Apocalyptic Equestria

Chapter Three

I awoke, my neck aching slightly. Overnight, zombies had trailed below me, apparently drawn to the light and sounds coming from inside of Apple Loosa. The noise had died down, and it was pretty much silent. I hopped down from the tree and started to trot towards the town. It was walled off completely. Seemed like there was no way in or out.

I saw a little door with a note on it. I read it and stepped back.

“Welcome to the Apple Loosa Arena?” I read further, and learned that they used Apple Loosa as a zombie AND survivor killing arena. You could enter along with many other ponies, but only one came out alive.

“My gosh... things have changed immensely. I mean look at it! They not only kill zombies, but each other!” I walked around the town and saw another door. This one had a sign that read:

Welcome to Apple Loosa! Hope you enjoy your stay! This town is under strict surveillance by Celestia’s Royal Guard. You can enter and stay, but if you want to leave to anywhere North of here, you MUST enter in the arena. Thank you.

-Royal Guard

I knocked on the door. It took a few moments, but it opened. I stepped inside and the sight didn’t surprise me. Most of the ponies were sick or dying. One was being tested on. He had been bitten. I guessed that they were trying to make some kind of medicine for immunity to the plague. I laughed a little. There probably was no cure and no such thing as immunity.

One of the scientists turned my way and asked, “And just what are you laughing at little foal?” I drooped my ears, embarrassed, and responded, “Nothing sir. Nothing.” He nodded slowly, then turned away. I walked off towards the town square. There was an entire market! I sold Peanut Butter’s journal and bought a few apples. I saw a weapon shop.

“This place might come in handy. If only I had more bits. Um... excuse me? Do you know where I could get some more money?” The pony at the booth said that they needed somepony to go and pick the apples, but everypony was too scared to go and get them.

“I’ll go and do it!” She laughed and said, “Well aren’t you a cute little fella? Now go run along.” I told her, “I’m not kidding. I can go and get them.” She shrugged and led me to the Mayor’s Office. When we stepped in, she said, “I have a little foal here that wants to go out and pick the apples out in the orchard!” A lot of the ponies looked at me and laughed.

I stomped my hoof on the ground and yelled, “OH YEAH?! YOU DON’T THINK THAT I CAN DO IT? JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE!” And with that, I stormed out of the office and ran into the orchard. I didn’t know that the job was going to be dangerous at all. I began bucking at the trees with all my strength. I got three baskets full, and when I brought those to the market, I was paid a fair wage.

I went back out and continued bucking at the trees. Some of the Royal Guard came out and watched me from a distance. They had underestimated my strength. Just because I was a little foal didn’t mean that I couldn’t do hard work. They sent for some ponies to come and collect the baskets. I would then be given more money for collecting the apples.

I felt good, doing something for this sad place. The ponies went inside. The only ones that stayed were the Royal Guard members. When they began going inside, I stopped, grabbed my baskets, and started to slowly go towards the doors. Just then, I was shoved to the floor. The apples rolled across the ground and I yelled for help. The guard turned around just in time to see the zombies latch its teeth into my leg.

I yelled out in pain, and kicked him off me. I stood up lazily and toppled over. The guard came over and finished the zombie off. Then he came over to me and asked if he should finish me.

“No,” I whispered, “take me to the scientists. I might be of use.” He nodded, and I faded out. When I awoke, I was restrained to a cold metal bed. A few scientists loomed over me, their faces awestruck.

“What? What are you looking at?” One took off his face mask and said, “We ran some tests while you were unconscious. Your blood... it showed that you are immune to the virus. You can’t turn into one of those zombies. You are invincible to their bites.”

My eyes widened and I exclaimed, “Immune! What the heck! I thought I was a goner. And now to learn that I’m immune! Wow!” They all nodded in unison. I looked at myself and asked, “Why am I restrained?” One responded, “We didn’t want you to attack if you had turned.” I nodded slowly and said, “Untie me please.”

“Right.. of course. Right away.” Once I was loose, I wandered about the facilities. It wasn’t much, just a small make-shift hospital. I walked out into the brisk, dry air. There was an entire crowd standing outside, as if they were waiting for me to appear. And when I did, a whole lot of them started cheering.

Some tried charging at me screaming, “We need his blood! He can save us all!” They were taken away from the scene and I continued walking. I was given a ton of bits, which almost made me cry. I was told that I should go and enter in the tournament in the arena.

“Me? Go into there? Oh no. You don’t know what you are talking about. It’s a blood bath!” One just looked at me and said, “We all contributed in making you some of the toughest armor we could. It might be of use if you win.” I sat down and thought about entering in the tournament.

“Okay, but as long as you guys believe in me.” They all cheered and followed me as I went to sign up. That night, I would become something I never thought I would become... a true monster.