Don't Go Outside...II...

"AHHH! Finally! Cider! CIDER!!!" Nightfire squee'd in delight, chugging back the brown froth with enthusiastic vigor. He hiccuped as he dropped his mug, flashing a cheesy, but happy, smile and looking across the table towards Shadow-Mane who simply shook his head at the colt.

"Go easy on that Nighty" Shadow warned "We're still on duty, technically!" Nightfire simply grunted at him, leaning back in his chair and looking around the saloon casually. They were resting in the 'Lone Hoof' Saloon at one of the tables towards the back. Shadow-Mane had already met up with around ten of the Lunar Guard, their reports all similar. Each of them had flown as fast and as far as they could away from Cloudsdale and had come to Appleloosa in hopes that orders or some kind of direction would await them. All that Shadow could say to them though was simply "Take as much rest as you can and await further orders, Canterlot should send along some kind of word to us once the destruction of Cloudsdale reaches their ears. Everyone just sit tight and relax...it may be the only time we can."

"Don't be such a party pooper," Nightfire grumbled, sliding the mug out of his way and propping his chin up on a hoof. "You keep up this attitude and you're gonna become a sour old windbag."

At this, Shadow-Mane let out a hearty chuckle and shook his head, sipping the small glass of water before him and letting out a quiet sigh. "I think I'd be alright with that..." he muttered sadly "After all you and I have seen...I think maybe it's time for retirement."

"Heh...I'm with you there." Nightfire whispered with a single nod "There's still a war to finish though Shadow, we've got to see this thing to the end." He turned his head towards the main area of the saloon, watching many towns-ponies and Lunar Guard interact and trade news about the world and the war against 'The Afflicted'. "Once we wipe out the last of them...then you and I can go vacationing in Zebrica, how's that sound?"

"Too be brutally honest Nightfire...I'm rather tired of being hunted of savage animals." Shadow grumbled with a roll of his eyes "Zebrica is the number one capital of predatory animals...I think I can do without a safari or two under my saddle-belt."

"Your loss...I heard the zebras there are really...really cute." Nightfire gave a childish chuckle with a wink of his eye, drawing another sigh out of Shadow and a firm shake of his head.

A few quiet moments passed between the two when suddenly the wooden, shutter like doors of the saloon burst open with a loud 'BANG!', a loud holler passing through as three Lunar Guard stumbled inside "Make way! I got an injured guard here! Bring up a table!!!"

Shadow-Mane whipped his head towards the voice and gasped "I know that vo- MOON-LANCE!". The rest of Shadow Squad: Moon-Lance and Wind-Weaver had stumbled in the bar, with Sky-Driver draped across Wind's back. It looked like the Guard's armor had been shattered in several places, his face scrunched up into a look of pain and droplets of blood dripping from his wings.

"Holy shit! What the hell happened to you three!?" Nightfire shouted as several guards dragged a table up towards the trio. The Captain and Seargent quickly made their way over to their comrades as Sky was gently eased onto the table.

"Thunder-Hoof..." wheezed Moon-Lance as a Lunar Guard approached the side of the table, his saddle-bags stamped with the mark of a red cross. The guard began to treat the injured Pegasus as Wind-Weaver gingerly took a mug of water offered to him, drinking is heavily before letting out a heavy sigh and gasping "Bastard caught us off guard when we landed to rest. I'm surprised we didn't hear him coming...it was like he came out of nowhere. We were getting away just fine until the shithead thew a ROCK at us. Sky-Driver took a hit...he's lucky to be alive."

Nightfire shivered as Shadow-Mane put a hoof on Moon's shoulder "Anything else soldier? Afflicted movements? Any message from Canterlot?"

"None Captain..." started Moon-Lance, his voice slightly hoarse. He muttered as Wind passed him his mug "As far as we could tell, the plains and skies were empty. The Afflicted around Cloudsdale took off in a mighty big hurry to the north after the city went up in a poof of magic."

Shadow-Mane facehoofed and let out a low grumble as the medic draped white bandages over Sky's injured wings. "Well..." Shadow said after a moment "It's good to have you three back with us, we're back to full strength!"

Moon and Wind nodded with narrow eyes and a smile just before a groan was breathed through Sky-Driver's lips. The group turned their heads towards him as the Pegasus weakly whispered "Are we there yet...? I think...I smell pie..."

