My Little Walking Dead

Day 1

“Thanks again for helping me,” Daisy said as the two ponies approached the hospital, “If you hadn’t come over when you did I don’t know how I would have delivered all these flowers.”

“Oh that’s alright,” Fluttershy responded modestly, “I’m glad to help.”

Fluttershy had run into Daisy earlier that morning in the market, it was a mild day and she’d finished her chores early, so she decided to take a walk. She had immediately seen Daisy was in a dilemma and offered her assistance. It turned out she had a huge order of flowers needing delivered to the Ponyville Hospital that day and Bon Bon hadn’t shown up to help her as she had promised.

So here they both were, entering the hospital laden with flowers. Fluttershy was surprised to see the staff in some distress and wondered what was going on.

“Hello Nurse Redheart,” she said approaching the nurse who was carrying stacks of charts, “what’s going on?”

“Oh Fluttershy, I’d like to talk but we have a bit of a crisis on our hooves,” she replied making to walk away, but Fluttershy made after her.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked, Daisy close behind her.

“Well, another couple of volunteers would be really helpful,” she admitted, “if you get washed up and head upstairs the Doctor can fill you in.”

Dropping their baskets of flowers in at reception they made their way into the wards where they were met by more distressed ponies running back and forth between rooms.

They made to continue but were stopped in their tracks by Doctor Hooves.

“I’m afraid I have to ask you both to leave, visiting hours have been cancelled today,” he informed them, but Fluttershy quickly explained hey had agreed to help. “In that case you’ll need to put on these masks and gloves.”

He handed them each some rubber gloves and surgical masks, they put them on as he filled them in.

“We’ve had a large number of patients coming in with similar symptoms,” he explained as they walked down the ward, “irritability, seizures, vomiting and a strong case of the munchies”

As they walked Fluttershy glanced through open doors and saw nurses holding down ponies who were flailing and screeching.

“We think it’s some kind delirium, perhaps caused by a water born disease,” he continued, “we can’t pin down anything as the patients are being incredibly difficult.”

They entered a ward full of ponies strapped to beds, struggling under their binds while nurses and doctors took blood samples and heart pressure.

“If you could just lend a hoof to some of the nurses here, it would be greatly appreciated,” he said leaving them there. They each looked at each other before making for one of the beds where a lone nurse was struggling to insert a line.

“We’ll help you with that,” Daisy said announcing their presence to the nurse, and together Daisy and Fluttershy held the pony still as the nurse inserted the needle and attached it to a drip. Fluttershy looked down at the struggling pony and was horrified to see how bloodshot their eyes were, how they foamed from the mouth, and how their breath stunk of rot.

They worked through most of that day, moving from bed to bed providing whatever aid they could. As the day went on Fluttershy noticed the number of ponies being brought in was increasing dramatically, but she recognised hardly any of them. One of the nurses mentioned most of the patients weren’t local to Ponyville but instead had just been found drifting by. It all passed by without incident until the end of the day when they were in a private room holding down yet another patient.

“Almost done,” the nurse who was taking a blood sample assured them, “you ladies have been really helpful today; once we’re done here you can both leave.”

However she didn’t finished that sentence as at that moment one of the straps gave way and the writhing pony sprang up. Fluttershy leapt back out of harms way, but Daisy wasn’t so quick. The pony sunk its teeth into her fore leg, but she managed to wrench it free as three doctors rushed in to subdue the patient. Fluttershy and Daisy left the room, Daisy cradling her leg.

“Are you alright?” Fluttershy asked, her heart still racing after the incident.

“I’m fine Fluttershy,” she assured her, “she barely broke through the skin.”

“Still, you should go get it treated while you’re here,” Fluttershy urged her.

“I guess,” she agreed, “I’ll see you tomorrow then, thanks again for helping me today, who’d have thought this is how we’d spend our day?”

Fluttershy laughed good naturedly but inside she was deeply shaken by the days events, she just wanted to get home, tend to the animals before curling up in bed.

