Don't Go Outside...

by Wolokai

Chapters

Routine
Memory
Filly
Haven
Storm
Farm
Goodbye
Revelation
Stand
Sparkle
Author's Message

Routine

Rule #1: Don't go outside

Tick...

Tock...

Tick...

Tock...

"Can't be tardy...must not...be..tardy!"

Tick Tock...Tick Tock...goes my little pony clock...

"C...Celestia...? It's so...it's so dark..."

Tick Tock...time's up. It's time to die my faithful student

Twilight Sparkle sat up with a shuddering gasp, her lungs heaving for air. Her eyes darted across the dark expanse of her bedroom, scanning for any danger lurking in the shadows. She knew nothing was going to be there...because nothing on the outside ever came inside...but check she did, for fear that the rules might have changed. It was cold on the second floor of the Library, the lack of heat drawing thick clouds of vapor out of the Unicorn's heavy breath. The sweat that drenched her coat and mane cooled with the frosty air, making her shiver and shake. She wondered curiously as her eyes ran over one of the far bookcases lining her wall if she was shaking because of the dampness of her fur...or out of pure fear.

Of course, the element of fear made sense to her in this situation. There were many reasons to be afraid nowadays...

As her eyes finished wandering over her boarded up bedroom window, she let out a shuddering sigh and wrapped her forelegs around herself in a sort of self-hug. She held herself tightly for several long, quiet moments, gently rocking herself back and forth as she tried to get her most recent nightmare out of her head. The same nightmare, with just a few changes...as always. Sometimes the colors were different, sometimes ponies that were there before in her nightmares weren't there again, or new ponies were in place instead. It was always in Canterlot, in the Royal Castle that her nightmares took place. The same begging, the same mad rush to the throne room that she had gone through, hoping for answers. Answers as to what had happened to her peaceful little town, answers as to why Celestia had cast the most powerful Anti-Teleportation spell known to Equestrian kind over Ponyville.

No answers were to be had, however, and like always, the nightmare ended with Princess Celestia glaring down on her prized pupil with dark, menacing eyes and a lavish grin while levitating a simple pocket-watch in the air. What any of this could mean...she had no idea. The very thought of going to Canterlot itself seemed like a dream anyway, which would be odd to anypony who wasn't informed of the current situation.

The...grave...situation, that Ponyville seemed to have found itself in.

Twilight took a moment to look towards her clock, staring at the hands which displayed to her the time of 3:24 in the morning before she got out of bed and grasped her blanket in her teeth. She gently pulled the silky fabric upwards, tucking it over the pillow and making it snug. Of course the bed looked perfect after she was done...after all, she DID have plenty of time on her hooves to practice. There was nothing better to do anyway. Squinting her eyes, Twilight did her best to walk towards the bathroom door without bumping into anything, her hoofsteps carefully carrying her towards the far wall. As she entered the bathroom, the nauseating smell of old feces and urine assaulted her nose. She did her best to hold her stomach (which she was getting the hang of, much to her delight) as she moved inside and past the mirror, not even bothering to cast a glance towards her shadowy reflection. What would she see that she hadn't seen already anyway? An unkempt mane? A pair of violet but bloodshot eyes? A nasty scar that passed over her right cheek?

She kept her hoofsteps quiet as she walked up to the medium-sized metal bucket that rested right in the middle of the bathroom floor. The smell that rose from its grotesque basin was enough to make anypony lose their lunch, but after enough time and exposure...anypony could get used to the general rot of things. The unicorn let out a tiny sigh of exhaustion as she plopped her rear down on the bucket, staring across her dark bathroom towards her towel rack which kept hers and Spike's individual towels up and hanging, ready to dry a wet pony or dragon! That is...if there was even any water left in the pipes to dry a pony of...or a dragon left to dry. She thought about Spike as she did her business, wondering if he was safe, if he was ok. He knew enough that he mustn't go outside, and as long as he heeded that warning, he'd be fine. Maybe she'd see him today, or maybe she'd see Carrot Top, or even Big Macintosh. It all depended really on who drew the shortest straw and was stuck with the day shift...the time when all the madness happened...the time when somepony or some dragon would be forced to watch the chaos and bloodshed happening in the streets.

She shook her head, getting back up to her hooves and grimacing as she took the metal handle of the bucket up in her teeth. She did her best to breathe through her teeth only as she approached the only opening in her library: her bathroom window. With delicate hooves, she propped the bucket up on the window sill and gently poured its contents outside and onto the far ground below, turning her head away so she wouldn't have to watch the wretched waterfall. After the bucket was empty, she brought it back in and placed it back down on the bathroom floor before hurrying out and shutting the door firmly behind her. She did her best to do this with as little noise as possible. She knew that if you made any noise, you wouldn't be able to use the baskets. If you made any noise at all...

They...would hear you.

They would sit outside, and watch. Watch the boards, watch the doors, watch the open bathroom window but not get to close as the smell would drive them away. Circling like vultures, wondering if it was a living, breathing pony making all that racket or just some wild animal. They'd never go inside though, even if there was a way in. They didn't go in because it was dark...and they didn't like the dark. That's the thought that passed through Twilight's head as she quietly tip-hooved down the staircase towards the ground floor. For whatever reason, those outside couldn't STAND the dark, and would hiss and shy away from it like a cat would to water. As long as she kept her Library boarded up and the lights all completely off, she'd be safe. Granted, she had to have SOME kind of light, otherwise she'd go blind. She had read in one of her books that too long of an extended period in darkness could render somepony blind if they were ever exposed to light again...and thus...her bathroom window. She'd take several moments out of her day to sit in her bathroom...right in the direct beam of sun that cast itself through her window. She'd warm herself in the yellow glow of the sun, and embraced it like she would her mother...with love and tolerance.

She needed that sun...needed that light, knowing it was one of the only things left keeping her sane. It was Rule #6 after all, Keep yourself sane. She couldn't afford to let herself lose it, not before she discovered exactly what in the hell had happened to her peaceful little town. It was this she pondered over nearly everyday and night since this whole thing even started, and it was what she pondered now as she made her way into her simple little kitchen. She passed by the rusty stove, the cobweb filled kitchen sink, the dust-covered counter-tops. She passed all of these...except the kitchen table, a table that held a small basket of what most ponies in Ponyville nowadays considered to be worth 'The value of Diamonds'.

Apples.

Sweet, delicious, life-prolonging apples. The only thing left that wasn't poison or struck down by some kind of weird disease. It was because of these diseases that Rule #5 even existed, which said to Only eat Apples. Twilight picked through the bushel for the healthiest looking one, a dark red Gala apple, and held it up in her hoof. She gave it a long, hard stare, taking a moment to peer around every square inch of the delicate morsel before taking a quiet bite from it. She let out a grateful sigh through her snout as the juicy goodness made its way down her throat, her mind filled with gracious prayers that the apples were still delicious. She didn't know exactly how...but despite what had happened, it seemed Sweet Apple Acres was still in business, regardless of Big Macintosh's absence and the fact that the entirety of the farm was mostly outdoors. How Applejack was collecting these apples and staying alive...she hadn't the faintest idea.

Her work was to be commended though, thought Twilight. She hoped that when all this pain, bloodshed, and chaos was all over, that maybe she could get Applejack some kind of medal or special trophy for her brave deeds to Equestrian kind. Maybe even a statue in her honor...she was sure that the country mare would appreciate that. Twilight smiled as she took down the last of the juicy apple, turning and heading back out towards the main area of the library. It was just about pitch-black around the area, with the only saving grace being that the moonlight from the full moon up in the sky helped illuminate some of the cracks between the boarded up windows. She trotted towards the window to the left of her heavily boarded up front door and peaked through one of the cracks, letting her eyes trail over the house just across the street. It was a small, two story house, built and shaped just like the other houses of Ponyville, and boarded up just as heavily too. Twilight felt a slight pang of sadness but comfort in her heart, knowing that Spike was resting just beyond the barriers of that house.

He was lucky enough to have gotten inside with Carrot Top and Big Macintosh, even Rarity of all ponies when the event started. She'd know when he was there, watching the library and looking for her, for at 2:00 P.M. every afternoon, a white slip of paper would slip through the boards cracks. It was their little signal that let the other know that they were watching, and when another slip of paper fell through, it meant they were leaving the window. It made Spike and Twilight feel...better, sitting at their windows and looking over towards one another. Hope is what kept the two smiling, knowing that even though a small street cut them off from one another, they were still alive, and they still loved each other. She smiled, staring over towards the darkened windows, wondering if her little Spike was having good dreams instead of the nightmares that plagued her every night. Just as she began to wonder what kind of dream he was having, a dark shadow flew past the front of her window, making her leap back and fall on her flank. She pressed a hoof firmly against her mouth, cutting off the gasp that had nearly escaped her. She should have expected it, she told herself. She knew that the streets were usually empty at night, that the ones outside were drawn to the houses with the lights turned on...the lights somepony forgot to turn off in their hurry to flee Ponyville before the quarantine.

They loved the light, of course, which is why Twilight knew the houses with the lights turned on were so dangerous. She even knew that many of the ponies left alive knew what she knew. They knew the rules. They knew not to go outside. They knew not to trust the empty streets and not to venture out at night just because what was lurking outside was afraid of the dark. Notes were traded back and forth across the basket system warning ponies about the night. The notes written with frantic scrawl about the fact that even though the ones lurking outside were afraid of the dark...if they saw anypony outside, they'd move in for the kill, move into the night regardless of their fear or not. Twilight sighed, remembering those who chose to ignore these warnings...remembering the frantic screams of those trapped outside during the night, the screams that only signaled more and more of the those outside to go on the hunt.

She took a moment to breathe, quietly moving away from the window and out of its view-range. She didn't want to chance it looking inside and seeing her. If it saw her...it might be a good two or three days before it eventually forgot that she was there, and it was those days she couldn't afford to spare. Every day and a half, the basket system would send her a fresh supply of apples...and with such high demand on the Apple Market these days, nopony could afford to go hungry for long. If there was ever a sudden shortage, one could easily start suffering from the effects of starvation...their animalistic instincts driving them to go out in search of food...to go outside.

With this in mind, Twilight moved to one of the bookcases, her eyes squinting at a bookmark lodged in between two books. She pulled out the book to the right of the bookmark and looked over its title, quietly reading the words The Equestrian Guide to Gardening and Garden Gnomes. Looks like she was learning about Gardening today...

She smiled and made her towards the small closet door nearby, a tiny sign hanging from the door knob that read 'Happy Place'. She opened it quietly, stepping inside the closet and shutting it gently behind her. It was a fairly cramped space, but roomy enough to seat a small pillow, a lamp, and a small basket which held four apples inside of it. With careful movements, Twilight pushed the pillow against the bottom crack of the door and with the careful movement of her teeth, turned the knob on the lantern to the right. The soft yellow glow of light began to gleam from behind the glass, hurting Twilight's eyes at first. They adjusted after a few moments, allowing her to at least get a good look at her book. If she ran out of air because of the pillow plugging up the door crack, she'd just turn off her lantern and go out into the main room for awhile. It was a pretty simple process, and it at least kept her mind on things other then what lied just beyond her boarded up door. It was more or less an escape from all the wretched evil that had seemed to plague her town.

A practice which she had made into a list of all the things she required of herself to do daily.

Something to keep her mind focused and her mental status sane.

A few things to keep her from asking herself the same question over and over and over again: What's happened to Ponyville?

A routine.

Memory

Rule #2: Use the baskets

Noise is something you can't make.

It's too dangerous to make it, but it's important to listen to.

Noise is the only thing that will tell you that things are safe...or that things aren't safe...

Twilight stared at the hardwood floor, her eyes vacant and devoid of any emotion. She was sitting comfortably on her haunches with her back pressed up against the side of her bed, her ears perked and her front hooves planted firmly in front of her between her thighs. She tried her best not to listen, to tune out the noise coming from outside...but if there's nothing else to listen to...how can you just ignore it? How could she ignore the blood curdling screams of a mare outside, of the sickening sound of metal slicing and stabbing through flesh, of the savage roaring and screaming of those who walked outside?

How could anypony just ignore that?

In the beginning, such noises during the night and day would have frightened Twilight, drawing her to firmly hold a pillow over her ears and weep into her silken blankets while the world went on around her, continuing ever forward on its bloody path to nowhere. But not anymore...not after two months of hearing the same thing over and over and over and over again. The only thing the noises outside did for Twilight now was alert her when things were safe and when things weren't. When it was safe to use the basket systems and to use the bathroom, or when it was safe to stare over at the house where Spike and the others remained hidden.

Right now...things obviously weren't safe.

This drew a sigh from the lavender mare, a quiet one of course. She waited until the screams abruptly stopped before she got up to her hooves, taking a sad glance towards her window. Oh how she longed to be out in the sun...out in that perfect day and that wonderfully cool air. She shook her head rapidly at this, clearing her head of such insane notions and turned to head down the stairs. She had to sever the thought of normality, disbelief that the beauty of the outside was too alluring to resist. It was probably this thought that had filled the poor mare's head outside right before those outside slaughtered her. She tried not to think about it...tried not to imagine the gleam that the knives, spears, and swords gave off in the sun. Tried not to visualize how they looked as they sunk deep into the mare's flesh, gutting her and ripping at her insides, cutting her open and exposing her beating heart to the shining rays of the sun.

Twilight's stomach gave a sudden heave and she stopped for a moment at the middle of the staircase, taking a moment to put a hoof to her belly and take in a few deep breaths. She had to keep it together...for just a little longer. She had to keep her hopes up, for she knew that sometime soon, Princess Celestia would be there to right all of the wrongs in Ponyville...to put back what had been unleashed upon her and her poor, innocent friends. As she put her hoof back down to take a step, she found that she had overstepped herself and instead let herself step down on air. She let out an involuntary squeak as she tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs loudly and grunting with each heavy impact that she had against the steps. For three seconds she fell until she rolled forward once last time and fell with a loud 'thud' on her back, the wind escaping her lungs and making her gasp for air.

Noise...had been made...

Oh who was she kidding, she thought to herself. After the two months since the first incident, somepony would have responded by now with help and aid. Princess Celestia would have acted, she would have done something! How could she just sit back and watch!? She had to have known what was going on, she was the ruler of all Equestria! If anything serious or ill-fated ever happened to any of her cities or subjects, she'd know about it! What then...was stopping her from coming? What was stopping anypony from coming to their rescue? Were the notes delivered to her from the baskets speaking the truth? Was there really a wall built around Ponyville? Did the Princess really abandon her prized student and the other Elements of Harmony? Well...all the Elements except Kindness. Twilight wondered where Fluttershy had gone...or what she was doing since her house was located outside the quarantine zone. Was she in Canterlot, pleading with the princess to aid Ponyville? Was she running away to some far distant town, hoping to leave the blood, pain, and chaos behind her? Would she really abandon her dearest friends...?

A thump against the Library's walls brought Twilight back to reality, if only briefly. Her eyes were drooping, her head aching at where it had smacked against one of the wooden steps. Another thump drew Twilight's eyes to look towards one of the windows on her left, at the shadow that was passing in front of it. She shut her eyes, turning her head back towards the ceiling and letting out the quietest whimper she could. Of course they had heard her...who wouldn't be able to hear a pony fall down a set of stairs when the rest of the town was eerily quiet? As the thumping continued around the outside of her Library, Twilight folded her front hooves over her belly and turned her head away from the window, getting as comfortable as she could against the hard floor. Minutes passed...minutes that dragged on into an hour, and eventually an hour and a half...a length of time that eventually ended up with Twilight dozing off...giving her at least a short amount of time to let her mind recover and to once again try and piece together what exactly happened...

What happened to everypony in Ponyville.

What caused all of this to happen.

What happened...two months ago...

***

~*~ Ponyville - Two Months Ago... ~*~

"Spike? Spiiiiike! For goodness sakes, could you at least try and operate like a normal living creature? Usually you're supposed to be AWAKE and ACTIVE during the day!" Twilight shouted from the main room of the library, her patience obviously thin. It was a beautiful day outside and Spike PROMISED that he'd be up in time for their departure to the park. After all, with the busy way things have been lately, any time spent with their friends was precious and shouldn't be missed for the world. "SPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!!!!!!" Roared Twilight, her hoof stamping the hard floor impatiently.

From above, Spike's voice groggily carried itself downwards to her "Ugh, I'm up already! Jeez, be a little more bossy why don't you!"

"Bossy!?" Twilight scoffed "I'm not bossy, I'm TARDY! You know how much I hate being late Spike, and if you don't hurry up and get down here we're going to be late for the picnic!"

Spike rolled his eyes as he came down the stairs, his body starting to gleam with dark violet magic as he was lifted up gently and placed on Twilight's back. With an affirmative nod, Twilight illuminated her front door with magic and opened it wide, letting in a soothing breeze of crisp spring air. "Wow..." she breathed, smiling as the air cooled her skin and fur. "It's so...wonderful out today! Rainbow Dash sure does pick the best of days for these picnics!"

"Well duh..." Spike muttered before letting out a great big yawn "She DOES work for the Weather Team." Twilight let out a giggle and happily trotted into the beautiful afternoon, watching as the town swarmed with life. Ponies walked and flew this way and that, some pulling carts or just walking with their friends. Everypony was smiling...everypony was enjoying this beautiful day, as it should be.

Twilight trotted down Mane Street, greeting everypony she encountered with a warm smile and a hearty hello, the sun warming her with its gentle touch. Eventually, buildings turned to trees, pavement turned to dirt and grass, and outside dining areas turned to picnics and picnic baskets. As they entered the park, already Twilight could see that many other ponies shared the same idea as her and the rest of her friends. All around, ponies ate, played with one another, or participated in little sporting events or competitions.

A voice Twilight recognized all too well as Rarity's called out to her as they made their way across the open fields towards one of the various clumps of trees that rested in the park "Twilight, darling! Over here!" Spike let out a tiny 'squee' as Rarity came into view, her white coat clearly visible amongst the sea of brown and other colors of their friends that rested on a checkered quilt of white and red. "So good of you to make it dear," Rarity cooed as Twilight smiled warmly, giving a wave to each of her friends who were resting on the quilt.

"Bout' time sugarcube, ah was wonderin' when you'd decide to show up!" Applejack said in a joking manner, drawing a small giggle out of Pinkie Pie and a tiny smile from Fluttershy.

Twilight smiled and gently nestled herself down on her belly, letting the soft fabric of the quilt caress her as she spoke "Well I would have been here sooner if some dragon got up on time like everypony else!" Spike simply rolled his eyes, sitting back on his rear as Twilight blinked in confusion, counting out her friends and her self and coming up with only 5. "Hey...where's Rainbow Dash?" she asked, causing Rarity to sigh and roll her eyes.

"She's over there..." Rarity muttered, shaking her head as she pointed over towards the sky at the Rainbow colored blur that was flipping and whipping about the sky. "She keeps trying to perform some trick she's been working on for weeks...says she'll be right over once it's done.

As if on cue, the frantic cries of Rainbow Dash echoed across the air as she came tumbling out of the air, her body hitting the ground with a soft thud and kicking up dust and dirt in the air she slid across the ground...finally stopping as her nose bumped into Rarity's side. "Ow..." she moaned, rubbing her head as she looked up towards Twilight, ignoring the harsh glare she was receiving from Rarity who was now trying to rub the dirt out of her own fur. "Well hey there Bat-light Sparkle," she mused "You finally came out of your cave huh?"

Twilight rolled her eyes but smiled as she said back "First of all Rain-Rain, it's a tree, not a cave. Second, it's good to see you to, in one piece I mean."

Rainbow Dash let out a loud 'yech!' as she growled "Please don't call me Rain-Rain! You know I hate that name..."

"As much as I hate being called an egghead?" Twilight said, a triumphant grin passing over her face.

"Alright..." Rainbow Dash sighed "You got me...when are we gonna eat? I'm starving!" The girls giggled, loving how Rainbow always made a hasty subject change when she was backed into a corner.

The picnic was going swimmingly, with daisy sandwiches being passed around as well as small idle gossip. But all good things...do eventually come to an end. "And then I said," started a giggling Rarity, her best attempt at trying to keep a straight face failing "If you really wanted to wear that, why not just put on a potted plant and some flower petal sunglasses and go as a jungle? It'd look the same and I'm sure you'd save yourself the embarrassment!" The group broke out in laughter, smiles etched on their faces...until a gut-wrenching scream tore all the happiness out of the world.

"W...what was that?" Fluttershy squeaked, her eyes scanning over the groups of ponies in the park who had stopped their activities to wear the same confused expressions as Twilight and the others.

"Not sure...sounds like somepony was uh screamin'" muttered Applejack, her hoof tipping back her stetson as she peered over in the general direction of the scream.

"Well...maybe it was just somepony being the flank of a scary prank or someth-" Twilight began...until another scream cut her off, this time the scream of a colt.

"Girls...I'm starting to get a little scared" Pinkie whispered, watching as Rainbow Dash got to her hooves and turned towards the screams, watching as everypony else moved to investigate as well. "I'm gonna go check it out, you girls wait here!" Rainbow shouted, taking to the air and moving off in the direction in which the screams originated from.

"Oh do be careful Rainbow!" Rarity called after her, a worried expression passing over her.

Twilight sighed, smiling as she shook her head "Alright now, let's just calm down. I'm sure everything's fine! Rainbow will be back any-"

"RUN!!! RUN AWAY!!!"

Came the shrill shrieks of a chocolate colored mare, her side and face streaked with blood as she came bolting out of the woods. Twilight and the others blinked in surprise as they saw her trip, landing face first in the dirt. It wasn't her tumble that drew shuddering gasps from everypony in the park...but rather...her appearence. She was absolutely covered in blood, three sets of visible claw marks buried in her skin, each mark bleeding profusely. Her ear leaked with blood as well, including her eyes which looked to be darkening themselves. Even her mane and tail were soaked with blood. She twitched and flailed about from her spot on the ground, retching and spitting up globs of thick saliva as many ponies rushed to her aid. Rainbow Dash dropped from the sky, her eyes growing wide as blood started to leak from the chocolate mare's mouth, her body unresponsive to the touches of two mares trying to help her up, her ears not hearing the frantic cries being shouted towards them

"Dear, are you ok!?"

"What happened?! What did this to you?!"

"Is there an animal in there?! Who else was screaming!?"

