Beating an Undead Pony

“And where exactly do you plan on going?”

Rainbow Dash hovered a few feet over the station platform. Gilda stood before her with the same condescending glare Rainbow Dash was all too familiar with.

“You heard me, Dash. Ponyville’s not for me.” Gilda looked over at the train just in time for the engine’s whisle to sound. “Better I just take off now.”

“Why?”

Gilda lept forward in surprise. Rainbow Dash smiled in relief. “Good to see you are able to sneak up on somepony other than me, Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself. Pinkie trotted over to Gilda’s side, who pushed Pinkie away before she could get too close.

“Get away from me you pink pest.” Gilda snapped. “If there’s anyone I’m not gonna let chain me down to this dump it certainly isn’t you.” Gilda then turned her attention to Rainbow Dash, her stern expression softening slightly. “Look, Dash, I staying in one place will get me killed. If you were smart you’d do the same.”

“That’s not true.” Pinkie noted. “We’ve stayed together and we’re all just fine.”

“Said the pony with the slashed throat.” Gilda replied. Rainbow Dash landed onto the platform and walked right up to Gilda, her muzzle only a few inches from Gilda’s beak.

“You were the one who did that to her!”

“Yeah. I did. You want to know why that happened?” Gilda pushed Rainbow Dash out of her face before continuing. Part of her hated that she had to explain herself, especially to Rainbow Dash. “Because I was trying to stay alive. Being in large groups mean your going to run the risk of exactly that happening. By yourself….” Gilda stopped herself. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie realized she was staring at something. Surely enough, a zombie pony was slowly dragging its decaying form onto the platform. “Here we go.”

Gilda pushed past Rainbow Dash. “Hey wait a minute!” Rainbow Dash called out to Gilda. She simply ignored Rainbow Dash as she stared at the zombie pony, and waited until it was in striking distance. Her contempt filled expression didn’t change as she dug her talons into the zombie pony’s head.

“These things are the only thing I need to worry about. Staying on the move by myself ensures that.” Gilda explained. “I say pack up and leave this dump and do the same.”

Rainbow Dash felt a lump form in her throat. Part of her hoped Gilda would get over herself some day. She just won’t change. “No.”

Gilda turned away from Rainbow Dash and Pinkie. After not responding, Pinkie took a step forward. Gilda’s wings perked up, and avoided eye contact. “Then I guess this is good bye, Dash.”

“Come on. You don’t have to go. Stay with us.” Pinkie trotted over to Gilda’s side, but the griffon flapped her wings and started to hover into the air. “Gilda!” Pinkie cried. She twisted her neck to get a better look at Gilda’s face. And for the brief glimps she was able to get, she saw Gilda had shut her eyes tight, tears were streaming down her face. Pinkie stopped moving as Gilda took off at top speed, flying away from Ponyville.

Rainbow dash stomped her hoof. “Gilda. You just don’t care about anypony but yourself.”

Pinkie turned back to face Rainbow Dash. “You’re not going after her?”

“What’s the point?” Rainbow Dash lowered her head. She made her way towards the nearest train car. She stopped when she felt Pinkie’s foreleg wrapped a foreleg around her neck. “She’s not worth it anymore Pinkie.”

“B-but she was your friend.”

“Yeah. Was.” Rainbow Dash wanted to just move on, but the ache in her heart wasn’t letting her. Stupid heart!

“No! Not stupid!” Pinkie exclaimed. Before Rainbow Dash had the chance to ask how Pinkie knew what she was thinking, Pinkie gave Rainbow Dash a big hug. “You have to believe she will be back! When have you ever given up on a friend before?”

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath, putting more thought into the question than she felt she should be. “I….”

“Would you kindly get in the train!”

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie’s attention was drawn to Rarity, who was leaning out the window of one of the passenger cars. “We have to get some answers from Fancy Pants. And I would prefer it if we do so as soon as possible!”

“Okie, dokey lokie!” Pinkie replied, pulling Rainbow Dash not into the same passenger car as the one Rarity and the others were waiting, but in one of the empty ones. Pinkie looked back outside with anticipation, holding a hoof over Rainbow Dash’s mouth. A big smile appeared on Pinkie’s face as the train started moving.

Understandably confused, Rainbow Dash pushed Pinkie’s hoof away from her muzzle so she could speak. “What are you doing?”

Pinkie looked over at both ends of the passenger car. Using speed usually reserved for Rainbow Dash herself, Pinkie ran to both ends of the passenger car and locked both doors. “There we go. Now we can’t be interrupted.”

Now Rainbow Dash was really curious. “What are you up to, Pinkie?”