"Sky!" Moon exclaimed with glee "You ok bud? How're you feeling?!" Sky opened his left eye slowly, the whites cracked with bloodshot red. He drew in a shuddering breath and winced as the medic continued to patch him up. "I've...been better," Sky whispered "Hurt's a bit...but I've taken worse. Won't be too long...until I can...get back up on...h...hooves..."

His eyes drooped slowly as Nightfire put a gentle hoof on the top of his head and muttered "Take it easy soldier...rest...you're safe now."

Sky finally let his eyes close, sleep taking him in a warm embrace. Shadow looked towards the medic who continued his work and asked "Will he be ok?"

The medic, waiting until he tied off one of the bandages, looked up towards the Captain and nodded "Yes sir, it was only a few lacerations on his wings and a bit of a concussion. He looks to be slightly dehydrated, so a steady dosage of water, food, and rest will have him on his hooves within a day or so."

The Captain nodded as the wooden doors once again banged with the hurried entry of a pony. It was a panicked looking Rainbow Dash this time, the cyan mare being closely followed by a confused looking Macintosh and a bewildered looking Braeburn. "Miss Dash?" Shadow asked, raising one of his eyebrows "Is everything alright?"

"No, no it's not alright!" Rainbow said, a worried tone clearly audible in her voice "Braeburn told me about a runaway train that's been going back and forth past Appleloosa...there's a mark on the side of the train that, from what Braeburn describes, is a mark that I know! I know the identity of one of the Carrier's, possibly the one who attacked Cloudsdale!"

Nightfire's eyes widened as Shadow-Mane's narrowed. Moon-Lance looked between the mare and his Captain for a moment before muttering "Um...did I miss something?"

"Later...Moon," Shadow said quietly. He diverted his eyes back to Rainbow Dash and whispered "We should head back to our table...we'll be able to talk there."

"Ah gotta get back to the roofs n' check the outskirts again...you stayin' here cous'?" Braeburn asked, drawing a simple nod and a 'Eeyup' out of Big Macintosh. With Braeburn's departure, the remaining six headed back towards the rear table and took a seat.

Once they were all comfortable, Shadow asked quietly to Rainbow Dash who was sitting across from him "Alright...let's hear it."

"Oh no you don't..." Rainbow growled "You want information? Then we TRADE for it! You start talking like you promised you would, and then I'll fill you in about The Carrier's identity."

Shadow-Mane sighed heavily, facehooving for the second time that day as Moon-Lance muttered with wide-eyes "She knows about The Carrier's?"

"She knows a lot more than that..." Nightfire whispered "Just...let the Captain explain."

Everypony at the table turned their attention to Shadow-Mane, who sat with his stare fixated on the table before him. The colt was quiet for a few moments before finally he sighed and looked up towards Rainbow Dash. With a sad tone in his voice, he muttered "I suppose I do owe you an explanation...or at least a better one...after all this time. Alright..." He leaned back in his chair and looked up towards the ceiling as he began.

"I've lost count of how many years it's been since me and Nightfire...hell...all of us, encountered 'Ravage'. It was back around the time of the formation of Shadow Squad...I was just getting out of officer academy as a Seargent and was only freshly assigned to Shadow Squad under Captain Night-Mare. She was a fiery lass...stubborn as a mule but tough as nails. Nightfire was a fresh transfer as well, and together us three formed the basis of the squad. Night-Mare had tested us to the max, trying her hardest to determine our greatest potential and to see if we really had what it took to operate in her squad. Of course, we passed with flying colors, and were granted the privilege of selecting three other members to join our squad. After much deliberation, me and Nightfire settled on Moon-Lance, Wind-Weaver, and Sky-Driver. Together, us six became the toughest of the tough, and the most elite of all The Lunar Guard."

He paused to take a drink of water, clearing his throat and staring towards Rainbow Dash who was staring back at him with a look of intensity. "Anyway," he continued "I was doing a bit of desk work one day when Captain Night-Mare summons me to the Royal Chambers in Canterlot Castle. I go with haste, and make it just in time to meet up with Nightfire, who was also summoned. The Captain wasted no time in having us stand on her left and right and to have us escort her to the science department of the castle. Upon arriving, we were met by several different scientists, and Princess Celestia herself. It was there that we were introduced to the 'Ravage' Virus, and..the first Carrier."

