Beating an Undead Pony

“Alright everypony listen up!” Rainbow Dash hovered a few feet off the ground facing several pegasi. Most of them were still groggy, having been woken up by her only a few minutes ago. “It’s going be dark out there, it’s going be hard to see. But we are going out there! And we are going to clear all the zombies out! ARE YOU READY!” Rainbow Dash screamed. Right on cue Bulk Biceps, an extremely muscle bound pegasus stallion, stood on his hind legs and screamed.

“YEAH!”

“That’s the spirit!” Rainbow Dash noticed Thunderlane and his little brother Rumble in the crowd. She had expected Thunderlane, but Rumble was still just a colt. It occurred to Rainbow Dash that she would not hear the end of it if anything happened to a colt, so she ultimately decided it was not a good idea for Rumble to join in. “Sorry Rumble, but you are too big of a risk.” Rumble felt offended.

“Thunderlane said I could join you! I want to stop the zombies!” Rumble stammered. Rainbow Dash glared at Thunderlane. He started to sweat nervously. “Thunderlane! You promised!” Rumble yelped. Relenting, Thunderlane sighed.

“I’m sorry bro. But Rainbow is right. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to you.” Thunderlane explained. Rumble sneered.

“But what about you? What am I going to do if something happens to you?” Rainbow Dash lowered her self down to Rumble’s level.

“Tell you what kid. Thunderlane will be with me for this mission. If he didn’t have a chance of making it out alive before than he certainly does now.” She promised. Thunderlane felt like he had just been kicked in the chest.

“Miss Dash I wasn’t asking for protection.” Thunderlane said.

“You’re not being protected. You’re doing the protecting. Remember?” Rainbow Dash looked back at the crowd. “Any other fillies and colts you sit this out too.” With several simultaneous groans, five Pegasus fillies walked away from the crowd. “You too, Scootaloo.” Then Rainbow Dash had a pang of guilt. “Oh, right.” Blossomforth, a white Pegasus mare with a pink and lime mane, raised her fore hoof over her head. “No Blossomforth, you are staying. You are not a filly.”

“That’s not what I was going to say.” Blossomforth cleared her throat. “Do we even have enough ponies to take out all the monsters outside? There’s kind of a lot.” Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. Other than herself, the pegasi present were Thunderlane, Blossomforth, Bulk Biceps, Derpy, Cloud Kicker and Flitter. And Fluttershy. But she wasn’t in the group.

How did I not notice that? Rainbow thought to herself.

“Um one moment. Just sit tight.” Rainbow Dash stammered before flying down the hall.

“Angel don’t go. You’re dinner’s almost ready. Yes is your favorite.”

Rainbow Dash rubbed her neck. Fluttershy was still asleep. Rainbow Dash had no idea that Fluttershy spoke in her sleep, and she had known Fluttershy longer than any of her other friends. “Yes of course I’ll look after you.” Tears started to run down Fluttershy’s face. Rainbow Dash bit her lip.

“You’ve had a rough enough day.” Rainbow Dash muttered. She picked up the end of Fluttershy’s covers with her mouth and draped the blanket over her shoulders. Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy’s face one last time before biting her own fore hoof and turning away. Stupid pretty Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash thought to herself. She looked at her wings, which were standing up right. Rainbow Dash let out a groan before flying away as fast as she could.

The pegasi survivors were gathered around a map of Ponyville. Rainbow dash circled the houses on the north end of the town.

“Cloud kicker, Blossomforth, Derpy, you three got the houses. Use them as cover if you have to. On my way over here I saw all the windows are wide open, so you won’t get trapped.” Rainbow Dash explained. Cloud Kicker smirked before wrapping her fore leg around Blossomforth’s shoulders.

“We got this. Don’t we?” The lavender pegasus’ tone was almost too playful for Blossomforth.

“You never change, Cloud Kicker.” The white pegasus muttered. Rainbow Dash nodded in response before circling all three of the bridges leading from Town Square to the rest of Ponyville.

“Bulk Biceps, Cloudchaser, Flitter, the three of you…” Rainbow Dash didn’t get the chance to finish, as Flitter slammed her fore hoof onto the map.

