Them

SUBJECT #27

**Name:* Turret Tower*

**Gender:* Male*

**Occupation:* Royal Guard*

**Status:* Under observation Deceased*

0 minutes - Subject was infected.

4 minutes - Subject was contained in the laboratories.

16 minutes - No change on behavior was identified, but a darkening in the veins was observed.

33 minutes - Change in heartbeat rate. Starting to lose mane and tail. Pain.

49 minutes - Behavior change. Subject is much more aggressive but still rational, since he was begging to be killed. Severe pain. Subject's Cutie Mark disappeared.

57 minutes - Loss of consciousness.

73 minutes - Recovery of consciousness. Conversion completed.

88 minutes - While being transferred to the main observation room, Subject escaped and infected a Royal Guard.

89 minutes - Subject discarded.

Twilight put the scroll down and sighed. "Another day, another victim." she thought, then levitated a blank scroll and a quill in front of her.

SUBJECT #28

**Name:* Overheal*

**Gender:* Male*

**Occupation:* Royal Guard*

**Status:* Under observation*

0 minutes - Subject was infected.

2 minutes - Subject was contained in the laboratories.

She looked at the white unicorn with golden mane and tail in the glass cage in the middle of the laboratory. She put the quill and the scroll down. "Are you sure you want to do that?" she asked.

"Yes." he looked at the darkened bite mark in his right foreleg. "i can't fight or heal anymore, all I can do is be observed. At least I can be helpful in my last moments."

"You're going to suffer a horrible pain. You will be turned into a monster and thrown in a room full of them to be observed like a lab rat. It's not too late to change your mind. At least you will be able to die as a pony and a Royal Guard."

"I let my guard down and my punishment was being infected. Now I must face my punishment like a stallion."

Twilight sighed again, took off her glasses, placed them on the table and sat on a chair in front of the glass cage. "Do you have any family?"

"A wife and a daughter. My wife is a member of the Science Team and she was there when I was infected. I think she's still crying." he scratched the bite mark. "Ironical, huh? Overheal, the Royal Guard who dedicated his life to heal ponies, killed by a deadly disease with no cure known."

"I'm sorry..."

Don't be. But what about your family?"

"My parents are in a safe zone here in Canterlot and my brother is out there, fighting the infected."

"You're captain Shining Armor's sister, right?"

"What denounced me?"

"Your Cutie Mark. Put that star in a shield and you have the captain's Cutie Mark."

Twilight tried to give him an angry look, but all she could do was smile. "You're a married stallion, why are you looking at my rump?"

Overheal chuckled. "You can't keep a dying stallion from looking."

Both ponies laughed.

"Wish we could have met under different circumstances." she said. "We could have been good friends."

They heard sompony knocking on the door.

"Come in." Twilight said.

An azure unicorn mare opened the door and walked in.

"Trixie is here to take the reports." she said.

"Hello, Trixie." Overheal greeted.

"O-O-Overheal? Wha-What are you doing here?"

"You know each other?" Twilight asked.

"But of course! Trixie is lucky Overheal found her when this nightmare started, otherwise she would be dead. Or even worse, one of them!" she looked at his foreleg. "Oh, no..."

"It's not as bad as it looks." he said.

"No, but will be." she looked down. "You saved my life, and I couldn't return the favor..."

"It wasn't a favor. It was my job. You owe me nothing."

"But still, I feel like I stole your life."

The stallion sighed. "If it makes you feel better, I have a favor to ask."

"Then ask. I'll do anything!"

"Protect my wife and my daughter. Make sure nothing happens to them."

"I will. You can count on me."

He smiled. "Why aren't you talking in third pony anymore?"

The former showmare blushed. "I... I drop formalities when I'm talking to somepony I like and trust..."

"Do you like and trust me too?"

Trixie's blush turned into a frown.

"Trixie is not talking to you, Twilight Sparkle. Do not interfere."

Twilight looked down and Overheal laughed.

"I'll miss you two. Hope one day you'll get along."

Twilight hugged Trixie. "Don't worry, we will."

"Don't touch me, Twilight Sparkle. You work on the Experiments Department, who knows what your hooves have been touching."

"You said 'me'!" Twilight said, then giggled. She then let Trixie go, who levitated the scrolls on the table.

"I'm taking the reports. Goodbye, Overheal. I'll never forget you."

"I'm glad you won't."

"See you later, Twilight Sparkle."

"See you."

She then left the room and closed the door. Twilight looked at the table and gasped.

"Something wrong?" the stallion asked.

"Trixie took the reports, but she also took a scroll that is... Well, kinda personal!"

"Then go get it back."

"I can't leave the room alone with a subject. Security procedures."

"Oh. I'm sorry..."

"It's ok. It's not THAT personal, anyway."

She looked down at his chest again and sighed. She levitated a quill, looked at the clock on the wall and started writing again.

18 minutes - Subject's mood changed to good after a cheerful conversantion but apparently the emotional state doesn't change the speed of the process.

Twilight looked down at a framed picture on the table: Twilight on the middle with five mares around her, all of the hugging each other; a cyan pegasus, an orange earth pony, a white unicorn, a yellow pegasus and a pink earth pony, whom her attention was focused.

"Is laughter really the medicine, Pinkie Pie?"

* * *

Trixie placed the scrolls on her table and sat on her chair.

"Huh? What's this?" she levitated a scroll with a red ribbon wrapped around it. There was also a golden symbol in it. "The royal crest?" she opened the scroll and read it.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I know you will never read another Friendship Report again, but I have this weird feeling in my gut if I don't write them. It's what keeps me sane during these terrible times. It's not like I can send them, anyway. Spike is out there somewhere, fighting them. Apparently dragons cannot be infected. But that doesn't make me feel less worried. He's immune, not immortal.

I'm also worried about Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They're part of Manehattan's Combat Team, risking their lives to keep the citizens safe.

Pinkie Pie is working in Canterlot's Hospital. "Laughter is the best medicine!" she claims.

Last time I had news about Fluttershy she was in Trottingham, helping the injured ones. She is a travelling medic now, going every place where medical help is needed. Even an army of irrational, infectious monsters can't keep that scared mare from sharing some kindness.

Rarity is here in Canterlot too. She works on the orphanage, taking care of the lost and confused foals who lost their parents and have nowhere to go. Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are there too (still crusading for their Cutie Marks). I've been really busy lately, so I have no time to visit Pinkie or Rarity and I lost contact with Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow Dash after the mail service was canceled. An infected unicorn can't use magic, but an infected pegasus can still fly. We learned this the hard way (poor Derpy didn't deserved that. Hope Time Turner is doing fine, it's not easing being a single parent).

Well, back to the Friendship Report; I learned that no matter how far your friends may be from you phisically, they are still your friends no matter what happens because, in the end, they'll always be with you, in your heart.

I miss you, Princess. Princess Luna is doing a great job, but I feel sad every time I look at the sunrise and remember you're not the one raising it. Rest in peace.

Your Faithful Student,

"Doctor" Twilight Sparkle.

P.S.: Trixie is here too, she's part of the Science Team just like me. She still talks in that silly Third Pony way and her personality didn't changed a bit, but I'm glad she's safe.

Trixie put the scroll a way and levitated a report. While she was reading it, she couldn't hold back a smile.

"I'm glad you're safe too, Twilight Sparkle."