Them

by Lab Matt

Rating: mature
Tags: Tragedy, Dark, Sad, Romance
Length: 24695

A disease fell over Equestria. But not just any disease. A disease that turns ponies into infectious killing machines. And nothing can stop them.

Once upon a time, Equestria was a safe place. But that was before they appeared. They aren't zombies, because they are alive. They are alive, but that doesn't mean they are rational. They aren't rational, but that doesn't mean they aren't intelligent. They are many. They are fast. They are strong. They are contagious. One bite, just a little one, and you have one hour to decide if you want to die as a pony or live as one of them.

P.S.: Some suggestive content, but no actual thing. If you're looking for the clop, you came to the wrong neighborhood.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-02-10 20:02:37 UTC

Part 2: Combat Team

She woke up with an irritation in her left eye. She tried rubbing it, but the eyepatch wouldn't let her.

"Oh, that's right." Rainbow Dash said. "How am I supposed to rub my eye when I don't have it?"

"Rainbow?"

She looked at the lower bed of the bunk bed and saw Applejack looking at her. Her mane was down and spread under her head over the pillow; a sight that was very common nowadays, but still a beautiful sight.

"Sorry, AJ. Did I woke you up?"

"No, Ah wasn't sleepin'. Ah just heard ya and wanted to check if ya was awaken or sleeptalkin'."

"It's just this darn eye. Or lack of one. It's stinging again!" she lied down on her bed again. "This sucks!"

"Ah'm sorry. If it wasn't for me--"

"Stop right there, AJ. I told you once, I told you twice, I told you many times: it WASN'T your fault!"

"But--"

"You were in danger, I saved you and unfortunately lost my eye, but you know what? I don't care! I lost my eye, big deal. But at least you're alive and ok. If I still had my eye, you wouldn't be here and I would probably be using it to cry of regret right now."

"Rainbow..."

"You're my best friend, AJ. I lost my eye for you, and I would gladly give up on a hoof, a leg, even a wing if it was for saving you. And you know how much I love my wings!"

Applejack smiled and wiped a tear of happiness. "Thanks, Rainbow. It's good to see yer still the same, even after everythin' we saw and did."

"Element of Loyalty, remember? And this eyepatch makes me look even cooler."

The former farm mare chuckled. "It sure does!"

"Thank you."

"No, thank YOU!"

"What for?"

"For bein' who ya are."

Rainbow didn't understand what she meant, but just shrugged and closer her eye.

"Now try to get some sleep. We need to wake up early. We have zombies to kill and ponies to protect."

"Darn tootin'!"

"Good night, AJ."

"Good night, RD."

"I love you." Applejack thought as she closed her eyes.

* * *

While she was sleeping, Applejack's mind wandered back to that day. The day she almost lost her friends and family. The day she almost died.

Applejack opened her eyes. She was back in her room in Sweet Apple Acres. Everything was peaceful and she tried going back to sleep, until...

"Applejack!" her brother called, opening the door of her room.

"Big Mac? What's goin' on?"

What's goin' on?

"We gotta get out of here!"

"Why?"

"Leave the questions for later, we don't have time. Go wake Apple Bloom. Ah'll wake up Granny!"

A few moments later, the Apple Family was up and ready to go, Apple Bloom on Big Mac's back, still half asleep. As they exited the house, all of them but Big Macintosh gasped.

"Ponyville is on fire!" Apple Bloom shouted, looking at the orange light coming from the town and the many smoke columns.

"It's a good time to start explainin', Big Mac." Applejack said.

"On the way there." he said, then started running toward Ponyville, followed by his sister and grandmother.

"Why are we goin' toward the fire?" Granny Smith asked, unable to look away from the burning town.

"The train station is our only way out that is not on hoof. Which is not a viable option right now!"

"Why not?"

"Why is Ponyville on fire?" Apple Bloom asked, tears rolling down her face.

"It's hard to explain. Some ponies are sick. They're not themselves anymore. They're attackin' other ponies. The fire is just a consequence."

"What do ya mean by 'sick'?" Applejack asked, fighting back her tears.

Big Macintosh opened his mouth but before he could speak, they heard a scream. The Apple Family looked toward the source of the scream; a maroon mare running, two stallions chasing her. They had no mane and no Cutie Mark. They were growling and drooling while chasing her.

"HELP ME!" she screamed.

"Miss Cheerilee!" Apple Bloom called.

Big Macintosh placed Apple Bloom on Applejack's back and ran to Cheerilee's aid. The teacher mare tripped on the root of a tree and fell. She looked back and saw the stallions getting closer. Knowing what was coming next, she closed her eyes... but nothing happened. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Big Macintosh standing in front of her, offering his hoof to help her up. The stallions were lying on the ground behind him.

"Bi-Big Mac..."

"Are ya ok?"

"I think so." she grabbed his hoof and got up, but as soon as she touched the ground with her injuried hoof she fell, but Applejack held her, preventing her from hitting the ground. "Or maybe not... I think I sprained my hoof..."

Big Mac wrapped her hoof around his neck. "Sweet Apple Acres is right there. Ah'll put somethin' on yer hoof. Applejack, Granny Smith, ya go ahead. Ah'll catch up with ya later. And don't, Ah repeat, DON'T go near ponies like those stallions Ah just knocked out. If one of them attack ya, run. If it catch up, don't let it bite ya!"

Applejack nodded and ran away, followed by Granny Smith. Big Mac and Cheerilee returned to Sweet Apple Acres. When they arrived in Ponyville, Apple Bloom buried her face in Applejack's mane. She didn't wanted to see what happened to her loved hometown. Granny Smith, even with her usual calm stance, was dying on the inside.

"Ah saw this town rise." she said. "Never thought Ah'd live long anough to see it die too."

"Applejack!" somepony called.

The farm mare looked around and saw Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner's door, pointing her hoof at inside the bakery. She understood what her friend wanted and nodded before running at full speed toward the building. Once all of the Apples were inside, Pinkie Pie closed the door.

"What happened, Pinike?"

"I don't know. I woke up a few minutes ago with Mr. and Mrs. Cake screaming. When I came down there was nopony here and the door was open. I was going to close it when I saw this... Madness!"

"Do ya think they fled?"

"No way! Pound and Pumpkin are still upstairs, sleeping. They wouldn't leave their foals behind. I... I think something happened to them." Pinkie Pie closed her eyes as tears started escaping from them. Applejack hugger her.

"We gotta get out of here, Pinkie. It's not safe. The flames could reach Sugarcube Corner. We're headin' toward the train station. Accordin' to Big Mac, it's the only way out of this nightmare!"

Pinkie Pie wiped her tears, nodded and ran upstairs. She came down a few moments ago with her saddlebags, the Cake twins sleeping in them. "Okie Dokie Lokie! Let's go."

Applejack opened the door and the three mares ran down the street, but there were ponies with no mane blocking the way. The looked at the mares and ran toward them, screaming and growling.

"Ah think we should run." Granny Smith said.

"Hooves around mah neck, Apple Bloom!"

The filly didn't thought twice before hugging her sister as tight as she could. Applejack , Granny and Pinkie ran as fast as they could, maybe even faster than that. Until the elder mare slipped on a puddle of a blood. She tried getting up, but the ponies were faster and jumped on her.

"GRANNY SMITH!" the three mares shouted.

"Run away!" Granny Smith shouted, trying to keep the sick ponies off her.

"A-Ah can't leave you behind!" Applejack said.

One of the ponies noticed them and ran toward them.

"Go!" the elder shouted before a pony sank his teeth in her throat, silencing her.

Applejack didn't wanted to, but her hooves moved on their own accord, taking her away from her loved grandmother. The shouting and running woke up the twins, who were crying.

"Don't worry, little ones." Pinkie Pie said. "Auntie Pinkie is here. She won't let anything happen to you!"

Suddenly more of them appeared. They were surrounded.

"Pinkie..."

"Yes, AJ?"

She placed Apple Bloom on Pinkie's back.

"Applejack, no." the filly said, knowing what her sister was up to. "Don't do that."

"That's Carrot Top's house." she pointed her hoof at a house with the door open, ignoring her begging sister. "Ah've been in there before. It has a backdoor. Ah want ya to go through there, then straight to the train station, do ya understand?"

"Yes, but what about you?"

"Ah'll keep 'em busy!"

The ponies were getting closer. Applejack pushed the pink mare through the door. "Ah love ya, Apple Bloom."

"Ah love ya too, sis. So much!"

"See you later." Pinkie said.

"Assuming that Ah'll--"

"I said," Pinkie interrupted her. "'see you later'."

Applejack smiled, nodded and closed the door. She turned around and saw them getting closer. And closer. And farther. And farther.

"Are you ok?"

She finally noticed she wasn't on the ground anymore. She looked up and her green eyes met a pair of magenta eyes looking down at her.

"Rainbow Dash!"

"Guess I just saved your rump!"

"Sure did! Thanks."

"Have you seen Pinkie anywhere? Now that I found you, she's the only one left."

"So the others are fine? Whew, what a relief! Pinkie and I just parted ways. She is on her way to the train station."

"Where's Apple Bloom?" a third voice asked. Applejack finally noticed Scootaloo on Rainbow Dash's back.

"Oh, hi, Scootaloo!" Didn't see ya there. She's fine, she's with Pinkie and the Cake twins."

"Right!" Dash said. "So now, all we gotta do is head to the train sta--"

She was interrupted by something exploding in the house beneath them, maybe a gas cylinder. The explosion sent pieces of the roof flying at them. Rainbow Dash screamed in pain.

"Rainbow Dash, are you ok?" Scootaloo shouted.

She lost control over her wings and the three ponies fell on the street. Applejack got up and went to check if Rainbow was fine. She was still lying on the ground, covering her left eye with her hoof.

"What happened? Are you ok?"

"Something in my eye. Ow!" she got up, still covering her eye. "But that's nothing. Let's go!"

Scootaloo climbed on Rainbow Dash's back and the two mares ran toward the train station in the end of the street.

"She's running instead of walking." Applejack thought. "She's not ok."

Once they arrived at the train station, fortunately the train was still there. Ponies were protecting it with whatever they could; iron bars, rocks, knives, magic... There were even a few Royal Guards helping them.

"Mares and foals first!" one of the guards said, looking at them and pointing his spear at the train.

Applejack nodded and they entered the train. It wasn't crowded, but there was a good number of ponies in there. A filly tackle-hugged Applejack.

"Ya made it!" Apple Bloom said.

"Sure did. Looks like Pinkie protected ya very well."

"Yes. One of those things blocked our way, but then she grabbed her Party Cannon and BOOM!"

"Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo said, jumping down from Rainbow Dash's back.

"Scootaloo!"

They happily hugged each other.

"Where's Sweetie Belle?"

"Right there, with Rarity."

They joined their friends. This time it was Pinkie Pie's turn to tackle-hug Applejack.

"You did it, you did it, you did it!"

"Well, it was you who said 'see you later'."

"Heheh. Yes, it was me!"

Applejack looked at her friends. Rarity was cradling Pound Cake, Fluttershy was cradling Pumpkin Cake and Twilight was petting the asleep Spike.

"Ah'm glad y'all are here." she said.

Twilight gasped. "What happened to your eye, Rainbow Dash?!"

Everypony looked at the cyan pegasus, whose closed eye was bleeding.

"A house exploded, something hit my eye and now I'm half-blind." she said matter-of-factly.

"How can you stay so calm when you're like that, darling?" Rarity asked.

"It's not like I'm completely blind. I still have a good eye!"

"Ah'm sorry, Rainbow. It's my fault."

"Relax, AJ. I don't blame you!"

"A-Applejack..." Fluttershy called in her usual almost-whispering tone. "I-If you don't mind me asking, where's Winona?"

Applejack looked around. She saw Owlowiscious, Opal, Gummy, Tank and even Angel Bunny. She gasped. "A-Ah left her in Sweet Apple Acres!"

They all heard a bark. They all looked at the door and saw Cheerilee and Big Mac, Winona between them.

"Look who I found!" the teacher said, smiling.

The dog barked again and ran toward her owner, who hugger her.

"Ah'm sorry, girl! Ah'm sorry, Ah'm sorry, so sorry!"

Rarity levitated a piece of cloth from her saddlebag and wrapped it around Rainbow Dash's head, covering her injuried eye.

"Feeling better?" she asked.

"Much better. Thanks, Rare!"

A few moments later, all the stallions had entered the train. Soon the train started moving.

"Next stop, Canterlot!" Twilight said.

Part 4: A Medic's Tale

"Wha-What do you mean with 'you can't leave'?" asked the pink-maned pegasus pony.

"I'm sorry, miss." said the police pony. "But a group of them was seen creeping around the city. Nopony is allowed to leave!"

The mare adjusted the glasses on her muzzle, trying not to lose it.

"But I'm a travelling doctress. Ponies everywhere are in need of medical care!"

"I'm sorry, but while they're out there, you can't--" he didn't finished the sentence when he looked into the mare's eyes. They were wide and he felt like she was staring into his soul. The police pony shivered.

"M-Miss..."

"You will let me pass. NOW!"

"Y-Yes, ma'am!" the stallion unlocked and opened the small door near the bigger gate that led to outside the city.

"Thank you!" she said as she left the city. "The Stare never fails me." she thought. "I just wished I didn't had to use it quite so often."

"You're crazy, miss." he said before closing the gate.

"I sure am." she said, giggling. She adjusted her glasses and her saddlebag and started her journey to the next city, Manehattan. "Hope Rainbow Dash and Applejack are fine..."

One of the pockets of the saddlebag opened and Angel Bunny's head popped out of it.

"Good morning, Angel."

The rabbit rubbed his eyes and looked around. When he noticed they were no longer in the safety of the city, he squeaked, jumped out of the saddlebag and started pulling her tail. But his efforts were useless.

"I know it's dangerous, Angel, but ponies need my help. I need to take care of them--" they heard the sound of a twig being snapped. "...all." she hid behind a tree, covering her mouth and Angel's.

"Hello?" a weak male voice called. "I saw you. Please, stay away from me. I'm infected!"

Fluttershy's heart skipped a beat. He could be infected, but she could notice in his voice that he was injuried.

"Oh, the dilemma..."

She left her hiding spot and saw a violet pegasus stallion with a long, straight dark purple mane. His eyes were a deep blue and his cutie mark consisted of stars forming a constellation (she couldn't point which). His wing was obviously broken and his left hind leg was injuried.

"NO!" he hid behind a tree. "Go away. I don't want to hurt anypony. They bit me. My fate was sealed. I can feel the poison running in my veins, going toward my heart. I--"

He felt like his leg was burning, but he covered his mouth to prevent himself from screaming and lure them. He looked at his leg and saw a yellow mare wearing pink latex gloves and a lab coat cleaning the blood and his injury with a moist cotton ball.

"I tried to warn you it was going to sting since it's alcohol, but you wouldn't hear me." she said. "I'm sorry."

"N-No... I'm... I'm infected..."

She looked up at his face.

"When exactly were you 'bitten'?" she asked.

"This morning."

Fluttershy giggled, threw the cotton away and wrapped a bandage around his leg. "You weren't bitten. That's just a scratch. A big one! Anyway, it's been quite a while since this morning. The longest infection I've seen didn't last more than one and a half hour."

"But... They were chasing me. One of them jumped on me, then I felt pain. When I managed to escape, I saw the broken wing and the bleeding leg."

The medic mare inspected his whole body, making the stallion blush.

"P-Personal space, please?"

"No bite marks." she said. "You're as healthy as any stallion around your age should be!"