Pinkie placed a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s chest. “I’m gonna make you feel better. Just remember, don’t tell anypony. Pinkie promise!”

Make me feel good eh? Time to find out what you did to make Fluttershy feel better. “Cross my heart and hope to fly.”

“Stick a cupcake in my eye!” Pinkie continued, mimicking the very action she was saying.

Spike looked back and forth from the passenger car door to Twilight, Applejack, and the Cake Twins, all of whom were also staring with anticipation. Rarity on the other hoof had her attention drawn to the passing scenery. The door leading to the engine opened, and in came Fluttershy.

“What’s going on?” Fluttershy asked. Spike folded his arms and shrugged.

“Pinkie and Dash are up to something.” Spike explained. Almost immediately Fluttershy turned bright red.

“Oh. Um. Ok.” She muttered under her breath. Twilight, Applejack, Spike, and even the Cake Twins raised an eyebrow at Fluttershy’s choice of words. Fluttershy lowered her head, letting her mane cover half her face. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Pinkie’s doin’ what she did for ya in thar isn’t she?” Applejack asked.

“Fluttershy, tell us.” Twilight ordered. She regretted saying it immediately, leaping out of her seat so she could defend herself. “We’re just concerned.”

“Pinkie!”

“Promise!”

Spike sat next to the Cake Twins. “Hey, whose side are you on?”

“No.” Fluttershy gathered her courage, and trotted over to her friends. “I’m sorry. But Pound and Pumpkin are right. I Pinkie Promised.”

Twilight bit her lip. Sometimes she felt the Pinkie Promise was more of a hinderance than anything else. Applejack slumped in her seat in defeat.

“Ah fine. Be that way.”

“But Applejack…” Twilight started to say, but Applejack was quick to interrupt.

“Come on. This is a Pinkie Promise we’re talkin’ about. Fluttershy breaks it and Pinke will know.” Applejack said, speaking from experience.

“It certainly isn’t pretty.” Spike added. Rarity turned her attention to the others.

“Can we please focus on something else please?” Rarity got up from her seat and approached her fallen saddlebags. “There is still the matter of Princess Luna’s claims about Fancy Pants.”

“Wha? Ya don’t believe her? Ah doubt Princess Luna knows how to be a liar.” Applejack pointed out. Rarity stopped digging in her saddlebags to respond.

“Applejack, Fancy Pants is not the kind of pony who would try to destroy one city, let alone three. If there is any of the Canterlot elite that is a good pony, it is he.” Rarity explained. She looked over at Twilight, and her expression of disbelief. “It is true.”

Applejack tipped her hat to cover her eyes. “Cherry Jubiliee didn’t seem like a bad pony when Ah met her either.” She muttered under her breath.

Twilight scratched her neck. “Rarity. I know you respect Fancy Pants, Hoity Toity, Photo Finish and ponies like them…”

“If Princess Luna told you Starswirl the Bearded was not the pony history claims he was, surely you would be in doubt too.” Rarity interrupted. Spike walked over to Rarity’s side in mid rant. “Or somepony else like your brother? Or even Princess Celestia herself! You would want answers!”

“Yes…” Twilight said before thinking. “But I wouldn’t obsess over it.”

Spike rolled his eyes. “Yes you would.” He uttered under his breath, hoping Twilight couldn’t hear him. She did of course.

“Now who’s switching sides?” Twilight asked. Rarity held Spike close, which made the young dragon’s chest feel heavy.

“He is merely stating a fact. Isn’t that right, Spikey-wikey?” Rarity tilted her head slightly, giving her best lady smile. Feeling flustered, Spike started to babble incoherently.

“Not fair, Rarity.” Twilight groaned. Taking advantage of Spike’s crush. I thought you knew better. A minute of thought passed before Twilight thought up a good counter point. “Spike. You’ve been there before. Remember? The dragons during their migration? They didn’t live up to your expectations.”

Spike groaned. That day certainly wasn't a high point in his life. “Well. I-um….”

“Please. Don’t argue.” Fluttershy hovered a few inches over the floor, stopping between Twilight and Rarity. “It never helps.” Fluttershy looked out the window. The train had long passed grassy plains of Ponyville. The mountain ranges just outside the city of Baltimare were now the only thing in view. “We’re almost there.”

Trying to ignore the feelings of guilt, Rarity flipped her mane to regain her composure. “I suppose there is the bigger issue of what we are going to say to Fancy Pants.”

“Don’t see what more we need to ask other than ‘what the hay are ya doin’? Makes sense to me.” Applejack suggested.

“Well yes, but I would prefer to know if there is any truth to what Princess Luna said before saying anything of the sort.”

