Blank Equestria

Scootaloo caught up to Sweetie Belle in a few seconds despite the fog blocking her view. She was too worried about losing Sweetie Belle too. Everything was completely still, there wasn't even a small breeze to blow back the manes and tails of the two cutie mark crusaders. They headed to the barn right away. It was where Applebloom went.

The red building came into view as the two fillies approached it after some time. Apple trees surrounded them as they got closer and closer to the front doors. For some reason, Sweet Apple Acres wasn't just eerie, but scary. Sheer horror. It was most likely because of the fog and cold temperature, as well as the lonely feeling it had inflicted on Scootaloo.

Scootaloo hurled a swift glance at Sweetie Belle. She was looking at the ground the whole time, her ears drooping. Scootaloo felt even more sad. She went into the barn first, slowly opening the doors. They let out an ominous creak. She looked at Sweetie Belle, who quickly followed her inside. Scootaloo shut the doors as fast as possible.

The barn looked massive on the inside with the endless darkness that filled it. Sweetie Belle shook in fear, but she held back her tears and her whimpering. Scootaloo stepped forward, looking up. Creepy noises descended from above, as if a metal wall was being moved. The windows were open, but the usual sunlight didn't come in through them.

"Sweetie Belle, come closer to me," Scootaloo instructed, warning her. Sweetie Belle did so immediately.

Hoofsteps suddenly echoed throughout the room rapidly, as if a pony was galloping towards them quickly. Sweetie Belle let out a small gasp and hugged Scootaloo, burying her face in Scootaloo's chest again. Scootaloo closed her eyes, her mouth gaping as she breathed heavily. The hoofsteps came closer until Sweetie Belle screamed in pain, breaking away from Scootaloo. Scootaloo opened her eyes quickly, alarmed.

A mare in a miner's suit slid to a halt nearby, holding an axe. Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle, who held her chest in pain. A cut was etched across the white filly's back. Blood sped down her back, gushing out of the long wound.

Scootaloo looked horrified. She turned her head to stare at the hidden mare. She was now looking back at Scootaloo, holding her axe up dangerously. Scootaloo let out a gasp, grabbed Sweetie Belle, and made a run for it.

The mare easily reached their heels within seconds. Her axe was now strapped to her back. This mare must have had fast and skilled hooves. She bowled over Scootaloo, grunting. Scootaloo couldn't identify the pony's voice through the sound of the two ponies falling and rolling over the floor.

"You little shit, why are you and your friend here?" the mare asked as she positioned her axe, aiming it directly at Scootaloo's face.

Scootaloo flinched. Her gaze rolled over to where Sweetie Belle sat, coughing up blood and looking weak. "We're looking for a friend," she explained quietly. Her words tumbled out of her mouth swiftly.

The mare's eyes, which were the only visible part of her body under her heavy miner's suit, looked over at Sweetie Belle as well. "Poor foals," she said sarcastically. The mare got up, giving Scootaloo a harsh stare, then pushed the filly over.

Scootaloo stayed on the ground, resting on her side. The mare trotted over to the injured Sweetie Belle, then dropped her axe. The sound it made when it was dropped was loud as it echoed through the building. Clank.

"You're lucky," the mare whispered, barely audible over Sweetie Belle's loud and continuous coughing. She picked up her axe again and slowly trotted off, returning to the darkness.

Scootaloo got up and rushed over to Sweetie Belle. She helped up her injured friend, the other filly's blood staining her hooves as she nearly choked on the blood rising in her esophagus.

"Keep...going..." she choked out.

Scootaloo shook her head. "No, Applebloom would be dead by now."

"Yes...go...now!" Sweetie Belle said, followed by an aggressive series of more coughing. Blood burst out of her mouth, some dripped down her face and ruining her once pretty white coat with black and dark red.

Scootaloo swore Sweetie Belle would be dead soon, but the hospital was closed. Nurse Redheart was one of the ponies gone. The orange filly sighed and guided her friend into the shadows, following the trail of the mare. She went upstairs with Sweetie Belle, the steps stained with her own blood. It got worse with every step, and once they reached the floor upstairs, Sweetie Belle was collapsing every few steps. She twitched violently, her choking sounding more disturbing every second.

"Don't die," Scootaloo whispered. "We'll find the mare and everypony else. Don't worry."