He sighed in relief. "I guess you just saved me from my paranoia. Thanks!"

"My name is Fluttershy. And you?"

"Bright Sky."

"Nice to meet you, Bright Sky."

"Nice to meet you too, doctor."

"Oh, no. I'm not a doctor. I know a thing or two about medicine, but never actually went to college. I just travel around, helping everypony in need of medical care."

"Well, you helped me a lot. Thanks, miss Futtershy."

"Don't mention it! Helping is my passion. Actually, I--"

He covered her muzzle with his hoof.

"You hear that?" Sky whispered.

Fluttershy focused her hearings on her surrounding. After a few seconds, she heard a growl.

"Infected..." she whispered when he released her muzzle.

He pointed his hoof up and she nodded, knowing what he wanted her to do. She wrapped her hooves around his chest and flew up. They hid between the leaves of a tree a few moments before a group of infected passed below them, grunting and growling. Fluttershy closed her eyes and Sky held his breath. One of the infected halted and sniffed the air. Sky's eyes widened and his irises shrinked when he saw it sniffing the cotton ball. The infected grabbed the bloddy cotton with its teeth and looked around.

"Please, don't look up. Please, don't look up. Please, don't look up. Please, don't look up. Please, don't look up."

The infected then swallowed the ball and followed the group. He released is breath and nudged Fluttershy with his muzzle.

"It's ok, they're gone."

She opened her eyes and looked down. "Guess this time it was you who saved me. I would be doomed if you didn't heard them." she planted a kiss on Bright Sky's cheek. "Thank you!"

He blushed and smiled before jumping down. Fluttershy landed beside him.

"Now, we need to fix your wing."

Sky looked at his broken wing. "Will it hurt?"

She gave him the kinder smile she had in stock. "Don't worry, I'll be very gentle."

"So, what do I do?"

"Lay down on your side and let me take care of everything."

"Right." he did as he was told.

She placed her saddlebag on the floor and adjusted her glasses.

Part 5: The First Wave

Rainbow Dash adjusted her helmet nd grabbed a spear. When she opened the door of the dressing room, Applejack was there, about to open it by the other side.

"Oh. Hello, AJ. You woke up pretty late today, huh?"

"No, it was ya who woke up early today, RD!"

"Really? I didn't noticed."

Applejack chuckled and grabbed her own helmet from her locker.

"What's so funny?"

"Yer gettin' more responsible, RD. Somethin' good had to come from all those bad things that happened lately after all."

"I suppose you're right!"

Applejack sighed and grabbed a bow. "Ah want this to be over soon. Hope Twi and the other unicorns of the Science Team find a cure or somethin' like that. No matter how many of them we kill, there's always more."

"I hope too, AJ. But what can we do right now beside fight them? We're just a bunch of brainless brawlers."

"Ah reckon yer right."

"So let's go out there and give our best to show those zombies out there who's the boss! You're with me?"

Applejack saluted her. "Yes, ma'am!"

"Save it for when I'm promoted to captain, AJ!"

"Right, then." Applejack placed her quiver on her back and both mares left the dressing room. "But Ah'm sure yer gonna be greater than a captain. Hay, Ah bet yer even gonna be a general someday!"

"Are you trying to bed me, Applejack?"

"Wha-What?!" the earth pony blushed.

"The first step to bed a mare is lots of flattery." Rainbow Dash winked. "And you're doing a great job so far!"

"Ah... Ah'm..."

She laughed. "Relax, AJ! I'm just messing with you." Applejack relaxed, but the blush refused to leave her face. "Now let's go. There are zombies out there waiting for my spear and your arrows."

"Hay yeah!"

Rainbow Dash playfully whipped Applejack's flank with her tail, making the bowmare blush.

"If you keep teasing me like that I won't be able to stay focused on the battle, Rainbow!" she thought.

* * *

Spitfire, former captain of the Wonderbolts,current captain of Manehattam's Combat Team, was waiting at the maing gate of the city. Once she saw Rainbow Dash and Applejack approaching, she smiled and walked toward them.

"Private Rainbow Dash!" she called.

Both mares saluted their superior.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Congratulations, I've been promoted."

"WOW! I-I mean, congratulations, ma'am. But what does it have to do with me?"

"Well, since I've been promoted, I have business to attend in Safe Zone #1 - Canterlot and Safe Zone #17 - Manehattan needs a captain. Congratulations, Captain Rainbow Dash."

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" she then cleaned her throat. "I mean, thank you, Cap-- Major Spitfire."

"You're a great soldier, Rainbow Dash." Spitfire took the Captain insignia off her armor and placed it on Rainbow Dash's armor. She then placed a different insignia on her own armor. "I'm sure you'll be an even greater captain."

Rainbow Dash smiled and saluted her. "Ma'am, yes ma'am!"

Spitfire chuckled. "I'm counting on you, Dash."

With that, she took off. Applejack playfully punched her partner's soldier.

"How does it feel 'Captain'?"

"Feels like I'm back on the Wheater Team. This feels... Nostalgic! Feels good! Really good!"

"Congratulations..." she saluted her. "...Captain Rainbow."

"Thanks, AJ. Now let's go. We have zombies to kill and I have a batallion to command."

"Ma'am, yes ma'am!"

Rainbow Dash laughed. "You're my best friend, AJ. You don't have to be so formal when it's just the two of us."

* * *

Soon after that, the whole batallion was reunited at the gate, Rainbow Dash flying in front of them.

"Alright, listen here, you dummies. Captain Spitfire was promoted and left to Canterlot. But before leaving, she left me in charge of you. She was strict, and so am I. I want cooperation, teamwork and disposition in my batallion. Manehattan is a Safe Zone, and we're going to keep it like that. Now, are we ready to kick some zombie butts?"

"Yes, ma'am!" they all shouted.

"Ready to show them who's the dominant species?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Then lower the gates!"

Two stallions started turning two wheels, opening the big gate.

"Bowponies, ready your bows! Soldiers, with me!"

Rainbow Dash grabbed her spear. The soldiers grabbed their spears, swords and shields.

Once the gates were completely open, a relatively big group of infected ran at full speed toward the soldiers while the soldiers ran/flew toward the infected. Once they were all outside, the gates were closed.

The bowponies climbed ladders that led to the top of the wall that circled the city and started shooting their arrows. Nearly a dozen of infected fell before the groups clashed and, when they did, the sound os blades cutting through flesh and bones could be heard.

Rainbow Dash was a great warrior. If her Cutie Mark wasn't related to flying at top speeds, it would surely be related to fighting. While most of her soldiers killed their second or third infected, she was killing her tenth.

Same goes for Applejack. The apples that formed her Cutie Mark should all be trespassed by arrows, because her aim was almost perfect, no matter the distance. She had shot five arrows and killed six of them (including the one killed by an arrow that trespassed the infected in front of it).

Rainbow Dash's spear got stuck between the ribs of an infected. She saw another infected coming toward her, but she was unable to protect herself.

It jumped, but it was intercepted by an arrow. It trespassed the infected's head, who fell to the ground, dead. Captain Dash turned around and saw a bowmare waving her hoof at her.

"Nice aim, AJ!" Rainbow Dash shouted before pulling the spear once again, this time succeeding in freeing it.

After an hour or so, all of them were dead. The warriors were celebrating not only the victory, but the lack of casualties.

"Good work, everypony! One wave down!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "But they'll be back! You better be ready, because we don't know when it will be!"

* * *

That night, in Applejack and Rainbow Dash's apartment, both were in the bathroom; Rainbow Dash was taking a shower and Applejack was combing her mane.

"I just noticed that I didn't thank you properly, AJ." the new captain said. "Thanks for saving my flank from a big bite!"

"Aw, shucks, Rainbow. Ah was just doin' mah job. No need to thank me."

The sound of water dripping on the floor stopped and the curtains of the showers were open, revealing Dash with a towel wrapped around her body. "No seriously. I owe you my life."

"Ya owe me nothin', RD."

"Because you're my life..."

"Excuse me?"

"Di-Did Ah said that out loud?"

"No. Well, yes. Well, kinda. You whispered something. What was it?"

"Ah... Ah..."

"C'mon, AJ! You can trust me!"

The earth pony was sweating, her eyes looking everywhere but in the pegasus mare's eyes. Applejack then sighed.

"Ah... Ah said..."

"Yes?"

"Ah said that..."

"Keep going."

"Ah-AhsaidthatyouaremylifeRainbowDash!"

"S-Sorry?"

"Ah said... You are my... My life... Rainbow Dash..."

An awkward silence filled the bathroom. Both mares were looking down at her hooves.

"Since... When?" the pegasus asked.

"Since the day ya came to Ponyville, Ah guess. Ah always admired ya, even though Ah never admitted it. But Ah wasn't sure about mah feelings 'til that day. The day ya saved mah life. The day Ah became sure ya would always be there for me and never leave me hangin'."

Rainbow Dash smiled and hugged her friend.

"I always admired you too and, coming from me, that's something! But I never thought about you like that."

Applejack sighed, but Rainbow Dash wasn't finished yet.

"BUT! Since it's you, my best friend Applejack, the only non-winged awesome enough to keep up with me, I'll give it a try!"

"A-Are ya sayin' that--"

She was interrupted by a pair of lips pressing against hers. Applejack soon noticed what was going on and started kissing her back. After a few moments, Rainbow Dash moved her lips down and stated nibbling on her partner's neck, stealing a moan from Applejack.

"Your bed, five minutes!" the pegasus said before leaving the bathroom. A huge grin appeared in Applejack's face.

* * *

The gates were open and a pair of pegasi trotted in; one wearing a light pink lab coat and and the other with bandages wrapped around his left hind leg and wing.

"Here we are: Safe Zone #17 - Manehattan." the medic mare said.

Part 6: Friendly Reunion

"A-Are you sure we can just barge in their room like that?" Bright Sky asked.

"Oh, we're not barging in!" Fluttershy said, smiling. "I've known them for years, we're like family. I dare to say that I 'live here' too."

"Bu-But... What if they're doing something... Private?"

Fluttershy giggled as she turned the doorknob. "Don't be silly, Sky. They're both mares, it's not like they can--" she stopped talking and blushed when she heard moans. She quickly closed the door. "But, on second thought, we should wait. Family or not, it's not polite to enter somepony's house uninvited."

Twilight woke up with a nudge on her side. She had fell asleep on her table. She had drooled all over the blank parchment under her face.

"Wake up, Twilight Sparkle." said Trixie, nudging her side with her muzzle once again.

"Tr-Tr-Trixie!" she shouted, surprised. "I-I-I'm sorry, I was about to write my report, but--" she sighed and stopped shouting. "It wasn't my intention to fall asleep..."

"I know it wasn't. You've been researching for eight days on end, Twilight Sparkle. You don't sleep and hardly eats. I literally shove a daisy sandwich down your throat three days ago! I'm not surprised that big brain of yours simply shut down. That's why I requested Princess Luna to give you two days off."

"You did what?"

"And guess what? She approved!"

"WHAT?! No no no no no no no, this is not good!"

"You're welcome." Trixie said sarcastically.

"I have to keep researching. I need to find a way to solve this mess!"

"Sparkle..."

"I can't have days off. I'll be away and won't be able to study and research."

"Twilight..."

"What will I do while I'm away? What will the team do while i'm away? What--"

Trixie started rubbing Twilight's horn with her hoof, stealing a moan from the lavender mare, who then blushed and slapped Trixie's hoof away from her horn.

"Wha-What the hay, Trixie? You know how sensitive our horns are when we wake up."

"I know, but it was the only way to have your attention."

"S-Sorry..."

"Don't worry, Twilight Sparkle. The team can take care of itself with you gone for a couple of days. We're all powerful and trained unicorns, after all. Also, a sleepy Twilight Sparkle can do more damage than no Twilight Sparkle at all. Get out of this laboratory, go meet your friends and, most importantly, get some shut-eye!"

"I suppose you're right." she hugged the blue unicorn. "Thanks for caring about me, Trixie."

The former showmare was about to hug her back, but then pushed Twilight away.

"Do-Don't get me wrong. Trixie cares not about you, Twilight Sparkle. She only cares about the research and is worried about the mess you could make if you tried to work with your body about to collapse."

Twilight giggled and slowly took off her lab colt, unaware of the mare staring at her body, wishing it. Craving for it!

"Well, there's nothing I can do about it now, right? See you in two days, Trixie." she placed her lab coat on the nager and left her office.

Once the door was closed, Trixie grabbed the coat and sniffed it while hugging it. The thoughts in her mind made her blush.

* * *

Fluttershy knocked on the door of her friends. After a few moments, a sweaty Applejack opened it.

"Oh! Howdy there, 'Shy!"

"Ho-Howdy..." she stuttered, blushing like mad.

"And who are ya, pardner?"

"Br-Br-Bright... S-Sky..."

"Howdy, Sky. Any friend of 'Shy is mah friend as well." she then jumped out of the way. "Please, do come in."

"T-Thanks, Applejack..." Fluttershy said before stepping in the apartment, Bright Sky following her.

"Make yerself at home. Ah'll tell RD yer here. Be right back!" she said before going back to the bedroom.

"Kinda hard to make myself at home with the whole place smelling like love-making." Sky whispered, making Fluttershy blush crimson red. Both guests sat on the couch (Fluttershy sniffed on it first, to be sure). Applejack returned a few moments later, Rainbow Dash following her (sweaty as well).

"Fluttershy!" she said before glomping her long-date friend (who shivered a little thanks to the smell). "I missed you so much. I'm so glad to see you alive!"

"And I'm glad to see you..." she pondered her answer for a couple of seconds. "...Healthy!"

"Heheh, thanks. And who's that? Your coltfriend?"

"Oh, he's Bright Sky and WAIT, COLTFRIEND?"

"Yup!"

They blushed even more (Fluttershy on the verge of fainting due to the lack of blood in the rest of her body).

"Oh, no no no, he's not my coltfriend."

"Yet." Rainbow Dash whispered to Applejack, making her marefriend chuckle.

"I met him on the way here and now we're travelling together. That's all!"

Rainbow Dash looked at Bright Sky. "Do you agree with that?" the colt nodded and Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Ok, then. Anyway, welcome to Manehattan."

"How's that, Dashie?" Fluttershy asked, pointing at the eyepatch.

"Still stings sometimes, but it doesn't hurt as bad as it used to, thanks!"

"Oh, that's good."

"What about ya, Sky?" Applejack asked.

"What about me what?"

"What's yer story? We already know 'Shy her, but yer face is new to us."

"Yes, you didn't told me either." Fluttershy said.

"It's not an interesting story." he said.

"Every story is interesting!" Fluttershy said. "In their own way."

"Well, ok then. Here it goes." Bright Sky took a deep breath. "I used to live in Cloudsdale with my little brother, until one day the infected pegasi attacked. We managed to escape, but we were sent to different Safe Zones. I was sent to Trottingham and haven't had news of him ever since. One day, decided to find my brother, I escaped the city. I was on my way to Las Pegasus, the first Safe Zone I was going to check, when I got ambushed by them. That's when I met Fluttershy! The rest is history."

"One more question, sugarcube." Applejack said. "What's yer lil' brother's name?"

"Well, his name is..."

* * *

"Dark Cloud!" the former fashionista mare called.

"Yes, miss Rarity?" Dark Cloud was a dark blue pegasus colt. His mane was a darker shade of blue and he had purple eyes. His Cutie Mark was (what a surprise!) a dark cloud.