The fallen mare didn't respond though...only growl. Growl...with a ferocity that nopony could have ever dreamed of hearing before. The mare's breathing was raspy, as if her lungs had been savagely burned and had turned her expelled air into burning ash. The mares helping her up gasped, suddenly backing away as the wounded one gave a violent lurch, ripping herself free from their hold. Twilight could only stutter and whimper as she watched the mare's eyes change...watch as the pearly whites of those once majestic orbs darken and seep with the color of sticky blood, with only a small outline of white running around the edge. Her iris shrank in size as she wheezed and hissed for air, the eye turning...and staring right at Twilight herself.

A mare, apparently a friend of the bloodied one, gently whispered "C...Coco? Honey are you ok?" The mare, Coco, turned her head sharply towards the mare who spoke, her lungs heaving for air and her drool of blood spittering down her chin and neck. Before anypony could blink...before anypony could breathe...Coco lunged upon her friend, knocking her down to the ground and proceeding to savagely beat her with hammering hooves. The mare screamed for help as the other ponies turned tail and fled, screaming as another mare and a colt with similar appearances to Coco came bursting out of the treeline, sprinting with immense speed towards the fleeing crowd.

"Sweet Celestia!" Hollered Applejack, "There's...there's somethin' wrong with em'!"

"Come on, we need to get out of here!" screamed Pinkie, drawing her and her friends to quickly discard their picnic and join the rest of the fleeing ponies back towards town. The only one who stopped...the only pony who dared to stop and look back...was Twilight.

She stared in horror as two of the bloody ponies ganged up on the poor, helpless mare, her cries weakening as the hooves of her assailants brutally stomped and bashed her once beautiful face in. The third, the colt, had managed to catch up to and pounce upon one of the fleeing mares, her wails intensifying as the colt bit down on the back of her neck, ripping at her skin and flesh. A sudden cry had the colt looking up, his bloody eyes watching another mare fleeing and running around the corner of a building. With a quick kick of his hooves, the colt dashed forward, chasing the mare and leaving a spasming mare on the ground.

Twilight felt tears trickle from her eyes as the mare shrieked "I'M ON FIRE!!!! I'M ON FIRE!!! MAMMA!!! MA...MA...HNNNNNG...A....NAAAAAARR!!!!" Her cries quickly turned to savage growls and wheezes as she rapidly rolled on her side, getting up to her hooves and staring towards Twilight. Her eyes were swimming with the color of blood.

No matter how many days passed since then...no matter how many times Twilight remembered the bloodshed and the chaos that followed since then in the streets, or her getting separated from her friends, or the moment when she heard the broadcast across Ponyville that a state of emergency had been declared for their town...telling them to board up their windows and to stay inside. Even after the streets eventually quieted, and ropes were thrown to each house and building in Ponyville, when baskets were hung from these ropes and used to ferry precious supplies from one part of town to the other, along with notes and papers scribbled with the latest rumors and reports, or the day that the news of a wall being built around Ponyville reached the Library, Twilight Sparkle...would never, ever, EVER...forgot those eyes...those beautiful...beautiful...glowing red eyes, and the fear...that tore at her heart.

~*~ Ponyville - Present Day ~*~

Twilight opened her eyes slowly, staring at the darkened ceiling of her Library. She stared for the longest time, not moving, barely breathing...just thinking. Thinking about how all this could have happened...why her? Why Ponyville? There were no answers to be had anymore...there were no reasons. What there was...was death. What there were...were the rules. Rule number one...don't go outside...

"Rule number two...," Twilight whispered quietly to herself as she rolled over and got to her hooves "Use the baskets..." She looked up towards the closed window on the second floor, a small wooden rampart running along the wall of the Library. She knew a basket would be waiting there, just beyond that window. She prayed however, that if she opened it...she wouldn't find anymore of 'them' outside as well. It was bad enough that she had made noise and had drawn attention to herself...she didn't her only supply line compromised as well.

She ascended the stairs with a painful limp to her step, her head still throbbing from the earlier impact of her fall. Quietly she moved across the ramparts, and undid the five locks barring her window shut. With delicate hooves, she opened the window up a tiny crack, darkness meeting her eyes. It was nighttime outside, the cool air gently fanning at her messy mane and her weary eyes. Just as she predicted, a straw basket hung from the rope and pulley just outside her window, a bushel of apples and a note resting in its comforting hold. She brought the basket in quietly and tipped the contents into a small bin sitting near the window, putting the basket back outside and on the pulley. After she ran the basket back towards the house across the street, she picked up the note and squinted her eyes, picking up the words despite the darkness and reading.

Dearest Twilight,

...How are you darling? I hope everything is ok on your end...things are alright here. Spikey Wikey is doing his best to keep all our spirits up...despite what happened earlier. Do not be alarmed, do not panic...but, we had a small incident earlier today. We tried our best but...I'm afraid one of our guests just couldn't take being cooped up anymore. Junebug...went outside Twilight.

Please...enjoy your apples.

- Rarity

Twilight felt tears glimmer in her eyes...but kept her same emotionless expression. She dropped the note in the bin and picked it up carefully with balanced teeth and hooves, placing it firmly on her back. With delicate balance, she moved back towards the stairs, being EXTRA careful not to have another fall. As she walked towards her kitchen, she thought about Junebug...remember how she apologized for Spike on his birthday when he tried to get her to fork over the flowers she had been picking. She even remembered when they had talked that one day about wildflowers when the flower mare came to check out a book about gardening...the same book Twilight had read only the previous night in her closet.

She kept Junebug close to her heart and mind as she placed the bin on the kitchen table...

She kept her along with the other ponies there in the comfort of her mind...remembering the good times.

The times before the incident...the times that she could only remember now as a thing of a past...and no longer the future...

A memory.

Filly

Rule #3: Don't use Magic or Fly

"Princess?" squeaked Twilight, her tiny lavender hooves making soft patting noises against the carpet of her mentor's room.

Princess Celestia giggled, watching the little filly run about and play with her smartypants doll. "Yes my faithful student?" she whispered, smiling warmly and watching over her like a loving mother would her own.

Twilight stopped suddenly...her expression growing into one of despair...her body rapidly growing to a full adult mare's. Her mane grew to its original length, growing twisted and tangled in its unkempt appearance. Her eyes darkened, and the right scar on her cheek reappeared. She stood before Celestia, a pleading look in her eye as she whispered "Why...why did you abandon us...abandon me?!"

Celestia merely giggled, looking towards the now grown Twilight with a sinister look in her eye and whispering back...

"I never abandoned you..."

Twilight sat up quickly, her chest once more heaving for air and expelling the chilly air of the morning. Yet another nightmare...although could she really classify it as one? There was no scary monster...no blood...not even Junebug, who she thought for sure would invade her mind this night, remembering how it was her who had died only earlier that day. There was only...Celestia, and the single most agonizing question in existing. Why did she abandon them? Twilight didn't want to do it...and struggle for many days she did until she finally had to force herself to come to the realization that Princess Celestia was no longer her mentor....she was an enemy. She was against Twilight...and Twilight was against her. The thought poisoned her in the early months, her logic and love struggling to combat one another. She just couldn't believe Celestia would be capable of such...such negligence! But low and behold...an Anti-Teleportation shield around Ponyville. Unicorns were very powerful, and very capable of large scale magic...but NEVER had she heard of Unicorn's being able to stretch their magic across an ENTIRE town like Ponyville! Only two things were capable of such magic...the entirely combined effort of Celestia's court mages (whom she disbanded some five years ago...), or Celestia herself. At first Twilight figured perhaps the Court Mages were behind the incident...maybe trying to get back at Celestia for them losing their jobs. But if that was the case...couldn't Celestia easily overpower their magic? If she couldn't, Luna would even throw in her powers to aid her. Ponyville wouldn't have been LEFT like this!

So...what gives?

The unicorn sighed, pushing a hoof against her forehead and rubbing at the base of her horn. The tingling sensations of pleasure moved through her body slowly, but she ignored them. She didn't have the time nor effort for such pleasures anymore...which was ironic considering the only thing Ponyville's residents had at the moment was an abundance of time...but shrug it off she did. She kicked off her blankets and stood, heading towards the bathroom to do her business and moving down into the main area of her library once she had. From her memory...she remembered it to be Wednesday...and she knew what that meant...

With a sigh, she quietly pushed open the door to her basement and began the long, treacherous but careful, descent down into the darkness. The door shut behind her, signaling her that it was alright to light the lantern hanging from a wallhook further down the stairs. Light it she did, with the spare matches located in a small metal compartment on the side of the lantern. She didn't light it with magic...as that too was no longer safe to use. If anypony thought light attracted those outside...they'd be damn surprised when they learned what magic did. It was like opening up the doors to a rehab center and showcasing all the 'po-caine' in the world to the patients inside. Why this was...well she'd get to that in a minute.

Twilight quickly trotted down the steps, her vision now aided by the light of her lantern, and ended up at another door. With a quick push of her hoof she moved in and shut the door behind her, turning to look at the mess that was her basement. Lab equipment was strewn about everywhere, a long, rectangular table taking up the middle of the area, as well as a few chairs. Papers and notes were scattered about and littering the top of a desk and its surrounding floor, each with quickly scrawled words and drawings on their surfaces. The object that caught Twilight's eye, however, was the small projector that rested at one end of the table. She turned her head, staring towards the long string cord that hung from the opposite wall, its white rope connecting to a rolled up projector screen. It was this she pulled after walking over towards it, rolling down the large, white projector screen and moving back along the table. She placed the lantern on a clean spot on the table and put a hoof on the top of the projector, pressing a large red button and watching as the machine whirred to life.

When she first used the projector, she was worried the noise would attract...them...but after several tests and observations, she concluded that her basement was far enough underground that the noise would not be audible to those above. Unless somepony screamed or made hot, bodacious love on her table...

Twilight shook her head, mentally slapping herself while watching the white screen light up. She really had been cooped up for awhile...her once innocent outlook on life now starting to splinter and crumble into pieces. She kept having to remind herself that she was a virgin...that her time was better spent surviving rather then 'growing up'. Who would bother with such things when there's death and madness going on around them?! How could anypony concentrate on doing it?! HOW COULD THEY EVEN STAND TO-

Once more, she mentally slapped herself, staring grimly at the white screen for a moment before she peered into the small cardboard box beside the projector. A well organized case of slides were resting in the comfortable hold of the box, their information eager to be displayed. With a quiet sigh, Twilight carefully picked up the slide labeled #001 and slid it into the projector, her own hoarse voice filling the basement room as her solo-presentation began, the slide displaying a map of Equestria with the town of Ponyville covered by a large, red biohazard symbol.

"What I know as of this day...is that this incident must be biological. A bio-hazardous disease or a weapon, I know not which it could be. The disease must be able to be delivered cross-species, as Subject 01...Coco, was seen having long, serrated claw marks adorning her body, counting three in a series. I can only assume that the original 'Infectee' was some kind of wild animal...but where it contracted this disease, I know not. I have studied loads and loads of Canterlot's history concerning military and other various branches...but nowhere have I found information concerning Biological Warfare. This leads me to believe that whatever this is...either Celestia did not know about it or she personally funded this 'under the table' project herself. My only theory is that whatever attacked Coco escaped from containment...though from where I don't know. Possibly somewhere near Ponyville? I don't know if other towns have been hit by this animal...or if Canterlot itself has been hit, so I can't go into much detail about that...hell I don't even know where the disease could have even come from."

Twilight grimaced, pushing in the next slide which displayed a picture of one of 'The Afflicted', as she had taken to calling them. She'll never forget the day she got that picture...how stupid she had been. She shook her head, going on in her presentation. "The subjects themselves are as interesting as they are lethal in nature...and I believe I have narrowed down the diseases effects and timetable due to careful...and risky...observation. Ahem..."

She pulled up a small clipboard with various notes attached to it from her table, reading them off carefully.

"Disease Timetable, after over twenty observations and carefully documented study, disease has been known to work in a time of 10 seconds to two minutes tops, with the final outcome being that of an insane, blood-crazed killing machine. The disease has been noted to be carried in the subject's bodily fluids, blood, saliva, possibly semen...I'd hope not. Transfusion of any fluids to a non-infected species will almost guarantee infection unless it is delivered via a limb and not the torso, neck, or head areas."

Twilight gulped, reading off the next line with apprehension,

"If disease is delivered through the legs or hooves...subject will have a 45% chance of eliminating the threat of infection by immediately severing the afflicted appendage from their body, thus stopping the spread. Although not recommended, this is the only known 'cure' against Infection. No other known vaccines or cures are available as I do not have the current equipment...nor the sheer bravery...to go out and secure one of The Afflicted and study its blood."

She put down her clipboard, slipping in another slide which showed another Afflicted pony, a colt, with some white circles highlighting various parts and areas of its body. Twilight cleared her throat again before going on "The symptoms are relatively easy to spot, and almost immediately begin to show upon first contact with the infection. Subjects scream or often show the feeling that they are 'burning' from the inside out, which leads me to believe this infection is a strain of some kind of devilish fever. It burns them from the inside out, possibly harming or damaging the lungs in the process which would explain their raspy, growl-like breathing. Subject's eyes also begin to change in color, morphing into the color of blood which also leads to their eyes bleeding, along with their ears, and in some cases, their mouths. I don't know the specifics of what the disease does to the rest of the body, only that it somehow effects the brain into emitting a sort of self-preservation mode. Those afflicted see EVERYTHING not infected as a guaranteed threat against their lives, and they will act accordingly to eliminate it by any means possible. This also explains their loving of light and hating of dark, as many primitive species in early history were known to be afraid of the dark...afraid of the unknown and what lurked out in the darkness. It's sad, really..."

Twilight stopped, looking down towards the floor as she muttered "It makes me feel like they aren't monsters at all...just...sick ponies trying to survive like we are. They're afraid of the dark like we are in the early years of our lives...and we come to feel safe in the light. My only theory as to its effects are that the disease either deteriorates the brain into a primitive state, or alters it. I don't know why subjects bleed from their eyes, or why their glands produce three times more saliva which they constantly spit or dribble. My theory to THAT is that perhaps the disease could also be some sort of parasite, with the idea that it needs to spread in order to survive, thus explaining the easy transfusion of fluids from one subject to another...it would also explain why the colt that bit that mare's neck simply left her there to pursue another target. The disease...parasite...virus, whatever...is smart, in a way. It targets anything not infected...or...does it?"

She frowned, putting a hoof to her chin as she thought for a moment. Did it really target EVERYTHING non infected? She had seen squirrels, birds, even a few dogs around Ponyville since the incident began...and none of them were infected, none of them showed any symptoms of disease. "Odd...," she muttered "Perhaps the disease is selective in species...only targeting ponies...but again that would also debunk the cross-species theory as Coco contracted it via a clawing animal.......or did she? Perhaps the claw marks were from an animal attacking her out of fear or defense because it saw her being attacked by one of The Afflicted...and acted out of instinct! Perhaps that could be it!"

Twilight smiled at this, finally believing she had gotten at least another lead as to what this disease could be and its origins. Her smile quickly faded however as she changed slides yet again, a list of other facts about the disease glimmering on the projector screen. "In summary, Magic draws in The Afflicted for some reason...I have yet to pinpoint why...and another unfortunate development that I have seen in the first month..." she took a deep breath, sighing sadly as she went on "I have to...unfortunately...classify this disease as 'Airborne' now considering it is transferable to ALL types of ponies, including Pegasus Class. Flying Afflicted have been known to stay to the ground until they spot prey in the air, which they will chase relentlessly until they either lose the target or kill it, same with Earth and Unicorn ponies. Fortunately...the Unicorn based Afflicted have not the ability to use their magic, as it requires an extensive amount of concentration and the disease rids them of this, driving them to base instincts as I have previously mentioned."

She glared up at the screen as she produced a picture of the wall surrounding Ponyville, and the greyish aura that surrounded the very outside of it. "This...," began Twilight "Is our cage, a simple wall surrounding Ponyville that prevents the escape of the uninfected as well as The Afflicted Earth and Unicorn Class. I have learned the Anti-Teleportation spell surrounding the spell also works as a physical barrier as well, trapping The Afflicted Pegasus Class in here with us like some sick, twisted bird cage. The wall extends to Sweet Apple Acres and back, but leaves out Fluttershy's cottage...which to me seems like pure dumb luck at this point." She let out a heavy sigh, pulling out the slide and pushing it back into its place in the box. She shut off the projector and sat still as the basement dimmed and the air become eerily quiet once again. The lantern flickered as Twilight stared depressingly at her hooves, muttering as she sat there "That's all I know...as of right now. I don't know how Applejack's alive, unless she's somehow a carrier, immune, or a natural at killing anything coming within a twenty foot radius of her. I don't know how Celestia thought it'd be a good idea to let this happen, and to sit on her fat, white flank and let the rest of us die. I know The Afflicted have the mental capacity to eat grass and keep themselves fed, which eliminates my 'Waiting until they starve' idea. And I also know...th...that..."

She felt tears swim in her eyes as she bowed her head and sniffed, a sob slipping out through her lips as she whimpered "We're fucked...we're all fucked..." If anypony had heard this, they'd be utterly shocked to hear Twilight swear for the very first time in her life. The lavender mare pushed her hooves against her eyes and let herself cry for a few minutes, her tears silently dripping down her cheeks and hooves. "C...calm down Twilight...ke...keep it together!" She growled at herself, stuttering as she started to get over her crying fit.

Just as her tears dried...she heard it. The noise that for some reason...made her get to her hooves and dash up the basement stairs. Perhaps it was that she was finally tired of all the bullshit...tired of all the death and blood. Maybe she was finally losing it...giving in to her primal animal instincts, or in this case...motherly. She dashed up the stairs, rushing towards the emergency window located on the left wall of her library. This window has been prepared for emergencies, the most obvious one being that she was attacked. But this...this would not serve as an escape today...it would serve as a lifeboat...a port in the storm.

She heard the cries of a filly.

She rushed over to the window, pulling off the three loose boards that held the window snug in place, and pushed the dirty glass outwards. She hissed slightly and squinted her eyes as the sudden intrusion of light, but she didn't give a shit anymore. She was TIRED of this! Tired of all the pain, all the death, all the thoughts of hopelessness and helplessness she felt because she was too scared and too cowardly to go out and try and make a difference! She couldn't tell if she was sane or not anymore, but it didn't matter. ANYTHING was better then just sitting cooped up in her library and reviewing the same damn thing over and over again each week, doing the same maddening thing every single day. With a push of her back hooves and an extending of her front ones, Twilight Sparkle met the day full-on with a look of rage and determination across her face.

Twilight Sparkle...went outside.

She panted as she hit the dirt of the outside, adrenaline starting to take hold. She was outside, OUTSIDE! She broke the first rule!!! She quickly darted her eyes and head around, checking for any of The Afflicted before quickly diving into a bush, listening as the sounds of a screaming filly echoed from down the street. She didn't know if that filly was being carved up or not...but she came this far...she wasn't going back in that Library empty-hooved. She carefully scanned her surrounding area, spotting nothing and nopony, and picked out an alleyway that rested across the street. She sucked in a breath...counted to three...and bolted. She flew with the speed of Applejack as she quickly looked up and down the street...spotting one of The Afflicted WAY down the way past her Library, its back turned to her, thank...Luna. She dove into the alleyway, slipping into the darkness where she knew she was safe and taking in a deep breath, her heart thudding like a wild jackhammer.

She peeked around the corner and gasped as she looked upon the small market square that rested further up the street. There were a few ruined kiosks, some overturned, some littered with the skeletons of ponies...and just one...with a crying, screaming cyan colored Pegasus filly sitting on the roof, wailing as three of The Afflicted swiped at her with deadly hooves and snarled at her. One of the monsters took a moment to double over, vomiting an excess of blood and spit onto the ground before rearing back up and snarling at the filly. "Another development..." whispered a wide-eyed Twilight, her brain still semi-latched onto her research "Subject's appear to be expelling their diseased blood and saliva...whether or not its the body's immune system or just the disease hoping to turn its deadly effects into a projectile weapon...I don't know."

She shook her head quickly, diminishing the thought and thinking about her next move. She peered over towards the filly, seeing how she had her eyes locked on the blood red ones of the monsters below her. "I have to get her attention..." whispered Twilight, her head turning back into the dark alley way. She spotted a small, loose board laying in the alleyway and gulped. Risky...but it'd work. Picking up the board with delicate hooves, she chucked the board from around the corner and watched as it sailed up the street, landing a good distance behind The Afflicted. The bloody ponies didn't seem to notice...their eyes still focused on the filly above...but the filly noticed. Her eyes shot upwards as she saw the board, her direction of sight traveling upwards until she saw a waving lavender hoof from an alleyway. She gasped, watching as the unicorn mare put a hoof over her lips as if to say 'Ssshhh!'. She then made a down motion with her hooves, as if to say 'Get down, don't move!'

The filly nodded, curling up on top of the Kiosk and making herself as tiny as possible. From the alleyway, Twilight shuddered and shook, the sheer lunacy of her soon to be actions making her quiver in fear "A..alright Twilight...time to dance with death..." She took in a few heaving breaths and launched herself from the alleyway, hollering towards The Afflicted "OI! FUCKASSES!" The Afflicted snarled, the three ponies snapping their heads towards the sound of her voice and locking their eyes on hers. "Oh shit..." Twilight whispered, watching as the three launched away from the kiosk and came tearing down the street. Twilight turned and bolted down a side street, planning on making a large loop around the market square. She only prayed she didn't run into anymore of them. The three Afflicted screeched as they turned the corner, catching sight of the retreating Lavender mare and giving chase. Twilight cut to the left, passing down a sunlit alleyway and turning her head to look back for only a moment, watching as the three Afflicted entered the alley with her. She let out a panicked squeal, cutting to the right and into a darkened alleyway. She breathed in relief as she heard the panicked cries behind her, knowing The Afflicted would take a moment to get over their fear of the dark before pursuing her.

After all...they'd still pursue a breathing, uninfected target into the dark if they had to.

Twilight made a quick turn to the left, a downed kiosk coming into view. She had made it back! Her cause for celebration didn't last long however...she knew that with all the noise The Afflicted had been making...they might as well have been ringing the dinner bell. With quick hooves, Twilight burst out into the market square and dashed up to the kiosk harboring the filly. "Hey! Hey down here!" she whispered loudly, watching as the filly raised her head and sniffed "Jump! I'll catch you! Hurry before they come back!" The filly looked apprehensive at first, but seeing as their really was no other way...she nodded and got to her tiny hooves, jumping from her port in the storm and landing on Twilight's back. "You got a firm grip?" Twilight asked the filly, turning her head back forward as the filly nodded at her question "Alright...here we go, hang on tight and don't make any noise!"

