My Little Walking Dead

Stay

“I want to stay,” she said nervously. Rarity nodded stiffly, clearly unhappy by her decision. Fluttershy looked to Applejack who wasn’t trying to hide her surprise.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” Rarity said, “it’s a big step for anyone to leave behind all they’ve ever known. Regardless, I wish you both the very best of luck.”

“You too, I hope you find… whatever it is you’re looking for,” Fluttershy replied giving her friend an awkward hug. They then turned back to the food.

“Well, we both brought this back,” Rarity reminded her, “it’s only fair you keep some of it.”

Fluttershy nodded, if not for herself, but for Applejack. Once the food was divided according to need, giving Rarity, Cheerilee and Sweetie Belle the majority, and leaving a small fraction with Applejack and Fluttershy, the trio left through the back gate of the orchard. Fluttershy and Applejack followed, although Fluttershy was sure Applejack wanted to be sure the gate was closed properly this time. Sure enough she barely spoke as the final farewells were exchanged, and soon enough the pair were left alone, watching as their friends faded into the distance.

Applejack sighed and closed the gate, locking it.

“Thank you for staying Shy,” she said after a moment of uncomfortable silence, “Celestia knows I needed the company.”

Fluttershy hugged her last remaining friend.

“I would never leave you behind,” she assured her. They stood like that for a long time, neither wanting to end the embrace, but eventually Applejack did, although with great reluctance.

“I better start work,” she said straightening her hat and making for the trees. Fluttershy ran after her.

“I’ll help you.”

Day 31

Fluttershy stared wistfully out the window, watching as the rain trickled down. It had been one month, one month since this began, and here she was, still held up in the same farm in the same town.

“Bout time we got a shower like that, ah was beginning to think we were ‘bout to have a drought.” but at least she wasn’t alone. Having been cooped up together alone, the two had grown much closer than they ever had at Ponyville, while Fluttershy missed all her other friends, she was glad she had Applejack.

“You should eat something,” she said as Applejack made to lie down.

“alright Sugarcube,” she agreed, she had long since learned that she couldn’t win arguments against the once so shy Pegasus, and found it was easier just to agree. Turning back to the table she began putting together a small snack where Angel was already munching happily on a carrot. Fluttershy would normally have told him to slow down, but the carrot weren’t doing well this season, and getting a good one like that was becoming a rarity, she didn’t want to spoil the moment for him by putting him down.

“So hun,” Applejack said from the table, “ah’ve been thinking, we got a pretty good set up here, maybe we ought’a head back to Ponyville, see how things are holding up.”

Fluttershy glanced back in surprise; Applejack hadn’t mentioned the possibility of returning home since Rarity left, Fluttershy was beginning to think she had lost interest in it. Seeming to read her thoughts, Applejack spoke again.

“Ah’ve been meanin’ to bring it up for a while now,” she explained, “but ah guess a part of me was just afraid we wouldn’t find anything good. But ah’ve decided ah can’t hide here dreaming about it, so what do you think?”

“I think it’s a great idea,” she replied, “what’s the plan?”

“well we know the way, and we got plenty of food to keep us goin’,” she began, “ah’d say we bolster this place up, grab ourselves a couple of packs, sneak out the town at dark and head on over to Ponyville straight ‘til morning.”

“Alright, shall we leave tomorrow?” Fluttershy asked, they would obviously need time before hoof to prepare.

“Tomorrow sounds perfect,” she said finishing her meal and standing up, “ah’m gonna hit the hay for a bit then get started on preparations.

“Alright, I’ll stay up and keep look out,” she replied returning to her vigil. Applejack left the room and Fluttershy noticed Angel had dozed off on the table; he probably tired himself out gardening today. That left Fluttershy alone with her thoughts, and her only thoughts were of home.

Day 32

The sun was low in the sky as Fluttershy surveyed the streets surrounding the farm. Everything seemed peaceful, but she had long since learned that was just reason to display more caution. Fluttering down from the roof she found Applejack exactly where she expected her to be, staring down a patch of earth, marked by makeshift headstone. Approaching her friend she stood in silence as she said goodbye, of course they may very well come back, but just in case things took a turn, it was best to get it out of the way.