"Could you be a dear and do me a favor? Tell my sister and her friends that I have a friend who is going to spend a couple of day with us and that I would be very grateful if they prepared a room for her?"

The colt saluted. "Right away, miss Rarity." Dark Cloud then dashed toward Pinkie Pie's old room.

"What a sweetie!" she thought, smiling. "He's just like Spikey-Wikey!"

"Thank you, Rarity." Twilight said, taking another sip from the teacup she was levitating. "Since I kinda live in my office and I can't go there because of those forced vacations..."

"It's a pleasure to help, darling! We're happy to see you again."

"Is Pinkie Pie at the hospital?"

"Yes, she goes there early in the morning and only returns one hour before sunset. She really cares about them!"

After a few more subjects, Rarity couldn't keep herself from asking what she really wanted to know:

"So, Twilight, have you found your very special somepony yet?"

The scientist almost choked on her tea.

"Wh-Wh-Why are you asking me that?"

"Well, those laboratories are filled with -pardon the term- eggheads, so it's not hard for you to find somepony with the same interests as you."

"Well, there's somepony there who likes to read and loves magic..."

"Oh my stars! That's great! Who's the pony?"

"Trixie!"

It was Rarity's turn to almost choke on her tea.

"Tri-Trixie?!" she almost shouted. "Like in 'The Great And Powerful Trixie'?!"

"Yes, exactly." Twilight said matter-of-factly, taking another sip from the teacup. "She tries to hide t, but she really cares about me. And I care about her! But I don't think it's something beyond friendship."

"Well, that's a relief. You may share the same interests, but it's Trixie we're talking about here! The Liar And Full-Of-Herself Trixie! It wouldn't work out. Her soulmate might be that griffon ruffian. What's her name again? Guilty? Gear? Guile?"

"Gilda."

"Yes, that!"

"Give Trixie a chance, Rarity. She changed!"

"She turned my mane green, Twilight. Green! I'm still waiting for an apology."

Twilight facehoofed. "Is that the reason you still don't like her?"

Rarity simply nodded while drinking her tea.

Twilight sighed. "Let's just change the subject. Well, what about you? Found your very special somepony?"

"I did~!" she answered in a dreamy tone.

"Ohhh! And who's the lucky pony?"

"Pinkie Pie."

Twilight managed to turn her head before spitting her tea into oblivion. "That was... Unexpected!"

"During dark times, ponies feel lonely and manage to find love in the most unusual places. A close friend is no exception!"

"I know, it's just that I didn't thought you were into mares, but I'm happy for you two. Really. Congratulations!"

"Thank you, darling."

* * *

Fluttershy tried to sleep, but she just couldn't. It's not that the couch wasn't comfortable; it was because she didn't thought the blanket on the floor was comfortable enough to serve as Sky's bed. And there was something else...

"Pssst. Fluttershy!" Called Sky. "Are you asleep yet?"

"No. It's hard to sleep with those... Noises!"

"Same here. So, do you want to talk?"

"Yes. It will help me keeping my mind out of what's going on in the other room."

"So... Do you think Cloud is still alive?"

"I'm sure he is! Alive, safe and sound. I can feel you two will meet very soon. Don't lose hope, Sky!"

"I won't. I'm just... Worried! Is he in good hooves? Is he eating properly? Are they treating him well? There are so many questions!"

"That's normal. Every big brother and sister cares about their little brothers and sisters, no matter the situation! I have a friend. Her name is Rarity. She and her little sister were always arguing, but when they had the biggest fight of their lives, she did everything she despised the most to earn her sister's trust back!"

"I never had a single fight with little Cloud."

"That makes your relationship even more special!"

"I suppose you're right. Thanks, Fluttershy!"

* * *

"Where are you, big bro?" Dark Cloud asked the picture he was holding on his hooves; a picture of him with his brother, where both were smiling. He tucked the picture under his pillow and curled himself up before falling asleep.

Part 7: Sunburns

Two months had passed. twilight was in her office, levitating a few books and scrolls, studying reactions of chemical components. She was startled by the sound of the alarm.

"The alert alarm? What's going on?"

Her horn started glowing a faint pink and Trixie's voice spoke in her head:

"Twilight, come quickly!"

"What happened, Trixie?"

"Manehattan was attacked. A group of survivors just arrived!"

"That's terri-- Wait, did you just said Manehattan? That's where Rainbow Dash and Applejack were. Are they ok?"

"I don't know, all the survivors were sent straight to the hospitals and medical tents."

"Right. Thanks for keeping me informed, Trixie! Over."

The pink glow vanished. Twilight placed the study material on her table. "Please, don't be dead!" she thought as she left her office in a hurry.

* * *

Applejack was lying on a bed, her body covered in bandages and connected by wires to machines. Her eyes were closed, but she was still breathing. Rainbow Dash was holding her hoof, fighting back tears.

"What a great captain you are, Rainbow Dash." she scolded herself. "You let almost all of your batallion die and almost let the pony you care about the most meet the same fate. Spitfire must be regretting her decision right now!"

"Rainbow Dash!" called a voice she hadn't heard in a long time. She turned around just in time to see Twilight hugging her. "Thank Luna, you're alright."

"Too bad you can't say the same about Applejack."

Twilight looked at the bed and gasped. She'd never seen a friend of her in such bad condition.

"What... What happened?"

"Celestia."

"What about her?"

"She is not dead."

"Wh-What?"

"She is one of them!"

"WHAT?! Oh, this is not good..."

"She is too strong to be defeated by mere warriors. We need the Elements of Harmony! But it's no use with Fluttershy being Luna knows where and Applejack like... Like that!" she hugged Twilight as tight as she could, finally letting the tears flow. "It was horrible, Twilight. Horrible!"

* * *

Rainbow Dash was standing on the wall, looking down at the city she was protecting.

"Alright! Everything looks awesome, the way it's supposed to be."

Suddenly, everything went dark. She slowly turned around and looked up; there was something blocking the sun. Something big, black, with weird-shaped wings and a broken horn, which had a faint, red glow.

"Chrysalis?!" she thought. "No, it cannot be her."

Something clicked in her mind and the memory returned. The memory of a missed alicorn princess.

"Ce-Celestia!!" she shouted.

A red beam of magic was shot from Celestia's horn and destroyed part of the wall. If Rainbow Dash had taken off a second later than when she did, she would have been hit. Soon there was another beam. And another. And another. Soon it was like that part of the wall was never there to begin with. The apparently burned alicorn now focused her attention on the bowponies and spear throwers attacking her, even though the attacks caused no apparent damage.

There was a reason all the attacks were not effective; the infected Celestia had some kind of invisible shield erected around her body. They stopped the attack as soon as they noticed the infected entering the Safe Zone through the big hole in the wall. Rainbow Dash's eyes widened.

"RETREAT!" she shouted, but it was too late. The infected charged forward and the carnage started.

"Don't give up!" Applejack shouted at the other bowponies standing on top of buildings. "We can still stop them!"

The former monarch turned her attention to the shouting mare. She pointed her broken horn at her, charged another beam and shot. The roof of the building exploded, sending Applejack and other bowponies flying. Applejack reached a high height before gravity pulled her back to the ground. She hit the edge of a roof before falling to the ground, in the middle of a street, unconscious.

Celestia flapped her twisted and burned wings and took off. Soon, she was gone.

"I have to protect the city." Rainbow Dash said, grabbing a spear. "I have to protect my batallion." she charged toward the infected. "I have to protect Applejack!!"

* * *

"She can use magic?!" Twilight almost shouted. "This is not good. Not good at all!"

"We need Fluttershy here." Rainbow Dash said. "She will know what to do about Applejack!"

"There's somepony else we need here. Well, the correct term would be somedragon!"

* * *

Spike was sitting in front of the campfire, sharpening his blade while looking at the moon. His body had matured in the battlefield; he was as tall as an average stallion right now. His muscles had grown as well and his body was covered in scars and bite marks, scales were missing in a few spots. His eyes were now focused on his team; three stallions and two mares, all of them warriors fighting the infected.

The teenage dragon was about to get up when he felt something weird going on in his stomach, as if his lunch was fighting his dinner for domination. The sensation climbed his throat, but he didn't puked; instead, he belched a ball of green fire that soon transmuted itself into a scroll. he smiled.

"What's that, Spike, buddy?" one of the stallions asked.

"It's a letter." he said with his voice that was deeper than the one he had when he was smaller, but that still resembled a lot that same voice. His smile grew wider. "From Twilight!"

* * *

Four days later, the royal guards opened a hole in Shining Armor's shield spell around Canterlot and Spike stepped in. The first thing he did was take a deep breath.

"I missed that smell." he said, smiling. "The smell of civilization and progress is much better than the smell of blood and dirt."

"Spikey-wikey!" he heard a mare shout. The dragon looked around and saw a white unicorn mare running toward him.

"Rarity!" he said, opening his arms. She pounced on the dragon and hugged him.

"Look at you, all grown up, strong and handsome."

"Heheh, you're making me blush. But thanks! And where's Twilight?"

"Busy, working. This is why she asked me to welcome you and take you to her."

"Then let's go, we have no time to waste. The content of the letter was... Worrying!"

"Right." Rarity let go of him and walked toward the castle. "This way, Spikey-Wikey!"

"Oh. And, Rarity."

"Yes?"

"You're still as pretty as always."

Rarity brushed her mane with a foreleg, smiling. "Thanks, Spike."

* * *

Fluttershy walked in the tent and straight to Applejack's bed.

"I came as soon as Twilight sent me the letter." she said, placing her saddlebag on the ground. "How's Applejack?"

"She's not good." Rainbow Dash said, holding Applejack's hoof. "Wait, Twilight sent you a letter? How?"

"She must have learned the spell Princess Celestia used to send her letters through Spike. Angel Bunny is still angry..."

Both mares looked at the saddlebag. Angel was sitting on it, holding a picture of Twilight and a pen, drawing all over her face.

"He hates puking..."

"Thought so. Hey, where's Blind Sly?"

"It's 'Bright Sky'. And he's exploring the city right now. It's his first time in Canterlot. And thanks to the shield, he can finally stretch his wings a little bit without worrying about being attacked!"

"Oh, so you're still together."

Fluttershy blushed. "Yes, he's... He's a good assistant!"

"And you like him."

"And I like hiWHAT?!"

"Shhh. We're in a medical tent, Fluttershy."

"So-Sorry..."

"Anyway, enough chit-chat. Applejack needs our help!"

"Right!" Fluttershy adjusted her glasses and grabbed a pair of pink gloves from her saddlebag,

* * *

Bright Sky was flying very high, almost reaching the limit of the shield.

"Wow, Canterlot is really big!" he said, amazed. He then landed in the middle of a small street, stretching his wings. "It's so good to be able to fly again!"

"Excuse me." said a female voice coming from behind him. Sky turned around and saw a white unicorn mare with a messy mane. There was a purple dragon standing behind her.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"It seems that you are blocking our path."

Sky looked at his stretched wings an noticed that they were indeed blocking their path. Blushing of shame, he folded his wings. "I-I'm sorry."

"It's okay, dear. Have a nice da--" she stopped mid-sentence. "Wait! Are you new in town?"

"Yes, I am. Why?"

"And what's your name, if you don't mind me asking?"

"This is not the time to flirt, Rarity." the dragon whispered at the mare, but thanks to the proximity Sky was able to hear (what made him blush).

"I'm not flirting, Spikey-Wikey! This is important."

"My-My name is Bright Sky?"

Rarity's eyes widened, just like her smile. "Oh, my stars! Spike, you know the way to the castle, right?"

"Of course! This is my hometown, after all."

"Right. Go to the castle and ask a guard to take you to Twilight's Office. Mr. Sky, please, come with me! This is urgent!"

"Alright." both males said at the same time. Spike walked toward the castle and Rarity ran (or, due to the excitement, pranced just like her marefriend used to), being followed by Bright Sky.

* * *

Cloud, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Silver Sppon were playing together a game of hoofball in the backyard, smiling and giggling. Rarity came out from the back door of the orphanage with a huge smile on her face.

"There you are, Dark Cloud."

"You were looking for me, miss Rarity?"

"Yes, can you come in here for a second?"

Rarity walked in, Cloud following her.

"Where are we going, miss Rarity?"

"It's a surprise!"

Rarity then opened the front door; a pegasus stallion was waiting for them there. Cloud gasped.

"Bri... Bright... Sky?"

"Dark Cloud?"

Tears fell from the eyes of the siblings as they hugged each other.

"I was so worried about you, Cloud!"

"I missed you so much, Sky!" the colt looked at the mare. "Miss Rarity, how did you...?"

"The picture under your pillow! Recognized him almost immediately."

"Figures."

"Thank you, miss." Sky said, wiping his tears. "This is the best thing that happened to me since Dr. Fluttershy saved my life."

"Oh, you know Fluttershy! Is she in town?"

"Yes, she's taking care of a friend."

"Oh. Applejack. Poor thing, hope she can recover soon. I can't tell her sister about her condition. I just can't!"

"I understand. I wouldn't want Cloudy worrying about me either if I was in the same condition."

"Yes, I have a sister too, I understand. Oh! Talking about sisters, Cloud!"

"Yes, miss Rarity?"

"Don't tell the girls about Applejack. They don't need to know about that!"

"Okie dokie lokie."

She giggled. "You're spending too much time with Pinkie Pie!"

* * *

Twilight head a knock on the door of her office.

"Come in!" she said, her back turned to the door. A pair of hands covered her eyes.

"Guess who?"

She smiled, moved the hands away and hugged her #1 assistant. "Spike! It's so good to see you again."

"Heheheh, it's good to see you to, Twilight."

"Look at you, so big and strong! I think you're not a baby anymore, huh?"

"I missed you so much, Twilight."

"I missed you t--" she finally noticed the injures and bite marks all over his body. "I-I guess your life wasn't easy out there."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about me."

"But I do worry about you! You're my first and closest friend, for Luna's sake! I hatched you, you're like my son. I don't want to lose you." she sniffed, fighting back tears. "I can't lose you!"

He hugged her tighter. "I'll be more careful for now on, Twilight. For you!"

"Thank you, Spike..."

"So, you said Celestia is one of them now, that's why you wanted me here, right?"

"Yes and no. Canterlot needs additional protection, since the waves of attack are getting more frequent and our guards are moving to Safe Zones with less guards! I'd be glad if you could stay here a while to help us."

"Anything for you, Twilight!"

"Thanks. But there's something else."

"Yes?"

"I might have found something. Something big. I can't work in that by myself and everypony else is busy with their own departments."

"And let me guess: you want the help of your #1 assistant!"

"Correct!"

"When do I start?"

She nuzzled his neck. "Thanks, Spike! You can start right now, if you're not busy."

Extra 1: AppleBolts

Fields of Equestria, sunset. Big Mac bucked an apple tree. The fruits fell in a basket on Braeburn's back and both went back to the camp, where Soarin was sharpening their weapons and Fleetfoot was polishing their armors.

"Oh, back already!" Fleetfoot siad when she noticed the Apple cousins approaching.

"Yeah, we found an apple tree." Braeburn said proudly while sitting down, making the basket slide off his back. "It's not much, but it's somethin'!"

"Eeyup!" Big Macintosh agreed.

"Don't worry." Soarin said. "The Wonderbolts' training included dropping us in the jungle with a spell locking our wings. We learned how to make a single fruit last a whole day. For a group of six!"

"What he said!" Fleetfoot agreed.

"Are the Wonderbolts, like, an army or somethin'?" Braeburn asked, wiping the dust off his stetson. "Ah thought ya were just a bunch o' show-offs!"