“Hey Fluttershy,” a voice cried out from one of the rooms she passed on her way out. Sticking her head back she saw Pinkie Pie lying in a private room.

“Oh Pinkie, not you too,” Fluttershy said terrified.

“Not me what?” Pinkie asked confused, “I’m only here to get vaccinated.”

“So you’re not infected?” Fluttershy asked tentatively.

“Infected with what?” Pinkie asked sounding genuine.

“There’s a lot of ponies in the other wards with some disease that’s making them really violent,” Fluttershy told her.

“Really? Well I’m sure they’re just agitated, nothing a little Pinkie charm cant cure,” Pinkie said.

“No, you mustn’t,” Fluttershy exclaimed desperately, “it’s much too dangerous, just let the doctors handle it.”

“Okay,” Pinkie said grumpily, lying back. They exchanged a few more words before Fluttershy finally left the hospital.

It had been early afternoon when she’d arrived, but it was now dusk as she walked through Ponyville towards her cottage. It wasn’t unusual to find the streets deserted at this time, but being the middle of summer she usually encountered some ponies enjoying the dwindling heat of the setting sun. However on this occasion she encountered no other ponies, so she decided she’d take one last detour and visit Twilight, perhaps she would have some insight on all this.

Reaching the Ponyville library she was pleased to see lights on inside and upon knocking she heard the sound indicating Twilight was home. The door opened and Twilight Sparkle stood in the threshold looking tired.

“Oh hey Fluttershy, come on in,” Twilight said, her mood brightening. Fluttershy followed her in and noticed a stack of books piled on a desk and one lying open; she guessed Twilight was in the middle of studying.

Twilight served some tea and they sat together and Fluttershy listened as Twilight told her about her day, explaining that Spike had gone away to Canterlot that morning.

“so how was your day?” she said at last, Fluttershy began light hearted as she talked about the little things like caring for the critters and running into Daisy, but then became more serious as she began telling Twilight about the events at the hospital.

“Well that does sound awfully peculiar,” Twilight agreed when she finished, “but its probably just a little outbreak of something, they’ll vaccinate it and soon this will all blow over.”

“Are you sure Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, not convinced, “you don’t think it could be anything… worse?”

“I’m sure its just a small disease Fluttershy, you really have nothing to worry about,” Twilight assured her, but seeing Fluttershy wasn’t convinced she continued, “I think I’ve done enough studying for one day, how about I go over there and see for myself?”

“Oh I wouldn’t want you to go out of your way just to reassure me,” Fluttershy implored, but Twilight waved it aside.

“its not really out of my way, I can visit Pinkie while I’m there, and who knows, I might be able to help with whatever this is.”

“Well, if you’re sure,” Fluttershy said as they walked to the front door together. Once Twilight had extinguished all the lights and locked the door, they went their separate ways. It was now pitch black and Fluttershy was looking forward to getting to bed more than ever now.

Day 2

Fluttershy blinked slightly, she wasn’t sure what had woken her up, but now that she was awake she had an eerie feeling. Reluctantly she pulled herself out of her warm bed and dragged herself over to the window. Straining her eyes in the dark she struggled to make out anything, it was a cloudy night and there was no light to aid her, and yet she had the distinct feeling there was someone in her garden, or something.

Then a cloud shifted and for a brief second her garden was illuminated by the light of the moon, and there stood the silhouette of a pony. Fluttershy squealed and ducked out of sight, praying it hadn’t seen her. Her first thoughts were of a burglar, so she scrambled across the floor and buried herself under the covers again praying they’d just leave out of good intentions. She wasn’t sure if it was real or just her imagination, but she was convinced she heard them walking through the grass in her yard, and what sounded like moaning.

Fluttershy was trembling under the blanket, she hadn’t heard anything for a minute or two, whether it be real or imaginary. Then she heard a high pitched creaking and she felt her heart stop as she tried to remember if she locked the front door. She heard the low thuds as whoever the figure was began walking around downstairs; she was surprised that any burglar would make that much noise. Creeping from the bed, but carrying the covers over her, she edged across the landing and peered downstairs. She could just about make out the shadowy figure stumbling around, they didn’t seem to have a clue what they were doing.