At this, Rainbow Dash held up a hoof and muttered "Hold on...'first' Carrier? I thought this thing escaped from a bunker in the Everfree forest, that's what you told us back in Canterlot!"

At this, Shadow-Mane bit his bottom lip and looked towards the mare. "Rainbow Dash...I have to choose my next words carefully as they are...well...they're magically tabooed...."

"Um...taboo-whatty?" Macintosh asked, scratching his head.

"It means that the information was so classified, that if I uttered it to improper authority...Princess Luna and Princess Celestia would know about it...and I'd be executed for treason."

"Holy shit..." Rainbow gasped "No wonder you didn't want to talk! Your life was on the line!" She paused to receive a sad nod from Shadow before whispering "I'm...I'm sorry, if I had known so much was at stake I wouldn't have pressured you so much to talk."

Shadow-Mane simply shook his head and sighed "No...it's ok. Somepony has the right to know...The Element of Loyalty included. Anyway...I can't tell you much...but I can tell you this." He paused for a moment, his voice and tone one of carefulness...as if he were treading on thin ice. "Rainbow Dash..." he whispered, leaning his head in slowly and staring deeply into her magenta eyes as he uttered the words that drove a shiver through her bones:

"This is not the first time the Ravage Virus has been unleashed...Ponyville was not the first to fall."

Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped slightly as Shadow-Mane leaned back in his seat and sighed "The mission that Shadow-Squad received a few days after we were briefed on the virus was a kill-order. It was more of an experimental attack than an actual tactical move. I cannot detail the exact orders...but it concerned the Gryphons. They've been encroaching on our lands longer than anypony actually realizes, even before the second defeat of Discord by the Elements." He gave Rainbow a grim look as he went on "There was a fail-safe...believe it or not...to the 'Ravage'. All Carriers have a deep, magical ability to purge the virus itself and purify it. Granted, the Carrier would have to be a pony of EXTREME power to pull that kind of magical discharge off, and nine out of ten times it ends in their immediate death. A bubble of gigantic magic pulses outwards from the Carrier when it's launched, purifying and curing any Afflicted that is touched by the magic. It's the only known cure to the 'Ravage', and because Carrier's brains are so warped and demented by the disease...it's almost impossible to get them to use their Purge."

"But...but what about the Carrier that you met? What happened with your mission?" Rainbow Dash asked, her eyes wide.

"It failed..." Shadow-Mane whispered, his eyes flicking off to the side "...it was quite a miserable end...and it was around that time we were ordered to retreat. We so nearly succeeded too...until somepony screwed it all up. It was just as we were getting home that the Ponyville Incident was just starting to take shape. The 'Ravage' Virus and its experiments were moved to the Everfree Forest, away from prying eyes and concerned citizens. It was actually a fluke that it escaped into the world...nopony's still sure how. As for the Carrier that we met in Canterlot...that's classified."

"So...were the Gryphons immune?" Rainbow Dash asked "You said your orders were a kill-order, and that it concerned the Gryphons. As devastating as the 'Ravage' has been to us, how bad was it for them?"

"Like I said...the mission ended in failure Rainbow Dash...I couldn't tell you what exactly happened to the Gryphons...only that they're still around. Why they haven't attacked us in our weakest state...I still don't know. I was lying when I said they didn't want our diseased land. They still would have attacked regardless of what's been happening in Equestria. The rest...well, I can't say. It's all strictly classified." Shadow-Mane finished with a heavy sigh, allowing Rainbow Dash and Macintosh to soak in the information.

After a few moments, Rainbow Dash nodded and whispered "Thank you Shadow-Mane...it's very brave of you to speak about things like this when your life is at stake." He nodded, taking a swig of his water before she went on "And now...about my end of the bargain. Based on what Braeburn's told me about the mark that's covering the runaway train, I think the Carrier is a mare named Trixie, a unicorn who I thought was supremely weak in magic...but if she's a Carrier, that can only mean she's extremely powerful. You said all The Carrier's were incredibly powerful with magic didn't you?"

Shadow-Mane nodded and said "Indeed, you'd have to be a very powerful Unicorn to be able to control the 'Ravage' Virus. Are you sure that The Carrier is this...'Trixie' mare?"