"'Entertainers' is the correct term." said the Wonderbolt mare. "But that's not our only job. We're an Elite Team founded 1300 years ago by Princess Celestia herself. Y'know, in case Equestria needs somepony's help really fast!"

"Just like the extinct Shadowbolts, a team founded by Princess Luna not too long after the Wonderbolts." Big Mac added.

Braeburn looked at him, surprised. "Wow, cuz. Yer hiding a big brain under that big silence, aren'tcha?"

"You should be on the Science Team, not the Combat Team." said Soarin. "Even though you alone killed more of them than all of us combined!"

"Nope!" he said. "Applejack's friend is there, an' that's enough."

"There are never too many brains!"

"Eeyup. But we also need brawn to protect the brain!"

"I suppose you're right."

"Ah swear, Ah heard cuz Macintosh say more this last our than durin' mah whole life." Braeburn whispered to Fleetfoot, who giggled.

"Your cousin is pretty shy, huh?" she asked.

"Ah guess so!"

"Shhh..." Soarin closed his eyes and focused on his hearing. "Infected approaching."

They all put on their helmets and chest plates. Big Mac and Braeburn grabbed their spears while Fleetfoot and Soarin grabbed their sowrds. After a few seconds of silence, two infected dashed out of the woods, right in front of them. The Apples buried their spears on the chest of the infected, holding them in place so the Wonderbolts could decapitate them. But it wasn't over yet; six more infected surrounded them.

No big deal; Big Macintosh took care of three of them while his teammates took care of the others. Soarin took off his helmet and sat on the grass.

"When this is all over, I'm going to Appleloosa and eat the biggest apple pie ever made because I NEED A BUCKING PIE!"

Braeburn sat beside him, patting on his back. "Don't worry, pardner. Whne this is over, I'm baking two giant apple pies myself!"

"Awww, they look so cute together." Fleetfoot said, giggling. "Now kiss!"

Both stallions looked at each other, blusing, then looked at some random direction before slowly moving away from each other.

"St-Stop that, Fleetfoot!" Soarin shouted.

"For the fifteenth time, we're not gay!" shouted Braeburn. "Cuz, support!"

He looked at his cousin, only to find him suppressing a laugh.

Soarin sighed. "You should find a new hobby, Fleet."

"But I only have two hobbies: watching you guys bathe and imagine you as couples and, spoiler alert, none of those is getting old anytime soon. After all, what can I do when I'm not fighting nor watching the water running down your jacked, sexy bodies?" the stallions cold've sworn they saw saliva running down the corner of Fleetfoot's mouth. "Marriage of ponies of the same gender is legal, y'know. And I noticed you checking Brae-Brae out when we first met!"

Soarin blushed crimson red. "I-I wasn't checking him out! I just briefly stared at his cool jacket for a couple of second!"

"As if, Soar. I know what I saw and I saw you! Cheking! Him! Out!" she then looked at the second target of her teasing and approached him, walking in circles around the stallion. "What I can totally understand. Brae-Brae is hot stuff!" she slapped his flank with her tail, stealing a yelp from him. "Say, Brae-Brae, would you like to spend the night in my tent?"

Braeburn scratched the back of his neck, blushing like mad and looking down. "Ah... Ah... Ah don't know what to say, miss!"

"Meet Fleetfoot. First she calls you a colt-cuddler, then she wants to bed you right after that." said Soarin. "Mares are weird."

"Ayep!"

"This is why you two prefer stallions, right?"

They blushed again. She laughed like a crazy mare.

"Why don't you invite Big Macintosh to yer bed an' leave us alone for a couple o' minutes? Or hours, Ah don't know how long cuz Big Mac can last!"

Fleetfoot looked at the red stallion, with a smile from ear to ear and glowing eyes.

"Eeyup!" the former farmer said.

"Awesome!" she shouted before looking at a nonexistent watch on her foreleg. "Oh, is that late already? We should be going to bed already!" she then pushed Big Macintosh toward her tent. "Let's go Big Mac! See if you stand for your name, if you catch my meaning. Bye, guys!" she zipped close the entrance of her tent, leaving outside two stallions with open mouths, totally not believing on what just happened.

"Y'know, Ah did that hopin' to see cuz Big Mac blushin' and stuff, not actually acceptin' the offer."

"I really thought you were going to rut her in the end."

"Why would ya think thta?"

"Come on, Braeburn! Don't play dumb, you already rutted three mares since this team was formed. I was pretty sure she was going to be the fourth, sooner or later."

"Well, Ah guess they really didn't called me 'Brae-gets all the mares-Burn' when Ah was a colt for nothin'..."

There was a moment of silence for a few minutes, until Braeburn broke the silence:

"Ah have a few bottles o' hard cider in mah saddlebags. Ah was plannin' on drinkin' 'em after this was over, but... Nah, what the hay! Wanna share?"

"Sure, why not?"

Braeburn went to his tent and returned with two bottles, giving one to Soarin and keeping the others. They opened the bottles and raised them.

"Cheers, mate!"

"For us, the AppleBolts, best team o' zombie killers in Equestria!"

Soarin laughed before they downed their drinks.

Part 8: Luna

She was feeling dizzy. Never before she had to stay up all day, much less raise the sun. She hadn't had a good day or night of sleep in a long time. If somepony or something decided to attack her, she wouldn't stand a chance. Fortunetely Captain Shining Armor was always by her side.

"Are you sure you don't want me to raise the sun for you, aunt Lulu?" asked Princess Cadence, sounding extremely worried.

"Yes, I am entirely sure, Cadenza." Luna said. "This task requires a very experienced Alicorn to perform the spell and, as I recall Tia telling me, you've been one by barely ten years."

"But--"

"Maybe you'll be able to take my place in fifty years or so."

"But I gave up on my immortality so I could marry Shining Armor." she looked at her husband, who gave her a warm smile. "And I have no regrets!"

Luna affectionately nuzzled her niece, who nuzzled her beloved aunt back.

"I'm sorry, Cadenza, but you can't." she sat back on her late sister's throne. "Anyway, if Tia could do it, so can I!"

Cadence sighed. "If that's what you wish..." she walked toward the exit of the throne room. "If you need me, I'll be in my bedchamber. Good night, aunt Lulu. Good night, Shining Armor." using her magic, she closed the doors behind her.

"She may overestimate her abilites, but her heart is in the right place."

"She was always like that." Shining said. "Since kindergarten."

"I can see why you married her!"

Shining Armor's horn sparkled for a second and he sighed. "Time to re-cast the spell." he walked to the balcony and looked down at the city. He thought about the stallions, mares and foals that were counting on his shield. So many lives would be lost if he failed again. "Last time there were no casualties." he thought. "But one stallion can't be that lucky twice. This time they are not Changelings. I will not fail! Ever again!" he closed his eyes and fired a beam of magic at the pink protection bubble surrounding the city, making it ticker and stronger. Shining Armor then went back to Luna's side.

"You shouldn't take all the responsibility, Captain. Remember, you are not alone."

"But I'm the only one who can cast a shield spell that large."

"I'm not talking about that, Captain Shining Armor, and you know it. I'm talking about what I see in your eyes. The sense of duty, the compassion and, above it all, the blame. Everything that happens, you blame yourself, even though you had nothing to do with it."

"I am the Captain of the Royal Guard, it's my responsability to protect everypony! And even that I can do right..."

"You are so much like your wife. Both of you have your hearts in the right place. The only difference is that you underestimate your abilites and blame yourself for everything! You can't protect everypony, Captain. Nopony can. Not even I, neither my late sister could. But that doesn't make you a bad Captain."

"But--" Princess Luna nuzzled Shining Armor's neck, making him blush. "Y-Your Highness?"

"I am old, Captain. I met many Royal Guard Captains, but none like you. They were all 'duty slaves', doing nothing but what they were instructed or had to do. You are different! You have a heart, you show your feelings, you're always willing to do what's right and always trying to be a better pony than you were in the previous day. I dare to say you are the best Royal Guard Captain I came across." she smiled. "Now stop blaming yourself and turn back into that grat Captain I met after my return!"

Shining Armor smiled and saluted her. "Yes, Your Highness!"

A loud boom echoed through the city and Shining Armor groaned in pain.

"Something wrong, Captain?"

"My head. It hurts."

Another boom. Shing Armor groaned again, but this time he feel to the floor. The doors were opened again and Cadence walked in.

"Did you heard-- SHINING ARMOR!" she quickly ran toward her husband and helped him up. "What happened, dear?"

"My head!"

"Don't worry, I'll take you to the infirmary immediately and they'll--"

"No, those aren't spell-casting headaches." he said. "The shield is under attack. And the attacker must be monstrously strong, since I can even feel the--"

Another boom, another pained groan.

"You need to lie down, dear. Let's go."

Cadence left the room carrying her husband. Luna walked toward the balcony; what she saw made her gasp:

"T-Tia..."

The infected Celestia was outside the shield, attacking it with red magical beams.

"I-I don't understand. Why is she here? She wasn't supposed to be here!"

"Princess Luna!" called a voice from the corridors. She turned around and saw her sister's former student, Twilight Sparkle and her assistant, Spike the Dragon (who was quite taller than the last time she saw him). "It's Princess Celestia! She's... She's..."

"I am aware of that." Luna's horn started glowing and a dark blue armor materialized around her body. "Completely aware."

"A-Are you going to...?"

"Yes. Looks like banishing her to the sun didn't worked, only made her angry and toasted. I have to finish this myself!"

"But what... What if you... Fail?" Spike asked.

Luna smiled. "If I fail, then I want you to gather the strongest unicorns in Equestria and keep raising the sun and the moon together. Maybe monarchy is getting quite old, don't you think?" she flapped her wings a few times before taking off. "This probably is going to be the longest night of Equestrian history."

* * *

Luna woke up a little later than usual that day. It wasn't sunset yet, but she knew it was past the timeCelestia usually lowered the sun.

"That's weird." she thought. "Why is Tia extending the day?"

She adjusted her crown and shoes before walking to the throne room. Her eyes widened when she saw blood everywhere and dead ponies lying on the ground all over the room. Celestia was standing there, looking at her.

"Oh. Luna. I'm terribly sorry, I forgot to wake you up."

"What is the meaning of this, sister?!" she asked, almost shouting.

"They are sick, Lulu. A sickness that has no cure. It consumes the brain and turns you into a killing machine. And the worst part is..." she presented her right forehoof to her sister, which had a dark bite mark on it. "It's contagious."

"T-T-Tia... Tell... Tell me this is a joke. A cruel, sick joke of terrible taste!"

"I wish it was, Lulu. I really do." she sighed. "I suppose you are good with long-ranged teleportation spells, right?"

"Y-Yes, quite good, but why do you ask?"

"We both know that we are far too powerful to be killed by mortal ponies, even at our worse, and I don't want you to force you to end my life."

"Wh-What are you trying to say, Celestia?"

"I can turn into one of them at any moment, Luna. Once I lose control of myself, please banish me to the sun."

"Wh-What?! But... But..."

"I doubt my mindless self will be able to protect herself from the heat of the sun or figure out a way to return. I'll just burn forever, never being a threat to any of my subjects. Or you!" she nuzzled her sister's neck. "So, while I still myself, I want to spend my last moments with you, my loved sister."

"T-Tia... It... It doesn't need to be like this..."

Celestia kissed her little sister's forehead.

"Yes, it does."

"Celestia!" she hugged her big sister, staining her pure white chest with her tears. "I don't want you to go! I don't want to lose you!"

"I didn't want to go either, but you lost me the moment I got bitten. It just doesn't look like I am. Yet. This is my final moment, but at least I can die happy, since you finally were able to understand the magic of friendship. But here's an inevitable part of this magics: eventually friends have to say goodbye."

"N-No..."

"Goodbye, Lulu. I love you, dear sister."

"I love you too, Celestia. You hear me? I love you, love you, love you!"

"Never forget Luna; I'll always be in your heart!"

"I will never forget you, loved sister."

Celestia smiled before groaning and falling.

"S-Sister!!"

"M-My time has come." Celestia said. "Do it."

"But--"

"NOW!" her shout made the whole room tremble.

Luna was scared. She hadn't hear Celestia's Traditional Royal Canterlot Voice in a thousand years. Her sister was obviously losing control. She closed her eyes, he tears still flowing. She didn't wanted to watch herself banish her sister.

Celestia's scream of pain turned into a roar of rage. Luna's horn started to glow. After a big explosion of light, there was silence in the throne room. She opened her eyes and found herself alone in the room; Celestia and all the bodies had disappeared. She fell to the floor and cried more.

* * *

Shining Armor opened his eyes. The headaches had stopped. His wife hugged him.

"Oh, thank Luna, you're alright."

He looked around and noticed he was on an infirmary's bed. Not many beds were occupied, since it was only supposed to be used by royalty, guards and Science Team members.

"Where's... Where's Princess Luna?"

Cadence sighed. "Out there. Fighting."

Shining's eyes widened. He jumped off the bed and looked through the window; he saw the moon and two silhouettes fighting in front of it. One he recognized as Princess Luna, since she was wielding The Crescent Moon, Luna's favorite weapon. The other was familiar, but he couldn't point who it was.

"Is she insane?!" he shouted. "Wait a minute, is that the Changeling Queen again?"

"It doesn't look like her."

"Because Equestria is already bad enough with one threat. Two would be just awful!"

"All we can do is sit back and hope she defeats C-- Whatever that thing is..."

Part 9: An Apple(jack)'s Core

"Princess Luna is strong, she can handle it." Spike said, patting Twilight's back.

"But for how long, Spike?" she asked. "She will eventually get tired, Infected Celestia won't. We have to do something!"

"Something, but what?"

"Hm... I know! The Elements Of Harmony. We can use them to stop her."

"But Applejack is... Unable to do her job as Element Of Honesty. Without one of them, the other five are useless."

"I know, but I also know what to do!"

"Really?"

Twilight nodded.

* * *

"Are you sure this will work?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"In theory, yes, but the Reference Guide about the Elements Of Harmony said this was never really used before, so we can't be sure." Twilight answered. "But even if it doesn't, at least we tried."

The five wielders of the Elements Of Harmony were reunited around the sixth's bed, all of them (Applejack included) with their respective Element.

"Only one can go in there. I know the answer is obvious, but the book said I'm supposed to ask, so I'll ask; which one will go?" Twilight asked.

"I will." Rainbow Dash said. "She is my marefriend and it's my fault she's like that."

"Everypony agree?"

The other three nodded.

"Alright, then."

They closed their eyes and the Elements started glowing.

"Nopony but Rainbow Dash touch Applejack until everything is over. Now go, Rainbow!"

The Element Of Loyalty nodded, leaned over her marefirned and planted her lips on hers.

* * *

Applejack opened her eyes. She was back on her bed in Sweet Apple Acres. She tried getting up, but forelegs wrapped around her waist prevented her from doing so.

"Good morning, AJ." said Rainbow Dash, pulling her closer. She had both eyes on her face.

"Good mornin', RD." she said, kissing her marefriend's forehead. "Ah had the craziest dream. Equestria was a mess, there were zombies everywhere and you had lost yer left eye."

"It wasn't a dream."

"Wh-What?"

"I said 'it was a messed up dream'. Me, a cyclops? As if!"

"Well, Ah'm glad it was a dream, 'cuz mah situation wasn't the best."

"Let's talk about this after breakfast, ok? I'm starving."

"Yeah, me too!"