Both mares had their saddlebags on, they had spent the morning sorting through all their supplies, trying to decide what best to carry with them before checking the farm’s fortifications. Applejack also made sure to tend to all the cherry trees, while Fluttershy had become more active recently in helping with the farming, there was still a great deal of it that went over her head, in this case all she knew was that her friend was making sure the trees would still be in reasonable condition should they return.

Angel paced the rear gate as they approached seeing them he scampered forward and leapt into Fluttershy’s mane. the pair then waited by the gate for the last rays of sunlight to fade before setting off, there had been a small drizzle earlier in the day, but for the most part it was relatively dry. Satisfied it was dark enough, Applejack unlocked the gate and they both moved out. Once outside they moved in military fashion, covering the gate with all manner of junk they had moved there that morning, if they were lucky they would still find it empty when they returned.

Day 34

It was a chilling moment for Fluttershy, walking out of the Everfree Forest in the earliest hours of the morning, at the exact spot the pair had entered through all those days ago to see the very upturned cart they had once hidden behind as Fluttershy made her decision to abandon the train and flee. Sensing her discomfort, Applejack put a comforting arm over her shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile before the two set off. They moved hesitantly, while Fluttershy had become familiar with Dodge, even the habits of the infected there, Ponyville was a collection of unknown variables, and until they knew more about its current climate, they had to be wary of everything.

Ponyville was a ghost town for the most part, as they snuck through, giving themselves a feel for the place, they found the infected had remained, but were more scarce here than they had been in Dodge. For the most part, they only saw one or two stumbling down the occasional street, but the train station on the other hoof was a different matter entirely. It was swarming by comparison to everywhere else they had been to, although that still only meant a couple dozen. Mentally they both made note to avoid going down that section of Ponyville.

As the sun began to rise the pair found themselves getting pretty worn out, they had travelled almost nonstop to get here, having to take a large detour after discovering the old castle in the Everfree forest was overrun. After a brief discussion they made their way back to Twilight’s library, they had already taken a quick look inside on their initial search and discovered it to be empty and so decided it made as good a place as any to set up camp for a while. Once inside Applejack set about securing the library while Fluttershy took time to conduct a more thorough investigation.

The library had been stripped down, the kitchen suffering the most, all the cabinets raided. Fluttershy guessed that meant somepony had come through here looking for supplies since the initial outbreak. Judging from the state of the books, most of which looked as if they had been used as fire fuel, she guessed it hadn’t been Twilight, sure that even in this day and age she wouldn’t desecrate books. There was next to nothing of value in the tree house, making Fluttershy believe that there were indeed survivors who had raided it, perhaps they were hiding out elsewhere in Ponyville. The notion gave her a new sense of hope, that they might not be alone in all this.

Applejack finished boarding up the downstairs windows and doors and the two sat down to a quick meal along with Angel while Fluttershy filled them in on her assumptions.

“Ah reckon you may be on to somethin’ there Sugarcube,” Applejack agreed, “certainly would be nice to think our friends were still out there survivin’.”

Finishing their meal the three of them retired up stairs to take a long overdue sleep, Applejack offered to take the first watch and Fluttershy wasn’t in any position to argue, as soon as she hit Twilight’s old mattress she was out like a light.

Day 35

Fluttershy leafed through the first book she found that wasn’t roasted. While she had never had an interest in ‘advanced magical theory’ she was willing to do anything to occupy her mind. rain lashed down outside, it had forced her to cancel what would have been her second scouting mission into Ponyville, and after the disaster of the first one she had been looking forward to it. After both her and Applejack had received a decent few hours’ sleep, Fluttershy left the library through one of the upstairs windows.

However it turned out the infected of Ponyville were considerably more active than those she was used to dealing with, and so they had all moved around in the space of a few hours cutting off most of the streets further into town. As a result she had been unable to get more than a few houses away, and those she did manage to get into showed similar signs of being raided as the library had. Angel had been able to travel a little further but was only able to report several of the shops in the business district were blocked up. Fluttershy wondered if this was more proof of survivors hiding out, but without a safe way of getting to and back she couldn’t be sure, and so retired back to the library.

