Beating an Undead Pony

"Bonnie! Come on Bonnie!"

Lyra pushed the covers off her body, sitting up in bed. Bon Bon was on the balcony outside, looking out at the night sky. Lyra let out a little whiney, but Bon Bon still didn't respond. "Bon Bon. Come to bed." Lyra put her forehooves together. "Please? I'm really starting to worry about you."

Bon Bon shifted her gaze from the stars above to the crystal streets below. Her and Lyra's apartment was, at best, four stories up. It's not the same. It's pretty. But it's not Ponyville.

"Bonnie!"

"Can't a pony let their thoughts stew in peace!"

Lyra dragged herself out of bed and trotted towards her friend. Lyra smiled before opening her mouth to speak. At the last second, she decided instead to wrap her fore legs around Bon Bon. Bon Bon grumbled, but didn't resist. Bonnie.... Lyra nuzzled Bon Bon's neck, smelling something on Bon Bon's coat. Her own scent. "I thought I could make you happy with some...." What's a good term for this? Oh I know! "bed time fun."

It took a moment for Lyra's words to register to Bon Bon. "What? No. No it wasn't you. I did enjoy it." Bon Bon reciprocated Lyra's hug. "I mean, I just, never thought you and I would do that."

Lyra stroked Bon Bon's mane. The way Lyra saw it, if ponies like each other enough, why not go for a pony ride? She cared about Bon Bon so it made perfect sense to her. "It can't be that strange. I mean, this is nothing compared to some of the weird things that's been happening lately." Lyra wanted to take back what she said the moment she heard a groan from Bon Bon. "Bon Bon!"

Sick of talking, Bon Bon pushed Lyra away. "I'm homesick alright! I miss Ponyville! I want those zombies outside to go away!" Bon Bon dangled her hooves over the side of the railing. "Maybe then we can...I don't know....figure out what happens next."

Lyra shrugged. "Does anything need to happen next?"

Bon Bon could barely believe what she just heard. Mortified, Bon Bon fell backwards onto one of the chairs on the balcony. "Yes something needs to happen next! Talk about us!"

"Ok." Lyra sat down next to Bon Bon. "Lets talk."

"Y-you mean right now?" Bon Bon asked.

"I thought that's what you wanted. Er, maybe not a few minutes ago but you were just being a grumpy pants." Not that much has changed.

Bon Bon thought she would be used to her friend's directness by now, but apparently not. Recomposing herself, Bon Bon took a breath before speaking up. "I guess first thing's first. If those horrible monsters didn't show up, and we never had to leave Ponyville, would we still have..." Bon Bon felt a lump forming in her throat. The more she thought about what happened in Ponyville, and with Redheart, the more she started to feel her skin under her coat crawl.

"Bonnie?"

"Would we have ever made love if all of this never happened?"

Lyra nonchalantly waved her fore hoof. "Is that what you're calling it? 'Made love'? No need to be so fancy about it."

"I'm serious!" Bon Bon roared, not caring if she woke any sleeping Crystal Ponies within earshot. "If we didn't come here..." Bon Bon started to say, grinded her teeth when she noticed Lyra snickering.

"Sorry. It's just...you said co...."

"Gah!" Bon Bon just couldn't take it any longer. She got out of her chair and flipped it over the railing. "You are such an immature little filly! You know that!" Storming back inside, Bon Bon angrily jumped back into bed, pulling the sheets over her head.

I guess I got her back in bed after all. Lyra thought to herself. Even if it wasn't the way she was hoping. Her ears perked up at the sound of knocking on the door inside.

"You get it!" Bon Bon snapped, her voice muffled by her covers.

"Looks like the horseshoe is on the hoof." Lyra muttered to herself, thinking of how it would usually be her saying that to Bon Bon if any pony came to their house early in the morning. Lyra trotted back inside and opened the door, finding a very concerned looking Doctor and Minuette on the other side. Lyra forced a smile, but even she knew no pony would think everything was fine based on it. "Hey Doc, Minuette. What brings you up at this hour?"

Minuette raised an eyebrow. "I think you know why we're here." She and The Doctor exchanged glances before continued. "You and Bon Bon are having a bit of a tiff?"