“And if he ain’t willin’ to reason?” Applejack asked.

“He will be.” Rarity said with determination. He gave me a chance. It is only fair I return the favor.

SSSSSLLLLLLLOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHH!

The train didn’t come to a complete stop, but the sudden decrease in speed was enough to knock Rarity and Fluttershy to the ground. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie burst into the passenger car. “What was that!” Rainbow Dash cried.

“Are we here?” Pinkie added. Fluttershy got back to her hooves.

“Oh no. Spike, could you come with me for a minute?” Fluttershy bolted to the end of the passenger car. Her heart sank at the sight of water leaking from the engine on the other side of the door.

“Fluttershy?” Spike backed away as Fluttershy opened the door. He was glad he did too, as the moment Fluttershy opened the door, water began flowing from the engine into the passenger car. “I’m not gonna like this.” Spike muttered as he and Fluttershy headed into the engine.

“Everypony look!” Rarity cried.

Twilight and Applejack joined her by the windows to get a good look. The city of Baltimare was getting closer, but even at the distance they were at, at least a mile away, they could still tell what happened. Most of the skyscrapers had collapsed into the flooded streets below.

“How could this happen?” Rarity asked nopony in particular. Twilight looked over at Rarity’s saddlebags, now floating in the water in the passenger car. She reached out with her magic and pulled out Rarity’s map of Equestria.

“Let me see.” Twilight’s eyes darted around Baltimare and its surounding areas. Baltimare was located right next to Horse Shoe Bay, which had a dam keeping the city safe from the coastline. “I think I see what caused this.”

Feeling determined, Rainbow Dash opened the window. “Only one way to find out.”

“Rainbow! You can’t go out there by yourself!” Rarity argued. Rainbow Dash was halfway out the window before climbing back inside to respond.

“Well were not going anywhere with the train. Might as well fly ahead to see if anypony’s still alive.”

“Good.”

“Luck.”

Rainbow Dash glanced over at the Cake Twins. “See, they’re confident in me.”

Twilight facehoofed. “Rainbow. They’re babies. Not exactly the most knowledgeable ponies.”

Pinkie let out a loud gasp. “Not knowledgeable ponies! How could you say that? They beat me at chess every time we play.”

“Check.”

“Mate.”

Pinkie’s ears drooped down in defeat. “See what I mean.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Well I don’t like the idea of splitting up. If we can get the train to go any farther….”

“Not gonna happen.”

The others turned their attention to Spike and Fluttershy as they re-emerged from the engine. “Whole thing’s flooded. No way I can light a fire with that coal.” Spike explained.

“What do we do now?” Fluttershy looked at the flooded city. “It’s not safe in there.” Fluttershy looked up as the train stopped. Twilight rubbed her chin as she started to think.

Rainbow Dash put her hooves against the window. “Well I can look at least. No flying zombies out there.”

“That you know of.” Rarity noted. “I’m sorry Rainbow, but you would be throwing your life away if you go out there.”

“Good thing I’m not going alone.” Rainbow Dash then turned her attention to Twilight and Fluttershy.

“W-wait. You don’t mean…” Fluttershy began to stutter, but Twilight was quick to interrupt.

“Dash, splitting up is not a good idea.” Twilight argued. She stood her ground as Rainbow Dash slammed the window shut and faced her. Twilight took a breath to avoid sounding too authoritive. “A zombie pony can sneak up on us if we are not in a large group.”

“Well we can’t just leave any survivors in there!” Rainbow Dash cried. “The flood couldn’t have gotten all of them!”

“Pony!”

“There!”

Spike glanced back outside. A single unicorn mare was swimming as fast as she could towards the train. “I see them.” Spike replied. The Mane Six scrambled back to the windows.

“I know her!” Rarity opened the window. “Upper Crust! This way!” Rarity shifted her gaze around the passenger car. “There has to be a life raft around here somewhere.”

Rainbow Dash flapped her wings. “Who needs life rafts when you got these babies?” Before anypony could stop her, Rainbow Dash darted out the window. “Help is on the way!” Rainbow Dash called out.

“Help!” A second voice called out. Rainbow Dash looked farther towards the city. Another unicorn mare was struggling to stay afloat. “Save me!”

“What about me?” Upper Crust called out.

“Hold your horses, I’m working on it!” Rainbow Dash snapped. Rainbow Dash’s ears perked up as she heard hooves smacking against the water. She looked down to see Rarity and Pinkie on a life raft, paddling towards Upper Crust.

“We will save her. Go help the other one.” Rarity ordered.

