It was still only morning, but Spike was already exhausted and wanted to go back to sleep, after Twilight’s eventful meeting.

A lot happened in that short space of time resulting in him being responsible for a whole group of ponies for the foreseeable future, a task that seemed too stressful to handle for him, causing him to lay his head down on the table he had returned to, after the meeting ended and the small crowd began to disperse, back to their own jobs.

“I'm in way over my head,” he thought. “Why I just let Rainbow be in charge? She volunteered at the same time I did…”

He knew he had asked for volunteers, and truly hoped that anyone would step up and give them an actual chance out there, but now that it actually happened, Spike realised that although he hoped for help, he didn’t expect for it to actually come, leaving him not knowing what to do next, and wondering how in the world could he not had thought this scenario through?

As much as it stressed him out, Spike knew he couldn’t just stay still and wait for everything to happen as it went, he was a leader now, and that meant he had to think strategy, otherwise he would be bringing this group down and accomplishing nothing in the process.

He began to ponder in his mind of any possible areas which could provide useful supplies to scavenge, that no-one else could think of, at the same time taking into account whether these particular areas could be in the open, or a likely place where they could run into enemies, as dealing with them was a task that Spike that he wanted to do as little as possible while on this trip, gaining supplies should be at a high priority, another being of course to protect each other, and generally, have each others back.

While on the subject, Spike began to think about what would happen if they did run into trouble, and while he didn’t like thinking of what his friends might do in a life-threatening situation, he had to stop thinking of their best qualities, and now about the real world, thinking of their faults that could get them killed out there, as well as his own.

He had to think of his comrades individually, looking at their strengths and weaknesses that should be considered before going out there.

First of all, Rainbow Dash. While not announced officially, Spike considered her to be his second in command when on this trip, a status that while not discussed, he could tell by the look in her eyes that she was completely aware of that fact, and she was fully happy with that status. That meant when placed in a situation too complex to understand by himself, he would probably look to Rainbow for her insight, as he trusted her fully, as well as her judgement.

Spike considered himself lucky to have Rainbow in his group, she has proved to be quick, and vigilant of her surroundings, as well as became used to the prospect of taking out walkers by now, as Spike has, and he knew these strengths could prove useful out there.

But Spike remembered that he also had to look at her weaknesses as well, and searched his mind into ways of how certain parts of her personality could put themselves in danger, examples being that when Spike thought about it, he believed that Rainbow could sometimes be considered a hot-head, as well as arrogant at times, and he believed that if those traits could get the best of her, it could not only cost her own life, but possibly her friends lives while doing so.

Spike believed he was making progress; he was looking at all the scenarios of what could go right or wrong while out there, as a good leader should, as Twilight would, and it began to make him feel less stressed.

He spent the next couple of hours analysing his other partners as he did for Rainbow Dash, looking into certain points such as Big Mac’s strength and how it could help, and how Sweetie Belle has made great effort into her healing spells as well as other magic, as taught by Twilight over the last couple of months, making it useful if anyone could get hurt, but one point that made him more afraid than others is that he didn’t truly know if Sweetie Belle was truly accustomed to this world as others, he knew Rarity wasn’t, so the prospect of killing something was a topic that he genuinely did not know, he just thought because she was Rarity’s sister, she might have the same idea in her head, something that she had to get out if she wanted to live.

Also, Spike never really took it into thought before, but Sweetie was considered to be a very attractive pony, at least in his opinion, and if Spike thought this, then maybe these Hunters could think the same way, and if they truly are as twisted as Pip described, then maybe they won’t kill her because of this, maybe they will take her as prisoner instead, taking her to their own camp and-

“No.” Spike muttered under his breath. “I’m not going to think like that. I won’t let that happen.”

He knew it was a bad idea to not think of this, he should be looking at the real world, putting every scenario in mind no matter how vile, but this topic in particular was just too much for Spike, especially when putting Sweetie in thought.

He broke his train of thought when he looked up to see Twilight making her way to his table, now empty, making Spike aware that he had been thinking longer than he thought he had, possibly sitting in a trance for a couple of hours now.

“Hey.” Twilight said, taking the empty chair next to Spike.

“Hi…” Spike replied with a look of confusion on his face.

“What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s just…” Spike began. “based on last night, I figured you were going to come up with a huge speech trying to convince me not to go, but you look oddly calm today…”

Twilight gave a small smile. “I was going to, and I have to admit I was thinking up of few things to change your mind last night, but after we had that meeting, with all the others beginning to volunteer, I knew it was too late to turn back now, it might as well be set in stone right now, so I’m slowly trying to be okay with it”.

Spike appreciated that, and felt slightly more at ease not thinking he was abandoning Twilight by doing this. “Thank you.” he managed to say.

“And besides…” she said. “Your mind is made up, and I don’t want your possible last memory of me being nagging you…”

Spike saw she was still worried despite her trying, and said,

“Twilight, don’t talk like that. You know I’m coming back right? Me and the others. I’m gonna make sure of it.”

“You better…” she said, tears beginning to form. “I’ll kill you if you die out there…”

Spike came close and wrapped her into a hug, for one reason being to stop her crying, but also because in truth, he really needed one too.