"I don't know what her problem is. First she doesn't want to talk, then she does want to talk, then she's flipping out over what I have to say..." Lyra blinked twice after noticing the Doctor's inquisitive expression. "What are you looking at me like that for?"

The Doctor ruffled his mane. "Well, how do I put this? Lyra, do you remember what happened in Ponyville? He asked. Lyra tilted her head in confusion.

"What was there to see? There were zombies and I was panicking." Lyra noted. The Doctor and Minuette exchanged nervous glances again. "Hey stop that."

The Doctor put a foreleg around Lyra. "Lyra, we need to talk."

"Great, more talking. Because that worked out so well a few minutes ago. HEY BONNIE!" Lyra called out. "I'm going out for a bit with The Doc and Minuette!"

"Good!" Bon Bon screamed back, covering her face with her pillow.

Derpy couldn't help but be disappointed. When The Doctor said they were going to Donut Joe's place, she was expecting the same shop from Canterlot. The Crystal Empire's branch was nice, but the coffee and donuts were not the same. She, the Doctor, Minuette and Lyra were sitting together one of the booths, and were the only ones around. Even the pony behind the counter had stepped out for a while. Lyra however, was more concerned about Bon Bon.

"Oh please. Are you sure Nurse Redheart didn't just fall?" Lyra asked.

The Doctor took a sip of his coffee. "I had a good enough look from the ground. Derpy had an even better view from the air."

Derpy stopped playing with her donut long enough to nod back in agreement. Minutte reached over the counter to hold Lyra's hoof.

"I don't blame Bon Bon. I mean Nurse Redheart was bitten. I don't think there was any saving her given how much of her the manicore managed to tear off her flank..."

"Now hold up." Lyra interrupted. "Are you saying you would have done what Bon Bon did?"

Minutte took a sip of her coffee to deliberately avoid answering. The Doctor tapped his forehooves together. "Perhaps if I was given a chance to examine her I could find a way to...well at the very least we could make her feel more comfortable before dying." The Doctor explained. His chest felt heavy. "The point is as pragmatic as her choice may be, we believe this is haunting Bon Bon. It's not healthy."

Lyra rubbed her eyes. "But if its eating her up on the inside..." Lyra quickly sat up straight, realizing what she just said. "Wow that was a poor choice of words."

"I agree." The Doctor noted.

"You think?" Minuette said simulteniously.

Lyra groaned. "Whatever, as I was saying, why didn't she tell me?" Lyra rested her chin on her forelegs. "I tell her everything. Something's bothering me she knows about it."

Minuette took a bite of her donut. "Literally everything?"

"Isn't that what friends are for? I'd share anything with her. Food, bits, our bed..."

"Oh well that explains it." Minutte interrupted.

Lyra got up out of her seat, ready to challenge Minuette. "What do you mean 'that explains it'?"

"Lyra, she thinks you don't take you're relationship with her seriously." Minutte said, not even trying to hide her irritation. "If your description of events are any indication."

Lyra didn't know how to respond. He mind raced, her stomach felt heavy, and her throat felt dry. "She's my best friend. She knows I love her. Right?"

Minuette sighed. "Lyra, think about it. I mean, if I spent the night with a pony I fancy, and they were nonchalant about the whole thing, I'd be under the impression I was used too."

Lyra grabbed Minuette's face. "I didn't use any pony! I was trying to cheer her up!"

The Doctor got up from the booth. "I think that is part of the problem. Lyra, would the two of you have spent the night together if we were still in Ponyville, if there was no threat of the undead? If Bon Bon never had to kill Nurse Redheart?"

"I...what difference doe that make?" Lyra asked. "What's the point of asking 'what if'? We're here and there's nothing we can do about it. So why worry?"

"Because Bon Bon is worried about it." Minuette muttered, taking a sip of her coffee.

Lyra facehooved, dragging her hooves down her face and pulling her eyelids down. I hate it when other ponies are right.

Derpy's attention was drawn away from her friends as she heard the shop's door open. A pegasus guard, the same one that helped her and the others into the Crystal Empire, trotted into the shop, not paying attention to the group, the bags under his eyes being a good enough indicator for her that this guard was too tired to notice. He pounded his forehooves on the counter, trying to get the baker's attention.