They moaned again and Fluttershy suddenly relaxed, clearly they were injured and seeking some help. Removing the blanket she crept down the stairs, not waning to startle them.

“Um, excuse me,” she said quietly, the figure stopped shifting around and started looking about for the source of the noise.

“Excuse me,” she said louder, the figure turning to face her “are you alright? Do you need help?”

The pony began moving towards her, breathing heavily, they really didn’t sound too well.

Tentatively Fluttershy came down the last few steps and picked up a lantern. As she fiddled with it trying to get it lit, she couldn’t see the pony but could hear it moving. Finally getting the candle wick to catch light she raised her head to see the pony standing directly in front of her. Fluttershy screamed, dropping the lantern which smashed on the ground, the candle rolling across the floor. She leapt back as the pony lunged at her, opening its mouth, baring its teeth and snarling. Fluttershy kicked out and as it stumbled back she scrambled to her hooves and charged back up the stairs. Looking back she could see it limping towards her in the flickering light of the candle, it seemed to be dragging half itself behind it. It stared directly up at her and once again she saw the bloodshot eyes and rotten skin clinging to its face.

“What are you?” Fluttershy screamed as the thing began clambering up the stairs after her, rasping and screeching.

Running back up to her bedroom she searched desperately for something to defend herself with. Her heart was racing as she clutched the fire poker and cowered into the corner shaking with terror. After a minute of listening to the sound of her own terrified breathing and the ponies painful rattling breaths she began to hope it might not be able to get up the stairs, but then her heart sank as its head appeared, the body dragging itself up on its stomach. Fluttershy held the poker out in front of her, it shook uncontrollably as the pony picked itself up and made its horrifically slow across the room to her.

“Please, I don’t want to hurt you,” she begged, trying to push herself further into the corner, but it kept on coming, and when it was in arm’s length it threw itself forward. Fluttershy panicked, and in her terrified state she drove the poker forward, piercing the pony’s chest. She let go of it horrified as the pony fell back. She stood breathing heavily looking down at the still body, then she slumped to the floor and began sobbing, but then she heard something, a faint grunting. Looking back up she saw the body convulse, the limbs stretching out, steadily raising it back into a standing position.

Fluttershy opened her mouth, but no sound came out, she just stared in horror. The poker had gone right through its heart, what she was seeing now was impossible, but the thing that stood before her acted like it couldn’t even feel the metal rod sticking out of its ribcage, and struck again. Fluttershy barely reacted in time, rolling across the floor and charging back down the stairs. In her haste she tripped and fell into a heap in the living room which was considerably brighter than it had been a moment ago.

Looking around wildly she saw her sofa had caught fire, and a small blaze was spreading through the corner of the room. Critters and various animals fled the cottage, Angel rushing to her side and pulling her up; desperately signalling they had to go. Looking back one last time Fluttershy saw the creature at the top of the stairs stumbling down towards her, and with that she scooped Angel up and charged from the cottage.

Her front yard was now well lit by the fire spreading through her home, and she took advantage of this to rush around and quickly release the animals that were locked up like the chickens. Once she was satisfied every animal could look after itself she galloped away in the direction of Ponyville, Angel still clinging to her back. The fire had illuminated her garden, but the light hadn’t shone far enough for her to see the pony standing in the road. She was knocked back as she charged head long into it; ad quickly uttered an apology before hearing the familiar moaning and rasping noises coming from the pony.

Fluttershy threw herself back as it collapsed right where she had been a second ago, and began shuffling back trying to put as much distance between her and it as possible. Angel had fallen off her and now she couldn’t see him anywhere, but she couldn’t look as she was in enough trouble herself. She kicked out and threw loose stones her hooves knocked across as she clambered, but it kept on coming. She slide back as fast as she could until she felt something hard at her back, glancing over her shoulder she saw she was pressed up against a rock face, the creature was too close for her to try and escape any other way, she took a breath and waited for the end.