Applejack had assured her it wasn’t a problem, and she could try again tomorrow, however when tomorrow came it brought with it the rain Fluttershy was now listening to, and they had both agreed it would do nopony any good heading out in that weather. Thus they were forced to sit and wait for the weather to clear up before Fluttershy could do anything of use other than checklist their supplies yet again. As she glanced over the words in front of her, barely taking anything in, her mind a blank haze, her ears pricked up to some unusual sounds carrying down from upstairs. Looking up she saw Applejack and Angel were both sitting stalk still, having heard the noises as well.

It only took Fluttershy a few seconds to identify the noise as that of hooves clopping across floorboards, something was upstairs, Fluttershy didn’t even think about how it got in, she just set her book down and crept across the floor towards the stairs. Applejack did likewise and quickly enough the pair of them stood pressed against the wall at either side of the staircase as the sound of hoofsteps drew closer. Applejack held a chair leg in her hoof; she had it raised over her head, ready to bring it down.

The figure stumbled down the stairs so quickly that neither mare could take the time to identify them before reacting instinctively. Applejack swung the chair leg, connecting loudly with the figure’s skull, causing a loud crack to echo through the room. As it fell Fluttershy leapt on it from the back, pinning it down, being sure to press its face against the floor so it couldn’t lash out at her. In the corner of her eye she barely made out Angel slapping a tiny paw to his face, clearly embarrassed at what they had just done, just as the figure began to swear profusely.

Fluttershy leapt off, horrified at having just assaulted another pony, Applejack chucked the chair leg aside and quickly dropped down, flipping the dark grey Pegasus over.

“Thunderlane?” Fluttershy said shocked as she recognised the weather pony.

“F-Fluttershy? Applejack?” he said, equally confused. There was a trickle of blood running down the side of his head.

“Ah shit,” Applejack whispered, applying pressure to the wound. “Sorry ‘bout that Thunderlane, but you kinda startled us.”

“No no, I get it,” he assured her, surprisingly he didn’t sound to upset by the whole thing. “You can’t afford to be too careful these days. But where have you two been? We didn’t know there was anypony left.”

“We just got back,” Fluttershy explained, “are you saying there are others?”

“Just a few,” he admitted as Applejack began wrapping a strip of cloth around his head, “there were more, but most got out when everything kicked off, others left later, hoping to find somewhere better to settle down, and some… didn’t make it.”

“Sounds like what we went through,” Applejack commented, finishing treating Thunderlane and leaning back. “So where are you folk held up.”

“Sofas and quills,” he replied, so Angel was right about survivors in the business district. “We were in Sugarcube Corner for a bit, but I got overrun after an accident.”

“Sugarcube Corner,” Fluttershy repeated, suddenly hopeful, “is Pinkie Pie with you?”

Thunderlane flinched, not meeting Fluttershy’s eye.

“I’m sorry, when we arrived there we found her in the kitchen,” he informed them, Fluttershy felt her heart stop for a minute, “we don’t know what got her, could have been sick, but she looked like she had been gone for a few days when we arrived.”

Applejack too off her hat and bowed her head, this was exactly what they feared discovering upon returning.

“Who else is there?” Fluttershy asked, her voice catching in her throat.

“besides me, there’s currently Nurse Redheart, Lotus and Scootaloo,” he replied, “like I said, there were more, but some left looking for somewhere better.”

“Was my sister or brother among ‘em?” Applejack asked desperately.

“They… weren’t ever with us,” he informed her, then seeing the look of despair on her face he added quickly, “but for what it’s worth I’ve been doing runs all over Ponyville and they certainly aren’t… two of those things, they might have gotten out when this all began.”

Fluttershy knew he had hoped to make Applejack feel better, but disheartened expression never changed, she knew Applejack’s main reason for coming back was the hope of being reunited with her family, and now that seemed just as far off as ever.

“So I take it you were the ones who took everything out of here?” Fluttershy asked breaking the uncomfortable silence.

“Yeah, this is actually where we hid out before Sugarcube Corner,” he explained, “places around Ponyville were running out of stuff for taking, so I decided to come back and see if we had left anything behind.”

“Well I can tell you there’s nothing left here but fire fuel,” Fluttershy informed, gesturing around at the books. “What will you do now?”

“Head back I guess, no reason to stay,” he said thoughtfully, “of course, you’re both welcome to come along; it would be great to have another couple of friends around.”

