The Great Equestrian Virus

Twilight didn't sleep all that well that night, no pony did. Crying echoed through the night joining in the chorus of the groans of the corrupt ponies wondering the forest either side of the road. A few made their way back onto the road and growled toward the ponies suspended on the clouds above. Spells were cast and the ponies put down, but the noise only attracting more. Twilight had yet to figure out how they could transport all the unicorns and earth ponies to Cloudsdale, or any Pegasi city. They couldn't exactly teleport them all from cloud to cloud all the way there, they would become magically exhausted rather quickly, even if the other ponies were giving off magic. Twilight was shattered anyway, but everytime she shut her eyes the faces of those lost came back to her, the screams of yesterday. The scene. Those ponies could certainly run, only true athletes even had a chance at escaping these creatures. The only way to put them down was a shot to the head, even then they may no die. Just cutting the head off is ineffective, as Twilight had seen from the day before. Granny Smith's head still biting the air. It was probably still at it, but she couldn't see due to the darkness of the night, and couldn't hear over the sounds of the dead groaning and the living grieving. Twilight caught Rainbow Dash's glance and stared at the Pegasus.

"What is the plan then?" Rainbow grunted. Scootaloo turning in her sleep, a cyan wing holding her in place.

"Head to Cloudsdale, you heard Celestia." Twilight replied, sobbing slightly.

"Then what?" Rainbow muttered. "We can't, you can't keep casting that cloud walking spell forever, we need solid ground. As must as Cloudsdale is safe, there is no way it can be these ponies permanent home." Rainbow replied, looking to the earth ponies among the survivors.

"Well the city is completely made of clouds, we have seen that. If we put then in one of those brick homes the city has, teaching the unicorns the cloud walking spell they can stay there whilst some of our number find a suitable grounded location to defend."

"But who would go back down-" Rainbow muttered and pointed a hoof down to the corrupt ponies, now feasting on those who had been put down. "-Down there, once we are safe no pony will want to go back. If Cloudsdale is safe then everypony will want to stay."

"Well I am going to travel Equestria, once we are safe, to see where is infected and warn those towns and cities who aren't." Celestia put in, the Alicorn princess had been watching and listening to the two chat for a while now, but only just thought how to pitch in. Grief was still fresh for the Goddess and she was surprised how well Twilight was faring knowing her brother had fallen. Or maybe she didn't believe it, and as soon as she had the chance, would go back to Canterlot to find him, or whatever he is right now.

"And I for one will go look for a safe haven for ponies to go, set up defences for them and build up a little haven for evacuating ponies. Maybe somewhere central like Neighwich." Twilight put in. Rainbow paused, thinking.

"Well if you are going as soon as this one is safe I will join you. I am sure the others will too." Rainbow muttered quietly, looking to Discord and Fluttershy, the yellow mare was actually sleeping, when you fear everything plus your own shadow, it would be easier to put this all off as a dream. Which is probably what the shy Pegasus is doing. The Chaos God however was wide awake, watching those creatures below, not saying a word, just watching. Most ponies who weren't cuddled up to friends and family or crying were just sitting there, watching. Only around five or six were actually sleeping. Those who were weren't doing it in still sleep, but in moving mumbled balls of fur and mane. Waking up through the night screaming or calling out a ponies name. There were around forty-five to fifty ponies all laying on the cloud layer above the ground. Fifty survivors out of the two thousand Ponyvillians. Twilight noticed that a few of the food carts were still on the ground. Six to be precise, many ponies had run of or turned still connected to them.

"I know how we can transport everypony." Twilight said suddenly. Rainbow looked up from the orange filly sleeping close to her to Twilight. "We can use those wagons down there, supply enough food just for the trip and transport the Earth ponies and Unicorns to Cloudsdale via that. A few stronger Pegasi, we will need twelve to twenty, can drive the wagons, whilst the rest of the Pegasi fly by, landing on every cloud and walking as much as possible, can be reserves for when the drivers are tired, we can keep swapping and thus keep moving, we could be there in less than a day that way." Twilight said.

"It will be risky getting those wagons, but it is the best idea we have. As soon as the it is sun rise, we can grab them. It is too risky to get them whilst it's dark. How long do we have to wait Princess?" Rainbow asked to Celestia.

"About two hours. The moon is just getting to it's lowest point." Celestia replied, her horn glowing. Twilight and Rainbow both nodded.

"Then Twilight, myself and any other Pegasi can go down and grab the wagons. Then it will be a long day, if we start at sun up, and continue as Twilight said we could get there in twelve hours, every hour the Pegasi swapping and a water and toilet break." Rainbow Dash said, pausing now and then to figure out the math.

"Okay. I will go spread the word of the plan." Twilight said, she got up and began talking to the ponies of the group, mainly the Pegasi of their number.

Celestia sat up, watching her ex student walk along the cloud layer talking with other ponies, everypony seemed to tired to argue with her so either just moved her on with a hoof gesture or nodded slowly, sleep taking their eyes. A few more were drifting off now, but it was too late, apart from the few that could sleep on the wagon, if they got comfortable enough, then many would still be awake for the longer part of the day. It was probably safest to let the more awake Pegasi drive first and let the next lot sleep or rest in a wagon. Each wagon, with the food and all the other ponies who couldn't fly, would be able to fit in four Pegasi at one time. So if one wagon was driven by two or four ponies then the next wave could certainly fit and rest. In normal circumstances the wagons would be incredibly heavy and need around eight or nine ponies to carry as many, plus food, but due to Pegasi having a certain kind of magic, in the air they seemed to have twice as much strength as any Earth pony or unicorn down below. Maybe it was something to do with the cloud layer and being so close to the hemisphere that the light feel of being so high up meant they were stronger perhaps, but with that logic then all of Canterlot could be athletes, well. Four days ago anyway.