"Hey!"

"She stepped out side for a moment. I'm sure she won't be much longer." The Doctor said. The guard slammed his head against the counter.

"Need my coffee." The guard muttered. Derpy looked at her cup, which was still filled. She poked the Doctor in the ribs to get his attention, and then pointed to her cup.

"Did you already drink from it?" He asked. Derpy shook her head. "Alright go ahead." If your going to be friendly, at least be sanitary while you're at it.

Derpy sat next to the guard, placing her coffee in front of him.

"Oh thank you miss. You have no idea how much help this is." The guard grabbed the cup, chugging down the whole thing in one big swig. "Ah. That's better." The guard rubbed his face and looked at Derpy, and couldn't help but notice her crossed eyes. "Um. Miss. You have... well how do I put this?"

"She's ok. There's nothing wrong with her." Minuette called out.

"Yeah. Derpy's eyes have always look like that. As far back as I can remember." Lyra added. The guard spun around and noticed Lyra. He groaned and face hooved again.

"No..."

Lyra glanced back at the Doctor and Minuette. "Was it something I said? Again?"

The baker, an Earth Pony mare with a pale purple crystal coat, emerged from kitchen behind the counter. "Ah, there you are Flash. Don't worry. I got your usual brewing now."

Flash opened his eyes. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

"I don't doubt that." The baker tilted her head, noticing just how tired Flash looked. "You don't look so good."

Flash shrugged. "Captain Shining Armor's been doubling patrols. Making sure none of those dead ponies get inside. Seems pointless with his shield still holding but what do I know? I'm just a lieutenant. And not a crystal pony."

"Neither is the captain and the princess." The Baker was quick to point out.

Out of the corner of his eye, the Doctor noticed a glint coming from outside. He opened the door and inspected the spear Flash had left leaning against the side of the shop. He was surprised to find sparkling blood caking the tip. His attention grabbed, the Doctor walked over to Flash's side. "Perhaps I am stepping beyond my boundaries, but I couldn't help but notice your weapon has has been used recently."

Flash waved his hoof. "We occasionally go outside to thin the horde on the other side of the shield. Sometimes not all of us make it, and we have to turn our weapons on our comrades." He explained.

"What if their not bitten?" Lyra asked. Flash shifted in his seat, really not wanting to answer the question. "You know, like if you made a mistake..."

"NOW your hitting a topic I'm not allowed to talk about! Please just drop it Mint...ma'am." Flash stuttered. Lyra tilted her head.

"That's the second time you did that. Who exactly do you think I am?" Lyra asked. Flash shook his head. "Mr. Flash?"

"AAAAAHHHHH!"

Every pony in the shop turn their attention to Derpy, who was looking outside. The Doctor bolted to Derpy's side. "Derpy what is it?" He realized asking wasn't necessary when he noticed a pony in a dark robe flying over the roof tops, the Crystal Heart strapped to their side. "Guardsman!" The Doctor cried. "A thief is making off with the Crystal Heart!"

Flash's wings sprung up in surprise. "Leave it to me." Flash ran outside, picking up his spear. "I'll have to put my order on hold." He said to the baker.

"I know, I know. Duty calls." The Baker said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Lyra watched Flash leaving, and couldn't help but wonder if she should step in. "Hey Doc. You think he'll be ok on his own?"

"I don't see why not." The Doctor shrugged. "I mean, he is a...trained...guard..." The Doctor stopped, realizing what he was about to say. "Hm. I see why your concerned."

"Come on. Let's be real here." Minuette argued. "Even without the best track record when dealing with Nightmare Moon...and the Changeling Army....and the Centaur Demon...." Minuette looked up in time to notice The Doctor, Lyra and Derpy had already left. "Oh come on! A random thief is nothing compared to those. Right?"

"Why are you asking me?" The baker asked.

Minuette let her thoughts stew for moment. "Ma'am. While we're on the topic of asking questions, do you mind if I ask you one?"

"I'm not a ma'am, I'm a baker. Just call me Amber Waves. And you kind of already did ask a question. But sure, go ahead."

Minuette got out of her booth and sat down by the counter. "I noticed that, Flash was it, seems to think my friend is someone else. Who is he mistaking her for?"