“That sounds ideal,” Applejack said at last, though she didn’t sound enthusiastic. “Ah reckon you flew here?”

“Yeah, I only risk flying kin the rain since they can’t see me and take chase.”

“Yeah well what can they do while you’re safely in the sky?” Applejack asked almost laughing; Thunderlane just stared back at her.

“You do know they can fly don’t you?” he asked, both mares froze and stared at him in shock. “Some of the Pegasus whose wings aren’t, um, decayed too much can still fly.”

Applejack let out low whistle, Fluttershy just fidgeted awkwardly as images of being chased by infected through the sky flooded into her mind.

“Ah did not know that,” Applejack replied slowly.

“For what it’s worth they only do it when a pony they’re chasing starts flying,” he explained, “otherwise they seem to forget how to do it.”

“So when shall we leave?” Fluttershy asked.

“We can wait until this dies down if you prefer, but I don’t mind either way,” Thunderlane assured them.

“This doesn’t look like it’ll let up for some time,” Applejack guessed staring out a window, “and your group might get worried if you stay away for too long.”

“So we leave now then?”

“Yeah,” Applejack confirmed turning from the window, “just give us a minute to gather our things. Angel, could you get that door open?”

Applejack gestured violently at the barricaded door to emphasise her point, the rabbit got the message and began shifting the crates piled up against it. Once Fluttershy and Applejack had the few supplies they still had packed into their saddlebags which were once again secured on their backs, the three ponies and rabbit gathered around the door. Fluttershy opened it slowly; a nervous glance around the street told her it was empty, although it was difficult to tell with the rain lashing down. Stepping out she edged around the tree trunk to make sure there weren’t any infected standing just out of sight. Applejack went around the other side, and when they confirmed the area was deserted the group made their way through Ponyville.

While they all knew the way to Sofas and Quills, Thunderlane insisted on leading the way. whenever Fluttershy had gone out scouting the town in Dodge, she had always taken it slowly, but Thunderlane seemed to be perfectly content to rush down the street, barely aware of the noise he was creating by splashing through the puddles. within minutes the group was soaked, even Angel hiding under Fluttershy’s mane, but they were lucky to not run into any infected on their way, at least until they arrived at their destination to see a single one standing inconveniently just outside the shop.

“Dammit,” Thunderlane muttered ducking behind a barrel.

“It’s okay, ah got this one,” Applejack said, and before either pony could argue, she slipped forward and ran up to the infected. She didn’t try to remain hidden and it spotted her quickly enough, but it barely had a moment to react before receiving a blow from Applejack’s powerful forelegs straight to the face. Once on the ground she continued to trample it, making sure it wouldn’t get back up, she then gestured for the other two.

Thunderlane lead them to the back door seeing as the front of the shop was entirely boarded up, once there he rapped quickly on the door and stood fidgeting, waiting for somepony to open it.

“Hey Thunderlane, what took you so…” the voice died as the orange Pegasus filly saw who was standing behind him. “Oh my…”

Thunderlane shoved a hoof into her mouth, cutting off her excited scream, quickly pushing forward. Applejack and Fluttershy rushed in after and heard the door shut behind them. Once inside they were greeted by two very surprised mares, one excited filly and the exhausted and drenched stallion they had travelled with.

“Applejack?” Nurse Redheart said in surprise.

“Fluttershy?” Lotus said happily.

“Hey guys, sorry to drop in unannounced like this,” Applejack said giving an awkward smile.

“No, it’s fine, we just didn’t know anypony else was in Ponyville,” Redheart explained, Lotus hurried over offering each of them towels, Angel accepted the one she gave to Fluttershy gratefully.

“Applejack, is Applebloom with you guys?” Scootaloo asked quickly bouncing up and down, Applejack sighed.

“Sorry Scoots, ah don’t know where she is…” she began when suddenly her eyes snapped wide open as something dawned on her. “Wait a sec, she was supposed to be with you! When all this started she was sleepin’ over at your house! What the hay happened?”

Scootaloo shrunk back at the sudden shouting.

“I don’t know, I’m sorry,” she said terrified, “we heard the shouting and went to investigate, everypony was running and screaming so we ran too. Then Big /mac found us and told us we had to come with him, we did but… I got separated.”

