The Great Equestrian Virus

It had been three days since four of the seven Manehatten survivors had hung themselves. No pony had particularly slept well since then, but they were more rested since when they arrived. The unicorns and Earth ponies had been put in a big wooden inn, one of the few buildings in Cloudsdale in where they could stand without a cloud walking spell. A few of the unicorns of the group had been given that spell just in case of needing to go out onto the cloud layer. Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight were standing together at the gates of the city ready to leave. Twilight's friends were standing a bit further behind. AJ, Pinkie and Rarity all in one of those wagons, so that they could travel together and help build a defensive location for ponies. Applejack was really the only one who knew anything about building, but Rarity's and Twilight's magic would certainly come in handy, and the others were there to help build when they learned, and also to keep watch from the dead.  The group was weary to leave the city but had either been convinced, or convinced themselves that this mission could save countless lives and the fight back against the dead. It was still early in the infection and no pony knew what was happening, but that was what Celestia's mission was for. Go from town to town, talking to wandering survivors and finding out what had happened and where it had begun. She was also there to warn ponies where to go in case of attack. According to the map the Cloudsdale soldiers had given Twilight, the group had a two or three day flight to Ponyton. None of the ponies had ever gone to the town, but knew roughly where it was. They had two months worth of food piled on the wagon, so would need to plant seeds as soon as they arrived. As well as basic defences and the more basic side to taking back Ponyton. If it had indeed fallen yet.

"Are we ready yet?" Twilight asked the group. Everypony nodded and they looked to Celestia.

"I will meet up with you as soon as I am done. Should take around a month to get from town to town, give or take a few days. And anyway, I could find an answer to all this before then. Either way, I will see you in Ponyton." Celestia said and flew off. Two saddle bags of food strapped to her sides.

"Okay girls. Lets go. And captain." Twilight said, she was strapped to the wagon, along with Rainbow and Fluttershy, they had no ponies in reserve since whenever they needed rest they could all stop and wait on a cloud. Twilight looked to the Cloudsdale captain. "Thank you for keeping them safe." Twilight added.

"It will be our pleasure, just one question. When should we bring them to you?" The Captain replied.

"Two weeks. Whether we are done or not. We will need all the help we can get." Twilight answered. The captain nodded and saluted. The group flew off eastwards. Toward safety.

The group traveller in silence, even Pinkie Pie sat in silent sorrow, her mane losing its 'poofyness' and slowly going straight. She was already losing colour. Her mane gathering dust quickly and going grey already. To think it had only been a few days since the start of all this, but it had taken its toll on everypony. They flow and sat in silence, each thinking back on the days just over a week ago. Rarity, playing with her little sister Sweetie Belle and designing dresses and helping out her friends. Fluttershy, she would tend to her animals and try to stay away from everypony in her shy state. Twilight, she was now spending a lot of time up at the castle being a Princess. She was down in Ponyville for her birthday, that was yesterday. No pony celebrated, no pony had the heart of energy. Shining Armor was meant to come down with Cadence. He was dead and she was missing. Applejack and Pinkie had been planning Twilight's birthday, they had set the barn up already and everything was perfect for the day, now AJ was alone. She had no family anymore. They were with those creatures, those, zombies. AJ had watched her entire family turn. Big Mac went first, he bit into Applebloom, practically ripping her leg off. The little filly had died screaming and crying. She rose up, just before anypony could target Granny Smith to teleport her to safety. Derpy Hooves' little sister, Dinky had jumped on her. Applejack was unsure what actually happened to Derpy, she didn't go looking for her, she could have survived or died. Applejack didn't notice anypony anymore. Just stared at the ground or out into the cloud line not saying a word. Rainbow Dash had lost somepony too. Scootaloo had tried to save Sweetie Belle, the little Pegasus filly didn't know what was happening and went to her friend with open arms, calling for Rainbow to pick them up. The undead unicorn growled and bit the orange filly. She then continued to shout out for Rainbow Dash until her throat was bitten into and her voice box ripped apart. Rainbow was meant to be the fastest pony alive, and yet she had failed her sister. She failed so many ponies that day. They all had, but no pony was prepared for this. An undead army rising up? That is just something to get fillies and colts to sleep. 'Go to sleep now little one, or the zombie will eat your brains up'. But here they were. They don't discriminate, unicorn. Pegasi. Mare, Stallion. Young, old. Everypony is a threat and everypony is food to them. Their bodies trapped on Equestria to feast on the living and slowly rot away, if the dead did rot here. There was so much no pony knew yet. But that was what Celestia was looking for. That was her job.