Amber Waves sighed. "Flash had a...crush on a mare a few years back. A pony by the name of Minty. He told me she was someone he loved very much, but she couldn't love him back."

"She had some pony else in her heart?" Minuette asked.

"I'm afraid so. Kimono I think her name was. Flash hoped that if he was a good enough friend, maybe, just maybe, he had a chance with Minty. Didn't turn out so well." Amber Waves turn her back to face away from Minuette, feeling her eyes starting to water, and not wanting to show it. "Hit Flash especially hard when she specifically promised that if she and Kimono ever wanted a foal, they'd let Flash be the donor...only to decide to go the magical route to have a child instead. Without telling him until after their foal was born."

Minuette felt disgusted. "Why would he even want to think about her after what happened?"

"He loved her. Plain and simple. Your Lyra friend looking an awful lot like her doesn't help." Amber Waves wiped her eyes before facing Minuette again. "You're coffee's getting cold I see." She said nonchalantly.

Minuette was so focused on Amber Wave's story she had completely forgotten about her drink. "Oh. That's ok. Think I've had enough." Minute pushed her cup away from her. "Should probably do something about The Doctor and Lyra before they get themselves in trouble."

Amber Waves watched each step Minuette took as she departed. She touched her heart. "Why do I keep thinking about that story?"

The cloaked pony landed on a roof top about eight stories up, staring down at the streets below. The pony noticed Flash approaching from below.

"Princess!"

Cadence pulled her hood back. "Flash what are you doing here! I don't want to draw attention to myself."

Flash landed on the roof next to her and bowed. "I'm afraid it's too late for that, your majesty. Some civilians spotted you a few blocks away."

Cadence stomped her hoof. "Darn. I was so close."

"What do I tell the ponies who saw you?" Flash asked.

"As long as they can't tell the difference between the fake Heart from the real thing we should be safe. I have to go." Candence leapt off the roof, taking flight towards the edge of the shield. Unfortunately she didn't get very far before she felt a pair of hooves wrap around her forelegs. Cadence looked down to see Derpy holding onto her tightly. In a panic, Flash picked up his spear, ready to toss it as hard as he could. Before he had a chance to do so, The Doctor appeared by his side, smacking the spear out of his grip.

"What are you doing!" Flash snapped.

"You might hit Derpy." The Doctor inspected Derpy's struggle with 'the cloaked figure'. "Hm. There's a slight breeze. maybe if you scooted a little to my right..."

"I got this!"

Lyra pushed her way past The Doctor and Flash, reaching out with her magic, grabbing Cadence's cloak. "I have you now."

"NO!" Flash pushed Lyra off her hooves as hard as he could, but it was already too late, as Lyra's magic pulled Cadence and Derpy backwards, both mares slamming against the side of the building hard. "PRINCESS CADENCE!"

"Cadence?!" The Doctor and Lyra exclaimed together.

Her head ringing, Cadence waved her fore legs in the general direction she thought Flash was. "I'm ok. just a little..." Cadence stammered. Unfocused, Cadence's wings stopped flapping, causing her to start tumbling down to the ground below.

"Derpy! Save the princess!" Lyra exclaimed. Derpy shook her head to regain her senses. Flying downward as fast as she could, Derpy grabbed onto Cadence, flipping herself over at the last second, making her back hit the ground hard to soften the blow for Cadence.

"Princess Cadence!" Flash took off his sweat drenched helmet and started hyperventilating. Please be ok. If anything's happened to her Captain Shining Armor is going to have my head!

Cadence rolled off of Derpy, the cold ground was quite the contrast from Derpy's fur. "Oh no. Are you ok?" Cadence picked up Derpy in her forelegs. Derpy couldn't speak, the pain was too much for her. All she could do was cry.

"Cadence! What happened here!"

Cadence felt relieved at the sight of her husband rushing towards her. "I was spotted. This mare tried to help me. She looks hurt." Cadence touched Derpy's back. "It looks like she broke her back."

Shining Armor closed his eyes. This was supposed to be a simple mission. "Ok. We just need to find a doctor for her." Right on cue, the Doctor, Lyra, and Flash emerged from the building. "You!" Shining Armor pointed to The Doctor. "This pony is hurt. You said you're a doctor right?"