Applejack was silent for a very long time, Fluttershy was worried she was going to start shouting again, and from the look on Scootaloo’s face, she thought so too.

However in the end, Applejack gave a relieved sigh and grinned.

“So she was with Big Mac,” she whispered, “that’s good, ah know if anypony can keep her safe it’s him.”

“So, um, what now?” Fluttershy asked, glad the situation was diffused but now suddenly unsure as to where they went now they had found survivors.

“Well you’re welcome to stay here as long as you want,” Redheart said, although Fluttershy sensed a ‘but’ was coming. “But I’ll be honest, we don’t have a lot of food, and Ponyville’s been cleaned out.”

“That ain’t no problem,” Applejack said confidently, “see we’ve been holdin’ out in Dodge since this started, we got ourselves a farm, well defended, plenty of food.”

The whole room brightened up hearing that.

“That sounds great,” Lotus said, “but, um, how far is Dodge?”

“It took us roughly a day to get here,” Applejack informed them, “but we ran into a complication in the Everfree Forest, so it shouldn’t take as long to get back, knowin’ how to avoid it.”

“With the last of our supplies we could easily make the journey,” Thunderlane said to his own group.

“But we’d have to leave soon,” Redheart added, Thunderlane nodded.

“Yeah but not right now, we’re not heading anywhere until we get a chance to rest,” he said gesturing to himself and the newcomers.

“Plus this rain isn’t great for travelling in,” Fluttershy noted, ringing out her mane into the sink.

“Alright then you can all get some sleep,” Redheart agreed, “we’ll get the supplies packed and ready to set off in the morning.”

Thunderlane nodded in acknowledgement and led the other two to the upstairs of the shop where camp beds were set out.

Fluttershy picked one and lay down after making sure to thoroughly dry herself off, however she quickly found she wasn’t tired enough to fall asleep, even as the rhythmic breathing indicating the other two had drifted off filled the room, Fluttershy just lay staring at the ceiling. She was about ready to give up and go back downstairs when she heard somepony walking quietly towards her. She looked around to see Scootaloo frozen mid step, clearly surprised at having been noticed.

“Oh hey Scootaloo,” she said sitting up, “how are you?”

“I’m okay,” she said hesitantly, “well, I miss my friends.”

“Yeah, so do I,” Fluttershy agreed, thinking of Pinkie. She wondered if they had buried her, was there somewhere she could pay her respects?

“I miss Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo whispered Fluttershy looked back at her. “She had just started teaching me to fly before this began, I’m not that good, but I was getting better, because of her…”

Fluttershy didn’t interrupt; she wondered where the filly was going with this line of conversation.

“There was this place, just outside Ponyville,” she continued, a shadow of a smile on her face. “She’d fly me there on her back after school, and we’d practice there.

“Ever since this began,” she continued, Fluttershy guessed they were nearing the point of the conversation. “I’ve wanted to go back there. I don’t know why, but Rainbow always said if things ever got really bad, just to go to our secret place and everything would be okay.”

Fluttershy pulled herself off the bed ad walked over to the filly and leaned down in front of her.

“Why are telling me this Scootaloo?” the filly took a deep breath before continuing.

“If we’re leaving tomorrow, I might never get another chance,” she explained, “is there any way, you could… take me there?”

Fluttershy blinked in surprise, she glanced up at the window. The rain was staring to let up, and it wasn’t yet night. She looked back down at the filly who was staring back up at her hopefully. A quick flight outside Ponyville, they’d be back in no time. Of course, being this close to leaving for good, could they really risk something? Was Scootaloo’s vague wish really worth it?

“Well?” Scootaloo asked hopefully. Fluttershy ran it over her mind once more before coming to a decision.

“We…”

Fluttershy was saved from making a decision by a loud clanging downstairs causing Applejack and Thunderlane to sit bolt upright in bed

“What in tarnation?” Applejack exclaimed, rushing from the room followed swiftly by Thunderlane. Fluttershy and Scootaloo glanced nervously at one another before leaving to join the others. Back downstairs Fluttershy found Angel glaring at Lotus who appeared to have walked into a stack of cans, causing them to spill onto the floor.