Rainbow Dash saluted before turning her attention to the other mare. Flapping her wings faster, Rainbow Dash flew towards the pink unicorn mare, grabbing her from under her forelegs. Rainbow Dash’s heart sank as when she pulled the mare out of the water, a zombie pony came up with, its teeth having dug deep into her flank.

“What are you waiting for? Kill it! Before it bites me!” The mare screamed. Rainbow Dash bit her tongue.

I save her, she dies later. I let her go, she dies right now. Neither is a very good option.

“Hurry!” the mare begged. “Its almost here!”

Rainbow Dash nodded back. “Ok. Now it is.” Rainbow Dash kicked downward with her hindlegs, breaking the zombie pony’s upper jaw, making it collapse back into the water.

“Thank you! Thank you so much! I thought I was a goner!” The mare hugged Rainbow Dash tightly.

“Yeah. You’re not going to want to thank me in a few minutes.” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself. Still holding onto the mare, Rainbow Dash flew back towards the train, but stopped short of entering as Rarity and Pinkie were still helping Upper Crust inside. The doorway had been opened partially to allow multiple ponies in at once.

Fluttershy peaked her head out the door. “Rainbow. Is she….”

“Unfortunately.” Rainbow Dash interrupted. The mare looked over her shoulder, fear started running through her body.

“What what is wrong with me?” The mare stammered. Rainbow Dash ignored her, instead carrying her into the passenger car.

Rarity turned her attention to the mare Rainbow Dash had rescued and recognized immediately. Even with her coat and mane soaking wet, much like Upper Crust, the mare was a pony that Rarity did not part on good terms with. “Hello Suri.”

Suri Polimare, Rarity’s former friend, pushed herself away from Rainbow Dash, standing tall specifically to defy Rarity. “Hello Rarity. I wasn’t expecting you of all ponies would survive.”

Rainbow Dash folded her forelegs. “And why is that?” Suri replied with a scoff. Upper Crust shook her head to dry herself off.

“Excuse me, but why are we still here?” She then turned her attention to Suri. “And why did you let one of those things in here?”

Twilight trotted over to Upper Crust’s side. “Now hold up. She’s alive. That’s why we came here. To find survivors.” Twilight explained.

“Yeah, about that…” Rainbow Dash pointed to Suri’s bite. Iritated, Suri glanced at her flank, and let out a loud wail.

“No! No that! Anything but that!” Suri begged. Rarity touched Twilight and pulled her aside from the rest of the group.

“Twilight, Suri stole my dress designs and almost made me loose Fasion Week… but I wouldn’t wish becoming a zombie on even her.”

Twilight twirled her hooves, feeling tension build up in her chest. Not again. “We can…. maybe… keep her comfortable until….”

“You all stay away from me!”

Twilight and Rarity turned back to Suri, who was backing away into the wall. Upper Crust continued moving back and forth between Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “Will one of you hurry up and kill this zombie!”

“I’m not a zombie! I’ll be fine. Really.” Suri covered her flank with her tail. “I can stitch this back up and be fine. I mean it.”

“That won’t work and you know it.” Upper Crust argued. Upper Crust put her hoof on Applejack’s chest, with the intent to get her to do as she said. Of course the moment Upper Crust touched Applejack, the former Canterlot Elite pony found herself smacked across the the face. “How dare you!”

Fluttershy bent down to try to help Upper Crust back up, but she turned her nose up at Fluttershy. “Please don’t be mad at Applejack. She’s just been through a lot.”

“I will feel better when we no longer have a zombie among us!” Upper Crust screamed.

“And what if it was your husband? Would you be so quick to kill Jet Set!” Suri snapped back. Upper Crust was silent for a full minute before running at Suri, slamming her head into one of the seats. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had to hold Upper Crust back to prevent her from causing any more pain.

“Take it easy!” Rainbow Dash ordered.

“Yer actin’ like a crazy pony!” Applejack added.

Ignoring the two, Upper Crust started ranting and raving. “Don’t you dare bring him into this! After what Fancy Pants did! You don’t deserve the right to call yourself a civilized pony!”

“I’m not the one being restrained!”

“Please!” Fluttershy squeaked. She looked at Upper Crust and Suri. “We shouldn’t be fighting amongst ourselves.”

Rarity felt proud of her friend. “I agree. Fancy Pants is still out there and having an argument will only waste our time, giving us no chance to stop him before he does anything to Manehattan and Fillydelphia.”

“Works for me.” Spike added, slamming the door shut. “So lets not worry about yelling at each other and get the heck out of here.”

“Now hold up. We didn’t even look in the city. For all we know there are more ponies in Baltimare still alive besides two.” Rainbow Dash noted.

Upper Crust sighed, not even bothering to hide her contempt. “There isn’t any. Fancy Pants killed everypony else.”