"Derpy....I-I'm not a medical practitioner. I mean, I'm The Doctor but I'm not..."

"Fine! Flash! Get this mare to the hospital." Shining Armor ordered.

"Sir! Yes sir!" Flash picked up Derpy, carrying her on his back. The Doctor wanted to follow, but was still curious about Cadence's actions.

"Doc, I think we should..." Lyra began to say, but The Doctor spoke up before she could continue.

"You're majesty, help me understand. What were you doing with the Crystal Heart?" The Doctor reached to pick up the fallen Heart, but Shining Armor snatched it up first.

"She..." Shining Armor said. Improvising was not his specialty, but felt he had to make up something just this once. "Well the thing is..."

"She was moving it to a safe place."

The Doctor and Lyra were so fixated on Derpy's injury that they had failed to notice Minuette's approach. "Just in case some pony decided to pull a fast one." Minuette looked at Cadence and Shining Armor. "Right?"

Cadence realized what Minuette was doing. "Oh, yes. Of course. That's what I was doing."

I suppose that technically isn't a lie. Shining Armor thought to himself.

"That's what I thought." Minuette put her forelegs around the Doctor and Lyra. "Now let's do something that concerns us. Derpy."

"But Minuette..." Lyra muttered.

"No butts. Our friend is hurt." Minuette started pushing The Doctor and Lyra away from the two royal ponies. "Now let's leave them to do what they got to do and be there for Derpy."

The Doctor stopped resisting and just trotted forward. But his curiosity was peaked, and he knew this wouldn't' be the last he heard of this.

Shining Armor took a sigh of relief. "Thank Celestia. I thought we were caught for a second. You ok, Cadence?"

Cadence stretched her legs before getting back up. "A little sore but I think I'll be ok. The poor pony took worst of the fall for me once she realized who I was. Shining. Do you know what will happen when we take the Heart away from the Empire?" Cadence asked.

"I'm not worried and about him coming back." Shining Armor noted. He looked up at the shield above. "But that's not what you're worried about."

"No it's not. You can't keep the shield up indefinitely. Not without this." Cadence held Shining Armor's hoof. "Maybe we shouldn't do this after all."

"Hey, Cadence. It will be ok. I don't need the heart for strength." Shining Armor gave Cadence a kiss. "I have you." Cadence blushed.

"I guess you have a point." I thought I was supposed to be the hopeless romantic?

A Crystal Guard approached Shining Armor and Cadence. "Um, your majesties?"

Shining Armor stood tall. "Report soldier."

"Sir, there's a large group of ponies outside the shield."

Cadence stood up. "We better help them."

The Crystal Guard tilted his head. "Actually Princess, they seem to be handling their own just fine."

Cadence wouldn't have believed it if she wasn't seeing it with her own eyes. Hundreds of ponies, far more than the massive horde of undead ponies. Kicks and punches; zombie ponies' heads were stomped, their limbs were flung into the air, nothing was stopping this group.

"Wow. These ponies are good. I could use guards like them." Shining Armor admitted. The zombie pony closest to the shield reached towards Shining Armor and Cadence just in time for one of the living ponies, a pink pegasus mare with a blue mane, to stomp onto it's back.

Nice try pal. But your dead meat. And dead meat isn't meant to move around on it's own." the mare boasted before slamming her fore hooves on the zombie pony's head, making it pop like a grape. "Hey, Princess Cadence. You mind letting me and my friends in?"

Cadence jabed her distracted husband in the ribs.

"Wha? Oh right." Shining raised his head up high, opening a hole in the shield.

The pink mare motioned to her group. "Come on in. We're clear." As the group of ponies poured inside, another mare, a unicorn with a pale coat and a green and red mane, tapped on the pink mare's shoulder. "How'd we do, Gusty?"

"All nasties taken out, no casualties boss. We're good." Gusty explained.

"Nice!" the pink mare replied, giving her friend a high hoof.

Shining Armor grinned. "You'd been doing pretty well for yourself miss..."