“Dammit Lotus!” Thunderlane gave off, “you’ll bring the walkers down on our heads!”

‘Walkers’? Fluttershy hadn’t heard them referred to as that before. Lotus looked like she was ready to burst into tears at being shouted at, but Fluttershy stepped forward and rubbed her back.

“It’s okay, we all make mistakes.” Lotus smiled at her and together they began packing up the cans. After that Fluttershy offered to help arrange their supplies, after all she wasn’t likely to get to sleep anytime soon.

Day 36

The trek back to Dodge did take less time as Applejack had predicted after cutting around the old castle in the first place, saving them the time otherwise spent backtracking. Once they passed over the short stretch of desert, night had descended over the group, and they arrived to find the town seemingly deserted. Thunderlane made to move forward but Applejack stopped him with an outstretched hoof.

“Whoa there pardner,” she said, “we’ve been jumped in these streets ‘nough times to know when everything ain’t as it seems.”

“Come on,” Fluttershy said, leading the group away from the main street and down a longer route she knew the infected rarely traversed. They followed without argument and they managed to get through Dodge only being forced to stop twice to wait for infected to move on their way. Once they got closer Applejack broke out into a quick run to the final corner where she would see the farm clearly. As Fluttershy approached her friend, she noticed she was still as a statue. Reaching her shoulder she followed her gaze, and her jaw dropped.

The junk they had piled up around the back gate was scattered around the street, the gate itself knocked from its hinges.

“Consarnit!” Applejack swore, throwing her hat to the ground.

“What’s the matter?” Redheart asked worried as the other caught up.

“Some daft pony has broken into the farm,” she exclaimed, “the gate’s lying open and ah can bet that place is swarmin’ with infected.”

“Can you see any?” Lotus asked, straining to see past Applejack.

“Well, no,” she admitted picking up her hat again. Fluttershy stared intently at the perimeter fence; it was far too dark to make anything out. She felt a tapping on her head and glanced up to see Angel leaning over her. She got his meaning quickly enough and addressed Applejack.

“Angel can take a look,” she informed her, “she’ll be in and out as quick as can be.”

Applejack nodded in approval and the rabbit hoped off Fluttershy’s head and dashed for the farm. The group didn’t have to wait long for him to return, and when he did he quickly relayed his information to Fluttershy.

“There’s good news and bad news,” she said to the others.

“Let me guess,” Applejack began sarcastically, “the bad news is the farm is chalk full of infected?”

“Well, um, yes,” Fluttershy admitted hiding from Applejack’s glare behind her mane. “Angel thinks some ponies tried to escape them by running into the farm, as he found some bodies about the place.”

“So what’s the good news?” Scootaloo asked impatiently.

“Well Angel managed to get inside and found all our supplies are exactly where we left them,” Fluttershy informed them happily.

“How many, roughly?” Applejack asked, pondering the situation.

“Angel counted little under a dozen, but there may be more he didn’t see.”

“Alright,” Applejack replied pondering.

“Well we can’t exactly leave,” Thunderlane said, “the supplies we have now won’t last, we need those.”

“But it sounds like there’s a lot of walkers in there,” Redheart countered, “It might be safer just leaving now and finding somewhere else.”

“Where else is there?” Thunderlane shot back, “I assume you cleaned this town out?”

“Yes,” Fluttershy admitted, “everything in Dodge is currently in that farm.”

“Now hold on,” Applejack said, “assumin’ we don’t go for it, we can always head to Appleoosa.”

“That’s another couple days journey,” Lotus said, checking around the others that she wasn’t mistaken. “Can we make it without more supplies?”

“Ah don’t rightly know,” Applejack said scratching her head, “but it might be our best bet. What do you think Shy?”

Fluttershy looked again at the farm, it was a lot of food to go to waste, but if what Angel said was true, it could be suicidal. Appleoosa sounded like a safe bet, small towns had done them all well so far, but could they make it without the supplies.

“Come on Fluttershy we need a decision,” Applejack pressured her, “ah trust your judgement, so whatever you decide ah’m with you on it.”

Fluttershy nodded, appreciating the vote of confidence.

“Alright, I think we should…”

Do you:

a) Leave the supplies-

b) Get the supplies-