Tales of First Contact: Tragedy

by Banjo64

The Global Sacrifice

The merging of our worlds was just as disastrous as predicted. Entire continents fell beneath the ocean. Countless species of life were wiped out. Civilization, human, pony, or otherwise, ground to a halt as our cities crumbled and our borders twisted.

And yet, we survived. We survived, and were able to begin rebuilding.

We put aside our dreams and desires to focus on restoring what was lost. Our mission was to rebuild the world so that our children would be able to continue our way of life as if this disaster never happened. With human ingenuity and pony magic combined, it really did seem likely out task would be finished within our lifetimes.

We started calling ourselves the skipped generation. It was rather appropriate, really. Not just because our lives had become devoted solely to fixing the world, but because of how helpless and pitiful we all felt. There had to have been some individuals who were able to get over The Despair, but I’ve yet to meet or even hear of one.

When we had first learned of the merging, and of the population on the other world, it was too late for either side to stop it. All we could do was trade information and flee to locations that seemed most likely to remain intact after the merging. But there was one very serious problem that everyone on both world had to address.

For you see, it wasn’t just the dirt under our feet and hooves that was merging. The bodies of intelligent lifeforms were to merge together as well. This could not be left to chance, as the odds of anyone surviving this process were far, far too low. Something had to be done, and be done quickly. But with so little time, we only had one horrible option.

---

Trips to graveyards are rarely happy experiences. Even if you are not there to visit a beloved departed yourself, it’s always sombering to see so many reminders that we’re all going to die one day. I wasn’t there to visit a loved one, though my sister’s grave was here as well. I was here to visit someone else. I had barely gotten to know this individual before she’d died. And yet, like so many others, I couldn’t help but feel like her sacrifice had made her part of my family in a way.

I made my way to the massive monolith that bared the names of all those from the area who had died because of the merging. As always, it was crowded. Humans and ponies alike, all bearing the scars of the merging, stood before the block of black stone. Some laid flowers on the always present pile. Others simple put limbs on the name of their savior. And there were some who simply stared at the monument from a distance, their hearts full of guilt and regret.

I often found myself among the latter, but today I had brought flowers. I felt I had to do something extra on what would have been her birthday had she survived.

I took my place at the back of the flower line. I recognized most of the people and ponies present, but I remained silent. We all knew why we were there.

I saw Lily, running a hoof through her blond and black striped mane. I noticed Mr. Kurt, standing as straight as his one hooved leg would let him. I saw Applejack, her coat marred with patches of human skin. And I also saw her. The one who had unwittingly taken my sister from me, and who’s left eye was now hers.

---

“Carol, why…”

“I have no choice.”

“Yes you do! We all have the choice! You can’t just give up like this!”

“John, she’s a national hero! She's saved the world countless times! She might have to do it again! I can’t, in good faith, ask her to die for me if it means that some great evil is going to show up that only she can stop!

“I know… but… but it’s just not fair!”

“Nothing about this is fair, John. Not to those who die, or to those who live. I just drew an especially short straw.”

“Carol…”

---

My sister had been the only family I had left. I was alone now. It was dangerous to be alone with your own thoughts these days. I had made a few friends around my new home, but there was still an emptiness in me. An emptiness shared by so many others of the skipped generation.

Then she noticed I was there, turning her eye and the eye I knew so well towards me. I saw the familiar flash of anger in her flair up for a moment before she suppressed it as always. I knew that because I always flashed my suppressed anger at her in turn.

It wasn’t her fault my sister was dead. Just like it was no one’s fault that seven billion lives had been lost to the merging. The cosmos had simply decided to stick its finger at both of our worlds. And yet I couldn’t help but resent her, because even breath she drew was only hers because my sister no longer had breath of her own.

This was fairly commonplace. My doctor said it was just an anticipated part of the The Depression that fell upon our populations after the merge. It was natural for us to resent those who only lived because our loved ones were dead.

I didn’t hate her. Really, I didn’t. But it was clear that while we would tolerate each other’s presence as best we could, the two of us would never be friends. Neither of us would be able to stand to look at the one who had taken our sisters from us.

---

“No.”

“Look kid, I don’t want to die, but you can’t seriously be…”

“No! I won’t!”

“Kid, your sister is going to live while mine isn’t! I don’t have anyone else to turn to! Do you really want to do this to her? Force her to move on without you?”

“No… But if I live, then you have to die. I… I just can’t do that! I don’t want to live if it means someone else has to die!”

“Kid, I know it’s hard, but do think I want to see a child die because of me? I’m a grown man. I’ve lived a fuller life than you. Please, don’t force me to become a monster.”

“... I’m sorry…”

---

I shifted on my feet as my white and purple tail swished behind me. Like most merging scars, it didn’t quite match up with the rest of my body. It was a clear sign that every breath I drew was because a little filly had been unwilling to bear the guilt of survival, and I had lacked the strength to make her act otherwise.

Her sister didn’t really blame me. She had been proud of her sister’s act of selflessness. But it didn’t change the fact that her sister had died. All that remind of her were the scars on my body, and her name on the monolith.

Finally, it was my turn. I stepped forward and placed my flowers atop the stack. I didn’t say anything. I just turned my gaze toward the names I had memorized the locations of:

Top row, on the west facing side, twelve names to the right: Carol Martin.

Centermost row, also on the west facing side, fifteen names from the left: Sweetie Belle.

I didn’t linger long. There were many others behind me, and I still had work waiting for me at home.

As I turned to to leave, I meet her gaze once more.

“John,” she said in a brisk tone.

“Rarity,” I replied, matching her.

She looked like she was about to say something, but then turned away and made to put her own flowers on the pile.

I sighed and continued on my way.

Author's Note:

I'm really proud of this idea (if it's never been done before), but I honestly can't think of a single scene outside of this one. Of all the stories in these two collections, I really hope someone picks this one up the most.

Comments

[Moon_Dew]

Wait, two collections? Where's the other one?

[Banjo64]

8176770

I sent them both for approval at the same time. Hopefully it'll be up soon.

[Mrex23]

I'm confused

[Accurate Balance]

11271624
Hope this explanation reaches you in time. Otherwise, just ignore me.

In this piece, The Global Sacrifice, the earth and equestria had begun merging into one world with no known reason. This included the destruction of landscapes and settlements, bringing both civilisations to a halt. Another disaster that resulted from the merging was that sapient individuals were also merging, and it was lethal if not prevented by one in every merging pair choosing to die.

Possibly, the merging pairs were decided per bloodlines or proximity, as the narrator and the narrator's sister were paired, respectively, with Sweetie Belle and Rarity.

[Mrex23]

11454571
Aight thanks