“That is not true and you know it!” Suri snapped. “Ponies you left behind to die! Including me!”

“Where are they?” Twilight asked. Suri sat down on one of the seats. “Miss Polimare. We need to know.”

“No you don’t.” Suri avoided eye contact. “Now their dead. We had shelter; we had a place to hide when the flood started. But then she let the zombies in! I barely got away.”

Spike leaned against the wall, rubbing his back against it. “So Baltimare is a no go.” He said to himself. Rarity stomped her forehoof.

“But it is not too late to save Manehattan and Fillydelphia.” Rarity stated. Upper Crust rolled her eyes. “Do you disagree?”

“Of course I do.” Upper Crust lowered her head. “Fancy Pants departed with his new ‘friends’ hours ago. We are better off just leaving and going somewhere safe.”

“Find!”

“Ponies!”

Upper Crust turned her head to face the Cake Twins, both of whom were sitting on one of the passenger seats. “And will somepony put those brats in their place?”

Pinkie’s expression darkened. Fluttershy backed away as Pinkie approached Upper Crust. “Those. Are. My. Babies!” Steam burst out of Pinkie’s ears as she spoke. “Pound and Pumkin are NOT BRATS!” Pinkie picked up the crying foals and rocked them back and forth in her forelegs.

Applejack leaned closer to Rainbow Dash so she could whisper in her friend’s ear. “Ya think we should switch? Ya know, hold her back now?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head in surprise. “Are you kidding me? It’s Pinkie. We’d never be able to do that.”

“That’s enough! All of you!” Rarity walked up to Suri. “We will…. take care of you later. We musn’t waste anymore of our time.”

Twilight flapped her wings and nodded in agreement. “She’s right. Fluttershy, Spike, try to get the fire going again. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, come with me, let’s see if we can get the train onto dryer tracks.” Twilight ordered. She then turned her attention to Rarity and Pinkie. As for Rarity and Pinkie, just make sure Suri and Miss Crust….”

“I am NOT a ‘miss’. I did have a husband.” Upper Crust was quick to correct. Twilight took a breath before continuing.

“Ok. Mrs. Crust as comfortable as possible.”

While Pinkie, Upper Crust and the twins took their seats, and the others headed into the engine and outside respectively, Rarity looked at Suri’s bite again. “That will not be easy. But if I must.”

“Yes, just sit there and wait for me to die.” Suri snapped. She opened her mouth to speak again, but found herself coughing instead. Rarity glanced over at Pinkie before trotting over to her former friend. “Stay away from me.”

Rarity’s eyes narrowed. Suri’s presense only served to remind Rarity of another pony. One she had, for all intents and purposes, saved from Suri. “Where is Coco?” Suri turned her nose up at Rarity. “Tell me what happened to my assistant!”

“The assistant you stole from me! The one that forced me to leave Manehattan!” Suri covered her face in her hooves, trying to hide her embarrassment. “After Fashion Week she revealed what I had done. My boutique was closed off and I had no choice but to take up work elsewhere. But the Fashion Ponies of Baltimare had already learned about it, and I couldn’t find work. I was forced to live out in the streets after that like some common rural pony. All because of you!” Suri sat down hard on an empty seat, looking out the window. “You and Pommel ruined my life.”

Rarity’s eyes widened. She was still angry with Suri over what happened, but the very visible bite mark made her sympathetic. “Suri. I didn’t want to be your enemy. But you forced it when you took advantage of my generosity and abused Coco.”

“I saw an opportuntity to get ahead of the game and I took it. It doesn’t matter what kind of steps are needed to take them. Manehattan taught me that.” Suri slammed her eyes shut. Of all the ponies that had to be here. It had to be her. “Look, Rarity. Just leave me alone. I’ll try not to bother anypony while I slowly die.”

Taking a closer look at Suri, Rarity could tell it wasn’t going to be very long. There was no way of knowing how long the zombie pony was biting her, but Suri’s pink coat was already starting to fade in color. “Perhaps….”

“I’m done talking to you.” Suri snapped. Rarity grinded her teeth. Loosing her patience she grabbed Suri’s face.

“Suri! You spent time around Fancy Pants. You know exactly what he is going to do to Manehattan and Baltimare! Tell me why he is doing this!” Rarity ordered, the tone in her voice getting progressively louder.

Suri pushed Rarity’s hooves away. “He’s given up. Aparently we higher class ponies don’t deserve to survive.” Suri touched her bite mark. Now that the salt water from the river was no longer numming the pain, the bite was starting to sting.

“How does it feel?”

“Like one of those things bit me on the flank! How do you think it feels!”