* * *

Applejack was bucking the apple trees in the orchard and Rainbow Dash was sitting on a branch, watching her. The farmmare looked at the daredevil and winked at her. But when she winked back, Applejack could have sworn she saw for a split second an eyepatch on Rainbow's left eye.

"That dream is messing with my head..." she thought before resuming her chore.

* * *

That night, while they were having a moment of privacy on her bed, they weren't where shw thought they were, but on a bunk bed in a small apartment.

"Are you ok, AJ?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yes, why?"

"You suddenly stopped a while ago and started looking around. We're alone here tonight, y'know. And it's not like we're doing something wrong, we're engaged."

"Ah know, it's just... Ah'm not feelin' very well today."

"Do you want to stop?"

"It's not like Ah want, Ah'm just not feelin' well. Ah'm sorry!"

"It's ok, AJ. We can do it again another day. We have our whole lives ahead, it's not like the world is going to end."

"Ah suppose yer right." she hugged her fiancée. "G'night, RD."

"Good night, AJ."

* * *

Applejack was in a dark room with no walls, windows, doors or furniture; there wasn't anything, but there was somepony behind her.

"RD, where-- Wh-What happened to yer eye?!"

Rainbow Dash touched her left eye with her hoof and it came back bloody.

"Guess my eyepatch didn't came with me."

"What are ya talkin' about? Came from where? What's goin' on?"

"You're sleeping, Applejack. We need you to wake up. I need you to wake up!"

"Just wait a few hours and--"

"No, AJ, not that kind of sleep. You're in a deeper sleep. Like a VERY deep one."

"What are ya tryin' to say?"

"This place is fake, Applejack. Sweet Apple Acres is gone. Ponyville is destroyed. Don't you remember?"

"It... It was a nightmare."

"No, it wasn't and you know!"

"No, yer-yer lyin'! That ain't true! It can't be! It jus can't!"

"I'm sorry, AJ."

"Don't call me 'AJ'! Yer not mah Rainbow. Yer just a nightmare. Ah'll close my eyes and when Ah open them again, Ah'll be back in my bed in Sweet Apple Acres with mah real Rainbow." she closed her eyes.

"Don't do that, AJ."

"Opening mah eyes in three..."

"Listen to me, AJ."

"Two..."

"The only way out is accepting the truth!"

"One!"

* * *

Applejack opened her eyes once again. It was still dark and there were dried tears on her face. She was on her bed with her marefriend/fiancée, who was sleeping.

"Just a dream." she said, kissing Rainbow Dash's forehead. "A bad dream." she hugged her lover. "Another bad dream."

"Tell me about it!"

She almost shouted when she felt hooves hugging her from behind. She turned around; there were two Rainbow Dashes on her bed (but one didn't had the left eye).

"How-- What-- Who-- When--"

"Apparently I'm now real in this side of your brain too. Cool, huh? And guess what? You can't send me away and I'm not leaving so soon!"

"No. Shut up. Go away. Yer not real."

"Really? Then give me an explanation for why I'm here with you."

"I'm--"

"And don't give me that 'I'm dreaming' crap, because that junk got really old two dreams ago!"

"Ah... Ah..."

"But you know what? You're right! I'm not real! That other Rainbow Dash isn't real either. Not even you are real! None of this is real. And since none of this is real, I'll give you a piece of my mind because, after all, it won't be real anyway." she took a deep breath and sighed. "Don you wanna know what I think? I think that after that incident in Manehattan you became afraid of the real world and decided to create your own, perfect, crappy world. to escape reality. A pretty world with nothing but sunshines, rainbows and apples."

"Rainbow..."

"I am not dating a coward, AJ, but that's exactly what you're being right now. I'm not your Rainbow Dash, well, you're not my Applejack! The choice is yours; do you want to die alone in this perfect fantasy or wake up, pony up and live with me and our friends in our real, messed-up, chaotic world? I want the Applejack I know and love back, but do you want the Rainbow Dash you know and love back too?"

After a brief moment of silence, Applejack wiped her tears.

"Will ya be there when Ah wake up?"

Rainbow Dash smiled and nuzzled her. "I'll always be there for you!"

* * *

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Rainbow Dash's eye. It was really close, Rainbow was probably kissing her, but her body was still numb, she couldn't feel things very well yet.

"Look! Look! Her eyes are opening!" Pinkie Pie said while bouncing and pointing at her.

"And the magical kiss woke the princess up." Rainbow Dash said as she got off her.

Applejack looked around and saw her friends, their eyes moist with tears. Even Pinkie Pie was crying a bit while bouncing and giggling.

"Howdy, everypony! What did Ah missed?"

"I don't care what you are or who you used to be!" Luna said while trying to hit her foe with her scythe, but failing to do so thanks to Celestia's superior speed. "You will fall!"

Infected Celestia tried to bite Luna, but she blocked her attack with her scythe, making Celestia bite the handle instead of her sister.

"Keep your filthy infectious teeth away from me. I am the Goddess Of The Night, you're just a mere monster. You may be strong, but no match for me!" Celestia shot a beam of magic, which Luna deflected with her scythe.

"Why am I trying to reason with a mindless plague?"

"Oh, no..." said Shining Armor, observing the fight from the balcony of the throne room.

"What's wrong, dear?" his wife asked.

"Look at her!"

"What--" Cadence's eyes widened when she noticed Luna was panting.

"She's getting tired."

"We have to help her!"

"There's nothing we can do."

"What? Why?"

"Because she is about to do something stupid and reckless and if we tried to interfere we could fit what would be left of us in a corndog."

"What are you talking about?"

"When Princess Luna returned to her normal self, we thought everything was finally over, but we were wrong. Nightmare Moon wasn't dead yet. In fact, she can't die. Princess Luna and her have been one for so long that they're now part of each other."

"But what Nightmare Moon has to do with it? That's Luna!"

"Because we managed to seal that power. It wasn't easy, many of us almost died that night."

"And what is keeping Nightmare Moon sealed?"

"Luna's garnishes."

Luna's armor disappeared, soon followed by her scythe.

"I'm sorry, Tia." she took off her shoes. "I know you told me to never do that." she took off her necklace. "But I'm gettting tired." she took off her crown. "And Nightmare Moon is stronger than me."

A cloud of dark energy surrounded Princess Luna, soon assuming the shape of a dark ball.

"Hope she defeats Infected Celestia soon." Shining Armor said. "We have thirty minutes until she develops resistance to the garnishes and the only way back to Luna will be the Elements Of Harmony."

The ball of darkness exploded in a cloud of black smoke. When the wind disspated the cloud, Luna was no longer there. Instead, there was a black alicorn taller than Celestia, wearing a light blue armor and wielding Luna's Crescent Moon scythe. She laughed evilly.

"Poor wittle Woona, couldn't keep up with her beloved sister and decided to set me free to take care of the dirty job." she said. "What makes you think that I'll do what you want, 'Goddess Of The Night'?"

Celestia tried attacking her, but Nightmare Moon quickly dodged and held her in place, using the handle of Crescent Moon to immobilize her by the neck.

"But, on second thought, it's going to be a great pleasure to kill the one who banished to the moon for one thousand years!"

Part 10: Harmony

"Let's see if I got everything." Rarity said. "Princess Celestia is not only alive, but also one of them."

"Yup!" said Rainbow Dash.

"And she is right outside Canterlot, trying to get in and kill us all."

"Yes!" confirmed Twilight.

"And Princess Luna is fighting her right now."

"Tha-That's right..." whispered Fluttershy.

"And it's up to us, the Elements Of Harmony, to help Princess Luna and destroy Princess Celestia."

"Ding, we have a winner!" Pinkie said.

Rarity sighed, then nodded. "This is going to be soooo dangerous, but let's go."

"Darn tootin'!" agreed Applejack.

* * *

"Now Celestia is the defensive one now." Shining Armor said. "I hate to admit it, but Nightmare Moon is  being quite helpful."

"Shining Armor!" called a female voice he knew quite well.

"Twily!" he said, similing as he turned around. His little sister and her best friends, all of them with their respective Element Of Harmony. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We need to get out of the city. Luna needs our help."

"Any other day I would have said 'no' without thinking twice, but we really need you right now." he sighed. "Before you all leave, I need to show you something."

The captain of the Royal Guard stepped aside and the bearers of the Elements walked toward the balcony. When they looked up, they all gasped.

"Is that...?" FLuttershy asked.

"Nightmare Moon!" Rainbow Dash said with a hint of anger in her voice.

"Please, understand." Princess Cadence said. "Aunt Lulu had no other option. She needed Nightmare Moon's powers in order to defeat Infected Celestia."

The six ponies looked at each other, then nodded.

"Lower the gates, pardner." Applejack said, adjusting her stetson. "We're goin' out!"

* * *

"How?" Nightmare Moon asked, breathing heavily. "You were no match for me when you were alive. Why are you so strong now that you are dead? ANSWER ME!" she looked at her sister's face and saw something on her lips that resembled a smile. This only made her angrier. "WHO ARE YOU LAUGHING AT, YOU STUPID, FAT-FLANKED WHORE?!"

"Hey!" called a voice from below. Nightmare Moon and Celestia looked down and saw a purple Unicorn flying on a pink Alicorn's back, a yellow Pegasus carrying a pink Earth Pony a cyan Pegasus carrying an orange Earth Pony and a white Unicorn flying with butterfly wings.

Nightmare Moon smirked. "Well, well, well. If it isn't little Twilight Sparkle."

"She might not be herself anymore, but you have no right to insult the Princess." Twilight shouted.

"Whatever, I don't care. I see that you are with your dear Elements Of Harmony. What are you waiting for? Shoot that monster dead!" she said. "Because after one shot the Elements will need some time to recharge, giving me a chance to escape." Nightmare Moon thought, then smirked again.

Infected Celestia growled and flew toward the seven mares. "TWAAAAAARRRHHHHIIIIIIIGHT!"

Nightmare Moon sighed. "Oh, for the love of..." Fluttershy gasped when she saw Celestia flying toward them. Nightmare Moon wasn't stronger, but she surely was faster. She grabbed the former Princess before she could attack them. "Heh, look at me, Luna. Protecting my worst enemies from harm. Two years sealed inside you surely softened me!"

Thank you, Nightmare Moon!" Twilight said.

"Shut up and hurry! I can't hold her in place for much longer!"

Celestia was struggling, trying to free herself from her sister's grasp. The Elements nodded and closed their eyes. The five necklaces started glowing and a seven-colored trail of light connected them with Twilight's crown. She opened her eyes, that were glowing white, and a big rainbow beam coming from the star on her crown hit both Alicorns. The attack produced a very bright light, forcing Captain Shining Armor to cover his eyes with his hoof.

When the light faded he moved his hoof away; what he saw surprised him: there was no Nightmare Moon holding an Infected Celestia anymore, but Princess Luna holding a very hurt Princess Celestia. Both were very weak and fell, but Twilight, Cadence and Rarity levitated them with magic. Shining opened a hole on the shield again and they all went back, landing in the middle of the Canterlot Gardens.

"P-Princess... Celestia..." Twilight said, tears escaping from her eyes.

"Twilight..." Celestia said, smiling.

"You're... You're cured."

"I... Guess so..."

"You need to rest. Meanwhile we'll use the Elements Of Harmony to cure the rest of--"

"It's no use, Twilight Sparkle." Luna said. "It only worked with my sister because she is really strong and could handle all that power, but llok at her. She almost died. For common infected ponies, the Elements are a deadly weapon."

"Oh..."

Aided by Luna and Cadence, Shining Armor placed Celestia on his back and started walking back to the castle.

"Any idea of how are we going to fix your horn and wings, Your Highness?" he asked.

"I have no idea." she chuckled before passing out.

* * *

Celestia woke up with the worst headache of her life. She tried opening her eyes, but the lights of the infirmary would make sure that this task was very painful, so her eyes remained closed.

"No more hard cider..." she groaned.

"Aunt Tia!" called a voice.

"Cadence?"

She felt hooves wrap around her neck. The pain was unbearable, but she didn't groaned nor screamed, just accepted the hug.

"I was worried sick about you. After you were sent to the sun I thought I was never going to see you again."

"I'm glad to see you again too, Cadence, but your affection is rather... Painful!"

Cadence, understanding what she meant, let go of her and let out a nervous laugh. "Sorry."

"It's ok. For how long I was asleep?"

"Five days!"

"Five? Well, still can't beat the eight days after the Second Griffin War." Cadence giggled. "What about my sister, the Elements Of Harmony and Canterlot?"

"Well, Aunt Lulu is finally getting used to staying up 24/7, but she is still grumpy in the mornings."

Celestia giggled. "Lulu being Lulu."

"Canterlot is fine, Shining Armor is doing a great job."

"And the Elements Of Harmony?"

"Well, Twilight is working in the laboratories, looking for a cure. Rarity is taking care of foals in the orphanage of Canterlot, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are working in many hospitals, each one with their own methods. Applejack, since she is no longer in good shape to fight due to... Recent events, is working in the orphanage, cooking treats for the little ones. And there's Rainbow Dash!"

"What about Rainbow Dash?"

"She is famous now!"

"May I know the reason?"

"She is the first mare ever to be invigted to join the Royal Guard."

"That's wonderful!"

"In her own words, 'Since the Wonderbolts are no longer a thing, being a Royal Guard is the coolest thing that a pony can be. Awesome!'"

Celestia chuckled and finally managed to open her eyes, since the light wasn't as painful as before. "That sounds like Rainbow Dash."

Cadence's smiled disappeared from her face. "Now, there are some serious things we need to talk about."

Celestia's smile disappeared as well. "Serious affairs are better solved as soon as possible."

"First, your wings. We don't know how you were flying when you were infected, but we're assuming it was magic, because your feathers are seriously damaged and it will take several weeks, maybe months for them to grow back. Second..."

"Then that's not a problem. I'm more worried about my--"

"...your horn!"

"Me damn it..."

"It's severely damaged. Again, we're surprised you were able to use it when infected. The medics did what they could, your horn will restore properly in time, but the magical connections are weak. You're still be able to use magic, but only simple magic such as levitation, but only in small scales. Unfortunately you will never be able to raise the sun again. At least not without a huge amount of pain inflicted to your brain."

"Oh. Poor Lulu. I know how it feels having to raise both the sun and the moon. Took me many years to finally get used to that."

Cadence smiled again. "Always worrying about the others and forgetting about yourself. That's aunt Tia for you!" Her smile faded and she nuzzled her aunt. "I wish I could do something to help her. I really do."

"I know, Cadence. I know."

Extra 2: Teachers, Vegetables, Clocks And Foals

Glowing Night Hotel. 1st floor. Room 11. Time Turner woke up a few minutes before dawn as always. He liked watching Princess Celestia (or, from now on, Princess Luna) raise the sun, specially with his wife Derpy Hooves. She was no longer there, but he still couldn't feel complete without doing it every day.

The breakfast was a batch of blueberry muffins. He didn't liked them, but Derpy did. She always forced two or three down his throat every morning. She was no longer there, but he still couldn't feel complete without doing it every day.

Time Turner had a daughter, Dinky Hooves, and two roomates, Carroot Top, Derpy's foalhood friend, and Cheerilee, Dinky's teacher. Derpy always forced Dinky to eat Carrot Top's vegetables and attend to Cheerilee's homeclasses. Turner didn't really cared about that since the day Equestria's doom started, but Derpy wanted Dinky to be healthy and smart. She was no longer there, but he still couldn't feel complete without doing it every day.

During the first days after her death, Turner had to cry himself to sleep every hight. He finally accepted the fact that she was gone, but he still couldn't feel comfortable without her goodnight kisses and hugs and waking up the next morning looking at those golden crossed eyes.