"I'm about...twenty percent positive" Rainbow Dash sighed with a shrug "I'm only going on what Braeburn described to me. If we're going to get any real answers...we're going to have to either stop that train, or take a ride on it..."

The Captain nodded and turned his head to Big Macintosh, asking "Macintosh, does Braeburn know when the train will be coming back?"

"Ah'm...not too sure" Macintosh began, scratching his head "Ah'm sure we could ask him...last ah heard him speak of it, that train was going to be on its way from Manehatten this time around, then it's gonna come back after a few hours n' go back to the city."

At this, the Captain nodded and turned his head to the rest of his squad before saying "Right, then it looks like we've got a train to catch. Let's go talk to Braeburn."

~*~

"The train...? Oh...should be here in about...thirty minutes or so by mah count, why ya'll ask?" Braeburn told the Captain, tipping back his stetson and looking up towards the colt.

Shadow nodded and replied "We're planning on flagging down that train...see if we can't contact The Carrier controlling it. If that fails...then we'll board the train itself as it travels back towards Manehatten."

"Well...alright, don't get yourself killed now, ya hear?" Braeburn warned, turning back towards the small ladder propped up against the house and beginning his slow climb upwards.

Shadow-Mane trotted back towards Shadow Squad, Rainbow Dash, and Big Macintosh. "Alright...we've got about half an hour before that train shows up...Rainbow dash, you ready?"

"Yeah, no problem!" Rainbow exclaimed "All I'm doing is calling out her name. If she reacts, then we'll know it's her. If not...well then I don't know, guess I would be wrong."

"Alright then..." Shadow muttered "let's get into position."

~*~ Thirty Minutes later... ~*~

Shadow-Mane peered out from behind a rock next to the graveyard, his eyes scanning the railroad tracks and the station carefully. Beside him, Nightfire shook his head "This is so not a good idea...what if this...Trixie, reacts badly?"

"I don't know how she'd react negatively Nighty..." Shadow muttered "Unless of course her and Rainbow Dash weren't the best of friends. Either way...everything should be ok."

From the roof of the train station, Moon-Lance and Rainbow Dash waved their hoofs, and from a small bush across the railroad tracks from Shadow-Mane, waved Wind-Weaver and Big Macintosh. With a simple nod, Shadow-Mane slunk back behind his rock and waited. "Captain..." Nightfire suddenly asked in a whisper, drawing Shadow-Mane to turn his head. "In case things go sour..." he began, but was hastily cut off by the Captain

"Don't..." he muttered, shaking his head "Think positive Nighty, like always since Anchor-Wing."

"I know Captain...I just wanted to say..." Nightfire sighed, taking a moment to draw in a breath before looking into Shadow's eyes to say "It's been an honor, sir."

"No Night..." Shadow said with a smile "The honor was all mine. Thank all four of you, for being the best squad that there could ever be in Equestria...and thank you Nightfire...for being my best friend."

The two shared a quick brohoof before the sounds of the train reached their ears, the steady 'clackity clack' of the steel wheels on the tracks growing louder and louder by each second. "Here we go..." Shadow whispered, peering his head over the rock with Nightfire's and looking down the tracks. The train looked as if it had been through a hurricane as it drew closer. The wood of the cars looked slightly rotted and untreated, the engine car vomiting out black clouds of choking death. It appeared Braeburn was right, as the train was absolutely smothered in the mark that he described, painted in what Shadow-Mane hoped wasn't blood.

"Captain...look!" Nightfire gasped, pointing with a hoof. Shadow looked to where his hoof pointed, to the roof of the fourth car, and his eyes widened. There, standing with all four hooves planted firmly against the roof, was The Carrier. Her horn was aglow with pink magic. "Her magic...that's got to be her! It's the same mare!"

As the train drew closer, Rainbow Dash leaped from the roof of the train station and fanned out her wings, hovering as she turned towards the train and drew in a deep breath. She waited until she knew The Carrier was within earshot and was able to scream above the sound of the train before shouting at the top of her lungs "TRIIXXXXEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!"