“Fine, but you have to promise me something too...” he said, still locked together with Twilight’s arms. “When I come back, you better still be there when I do arrive. Don’t leave for any reason. You’ll be safest here.”

Twilight didn’t answer for a moment, but then nodded and said, “Okay… I promise.”

After a few seconds, they both broke their hug, and looked at each other.

“So how is Applebloom?” Spike asked, trying to change the subject. “She was pretty upset when Mac volunteered”.

Twilight looked at the ground. “Not good.” she confessed. “She won’t leave her bedside. And every time I do see her, she’s crying. She’s worried for Mac out there.”

Spike frowned; he felt as if he was breaking the remaining Apple family up, and he wondered if letting Mac come with them was doing the right thing.

“Am I doing the right thing here?” he asked Twilight. “Should I really be the one asking ponies to leave their families behind for supplies that might not even be out there anymore?”

“Spike…” Twilight said. “You made your choice, and so did the others. They all know what’s out there, and what the risks are, and I know Big Mac knows that too, otherwise he wouldn’t have volunteered. You can’t hold yourself responsible for what might happen.”

Spike knew she was right, but it didn’t make him feel any better. He hated knowing that Applebloom was feeling this way, and there was nothing he could do about it. The only thing he could possibly try to do would be to bring him back to her alive, him as well as the others.

After a moment, Spike decided to get up and make use of the hours he had left in this camp, and went to help the others with jobs around the area as he always did, trying to make himself useful after spending so long doing nothing.

The next morning, Spike had awoken to see the sun had risen enough to get into his eyes, it was time to go. No more talk, this was actually happening now.

He had risen to find both Rainbow Dash and Mac were already awake, gathering their bags, and other necessities for the road, namely weapons and food.

“You guys ready?” he asked, while approaching them.

Rainbow gave a small smile and gave a confident “Yes”, but Mac didn’t give the same courtesy, not even giving him eye contact, just giving a grunt and went back to arming himself, placing a holster with a large knife tucked away in it, around his back.

“What about you? Are you ready for this?” Rainbow asked him.

Spike hesitated, but then replied. “As much as I’m going to be… Are the others awake too?”

“We’re right here, darling.” came Rarity’s voice behind him, making him turn around to see not just her and Sweetie Belle, but also Twilight, Applejack, Scootaloo and even Applebloom emerge from the same place Spike had. They came to give their goodbyes.

Soon, him and others did as Rainbow and Mac did, and gathered supplies for their trip, arming themselves individually with the necessities for the outside world, as well as each of them putting on rucksacks able to carry the loot needed.

Spike picked up his holster carrying his own trusty machete, and placed it along his back, instantly available for any danger that may come close. That, accompanied by his sharp claws and fire breath, would not make him fragile to any short range attacks.
Long range attacks though, were an entirely different thing.

After a few moments, the group all found themselves fully stocked, each of them carrying rucksacks with suitable gear, as well as personal weapons for each of them to use, examples being Rainbow not only with a knife as standard, but also with a particular appliance scavenged for her use a couple of weeks back, a small crossbow designed to fit along a ponies wrist, able to shoot bolts silently and deadly, as she described, just like her.

Once that was done with, it was time for the second part, the goodbyes.

One by one, each pony went to their friends and families, giving tight hugs and telling them to be safe, examples being Rainbow and Scootaloo, Mac and the Apple family, and even Spike himself went to give Twilight one last hug before leaving.

“Be careful out there…” Twilight whispered.

“I will… I promise.” Spike replied, small tears even forming for himself too now.

The main gate began to open, revealing the dangerous world to the small group, and despite Spike and others seeing it numerous times through lookout duty, it felt different somehow, like before it was like a painting, but now it was real. They were stepping into the painting.

The five of them separated slowly from the others, stepping out of the camp for the first time in a long time, and heard the sound of the gates closing behind them.

Spike knew that it was last time he was going to see Twilight and a number of his friends for a long time, a period that he didn’t even know yet, and that made him all the sadder.

They were outside now, no protection as they once had, and they would be lying if they said they weren’t a little bit afraid right now.

Slowly, they made their way forward, moving further and further away from their safe haven, moving in the direction of the ruins of the town, full of the horrors that they do not even know of truly yet, only heard through the stories of the previous supply group, a group of twelve, with only four returning, making them aware of the dangers, and making them more afraid that this was only a group of five.

But each of them had a goal, a mission, this was to maintain the future of the camp, to save not only themselves, but the ponies that they care about.

They walked through the wilderness, and the adventure had truly begun.

Author's Note

Note: If you have trouble understanding what Rainbow's crossbow type weapon is, I choose to think of it like the wrist blades in the Assassins Creed franchise, weapons seemed to be designed around the wearers wrist, like bracers, and I thought of it to be the ponies type of weapon due to their lack of hands, otherwise it would probably just be a real crossbow.

Also, just adding, Rainbow with a crossbow? Without meaning to I am so making her the Daryl of this zombie story, not complaining though, Daryl's awesome, Rainbow's awesome, it seems like a good fit

Sorry this chapter seemed a bit boring, actual stuff coming next time, and trust me, if this goes the way I'm planning it, next time, you will has feels. You are warned.