"Those beautiful golden crossed eyes..."

* * *

Cheerilee woke up with a big yawn. Dinky was hugging Carrot Top, both still asleep. They all shared the same bed. Time Turner had his own bed, but she couldn't understand. When he was on their bed he could still feel, smell, touch, hear, even see Derpy. She knew because this happened to her once. A long time ago, when she lost her husband, Crayon Crane.

She is a teacher today because of him.

He was a nice teacher. Funny, smart, patient and caring. One day he got sick. He was Berry Punch's (her little sister) teacher. She told that she had no teacher, so she offered herself as a temporary teacher. Other ponies used to make fun of her, because she was already a teenager and still a blank flank. But not anymore! That week replacing Crayon Crane was also the week she got her Cutie Mark.

After that, she and Crane became good friends. After her graduation she accepted a job as his assistant and they eventually started going out on dates.

During one of those dates she asked her hoof in marriage.

And then they got married. She was happy. She felt complete. But not for long. They were married from three years when it happened. The couple had dinner in a great restaurant. On that same night, a drunk stallion decided to conduct a carriage. He tried to stop when he saw the couple crossing the street, but he was too fast. Crane pushed Cheerilee out of the way, taking all the damage. The stallion was sent to jail, Crayon Crane was buried and Cheerilee took her husband's job as a teacher.

Cheerilee wiped a tear. Those memories were old, but still painful. Carrot Top's moan snapped Cheerilee out of her trail of thought. The former farm mare woke up as usual: with a terrible pain on her neck (Dinky's hug was really tight). It was no problem, since the pain usually disappeared after a good bath. "You smell like mommy", that was always Dinky's excuse for why she always hugged her while sleeping. Not that Carrot Top was bothered by that, she actually loved that filly and liked to wake up to find herself being hugged by Dinky. She actually felt honored when she said she smelled like her mother.

"Good morning, Top!" said Cheerilee.

"Mornin', Cheers." she yawned, then looked at the empty bed on the otherr side of the room. "Where's Turner?"

"I don't know, I just woke up and he was already gone."

"I don't blame him. He and Derpy were really close. The closest couple I've ever seen, actually."

"Well, at least he still have Dinky!"

"Dinky... She strangely manages to make Turner happier and sadder at the same time."

"How is that possible?"

"She looks a lot like her mother." said a third voice. The mares looked at the door, where a stallion with a brown mane and a chestnut colored coat, wearing a green tie and with an hourglass as a Cutie Mark stood.

"There you were!" Carrot Top said. "Where did you went?"

"Rooftop! I wanted to see the sunrise." he started petting his little filly. "She looks so much like her mother. This is good, because it's like she is still with us. Dinky is Derpy's legacy and I will protect and love her no matter what. But it's also bad, because always reminds me that she is no longer with us." he sighed. "Well, I'm off to my morning walk." he then left the room.

"His heart is broken." Cheerilee said.

"I know."

"And he needs somepony to fix it."

"Probably."

"Somepony caring who likes foals. And foals like her back. A motherly figure!"

"You mean, like a teacher?"

"No. Like you!"

"Wh-What?!"

"You and Dinky get along very well, you know Turner for quite some time now and Derpy trusted you. You're the perfect mare for that lonely stallion. And you like him after all, don't you?"

Carrot Top sighed. "Is it that clear, Cheers?" She nodded. "You're right, I would love to fix his broken heart, warm his soul, fill the empty space Derpy left. I don't want to replace her, just bring the good old Time Turner back. But the question is, does he want me to?"

Cheerilee hugged her. "You can't know without trying, can you?"

Carrot Top smiled and Cheerilee let go of her. She looked at the asleep Dinky, kissed her forehead and got up from the bed.

* * *

Carrot Top entered the orphanage with her saddlebags filled with vegetables. "Young ones need to be healthy and eat properly." she thought happily. "Princess Luna doesn't send vegetables in those crates, so somepony have to!"

"Carrot Top, darling!" called an approaching white unicorn mare. "Why do you visit us today?"

"I brought vegetables to the little foals!"

"Oh, that's wonderful! And now that we have a real cooker, we can make proper meals with them!"

"New cooker?"

"Oh, I haven't introduced you two yet. How rude of me! Please, follow me!"

Rarity led Carrot Top to the kitchen, where an orange earth pony with blond mane and three apples for a Cutie Mark.

"Applejack, darling." Rarity called. "We have a visitor. And she brought us a gift!"

"Well, howdy, miss!" Applejack greeted, lifting her head, then putting it back. "Every visit is appreciated!"

"Hi, Applejack. My name is Carrot Top!" she emptied the content of her saddlebags on the recently cleaned table. "And I brought healthy food for healthy ponies!"

"Aw, shucks! Thank ya, miss Top. Yer really generous! Wanna join us for lunch?"

"Sorry, but I can't stay for too long! I have a few things that need to be done!"

"Oh, that's alright, darling. We all have responsabilities!"

"T'was a pleasure to meet ya, miss Top!"

"Same the other way around, miss Applejack!" she walked toward the main door.

"Oh! Carrot Top, darling. I almost forgot. When is Dinky coming to play again? Her friends miss her."

"I'll bring her today after Cheerilee's classes!"

"Alright. Thank you, darling!"

"Not a problem!"

* * *

Cheerilee was correcting the math test Dinky just finished. Dinky was staring at her, waiting for the reasult. Cheerilee put the test down, her face still without expression.

"Dinky Hooves, I'm impressed."

"What? Why? Was it that bad?"

"Last test you got a C-, correct?"

"I'm sorry, I'll study more for the next test!"

Cheerilee smiled. "No need for that. You already got a perfect score!" she gave the test sheet back to Dinky, with a big A+ drew and circled with red marker. "You improved a lot in the past two months, congratulations!"

"Thanks, miss Cheerilee!"

"You're really doing your best. I'm proud of you!"

The door swung open and there was standing Carrrot Top.

"Hi, Cheers. When will your classes be over?"

"In fact, we just finished. Why do you ask?"

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders! They miss Dinky!"

"Oh, right! But do you mind if I take her? I miss them too. And it's your chance to talk to Turner without anypony else around to interrupt!"

Carrot Top blushed. "I-I-If that's what you want..."

Cheerilee giggled. "Thank you! Let's go, Dinky. I'm sure you miss your friends as much as they miss you!"

"You bet I do!"

The mare and the filly left, leaving Carrot Top alone in the living room. She took a deep breath and dashed to the bathroom, where she started combing her mane.

* * *

Time Turner was sweeeping the bedroom while humming a song. Carrot Top entered the bedroom with a duster in her mouth and, upon hearing Turner humming that song, started humming that same song. Soon they were singing that song together while cleaning the bedroom:

"Mild-taste vegetable juice~

Creamy, creamy vegetable juice~

The one that's the best for you is the green vegetable juice~

Vegetable~

Overflowing with nutrients~

You too, now, will come to love vegetable juuuuuuice~!"

Once the song was over, they started laughing.

"Sapphire Shores surely knows how to write a song!" Time Turner said.

"I'll vouch for that!" Carrot Top said, then giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"You!"

"Me?"

"Yes. You hardly ever eat my vegetables, but then I find you here, humming and then singing a song about them!"

"We-Well, it's a catchy song!" he said, looking down and blushing while rubbing the back of his neck.

Carrot Top pat his head. "Sure is!"

They then returned to their jobs in complete silence, until...

"Sooooo... Turner?"

"Yes?"

"Are you free tomorrow night?"

"I guess so Why?"

She blushed. "I, well... Um... I want to... You know... Go out... Go somewhere... On a... Date?"

Time Turner sighed. He placed the broom near the door, sat on the bat and patted it, inviting Carrot Top to sit beside him; what she did.

"I... I don't know, Top. It's not that simple!!"

"Then how it is? Tell me."

"I just lost my wife, I don't feel ready to move on."

"I know, Time, I know, but I'm not asking you to forget her and leave her. But just ask yourself: do you think she would like to see you like that? Derpy would hate to see you alone, avoiding everypony, crying in a corner, abandoned! Your heart is broken, Turner! And you need somepony to fix it!" She approached her face to his. Time Turner didn't tried to avoid or turn his face. "Derpy left a hole in it. And I just want to finish the job my best friend started." Their lips met.

Part 11: Peaceful Times

A knock on Twilight's door. She opened it and saw standing there a dark yellow stallion wearing a jacket and a stetson. His Cutie Mark was a single red apple.

"Howdy, miss!" he said with his no-so-unusual accent.

"Hey, Braeburn. Long time no see!"

"Just a few months, miss Twilight. And yer lookin' as good as always!"

She giggled. "Why, thank you! What do I give the honor of the visit?"

"It's no honor, miss Twilight. Ah'm just a humble apple farmer. Ah'm here to deliver what ya orderer: a batch of fresh infected, ready to be studied!"

"Oh, thank you very much! How many did you brought? Four? Five?"

"Twenty seven."

"T-T-Twenty seven?!"

"Ya look surprised!"

"I-I was hoping to get a maximum of ten."

"Never underestimate the Apple Family, miss Twilight; specially when the strongest stallion of the family is on it!"

"Oh, right, you're working with Big Mac!"

"Well, yes, but... Ah wasn't really talkin' 'bout him!"

Twilight laughed and nuzzled Braeburn's chest. "I know, I'm just messing with you, Braeburn!"

"Am I interrupting something?" asked a third voice, coming from behind Braeburn. The stallion and the mare looked at the source of the voice and saw a cyan pegasus stallion with dark blue mane; Soarin.

"Hello, Soarin." Twilight said, moving away from Braeburn. "Didn't saw you there!"

"I just arrived!"

"Oh, that explains everything!"

"Sooooo, was I interrupting something or not?"

"N-NO!" both stallion and mare said at the same time, blushing lightly.

"We are just..." Braeburn started.

"...Close friends!" Twilight finished.

Soarin chuckled. "Yes, of course. Just friends!"

"Jealous, Soar?" asked Fleetfoot, apparently coming out of somewhere behind Soarin. Both stallions blushed with closed eyes and furrowed brows.

"Jealous?" Twilight asked and, after a few seconds of reflection, she muffled a gasp with her hoof, blushing a little more. "A-Are you two--"

Braeburn covered her mouth with his own hoof. "Don't ya dare to finish this phrase, miss Sparkle!" he said.

"Wh-What are you even doing here, Fleetfoot?" Soarin asked.

"Teasing you! By the way, I saw the way you two were being so forward toward each other, miss Sparkle and Brae-Brae! There's something between you two, I can tell."

"Th-There's nothing between us!!" Twilight almost shouted. "We-Well, maybe half a year ago, but it didn't worked out. Turns out I'm more interested in... Well, mares!"

They heard a shriek coming from the end of the corridor, but when they looked at the source of the sound, there was nothing/nopony there. Hiding in the corner was a blue unicorn mare pressing her back against the wall.

"She... She... She is really into mares?" Trixie thought, breathing heavily. "Did... Did I really heard that? I-I need to be sure!"

Trixie suddenly dashed toward Twilight, tackled her and pinned her to the floor.

"Tr-Trixie?" she asked. "What... What are you doing?"

"Is it true?"

"What is--"

"Is it true that you are into mares?"

"Y-Y-Yes! Why?"

"Since when? Why didn't you told me? Can I ask you out on a date?"

"I don't know for sure since when, I didn't told you because I thought it was irrelevant and, about that last question..."

"Yes?"

"Can I get up now? It's getting kind of hard to breath." Trixie chuckled nervously, got up, helped Twilight up and sat on the floor, looking into her eyes. "Why are you asking me out? I mean, there are lots of wonderful mares around here."

"Because I hated you."

"Wait, what?" Soarin said, confused.

"So, ya love her 'cuz ya hate her?" Braeburn asked.

"I said 'hated', in the past. After months working alongside her, I realized how wonderful she really is! Love overcame my hate."

"That makes sense!" said Fleetfoot.

Twilight sighed. "Look, Trixie."

Trixie's ears flattened against her head and she pouted sadly.

"We're in a critical point of our research. We need to dedicate 100% of our time to study the virus and the infected. Equestria is counting on us!"

Trixie looked down. "I understand..."

Twilight planted a kiss on Trixie's horn and lifted her face, showing her the gentlest smile she could. "I'm not saying 'no', Trixie." She planted another kiss, this time on her muzzle. "I'm saying 'not now'. Do you understand?"

Pink sparkles escaped Trixie's horn as her smile grew bigger and bigger. "Yes!" she hugged her probably future marefriend. "Yes, I do!" She nuzzled Twilight's neck, who returned the gesture of affection.

"Awwww, isn't that just cute?" Fleetfoot said, hugging both Soarin and Braeburn (and at the same time trying to force them to lock lips with each other).

* * *

Applejack was washing the dishes; she had just finished baking an apple pie. Suddenly a pair of hooves covered her face.

"Guess who?" asked a deep, male voice.

Applejack smiled, turned around and hugged the stallion. "Big Mac! Ah'm so glad yer ok."

"Ah'm glad yer alright too. Ah heard about what happened to ya!"

"It's ok, Ah'm better now!"

"Hope y'all be more careful now."

"Well, Ah can't fight anymore, so no more dangerous stuff ro me! An' even if Ah could, RD would make sure Ah wouldn't set a hoof in the battlefield."

"RD? Rainbow Dash?"

"Eeyup!"

"So, ya finally got her?"

"Yes, Ah did!"

She hugged her tightly. "Congratulations, lil' sis!"

"Thanks, big bro."

"So, where is that marefriend of yours? Ah'd like to congratulate her too!"

"Oh, she isn't here. She's at the castle. Rainbow was invited to join the Royal Guard, and it was chosen by Princess Celestia herself to be her personal guard!"

"Wow, that's a very important job!"

"Yup! Now, why don't you go upstairs? Apple Bloom is there, an' she would love to see ya again!"

"I will!" the stallion then went upstairs.

* * *

Fluttershy finished bandaging a mare'ss left rear leg and gave her medical kkit to Sky, who placed it on his back, where Cloud held it in place.

"Now you need to rest." Fluttershy said. "Try not moving it very much! I'll be back next to week to see how you're doing."

"Right. Thank you, doctor!"

"It's no problem at all! Just tell your sons to be more careful about where he leaves his toys."

"You hear that, Button?" the mare asked, looking at the brown colt with the propeller hat who was standing near the bed. "Be more careful from now  on, you hear me?"

"Sorry, mom." the colt said, looking down. "I will be!"

"We gotta go now." the medic mare said. "Be careful you two and until next week!"

The pegasi left the house and took off.

"That's a nice family." Sky said.

Fluttershy nodded. "Once this nightmare is over, I want to do that!"

"What?" Cloud asked. "Break a leg?"

Fluttershy giggled. "No, silly! Settle down in a nice place, start a family, have foals... Two would be nice; a colt and a filly. And then spend the rest of my life taking care of my dear family."

"That's nice!" Sky said.

"But I'm running out of time. The nice stallions are all after the young mares, and I'm already almost 30!"

"What?!" he shouted, startling her. "S-Sorry! I'm surprised. You say you're almost 30, but I was sure you were only around 20!"

"ReallY? Maybe it's because I used to go to a spa once a week with my friend Rarity!"

"Miss Rarity is a pretty mare!" Cloud affirmed. Both Fluttershy and Bright Sky chuckled.

* * *

Applejack opened the door to Rarity's room, where Rarity was breastfeeding the Cake twins.