The Carrier aboard the train snapped her head upwards, her horn gleaming with pinkish magic. She took a good look at Rainbow Dash before she let out a piercing cry and stamped her front hooves against the car. She hollered at the top of her lungs as the train passed through the station, her back flashing and two magically-pink wings emerged from her back. She took off as the train barreled through the town, passing by and continuing down towards the south. She flew up and hovered at least thirty feet away from Rainbow Dash, her voice dripping with malice and hate "You! How DARE you speak to me after the misery and shame you put me through! You and the rest of your Elements deserve to BURN for what you've done to me and my Precious Ones!"

"You're CRAZY Trixie!" Rainbow Dash hollered, pointing an accusing hoof towards the mare "You tell me I should burn!? What about you!? You're the one who destroyed Cloudsdale, slaughtered countless innocents and made a heap ton of ponies homeless! It wasn't even our fault for that day in Ponyville! You were the one who boasted and ranted like she was the number one Unicorn in Equestria! Newsflash kiddo, that ain't you! That title belongs to Twilight Sparkle, and you had no right to say different! How could you even use the excuse of that day in Ponyville to commit mass Genocide against all of Equestria!?"

At this, Trixie simply laughed, the mare dropping back her hood and removing her mask. Rainbow Dash gasped as the mask fell away and her face was revealed, the whites of her eyes gleaming with the color of her blood along with the gleaming violet of her eye color. Her cheek was adorned with three slash-like scars, and her mane was messy and disheveled. "Twilight Sparkle you say....?" Trixie said with a sinister smile and a knowing tone, ignoring the jab about that fateful day in Ponyville "How long it has been since I've seen her...I can't recall really the taste of her from Ponyville...I truly wonder how she's doing."

"What are you talking about?! What did you do to her!?" Rainbow Dash screeched, drawing an evil chuckle from the depths of Trixie's lungs.

"Silly girl!" Trixie roared, her horn flaring with magic "I did what you all could not! I gave her friends that wouldn't abandon her in the world, like you did! Not one of you came for her, not one of you searched! I was there for her, and I helped her rise to a power that she only thought existed in her dreams! Some Element of Loyalty you are, not even pushing to form a search party for her great, 'benevolent' leader!"

"C...Captain..?" Nightfire whispered with a shiver "She...she doesn't mean that she...she didn't!"

"I think so Nightfire..." Shadow whispered with wide eyes, peering over carefully towards the bush where Big Macintosh had been hiding. The workhorse's eyes were wide with horror and his jaw was agape, the meaning of the mare's words making sense to him as well.

"What...what did you do to her!?" Rainbow Dash screamed, tears brimming in her eyes "What did you do!? ANSWER ME!!!"

"I gave her freedom...freedom and her own city to play with and rule with as many friends as she wants." Trixie answered with a sneer "And for you...I give you death." Before anypony could say more, Trixie's horn gleamed with a bright light, the mare launching a ball of magic outwards and hurling it towards the graveyard near Shadow-Mane. It exploded with intense force, pushing the two colts in hiding against the rock as the magic it released seeped into the ground. "Perhaps you'll thank me one day, Rainbow Dash." Trixie giggled as she enveloped herself with magic "Until then...I'll see you at the gates of hell themselves, right after I begin the siege of Canterlot!"

She vanished with a spell of teleportation as Rainbow Dash hollered "No! STOP! COME BACK!" She was already gone however, drawing Rainbow to swear and to fly back towards Shadow-Mane. She was joined shortly after by the rest of Shadow Squad and Big Macintosh, who had tears running down his face.

"T...tell me that mare didn't mean what ah think she meant! Tell me it ain't true!" he cried, staring into Shadow-Mane's eyes.

"M...Macintosh." Shadow began, his voice shaky as he tried to break it to the stallion as best as he could "Trixie...The Carrier, said she couldn't recall the taste of her. The Virus is passed through bodily fluids...saliva being one of them. And with Twilight as powerful in magic as she is...it can only mean that she's a Car-"

"NO!" Macintosh roared, getting in Shadow-Mane's face "TAIN'T TRUE! NONE OF IT! Ah don't believe a word that damned mare was spoutin', not one!"

"Take it easy Macintosh!" Nightfire said, trying his best to put some distance between the two "We don't have time for this! Didn't you hear what Trixie said, she's going to BESIEGE Canterlot, our last stand! We need to hightail it back to the city before she gets there, we need to warn Princess Luna!"

"Ya'll can go..." Macintosh growled, turning his back on the group "Ah'm goin' after that mare, and ah'm boarding that train!"