The unicorn quickly dashed down the street, her Library coming into view. She sucked in a breath as she saw The Afflicted pony down the street, the one she saw earlier, turn its head...staring right at her. The effect was almost immediate, with the crazed pony turning its body and beginning its sprinting gallop towards her. She poured as much speed as she could into her legs as possible, dashing towards the open window in her Library. She reached it fairly quickly, arching up her back so the filly could jump through, which she did after ordered to by Twilight. After her tiny form slipped into the darkness, Twilight put her front hooves up onto the sill and heaved herself in, landing on the wood floor with a thud and a slight groan. She wasted no time however, springing to her hooves and shutting the window behind her as quickly but as quietly as possible. She replaced the three barrier boards blocking the window and fell to her haunches, her lungs aching and begging for air which she tried to deliver as quietly and as calmly as possible.

The filly looked up from her spot on the floor, watching as Twilight pushed her back up against the wall...and stared down at the floor with wide eyes. The filly took a few careful steps towards Twilight, blinking at her for a moment...before gently walking up and sitting between Twilight's extended rear hooves. The filly and Twilight watched each other for a moment until suddenly...the filly gave Twilight a big hug...as big as she could make it. Twilight sighed in relief, gently hugging the filly back with shaking hooves and whispering that she was safe...that they were both safe...whispering as the thundering sounds of galloping tore their way past her Library...The Afflicted still on the hunt for her.

She had saved her...an innocent pony

A pony who deserved a future after all this bloodshed...all the chaos...

A little one who didn't deserve all of this madness...

A filly.

Haven

Rule #4: Beware the Galloping.

"There was no way we could have known..."
"We don't fully understand it...how could we have known...?"
"Stay back! Stay away, I'm...I'm burning! I'M BURNING!!!"
"How does anypony prepare for this? How would you?"
"There's some things in this world that I am afraid of...and I'm afraid of this"
"Where we're going...there's not going to be any comfort...no mercy..."
"Honey...? Sweetie...listen to me...don't....go...outside."

"I love you Twilight..."

Twilight sat up once more in her bed, the familiar coat of sweat glistening on her fur and the all too familiar feeling of being out of breath tearing at her dry lungs. She pushed her front hooves to her eyes and shivered, the nightmare finally dissipating from the agitated confines of her mind. They were just random flashes this time...rapid images of ponies and places she had never seen or ever visited. The last image she had seen lasted the longest...the image of her mother.

Twilight was hiding under her bed back in Canterlot...staring at her mother's tear streaked face as something dragged her out from their hiding space. A monstrous screech rang in Twilight's ears before the blankets of the bed were ripped from their position, exposing to her the view of her room that she had lived in when she was a filly. It was only a few moments after this that her father, eyes gleaming with the color of blood, peered under the bed and let out a murderous screech, extending a hoof towards Twilight and swiping. Whether or not the hit connected...Twilight didn't know, for she awoke just as the hoof drew near.

She let out a shuddering sigh, lowering her hooves from her eyes and staring towards her boarded up bedroom window. The darkness of the night greeted Twilight through the cracks of the boards like an old friend, giving her the false sense of security that the danger of the outside was minimal at the current moment. She grimaced slightly, staring towards the window for a few more moments before letting out a tiny squeak...feeling the movements of something next to her. She whipped her head to the right, her eyes wide and afraid for a moment before catching sight of the little cyan filly curled up next to her. Twilight's heart was thudding, her mind still not used to the fact that she was no longer alone in her Library anymore. She looked over the little one's sleeping form, watching as her tiny chest rose and fell with calm, painless breaths.

How she did it...sleep without nightmares or fear...Twilight would never know or understand. How could she sleep so peacefully with the town in the state it was in? She was cowering on the top of a kiosk, being swiped at by three of The Afflicted for Luna's sake! It was these questions that drew Twilight to frown, staring at the filly's purple colored mane and the flecks of black that tipped her tail. She hadn't gotten a chance to really question the little one, ask her her name, ask where her parents were or what she was doing outside in the middle of the day. When the filly gave her the hug she did yesterday...she had been too exhausted to talk or stay awake, and promptly passed out in Twilight's hold.

Not that Twilight could complain...she was pretty tuckered out herself from the suicidal run she had just taken to save the filly's life. Oh she hope no one across the street saw her do that...the notes she'd receive would almost certainly haunt her for days. Speaking of...

Twilight made her way out of the bed as quietly and gently as possible, as to not wake up the sleeping filly, draped a purple blanket over her cold flank and walked across the ramparts of the second floor towards the basket window. She undid the locks holding the window in place and as she opened it...she sucked in a breath and ducked. One of The Afflicted was outside...looking out frantically with a panicked look on its face. Twilight slowly and carefully raised her head and peeked out the window, watching with terrified expression as another Afflicted made its way out of an alley nearby, hissing slightly and turning its head towards some distant building further down the street. The two grunted and hissed at one another before they both tore down the street, running with a speed that would scare even Applejack.

She watched as they dissipated, checking for any other Afflicted nearby before hastily pulling in the basket and dumping the apples in her metal bin. As expected...and much to her dismay...she spotted a note written with heavy, angry scrawl. She sighed, putting the basket back out on the rope system and ferrying it back across, closing the window before she turned her head back down to read the note.

-Twilight SPARKLE! Are you out of your MIND!? How could you go outside like that!? It took all of my strength to hold Spike back and keep him quiet as he watched you run about Ponyville like some lunatic with a death wish! I know your intentions were good...and that you did manage to save that darling little filly, but Twilight please be more sensible next time! I'm not saying you shouldn't have saved her...but what good is heroism if you yourself die? We love you Twilight...you're one of the last sane ponies in this horrid town that we can depend on...please...think of us next time you (Hopefully NOT) decide to venture out...

Also...I don't mean to alarm you but...the monsters have been circling around the area of your Library all day...they only left when the sun went down. Twilight...I think they're looking for you.

Enjoy your apples...

-Rarity-

Twilight sighed, crumbling up the note in her hooves and gently kicking it off the ramparts and towards the floor down below. Of course they were looking for her...damn it all if she didn't think about the consequences. She knew they weren't very organized...but they were prone to navigating the same sections of an area in specific patterns if something or somepony 'kicked the hornet's nest', as Twilight did by going outside. She knew they weren't smart enough to narrow down her path of flight and pinpoint where she finally escaped to....right? Her heart skipped a beat as she lifted her head up, her eyes widening and her brain firing up with worry and concern.

She never had tested the full intelligence of The Afflicted, how could she assume!? She knew they responded to sound and traveled in packs most of the time. They were smart enough to hold and wield weapons...although that seemed to be highly difficult for them for some reason, most of the time deciding to go without. But could they really narrow down the possibilities...? Could they actually figure out that she had escaped to the Library? None of them saw her enter her refuge...for if they had Twilight would have already been dead, or worse...one of them. With that worry out of the way, Twilight quietly made her way down to the ground floor, beginning her circular pace around the center statue that rested in the middle of the Library. For the next hour, Twilight would walk...thinking and pondering...going through every logical possibility and scenario that would drive The Afflicted to track her to the Library.

It wasn't until she heard the soft padding of hooves on the stairwell that she stopped, turning her head to look at the cyan filly who was now awake and walking down towards the ground floor. Their eyes remained locked on each others, a small frown on both of their faces. The filly walked across the floor, standing in front of Twilight and looking up at her with a wide-eyed expression. Twilight stared back, the same expression etched upon her face as well. It had to have been a good ten minutes...the two of them standing and observing one another...taking in their looks, their eyes, their stature and form.

It was Twilight who spoke her first, her voice a light whisper "H...hello there." The filly looked at her for a moment, her frown slightly changing and turning upwards.

Finally, the little filly whispered back "Hi..." Twilight smiled, turning her head towards the basement door and motioning towards it with her hoof.

"It'll be safer to talk down there" she whispered, drawing a nod out of the filly who followed her towards the basement door. Twilight moved through the door and proceeded down the stairs, lighting the lantern on the wall and carrying it down with her teeth. The filly kept close behind her as they emerged into large basement room, her eyes widening as she saw all of the equipment and papers strewn about. "There" Twilight said in a slightly louder voice, placing the lantern down on the table and turning to face the filly "So...what's your name?"

"Catie..." the filly whispered, her voice soft and innocent "Catie Cloud-Mane...what's yours?"

"Twilight Sparkle" Twilight answered, her smile growing a little bigger as she extended a hoof and watched as Catie pushed her tiny hoof against hers "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Catie smiled, nodding as she spoke "Thank you for saving me...I thought that was...ya know...the end..."

Twilight gently dropped to her belly, holding her front hooves out and inviting Catie in for a hug. She spoke as the filly walked into her hooves, hugging her back "Of course little one...nopony deserved to be where you were." Twilight gulped...the curious questions that were waiting at the back of her mind slowly making their way to her lips "Why...were you out there anyway? How'd you survive being outside?"

At this, Catie frowned, backing out of Twilight's hold and sitting on her haunches. The filly looked to be on the verge of tears as she whispered "I was...I was hiding in the sweets shop across town with my mom and dad...we were boarded up inside with the bakery people."

Twilight gasped, whispering as her eyes widened "You mean Sugar Cube Corner?!" The filly nodded slowly as Twilight went on "So Mister and Misses Cake are ok? Did you see a pink pony with them, a mare with a bubbly pink mane and a three balloon cutie-mark?!"

To Twilight's dismay, the filly shook her head and whispered "No...it was just the Cakes. I heard them talking though, when my mom and dad were asleep. They said something about a mare named 'Pinkie Pie' taking their babies away from Ponyville...at least that's what I think they said." Twilight felt her spirits soar as she heard this, her smile widening as she thought about her party friend. Perhaps Pinkie made it! Maybe she made it out before the wall and shield covered the entire town! That, and the Cake's infants were safe!

Her smile faded though as the filly went on "We were ok for awhile...until Mr.Cake accidentally knocked this big pot off the counter..." Twilight shut her eyes and let out a saddened sigh. She knew what happened next... "It was awful...hooves smashed through the boards, everypony was screaming...my mom was pulling at me, trying to get me upstairs. I heard Mrs.Cake scream really loud, which made Mr.Cake scream too. I couldn't see what happened to them because my mom was telling me not to look...telling me to run upstairs." Twilight dipped her head, tears brimming in her eyes as she thought about the terrible fates that had befallen the cakes. She hoped...as grim as it was...that they were dead...and not bound to walk around this hellhole of a town like soulless animals. "Daddy kept screaming to go upstairs, go upstairs! So that's what my mom and I did, we ran into this bedroom and we hit underneath the bed. Mom was trying her best to pull her back hooves underneath the bed...but then I heard a snarling noise...and...he dragged her out. My daddy dragged her out from under the bed and...started hurting her. His face was messed up...his eyes were so...so mean looking..."

Twilight whispered with a shuddering breath "I...I'm so sorry...Catie I'm so sorry!" It was only then that Twilight suddenly realized...Catie was describing her nightmare. She had dreamed about the death of Catie's parents.

"After that..." Catie whispered "I ran towards one of the windows, because nopony had boarded em up...I opened one up and I jumped outside." she paused to take in a breath, looking towards the floor before going on "I remember mom always said 'stay in the dark...they're afraid of the dark, just like you were when you were littler', so I stayed in the dark. I ran through Ponyville until...until one saw me. It chased me into the market where the other two were...and I got scared, I jumped up onto the kiosk where you found me and...well you know the rest."

Twilight scooped up the filly in a tight hug, sitting back on her haunches and holding her close. "Oh you poor thing..." she whispered, rocking her back and forth and letting her tears flow freely.

Catie sniffed, letting her own tears damp Twilight's chest as she whispered "It's ok...I know my mom's in a better place now. I know she's still here...watching over me. I know she'll rest easy knowing you saved me..."

"Of course...of course Catie..." Twilight cried, holding the tiny one tighter and trying her best to keep her sobs quiet. She saved more then just a filly, Twilight thought...she saved a piece of the next generation of Equestria. She rescued the future. Catie was her responsibility now...and she swore to Luna that she wouldn't let the Cake's and her mother's sacrifice be in vain. "I promise..." Twilight whispered "I promise I'll keep you safe. We're going to make it."

Catie smiled, nuzzling her cheek against Twilight's fur and whispering back "I believe you..."

Just as the words finished leaving her lips, a loud thud echoed out from above. Twilight gasped, her eyes darting upwards as another thud rang out from above. "Oh no..." she squeaked, looking down at Catie "Come on, and stay close!" Catie nodded, watching as Twilight turned off the lantern and hurried towards the basement stairs. The ascent was made quickly, with Twilight carefully poking her head out of the basement door and listening with fully perked ears. The thud came from one of the windows along the Library wall...the window Twilight had used to rescue Catie. Her eyes widened as another thud echoed from the wall, from a spot further down the window...and another just near the door. Four more thuds racked at Twilight's brain, adrenaline coursing through her veins...and then all went quiet.

Nothing moved...nothing breathed...and then....Catie whispered "Twilight...?"

...

"NAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!"

A hoof smashed through the escape window, flailing about as the snarling and screeches of an Afflicted rang in Twilight's ears. "Catie RUN! Up the stairs!" Twilight screamed, another set of hooves smashing through the window by the front door. Catie squealed, running up the Library stairs as Twilight ran to the kitchen, illuminating her horn with magic. Magic...the flow of energy that greeted her like an old friend...warming her cold, panicked body with lush heat and power. She had almost forgotten what it had felt like...and with her sanctuary finally discovered...she couldn't care less about magic detection or not anymore. With her horn aglow, she opened her knife drawer, levitating ten different blades of sharp and deadly edges upwards, creating a sort of ring around her. She ran back out into the main floor, watching as an Afflicted stuck its head through the escape window, snarling at her. Twilight narrowed her eyes, aiming her horn forward and launching one of her knives towards her deadly foe. The knife struck home, lodging itself in its red, bloody eye and causing it to fall backwards with a loud 'thud'. She stared towards the open window in terror...seeing more shapes moving just beyond the entrance.

The Afflicted were attacking her....at NIGHT.

A shriek echoed out from above, causing Twilight to look up and shout "Catie!? Catie what's wrong!?"

"Pegasus! PEGASUS!" Is all that Catie screamed back, squealing as the sounds of boards splintering reached her ears. Swearing, Twilight bounded up the Library stairs, taking a moment to launch two knives down towards some Afflicted who were wrenching their way past the boards. She raced upwards, gasping as she saw a Pegasus Afflicted ripping into her bedroom window, the bloody monster entering her room and landing on firm hooves. It let out a guttural snarl and dove at her, hooves extended and a look of rage carved into its face. With a startled cry, Twilight ducked, narrowly missing the hooves of her would-be assailant and watching as it tumbled to the ground. "Catie!" shouted Twilight, catching sight of the filly near her bathroom door "Run for that window along the edge there, hurry!" Catie turned her head, her eyes centering on the window she described, a bin of apples resting on the wooden walkway.

She bounded along the ramparts as Twilight launched another two knives downwards, catching two Afflicted on the stairs and causing them to roll backwards into a third, sending them all to the ground.

"Twilight!!!" Catie shrieked "What do I do!?"

"The rope! Wheel the basket over here!" Twilight shouted back, twirling the five knives she had left around her. She watched as The Afflicted continued to push their way into her library, her heart thudding a mile a minute. The thought of her having killed another, living creature (A pony even) had started to sink in, her stomach giving nigh unbearable heaves.

"Got it!" is what Twilight heard in her ears, the familiar voice of Catie calling out to her as the three afflicted that had wrenched their way in made for the stairs, their glowing eyes focused on Twilight. As if on instinct, two knives launched their way into the chests of the two Afflicted in front, downing them and temporarily halting the advancement of the third...the one that brought tears to Twilight's eyes...

"Junebug..."Twilight wept, staring towards the blood-soaked fur and face of the mare they called Junebug. Her red eyes were shining in the darkness, her snarls and raspy wheezes filling the air. Her body was adorned with long slash marks and punctures...the results of the Afflicted attacking her, but not doing enough damage to kill her. "I'm so sorry..." Twilight whispered, a knife snapping forward and turning towards Junebug "I'm so sorry this happened to you..." she closed her eyes as the knife sailed forward, catching Junebug straight in the chest...right through the heart that used to be filled with love and tender kindness...replaced by madness and rage. She refused to watch her body fall, but she did listen to its lifeless impact as it struck the hard wood floor of her Library.

She opened her eyes after a moment, her eyes flicking towards the basement door and her horn gleaming with magic. After a few tense seconds, the lantern from the basement floated through the door, covered with the magenta aura of Twilight's magic. She gently set it in the middle of the floor and rushed to where a panicked looking Catie waited. "Shield your eyes sweetie!" Twilight shouted, igniting the lantern once more with magic. Catie buried her face in Twilight's fur as the unicorn looked away, her eyes clenched tight. There was a soft click...and then...light.

The Afflicted shrieked as the lantern exploded with an intense light, firing off like a flashbang. A thunderous 'KA-BOOM!' echoed through the Library, with Twilight wasting no time in hoisting Catie up with her magic and placing her on her back. She hoisted herself up and through the window, doing her best to balance herself as she draped herself over the basket. She dissipated her magic, letting the knives fall away to the ground below, once again taking on the guise of stealth. She didn't want them to detect her magic...not anymore. Once The Afflicted found them gone, the Library abandoned, they'd move on...or so she hoped. She took a moment to close the window behind her before she reached up with her front hooves and began their treacherous journey across the basket system.

Below, there had to be at least more then fifty Afflicted, all of them surrounding the Library. Many were still trying to get into the library, while many others rubbed at their eyes, still partially blinded from Twilight's flashbang. She made slow, careful movements, the basket swaying in the wind as they slowly crossed the street. Catie clutched onto Twilight, hanging on for dear life as she stared, terrified, at the masses running about below.

"Luna..." Twilight prayed in her mind, "Please...if you are still out there, please don't let them look up...don't let them look up! Luna I beg of you, please! Show me mercy! Show me mercy please! Don't...let...them...look...UP! Please, for Catie, protect us both with your guidance!"

One careful movement after another...a tug...a pull...a reach, a tug...a pull...a reach, over and over until the window of the building across the street rested no more then five feet away. After two more heaves, the basket came to a rest in front of the window. As their journey came to an end...Twilight could hear the faint sound of wood moving on wood. She had to repress her wanting to gasp as the window slowly started to open up, and two large hooves gently reach their way out. Catie looked down at Twilight with a terrified expression on her face, to which Twilight nodded, reassuring her that everything was ok. Catie looked up, stretching out her two front hooves and being swiftly picked up by the large hooves. She was pulled into the darkness, and for a moment Twilight was left outside to hang from the basket. She took this moment to look out amongst the darkened town, her thoughts racing a mile a minute, trying to come up with some logical reasoning as to why they struck at night.

Her train of thought was broken however, as the large hooves once again emerged out towards Twilight, to which the lavender mare pushed herself into. She felt them wrap around her middle, and drag her into the pitch-blackness of the building. She was held tight as the soft sounds of hoof-steps pattered around her, the window shutting behind her quietly. "Tell me..." she whispered, tears flowing from her eyes "Tell me we're ok...tell me I'm ok. Tell me Catie's safe...tell me I'm safe..." She was squeezed tighter, with two mores sets of hooves settling themselves on her, along with hooves she recognized as Catie's.

"Did we make it...?" Twilight whispered, shaking from the sudden loss of adrenaline.

.... "Eeyup...ya'll made it."

She had defied the odds...and escaped.

She had braved the deadly river of death that swarmed beneath her...and saved them both.

She sailed them both to a port in the storm...a refuge of hope...a fortress of comfort.

A Haven.

Storm

Rule #5: Only eat Apples

"Sometimes...we may think we know the answers to everything...that we've solved all the variables...

But we're really quite stupid when it comes to knowledge in the long run...

I guess what some ponies don't understand is that...sometimes the truth is too much to handle...

Yet we go looking for it anyway...like some dumb, ignorant animal scavenging for food.

....Maddening...isn't it?"

-Starswirl the Bearded

~*~

For a length of time unknown, Twilight slept more peacefully then she had in ages. Sleep and warmth wafted over her, cradling her, cooing to her, nuzzling and hugging her as the world went on without her. No nightmares plagued her this night, none since she fell asleep in the cradling hooves of a pony she could only assume was Big Macintosh. All it took was for him to say that she and Catie were safe, and the sleep came.

She still couldn't believe it, the more she thought about it. She had ferried herself and the young filly across a street of Afflicted....Afflicted that by the rule's standards shouldn't have even BEEN there in the first place. They were active, they were mobile, and they were attacking...at night. What's worse is that they even narrowed down Twilight's method of escape...they had tracked her from the market to the Library. And if they tracked her to the Library...then...

Twilight sat up quickly, her eyes snapping open and her head looking around in every direction. Racks of wine and cider bottles lined two of the walls, with a few sets of tools and a wheel barrow lining another. All around, crates and boxes were stacked up near a staircase leading upwards, and from the musty smell, Twilight could only assume she was in some kind of cellar or basement, her bed being an old sort of table. A dimly lit lantern sat upon a small nightstand to her left, gently flickering light across her lavender fur.

Panic had started to set in for the weary Unicorn, her heart thudding as the possibility of danger flooded her mind. If they tracked her escape to the Library, they could most certainly track her escape to the house across the street. She hopped off the table and quickly made her way to the stairs, praying to Luna that everything was still ok, that Catie was safe as well as her friends. Just as her hoof hit the first step however...the door at the top of the staircase opened. Twilight let out a tiny gasp and quickly hid behind the stairs, holding her breath as she heard the small pattering of hooves above her head.

She heard a creak just above her horn, and her breath caught. Whatever was descending the staircase...had stopped. The next few seconds were utterly maddening for Twilight, her heart pounding and her heartbeat thudding in her ears. There was a few more awkward moments of silence until...

"Oh really, where could she have gone? It's probably all this dreadful cellar air...I told Macintosh that the bedroom was more suited for a lady...not this drafty (and not to mention dirty...) little cellar. Ugh, how barbaric!"

Twilight had to suppress her urge to scream in joy, scrambling out from under the stairs and gasping out "Rarity!"