"Oh, Ah'm sorry!" she said, turning around. "Ah didn't knew you were--"

"It's ok, Applejack. Just close the door!"

Applejack turned around again. "If ya say, so..." she closed the door and sat on the bed, beside Rarity.

"Do you need something, darling?"

"Ah just wanted to talk. It's been months since last time we had a good chat. Not as colleagues, not as Elements Of Harmony, but as friends."

"I suppose you're right!"

"And Pinkie and Fluttershy will be here soon, so we can have a very nice and long chat!"

"Too bad Twilight and Rainbow Dash aren't available, or we could a nice sleepover, like in the good, old times!"

As if on cue, the door swung open and Pinkie Pie walked in.

"Goody good eveny iviny evening!" she said, then proceeded to pet the Cake twins. "Good evening for you two, my sweet little foals!"

"Evenin', Pinkie!" greeted Applejack.

"Good evening, cotton candy." greeted Rarity before being kissed by her marefriend.

"Good evening, marshmallow!" she then looked at Applejack. "Are we really having a sleepover?"

"Ya can say that!"

The pink Earth Pony mare bounced in glee and ran downstairs to prepare everything for the sleepover that would start once Fluttershy arrived.

* * *

Bright Sky was chasing Dark Cloud, both siblings laughing. Fluttershy just walked while watching them, giggling. When Sky finally caught Cloud, the colt fell asleep on his big brother's arms, who smiled and placed him on his back and walked side by side with Fluttershy.

"You and your brother are really close." she said.

"You bet! We lost our parents at a very young age, so we had to take care of each other."

"It's beautiful to see siblings like you, caring so much for each other!" she sighed. "I wish my relationship with my sister was likee yours."

"You have a sister?"

"Yes. Thunder Tornado! I always wanted to be like her; strong, caring, assertive and beautiful! That's it, until she started dating Iron Beak."

"Iron Beak? That's a weird name for a pony."

"He's a griffon."

"Figures!"

"After she started dating him she changed completely. She started bullying others, even me, cared for nopony else but herself and even cut her beautiful mane into a terrible mohawk. Nothing against mohawks, it's just that it didn't looked good on her!"

"That sounds terrible."

"Because it was! Things were like that until she decided to run away with him to the Griffon Kingdom. I never heard of her after that, but at least' she's safe, away from those monsters out there! That's it, assuming that the virus didn't spread to other countries..." a tear escaped Fluttershy's eye. A tear Sky wiped with his wing. She then hugged him, crying a lot. "I miss her so much! SHe turned into a horrible sister, but she is still my horrible sister and I love her! I will always love her, no matter what!"

Sky hugged her back and starting patting her back. After a few minutes of sobs, sniffs and tears, Fluttershy let go of him.

"I nedded that. Thank you for being such a dear friend, Sky."

"No problem, Flutters."

"Once this is over, I'll go after her. I need to see her one more time. Tell her everything I always wanted to tell her!"

"You do that!"

She hugged him again.

Part 13 (Final): Shadowbolts

Ponyville. 8:52 PM. Ponyville Coliseum. Dressing Room. Rainbow Dash was checking herself out on the mirror. "This uniform looks much more awesome when I'm the one wearing it! But again, what doesn't?"

"Captain Rainbow Dash?" asked a Shadowbolt with spiky frost blue mane.

"Yes, Cloudchaser?"

"I thought our debut show would take place in Cloudsdale. Why are we performing here? Not that i'm not happy we're performing at home, I just want to know why."

"two reasons: first, the saviors of Equestria live here, this is kind of a 'thank you' show. Second, I wanted my debut show to be in my hometown."

"But you're from Cloudsdale!"

"iw as born in Cloudsdale, yes, but I'm a pony from Ponyville. And so are you! So are all the Shadowbolts! We're rom Ponyville, a small town in the shadow of Canterlot, but as important as it! Never forget that, Cloudchaser. We're here to show that no matter where you from, who you are or what you do, you can always shine! Hay, all of us were part of the weather team before this team was founded!" she pointed her hoof at the winged skull on her flank. "This is what this symbol means. 'Never give up and be proud of yourself.' Got it?"

"Yes, Captain Rainbow Dash!"

"Good!" she clapped her hooves. "Alright, everypony! Five minutes! Thunderlane, stretch those wings. Blossomforth, make your flexibility count. Scootaloo, is the obstacle course ready?"

"Ready to go, Captain!" the orange mare said, saluting her superior.

"Get ready, Shadowbolts! We trained really hard for this, now let's show them what we're made of. Shadowbolts, are you ready to rock?"

"Yes, Captain!" the four fliers shouted at the same time.

"Then let's move, move, move!"

She left the dressing room, followed by her teammates.

* * *

Applejack, Fluttershy, Cloud and Sky were sitting on the same row, right in front of Twilight, Trixie and Spike and behind Rarity, Pinkie Pie and the Cake twins. On the last row were sitting three ponies, trying not to drag attention to themselves: Spitfire, Soarin and Fleetfoot. Right in front of them were sitting Big Macintosh and Braeburn. Fleetfoot was petting Big Mac's mane and Soarin was resting his rear hooves on Braeburn's shoulders, who just chuckled at it. What are friends for? And sitting on the VIP area of Ponyville Coliseum were sitting the Princesses of Equestria, Luna, Celestia and Cadence, accompanied by two Royal Guards and their Captain, Shining Armor.

The five elite fliers were standing behind a closed gate.

"Do your best, Shadowbolts. There are a lot of ponies out there waiting to see some awesomeness, including the Princesses, our 'rivals' and a lot, I repeat, A LOT of future fanss. Fans that will want to be like us, better than us, to be one of us! And do we let our fans down?"

"No, Captain!"

"Exactly." she cleaned her throat, then shouted: "Lower the gates!!" once the gates were down, Rainbow took a deep breath and smiled. "It's show time!"

She then took off, followed by Blossomforth and Thunderlane, then Cloudchaser and Scootaloo. Dash looked at the rows and spotted two orange mares; she blew a kiss at one and waved at the other while smirking. Applejack blew a kiss back and Spitfire smirked too.

"Show me what you got, Shadowbolts."

"Lulu!" called Celestia. "I noticed that every Shadowbolt is a former member of the weather team from Ponyville. Care to explain why?"

"I asked Captain Rainbow Dash the same question." she said, then smiled. "That's when she introduced me her new motto."

"And that would be?"

"She said 'you don't need to be precious to shine'!"

Celestia smiled. "I understand!"

After a few maneuvers and tricks, the crowd was watching in awe; fillies, gentlecolts, foals of every age, none of them could look away.

"My big bro is the best!!" shouted Rumble.

"No way, Rumble!" Flitter said. "MY big sis is the best!"

"As if!" disagreed Cloud. "Blossomforth is way cooler than all of them combined!"

"We-Well, I-I think Rainbow Dash--" started Fluttershy.

"You can do it, Scootaloo!!" shouted Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom at the same time, interrupting Fluttershy.

"YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!" shouted Bulk Biceps.

A white unicorn stallionsat behind Twilight and Trixie, then placed his forehooves on their shoulders.

"How are my favorite unicorns doing in this wonderful night?"

They turned around. Once they recognized him, he was hugged by both.

"Overheal, we missed you so much!" Trixie said.

"Sorry for not stopping by to say hello sooner, but we've been really busy, hunting down any infected that might be left!"

"It's ok, we understand." said Twilight.

"I think they know that they don't have the upper hoof anymore and now are hiding. This virus is smarter than we think!"

"Let's not think about that now, ok? Today is a happy day! By the way, thanks for coming to the debut show of our friends."

"Wouldn't miss it for anything!"

They hugged him again.

* * *

After the show, Twilight and her friends were at Sugarcube Corner, celebrating Rainbow Dash's successful debut show. Rumble and Cloud were pretending to be Wonderbolts, wearing Thunderlane's and Scootaloo's goggles, making them, Applejack and Rainbow Dash laugh at their funny performance. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy and the Cake twins were in the kitchen, baking. Fluttershy and Bright Sky were at a table, chatting. Sweetie Belle was standing on a table, singing. Twilight and Trixie were talking to Overheal.

"We tried everything, but none of the ex-infected were able to recover their Cutie Marks." he said, then looked at his blank flank and sighed.

"Did you tried looking for your special talents again?" Trixie asked.

"As I said, everything."

"Even zebra potions?" Twilight asked.

"Actually... No!"

"You should. There's a zebra living in the forest right outside town. Her name is Zecora, she is a close friend. You should try visiting her sometime!"

"I will."

Suddenly the door opened and Spitifre walked in, followed by a cloaked pony.

"Nice show, Rainbow Dash!" she said.

"Thanks, Spitfire!"

"And this pony agrees with me." she said, wrapping a wing around the cloaked pony. "Found her outside. She wanted to ask you something, but couldn't find the strenght to do it alone, so I'm here to help her!"

The cloak landed in front of the mare's hooves, revealing a mint green colored pegasus with golden mane.

"Hey, Dash! Long time no see."

"Lightning Dust!"

She hoofbumped her old friend.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, you see, I'm trying to readjust. I've been facing..." she looked at her flank with no Cutie Mark. "...hard times! Many ponies still don't trust us, ex-infected, as much as they trust the clean ponies!"

"I'm sorry to hear that..."

"The thing is, I want to get ponies to respect us, this is why..." she kneeled in front of Rainbow Dash. "Please, let me take the try-out, so I can show ponies everywhere that an ex-infected is just like any other pony!"

"That's a very nice cause but... What about the Wonderbolts? They are much more popular than us, the message would spread around faster!"

"They... kind of checked my files! That tornado incident came up and... I got expelled from the Academy."

"For your own sake, Lightning." Spitfire explained.

Rainbow Dash placed a hoof on her shoulder, smiling. "Welcome to the Shadowbolts, rookie!"

Lightning Dust hugged her old friend.

"She is not a spy working for you, is she, Spitfire?"

"As if I needed an spy to know what you're up to. You're very explicit when it comes to your training sessions!"

"I guess so, heheh..." she looked back at Lightning Dust. "Next sunday, Ponyville Coliseum. Is that ok with you?"

Lightning Dust smiled and nodded.

"And once you're the best flier of the Shadowbolts, look for me! Who knows? There might be a place for somepony like you,!"

"Already plotting to steal my best flier, Spitfire? Just wait and see, once she passes my try-out I'll turn her into such a nice flier that she will be too good for you little team, just like me!"

Spitfire laughed. Rainbow Dash too. They hugged each other before Spitfire left.

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

Trixie placed the quill on the table and relaxed on her chair.

Twilight walked in, levitating a tray with tea and cookies. "Are you done?" she asked, placing the tray on the table and looking at the parchment in front of Trixie.

"Almost!" she said, levitating the parchment. "Still need to figure out how to finish the last chapter."

"Just tell the truth! That's what you did in the rest of the book, right?"

"I can't just write about how we went back home and banged each other silly, can I? This is not Fifty Shades Of Hay, it's the history of how Equestria was saved!"

Twilight blushed. "Oh! I forgot about that. Let's place that moment in the 'things that will not be mentioned in this book' folder."

"I agree with you. It would probably be just a comic relief, because your performance was rather... Hilarious!"

Twilight blushed even more. "I-It was my first time, I wasn't as trained as you!"

Trixie licked her lips and approacher her muzzle to Twilight's. "So, since you're not a virgin anymore, how about you show me what you learned since then?"

Twilight smirked and ran upstair, Trixie right behind her, giggling.

"Spike?" Twilight called.

"Yes, Twilight?"

"I need you to do something at ssomeplace!"

"What are you-- Oh, right! I understand. See you guys in a few hours. Or tomorrow, if Trixie is really fired up like last time!" It was Trixie's turn to blush. "Anyway, I'll come back tomorrow morning. Maybe somepony needs a dragon to... I don't know, I'll figure this out. Bye!"

Spike left the library. Trixie and Twilight walked into the bedroom with their tails entangled and both magically closed the door at the same time.

Part 1: Science Team

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."

Part 3: Safe Zone #1 - Canterlot

Rarity woke up thanks to the cry of the Cake twins. She groaned before sitting up. Her mane was a mess since she had no time to comb it lately.

"Hungry again, eh?" she levitated the foals and placed them in front of her. She cast on herself the spell a nurse taught her, allowing her to lactate and feed them.

Once they were finished, she lightly patted them on the back until they burped at the same time and started giggling. Rarity giggled too.

"You two wake me up every night, but I can't het mad. You're so cute!" the foals hugged her and yawned before falling asleep again. She placed them back on the crib and lied down again. She closed her eyes but got up again a few moments later. "Great, I can't sleep!"

She slowly opened the door of her room. She didn't wanted to wake anypony up. She was on her way to the balcony when she heard a sound coming from the kitchen. Rarity levitated the baseball bat she kept hidden behind the bookshelf right outside her room and quietly walked toward the source of the noise. The area would be pitch black if it wasn't for the light coming from the open fridge. She smiled and placed the bat on the ground when she saw who opened the fridge.

"Pinkie Pie and company, what are you doing here?"

Pinkie Pie almost dropped the plate with a piece of cake she was holding, startled by Rarity's voice. The fillies tried to hide under the table, but to no avail.

"Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Silver Spoon. Too late to hide, I already saw all of you." the fillies sighed and got out of their hiding spot, looking down.

"I'm sorry, Rarity." Pinkie said. "The girls woke me up and told me they were hungry, and I was hungry too, so we came here for a midnight snack. I know it's wrong since we're running low on food, but I just couldn't resist. I'm so, so, so, so sorry!"

The fillies hung their heads. "We're sorry too."

Rarity giggled. "It's ok, there's another shipment of food arriving tomorrow - or today, I'm not sure - so you don't have to worry about this little incident. And since you apologized, I'll not punish you. Now go back to bed."

The quartet, still looking down, went to their bedroom, Pinkie Pie right behind them.

"Hey, Pinkie!" Rarity called.

"Yes?"

The white unicorn opened the friedge and magically grabbed the plate with a piece of cake. "Since I can't sleep, I'll stargaze for a while. Would you like to join me?"

She smiled and nodded, then grabbed a piece of cake with her bare hoof and closed the fridge. Rarity went to the balcony and Pinkie followed her. The mares sitted down side by side, looking at the stars while eating their cakes.

"I'm glad Silver Spoon and the Crusaders are getting along well, but now that they're hanging out together, I'm afraid it's just another troublesome filly to control." she giggled. "But I still love them all!"

"Of course you do. If you didn't you wouldn't be working here, would you?"

"Of course." she bit the cake once again. "What do you think that happened to make Silver Spoon apologize?"

"Maybe she was feeling lonely and guilty after Filthy Rich moved to Trottingham with Diamond Tiara and left her behind and, if she wanted that loneliness and guilty, she would have to swallow her pride and apologize in order to make new friends. Nopony should be lonely, you know. Specially during times like these."

"Yes, I know."

"But it's nice to see fillies still worrying about trivial things, such as making friends." Pinkie said, her voice in a serious, darker tone.

Rarity looked at her friend. Her usually puffy mane was now completely straight. "Pinkie, darling. Are you alright? I've never seen you so..."

"Serious? Gloomy? Depressive? Yes, I haven't been like that in a long time. Since I was a filly, actually. But it's hard to keep a smile on your face 24/7 nowadays. I try, but after what I saw, what I still see, with all my friends dying..." Pinkie sighed. "I can't giggle my problems away..."

"Pinkie..."

"Please, don't call me that when I'm like this. During my moments of depression, call me by my true name, Pinkamena. Pinkie is a cheerful little devil who likes to party. I'm just a sad mare who never looks for the bright side."

