready Spike," I said and we exited my old castle. As we trotted along to the train station that led to Canterlot, I looked around the ghost town of Ponyville. There was no sign of life, the streets were empty, it seemed so surreal to me. We passed Sugarcube Corner, a popular hangout for my friends and I. After a depressing and quiet walk, we made it to the station. There were only a few ponies left getting on the train, looked like nine. Plus the conductor, so ten. Me and Spike got up on the platform and took a look at the train.

It was the newest model, a sleek blue passenger train. It had a pointed tip at both the front and back. Magic combined with the technology made the train go decently fast, we would be at Canterlot within twenty minutes. 

"Pwincess?" I heard a child's voice from behind, I turned around to see a filly, couldn't be older than four. Though she seemed familiar, that blue body with short red hair that had a purple streak in the middle. Oh that's right! Bon Bon's filly. She just stared at me with adorable eyes, despite all the sadness inside, I couldn't help but smile at the cute filly before me.

"Sugarcane!" I heard what sounded like Bon Bon's voice across the station. I turned to see Bon Bon and Lyra heading towards me and Sugarcane. They noticed me as they came galloping over, "Hi Princess!" Bon Bon said as she picked up Sugarcane. 

I rolled my eyes, "How many times have I told you girls to just call me Twilight!" 

"Oops, sorry Twilight," Bon Bon giggled. 

Lyra looked at me confused, "Shouldn't you be prepping for the launch back in Canterlot?" 

"Yes," I said, "I just came back to grab a few things...and say goodbye to the town." I started choking up at that statement, I still couldn't believe we were leaving. After ten long years, I just still couldn't wrap my head around it.

I noticed the silence and saw the sorrowful stares of my friends and decided to change the subject, "So, where's Night Watcher?" I asked, wondering where Bon Bon's husband was.

"Oh!" Bon Bon's head snapped to attention, "He's over there with his two friends." She pointed a hoof to where three stallions were. 

I was about to say something when the doors to the train slid open, signifying that we could get on. As we all climbed aboard, I took one last look behind me at the town I called home. Then, I entered, hoping that our new life would be just as great.





"Remember how I told you to hold it," I said, watching my little sister practice shooting with a rifle. "Aim using the sights, make sure they're aligned correctly. Don't forget your stance. Now, make sure you're aiming at your target. Don't anticipate the recoil, relax, get comfortable with the rifle, now fire when ready," I watched as my sixteen year old sister fired the hunting rifle, at the tree a couple yards away. I could see the tree's bark get a hole straight through it from the bullet. "Great job!" I said enthusiastically. She was getting better.  

My name is Jack Stephens, a twenty year old male born in a space station. Yes, you heard that right. A long time ago, people wouldn't have believed it. But that was before nuclear war ravaged the planet over 400 years ago. It was a hard time, the year 2050, but the Alliance predicted it would happen, so they somehow built a spacestation. They brought up centuries worth of space food and 100 volunteers along with it. They built a little farm on one end and a water maker on the other end. Feats that were deemed impossible in the early 20th century, but in the 1950s, technology had started to advance greatly. Then in the year 2050, as predicted, bombs fell in the major cities of Earth, killing nearly every one on the planet. The Alliance, luckily, sent off the rockets containing the 100 volunteers right before the bombs fell. 

If you're wondering who the Alliance was, it was a massive group of countries that formed together to fight the Terrors, the remaining countries of Earth. The Alliances had the upper hand, so the Terrors launched 100 nukes across the world. The Alliance got word of this and fired back. The 100 volunteers watched in horror as mushroom clouds filled the skies. That was the last time any human set foot on Earth, humanity was nearly extinct. But the volunteers kept on living, doing their best to survive. 

Now if you're wondering how I know all this, it's because my family and our village are ancestors of the original volunteers. Now, there are 200 of us, we have farms, a source of purified water, and even a leader, my dad. Or at least it was my dad, technically it's me now. This is because my dad is sick, he's going to pass away soon. I must do my best to bring humans back, I must look to the future. 

If you're also wondering how we're back on Earth, well that's simple. Apparently, while doing a satellite check, the first one in 50 years, my dad found that somehow, plants were regrowing on the Earth's surface, and rapidly too. It was astonishing, impossible even. As if the Earth had magic in it or something. I know that sounds stupid, but while doing the satellite check, my dad noticed a strange anomaly present in the Earth's atmosphere. But then it was gone, just like that. 

So with this news in hand, everyone went back to Earth to check it out. I was one month old at the time so I don't remember much, but my dad said it was a glorious sight. We landed in the ruins of New York City, and once everyone stepped out of the five rocket ships, they were astounded to see not just beautiful plant life. But animals too, and I'm not talking about those mutated ones, though there are plenty, but real live everyday animals! My dad says it was just a miracle, but I think it was something more. Whether it be God, aliens, or Earth itself. Maybe even a magical being from another world, ok maybe not that last one. But the point is, it saved us from being stuck on that damn spacestation for all eternity.

So, we went about looting everything, taking guns for protection and hunting, grabbing tools for building and all that jazz, we even have a steady supply of books to read. Since then, the village has become bigger and bigger, with a trading system and even a small police force. My dad was the main man, mostly because he was pretty intelligent. Now since my dad is sick, I have to lead the village. So that's two things I have to worry about. 

"Jack?" I heard my sister say my name, I looked over at her, she looked fairly concerned. "You alright?"

"Yeah," I lied. She looked at me, not believing me one bit. 

"Is it about dad?" She asked.

"Partly," I sighed.