Rarity looked as she always had, but her mane seemed to be in a bit of an unkempt state like Twilight's, and a long white bandage covered her side. The diva let out a little squeak of fright as Twilight emerged from her hiding place, her voice that of a scolding manner "Oh Twilight please! Do you really think this is the time for hide and seek!? I think all that loneliness was really starting to drive you insane!"

Twilight wept tears of joy as she threw her front hooves around Rarity and squeezed her into a tight hug. "R..Rarity!" Twilight whimpered, sobbing into her neck "Thank Luna...oh thank the stars you're ok!"

Rarity smiled, giving her friend a gentle hug back and running a hoof up and down her spine "Of course dear, we're all ok. Macintosh cut the rope with your basket on it after those dreadful monsters left. You had us all in a fright, Spike most of all...I can't even begin to describe what we all felt when we saw them crashing into your Library and heard you and the little one's screams..."

"I know..." Twilight whispered, her sobs quieting after a moment "I know and I'm so sorry...I shouldn't have gone outside...but Rarity she's just a filly. She was attacked and she didn't have a choice!"

Rarity nodded slightly, pulling back to look her weeping friend in the eye "I know darling...there's nothing to apologize for. I would have done the same were it Sweetie Belle out there..." She felt tears well up in her eyes at the mention of her sister's name. "Sweetie...oh I hope she's ok..."

Twilight smiled, putting a reassuring hoof on Rarity's shoulder and whispering "She will be...she's got Fluttershy and the other Crusader's with her."

"Oh Twilight," whimpered Rarity, a tear rolling down her cheek "Can you imagine if I hadn't allowed Sweetie Belle to go to that slumber party? If I had made her stay and clean her room like I told her countless times to do..."

Twilight shook her head, giving her friend another hug and whispering "No...no I can't imagine, and I think it's best if we don't. What you should think about and be grateful for is that you did let her go...and she's safe because of it."

The diva nodded as Twilight pulled away, motion upwards with her head "I suppose you'll want to get out of this dreadful little cellar...I know I would." With a quick nod from Twilight, the two of them begun to make their way up the stairs. "You'll be pleased to know" Rarity whispered, in a noticeably quieter voice, "That we're all still here. Big Macintosh is here, as is Carrot Top, Spike to...who snuck down here to see you. Had to pull the poor dear off of you after her fell asleep on your belly. Catie's been fine as well...always asks if you're ok."

"How long have I been asleep?" Twilight whispered, the two of them reaching the top of the staircase.

Rarity turned her head back a moment, staring at Twilight with a half worried look on her face "Um...two days, actually..."

Twilight blinked in surprise, her voice one of disbelief "Two...days?" Rarity nodded, her eyes filling with a look of guilt which forced her to look away. "Well...what's wrong? I've slept for days before...back when I did some power-studying."

"I know that Twilight...it's just...well you were running a fever and...well...we thought that-" Rarity whimpered, unable to look at Twilight.

"That I was infected..." Twilight whispered, a frown passing over her face.

"Well...sort of," Answered Rarity, a sullen frown forming on her own face "I've checked on you constantly though...because I know the symptoms and such. I knew you weren't one of them after a good ten minutes had passed, but still Macintosh kept you in the basement. You were tossing and turning so much...he thought you might roll off a bed and make noise that would...you know..."

Twilight sighed, a small smile creeping up on her face "I understand. It makes sense....thank you Rarity."

"Of course dear" Rarity returned, smiling as well as she pushed open the cellar door quietly with a hoof and stepped up into the house. Twilight followed close behind, looking around and taking in her surroundings. The first floor of the house looked to be one of classical decor, with artistically designed wooden cabinets and chairs in the living room. Pictures that hung on the walls showed the same mare, in different stages of her life or settings. Some featured her standing with trophies or ribbons, while others displayed her playing her Cello with perfect stature, a close-eyed, calm expression on her face. Her grey coat seemed to gleam as she posed for her pictures, her purple treble-clef of a cutie mark displayed perfectly for the shot. "I heard she got out..." Rarity whispered, breaking Twilight's train of thought and causing her to look over at the diva. She was staring at one of the pictures with a sad expression on her face, her hoof running down the glass that held the shot in place "I don't know if her mare-friend made it out...but I believe in hope so...I can only assume she did as well."

Twilight nodded, following Rarity into the living room. Two couches and a few reclining chairs all surrounded an unlit fireplace, a large basket of apples resting on the coffee table in the center. It was here that Twilight had to suppress tears in her eyes...as she caught sight of Spike and Catie sleeping next to one another in a chair. Catie was curled up into a tiny ball, her tiny chest raising and lowering in time with Spike, who rested on his back. Carrot top was curled up in her own chair, cheek pressed up against the cushioned arm rest, drool leaking out of her mouth slightly. The only one awake, was Big Macintosh, his flank resting on one of the couches.

The work horse looked like he had seen better days. His eyes were weary, filled with worry...but determination. Bandages were wrapped around his belly and side, as well as his front right leg. He looked over as his right eye caught side of the two mares, his voice a deep whisper "Miss Sparkle..."

Twilight nodded, walking around Carrot Top's chair and taking a seat on the couch across of Macintosh. She took a moment to get settled before she whispered "Catie sleeping ok? How's Spike been?"

"She's been fine" Macintosh answered, taking a quick look over towards the two little ones "So has Spike. Been mighty worried bout ya Miss Sparkle...took a lot to keep the boy quiet. Have to say it took a bit of restraint to keep me from goin' on over and collectin' ya'll mahself."

"It's alright," Twilight whispered, "I'm just glad you were there to let us in..."

Macintosh shrugged, looking over towards the fireplace "Twern't nothing, yer a friend o' the family Miss Sparkle. It's mah job to make sure ya'll are safe n' sound." Twilight smiled as Macintosh looked back over to her, smiling as well before whispering "Ya still tired?"

"A little...yes." Twilight answered, drawing a nod out of the work horse who watched Rarity hop up into the last empty chair and curl up.

"You go ahead n' get some sleep then. Ah'll wake ya when the morn' comes round." Macintosh spoke, looking back towards the fireplace with a blank expression on his face.

Twilight nodded slowly, her tiredness starting to take hold again. She laid her head back on the soft cushions, and stared up at the ceiling. She stared upwards for a long while...thinking about everything that had transpired over the last two months. What was she supposed to do now? All her research and notes were stuck back in the library! What was she supposed to do from here?! Fade into the same continuous monotony that had nearly driven her bat-shit insane?! What was she supposed to do, what did she expect to happen, how would she-

"Macintosh?" Twilight whispered, looking over towards the stallion who in turn looked back and whispered "Eeyup?"

"Do you have any place in this house that gets any sunlight?"

"....Eeyup."

Sleep was beautiful once again, her mind free of nightmare's and worry. It was like it was almost too good to be true...

And then...there was silence.

Twilight opened her eyes, staring up at what she immediately knew could not be the ceiling of the house she was just in. Instead...the clouds and the blue of the sky met her gaze. She gasped, sitting up and looking around quickly, adrenaline pumping through her veins. "H...Hello!?" she cried, getting to her hooves and looking about the fields she had found herself on. Her head darted to the left and right, taking in the sights of the Everfree Forest in the distance, and the town of Ponyville to her right. The town...her gasp was loud as she beheld the yellowish shield covering the entire town of Ponyville, extending to the right towards what she knew was Sweet Apple Acres. A large stone wall surrounded the entire perimeter...and trapped in the raging fire that billowed and roared inside. Ponyville was burning to the ground.

"RARITY! MACINTOSH!" she cried, galloping towards the fiery town "SPIKE!? CATIE!!!! SOMEPONY!? ANYPONY!!!!"

Her cries started to turn to wails, tears spilling from her eyes. She continued to gallop towards the town until her hoof caught a rock, sending her tumbling forward onto the ground. She wept openly, her hooves covering her eyes and her mind screaming that it couldn't be true...they couldn't all be dead! It wasn't until a savage growl from behind her made her slowly look up and turn her head...her eyes settling on.......

Her coat was soaked in blood...but she could still see the orange...a beautiful, dazzling orange that she had at some times been jealous of. The firm legs...the right front one savagely bitten into. Her stetson was missing...showing off the entirety of her straw-colored hair. And those eyes...the eyes she had often marveled as the perfect color of emerald...were now a gleaming color of rubies.

"Applejack...." Twilight whispered, looking towards her ravaged friend...while Applejack stared right back, a look of rage etched upon her face. "Applejack...it's me....it's Twilight." she whimpered, watching as Applejack pawed at the ground in front of her, saliva and blood spittering from her lips and mouth. Before Twilight could say more, Applejack bounded forward, launching herself at her at a speed that was almost alien. Twilight grunted as Applejack tackled her, and she did not resist. Why should she...? Everypony she knew was dead...and it wasn't like there was help coming anyway. Perhaps the unknown void of death was better then this...better then the pain and misery that made up the remainder of what this world was.

She only winced slightly as Applejack bit into her shoulder, pushing her on her back and tearing her teeth into the unicorn's flesh. Twilight had a calm expression on her face as she stared up into the clouds, hearing the snarling and growling of her once happy and peaceful friend as she drooled and bled into her wound...galloping off only moments later.

For several moments Twilight remained motionless......and then.....she felt it. A bubbling feeling rising up through her chest...her body...her brain. She started to feel...angry, furious even. Her rage bubbled and fumed in her mind like the fire that ravaged Ponyville. DAMN Celestia, she thought! Damn everything! I hate it, I HATE IT ALL! How could this have happened!? It SHOULDN'T have happened! How could such a weak and worthless princess EVER allow this to happen!? "I'm going to kill you Celestia!" she wanted to scream...but all that came from her lips was a savage growl and a furious screech. She writhed on the ground as she felt her insides squirm and burn as if they were on fire, her vision slowly filling with the color of red, as if somepony was pouring it over her eyes from a bucket. Anger and hate continued to seer and well up in her heart, drawing her to take rasping breaths of air.

"My beautiful...beautiful Twilight...." whispered a voice...a voice Twilight could only recognize...and snarl at...as Princess Celestia's.

She turned her head quickly towards the voice, watching as the princess slowly walked towards her...the same evil grin plastered on her face, the same twinkle of madness and hate in her eyes. Twilight wanted nothing more then to leap to her hooves, bite into that stupid alicorn and make her share her misery, her hate! Make her pay for all the madness and chaos she had strewn about the world! Alas...she could not...an unseen force pinning her down as Celestia slowly dropped to her belly beside her. She lowered her head towards Twilight's and gently pushed her cheek against her student's, nuzzling her as she whispered

Welcome...to the herd.

And then...it started to rain.

Twilight sat up with a gasp as thunder crackled and echoed from above, the sounds of torrential rain pattering loudly on the roof. She whipped her head about...noticing that only Carrot Top remained in the living room. She was staring towards coffee table, and had only moved to look over at Twilight and speak in a regular toned voice "Hello."

"H...hi?" Twilight asked, her chest still partially heaving and her lungs out of breath.

"You were having a nightmare" Carrot Top said, looking at her with concern "You alright?"

Twilight nodded after a moment, sliding off the couch and getting to her hooves "Yes...I'm fine."

"Macintosh and the others are in the kitchen...I'm not really hungry" Carrot Top shrugged, leaning back in the reclining chair and sighing. "You go ahead...I'm gonna relax for awhile..."

Twilight nodded again, moving past the chair and out into the main hall. Above, the storm continued to rage and crash about....which made Twilight stop. A...storm? Where did...how did...what!? She galloped to the window down the hall, angling her neck and head in a way that would allow her to look up through the cracks of the boards. The sky was for the most part...black. Rain passed through the shield like it was nothing, pouring down onto the entire town. "How...is that possible?" she whispered in wonder, staring up at the storm.

The weather was managed by the Weather Team...it wasn't natural. No weather was natural...which meant... "We are not alone..." she whispered in awe, moving away from the window and towards the kitchen. As she entered, a shout made her jump slightly

"Twilight!!!!"

Spike rushed over, jumping and hugging Twilight tightly. "Oh Spike!" Twilight whispered, using a hoof to hug him back. "Are you ok?! I missed you so much!"

Spike nodded, his green eyes staring up into hers as he spoke "I'm fine! The storm above is letting us move a little bit more freely and speak louder. When the rain started, all the zombies outside started panicking, they were running all over the place and finally went down the street!"

Twilight chuckled, nuzzling the baby dragon as she said "They're not zombies Spike...zombies don't exist!"

"Well, ya'll are awake ah see." Macintosh said from nearby, drawing Twilight to look up. Big Macintosh, Rarity, even a smiling and waving Catie, were situated at a long wooden table that rested in the center of the room.

"Yes, but...where did this storm come from? Is it from the Weather team? Are we finally getting help!?"

Macintosh frowned for a moment and shook his head, looking across to Rarity and speaking "That's what ah was just tellin' Rarity. The storm's settled outside the little shield thingy, meanin' somepony put it there. It's been stormin' for the past three hours...and doesn't look like it's going to be letting up anytime soon. It seems to be doing the trick and driving away the monsters outside, so we can be at least thankful for that.

"I think it may be more then that..." Carrot Top said from behind Twilight, causing the lavender mare to turn her head and stare towards her.

"What do you mean?" she asked, noticing Carrot Top's mane and her front legs were slightly wet, and that she carried a covered basket in her mouth.

"I went to go check up on the basket that led over to Rose's place. There's a note at the bottom of the basket I found after I sifted through all the apples to make sure they're good....and it's for Twilight." she said, walking forward and placing the basket on the table.

The ponies quickly uncovered the basket, digging through the apples until Twilight found the note "Got it!"

"Well?" Rarity spoke "What's it say?"

Twilight placed the note down on the table and read it...her eyes widening as she took in the few words that were written there. Her body numbed as the words echoed in her brain...her mind imagining them being spoken by the voice of a Pegasus she knew and missed.

There was no mistaking it...she recognized the scrawl, the messy hoof-writing, all of it.

"Twilight, there's no time, I can't keep this up forever! Town Hall, NOW!!!"

~ Rain-Rain

She had created a camouflage for Ponyville...

A temporary escape from the madness...

A furious clashing in the skies with a bit of that 'Rainbow' touch to it.

A Storm.

Farm

Rule #6: Keep Yourself Sane.

"The war was always at the very front of our minds...how could we just ignore it?

I regret many things in the thousands of years I have been in existence...but I regret this most of all.

It wasn't enough that we had to wage war with the Gryphons...even though they attacked us first.

No...what I regret is the fact that I agreed to this project...I shouldn't have volunteered this particular subject...

Oh Gods and Goddesses above what have I done?"

- Princess Celestia of Equestria

"Ok this is a really shit idea," Carrot Top growled, staring with an utterly terrified expression towards the front door as the work horse removed the last barrier board holding it in place. Big Macintosh looked away from the door to grimace at Carrot Top as she went on "Wanna know why? Because it's really, OBVIOUSLY, a shit idea!"

"Well if ya'll got any better suggestions, Ah'm all ears." Macintosh grumbled, looking back towards the door and putting a hoof on it "Because as far as ah know, this rain here isn't gonna last forever...and Miss Dash was certainly hell bent on getting us to go to the town hall."

Carrot Top scoffed, looking towards Twilight who carried Spike and Catie on her back, and then to Rarity who stood next to her. "Really!?" she spat "We're really going to trust the note of some random Pegasus making a shit ton of noise, and actually go through with this bullshit plan to, correct me if I'm wrong, run THROUGH THE OPEN STREETS OF PONYVILLE IN THE FUCKING RAIN!?"

Twilight sighed, shaking her head and extending a hoof towards the yellowish-orange mare "Look," she said "I know Rainbow Dash very well, she's one of my best friends. She wouldn't just launch us in some random direction without good reasoning behind it! There must be something at the Town Hall that we need to get or somepony there we need to meet, and with as much noise as this storm is making it'll be the perfect camouflage!"

Rarity nodded, opening her mouth to add in her own two cents "Seems those nasty little monsters outside dislike the rain anyway, didn't you see them scrambling for cover earlier?"

At this, Carrot Top only groaned and waved a hoof about frantically as she said "That's my POINT! That bird-brain up there went and stirred up the fucking hornet's nest! They're all running around out there scared and panicked and what not, what's to stop them from still attacking us!? As far as I can tell the whole 'hunting pattern' thing Macintosh came up with is bullshit now anyway, considering they attacked Twilight here AT NIGHT! How do we know that they won't get used to the rain too!?"

"We don't..." Macintosh muttered, putting a second hoof up on the door and shouting "Which is why we need to move quickly and quietly. Ah can hold off maybe two or three, but speed's gonna be the major factor here. The quickest way to the Town Hall is up the street, past the market square to the right, and straight on towards the Town Hall." He took a few breaths, looking towards the door and back at the group, muttering "Ya'll ready?" After the group nodded Macintosh turned his gaze towards the door, whispering "Alright...one..................two...........THREE!!!"

As Macintosh shoved the door open, the thunderous sounds of the rain echoed in Twilight's ears...her vision brightening and splashing the color of pure white in her eyes.

She had never been more happy to see the beautiful sun...even if it was shrouded behind thick storm clouds, she could still feel its heat. The solid stone beneath made her hooves ache, and she longed to plant them in the soft grass of the outside. The metal doors she had shoved open were now dripping with rain water, wetting the ground as she pushed her cheek up against the concrete wall and took in a breath of fresh air. Behind her, the muffled sounds of ponies screaming and Afflicted screeching reached her ears....the only world that registered in her head being "RUN!"

"Twilight, RUN!!!!" Rarity shrieked as a clap of thunder boomed out overhead. Twilight shook her head quickly, looking around at the buildings that were moving around her.

"W...wha?" Twilight began to say, Spike's voice quickly cutting her off

"Why are you slowing down!? TWILIGHT GO THEY'RE RIGHT BEHIND US!!!"

Twilight turned her head, noticing that they had already moved down the street...and watched as two Afflicted galloped towards her from the rear. Gasping, Twilight turned back forward and dashed forward with as much speed as she could muster while Spike and Catie hung on for dear life. Macintosh galloped past Twilight from the front, turning and kicking out his back hooves as the first of the Afflicted closed in. The Afflicted's head snapped backwards, its neck snapping as the hit connected. The second one screeched and dove towards Macintosh, hoping to get a quick kill. It's wishes were shattered however as Macintosh turned to face the beast, throwing out his front hooves and grasping both sides of the its head. With a flick of his hooves, Macintosh twisted the neck of the second Afflicted and cracked its neck, killing it instantly.

Carrot Top was well in the lead, galloping as fast as she could as Rarity and Twilight struggled to keep up. Twilight's mind was in a flurry of thought as she tried her best to keep Rarity's pace. What just happened? Did she...hallucinate or something? Was she having a vision? If so...where in the hell was she?! "Carrot Top, slow down!" Rarity shouted, her voice barely carrying over the sound of the rain. The mare in front seemed to not hear her, a panicked expression on her face as she pushed her self forward, wanting to get to Town Hall as soon as possible. Of course...being in such a state...somepony's tend to forget the minor details of their surroundings. The positioning of certain buildings or overturned kiosks...the trash that littered the streets...the glint of steel from the opening of an alleyway.

"CARROT TOP!!!" Rarity shrieked as a sword swung out from the alleyway, cutting right through Carrot Top's neck. Rarity and Twilight skidded to a halt, with the lavender mare nearly losing her lunch as she shouted back towards the little ones "Cover your eyes, don't...ugh...don't look!". The two mares stared forward in horror as Carrot Top's head rolled from its body, hitting the muddy streets and rolling away slightly. The body continued to run for a few more seconds before the legs finally gave out from under it, sending the whole form tumbling into the ground. Twilight tried her best to keep it together...but the frozen expression of terror on Carrot Top's decapitated head was too much for Rarity, who promptly lost her lunch and vomited all over the ground in front of her.

"Keep movin'!" Macintosh growled, watching as a staggering Afflicted with a sword clenched in its mouth made its way out of the valley "There's nothin' more we can do fer her! She's dead! GO!" Rarity choked out a sob as the group charged forward, with Big Macintosh taking the lead. He leaned his head down, picking up a stick off the ground with a quick snatching of his teeth. He narrowed his eyes at the approaching monster, mumbling as loudly as he could towards the two mares behind him through the stick "Come up to the left o' me! Don't stop runnin'!"

Twilight and Rarity nodded, galloping up to the left side of Macintosh, the work horse angling his head slightly and going over his move in his head. He'd have to catch it just right...or end up without a head, just like poor Carrot Top. As the Afflicted closed in, Macintosh swung his head upwards, the stick passing smacking the blade upwards and clobbering the Afflicted right up in the chin, clothes-lining it. The diseased pony let out a loud screech as it back-flipped into the ground, landing on its neck and twisting as it went down, dying immediately from a cracked neck.

The three of them banked to the right into the next street, the Town Hall building in sight. "I see it!!!" Rarity shouted, her statement inspiring them to gallop harder and faster.

"Keep goin'!" Macintosh roared "And don't look back!" Of course...her curiosity getting the better of her...Twilight turned her head, looking back behind her. Her pupils shrank as she stared towards the wall of bodies behind her...the forms of at least thirty or so Afflicted running up the street with more and more emerging from nearby buildings or alleyways.

"There's too many!!!" Twilight cried, watching as more and more joined the masses. Macintosh looked back with a large grimace on his face, and planted his hooves in the ground, skidding to a halt. "What are you DOING!?" Twilight cried, watching as Macintosh turned to face the Afflicted, his eyes narrowed in determination.

"Keep going Twi'!" Macintosh barked, his eyes scanning around for an escape alleyway or a street he could use.

Twilight skidded to a halt as well and rushed back as she screamed "Are you out of your mind?! You can't fight them all!"

"Twilight GO! Ah'll catch up! Ah'll meet you later, ah promise!" Macintosh shouted, turning his head towards her.

Twilight shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes as she shouted back "Macintosh don't do this! Please! Forget them, we can outrun them!"

Macintosh shook his head "Yes we can, but they'll just follow us to the Town Hall and swarm it once we get inside! Ah gotta lure em' off! Ah swear to Luna ah'll be back for you!"

The unicorn wouldn't have it though, planting a firm hoof down and letting the tears fall down her cheeks as she cried "Macintosh we've already lost one too many ponies today! I can't lose you too!"