“My sister is already one of them.” Flitter stated grimly. She took the bow out of her cerulean mane. “We didn’t know what getting bitten by one of those monsters would do. Just before Cloudchaser stopped breathing she told me to run. So I did. And…” Flitter couldn’t bring herself to finish. Derpy gave Flitter a warm smile and held out a tissue. Flitter took it and blew her nose. “Thanks.” Derpy nodded. Rainbow Dash had to cough to cover up the heavy feeling she was getting in her chest. Thunderlane looked at the map, now crinkled from being stepped on.

“I can do it. I can take the third bridge.” Thunderlane argued. Rainbow Dash face hoofed.

“Yes but then there’s no pony to cover me when I take the train station and the remaining neighborhoods.” Of course Rainbow Dash was more than willing to handle her part on her own, if not for the promise she just made to Rumble.

“Um what about your friend, Fluttershy?” Blossomforth asked. Rainbow Dash stomped her hoof in frustration.

“She’s been though enough.” Rainbow Dash uttered, remembering the look on Fluttershy’s face when all the animals she had cared for over the years turned and tried to kill her. “Forget it I’ll just handle it myself. Thunderlane you’re with the bridge team.” Thunderlane didn’t look so certain anymore.

“By yourself? Rainbow not even you are that good. If somepony’s not watching you….” Rainbow Dash slammed her hoof into Thunderlane’s mouth to shut him up. Cloud Kicker tried to hold back a laugh at the sight.

“Sorry, sorry couldn’t help it.” She explained. Blossomforth rolled her eyes.

“Yes, Thunderlane. I am that good.” Rainbow Dash snapped. She shook her head, realizing just how bad that sounded. “The flying ones are slow enough. Just keep yourselves alive.”

Pinkie was holding a large window shut. The other pegasi were waiting eagerly for Rainbow Dash’s signal.

“Get ready Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash ordered. A large smile appeared on Pinkie’s face. She gripped the window’s hinges tighter. Rainbow Dash started flapping her wings. “NOW!” Rainbow Dash cried. In a very close call, Pinkie managed to open the window half a second before Rainbow Dash sped out the building, leaving a streak of colors behind. The others waited. Rainbow Dash was supposed to perform a sonic rainboom in the sky to draw the zombie ponies’ attention. Pinkie poked her head outside.

“Dashie? Where are you? Dashie?” Pinkie asked. A loud, booming groan rang out in the distance. Pinkie looked out towards the town. The clock tower was falling to the ground smashing several zombie ponies flat. But what came next made Pinkie’s eyes enlarge to the size of dinner plates. A full-grown dragon, twice the height of the typical homes in Ponyville, was dragging itself along the ground. Its green scales were falling off, its wings were dangling off its side, its eyes were completely blank, and its lower jaw was severed. “DASHIE! GET OUT OF THERE!” Pinkie screamed.

“What is going on out there?” Thunderlane asked. Just as Pinkie turned back to face the pegasi, Rainbow Dash came flying back into the building, slamming Pinkie to the ground and tumbling along the floor.

“We need a new plan.” Rainbow Dash muttered. Derpy trotted past Rainbow Dash and looked out the window. At the sight of the zombie dragon she became so scared that for a brief moment she was no longer cross eyed. She turned back to the crowd as her eyes returned to their usual state. She shook her head, prompting the others to look out the window at the zombie dragon. The remaining pegasi gasped in response. Bulk Biceps went so far as to let out a high pitch scream that didn’t even resemble his normally deep, booming voice.

“Um, excuse me?” A small voice said. Rainbow Dash gulped as she noticed Fluttershy approach the group. She was wearing Pinkie’s saddlebags holding the Cake twins, both of whom were crying. “I think these two need their diapers changed. They are kind of stinky.” Pinkie nodded before picking up Pound and Pumpkin.

“I got this.” Pinkie reassured. Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane and Cloud Kicker had to look away as Pinkie started to take off Pound’s diaper. With her mouth. “What? This is how Mr. Cake does it.”

“Its still the nastiest thing I’ve ever seen. Please do it in the other room or something.” Blossomforth muttered. Fluttershy looked at Rainbow Dash.

“What are you all doing up here?” She asked. Rainbow Dash started to sweat. How was she supposed to tell Fluttershy she purposefully left her out of her zombie removal plan?

“We were…um…Flitter you tell her. Flitter?” Rainbow Dash looked around. Flitter was nowhere in sight.

“I know you’re out here!” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy looked outside. Flitter was flying around above the zombie ponies.

“What is she doing out there?” Fluttershy muttered. Rainbow Dash opened the window.