“The zombies?” Pinkie chimed in from the other side of the passenger car.

“Nopony asked you!” Suri roared. Rarity sat down next to her.

“Suri, don’t talk to her like that. Pinkie is just like that. Making ponies feel better is what she lives for.”

“Sounds rather boring.” Suri said. She lowered her head against seat, letting her mind wander.

“Suri. We need to know where he is going next.” Rarity put a hoof on Suri’s shoulder.

“Why should I? I have a few hours left at most. If Fancy Pants has given up why shouldn’t I?” Suri grumbled.

“I don’t believe that. That is not the kind of pony Fancy Pants is.” Rarity tapped her hind leg impatently wating for a response. “Suri.”

“Well whatever pony you think Fancy Pants is he isn’t anymore. Not since losing that clingy model friend of his.”

Rarity’s jaw dropped. “Fleur Dis Lee? No not her.”

“Yes her. The monsters tore her apart. And took Fancy Pant’s senses with her.” Rarity and Suri felt the train start to move backwards. “Well, I see your friends are useful for something at least.”

“Suri! Must you be like this!”

“Why do you care about me? If our positions were reversed I doubt I would be comforting you.” Suri turned to face the window.

“Then I guess I am not you.” Rarity replied. Suri rolled her eyes.

“Look, you want to see Fancy Pants for yourself, fine, your funeral. He should be heading to Fillydelphia, assuming he hasn’t destroyed that city too. You’ll see I’m right.”

By the time the train was close enough to see Fillydelphia in over the horizon, the sun was already setting. Spike, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie stuck their necks out the windows to get a good view.

“Well the city’s intact.” Spike stopped himself to itch his back before continuing. “For now.”

Rainbow Dash looked out over the mountainous landscape that surrounded the city. “Not a lot of cover out there.” She explained. Pinkie climbed back into the passenger car. The Cake Twins had fallen asleep during the trip, and were resting peacefully in her saddlebags.

Maybe you two are ok. Of course you are.

Fluttershy emerged from the engine, wearing a conductor’s hat. The others in the passenger car turned their attention to her. “We’re here. And its…. there’s so many of them out there.” Fluttershy said shivering.

“Of course it is going to be difficult. Why wouldn’t it be?” Upper Crust mumbled under her breath. Twilight looked out the window and her eyes widened in fear. The domed train station up ahead was surrounded by hundreds of zombie ponies. And in the center of the herd was a massive zombie dragon. Its lower jaw had been severed, and most of its left wing had been bitten off, no doubt by many zombies at once. Applejack and Rainbow Dash took another look out the windows.

“Oh you got to be kidding me!” Applejack exclaimed.

Rarity looked over at Suri, who was lying on her seat with a blanket over her. “Just rest, Suri. We’ll be back for you.”

“I told you to leave me alone.” Suri said weakly. Rarity took a deep breath.

Spike scratched his neck. “Well, time to use the usual strategy I guess.” Rainbow Dash nodded.

“I'll get the first one that tries to get inside.” Rainbow Dash noted.

Upper Crust started pacing back and forth. Twilight got out of her seat to confront her. “Upper Crust, it will be ok. We have a plan.”

“I have no intention of going out there. I would rather live.” Upper Crust retorted. “If you want to waste your lives that’s fine by me. I will be in the caboose.” She walked past Suri. “And not with the zombie.”

“I’m not dead yet.” Suri coughed out.

Upper Crust touched the door leading to the next passenger car. “You might as well be.”

“If you insist. We have business here.” Rarity replied. The train started to slow down. The heard of zombie ponies was starting to block the view outside. Twilight took several deep breaths. Applejack dug on of her hind legs into the ground, ready to fight. Spike held the exit door of the passenger car, ready to open on Twilight’s word.

“Fluttershy?” Twilight asked.

“We’re almost at the platform.” Unfortunately. Fluttershy thought to herself. Steam from the train blocked the group’s view of the zombies outside as the train finally came to a hault.

“Spike.” Twilight stopped her self as the sound of hooves pounding against the side of the passenger car rang out. “Open the door.”

Feeling his heart pounding a million miles a second, Spike swung the door open. So many zombie ponies tried to force themselves inside; they got theselves stuck in the doorway. Applejack and Rainbow Dash exchanged glances.

“Well look at that. Talk about luck.” Applejack hit the zombie unicorn in the front of the crowd, breaking its skull.

“Stand back!” Twilight cried. Her horn glew brightly, releasing a burst of magical energy, knocking the zombie ponies out of the doorway. Rainbow Dash slammed the door as hard as she could.

“Hard part dealt with.” She said nonchalantly. Spike nodded back, and then knelt down to the dead zombie.