The Afflicted were getting closer and closer, Macintosh's patience wearing thin as he roared towards the lavender mare "Yer not gonna lose me! Ya'll know ah'm tougher then that! Get yer ass MOVING Twi'!" He turned his head to look forward, swearing as The Afflicted let out a unified cry, its horde like echo blaring across the entire town. He turned back to look into Twilight's eyes and shouted, a pained look on his face "Twilight don't ya'll get it!? It's the end of the world! What do we have left except our hearts and our lives?!" Twilight blinked, a surprised expression on her face. What was he talking about? "Ah ain't gonna let these bastards have my life, NOPONY and NOTHING is gonna take that from me...but mah heart...my heart ah can give, give for safe keeping!"

Before Twilight could speak, move, or even breathe, Macintosh pushed his head forward, pushing his lips against Twilight's and kissing her as the thunder crackled and boomed overhead. Though the kiss lasted only for a split second, it felt like an eternity to Twilight, her mind not all too sure if the electricity running through her veins was from the lightning discharges above or from the sudden shock of the moment. "Ah'm comin' back for mah heart!" Macintosh shouted as he pulled his lips away "Take it and go! RUN! RUN, LUNA DAMN IT ALL, RUN!!!"

Twilight stared at him with wide eyes, her hooves carrying her backwards as if they were operating on a mind of their own. Her vision turned away slowly from a determined looking Macintosh and floated over the buildings, moving until they settled on the Town Hall. With as much speed and power as she could muster, Twilight bolted forward with a speed unlike any she had ever thought possible.

Perhaps it was from the Afflicted chasing her...or the adrenaline in her system...or maybe it was just her imagination. But to Twilight...deep in her mind and heart she knew that she ran with the speed that she did...because she not only carried with her the lives of two innocent creatures of Equestria...but also the heart of Big Macintosh, the work horse of Sweet Apple Acres.

The taste of sweet apples lingered on her lips as she charged forward like a mare possessed, the town hall growing larger and large before her. After several moments, Twilight could see the form of Rarity waving at her frantically at her through the torrential rain, ushering her forward quickly. As the lavender unicorn bounded up the stairs, she took a moment to look behind her...back towards the spot where she had left Big Macintosh. It was hard to see at first with all the rain, but what she saw displayed only a clear message to her.

Big Macintosh and The Afflicted were gone.

~*~

The two unicorn's panted as they entered the dimly lit entrance hall of the building, falling to their haunches and heaving for air. The sounds of barriers and wood being replaced clacked loudly behind them, with two voices accompanying it.

"Here you go."

"Thanks."

"Right up there, yeah."

"I got this board, hold this here?"

"Got it...alright that looks secure"

Rarity looked over towards Twilight, wincing as she saw tears streaming down her face. Catie and Spike slid off her back as the lavender mare wept trying her best not to let her pain show but failing miserably. "He'll make it Twilight" Rarity whispered, putting a hoof on her shoulder "Trust me...he will." Twilight looked to Rarity, her eyes doubtful for a moment...but eventually she nodded and slid into the comforting hug of her friend.

Rarity rubbed a hoof up and down her spine as she turned her head to the voice of a colt "You all ok?" She gasped as she took in the sight of him, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her.

"Twilight..." she whispered, "Look!"

She did so, very slowly, and gasped as she caught sight of him. His armor was a shining black and purplish color, with his helmet arching with a sort of fin resting on top. His eyes were a gleaming yellow and he wore a determined yet weary look on his face. It wasn't that the two unicorns knew who he was...but rather, WHAT he was. "The Lunar Guard..." Twilight breathed in awe "You're one of Luna's Royal Guard!"

The guard nodded, snapping a quick salute and declaring with a firm voice "Captain Shadow-Mane, at your service...now, is this all that made it?"

Rarity held Twilight a bit tighter as she started to cry again and nodded, whispering "Yes dear, we...we lost one, and another will be joining us later on once he's done luring off those dreadful monsters." Captain Shadow-Mane nodded, turning on his hooves and heading down the hall. He stopped however as Rarity called after him "Wait, hold on!" The Captain turned his head as Rarity gently let go of Twilight, walking up and cocking her head in confusion "What are you all doing here...if you don't mind me asking? Why is Rainbow Dash making this storm? How did you even get through the shield surrounding Ponyville?! Why were we sent here?"

Shadow-Mane held up a hoof to silence her, sighing as he spoke gruffly "It will all be explained, right now I just need you and your friends to follow me to the Rotunda, we're short on time and the Diamond Dog isn't going to stay interested in helping us for long."

"D...Diamond Dog?" Rarity whispered in concern, Twilight and the others joining her at her side.

The Captain nodded with a grimace and turned, walking back down the hallway as he said "I don't like it either...but we have no choice. Anyway I-" he stopped, looking back towards the unicorns for a moment and staring at them intently. "Hold on..." he whispered, his eyes widening "You...you're an Element of Harmony, aren't you?"

Rarity nodded, motioning towards Twilight "She is as well, I am the Element of Generosity and Twilight here is the Element of Magic."

"Thank the stars!" Shadow-Mane breathed "We had hoped you two had survived...this will make the Princess very happy."

"Princess Luna?" Twilight asked, a tinge of hope in her voice.

Shadow-Mane nodded with a smile and said "The one and the same! She made it very clear that you two were top priority for the evacuation, and she was afraid that something might have gone wrong in the agonizing time it took to organize and put this all together."

"E...Evacuation!?" Rarity breathed "We're leaving Ponyville!?"

Shadow-Mane nodded once more, but frowned slightly "Yes...although it's a little bit more complicated then that. It took a lot of time to get in here and get everything ready...considering we're also here to ensure the diseased ones outside are eradicated. There's far too many to kill by hoof and blade alone...so I'm afraid to announce that Ponyville is going to have to become our weapon."

"What do you mean?" Twilight whimpered, sniffing and letting her tears dry at last.

"In time...I promise everything will be explained" Shadow-Mane whispered "In the mean time, follow me to the rotunda, there's at least a hundred other survivors here, you might find someone you recognize."

With that, the group moved at a brisk but comfortable pace through the front hall. They passed by the front desk area which was currently being manned by several of the Lunar Guard, a few bowing respectfully to Twilight and Rarity. A right turn at an intersection led them to a long hallway with most of the doors open. Inside, ponies whined and groaned as their wounds or ailments were treating, nurses and medics rushing about and trying to ensure everypony was ok...and that they weren't infected.

"It's like a refugee camp..." Rarity whispered in sadness as they passed by a room containing a heavily bandaged colt, his cries of pain making Twilight's ears hurt and her belly ache. After five minutes of turning and walking, the rotunda finally opened up to them, revealing a massive gathering of the survivors. Ponies sat, laid, and walked about everywhere. Some cried, some chuckled at each other's terrible attempts to lighten the mood. Twilight turned her head and gave a little wave as she spotted Lyra holding a weeping Bon Bon, her attempts to keep her calm obviously failing.

"Hey Twi'...good to see that you made it" she said, offering her the best smile she could.

"You too Lyra...hang in there ok?" Twilight replied, nodding her head towards her.

They weaved in and out of the crowd, passing by the far left wall of the Rotunda, to which several of the Lunar Guard were stationed. They formed a large circle around something, and when Rarity peered closer, she discovered it was actually a giant hole. "The Diamond Dog...he's in there?" she asked, looking towards Shadow-Mane who in turned nodded.

"Yep...he's down there.," Shadow-Mane sighed "Stubborn bastard though...demanded all sorts of medals and honors for doing this for us"

"Um...what exactly IS he doing?" Rarity asked "Besides digging of course."

Shadow-Mane stared towards the hole as they walked by, his voice weary as he spoke "Escape Tunnel, it's going to lead all the way to Sweet Apple Acres if he can dig it just right. We had him locked up in the Canterlot Dungeons for a whole array of theft crimes...guess karma had a different idea for him, since he, by some miracle..., got a chance to help us."

"Sweet Apple Acres?" Twilight breathed "Does that mean Applejack's still alive?"

"Of course!" Shadow-Mane laughed "She's a tough sumbitch." Rarity and Twilight breathed a sigh of relief as Shadow-Mane went on "Definitely wouldn't want to mess with her...she's got a sick way of staying alive and keeping those bastards at bay."

"What do you mean?" Rarity asked, a tinge of nervousness to her voice.

"Well..." The Captain started, his voice dripping with a hesitant tone. They walked towards one of the back rooms as he spoke "It seems the infected are a bit smarter then we took them for...they understand the concept of danger and know when a target is a lost cause, that it's not worth it because it'll only end up in their deaths if they try to attack." The unicorns nodded as they walked into the back room, a single table resting in the middle along with six chairs. "Anyway..." Shadow-Mane coughed before plopping himself in one of the seats, motioning for them to do the same "Seems the Element of Honesty caught on to that, and uh...well let's just say she'd make a great soldier in the army. The infected are scared of that farm, and for a good damn reason...that's all I'm going to say about that."

The rest of the group took a seat as Shadow-Mane cleared his throat, waiting until they got comfortable before he spoke "Alright...everypony else already knows what I know, so let me just bring you up to speed........"

He took in a deep breath and began... "The Infection started two months ago...we know that. From where we have no idea, but we have reason to believe that it was pony-made. Our officials tell us it may have been an 'under the table' project funded and directed by Princess Celestia to develop some kind of bio-weapon against the gryphons, but now that they know we're suffering from some kind of outbreak, they don't want ANYTHING to do with us anymore. Can't use diseased land, you know? Anyway, shortly after the outbreak...Princess Celestia, with the aid of her court mages, managed to cast down shields across every major city in Equestria, from Appleloosa all the way to Manehatten. When she discovered that only Ponyville had been attacked, she released the hold on the other cities but kept a quarantine on Ponyville. Oh the army was moving EVERYWHERE in those two months, slaughtering any afflicted that had managed to get outside the quarantine zone before the shield dropped down. Ponyville was successfully contained...but when we asked for further orders, Celestia just....well..."

He seemed to struggle with the words, to which Rarity whispered "Go on...it's ok."

Shadow-Mane took in a deep breath and sighed, finally confirming Twilight's worst fears "She told us to come home, and leave Ponyville alone...that the situation would rest until she was ready to advance the next stage of the plan."

"That FUCKING BITCH!" Twilight shouted, slamming her front hooves on the table and causing everypony and Spike to jump in fright.

"T...Twilight!" Spike stuttered, his eyes wide with amazement.

"I KNEW that bitch left us here to die! I KNEW IT, and she had a good motive to!" Twilight roared "Her little science project got out of hand and she tried to sweep it under the rug! She was going to keep us here until...until...." she trailed off, her eyes widening as the pieces of the jigsaw slowly slid into place, a gasp ringing out of her as the group stared towards her in curiosity and alarm. "Shadow-Mane..." Twilight whispered "You said Ponyville was going to be used as a weapon...which means you were going to destroy Ponyville with fire and burn out the Afflicted...along with us! Thus, killing any chance of reinfection! Celestia ordered us all to be executed didn't she!!!?"

Shadow-Mane leaned back in his seat as Twilight leaned over the table, throwing her venom-dripping words at him with a snarl. He looked into her rage-filled eyes, a calm expression growing on his face. "Twilight Sparkle..." he whispered "You are correct...those were our orders...but!" he said quickly as Twilight prepared to go on "Know that we refused the order. Princess Luna belayed Celestia's order, even raised her guard to enact a full on rebellion against Celestia's Royal Guard. We guarded the outside of Ponyville with our lives Miss Sparkle, and our plan has always been evacuation. The only problem is that it took so long to gather enough magic and unicorn's to power up a shot large and powerful enough to blast a temporary hole in the shield and the wall...that's why it took us two months to get in here. We managed to get the train to Canterlot in here by moving the tracks with our combined magic, and used Sweet Apple Acres as the front for our offensive. Once we've confirmed that every survivor has been evacuated...THEN we'll burn down Ponyville. I hate to see this town go but...it's the only way to be sure."

"What about Celestia?" Rarity whispered, her eyes tearing up as she thought about the soon-to-be fate of her boutique "What happened to her?"

"Well..." Shadow-Mane muttered, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof out of embarrassment "We...don't know..."

"Don't know!?" Twilight shouted, causing Rarity to jump once more "How do you not know?!"

"She disappeared without a trace, we have no idea what happened!!! She was gone right after her Royal Guard fled for the hills!" Shadow-Mane pleaded in his defense, trying his best to answer her question without letting her get more out of control.

"How do you just lose a Princess!? She's the ruler of Equestria, you don't just lose in alicorn like you do a misplaced pair of socks!" Twilight barked, drawing a sigh out of Shadow-Mane.

"Look..." he muttered "I'm as confused about that as you are Miss Sparkle. The only thing I have to go on is that maybe she's hiding out somewhere, perhaps in the bunker or facility that she used to create this virus."

"Perhaps that's where it all started, is that facility." Rarity said, taking a nervous glance towards Twilight before looking towards Shadow-Mane "Something must have gone wrong...or there was an accident. Somepony might have gotten infected with their weapon and spread it through the bunker..."

Shadow-Mane rubbed a hoof under his chin and muttered "That would explain the source of the outbreak...I don't see any other way it could be possible. If that's the case, then that means that this facility has to be within range of Ponyville, it would explain why no other town was hit."

Rarity nodded as Twilight sat back in her seat...her mind quickly piecing together facts and clues to form...to form a realization that she wasn't sure could be believable. Some of her nightmares were just legitimate nightmares...but for the others...like the one she had about Catie's parents and the sudden vision she had about a concrete entrance way...

....she was seeing visions of the past...or the future...or something relevant to what had happened to Equestria. Did that mean she was actually at the facility...? Did she KNOW about the virus!? Did she help CREATE IT?! The thought was too unbearable for Twilight, her logic trying to quickly kill that theory. 'No...no that wouldn't be right!' Twilight thought, 'I would have remembered something like that...there's no way I helped in this endeavor...and if I did...I'll redeem myself by killing every single one of these infected bastards myself...along with that fat ass Celestia...'

"SIR!" came a male shout from the now open doorway, a Lunar Guard poking his head through.

"Yes? What is it Nightfire?" Shadow-Mane replied.

"The Dog says he's done, we've begun lining up the survivors," Nightfire began, looking over towards Twilight and Rarity "...but I knew you had the Elements here so..."

Shadow-Mane smiled, nodding his head and getting to his hooves. He walked up and patted Nightfire on his shoulder, speaking "Good work Night, you go ahead and help with the line, I'll get this group through the tunnel."

"Yes sir!" shouted Nightfire, his retreat to the rotunda hasty. Shadow-Mane turned his head towards the group and nodded, watching as Spike and Catie clambered back up onto Twilight's back.

They left the room in a hurry, watching as the survivors formed two lines and prepared to descend into the tunnel. "Make way!" Shadow-Mane shouted, a small gap between some of the guards forming. He turned towards the two mares and muttered "You two first, move fast and quietly, and don't be alarmed if you see the Diamond Dog down there. He should be stringing up the last of the lanterns by now and making sure the exit is well secured."

Twilight and Rarity nodded, peering down the dark hole for a moment before leaping down. The drop was relatively short, and immediately they could see the insanely long tunnel before them, lit up entirely with lanterns. "Well..." Rarity sighed, staring down meekly at her mud covered hooves "Let's get walking...the faster we get there the faster we can be reunited with Applejack."

"And Big Macintosh..." Twilight whispered, the two of them beginning their trudge forward. Ponies followed in behind them, the line starting its long progression towards freedom. Occasionally, the thundering sound of galloping could be heard above, along with the occasional screech or snarl of an Afflicted. Nopony made a sound though...lest they alarm those above and tempt them to begin digging...

The wooden supports creaked a little as they pushed further down the tunnel, and for a good half hour, Twilight was left alone to her thoughts. Everything was starting to make sense now...the source, the abandonment, the visions. But what did it all mean to her? Why was she seeing these things? Was she hit with some kind of memory spell? She let out a quiet sigh through her snout, a headache pounding near the back of her head. She really couldn't care less...the effort it would take to actually go into deeper thought being too much for the mare right now. She'd worry about it later...and instead, focused on the bright future that would bring Applejack and Big Macintosh back into her life.

At long last, the end of the tunnel came into sight, as well as the Diamond Dog. He was resting on a patch of dirt near the mouth of the tunnel, a sly grin on his face as the mares approached. "How you doin' mon?" the dog chuckled with a gruff voice "You be thankin' me real good when you out of ta town, ya?" He was greyish in color, with deep blue eyes and a mud-soaked red vest plastered over his shoulders and furry chest. The two mares in front ignored him, rearing up with both hooves and reaching up for the entrance to the hole. Several pairs of Lunar hooves reached down, helping the two up and out into the daylight. The storm was ending fairly quickly, with the last of the rain drizzling town into the area.

When Twilight was pulled out, she let out a deep gasp. There in front of her, was the Sweet Apple Acres she missed. The Apple Trees looked as healthy as ever, and the farm looked mighty busy as well. Several platoons of Lunar Guard walked between the orchard and around the farm buildings that made up the center. "By the stars...Twilight...look." Rarity whimpered, her hoof pointing over towards the entrance.

Twilight's stomach heaved as she looked over towards the front gate and the fences...and towards the countless Afflicted that were strung up and dangling from spears that were rammed through them. They lined the front fences like they were some kind of sick, disgusting barrier. "Oh Luna save us," Twilight whispered in horror "Did...did Applejack kill all those ponies?!"

"I told you..." Shadow-Mane grunted as he pulled himself out of the tunnel, a stream of ponies following close behind "She'd make a great soldier...kills them like it's just another Applebuck Season. Ah...speaking of which..." he inclined his head towards the east side of the farm, near the buildings.

The two unicorns turned their heads...and smiled, smiled despite the fact that Applejack had taken to strewing about bodies across her front lawn as a deterrent. The joy of just seeing her was enough to outweigh the terror.

There, in the distance, stood a country pony of orange fur. Her Stetson seemed to shine in the sunlight as she waved excitedly over towards her two best friends. Her voice, as rich as the apples she grew and bucked, carried over and filled Twilight's ears, making her heart swell with joy as she caught sight of the train that rested a bit of a ways behind the large barn.

"Howdy there!"

It was Ponyville's last stand...their last pit-stop on the road to freedom.

A temporary refuge...and the main source of the food that sustained them for these long months.

A place where Twilight hoped Big Macintosh would come back for his heart...and for her.

A Farm.

Goodbye

Rule #7: Pray to Luna

"I promised my ponies that we'd win this war...and I did whatever I had to...to keep that promise.

Don't you understand...? I did what I had to do! I only did what I did because it was necessary!

Still...you believe killing me will solve all your problems? You believe my death will end all this?

You are not prepared....."

-Princess Celestia

"Easy Sugarcube! ACK! Ya'll are squeezin the life outta me!" Applejack wheezed as Twilight grasped her in an air choking hug. Rarity had already given the country mare a big hug, along with Spike. Twilight, however, seemed to be the happiest to see her.

"Oh Applejack I knew you were alive!" Twilight wept, her muzzle pushing itself into her shoulder "I knew you'd be ok! I was so worried though because your farm is all outdoors and...and I was just scared that..."

Applejack simply chuckled, patting Twilight on her back and muttering "Aw shucks Twi', ya'll should know me well enough to know that ah'm a tough gal! It's gonna take a lot more then just a few little punk ass zombies to go tusslin' with me to bring me down!"

Spike nudged Twilight, a triumphant smile on his face as he whispered "Told you they were zombies!" Twilight simply shook her head at Spike's statement, sniffing loudly and backing away to let the country mare breathe. All around, refugees poured into the orchard lands of Sweet Apple Acres, moving through to bed down in the fields of trees or secure their seats on the evacuation train. A definitive aura of hope could be felt in the air, the prospect of escaping very possible.

"This operation is just so...so....." Rarity began, her eyes scanning over the farm.

"Big, ah know," Applejack sighed, tipping back her stetson "Can't hardly believe it mahself, but it is. These fru fru royal guards keep sayin' that ah'm gonna get some kinda special reward or somethin' like that. HA! Them boys can keep their rewards, ah just want to go back to bucking apples." The mares chuckled for a moment until Applejack piped up once again "Speaking of 'Big'....Rarity ya'll said Big Macintosh was stayin' with ya," She looked around at all the survivors, a look of worry passing over her face "Where is...where's he at?"

Twilight felt a slight tear in her heart as Rarity spoke up, a sad tone to her voice "Macintosh...stayed behind, Applejack."

The country mare looked towards Rarity with a pleading look on her face as she spoke in a begging tone "Tell me...tell me he ain't one-a them! Tell me he's still Big Macintosh!"

Rarity sighed, shaking her head "We don't know Applejack...we were running for Town Hall when a massive group of them started chasing us. Big Macintosh stayed behind to lure them off...we haven't seen him since."

Applejack chewed on the corner of her bottom lip for a moment, nodding slowly. She seemed to have taken the news well, but she was definitely worried. "Well...," she began "There ain't nothin' ah can do about that. Macintosh was always so brave n' all, always lookin' out for me and the rest o' the Apple Family. He's a tough-n'....he'll make it out fer sure."

Rarity nodded before letting out a light yawn, patting her mouth before she said "I think I'll go secure our seats real quick and then see if I can catch up on my beauty sleep..." With a quick hug from her friends, the diva began to walk off. Twilight turned her head to Spike and Catie, whispering quickly "You two go on ahead with Rarity, you should rest as well."

"What about you Twilight?" Catie whispered back, the same question on Spike's lips.

Twilight smiled and gave them both a hug with her front hooves, whispering to them "I just need to talk to Applejack for a little bit...we have a lot to catch up on you know?"

The two young ones nodded, quickly running off to catch up with Rarity, leaving Twilight to look up towards Applejack and raise an eyebrow. Applejack sighed, rubbing her forehead with a hoof before muttering "All right...come on then, you of all ponies deserve an explanation anyway..."

The two walked in silence for a good while, weaving in between the trees and through several clearings. Twilight studied the beautiful details of the wood, the crisp bark, the indention of hooves that had been bucked against the tree, signaling that it was time to deliver their precious fruit. Twilight looked towards Applejack with her eyes every few moments, taking in her facial expressions. Applejack kept a simple frown on her face, her eyes partially closed. Those eyes had seen things...Twilight could tell. Regret...misery...guilt even. At long last, the two stopped under one of the larger trees in Sweet Apple Acres, with Applejack pushing her back up against the bark and sliding down until she laid partially on her back and leaned up against the tree.