“Flitter get back in here! You can’t do that on your own!” Rainbow Dash demanded. Flitter kicked a zombie unicorn to the ground before stomping on its head.

“Not until I find my sister!” Flitter snapped. She hit another zombie, knocking its lower jaw off. “And put her out of her misery.” She muttered to herself. Fluttershy looked around finally seeing the zombie dragon as it came closer towards Town Hall. Fluttershy wailed in terror, which drew the zombie dragon’s attention.

“Get down!” Rainbow yelled at the top of her lungs. Everypony ducked down as the dragon scraped the side of its head against Town Hall. It collapsed under its own weight, bringing more of the building down on top of it, a large chunk of debris stabbing through its skull.

Twilight and Rarity slowly turned their heads. Everypony else in the main hall started to wake up and look in their direction. The zombie dragon had collapsed the entire left half of Town Hall, leaving all of the survivors completely exposed. Barely a second had passed before a horde of zombie ponies shuttered towards the building. Without looking at Twilight, Rarity started to stutter.

“Twilight?”

“Yes, Rarity?”

“We need to go.” Nopony was going to argue with that. Twilight fired a magical energy beam from her horn, materializing a barrier in front of the zombies though she knew it wouldn’t stay up for long. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew down towards Twilight, though they wisely stayed a few meters off the ground.

“I’m sorry. This is my fault. I made that dragon come here.” Fluttershy said weakly. Twilight shook her head.

“Now is not the time to get worried.” Twilight reassured.

“I disagree!” a voice cried out. Twilight wasn’t certain but it sounded like Lyra. Twilight started to hover over the survivors.

“Everypony listen up! That shield is not going to last forever so here’s what we need to do. While the shield distracts the zombies we will make our way to the Castle.” Twilight explained. The survivors started murmuring among themselves. Applejack and Spike appeared below Twilight.

“Twilight, if that dragon came from the Everfree Forest than thar’s no guarantee that it’ll hardly be the only type of trotter that crawls out of thar. “ Applejack explained. The farm pony looked at Twilight’s shield. The zombie ponies on the other side were now pushed up against it.

“Uh, Twilight. Can we go yet?” Spike started to panic. Twilight nodded before turning back to the crowd.

“Alright everypony. Stay calm and follow me.”

The back door of Town Hall glowed with a purple aura as Twilight magically opened it. With some severe hesitation, she poked her head out the entrance. There were no zombie ponies; they were all behind her shield on the other side. However a single zombie of a different kind was devouring a dead earth pony. It was a mantacore, its scorpion tail having been severed and the flesh on half its face had been clawed off. Twilight glanced over at the pony it was eating. She recognized the blue stallion as one of Rarity’s own neighbors, Noteworthy. I think I’m going to be sick. Twilight thought to herself. Then another thought entered her mind. If the mantacore was preoccupied, there might be enough time to evacuate the survivors.

“Twilight! What is going on out there!” Spike’s voice rang out. Twilight tumbled out of Town Hall in surprise. Rainbow Dash poked her head out looking at Twilight.

“Is now really the time to be lying around?” A glare from Twilight shut her up though.

“Just hurry past the mantacore. It should be a straight shot to the castle.” Twilight ordered. Rainbow Dash flew into the air, motioning to the survivor ponies inside.

“You heard the Princess. Move!” Rainbow Dash was followed in the air by her original group of pegasi while the others started filing out of Town Hall. Rarity and Fluttershy helped Twilight stand up as they approached. As the crowd of survivors trotted past the mantacore Rainbow Dash spotted a zombie pegasus sticking out of one of the houses windows. More started to shift out of the houses in the group’s path. Looks like I can try out my plan after all. She thought to herself. She slowed herself down so she was side by side with Thunderlane.

“Um, Miss Dash?” Thunderlane felt a lump form in his throat. He didn’t want to risk the original plan. There was no way to know if Rainbow Dash would be able to make it back to the larger group after causing a distraction.

“I’m going.” Rainbow Dash proudly stated. Before Thunderlane could react Rainbow Dash flew up in the opposite direction of the group. Fluttershy was the first pony on the ground to take notice.

“What are you doing?” Fluttershy muttered to herself. All the ponies took notice as Rainbow Dash picked up speed, and finally went fast enough to create a sonic rainboom in the sky, a massive, multi-colored burst of energy. The zombie ponies and mantacore stopped pushing themselves against Twilight’s magic shield and eating Noteworthy respectively, looking up at the loud, booming sonic rainboom.