“Everypony you might want to plug your nose. This is going to stink.” Spike warned. He closed his eyes before digging his claws into the zombie pony.

Upper Crust could barely believe what she was seeing. “What in Equestria are you doing!”

“Its…. how we’re gonna sneak past them. As long as they think we’re a zombie.” Spike explained, pulling the zombie pony’s intestines out.

“Oh my goodness. Princess Twilight, Miss Rarity, you can’t possibly think of doing something so undignified!” Upper Crust argued.

Twilight walked over to Spike, who gave her one of the zombie pony’s guts to smear on her. “We have to.”

Rarity felt her stomach turn. “I would prefer it if we didn’t have to do it. But some things must be done.” Rarity swallowed hard before smearing some of the zombie pony’s blood on her face. Ugh. It is going to take hours to get the smell out.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew out the window first. None of the zombie ponies seemed to notice. “I think its safe.” Fluttershy whispered. Spike crawled out the window after them, coming face to face with a zombie unicorn. His heart raced yet again, but thankfully the zombie blood on him kept him from being noticed. Gradually Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity climbed outside.

“Oh my goodness.” Rarity muttered under her breath. Pinkie’s knee felt pinchy.

“Oh no.” She said.

“Ah don’t think we need the Pinkie Sense to tell this is scary.” Applejack noted. She took a couple step forward. “Here goes nothin’.”

The group started walking forward. The streets up ahead didn’t have as many zombies as the train station, but they did have at least a few dozen yards to travel. Fluttershy felt sweat drip down her head, her eyes started to sting as the sweat and zombie blood started mixing together. “Rainbow….”

“Just close your eyes. I’ll keep watch for you.” Rainbow Dash promised. Pinkie closed her saddlebags to keep Pound and Pumpkin out of sight.

“Pinkie’s got you. I just need you to stay quiet.” Pinkie whispered. Unfortnately her voice wasn’t quiet enough for Spike’s liking.

“Pinkie, keep your voice down!” Spike scratched his back. He wanted to keep moving, but the urge to scratch was too great.

“Spikey-wikey. You musn’t stop.” Rarity begged. Spike felt tears build up in his eyes, but tried to hold them back. He felt another tingle surge through his body. Spike opened his eyes, realizing Twilight was holding him with her magic.

“Thanks.” Spike took a sigh of relief. Twilight nodded back before continuing forward. Rainbow Dash looked at the zombie dragon. It was crawling its way towards the train.

“Please don’t do it. Please don’t do it. Please don’t….” But Rainbow Dash’s fear was well founded. The zombie dragon lost its footing, collapsing onto the train. The first three passenger cars were flattened, and the engines whistle started blowing loudly. “We got to move!”

“No! It’s loud and it will distract the zombies! We keep going!” Twilight ordered. Surely enough the zombie horde started forcing its way towards the engine. “See? We’re almost there.”

A pinchy feeling ran up Pinkie’s knee again. “Girls…” Pinkie stopped dead in her tracks as her tail started twitching.

“Any thing but that!” Spike uttered.

“Take cover!” Pinkie exclaimed. Several zombie ponies turned around to face the group.

“Pinkie why did you do that?” Rarity exclaimed.

BOOM!

The group looked up at the mountainrange on the other side of the train station just in time to see a blume of fire and smoke burst out from high up on the mountain. Fluttershy squinted her eyes. Surely rocks started tumbling downward.

“AVALANCHE!” Fluttershy panicked. Twilight’s horn glew again, picking up Spike and placing him on her back.

“Run for it!” She cried. Unfortunately the group only managed to run about a yard before the rockslide reached the train station. The zombie dragon tumbled on top of the horde before it and the train was completely buried.

“Look out!” Rainbow Dash cried. Before Rainbow Dash could do anything, Twilight, Spike, Rarity and Applejack fell down a large flight of stairs to the lower levels. “Hold on! I’m coming!”

“Rainbow!” Fluttershy tackled Rainbow Dash into the ticket booth as hard as she could.

“Fluttershy, what are you…” Rainbow Dash started to say, but stopped short as the rockslide reached the ticket booth, the rocks and dirt slamming against the glass frames.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy clung to each other as the glass ticket booth was completely buried by the rockslide. “Rainbow?”

“Yeah Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I’m sorry.”

Rainbow Dash stroked Fluttershy’s mane. “Don’t be.” The longest minute of their lives passed, until finally rumbing sound outside stopped.

“Are we dead?” Fluttershy wimpered. Rainbow Dash started to breath heavily. Her claustrophobia was getting the better of her.