"So..." Applejack began "I bet you're lookin' for answers...well ah gotta few, though ah'm not sure you'd like em'..."

Twilight sat back on her haunches, letting out a light sigh before beginning "Applejack...why did you never return any of the notes I sent you? Why didn't you tell me you were safe, that everything was ok here?"

"Cus' things weren't ok here Twi'!" Applejack half-shouted, her voice raising a bit "Ah've got bodies for fence posts, for Luna's sake! Ah'm the Element o' Honesty Twi', ah wasn't gonna tell you things were fine when they sure as shit weren't!"

Twilight nodded slightly but pushed the point regardless "Why didn't you send me anything then? Any kind of words or something would have been ok...I wasn't expecting a full on essay from you."

"Twi'..." Applejack sighed "Ah've got a bit of a workload on mah hooves if ya'll didn't notice. Ah'm one workhorse short of a full functioning farm and Ah've got to buck eight times more apples then normal to feed the entirety of Ponyville. Ah ain't got the time to go writing letters back n' forth when ponies could starve!"

The unicorn nodded in agreement, giving Applejack a look of apology. She had a pretty valid point...so there was nothing she could do to push it anymore.

"How did..." Twilight began, her brain having trouble in forming the words she wanted "How...did you...def...d..."

"How did I kill so many ponies in the defense of mah farm?" Applejack muttered, staring towards the ground with guilt written all over her face. Twilight nodded, drawing another sigh out of Applejack "Twern't like ah liked it now...ah only did what ah did because mah life and Granny Smith's life was in danger. You would of done the same thing if ya'll saw Spike getting chased after by them bastards."

"Yes but..." Twilight muttered, her eyes slightly narrowing towards Applejack "There's more then just 'Bastards' on those spikes...isn't there?"

Applejack looked away with guilt clearly stamped all over her. She couldn't lie, Twilight knew that, and if she did she'd spot it instantly. "Twilight..." she whimpered, tears forming in her eyes "They were gonna steal ya'lls Apples." She started to cry, drawing Twilight to quietly walk over and pull her into a hug. The country mare weeped as Twilight gently held her, rubbing a hoof over her back as she wailed "Ah'm sorry! Ah'm so sorry Twilight! Ah was protecting everypony's apples! Ah couldn't let ya'll starve because some greedy bastards were trying to steal yer lifeline! They were so mean about it, demanding to get food, saying they'd kill me if ah didn't give em up."

She sniffed, burying her face in Twilight's coat as she went on sobbing "Ah...ah chased em' off at first but...they just kept comin' back! And then...then one time they tried to...tried to force me against a tree Twi'! They tried to...ah had no choice!" She sobbed heavily into Twilight's coat, the unicorn holding her tighter as she gently ran a hoof over her.

"Sshhhh...." Twilight cooed "It's ok...you did what you had to do...I'm not angry about it...nopony's angry about it...they were trying to hurt you and you defended yourself..."

"But stringing em up like a fuckin' trophy Twilight!?" Applejack sniffed "Even if it was ta keep the monsters away...ah can never forgive mahself for what ah did."

"Maybe you will, in time" Twilight whispered "What some ponies don't understand is that we'll go to whatever lengths imaginable or unimaginable to protect ourselves or the ones we love"

"Like Big Macintosh did fer you?" Applejack whispered, looking up at a shocked Twilight "Ah know he did it for you n' Rarity, but he was focused on you most of all."

"How did you...how would you...?" Twilight whispered in surprise, drawing a chuckle out of Applejack as she sniffed and wiped her eyes free of tears.

"He had a thing for ya Twi'," Applejack said "Said you were cute n' all, with that dorky kind of attitude."

"I am not a DORK!" Twilight spat, frowning towards her friend who simply laughed slightly.

She tipped her Stetson back and giggled "Course yer not. Anyway, he said you were a right fine gal, kinda shy like him when it comes to anything to lovey dovey or social like that."

"Hey now, that's not...it's..." Twilight whimpered, struggling to come up with a defense. Applejack wasn't having any of it though.

"Don't even try to cover it Twi'" Applejack mused "Yer a worse liar then ah am, and THAT is sayin' somethin'!" Twilight simply huffed as Applejack went on "He never was a really forward pony though...no matter how many times ah tried to get em to talk to ya, he just clammed right up when you bounced yer purple ass on through the farm."

"Ugh, it's LAVENDER, first of all!" Twilight growled "And second, I know he likes me already! He KISSED me in the rain before running off to lure the Afflicted off!"

Applejack's eyes widened, a whistle passing through her lips before she whispered "Really now? Shucks, ah figured he didn't have the apples fer it...though it makes sense fer the situation."

Twilight raised an eyebrow and asked quietly "What do ya mean?"

"Well," Applejack began, looking up towards the branches of apples that hung overhead "Tell me what happened prior to said passionate kiss."

"Applejack...it wasn't passionate, it was just a kiss!" Twilight growled "Luna save me...you're worse then Rarity sometimes." The country mare simply chuckled, waving a hoof at her to keep her going. The unicorn simply sighed, moving on "He stopped to face them after he saw them coming...I turned back, told him to forget it because it was suicide. He kept telling me to go on, that he'd catch up, that he'd meet us. I tried to refuse...tried to make him see reason but then he...he kissed me, told me I had his heart...and he'd come back for it. I was so...so dazed, confused...I ran. I believed he'd come back."

"Well then," Applejack laughed "Makes sense then! Macintosh was never a pony to ever leave loose lassos untied. He knew there was a chance he might not make it back...and if that was the case...at least he'd have you on his lips in his final moments...knowing he had the courage to admit his feelin's for you."

Twilight blushed slightly and whispered "But...I don't even know if I like him back...I don't even know if I could right now. Look at what's happening around us Applejack...it's chaos. There's an evacuation train behind your BARN for Luna's sake! How could I ever focus on something like love right now?!"

"Cause it may be the only chance ya'll have left..." Applejack whispered, giving Twilight a serious look who in turn simply stared. "Think about it Twilight...Big Macintosh could be dead right now, or one of them."

"Don't say that..." Twilight whispered, looking away.

Applejack simply ignored this, moving on "Or, he might come back. And then what? We either get on the train and run off to Canterlot or we're suddenly mass attacked by the entire diseased town of Ponyville and we die. What else is there to do Twilight except embrace and do all the things you wouldn't have normally done before all of this happened? What if this is the last chance ya'll got at romance? How are you gonna say you lived yer life to the fullest if ya can't even give this a shot?"

"I didn't say I wasn't giving it a chance..." Twilight muttered "I was just...it's just so sudden Applejack."

"Like any of this disease bullshit wasn't sudden?" Applejack scoffed "Twilight we went from having a picnic to running about Ponyville boarding up our homes and sitting on our asses for two months."

Twilight sighed, looking away for a moment and whispering "I guess your right...I just hope he comes back. He really does deserve a chance doesn't he?"

Applejack smiled, putting a hoof on her shoulder and whispering "At the end o' our world Sugarcube...everypony deserves that chance."

The country mare suddenly started to chuckle, drawing a curious look out of Twilight who asked "What's so funny?"

Applejack shook her head, waving a hoof about as she said "Aw it's nothin'...just reminds me of the time you went on that trip to Canterlot bout' a week for we had our picnic. You were gone that whole time and it was drivin' Macintosh nuts! Ya know he was planning on asking you out on a date the day ya left...poor boy."

Twilight's mouth slowly started to open, a wide-eyed look on her face "Applejack...?" she whispered in question. Applejack raised an eyebrow at the question of her name, drawing a terrified sounding question out of Twilight "Where...did you say I went?"

Applejack frowned, pointing a hoof out in the distance, to the tiny silhouette of Canterlot which was just barely visible from behind the shield "To..Canterlot. Ya'll left on such short notice, the only thing we had to tell us where you were was the note. Spike said he came home to the Library one day to find that note attached to your door...said you had been summoned to Canterlot on short notice."

"Applejack, I never went to Canterlot." Twilight breathed "I was at the Library all week planning for that picnic!"

Applejack's eyes widened "What do ya'll mean? Spike said the night right before the picnic you suddenly came home, walking in all tired and weary. You went right to bed without a word to him!"

"Why didn't he ask me where I was, or what happened!?" Twilight shouted, a panicked look on her face "Why didn't any of you mention this!?"

"Whoa...simmer down there Sugarcube," Applejack whispered "Ah'm tellin' you the truth. We never asked because we thought it really wasn't our business. As long as ya'll came home for the picnic we wouldn't have any grievances. Why do ya look so scared?"

"Because I have memories of that week Applejack!" Twilight cried, a panicked look on her face "I remember a metric shit ton of the things I did during that week...and you're saying none of that happened!"

Applejack frowned "That's....weird." she said simply, scratching at her forehead. She suddenly looked up as she saw Twilight beginning to walk away "Hey! Where ya'll goin'?" she shouted.

"To Shadow-Mane," Twilight growled "I got a feeling he'll know something about this...and I'm not taking no for an answer this time."

~*~

"Yes, we'll move up positioning here, here, and here," Shadow-Mane ordered, pointing to a few spots on Ponyville's map. "We'll set the Magic-Focusing crystals at these key points in the town. Once we're all clear, artillery teams will rain the arcane down on the town, setting it ablaze. Good news is those bastards are attracted to magic as they are noise, so we'll hopefully take a good portion of them down in the first minutes of the attack." His command post had been situated inside the second floor of the barn, in a small room in the back. It was a perfect place to avoid interruptions or nagging questions from the survivors.

He looked to his four sergeants, drawing a nod from each of them before he barked "You know your orders, begin facilitating the refugees onto the train! Luna wants this operation done quickly before the Afflicted catch wind that we are here! DISMISSED!"

The soldiers snapped a salute before quickly trotting out of the room, leaving Shadow-Mane alone to study the map. He sighed, running a hoof over his forehead. He was tired...hadn't slept for nights...and he was getting more and more on edge. He had to push himself regardless...he had to do this for Luna, for Ponyville! They were counting on him...and he wouldn't fail them...not again.

"Shadow-Mane..." hissed a voice, causing The Captain's head to snap up and stare towards the door which slowly started to close. Twilight was hiding behind the door, her form revealed to Shadow-Mane as the door closed and she locked it slowly with a hoof.

"Twilight..." Shadow-Mane growled "What's the meaning of this?"

Twilight moved forward slowly, staring up at her horn as she muttered "You know I'm the Element of Magic...you know what kind of power I could wield...don't you?" Shadow-Mane glared at her as she approached the table, her eyes settling back down on his and glaring right back "You know what kind of beacon I could launch up right now? The 'draw every Afflicted in Ponyville here' kind."

"Why would you ever want to do that Twilight?" Shadow-Mane barked "Why would you ever want to destroy everything we've worked so hard for!?"

"BECAUSE I'M BEING LIED TO!" Twilight roared, putting her front hooves on the table and holding herself up, getting as much height as she could "My friend told me I went to Canterlot one week prior to the incident, yet I remember it differently. I remember being in my Library, studying, working, and planning for a picnic! You said you knew about the orders from Celestia! Did you see me there!? Where was I during that time?!"

Shadow-Mane simply stared at her, his eyes partially widened and a look of worry pressed over his face. "Twilight..." he finally whispered "Why do you insist that I'm against you? I have never once lied to you at all during the time you've known me. I have given you only cold, hard, facts. I DID see you at Canterlot, ok!?" This had the immediate reaction of Twilight slowly lowering herself to the ground, a look of disbelief on her face. She listened as he went on "I didn't know about any of this, any of this 'memory' stuff you just mentioned! I saw you in Canterlot, and you looked fine! You were with Princess Celestia at the time, and I was guarding Luna with Captain Moon-Lance! She said something about taking you on a tour of her newly opened university, and after that, I didn't see you again until just earlier at Town Hall!" That's the truth, I swear on it on my life as a Royal Night Guard! May Luna strike me down with Nightmarish vengeance if I lie!"

Twilight looked down towards the map, whispering quietly "I'm sorry Shadow-Mane...it's just...I'm so confused right now. I keep seeing things that I think are my memories but I never remember any of them happening. I saw Ponyville burning, I saw the entrance to what may be the bunker or facility you were all thinking the attack originated from. I just....wish I knew what was going on."

Shadow-Mane walked around the table, putting a hoof on her shoulder and whispering "It's alright...I don't blame you. Celestia was a traitor, Luna is not. You can trust me, and you can trust her...ok?" Twilight nodded sadly, looking up as Shadow-Mane whispered "The train leaves tonight...you should go see if you can get some rest. We'll be in Canterlot by the day's end tomorrow."

Twilight sighed, nodding and muttering a quiet 'Thank you...' to Shadow-Mane before quietly walking out of the door. She quietly made her way down the stairs and out the front entrance to the barn, looking around for a moment before beginning her trek forward into the trees. She stopped though, suddenly, her breath catching. A sliver of movement had caught her eye, at a distance far away to her left. She looked up slowly, her heart thudding as her eyes centered on a hill far off. A figure was moving, walking towards the farm...a large figure. She gasped, galloping quickly to her left and straining her eyes to see what it could be.

"Please don't be Afflicted...please...please don't be..." Twilight begged quietly, narrowing her eyes. She felt her heart skip a beat as caught a better look at the deep-red coat of the stallion walking towards the farm. He had his head up high and a calm but weary expression etched on his face. He smiled though as he caught sight of Twilight, his emerald eyes gleaming in the light of the setting sun.

Big Macintosh, had come home.

Twilight galloped forward with intense speed, tears streaming from her eyes as she bounded over the grassy plains that surrounded Sweet Apple Acres. The work horse simply sat, taking in a few breaths as Twilight rushed towards him, crying out in joy and leaping at him. She crashed into him, drawing a grunt out of the work horse who fell back with her, getting a full on kiss on his lips. "You stupid, stupid pony!" Twilight cried as she pulled her lips away "You are so stupid!" She kissed him again, Macintosh's eyes widening as she pulled back again to shout "I hate you so much, you know that!? I was worried sick about you and...and...oh you're so STUPID!" She pressed her lips once more to his as Macintosh let out a deep chuckle, making this one last as long as he could until they stopped for air.

"E...Eeyup.." was all the stallion could manage to say, smiling upwards at Twilight who, despite her tears, smiled back.

~*~

"Ah knew you could run fast...but by the stars Macintosh ah didn't know ya'll could run THAT fast!" Applejack breathed, just pulling out of a hug from her older brother. Him, Applejack, and Twilight were sitting in the barn, the country mare whooping in joy as she caught sight of him and Twilight coming over the hill just earlier.

"Well ah gotta say, ah didn't know ah could run so fast either," Macintosh chuckled "But Luna have mercy if you don't run faster then the wind when ya'll got a wall of angry ponies on yer ass."

Twilight's side was pressed into his, the mare trying to get as close to him as possible while looking up at him. "How did you get away?" Twilight whispered in awe.

"Wasn't easy..." Macintosh growled, reflecting back on the time during the rain "They don't stop for nothing. They'll keep going till they pass out from exhaustion. I weaved through houses, hid in bushes, hell I even climbed a few trees. The lightnin' n' thunder was stirring em up bad, and all ah had to do was wait for an opening to get back to Town Hall." he sighed, looking over towards the entrance of the barn as he went on "By the time ah got there though, that escape tunnel ya'll used was already plugged up good...so I doubled back, went from house to house...and eventually made it out of town and out here."

"Well ah'm glad yer back Macintosh," Applejack smiled, giving her brother a big hug before turning towards the entrance to the barn. "Ah got a few more orders o' apples to fill fore' the train leaves, so..." She smiled, walking towards the entrance.

"Wait, don't ya need help there sis'?" Macintosh called after her "Ah think ah'm a bit behind on mah chores as well!"

Applejack simply laughed, shaking her head and turning her head to mutter "Ah think you've got more important things on yer hooves to worry about a few apples. Ah've been doing this without ya for awhile now...ah can handle a few more trees." With that, she walked out of the barn, turning and disappearing around the corner.

"If you were wanting your heart back..." Twilight whispered, staring up at him with a smile "You can't have it...it's mine."

Macintosh scoffed playfully, looking down at her and muttering "Oh yeah? Ah thought ah said that ah was comin' back for it?"

"Nope...it's mine, you gave it to me," Twilight giggled, triumphant as she whispered "But...I guess in order for it to be a fair trade...I should give you mine, right?"

Macintosh looked at her in partial shock, a blush passing over his face as he whispered "So...so ya know huh...? Ya'll warmed up to the idea or whatever...?"

Twilight chuckled, shaking her head as she said "Applejack spilled the apples Macintosh, she told me all about your little crush on me." Macintosh frowned, glaring towards the front of the barn. His glare faded instantly however as Twilight put a hoof to his chin and turned his head back to face her, a loving smile on her face. "And..." she whispered "It being the end of the world...or at least Ponyville...I think now would be a good time to live life...have all those experiences, right? Who knows...we could all be dead in an hour for all we know." Macintosh blushed as Twilight went on, chuckling "And of course I knew! It'd be kind of hard not to notice a crush if the stallion who had a crush on me kissed me so suddenly!"

Macintosh laughed, turning his body towards Twilight and looking down at her. "So..." he whispered, blushing as she did "We're supposed to enjoy everything there is to enjoy before the end huh?"

"Eeyup," Twilight whispered, mimicking his signature one-liner "Just in case...anything happens...I want some kind of memory that I can hold onto till the end."

Macintosh leaned down, pressing his lips against Twilight's and enveloping them in a deep kiss. A tingle of electricity shot through Twilight as she shivered, her face heating up as she kissed him tenderly. When the kiss was done, Macintosh smiled slightly and looked over towards the stairs, whispering "So...want to go make memories?"

Twilight giggled, blushing as she looked over as well. She whispered as they started to make their way over towards the stairs "You know...usually I'd be freaking out about this...being overly nervous. That and the fact that there's no way I'd let a thing like this happen so early in a relationship....but..."

She trailed off, leaving Big Macintosh to whisper gently "But...what?"

Twilight shook her head, smiling as she whispered...

"All hail the end of the world..."

~*~

"Everypony up! Time to go!" came the shouts of several Lunar Guards who galloped around the farm, rousing sleeping ponies up. All around, the groans and growling of ponies could be heard as the train gave off a loud huff of steam, its pre-track sequence being initiated by the train-crew. In the hay loft of the barn...Twilight stared at the far wall to her right, her cheek pressed up against the still partially sweating neck of Big Macintosh. She was sore, she ached, but oh she was so HAPPY. It was the happiest she had been in ages...sharing the most intimate moment of her life with a stallion at the end of the world was something that she would hang onto for a long time. She wouldn't even care if they were attacked right now...she could die happy after this.

"Twi', Macintosh!" Applejack shouted from below "Ya'll done tusslin'!? They're loadin' everypony up on the train! We gotta go!" Macintosh let out a deep sigh, his eyes tearing themselves away from a spot on the ceiling and settling downwards on Twilight.

"You awake?" he whispered, nuzzling her gently.

"Mmmhmm...." Twilight breathed, drawing in an apple-scented breath through her nose and exhaling it.

"We gotta get up...trains leaving" he smiled, watching as Twilight groaned and rolled off of him slowly.

She slowly got to her hooves but winced as she tried to walk, her legs moving awkwardly as she moved towards the stairs. Macintosh couldn't help but chuckle, blushing like mad as Twilight growled "Not a word outta you...ugh, I'm not gonna be able to walk for a week..."

"Ah could carry you if that'd make you feel better" Macintosh whispered, to which Twilight merely chuckled and shook her head.

They joined a sly-looking Applejack below, the country mare quickly leading them out of the barn and around to the back where a steady stream of pony's were boarding the twenty-car-thick train. "Ah put us in the caboose" Applejack said as they approached the rear car "More privacy that way, ya know?" The two of them nodded, moving inside the open door of the car and turning into the living area.

"Hey Twilight!" Spike said from one of the bunk beds lining the walls, his eyes weary but happy to see her. Catie waved from her own bunk opposite of Spike, while Rarity simply greeted them with a small nod and a smile from the aisle.

"Good to see you darling...how are your legs?" Rarity mused, giggling as Macintosh blushed an even deeper shade of red.

"Rarity...not in front of the little ones!" Twilight whispered in horror, her own blush showing on her face "How did you...how did you even know?!"

"Well..." Rarity giggled, walking up and whispering in Twilight's ear "Me and Applejack thought that it was just too...'juicy', of an opportunity to miss. I must say...he seems to have worked his work-horse status well..."

Twilight wanted to bury her head in a hole somewhere, her glare turning to Applejack as she whispered "Why did YOU listen in!?"

Applejack simply chuckled, patting Macintosh on the back as she said "Wanted to make sure the boy here was treatin' ya right...and by the sounds of things, he treated you reaaaaal good..."

The two lovers grimaced, giving each other a look as Applejack and Rarity moved down the car, picking bunks for themselves. Macintosh led Twilight down the corridor, stopping to greet and hug the two little ones, and moved to the near rear of the car. They sat in the aisle, holding each other as a voice from the front of the car shouted back towards them "Hey!" The group looked to the front to see Shadow-Mane poking his head into the car, a smile on his face "Our unicorn's are just about ready to blast another hole in the shield, after that we'll be going straight on to Canterlot! Luna will be wanting to see you once you arrive, but take all the time you wish, ok?"

Everypony and Spike nodded, settling back into a relaxing state as the hum of magic whirred in the air. "They'll notice this..." Rarity whimpered, looking out towards Ponyville.

"Yes...but by the time they do we'll be long gone" Twilight whispered, nuzzling cheek into Macintosh's chest and sighing. The train gave a sudden lurch forward, the engine howling with life as a ripple of magical energy passed over Twilight's skin. A massive discharge of magic could be heard, thudding loudly against what Twilight knew to be the shield Celestia had put up, and with wide, happy eyes...Twilight watched the barrier of the shield pass by the window.

They were free...

Behind them, the shield closed back up, leaving Ponyville utterly abandoned...except for the waves of Afflicted that had begun running out towards Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight sighed, happy that they were finally free of Infection...free of the Afflicted...free of death. She stared out the window at the sight of Ponyville...the edge of the Everfree Forest....

....and the glint of yellow armor that caught her eye right on its edge. Her eyes widened as she lit up her horn, her ability to use magic now unrestricted and free of danger. A simple 'Eagle-Eye' spell...yes...that would do the trick. She quietly moved out of the hold of her lover, letting off her spell and watching as her vision magnified tenfold. She peered closely at the edge of the Everfree forest...and gasped. There, standing together, were two of the Royal Guard...Celestia's Guard...