“Rainbow!” Twilight yelled. Rainbow Dash was too high in the sky to respond but was able to smile at the sight of the zombies looking up at the sonic rainboom.

I knew that would work. Rainbow Dash was confident as the survivor ponies started running through the street. However after another quick glance Rainbow Dash saw something else. She was wondering just how a stone pony statue appeared in the horde of zombies. Until it occurred to her that it wasn’t a statue. It was Flitter.

Applejack turned a corner, kicking a zombie pony in the head. The crowd of survivors had made it to the Old Ponies Home, a district where older ponies lived. Twilight’s castle was some distance away. We’ll make it.

“Mama!”

Pinkie felt the blood in her face cool as Pumpkin cried out. Despite the numerous bites to her face and torn up mane, Pinkie could still recognize one of the zombies as Mrs. Cake. Pumpkin and Pound started crying out to their mother, drawing the attention of other zombies through out the town.

“Thunderlane! Cloud Kicker! Bulk Biceps! Take the left! Derpy! Blossomforth! Get the right!” Rainbow Dash cried. The five pegasi started to fly around the survivors, but by that point a zombie Pegasus had bitten a survivor on the neck.

“Run for your lives!” Lyra yelled. Twilight looked back at the group.

“Don’t separate! Stay together!” The Princess of Friendship attempted keep order but in a state of panic, no pony could be able to hear her over the screams. Zombie ponies were starting to appear all around the group. All thanks to the crying infants. Fluttershy ducked out of the way as a zombie Pegasus flew towards her. It ended up missing Fluttershy but Roseluck was not able to get out of the way in time.

“Roseluck!” Fluttershy screamed. She felt a tug at her wings. She looked up to see Rainbow Dash was dragging her away. “Rainbow we can’t just…

“I’m sorry, but no, there’s nothing we can do.” Rainbow Dash felt sick for saying something like that. But considering the zombies had already torn open Roseluck’s throat and stomach and had begun eating, she didn’t see many other options. Rainbow Dash looked around. The survivors had scattered throughout the neighborhood. Twilight and Spike were standing on the roof of the spa.

“Stay in this direction!” Twilight cried out. Of course she wasn’t sure if anypony could hear her. Spike spun around and let out a small scream. A zombie timberwolf, a creature literally made out of tree bark, was trying to climb up the building.

“No not you again!” Spike blew a gust of fire at the zombie timberwolf. Normally that would have made it fall apart. For this timberwolf however, it seemed to be ignoring the flames. Or at the very least it couldn’t feel them in its zombified state. “Oh come on!” Twilight could see her castle several hundred yards away. Then she got an idea.

“Spike, the townsponies need a signal!” Twilight’s horn started to glow. Spike nodded before spitting out a huge burst of fire into the sky. Simultaneously Twilight fired a magical blast from her horn above her. “This way! Follow the signal!” A series of fire works started going off in the air. Twilight looked down to see Trixie casting a spell of her own making the fireworks.

“If you’re trying to catch somepony’s attention, it will have to be bigger than that.” Trixie boasted. Twilight should have guessed that Trixie would try something. Being a former performer her logic made sense.

“Come on. We’re almost there.” Spike reminded.

Bulk Biceps smashed a zombie pony’s face in with one hoof. Then in quick succession he flew towards an approaching line of zombie ponies hitting each one’s head off as he flew by.

“YEAH!” Bulk Biceps roared. He was feeling pumped, perhaps more so than he ever did in his life. Part of him wanted to stick behind and keep on fighting the zombie ponies. He tackled a zombie earth pony and started smashing its face in with both fore hooves.

“Bulk Biceps! You need keep moving!” The Doctor cried as he and Redheart ran past the muscular pegasus. The Doctor stopped and saw the pile of zombie ponies devouring Roseluck. The Doctor held his fore hooves over his face in grief. Redheart put her fore leg around his back.

“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” Redheart muttered. If there is any saving grace… she thought to herself. There shouldn’t be enough left of her to come back as one of them.

“Lyra get over here!” The Doctor looked to his right. Bon Bon was hiding under a bench waving at Lyra. The mint green unicorn was paralyzed with fear as several zombie ponies surrounded her. Bon Bon cried out again. “You can make it! Come on! Lyra!”