"He's going to survive, right?" She was worried, I could tell. We lost mom a year ago to a sickness, now dad was ill. I was silent for a second, "Right?" She asked again.

"Yes," I knew it wasn't true. He was going to die eventually, I just couldn't tell her. I looked at the food we managed to gather, plenty of meat plus fruits and vegetables. Enough to last us a while, I could even probably hand in some of the hide for clothes. We tried using all the parts of the animal, most of the time we did. "Come on Sarah, let's head back." 

We headed back down the streets of old New York, looking at the destruction the bombs did. But also looking at how beautiful nature was, we still couldn't understand how it happened. Eventually we reached the street our village was on. There were two guard posts on either side of the street to make sure nothing could get in. The two guards on the east end nodded as we entered the village, it was composed of makeshift tepees and stands with awnings above them. Most of the houses were built out of the old buildings on the street.

My assistant, Anthony Williams, noticed me and ran up to us. He was an african american with short hair. He was pretty muscular, which is why I also chose him to be captain of the police force.

"Anything of interest?" I asked him. 

"Well," he started, and by the look on his face he had a couple things in mind. But getting a closer look, his face wasn't distressed, which probably meant they were good things. "The farms are still very prosperous this season. Everyone has enough food for the week, maybe even a month!" 

I nodded, this was definately good, last year food supplies were relatively new. "What else?"

"Let's see," he looked at his list, he really liked lists for some reason. Come to think of it, he liked anything to do with paper. Books, art, writing. He was kind of an egghead. But I didn't mind at all, after a couple seconds, he looked back up. "Sally made a full recovery." 

"That's great!" Sally, a 17 year old, was hunting when she tripped over a rock and fell into a ditch. She sprained her ankles and needed to be carried back. I knew she would be okay, but you always should be cautious. "Anything else?"

"Umm...oh yeah. The head nurse wanted to see you," he said. Then put his hand to his chin in contemplation, "Though I don't know why."

I sighed, it was probably about Dad. I looked up at the sky, it was getting dark out, I could already see some stars. I told Sarah to bring the food to our house, parted ways with Anthony, and solemnly headed towards the makeshift hospital. People waved to me and I waved back, people smiled and I smiled back. My dad told me once that he was happy to see everyone so friendly to eachother, way back when, everyone hated and distrusted eachother. That's how the war came about, but now, everybody is friends with everybody. To honor my dad, I'm going to make sure it stays this way.

Eventually, I made it to the hospital, inside what looked to be a movie theater. I walked in and there was Head Nurse Thompson waiting for me at a desk. She was a red head and 25 years old, yes I know the names and ages of everyone in the village. To be honest, I kinda thought she was attractive, she had good looks and a beautiful smile, and gorgeous... 

"S...so, what's up?" I said, taking my mind off her body.

She sighed, uh oh, that's not good. "I don't know how to tell you this, but your dad has a month to live." 

My face went pale, I couldn't find a word to say. One month?! I couldn't believe it, a couple days ago, Thompson said he'd be fine for a while, "H...how'd you find out?" 

"He has a deadly disease, not going to explain it, but I figured it out by how long he's been sick." She bit her lip, "But that's just an estimate, it could be later...or sooner."

I felt dizzy, this was too much to comprehend. 

"Have you not told Sarah yet?" Thompson asked. I shook my head, then felt even more dizzy. She sighed, "Go home and tell her."

"B...but..." I stuttered.

"No buts, go. I have work to do. But, Jack..." I was partially out the door when she stopped me, "I'm sorry." I nodded and left the hospital, it felt like a dream as I walked to my house. I called to Sarah from outside and she walked out. 

"What's up?" she asked. She had no idea.

"Let's go to the Site," I told her. We walked towards the spot just outside the village where my family and I would just sit, laugh and talk about things. Once we got there, we sat down in the smooth grass. Yet, before I could even say anything, Sarah started crying. "Sarah?! What's wrong?!"

She started sniffling as tears fell down her face, "Dad's gonna die soon, isn't he?"

I froze, she knew?! I didn't know what to do, but whenever Sarah and I were sad, our father would always hug us and talk to us in a calm voice. Now, I wasn't our dad, but I was all she had at the moment. So, quickly as I could, I wrapped my arms around her.

"It's ok, sis. He's still got some time left in him," I tried to calm her. "Don't forget what he said, 'a Stephen is strong.'" I said that in a very deep voice. That got a giggle out of her.

"I always thought that was the cheesiest saying ever," she said. "Still, I'm gonna miss him." I could still see tears running down her face, but she wasn't making noises anymore. 

"I will too, but remember, we still have each other. Which I know is overused," I said, she giggled again. "But it's true."

She actually smiled and looked up at me. Maybe I wasn't bad at this thing after all. "You're right. He wouldn't want us crying over him anyway."

"Yes, exactly," I said letting go of her. "Just remember, he'll always be in our hearts." 

She rolled her eyes, "You are just full of those dumb sayings aren't you?"

"Maybe," I said. Then I looked at the stars, Sarah following my example. 

"You really think there are other life forms out there?" she asked.

I lied down, hands on my head, "Yeah, I just have this feeling, you know?"

"You have all kinds of feelings," she said, smiling as she lay down beside me.

"Yeah," I said. Then I realized what she was inferring, "What are you saying?" 

"I've seen the way you look at Miss Thompson," she said slyly.

"Hey!" I punched her arm slightly as she laughed. Then I looked back to the stars, "Well, maybe in the future, we'll see those life forms."

Sarah snorted, "Whatever, bro."