What were they doing there?! Were they spying for her?! If that was the case...that must mean the bunker was in..

"The Everfree Forest..." Twilight whispered in awe, watching as the guards quickly turned and galloping into the dense barrier of trees. She narrowed her eyes as she watched them go, her mind drawing in several conclusions but centering on just one. Celestia was in there...the source of all her agonizing pain...all her misery.

She couldn't leave it alone...if Celestia was there and the virus was there...this might be her only chance to kill it and kill her. The only way to secure the future of Equestria and ensure the virus didn't spread again was to kill Princess Celestia...and destroy that bunker.

She looked back towards the rest of the car, watching as her friends fell asleep in their bunks...their minds clear and free of worry and danger. And then...she looked towards Big Macintosh who stared back with a look of worry on his face, his voice a quiet whisper. "What's wrong...everything ok?" he asked, putting a hoof on Twilight's shoulder.

She smiled, a small glimmer of tears forming at the base of her eyes as she whimpered "Macintosh...remember when you said you gave me your heart...that you'd come back for it?"

The work horse nodded slowly, nervousness creeping into his brain as he said "Eeyup...but...why do you ask?"

Twilight slid into his hooves, hugging him tightly and whispering "Would you believe me if I told you the same thing...if I told you I'd come back for you...for everyone?"

"Of course Twilight...but wh-"

She never heard the end of his sentence...for the glow of magenta around her cut off all sound. She had stepped back away from Macintosh to quickly ignite herself with Magic, teleporting herself outside the train and onto the fields of grass near it. She let the tears run free as she watched the train go by, a look of guilt but of determination on her face. She should of said something to him...said at least anything. But no...all she gave to him was a silent promise. A promise that she would be coming back.

"I love you..." she whispered to the train as it sped away, her gaze finally turning towards the Everfree Forest.

She said these words, her mind clear and focused on her goal.

She knew what she had to do...and had left Big Macintosh with the only words she had left for him.

A promise...a heart...a future...

A Goodbye.

Revelation

Rule #8: If seen, run.

"The risk of an outbreak was always a possibility...we knew this. We begged Princess Celestia to stop.

We told her that the consequences of her actions would catch up to her in the end...but she didn't believe us.

I just want to see the look on her face when her own project backfires on her...

Then we'll see who gets the last laugh..."

-Captain Shadow-Mane of The Lunar Guard

One quiet hoofstep after another...just one after the other. Twilight Sparkle's hooves made a soft thudding sound as she pressed herself forward, her legs carrying her towards the Everfree Forest and the moon beginning to rise overhead. Usually she would have been terrified to be outside...all alone and against The Afflicted. But there were no afflicted anymore...at least not around here. She was safe, protected against the diseased invaders within the shield...and with that knowledge, there was nothing from stopping her full out attack on Celestia. Well...there was one thing...

Answers...

She wanted answers more then she wanted Celestia's head on a pike, which at the current moment, was saying something. A look of fury but concentrated determination rested on her face, her eyes narrowed and scanning the edge of the trees carefully. Somewhere...in there...was an alicorn who needed (very badly) to die. But that very thought whittled at Twilight's morale the closer she got to the trees.

Just...how exactly was she supposed to challenge, fight, and kill the most powerful creature in the world? How in the hell was she supposed to kill Princess Celestia!? Not my regular, conventional means, she knew that. Daggers and swords weren't going to touch Celestia. No...it had to be by magic. Then again, challenging a Goddess who's magic has the ability to raise both the sun AND the moon seemed like suicide. "I have to try regardless..." Twilight growled quietly, the trees coming up quickly "If nopony takes a stand...nopony ever will."

She stopped at the edge to the Everfree Forest, peering inside its dark labyrinth of trees and igniting her horn like a flashlight, casting light into the blackness of the forest. She grimaced as she scanned the brush and realized that she really didn't have a direction to go on. The bunker wouldn't have been just laying out for anypony to find. Harboring a weapon like the virus...it'd have to be tucked well away from prying eyes to avoid incident or discovery. "But how did it get out...?" Twilight whispered, taking a few careful hoofsteps into the trees "If I was really there...what happened to unleash the virus?"

She stopped suddenly as an idea rang out in her head. "Of course! My memories!" Twilight gasped, the realization of it all passing over her "I can use my memories to find the bunker! If I was there, I should be able to remember where the entrance is!" She closed her eyes, sitting back on her haunches and trying her best to reach back into her mind. She thought back to as far as she could remember...the beginning of the week which would end in their picnic...the week before the incident. The Library...she was there...but...the more she looked over it, the same memories kept displaying themselves. She had spent the whole week in the Library, just as she had remembered...what then...what was it that had made her forget? If Shadow-Mane and Applejack were right...then Twilight was in Canterlot, with Princess Celestia before the incident.

"I was there..." Twilight growled, clenching her teeth as well as her eyes. "I know I was there...I saw the bunker entrance...I felt the rain outside, I felt..."

Sick...

Twilight opened her eyes slowly, a frown forming on her face as she whispered "I felt...sick. It was a tingling sick...something I know I've felt before. It was...it...was....wait!" She furrowed her brow, pushing a hoof to her head as she went on "Magic Kindergarden...before Moondancer was my friend...she...she and I got into a fight. She...she shot me with a spell and...."

She gasped. "Magic...they erased my memories and replaced them with magic!" She smiled, a triumphant smile on her face "Unicorn's get sick sometimes when they're hit with specific or different combinations of spells...which means someone used magic on me! They tried to make me forget...but my mind resisted. You can't just simply use magic against the Element of Magic itself, and that's why it didn't work, that's why I can still see visions of my past!" She nodded, going once again into deep thought. Perhaps if magic erased her memories...maybe she could use magic to 'unerase' them. "Worth a shot..." she muttered "Oh but the spell...what combination would it have to be?" She had never worked with memory spells before, but she had studied them in great detail...mostly because she never had any kind of use for them, but found them interesting. She thought back to her studying, going over the patterns of the spell in her mind and waving a hoof in the air quietly as she did the calculations.

After around twenty minutes, Twilight nodded. "Here goes..." she whimpered, igniting her horn with magic and concentration hard on the Reverse-Memory spell. She furrowed her brow and clenched her teeth, straining as the magic sapped at her energy. It was a bigger spell then she had realized...and she hoped it wouldn't sap too much. She needed to be strong to fight Celestia, after all.

The spell launched itself from Twilight's horn, firing outwards and turning sharply to come flying back. She gasped as the spell rushed towards her face, and in an instant...

The world went white.

Twilight groaned, sitting up and looking around. Her surroundings had changed...and she was now on a train. She was resting in a small bunk, the train clattering loudly underneath her. "It must have worked...or did something. I don't know what's going on..." she whispered to herself, slipping out of the bed and into the aisle. As soon as her hoof hit the carpeted floor however, the door at the very end of the car opened...and a feeling of rage shook her to the bone.

Princess Celestia walked through the door, a smile on her face as she spoke "Ah, you are awake my faithful student. I trust you slept well?"

Twilight tried her best to keep her anger under control as she realized that she must have traveled back into her own memories...not exactly the effect she wanted but it would do. "I'm...yes, I slept very well indeed!" Twilight chuckled, sporting her best smile.

"Good, we'll be arriving at the facility soon. I trust you understand what we talked about earlier?" Celestia inquired, her mane flowing with ethereal magic as she walked.

Twilight gulped as she approached, looking into the beautiful, mesmerizing eyes of the Princess. "Um...could you refresh my memory?" Twilight asked, a bashful grin on her face "That sleep really did a doozy on my brain...been stressed lately, as you know."

Celestia chuckled and waved her hoof casually in front of her as if to dismiss a thought "I was asking you to keep what we're going to do secret...it's essential to the future of Equestria that what we're about to witness remains a secret between you and I."

Twilight frowned for a moment, brow furrowing for a moment before she whispered "Of course Princess...something like this HAS to be kept secret, you know?"

Celestia nodded, taking a sad glance outside and speaking "I can't thank you enough Twilight...volunteering to read over my scientist's notes. They say that they have all the variables figured out but...it always pays to have a second opinion."

Twilight tried not to become sympathetic...tried not to give in to Celestia's false caring. Celestia betrayed her...abandoned her...she didn't care about her opinion, she never did! "When will we be arriving?" Twilight asked, looking out the window.

"Now...actually," Celestia muttered, her horn gleaming with yellowish magic. Before Twilight could speak, a yellowish aura surrounded them both and in an instant the scenery changed. Heat simmered against Twilight's skin as she blinked, her body shaking from the sudden teleportation spell she was hit with. Celestia cleared her throat next her, and inclined her head towards the concrete entrance to the bunker that Twilight recognized from her visions. It was concealed well enough, but Twilight was sure that with enough landmarks she'd be able to pinpoint the entrance. She looked around quickly, taking in as much of the scenery as she could. Trees, rocks, a river nearby, she had to remember as much as she could! "Coming...dear?" Celestia cooed, a definite edge to her voice.

"Of course...Princess...by what did we leave the train?" Twilight said back with equal care, watching as Celestia opened the doors with her magic.

"It's a cover..." Celestia explained "so that no one can track us here..."

Twilight nodded and walked forward towards the pitch-black entrance of the bunker. As she took her first hoof step in, however, she suddenly felt hooves wrap around her and a cloth being pushed up against her nose and mouth. She let out a squeak and began to struggle, growling as Celestia whispered "It's ok....it's ok....sleep Twilight....go to sleep...."

"Sleeeeep...."

Twilight gasped yet again, sitting up in the Everfree Forest and looking around. She was back in reality, her heart thudding and her mind going a mile a minute. "Oh sweet Luna...she ambushed me." Twilight whimpered "She actually...what did she...what happened?!" She walked over towards a tree, pushing her back up against it and staring down at her front hooves. She muttered quietly to herself as she tried to form some kind of answer "I...I didn't intentionally help out this project, or whatever it is. I was right, I'd NEVER aid something like this! Celestia knocked me out...but what happened after that? Did...did she take me prisoner or...what?"

She sighed, going over the images of the scenery she kept in her brain. "I should be able to find the entrance with this much...I have to." She got to her hooves, immediately setting off into the deeper part of the woods. The forest was filled with the noises of life, squawking, chittering, the distant howling of wolves. It was a lot more noise then to what Twilight was used to...she was used to keeping quiet for days at a time.

For hours she walked through the dense brush of the Everfree Forest, her eyes always on the constant search for any of the landmarks she recognized from the bunker. At long last, just as she was about to give up for the night and sleep up in a tree when she heard it...the sound of rushing water. "The river..." Twilight whispered, remembering that there had been a river near the bunker.

She took off, running towards the sound of the water and hoping that it was the correct river. She bounded over logs and weaved through several trees until the river revealed itself to her, its water rushing by at a fast speed. She looked around cautiously, shining her light in every direction. The area was beginning to look familiar...which meant she was very close. She walked along the bank of the river, turning her head this way and that to shine her light along the forest. She was sure she was close...and when the glint of metal caught on her light, she confirmed it.

She found the bunker.

The doors were still open, and vines covered most of the concrete. Some lights flickered within and from Twilight was standing, all she could see was a small metal platform and a console with one button on it. She took in a deep breath, doing her best to try and keep her heart rate steady. "Come on Twilight..." she whispered "For Equestria..." She carefully made her way in, her hooves thudding loudly against the metal of the platform as she stepped up onto it. Turning around to face the entrance, she hit the button and jumped slightly as a deep metallic groan echoed through the walls. The platform shifted suddenly, and started to lower itself at a slow speed.

Twilight sighed, sitting on her haunches as the platform picked up speed, heading down at a steady rate. She was scared...she admitted it. She didn't know what she was going to find down there...she wasn't sure she even wanted to anymore. Was this worth it...? Was killing Celestia and discovering the truth behind the virus...the part she played in this whole mess...was it all worth it? She could have been in Canterlot by now, reporting to Luna about her research of The Afflicted...or signing adoption papers for Catie...or snuggling up to a warm, sleeping Big Macintosh and dreaming of a bright future with him.

But no...she chose to venture down a deep, dark shithole by riding a rickety old platform-elevator where the truth and Celestia were supposedly hiding. She looked upwards, seeing nothing but a black abyss and sighing. The door to safety was shut...there was no turning back now.

After a minute or so, the platform came to a grinding halt, settling down, the destination making Twilight's eyes grow wide. A MASSIVE room opened up before her, completly littered with lab equipment and tables and was extremely well lit as well. All around, chalkboards and paper and test tubes were set up and absolutely scrawled with notes. In addition to that...Twilight also noticed large amounts of blood were splattered about. Dried pools were splotched on the floors in a few places, along with nasty looking sprays about the wall. She had to put a hoof over her mouth and groan as she spotted a mostly decomposed body of a pony strewn out over a table.

She looked around, noticing that the room was two stories tall, with the outer edge of the first floor being lined with doors, mimicking the second floor. The rooms were all labeled with scientific titles like "Lead Genetics" or "Bio-hazard Advisory Board Member". What caught Twilight's eyes however...was a single door at the very end of the lab, a door that for some reason felt...different...then the others. It was like she was being drawn towards it...an aura of mystery and power emanating from it.

She quickly trotted between the tables, being careful to not step or touch any of the blood (as it could very well have been Afflicted...) and made her way towards the door. She looked towards the plaque that rested on the wall to the left of the door, reading it carefully.

Doctor Patho Gen
Project Coordinator
Head Scientist / Research Lead for 'Ravage' Virus

"Ravage..." Twilight whispered. "It's called....Ravage." She put a hoof on the door and took in a breath. Behind this door...could be the single most horrifying thing in existence. Behind this door...could be the truth. Was she ready? Would she be able to handle whatever she would find? What if she couldn't...what would happen to her?

"I have not...come this far...to stop now," Twilight growled, putting both her front hooves on the door and shoving it open. The smell of rot and decay immediately smacked Twilight in the face, causing her to recoil in shock and cough. She retched for a moment, her stomach heaving and trying desperately hard to eject the apples she had eaten earlier out of her stomach. She held firm however, lifting her head back up and lighting her horn with magic. A lavender colored cloth materialized out of thin air, floating downwards and wrapping itself around Twilight's muzzle, covering her nose but still allowing her to breathe. She unlit her horn and made sure the cloth was snug before she cautiously made her way inside. It was a large sort of office, books and papers littering the floor, along with several black tapes that appeared to be either broken or burned. Another notable addition to the room was that the entire back wall...was a window. What lay beyond it was something Twilight could not see, as blackness met her gaze.

As she turned her head, she grimaced, spotting the office desk that rested near the right wall. Sitting in the desk...was the skeleton of a large stallion, a white lab coat splotched with blood resting over him. The name plate on his desk read 'Doctor P. Gen', and just like the rest of the room, the entire desk was in disarray. One thing Twilight DID notice however...was that the 'late' doctor had his hoof settled over a sort of black remote, fitted with one single button. The unicorn sucked in a breath and carefully made her way over towards the desk, letting out a low whine as she reached out towards the skeletal hoof.

With a quick flick of her hoof, she knocked the remote out from under the skeleton's grip and slid it across the desk. Twilight quickly moved over, peering closely at the remote for a moment before pressing the red button. She jumped slightly as the whir of machinery echoed out from above her, a projector, one that she hadn't noticed before attached to the ceiling, clicking on. The picture was slightly fuzzy at first, but it auto-focused soon enough. A single screen was displayed, one of a tan-like color. The words 'Please Insert Tape' were written across its surface, causing Twilight to look around. She didn't have to look long, as her eyes caught sight of a medium sized black rectangle attached to the wall, along with a filing cabinet next to it that was labeled 'Tape Storage' along its front.

She opened the top drawer of the cabinet with her magic, peering inside. Four tapes were inside, with only one looking like it was in working condition. The other three looked as if they had been melted. Melted on purpose, more like to Twilight. If Celestia wanted to cover her tracks...any evidence or recordings would need to be destroyed. "Looks like she missed one..." Twilight whispered, pulling the tape out with her magic and turning it slowly in the air. The tape was labeled with 'Ravage Virus - Final Experiment - Subject #223'.

Twilight narrowed her eyes, staring over towards the black rectangle on the wall. It had two buttons, a green and a red, and with a quick push of her hooves against the green button, the side opened up and displayed a slot big enough to fit the tape into. She slid the tape in with magic, closing the panel with the push of the red button and taking a few steps backwards. The machine and projector whirred slightly for a second before a voice began speaking from the speakers. The picture on the screen started to change, and Twilight, her curiosity fully peaked, sat down on her haunches to watch.

~*~

"February 11th...may this day forever be immortalized in the books of Equestrian History..."

Doctor Patho Gen muttered, his mane bouncing slightly as he pushed the 'Rec.' button on the side of the camera facing the window. He stood in front of the camera and sighed, pushing his glasses up against his face and speaking in a very bored tone "This is test number forty three...subject #223. All other previous tests have failed, of course...we still have yet to narrow down the gene sequencing and bio-genetics required for a perfect sort of...host. However...we believe that Unicorn-Class ponies may have a better chance...depending on their current level of magic potential and energy. Princess Celestia here...despite her refusal to believe it...is getting desperate."

"Watch yourself Patho..." Celestia growled "You have no idea what it took for me to do this!"

Patho looked towards a spot off camera and sighed, shaking his head "I know it took quite a lack of brains and sanity. Do you have any idea what you're about to do here Celestia?! Have you even the SLIGHTEST bit of sanity left?! The war is not worth this!"

Patho seemed to grimace as Celestia spoke, her words pained and dripping with guilt. "The war was always at the very front of our minds...how could we just ignore it? I regret many things in the thousands of years I have been in existence...but I regret this most of all. It wasn't enough that we had to wage war with the Gryphons...even though they attacked us first. No...what I regret is the fact that I agreed to this project...I shouldn't have volunteered this particular subject...

Oh Gods and Goddesses above what have I done?"

Patho sighed, looking towards Celestia with a face of pleading "Princess...please...we don't have to do this. We can find another Unicorn, one that's not...you know!"

"But it's as close as we could have ever gotten to a perfect cure!" Celestia whined, her voice changing from guilt to determination...even aggression. "No...we proceed Doctor Gen, begin the test!"

The doctor frowned, bowing his head for a moment before looking at the camera and speaking "May the Gods and Goddesses above forgive me for what I have done...and what I will do now. Subject #223 is ready for the test, bring her in!"

The doctor stepped out of the way, the camera now showing the window that covered the far wall. Lights blasted on from within, revealing the room to be a sort of...observation room. A single metallic table rested in the center with clamps and restraints littered on top of it. All around, several roll-able tables surrounded the middle one, each one adorned with several different medical instruments. What was most discernible, however...was a small vial of red liquid which was locked tight inside a metal sort of box, the vial visible through a small window of glass on its side. The box was labeled 'Ravage - 001'

The door that led into the medical room opened, revealing two Royal Guard who carried in...an unconscious Twilight Sparkle.

"No..." Twilight whispered, her hooves flying up to her mouth "Oh no...oh no please!" She whimpered as her eyes remained glued to the screen...her fate approaching quickly.

"Subject has been sedated, but should be recovering now. She will remain in such a state until the test begins, at which that time we will be able to gather more reliable results." Patho explained, watching as the guards strapped Twilight down to the table and left. After the guards left, a group of four ponies wearing haz-mat suits moved in, circling Twilight and preparing for the experiment to begin. "Ravage Virus is ready, as it our subject...begin the test."

Twilight stared in horror, tears spilling from her eyes as she watched the haz-mat ponies remove the vial from its locked box, using magic to levitate a syringe towards the top. The syringe extracted a decent amount of the virus...which Twilight could only assume was blood...and watched...crying out in terror...as they slipped the needle into her front right leg.

"Subject has been administered with the 'Ravage Virus'...we will now begin close monitoring." The Twilight on the screen stayed motionless for a moment...and then slowly opened her eyes. Her breathing was starting to increase...becoming more labored. Drool leaked out of the corner of her mouth, and her eyes looked around frantically in every direction. "Subject's saliva glands are becoming highly active, and she appears to be disoriented. First stages of the infection are complete, subject is confirmed to be infected."

"I was...I....they...I was..." Twilight stuttered with a whine, her body shaking as she continued to watch herself turn...turn into the very monsters she hid from for two months.

"Subject appears to be reacting...breath is raspy, eyes are slowly changing. It appears to be another dud Celestia...I hope you're happy. Another failed subject, and it was the Element of fucking MAGIC too! Oh may the heavens forgive us for this d-.....wait." Patho peered closely at the window, watching in curiosity as the scene before him slowly unfolded.

The Twilight on the screen...her eyes were changing, but not as a regular Afflicted's would. The whites of Twilight's eyes slowly began to swim with the color of blood...but the purple...the purple of her eyes gleamed brightly, as if they were their own source of light. Her breath quieted slightly, and her body had stopped fidgeting. "What...the hell?" Patho whispered, watching the unicorn closely.

Nopony moved...nopony breathed...and then...Twilight spoke...

"M...Mommy...?"

"Oh...my sweet stars..." Patho gasped, a choking sob echoing from somewhere behind him, presumably Celestia's. "Subject is confirmed to be infected with 'Ravage Virus'....but...she's also immune to its effects. Subject #223, Twilight Sparkle...she's a carrier. We did it! SHE'S A CARRIER!" The science team cheered as Twilight whined, her whimpers growing into words...

"Where...am I...? Let me go...let me out of here!!" She started to struggle, the clasps and binds rattling as she squirmed.

"Hey...sedate her!" Patho shouted "Knock her out! If she bleeds from those binds we'll have to sanitize the entire room!"

"LET ME GO!!! LET, ME, GO!!!!" Twilight roared, flailing about as her purple and blood colored eyes flashed...along with her horn. She reached out to anything and everything near by, the equipment and the tools. She flung them about, creating a sort of pushing shockwave outwards which knocked the science team back.

"Sedate her! NOW!!!!!" Patho shrieked, not even bothering to notice the syringe that had lodged itself in the side of one of the haz-mat ponies...

"Sir! We've got a situat- OH CELESTIA HELP ME!!!"

"GET HIM OFF, GET HIM OFF OF - AARRRGH!!!"

"Guards, secure the door, secure the door!!!"