“I can’t! There’s too many! Bon Bon help! Anypony!” Lyra cried. A rope dropped down by her face. Lyra looked up to see the town’s hot air balloon was hovering overhead. Minuette poked her head out of the basket. Lyra bit the rope with glee. “I’ve never been more happy to see you before in my life.”

“Just climb!” Minuette ordered. Lyra started to pull herself up the rope before feeling a twinge of guilt.

“Bon Bon! Hurry!” Bon Bon looked out from under the bench.

“What about the castle!” Bon Bon hesitated for a moment before climbing out into the open. “Don’t you think that will be safer?”

“Watch out!” The Doctor screamed. The zombie mantacore had followed the survivors. Bon Bon bolted out of the way towards the balloon, scrambling up the rope as fast as she could. Then she felt a sharp tug at her leg. She looked down to see Redheart holding on for dear life.

“So sorry. I panicked.” The nurse pony explained. “I just wanted GGGGAAAAAHHHHH!” Bon Bon’s eyes widened. The zombie mantacore bit into Redheart’s flank, drawing blood immediately. “Some pony help!” Redheart continued to cry out in pain. Bon Bon looked up at Lyra and Minuette in the basket above.

“Don’t just sit there! Get us out of here!” Bon Bon said. As the balloon rose, the mantacore tightened its bite on Redheart’s flank. Finally it bit through her flesh, biting off a huge chunk of her backside and feel, smashing its head against the ground upon landing.

“I can fix this… I can fix this.” Redheart’s voice was as weary as it could possibly be. Bon Bon gulped.

“No. You can’t. I’m sorry.” With her free hoof, Bon Bon started kicking Redheart in the face.

“Please… give me a chance…. Bon Bon don’t do this!” the nurse pony begged. But Bon Bon remembered what Trixie said.

She’s going to become one of them.

Tears started forming in Bon Bon’s eyes as what she was doing really sunk in. But she didn’t want to take the risk. And with one last kick to the face, Redheart lost her grip and started tumbling down to Ponyville below. Bon Bon shut her eyes tight before hearing a loud thud.

“What’s going on down there?” Lyra’s voice rang out. Bon Bon couldn’t bring herself to look at her friend.

“Nurse Redheart…. lost her grip. I couldn’t save her.” Bon Bon felt the rope being raised up. I’m a monster. Bon Bon thought to herself. Lyra looked over the side of the basket. The Doctor was galloping after the balloon.

“Hold up, ladies!” he cried almost out of breath. Lyra helped Bon Bon into the basket.

“How are we supposed to get him up here? The rope isn’t long enough at this height.” Minuette asked. Lyra looked around. There were still a lot of zombie ponies around so landing wasn’t a choice. The Doctor collapsed from exhaustion. A trio of zombie ponies was trotting in his direction.

“Well, it was nice while it lasted.” The Doctor shut his eyes expecting the end. An end that didn’t come. Instead he felt himself being lifted into the air. The Doctor opened his eyes and saw Derpy was carrying him by his forelegs. “I suppose I should have expected you would find me.” Derpy grinned. Which wasn’t all that surprising considering Derpy’s cheerfulness was second only to Pinkie. Finally reaching the hot air balloon Derpy dropped the Doctor in the basket with the others.

“I guess we aren’t following Princess Twilight after all. Are we?” Minuette asked. The five ponies exchanged glances before looking back at the carnage below, slowly but surely shrinking in the distance.

Rumble ran as fast as his small legs would let him. Thunderlane was flying overhead looking after him.

“Just keep it up. We are almost there.” Thunderlane said. A zombie pegasus hovered towards him. Rumble opened his muzzle to warn him, but before Rumble could say anything Rainbow Dash tackled the zombie pegasus to the ground, smashing its face in. Thunderlane looked at Rainbow Dash with wide eyes. How did I miss that one? She’s good. He thought to himself.

“Keep it up! We’re almost there! You too, Thunderlane. Stop checking me out and get to the castle!” Rainbow Dash ordered. Thunderlane blushed. She noticed that too?

“I wasn’t…Miss Dash it’s not what out think…”

“I said go! And for Celestia’s sake watch your back!” Rainbow Dash snapped. Yet another zombie pony was standing on its hind legs trying to reach Thunderlane. Groaning, Rainbow Dash started towards the zombie pony, before Bulk Biceps rammed through the zombie, its body exploding into little pieces.

“YEAH!” Bulk Biceps snorted. The zombie pony’s blood and guts dripped all over his body. Rumble backed away freaked out by the huge pegasus. Seeing his little brother distressed, Thunderlane picked up the young colt.