Then as the pony lunged one last time at her, something came falling from the air sending it to the ground. Fluttershy sat frozen, she looked down at the body which was totally still, its head cracked open and a large boulder lying next to it. She rushed to her hooves and ran a safe distance away, the other one got back up after being stabbed in the heart, this one might do the same. But as she watched it remained perfectly still, a rock to the head seemed to do the job. Then she saw Angel on top of the rock she had crawled up against, Angel must have pushed the boulder onto the pony’s head.

“Thank you Angel, you saved me,” Fluttershy said gratefully, Angel hopped down from the rock and returned to her back. Fluttershy looked around trying to orientate herself again, she quickly got back on the path to Ponyville and as she ran they began to hear noise coming from the town, it sounded like screaming. Trotting over the crest of the hill Fluttershy gasped as she saw Ponyville in a state of chaos that would make Discord gulp. The streets were swarming with a mixture of terrified ponies running for safety and more of the things that had attacked her. She watched one pony tripped and was immediately bore down upon by several of the things, that appeared to begin eating her alive.

Every one of her instincts was screaming at her to run away, to protect herself, but she couldn’t do it, she had to find her friends. Putting her fears to the back of her mind she rushed into the streets. It was madness in Ponyville, she called desperately to passing ponies but none of them acknowledged her, too focused on their own safety. Taking a gamble Fluttershy began running in the direction of Carousel Boutique, weaving through the stumbling hordes of monsters.

She had speed granted by her fear to her advantage, coupled with the sluggishness of the creatures movements she was able to evade them easily. However the shear number of them proved challenging, she was forced to keep on her toes at all times. As she ran past the town hall she heard her name being shouted over the commotion. Looking around she saw Applejack running towards her, her hat discarded and her mane flowing free.

“Fluttershy, have you seen Applebloom?” she asked desperately skidding to a halt beside Fluttershy who was ducked behind a hay cart.

“I haven’t found anypony yet,” she replied sadly.

“Applebloom was having a sleepover at Scootaloo’s, but they’re not there any more,” Applejack informed her in a panicked voice.

“Can we hide at your farm?” Fluttershy began to ask but Applejack shook her head.

“The farms over run, I got separated from the others.”

Together they sprinted from their cover as a group of creatures hobbled towards them. They dashed through the streets, Fluttershy looking all around them for signs of their friends, but it was impossible to make out anything in the havoc. They were still running in the direction of Rarity’s until they were forced to halt on account of the street being blocked by a collapsed house, flames rising from the ruin.

“What are we going to do?” Fluttershy begged, Applejack was breathing heavily looking all around for a possible solution.

“One thing’s for sure,” she said at last as they both noticed the horde encroaching upon them again, “we can’t stay here.”

Choosing a direction at random they charged away, it was almost impossible to get their bearings amidst all the confusion. As she glanced over her shoulder, Fluttershy felt something catch around her leg and she fell sprawling to the ground.

“Applejack,” she cried out.

Applejack hadn’t noticed her fall but heard her scream and turned back. Helping Fluttershy up they both dived for cover underneath a cart tipped on its side.

“This is insane,” Applejack commented. Fluttershy scanned the area, she could see Twilight’s house and beyond that the train station.

“Do you think we can reach the station?” she asked shakily. Applejack considered.

“It’s pretty far off, and that’s a lot of those things between here and there.”

Glancing back Fluttershy saw they were perched on the edge of the Everfree Forest; she quivered but knew if all was lost they could always hide in there.

“What do you think?” Applejack asked noticing where Fluttershy was looking. She was about to answer but then a train whistle broke through the air. “What ever you’re choosing you’d better do it quick.”

Fluttershy’s heart was racing as she saw a trickle of steam rise from the train, but she also saw the swarms of creatures gathered in the path.

“Fluttershy,” Applejack screamed, “you have to decide now!”

Do you:

a) Try for the train-

b) Flee to the forest-