"WHAT!?" came the unified shout of the group, followed by Rainbow Dash's weak cry "No Macintosh, that's suicide! We need you in Canterlot!"

"Don't ya understand Miss Dash!?" Macintosh hollered as he turned to face the Rainbow Mare "Ah've come too far to just give up now! Didn't ya hear what that Trixie mare said!? She said all of us abandoned Twi', and that ain't true at all! Ah've come out in search of her, ah haven't given up on her! Ah love her Rainbow Dash, and ah ain't gonna quit lookin' till Ah've found her or until ah die tryin'!"

Shadow-Mane stared towards the stallion with a look of admiration on his face and nodded "Alright...then I'll go to."

"Captain!?" gasped his squad mates, the colts unsure if they heard him or not.

"You heard me!" Shadow barked, looking amongst his fellow soldiers with narrowed eyes "I owe it to Twilight Sparkle, if what Trixie says is true, and Twilight is now a Carrier, it can only mean that the night she disappeared, she had left to combat the Afflicted at its source! I bet you more than anything that it was HER that de-horned Celestia! She made the ultimate sacrifice in the hopes that she could stop the bloodshed, and end this madness! I won't let her sacrifice be in vain! If she's still alive and she's still a carrier, then we still have a shot! We could reason with her, get her to use her Purge! WE CAN STOP THE RAVAGE VIRUS ONCE AND FOR ALL!"

"But...Captain that could kill her!" Nightfire gasped "Nine times out of ten, remember!?" Shadow turned his head to Big Macintosh, who had a sorrowful look in his eyes. He knew it was true...he knew that Twilight could be the only way to stop the Ravage, to finally put Equestria back to the way it was.

"Macintosh..." Shadow whispered, drawing a nod out of the stallion before he went on.

"E...Eeyup...," he said with a shudder "All ah want is to see her again...ah'm not too sure about the Purge but...all ah want is to just see her again..."

Shadow-Mane nodded, but suddenly...his ears perked. The sounds of the train were coming back in the distance, causing the group to turn their heads towards the tracks. "Odd..." whispered the Captain "Didn't Braeburn say it was an interval of six hours between the train visits?"

"Perhaps we forced her hoof?" Nightfire offered, listening to the train far off in the distance.

"At any rate," Shadow Mane growled "I'm going with Big Macintosh, the rest of you will take what Lunar Guard we have here and head back to Canterlot. If there's anything we've gotten out of Trixie today, it's that Twilight may be in Manehatten. It's the only other major city in Equestria, so-"

He was cut off by a voice nearby "Count me in too!"

The group turned their heads and gasped as Sky-Driver made his way over, his wings and right leg covered in bandages. "Sky, what are you doing up!?" Nightfire hollered "You're supposed to be resting!"

"Ha!" laughed the injured colt "And miss out on the greatest battles of Equestrian History? Pfff, with all due respect Sarge, but fuck that noise. I'm going with Captain Shadow-Mane and Macintosh."

"Sky-Driver..." Shadow said with concern "You sure you're fit to travel and fight? Luna only knows how many Afflicted are going to be swarming in Manehatten."

With a firm nod, Sky winked and said "You can count on me, I won't go down without a fight! Besides, three is a lot safer than two!"

The group looked towards Shadow, who for a moment bit his bottom lip and turned the idea over in his head. Finally, the Captain sighed and nodded "Alright Sky, you're in. The rest of you, get to Canterlot as soon as po-"

'CRACK!!!!'

The group grew still as a thunderous cracking noise echoed out from behind them, towards the graveyard. Shadow-Mane slowly turned his head towards the site and his eyes fell upon a cracked gravestone. It was only then that they remembered the ball of magic Trixie had launched towards the graveyard. "No...way..." Nightfire gasped as another grave stone cracked "Shadow...NO WAY!"

"SHIT!" Shadow-Mane cursed, turning his head towards the group and shouting "You need to warn Braeburn, NOW! Nightfire, get to him and tell them we've got imminent danger!"

"No need!" came the familiar shout of Braeburn as he trotted over from near the Train Station "Ah saw that light show from all the way across town! What's all the fuss about?!"

"Braeburn," Shadow began with a tone of warning "You need to get your people out of this town, now! My Lunar Guard are leaving back towards Canterlot, it's in danger! You're in danger as well here, there are Shamblers on the way!"