"Right Pink-- Amena!"

"Do you think they're alive?"

"Who?"

"Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Applejack."

"I don't know. But I hope they are."

Pinkamena chuckled. "Hope. Wish I still had that."

Rarity yawned. "It's pretty late. I mean, early. I'm going back to bed."

"Can... Can I go with you?"

"Beg your pardon?"

"I'm a grown up mare, I know, but I don't want to wake up alone again. I've been having those nightmares lately where I wake up and there's nopony around, only... Them!" she closed her eyes and tears rolled down her face. "I don't want to lose you. Any of you!"

She opened her eyes when she felt something cold and wet pressing against her forehead and saw pressing her lips against it.

"R-Rar..."

"It's ok, darling. You can sleep with me tonight!"

Both mares smiled and wnet back to Rarity's bedroom. Arriving there, Rarity closed the door. Pinkamena jumped on the bed, Rarity just climbed on it. The former fashionista used her magic to pull the blanket and cover them, snuggling against Pinkamena's back.

"Good night, Rarity."

"Good night, Pinkamena."

"You promise me that you will be here when I wake up?"

"I promise you, I'll always be by your side!"

Pinkamena turned around so she could face the white unicorn mare. "Forever?"

"Forever..." Rarity said. After each word, she approached her muzzle to Pinkamena's. "And ever... And ever... And ever... And ever!"

After the last word, the space between their muzzles was a single inch. Pinkamena smiled and her became puffy again.

"You said 'ever', four times, what makes it a second forever, so it's a forver forever, or a double forever, or forever squared!"

Rarity giggled and wrapped her forehooves around Pinkie's neck.

"Pinkie Pie, darling, you are so random."

She then pulled the pink baker closer, pressing her lips against hers. Their forehooves explored each other's body while they kissed, until Pinkie's found Rarity's flank and Rarity's found Pinkie's belly. The unicorn pressed her tongue against the earth pony's teeth, which gladly parted, letting the white mare's tongue explore her mouth. Rarity's right forehoof went lower and lower until...

Part 12: We Can Work Together, Helping Twilight Save the World

Twilight was in a laboratory, studying some equations and chemical components, when Trixie sat on a chair beside hers and wrapped their tails.

"Trixie..." Twilight said.

"I'm not doing anything that is keeping you from working properly!" she said, looking into a microscope.

Twilight sighed and shrugged before going back to her equations. Her eyes suddenly widened and she smiled, then levitated a quill and started writing.

"AHA!" she shouted, startling Trixie.

"What was that for?"

"I found a miscalculation! Maybe that's what we were doing wrong!" she took a deep breath and Trixie covered her ears. "SPIIIIIIIIKE!!!" she started writing on a different scroll and soon spike entered the room.

"Yes, Twilight?"

She levitated the scroll in front of him and he grabbed it. "Take this to the deposit and bring me those components!"

"Um..."

She followed her assistant's gaze and noticed he was staring at her tail, which was tangled with Trixie's.

"Hurry!"

He nodded and left the laboratory.

"Well, guess that cat is out of the bag!" Twilight said, then got up, freeing her tail, and prepared a few instruments on a table. Trixie got up and joined her.

"Do you think that will work?"

"I'm very confident about this one!"

Less than an hour later, Spike returned with a few chemical components and placed them all on the table.

"Thanks, Spike!"

"Anything else?"

"Yes! Could you bring a test subject, please?"

"On it!" he saluted her and left the room. She started working with the components.

"Are... Are you sure about this, Twilight?" asked Trixie. "Being in the same room with one of them is pretty dangerous. Not to say scary!"

"It's ok, Trixie. The chains are magically improved. Strong enough for ten griffins to pull it on different directions and not break! We'll be safe."

"Ok. I trust you, Twilight!"

"And I won't let you down, Trixie!"

* * *

A few hours later, Twilight and Trixie were still working. An infected was chaining to the wall, struggling and groaning, trying to set itself free. Spike was sitting on a chair, watching them. They didn't noticed the cracks appearing on the wall, next to the bolts keeping the chains in place and preventing the infected from escaping.

Twilight was levitating a vial with a glowing golden liquid in it.

"Do you think that willl work, Twilight?" Spike asked.

"Only one way to find out!" she slowly approached the infected, but Trixie stopped her.

"It's not safe to go so close, Twilight."

"I know, but I can't magically force his mouth open. And it's chained to the wall, after all. I'll be ok!"

"I don't know, Twilight..."

"Here, allow me!" Spike said, grabbing the levitating vial and walking toward the infected.

The moment Spike touched its muzzle it broke free, leaving a hole on the wall were the chains were attached to. It knocked Spike aside and dashed toward Twilight. She wanted to scream, but it wouldn't change nothing. She closed her eyes and turned, not wanting to see what was about to happen to her. She was knocked to the ground and waited for it to happen.

But nothing happen.

She opened her eyes when she felt something wet on her face; Trixie was standing on top of her, tears running down her face.

"The chains..." she said, breathing heavily. "The chains were strong... But the wall wasn't... Wasn't strong enough..."

Twilight noticed blood on Trixie's right foreleg. She gasped when she saw the infected with its teeth buried deep in Trixie's shoulder.

"No... No, this can't be happening! This-This did not just happened!"

Spike tackled the infected off Trixie and pinned it to the ground, then proceeded to punch its face. Trixie fell on top of Twilight, who hugged her.

"You're gonna be fine, Trixie. You're goona be fine. Here, we have a cure! Spike, give it to me!"

But Spike was too busy punching the infected's face, too enraged to pay attention on his surroundings.

"I will not let any of you stupid zombies lay a hoof on Twilight!! You hear me?! Not a hoof!!"

"It's... It's ok, Twilight..." Trixie said, smiling. "I... I can't feel the pain anymore... You... You're safe... That's all that matters now..."

"No! You matter too, Trixie! You're gonna be fine! You're gonna be fine, you're goona be fine, you're gonna be fine..."

Trixie closed her eyes. "Just promise... Promise me that... You will take... Take care of... Overheal's family... For me..."

Suddenly there was no sound, no light, nothing. Only darkness. "And that you won't... Let me turn..."

* * *

"Triiiiiiiixiiiiiiieeeeeee..."

"Wh-Who is it? Who's there? Where am I?"

"Triiiiiiiiiiixiiiiiiieeeeeeee..."

"Where are you? Show yourself!"

"Right behind you!"

She quickly turned around, but there was nothing there but darkness, like everywhere else she looked.

"I can't see a thing."

"I'm sorry. Allow me!"

Suddenly a bright light appeared right in front of her. The source of the light was shaped like a pony. Soon the light faded, leaving on its place a white pony wearing Royal Guard armor.

"Hello, Trixie!"

"Overheal, I'm... I'm sorry!"

"For what?"

"You saved me, just so I could die later." Oveaheal chuckled. "What's so funny?"

"I'll tell you later. First, tell me what happened!"

"A test subject escaped and it was going to attack Twilight! I couldn't allow that to happen, so I jumped on its way. Ang got bitten..."

"Do you regret doing that?"

"Not at all! My Twilight is safe and sound, that's all that matters."

"'Your' Twilight?"

Trixie blushed. "Yeah, we sort of... Had a thing! We were planning on going out on a date once everything was back to normal." she looked down, sighing. "Guess this will never happen!" Overheal chuckled again. "Are you mocking me?!"

"I would never do that?"

"Then why do you keep laughing when I tell you the saddest things that happened to me?"

"You're not dead, Trixie!"

"What? But I asked them to not let me turn! Did they really let me become a monster? Or maybe they didn't heard me. Or did I imagined me saying that?" she looked around again. "Is this what infected ponies see?"

"Yes. And no!"

"What do you mean?"

"This is an inconscient pony's subconscient. This is what everypony sees when we're not awake. Sometimes it can be a blank page like now, or a whole new world, which we call dreams."

"Does... Does that mean infected ponies are just... Asleep?"

"You can say that!"

"And we've been killing them..."

"Believe me, all of them would rather die than kill another pony! All, most of them would... What matters is, we can still save them!"

They heard a beep. And another one. And another.

"What's that?" Trixie asked.

"The outside is interacting with your subconscious. Happens when you're about to wake up!"

"So, does that mean I'm alive? That's great! Oh, one more thing: why are you here? In my head, I mean."

"Then you're not really you? Just an image my brain created? A... Dream?"

"You could say that."

"Then how do you know all those things I didn't knew about?"

"My dear Trixie, a pony's brain is capable of things we can't fully comprehend yet."

The sound of beeping grew louder. She could hear voice of ponies, but couldn't understand what they were talking about.

"Will I see you again?"

"last time you checked, I was still under ubservation. And if you're still alive, the cure you and the others developed works. Of course you will se me again! The real me this time!"

Trixie smiled and Overheal faded.

* * *

Trixie opened her eyes. The beeping sound was coming from a machine monitoring her heartbeat rate and the voices were of Twilight and her friends talking to Dr. Stable.

"Twi... Light..."

She stopped talking and looked at the bed. There was a mask on Trixie's snout, helping her breath, but she could see by her expression that she was smiling. Twilight hugged Trixie.

Trixie winced. Her right shoulder was covered in bandages.

"Congratulations, Trixie!" Applejack said, taking off her hat.

"You just saved the whole world!" said Pinkie Pie while bouncing.

"I... Did?"

"Sure did!" Twilight said. "Our equations were correct. It worked!"

"You used it... On me?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I was desperated! You were bitten and I didn't knew what to do."

"Don't be sorry... I'm glad I could... Be your test subject..."

Twilight smiled, moved the mask away from Trixie's snout and kissed her. Trixie gladly kissed her back. After the kiss was over, Twilight hugged her. Soon the other five mares joined them in a group hug.

"Doctor?" Trixie called.

"Yes?" Dr. Stable asked.

"When can I get out of here?"

"We just need to do a few more check-ups. You're probably leaving tomorrow!"

"Good." she then whispered something in Twilight's ear, who blushed immediately.

"Tr-Trixie!" she nearly shouted.

"What? I stodd between you and an infected, saving both your life and the cure! I think I deserve a reward, don''t you think?"

"B-But, still..." she sighed. "Rarity, I need a favor!"

"Anything for the savior of the world, darling!"

* * *

The next morning, Dr. Stable opened the door to Trixie's room with a smile on his face.

"Good news, miss Trixie! You can--"

His jaw almsot hit the floor when he saw what was going on there: Twilight Sparkle, dressed like a nurse, feeding Trixie grapes..

"D-D-Don't look at me!" Twilight said, covering herself with Trixie's blanket.

Trixie was laughing her flank off. Twilight glared at her.

* * *

FOUR YEARS LATER...

Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack opened the door of the house. She took a deep breath.

"Still smeels the same!" she said, smiling.

Big Macintosh stepped in and looked around. "Eeyup! We need to fix a few things, though..."

"No worries." Apple Bloom said, exhibiting her Cutie Mark: an apple with a wrench in front of it. "Ah can fix it!"

Winona barked happily.

* * *

Pinkie Pie entered Sugarcube Cormner with the cake twins and Gummy on her back.

"This is where old mommy and daddy lived with us?" Pumpkin Cake asked.

"Don't forget new daddy." Pound Cake said. "She lived here too!"

"Yes, we all lived here together." said Pinkie Pie. "A big and happy family. And now we're living here again. A not-as-big-family, but still happy."

"Is new mommy going to live us too?" the unicorn filly asked.

"Of course, Pumpkin." she cuddled her adoptive daughter. "As soon as she is finished with the stuff she need to finish in her old boutique, she is moving!"

"Yaaaay!" both foals cheered. The toothless alligator just stared at a random wall.

* * *

Rarity barely walked in her old home and was already sewing dresses. Her sister Sweetie Belle was watching her.

"We just came back home and you're already working, sis?"

"But of course! I want to re-open my loved Carousel Boutique as soon as possible and I need dresses to sell."

Sweetie Belle looked at her Cutie Mark, a microphone with its cable wrapped around a big pink heart, and smiled. "Do you want me to sing while you work? You know, so you can relax and I can practice for your great re-opening!"

Rarity stopped sewing and looked at her sister, smiling.

"I'd love that, darling!"

* * *

Rainbow Dash jumped on the bed in her old cloud home and yawned.

"So, now that everything is over, the Wonderbolts can finally be a thing again!" Spitfire said, sitting on a cloud chair.

"Yep, that's awesome!" Rainbow Dash said while stretching.

"So, are you going back to the Academy?"

"I don't think I will. My new job will take a lot of my time!"

"I thought you were only going to be a Royal Guard while we were 'at war'."

"You're right! I'm not a Royal Guard anymore."

"Then...?"

Rainbow Dash sat on her bed. "Princess Luna decided to resurrect her old Elite Team, the Shadowbolts. And she asked me to be the captain of the team!"

"Wow, this... This is amazing! Congratulations, Rainbow Dash."

"Thanks! And I already have somepony willing to take the tryouts. Right, Scoots?"

Scootaloo entered the room, wearing an uniform similar to the one Rainbow Dash used in the Wonderbolts Academy, except this one had a darker shade of golden and purple instead of blue. Her Cutie Mark, an orange lightning hitting a flaming scooter wheel, was on display and she was "polishing" it with a handkerchief.

"100% right, mom!"

Spitfire cocked an eyebrow. "Did she just called you 'mom'?"

"Well, she was in an orphanage, after all. And you know what adults do when they find in there a kid they really like?"

"They... Adopt them?"

Rainbow Dash nodded as she ruffled Scootaloo's mane. Spitfire asked.

"Well, since you're forming a new team, guess this makes us rivals."

"I guess so!"

"I'll do whatever it takes to keep the Wonderbolts on the top. So you better do whatever it takes to try to surpass us, ya hear me?"

They hoofbumped.

"My plan since the start!"

* * *

"Is that your cottage?" Bright Sky asked, pointing his hoof at the tree with a door and windows.

"Yes, it is!" Fluttershy said, opening the doors. "I'm so glad everrything is over and we all can finally go back to our old houses."

"Your house is awesome, Fluttershy!" Dark Cloud said, looking around.

"Awesome and empty! Where are all your animals?"

"Oh, they must have left when they noticed I wasn't returning anytime soon. Good for them, I would hate to come back and see all of them here, dead of starvation!" Angel jumped off his owner's back and went straight to the couch. Fluttershy giggled. "Angel Bunny is feeling home already."

"Well, guess this is where we part ways." Bright Sky sighed. "It was nice meeting you and being your assistant, Fluttershy!"

"Everything he said!" agreed Dark Cloud.

"It was a pleasure having you two around too."

Cloud and Sky jumped on Fluttershy and hugged her. She happily hugged them back.

"So, will I see you two again?"

"We'll be around. Right, Cloud?"

"Yup! We'll be around."

She hugged them one more time.

* * *

"Everything is exactly where I left." Twilight said, checking the shelves. "Except that there are no infected this time!"

"And it's better that way." Trixie said. "I got dangerously close to one of them and I don't want to see another one ever again!"

"So, is Trixie going to live with us from now on?" Spike asked.

"Sure will!" Twilight said, nuzzling her marefriend.

"Then I want my own room. I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night and see you two in the middle of the action!"

"Sp-Spike!!" Twilight shouted, blushing.

Trixie laughed and wrapped her tail around Twilight's, who rested her head on her marefriend's shoulder. Spike laughed too and ran upstairs, followed by Owlowiscious.

The showmare wrapped a foreleg around her. "Everything will be just fine." she said.