Luna of the Dead

"SHE HATH TURNED?! How is that even possible?"

"It does not matter if you are bitten, mam. We are all infected. If you die, you come back."

Luna stared at him, horrified. She trusted him completely, but this was too much. Her stomach clenched and she feared she might be sick. Closing her eyes and lowering her head, Luna slowly tried accepting the new situation. She opened her eyes and looked again at the Bat-Pony standing in front of her. Raven Night had been her most trusted guard for a very long time: before this apocalypse, before she became accepted by Equestria again, and even before Nightmare Moon. He was trustworthy, loyal, and had helped her through the best and worst times. And he was a natural guard, symbolized by the shield and moon cutie mark on his flank. Just seeing him again, even despite the new horrors, warmed her heart and made her think more clearly.

"Alright, we are better. Our sister left Canterlot you said?"

"Yes, mam."

"Then so must we. We must return to Ponyville. There are survivors there that we must take care of, but you must return to the Kingdom. We hate to send you away, but you must ready those who remain."

"Ready? For what mam?"

"For our final solution. We hope it will not be necessary, but if we are unable to find a cure in the Crystal Empire, it may be our last chance."

"Of course mam."

Luna placed a gentle kiss on the top of his muzzle. "Please, Rave, be careful. Please look after yourself and our kingdom."

Tears filled his eyes. "Of course mam. But look after yourself as well."

"Thou are the best guard and friend we could ever ask for." Luna wandered over to the open bedroom window, turned back with tears streaming down her eyes, and took off into the night.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Alright, yer clear" she whispered.

Spike carefully made his way around the counter of the Train Station, clenching the blade tightly in his claws. Looking around the corner at the corpse roaming through the backroom, Spike took a deep breath, and began creeping up on it. He drew nearer and nearer until he was arms distance from it. He raised the knife as the zombie turned around, fixing him in its' gaze. Panicking, he jabbed at it, sinking the blade into its' soft, grey eye. It stepped back, the knife jerking around as it moved its' eyes, and it began moving in on Spike.

It pounced onto of him and was preparing to take a bite when a small hoof struck its jaw. Apple Bloom had bucked its' head with all her might, and managed to break its' jaw. Spike scrambled away as the undead colt fell to the ground.

"That was a close one" Apple Bloom said, panting for breath. Spike exchanged a grateful glance, but his attention quickly turned back to the zombie attempting to get back on its' hooves. Blood was squirting from its' mouth, its' eye was sliced in two from the knife, and it crawled toward the filly and dragon. Apple Bloom attempted another kick to the skull, but she missed and hit its' shoulder. Before she had time to pull back, the zombie bit deep into her flank. Blood began pouring from her side, and she screamed in pain. Spike quickly reacted, grabbing the knife from its' eye and burying it deep into the middle of the zombie's skull. Its' mangled jaws unclenched, releasing the young filly, and it fell limp on the floor.

"Apple Bloom, are you alright?!"

"Yeah, ah think so."

"Your bit!"

"Ah know. Quickly, grab some of the alcohol and bandages." Spike rushed off to Luna's duffel bag and grabbed the medical kit. He cleaned her wound, disinfected it, bandaged her up, and hoped it was enough. He hoped she could be saved.

"we can't tell."

"What?!"

"Spike, please... We can't tell them"

"This is something they should know about!"

"No Spike, please. I'll just cover the bandages underneath ma cape and well pretend nothing ever happened.

"But they'll know when..." He paused, staring into Apple Bloom's eyes. He couldn't bring himself to say what he knew would happen. He had seen it with Twilight, and he knew there was no stopping it.

"We'll deal with that when the time comes. For now, please just don't tell, alright?"

"Alright Apple Bloom, I promise not to tell until your ready."

"Thank ya Spike." Tears streamed down her face. She knew full well what this meant, but she had to be strong. For Apple Jack, she had to be strong...