At this, the Appleloosan colt raised an eyebrow and muttered "What in the sam hell is a Sham-"

"Nnnnnnnnnnhh......"

The group slowly turned their heads towards the Graveyard as the sound of earth splitting reached their ears. A hoof had pushed its way through the ground, rotten meat and bone visible across its length. All around, the other sixty or so graves began to shift and move as well. "Those...are Shamblers" Shadow-Mane growled "Undead Afflicted, almost impossible to kill. I need to move my ponies out of here, now! I suggest you do the same Braeburn!"

Braeburn, however, simply chuckled and shook his head as he hollered "Aw hell naw! Ya'll must not know that much about us. We've spent too long and shed too much of our own blood to keep this here town alive and on the map! We ain't just gonna' abandon it now! Ya'll can up n' leave back to Canterlot...but we...we're gonna fight for OUR land!"

"Cous', that's suicide! Listen to the Captain!" Macintosh spoke with urgency as more rotten hooves began to burst from the ground, the first of the Undead Afflicted beginning to pull themselves out of the ground. Rainbow Dash nearly hurled as she saw the first full hunk of one, a mare with a tiny amount of mane, her body shrunken and rotting away. Her eye sockets were filled with two orbs of bright red light, and her teeth were dripping with blood.

"Don't argue the fact with me Cous'!" Braeburn hollered back, a determined look on his face "We're gonna stay in fight! Somepony's got to take a stand against all this, right? Well, here's ours! Ya'll take care now, and ah hope ya find Miss Sparkle! Good luck out there Cousin Macintosh!"

After a moment, Macintosh simply gave him a small smile and nodded, whispering "You too...Cousin Braeburn."

Shadow-Mane wasted no time in turning towards Nightfire and ordering quickly "Night, take the squad and the guards to Canterlot, we'll meet you there...hopefully not too late after the siege has begun. Go!"

The group nodded and swiftly departed, leaving Sky, Macintosh, Shadow, and Braeburn alone near the graveyard. "Anything ya'll know about em...to help us fight?" Braeburn asked the Captain, to which he nodded.

"Plenty" Shadow muttered, turning his head towards Braeburn and saying "They're slow, but devastating in numbers. They may look like the zombies you've read about in bed-time stories...but these won't go down with a simple bullet or stab to the skull. You gotta cut their entire head off, and then burn it." Braeburn's eyes widened as the Captain went on "Exactly, it's the virus itself keeping the entire body alive, it becomes its new brain. The virus can control muscle movement while it still has a path from its head downwards to the limbs. You cut off the head, you stop em from walking! Just be careful when approaching them, alright?!"

Braeburn nodded and with a tip of his stetson hollered "Will do, ya'll get on outta here now, we'll take care of this!" Without another word, Braeburn scampered off, hollering towards the town to ring the alarm bell, and to prepare for a pretty tight scuffle.

"Alright..." Shadow muttered as he turned back towards the tracks "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

"Eeeyup!" Macintosh hollered, followed by a "Aye Captain!" from Sky-Driver.

The train had returned, except this time, Trixie was not on top of it. It seemed to be moving slower this time, making Shadow-Mane smile as he turned towards Sky "Alright...I'll carry you aboard, we'll enter in from the caboose." He then turned his head towards Macintosh and asked "You think you can catch that back bar on the balcony of the caboose car?"

"Eeyup," Macintosh answered with a chuckle "Done it back before all this blood n' stuff. Was late for a mighty few train rides down here to Appleloosa, had to catch the back end plenty o' times."

"Alright then...here we go." Shadow-Mane muttered, feeling the weight of Sky as he clambered aboard the Captain's back. The train passed by quickly as Shadow fanned out his wings and took flight, strained only slightly by his soldier's weight. They landed firmly on the Caboose card as Macintosh took a stunning leap forward, hooking his front two hooves on the back bar of the balcony. He steadily pulled himself onto solid ground as Shadow dropped down onto the balcony himself, depositing Sky right next to him. After the three had situated themselves and caught their breath, Shadow-Mane whispered "Ready?"

With a nod from the both of them, Shadow-Mane quietly slid the door open to the caboose, and the three of them crept stealthily into the interior of the train.

The door closed quietly just after them.