"Firefly." The Pink mare answered. "And before you ask, yes that is the same name as the creator of the Wonderbolts. Save your jokes. Not because I'd be offended of course. It's because I've heard every single one. You literally can not tell me one I've never heard before."

While Shining Armor stared wracking his brain to think of a joke, Cadence's gaze shifted to Firefly's friend. "And you are, Gusty right? You two have gathered quite the number of friends."

Gusty shrugged. "What can I say. Firefly and I are popular ponies. Ponies want to learn how to fight zombie ponies, they come to us. Am I right?"

A loud "Aye" rang out from the large crowd. Firefly smiled. "Course, helps if we have a place to stay. And we figured the Crystal Empire is isolated, easy to defend, the perfect place to train, get a bite to eat, things like that."

Cadence exchanged glances with Shining Armor before responding. "We do have room for you. You might have to share housing with some of the ponies already here but if your ok with that..."

"I'm good. You good?" Firefly asked Gusty.

"That's perfect for me." Gusty noted back.

"Good to hear." Cadence touched Shining Armor's neck. "Shining, would you and your guards help get Firefly and Gusty's friends aclimated? There's something I need to take care of. I'll join you when I'm done, of course."

"If you don't mind me asking, princess, but what are you up to?" Gusty asked. Shining Armor stood between Cadence and Gusty. I'm afraid strictly Cadence's concern and her's alone. In any case. Come with me, I'll take care of all of you."

Married stallion or not, I wouldn't mind you taking care of me. Firefly thought to herself.

Lyra face hoofed. While she and Minuette were able to sit in the waiting room, The Doctor was paced back and forth.

"Doc, I don't think the pacing is going to make the surgery go any faster."Minuette said.

"You never know until you try it, my friend." The Doctor noted.

Lyra folded her forelegs. "I don't know, I'm with the Doctor on this one. I don't think I can wait forever. Who knows how long Derpy's going to be in there?"

Minuette looked at the clock on the wall. "It's been five minutes."

"That's five minutes more than I am comfortable with." The Doctor looked at his own pocket watch. "Make it five minutes and forty one seconds. Derpy..." The Doctor held his head. "She's my responsibility. I don't think I could forgive myself if something happened to her."

Lyra's let out a soft, but long sigh. After thinking about it for another few minutes, she got out of her seat, and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Minuette asked.

"I'm going to be Bon Bon's friend." Lyra muttered. The Doctor and Minuette looked at each other.

After a second, Minuette smiled. "Progress."

"Undeniably."

Bon Bon was so certain that she would be fully asleep in in a matter of minutes. But the loud "slam" of her apartment door dashed any hopes of that being true. "Lyra, could you please be a little more quiet..."Bon Bon started to grumble, but a deep kiss from Lyra stopped her. "Lyra?"

"Bon Bon, It meant something to me too. I love you, and don't you forget it." Lyra shift her position on the bed so she was now on top of Bon Bon. She could fee her heart race, and after putting a hoof on Bon Bon's chest, could feel her friend's heart race too. "I don't care about what happened to Redheart."

"How do you know about that?" Bon Bon asked with absolute dread.

"It doesn't matter. We will always be friends. No mater what happens. As far as I'm concerned, this was inevitable." Lyra gave Bon Bon another kiss, and was happier than she ever had felt before in her life when she realized Bon Bon was kissing back.

Gusty took in a deep breath. She could feel the love radiating from Lyra and Bon Bon's apartment from the hallway outside. "Now there's a familiar feeling." Gusty turned her attention to Firefly approaching from the other side. of the hall. "There you are boss. What do you think about this place?"

Firefly leaned against a the wall. "I can definitely say it's been too long since we have had such good luck. This place is perfect. The princess and her colt toy are none the wiser."

"Awesome. Just say the word and I'll let the rest of the crew know when to strike." Gusty replied, giving Firefly another high hoof. The two mares trotted back down the hallway towards the elevator.

"I see your really in character." Firefly noted.

Gusty reached out with her magic, activating the elevator. "Its not only fun, but it's a great way to safe face." Gusty let Firefly enter the elevator first once it arrived. "You never know who could be listening." Firefly and Gusty took their place in the elevator. "Your majesty."

Firefly grinned as the elevator door closed, and for a split second, her blue eyes changed to the color green.