"IT GOT OUT INTO THE HALLWAY! HIT THE ALARM, HIT THE ALARM!!!!"

Twilight wept loudly, blood and carnage spilling about all around her. The camera continued to focus on her, focus on the unicorn who yelped in fright when the newly born Afflicted fought and infected their way out into the main hall...causing what could only be the beginning of the incident. Suddenly, Doctor Patho himself ran into the room, his horn aglow with white magic. "FORGET!" he spat, swinging his horn and clobbering Twilight upside the head with a spell...a spell to wipe her memories. He looked up towards the camera and panted, tears in his eyes as he shouted "The 'Ravage Virus' has been set loose! The Carrier must be evacuated, at whatever the cost! She is our cure! She is our cure!!!!!"

And then...the screen went black...and the tape ended.

Twilight stared towards the black screen, stared with a look of horror that could not be described by anypony or any word in existence. Tears were streaming down her face, a pure wave of denial crashing inside her like a hornet's nest. She...she was Afflicted...at one point she was Afflicted. She had been infected with 'Ravage'...she was a carrier.

The pieces fell into place quickly as Twilight stared at the screen in a terrified panic

The answers to where the virus originated from...and who spread it.

The source of the misery which made up the last two months.

A Revelation.

And then...a voice...from the room where Twilight was infected...spoke out.

"You really are...a wonderful girl, Twilight Sparkle...did you know...how special you were? From the time you were just a little filly...I knew that a bright future was coming for you...but now...now look what you've done...you've beaten the 'Ravage'...you helped me discover why the virus was drained from your body...how you killed it. And now...I can set things right."

Twilight could not do...could not say anything at this moment...say nothing except one word...one single word...a name.

"Celestia...."

Stand

Rule #9: Barricade yourself in

"The Gryphons wouldn't stop...oh I knew they wouldn't stop. This started as a project to stop the war...

A project to kill the Gryphons...but now...now it is us who are being destroyed...and I swear...

I will not leave my world to be...'ravaged', and scavenged, by those winged bastards...

I have to spread it...I have to spread it....I have to destroy Equestria...to save it."

-Princess Celestia.

Twilight stared towards the observation room in horror, the lights flicking on inside of it and illuminating the room. It was as if the entire room was painted in red paint...but Twilight knew better. She knew that the entire room was bathed in blood. Skeletons and fresh bodies, most of which were her Royal Guard, were piled in the corners. From the sight of their dead eyes, she could tell that there was a mix of Afflicted and Un-Afflicted.

"You really are...a clever little mare..." breathed Celestia. She was sitting on her haunches in the middle of the room, behind the observation table that once held the lavender unicorn in its deadly grip. Her eyes were closed, and a small smile was spread across her face. "I must say...watching you over the past two months has been a most interesting process. Studying...observing...watching. It really was a treat."

Twilight snarled, galloping towards the window and slamming her front hooves against the glass. She roared at the window, her eyes glaring at the alicorn "You son of a bitch! How could you do this to Equestria!? How could you do this to ME!? What happened to the benevolent teacher I used to know!?"

"Oh Twilight...." Celestia whispered, shaking her head "Why can't you understand...didn't Shadow-Mane tell you anything?" She shifted her weight slightly, bowing her head as she went on "War as a way of...reshuffling ones priorities. With the way things are now, the Gryphons realize that a small part of Equestria is diseased...and they don't want diseased land. However...if the 'Ravage' virus completely dies...they will invade, and steam roll us completely."

Twilight's eyes carefully followed the close-eyed Celestia as she got to her haunches, her hooves carrying her in a slow pace around the table. "The 'Ravage' can still destroy the Gryphons...all I needed was time...time for the afflicted to build up. Then...once they 'accidentally escaped' Ponyville...they'd spread, they'd go to Cloudsdale, to Manehatten...everywhere! They'd destroy the Gryphons for good!" Celestia let out a cackling laugh, her eyes open and staring up towards the ceiling.

The unicorn stared in horror at the sight of her eyes, the insane, mindless look that she gave. Her pupils were shrunken in size, and shook slightly, as if she was having trouble focusing. "You're fucking insane!" Twilight shrieked "You'd kill the entire Equestrian kind JUST to commit mass genocide against ANOTHER race!?"

"I can remake the world Twilight!" Celestia shouted at her, her face turning towards her with a look of rage "I can set everything right! I can rebuild from the ashes, just like before! I so nearly succeeded to until...you." She let out a low growl as she made her way to the window, looking down on a nervous Twilight as she spoke "You...you killed 'Ravage'. You were infected and filled to the brim with my lovely virus...yet somehow you cured yourself. You turned yourself back into one of the uninfected...and for so long I wondered 'How? How did she do this?!'. It doesn't matter anymore...your usefulness has reached an end anyway. I have waited as long as I could for the 'Ravage' to build up its numbers...and seeing as you're here, I can only assume that everypony else has escaped and that it will grow no more."

Twilight watched as Celestia made her way to the lab room door, beating her hooves against it as she screamed "Stop! You stop right there! Don't you even DARE let the Afflicted out of Ponyville! So help me Celestia I'll k-"

"KILL ME!?" Celestia shrieked, turning her head towards her former student with a look of utter rage on her face "How dare you threaten me!? After all I have done for you! After all I taught you, you would DARE stand against me?! I am eight times your superior in magic and strength Twilight Sparkle, you wouldn't stand a chance!"

"Try me you little SHIT!" Twilight snarled, turning on her hooves and galloping out of the office. She emerged into the lab area, turning her head to the right and spotting the door which led to the lab room. She ignited her horn and whipped her head around in a circle, welding the door with a high powered spell. From behind the door, the chuckle of Celestia rang in Twilight's ears, sending a chill down her spine.

"Silly bitch..." she chuckled, the door illuminating with yellowish magic. The hinges groaned and creaked with pressure, cracking and ripping free of the wall. With a mighty metallic groan, the door was blasted outwards, crashing into the giant lab area. The tubes and vials that littered the tables and floors shattered as the door barreled through the area, Twilight igniting her horn with magic in quick response. She targeted the shards of glass left behind from the vials, levitating it upwards and sending it hailing towards the door. Celestia emerged through the freshly blasted opening and gasped as the shards bolted towards her. Four gashes marked Celestia's cheek, side, and neck before she illuminated her horn and cast the glass into dust. She seethed in anger as she wiped her cheek with a free hoof, staring down at the blood she saw there. "You ungrateful little bastard..." she whispered, looking up at her "You really want to die!? So be it! Element of Magic or not, I will NOT hold back! NOTHING is going to stop me from wreaking havoc against my enemies! NOTHING!!!"

She let out a terrifying battle cry as she raised four metal tables up from the lab area, sending them one-by-one at Twilight. The lavender mare gasped and ducked as the first one flew overhead, diving quickly to the right to avoid another. With a quick illumination of her horn, she stopped the third in midair and sent it sailing back into the fourth, crashing them together and sending them apart and away from her. Celestia snorted and galloped across the edge of the lab area, launching magical bolts at the unicorn as she tried to make her way to the elevator. Twilight narrowed her eyes, flaring up a purple bubble-shield around herself to catch the bolts. They pelted the shield violently, drawing a heaving breath out of Twilight as she staggered backwards.

"Come on Twilight..." she growled at herself "Remember what you're dealing with here! Play smart!" She galloped towards the elevator, launching purple bolts of her own through her shield towards the Princess. Celestia simply scoffed, casting an equal number of bolts back and meeting Twilight's in midair. The bolts exploded against one another as the alicorn mashed the 'UP' button with her hoof, sending the elevator upwards at a slow rate.

"Too late Shitlight Sparkle! You lose!" cackled Celestia as Twilight lost sight of her in the elevator shaft.

"Oh no you don't..." muttered Twilight as she galloped towards the rising elevator. She looked up as she reached the shaft, staring at the small iron bars that were just within hoof's reach. She jumped up against the back wall and propelled herself upwards with another jump, hooking her front hooves over the iron bar and riding with the elevator upwards.

It was a small calm before the storm...and it was one Twilight would need to plan out her attack. She had to kill Celestia, she knew that, but the alicorn was right when she said she was much more powerful than her. She'd have to beat her in another way besides pure magic and strength. Cunning would need to be involved here, as well as trickery. She knew Shadow-Mane had a plan to destroy Ponyville...and if she could just hold Celestia off long enough, she would no longer have an Afflicted army to ravage Equestria with! But how...how was she going to keep Celestia at bay? Twilight frowned as the elevator stopped, ideas whirling through and out of her head as fast as a get-away cart wheel. Nothing came however, leaving Twilight to sigh and whisper "I've got nothing..." before igniting her horn and placing it against the bottom of the elevator. She licked her lips and teleported herself through the floor, appearing right on top of the platform.

She wasted no time in rushing out of the bunker doors, turning her head in all directions. She only barely spotted the white coat of Celestia as she galloped through the trees, presumably in the direction of Ponyville, and took off after her. With as much speed as she could muster into her legs, Twilight galloped through the forest, hot on Celestia's hooves. She dove over downed trees and weaved around bushes, trying her best to keep up with Celestia. "Why do you persist Twilight!?" Celestia shouted behind her "Why do you insist on death!? Leave! Flee while you can, it is hopeless!"

"I won't back down!" Twilight shouted ahead "I was raised BETTER THEN THAT, thanks to you!" Celestia didn't reply to this, simply pushing forward faster and making a beeline for the treeline which had just appeared in her vision.

As the two of them crashed through the treeline, a gasp tore itself out of Celestia's throat. "NO!" she shrieked, watching as smoke billowed around in the shield that held Ponyville prisoner, fire spreading throughout the town.

"HA!" Twilight exclaimed "You're too late Celestia! It's ov- ACK!" She was cut off as a ring of yellow clamped over Twilight's middle, the magic lifting her up and flipping her upside down.

She struggled and grunted as Celestia looked up at her, a look of extreme rage plastered on her face. "You...you think this is the end!? You think this is over!? Just because Shadow-Mane set off his little charges inside Ponyville!? You're wrong!!!" Twilight squealed as she was dragged violently out of the air, her back slamming against the ground and knocking the wind out of her. She gasped for air as she was brought back up, spun in a circle once and flung across the fields.

She grunted and yelped in pain as she tumbled and rolled across the grass, coming to a painful stop. Her body ached and her lungs heaved for air as she looked up slowly, watched as Princess Celestia gave a mighty shout and ignited her horn with near-blinding magic. She planted her hooves firmly in the ground and stared towards the east, her eyes wide and filled with panic as she hissed "RISE!!!!! RISE!!!!!!!!!"

"The sun...?" Twilight whispered "She's raising..the sun? Oh no...her power!" She got to her hooves quickly, turning and firing three bolts of magic at the princess. They struck the side alicorn's side violently, sending Celestia sprawling to the left. She grunted as she slid across the grass, her teeth clenching as smoke rose off the side of her body. There was no wound where the bolts hit, but a small patch of her fur had been burned black.

"You'll pay for that you little bitch!" she spat, getting to her hooves and lowering her horn. Yellow magic wrapped around the full extension of her horn, a pulsing light beginning to emanate from it.

Twilight gasped and ducked as a yellow laser blasted forth from Celestia's horn, beaming right over Twilight's head and into the Everfree Forest. Trees were felled were they stood as the beam disappeared, the unicorn lifting her head back up and charging towards Celestia. The sun was beginning to rise, however, as Celestia's spell continued to work its magic. An early scheduled morning was coming...and if Twilight didn't figure out a way to subdue her or enact some kind of plan soon, Celestia would be too powerful for anypony to handle. "Celestia STOP!" Twilight screamed as she rushed towards the princess "See reason!! End this murdering masquerade!"

"SILENCE!" Shouted the Sun Princess, another ring appearing around Twilight and throwing her up. She fell against the ground with a loud 'thud', a low whine escaping her as her belly ached from the impact.

"C...Celestia!" she whimpered, trying to crawl forward despite the force being pushed down on her.

"Oh what..." Celestia scoffed "Having a change of heart? Realizing that your efforts are futile!? It's too late Twilight, you made your choice! You chose to stand against me rather than with me...and for that, you will DIE!"

She threw Twilight up into the air and hit her with a blast of air, throwing the unicorn backwards with immense force. She tumbled through the air until her back smashed against a tree, a cry of horrific pain echoing out of the unicorn as an audible 'SNAP!' echoed through the air. She fell to the ground, weeping and twitching on the ground. "B...but why!?" Twilight cried, dragging herself forward with a hoof. Dirt and grime was smeared into her coat as Celestia walked forward slowly, the beams of the sun creeping over the hills and spilling out across the plains.

"Why what...?" Celestia growled, looming over Twilight and placing a hoof on her side, drawing a shriek of pain out of the unicorn. "Why do a necessary evil for the greater good? The Gryphons will stop at nothing to destroy us, it HAS to be this way!"

"No it doesn't!" Twilight wept, tears spilling down her face as Celestia's hoof pressed down against her "Please! Celestia I'm begging you! I'm begging you to stop! There are ways to win wars without death and violence! Even if there aren't, we shouldn't have to resort to such horrific methods to fight!"

Celestia frowned, staring down at her student for a moment as she writhed slowly underneath her hoof, trying to get away. "Nothing will change Twilight..." Celestia muttered "Equestria was not ready for war...I couldn't just sit by and watch what little forces we had get trampled by the tyrannic talons of the Gryphons!"

Twilight wheezed as she looked up, staring into Celestia's eyes as she whispered "There is always a choice...there is always the possibility of change...if we have faith in ourselves...and don't give up!" She flared her horn with magic, pushing Celestia's horn off and making her stagger backwards. The princess blinked in amazement as Twilight slowly got to her hooves, staggering slightly but managing to stay upright. "I'm demonstrating it right now Celestia!" She shouted "I am Equestria! I'm doing what I should have done against the Gryphons, against you!" Celestia opened her mouth slightly, words failing her as Twilight went on "I chose to fight, despite the odds! Knowing I was going to die! I am not afraid Celestia, I'm not afraid like you are!"

She took a step forward...causing Celestia to take one backwards and shout "But why!? What point is there in this?! What good is it if you die? If everypony dies?!"

"Because we have HONOR Celestia! We fight and die because it's the right thing to do!" Twilight roared back, painfully standing at her full height and pointing a hoof at the shocked princess "We will never truly die because history will remember us! They'll remember the ponies who stood up in the face of impending doom, and dared it to come after them! They chose to fight, knowing they were going to die, because they refused to simply just give up and roll over!"

She stomped her hoof as she ranted on.

"A fight worth fighting, despite its outcome!"

"A refusal to just give up and die!"

"A STAND!!!!"

As Twilight shouted those final words, a brilliant flash lit up the eastern horizon of Equestria. Celestia snapped her head to the left, gasping as she whimpered "W...what is that?!" Her breath caught as she saw...the moon. The moon was rising, catching up to the sun and beginning a Lunar Eclipse. "Luna!" Celestia squeaked, her voice trembling as her magic began to dissipate.

"It's over Celestia..." Twilight whispered, staggering slightly and trying her best to stay upright.

"NO!!!" The princess screeched "Never! Some of the diseased had to have survived! THE SHIELD!" She turned her head towards the shield, her horn flickering for a moment. She strained her eyes, screaming as her horn flickered and beamed with what energy she had left. Twilight watched as the shield started to shimmer, the magic beginning to wrap around the entirety of it.

Twilight felt her vision blurring...but she had to stay awake...she had to finish this! She ignited her horn, flaring what magic she had left into a sharp disc of energy. The edges morphed and turned the entire disc into the shape of a razor blade, its length spinning rapidly across her horn. She lowered her head wearily and panted, trying her best to aim.

One shot...

One chance...

One moment....and she shot.

The blade whirled from Twilight's horn as she started to fall, her body hitting the ground with a soft 'thud'. The lavender razor blade whirled through the air, spinning rapidly and flying towards Celestia. There was nothing the sun princess could do...not anymore. She saw the blade before it struck...and in that moment, everything changed.

As the blade sliced through the base of Celestia's horn, a gleaming shine of golden light ignited in the middle of the fields. The princess shrieked and screamed in agony as the blade sliced through her horn, cutting ti clean off. There was a shocked cry, and then...nothing.

The moon passed fully in front of the sun...covering the plains in darkness as Ponyville burned to the ground.

Twilight's breath was light and labored for a moment...her vision blurring fully and blackening.

And then...all was silent.

Sparkle

Rule #10: Never Forget...

Smoke....

Wind......

Fire........

A pony looked upwards towards the billowing smoke that rose from Ponyville, the shield that covered it falling to pieces and crumbling downwards, dissipating in the air. Ash choked the red colored sky as the moon and sun rose together, casting a red tint across the land. This pony, a mare, had a blank look upon her face as she watched the pieces of the shield fade away, revealing Ponyville to Equestria after two long months of pain and suffering.

She slowly made her way down the hill, humming quietly as she put one gentle hoof in front of the other, taking care to step around the falling debris. Apparently...Shadow-Mane could not settle for just fire...no...he had to throw in a few high-explosives as well. Bits of houses and trees littered the area, making it look as if somepony had dumped a giant trashcan over the hills.

Her breath was calm and relaxed as she slowly walked across the hills, looking over towards her left and towards the scene that was displayed before her.

"GET YOUR HOOVES OFF ME!" Shrieked Celestia as Captain Shadow-Mane and a few others of the Lunar Guard tied chains and ropes around her. Her horn had been cut off, and her mane had stopped flowing, her ties to magic all but severed now. Sure she could still use magic, but oh how handicapped she would be. The very thought of it was even horrific enough to draw a shiver out of the unknown mare. She watched the five chariots circling over head, the ponies in them watching the four chariots and a prison-wagon below.

"Princess Celestia! By the order of her majesty Princess Luna of The New Lunar Republic, you are hereby under arrest for the crimes of immoral scientific endeavors, mass genocide, and direct violation of your rights and privileges as Ruler of Equestria!" Shadow-Mane barked, watching as his men lifted her into the prison-wagon with magic. After the wagon was secured, Shadow-Mane waved his hoof, signaling for them to take off. As the chariots and wagon flew up into the air with their flight crew, Shadow-Mane turned to one of his soldiers and muttered "Any sign of Twilight Sparkle?"

His soldier shook his head sadly, muttering "None...we think the explosion might have thrown her, but how far or where we don't know..."

The mare chuckled as she overheard these words, but not the ones that Shadow-Mane muttered next. From above, the four chariots and prison wagon turned and moved in the direction of Canterlot, leaving the rest to hover over and search the fields. They wouldn't find her though, per a simple invisibility spell. She would be killed if she was seen...and that would set so many things back.

She hadn't really considered the possibility that Celestia would actually fail...it being Celestia and all. At first the end result of the battle shocked her, more so then Twilight Sparkle actually surviving the 'Ravage Virus' in Ponyville. Alas...things happened the way they happened...there was no changing it.

...There was only Plan B.

...There was only the mare she hidden back at the ashen remains of Sweet Apple Acres.

With a quick teleportation spell, the mare found herself standing in front of the smoldering ruins of a barn, her body moving towards the old escape tunnel used by the Ponyville citizens. An escape tunnel indeed...for them....and for the others. A snarling sound rippled out of the hole, making the mare chuckle and hold out a hoof towards the hole.

"Come..." she hissed, watching as several sets of red eyes appeared in the darkness of the hole. One by one...slowly in pace...Afflicted ponies began to rise out of the escape tunnel, surrounding the mare...both of the mares. She had nearly forgotten Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn who was also hidden with an invisibility spell and had placed beside the escape tunnel. She didn't need to be found...not yet at least, according to the unknown mare. She smiled down at her, her broken lavender body. She was alive, of course, but only just. Broken ribs, a leg, her body splashed with blood. She had been through hell it seemed...hell indeed.

"Infect..." she whispered, the Afflicted surrounding the two mares turning and bolting off towards the Everfree Forest, their galloping eerily quiet and their voices vacant of snarls. She stared down at the unicorn, walking up on her side and lowering herself down. She pressed her belly against the soft grass, her side nestling up against Twilight's as she was turned on her back by magic. She wore a calm expression on her sleeping face as the mysterious mare looked over her, smiling as a mother would over her filly. She pushed her soft mane out of her own face with a hoof and leaned down to the unicorn, whispering "Twilight...thank you. Thank you so much...."

The mare smiled, and lowered her head towards Twilight's, pressing her lips against hers and kissing her fully. She forced her way into a deep kiss, kissing her as passionately as she could. For a moment the mare laid there next to her, holding still as she kissed Twilight, and eventually she stopped, rising up and wiping her lips with a hoof. "Goodbye...Twilight" she whispered, walking slowly away and leaving the unicorn by the escape tunnel.

For five minutes, silence followed in the mysterious mare's wake...and then...a groan.

Twilight groaned, her breath catching and her lungs coughing and heaving for air. She started to writhe slowly on the ground as drool leaked out of both corners of her mouth, her sharp intakes of breath quickly becoming a pant, a desperate gasp for air. She started to cry out and seethe in pain as she rolled about on the ground, her physical and internal injuries causing her to scream more.

Eventually...Twilight fell still, her rasping breath coming out in short gasps. She rolled on on her back, her tongue lolling out of her mouth and hanging limp against the side of her lips. She took in a deep gulp of air and let out it out slowly...sighing as she opened her eyes and stared towards the sky.

Her wonderfully beautiful eyes...

Her gorgeous...glimmering eyes...

Her Infected....Afflicted....blood red and violet eyes.

Her Carrier eyes.

"Momma....?"

The End....for now...

To be Continued...

Author's Message

And thus...we come to an end of our tale...the first chapter in a bloody sequence of events that I assure you...will rock you to your very bone.

You believe the horrors were over...? That justice had been served? Oh don't worry...there will be more to come...

Welcome...to The Fall of Reality, where evil NEVER dies.

There will be more mystery, more horror, and a lot more 'Ravaging' to be had in the next installments of our little tale.

So come, pull up a seat...and watch, as Reality falls all around you, and the world as you know it....

....dies.

(Hope you all enjoyed the story! So close to 300 followers and the special Tumblr Post! The next installment of Fall of Reality will be coming out sometime next week, so be sure to stay tuned everyone! This is a story you DON'T want to miss! Special thanks to all my supporters and followers, especially the ones who have been with me since Pinkamena! You all are great, and really inspire me to do and write great things!)

See you on the other side!

~Wolokai KuRR <3

http://askwolokai.tumblr.com/