“Not yet.” Then she thought something. “The others! Their still out there!” Rainbow Dash pounded on the glass frame. “Twilight! AJ! Pinkie! Anypony!”

Spike started coughing. He looked up to see Twilight and Applejack picking themselves up. He scanned the area around them. “Where the heck are we?”

Rarity crawled over to Spike, helping him to his feet. “By all appearances, this is the station’s gift shop and eatery.” Rarity looked around at the soveniers that lined the walls.

“Yeah, but how do we get outta here?” Applejack asked. Twilight looked at the gigantic barricade of bolders blocking their way to the upper levels.

“Where’s everypony else?” Twilight hovered in the air to get a better look. But she didn’t see any sign of Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy or Pinkie. “I don’t see them.”

Rarity walked over to the barricade. “This will take forever to clear this mess.” She reached out with her magic, grabbing the smallest rock she could. She managed to pull it free, then turned to face her friends. “Perhaps this is not the best option. I’m sure there’s another GGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”

Twilight covered her mouth in horror. Spike’s jaw dropped, while Applejack fell to her knees. A zombie pony’s head was sticking out of the rubble, its jaws sunk deep into Rarity’s left hind leg. “RARITY!” They all shouted.

They all ran to Rarity’s side, Applejack stomping on the zombie pony’s head for good measure. Twilight and Spike pulled Rarity’s forelegs over their shoulders so they could carry her. “Somepony do something!” Spike cried. He and Twilight dragged Rarity over to the dinning tables. Rarity was panting as heavily as she could. “Twilight what do we do!”

“I don’t know!” Twilgiht cried back. No. Not one of my friends. Not Rarity.

Applejack jumped behind one of the counters. “Gotta be somethin’ here.” Then she spotted the fire axe still in its case on the wall. “That’ll do.” With a strong kick, Applejack broke the glass, and dragged the fire axe along the ground in her mouth. “Stand back.”

“What are you doing!” Spike screamed.

“Savin’ her life!” Applejack swung the axe as hard as she could, the blade hitting Rarity’s leg slightly above the bite. Twilight had to hold Spike back to keep him from doing anything.

NO!” Spike cried.

“Applejack, are you sure this is going to work?” Twilight asked.

“No! But Ah gotta try somthin'.” Applejack took another swing, cutting deeper into Rarity’s leg. She wailed in excruciating pain like never before.

“RARITY!”

“Spikey-wikey.”

Spike and Rarity’s eye’s locked. “I’ll be ok. Let her do this.” Rarity clenched her teeth, and shut her eyes. “Applejack. Get it off! Please!”

Sorry Ah have to do this, Rares. Applejack brought the axe down one last time, severing Rarity’s leg. She let out yet another scream before passing out. “She’s bleedin’ like a stuffed pig.”

Twilight loosened her grip on Spike. “Spike. She needs to have the wound cauterized.”

Spike couldn’t believe what he just heard. “What! Me!”

“Hurry up! Spike she needs it!” Applejack exclaimed. Spike ran to Rarity’s side. Seeing her in so much pain made him feel like his heart was going to explode. The itch in his back now started hurting.

“I’m sorry Rarity!” Spike took a deep breath in before letting out a burst of flame from his mouth. Rarity’s stub shook as the flames burned away at the severed arteries.

“Spike.” Twilight muttered.

“What?”

“You have wings.” Twilight pointed to Spike’s back. Surely enough a pair of purple and green wings had sprouted from the spot on his back that was itching.

“Who cares about these!” He had a feeling he was going to grow wings eventually, but right now Rarity was the only thing on his mind at the moment. “Did we save her?” Twilight and Applejack stood over Rarity’s unconscious form.

“I hope. We better… make sure she’s ok before trying to find the others.” Twilight stated. Applejack nodded in agreement. Applejack picked up Rarity, laying her friend along her back.

“I got her. Come on. There has to be a doctor’s office somewhere here.” Applejack suggested.

Twilight noticed Spike staring at Rarity’s severed leg. “Spike. We can’t stay here. Spike.”

Spike picked up the severed leg. “Fancy Pants. You are going to pay for this.” The young dragon dropped Rarity’s severed leg. “I’m sorry. I should have… should have…”

“This wasn’t your fault.” Twilight gave Spike a hug. His new wings were poking her legs but Twilight didn’t care. “We never could have predicted this.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“No. I'm not.” Twilight hugged Spike tighter. Spike couldn’t hold back the tears any longer, and started bawling his eyes out.

“Just tell me Rarity is going to be ok.”

Twilight looked back at Applejack, then at the unconscious Rarity, and then back to Spike. “Yes. We’ll save her.”

“Thank you, Twilight.”