“I got ya.” Thunderlane reassured. On the one hoof he hated Thunderlane helping him fly but on the other hoof, the further away from Bulk Biceps he figured the better. Seeing Thunderlane holding Rumble, Cloud Kicker threw up her fore legs in frustration.

“Well why didn’t we just do that in the first place.” She flew down and picked up Pipsqueak. “Come here little filly.”

“Um, I’m a colt.” He stated. Cloud Kicker bit her lip, given she had taken pride in telling the difference between mares and stallions.

“I-I knew that. I wanted to see if you knew.” Cloud Kicker stuttered. Blossomforth flew past her carrying Pina Colada and Truffle Shuffle.

“Sure that’s what you intended.”

“Shut up!”

Owlicious was perched on the balcony of the castle. He could see the crowd of ponies approaching. With a hoot, he flew back inside.

“Owlicious! Open the main entrance!” Twilight cried. The doors opened and the crowd of ponies poured into the entry chamber. A zombie unicorn reached its head in the doorway.

“Oh no you don’t!” Spike snapped, slamming the door on the zombie unicorn, severing its head. It’s head continued to whiny. “Ugh, does some pony want to…” Spike didn’t get the chance to finish, as Bulk Biceps flew over to the severed head and stepped on it repeatedly. Spike looked around before backing away. Twilight stood on the grand staircase leading further into the castle.

“Is anypony hurt? Are you all here?” Twilight asked. Rainbow Dash flew up to Twilight’s level.

“Well, we lost a few ponies on the way over here.” Rainbow Dash’s limbs hang low as she hovered in the air. She saw the pain in Twilight’s face and quickly landed on the stairs. “But hey, most of them made it.”

“What are we going to do?” Blossomforth called out from the crowd. The Mane Six and Spike gathered on the stairs. Twilight let out a deep breath before speaking up.

“For now you will be safe. I would like to convene with my friends on our next step. Until then you have free reign of the castle.” She turned to Owlicious. “Owlicious, make them feel at home.” The owl rolled his eyes before flying towards the crowd.

“That’s it? Your leaving us with an owl while you do nothing to stop the undead outside?” Trixie snapped. Fluttershy looked back at the show pony.

“Please, we all need to stay calm.” Fluttershy replied, trying to hold back the tears. “We will find a way. We will find a way.” Fluttershy stopped. Rarity put a hoof on her shoulder.

“That’s right. We shan’t be long everypony.” Rarity added.

Twilight sat on her throne. Spike and the rest of the Mane Six were sitting on similar thrones in the Council of Friendship Chambers. Pinkie was letting the Cake twins wander around the chambers. Applejack was the last to take her seat, having gone back to her room to pick up her hat.

“I guess the first thing is first. How are all of you feeling?” Twilight asked. Applejack kicked the ground beneath her.

“Ah’d feel a lot calmer if the whole Apple Family was here. Best ah figur’ they’re at least together.” Applejack said. If they’re still alive. She thought to herself, thinking it was better not to say it out loud. Without getting out of her throne, Pinkie reached over and wrapped a fore leg around Applejack.

“Well you got at least one Apple Pie here to watch your back. Kind of. It’s the thought that counts.” Pinkie’s words confused Fluttershy. “Pinkie Pie’s got you covered.” The Cake Twins looked at each other, both sharing the same expression. Raised eyebrows. Spike looked at Twilight.

“So what did Princess Luna say?” he asked. The others turned their attention to Twilight, Pinkie having pulled a bag of popcorn out from behind her throne. Feeling uneasy, Twilight recounted her talk with Luna, deciding to leave out the nightmarish versions of her friends she saw.

“S-she didn’t say what was making Princess Celestia sick did she?” Fluttershy uttered. “It wasn’t the blue flu was it?” Twilight shook her head.

“No, Princess Celestia actually is sick.” Twilight replied, remembering when Discord had faked being sick with the blue flu. Then it occurred to Twilight. Discord.

“Um, Twi? Ya ok over thar?” Applejack asked. Twilight shook her head.

“I just had a horrible thought. What if Discord has something to do with the outbreak?” Twilight suggested. Fluttershy stood up from her throne.

“Now wait a minute. He wouldn’t betray us.” She argued. Fluttershy stood in the center of the Council Chamber. “Not after what happened with Tirek. He has learned to understand true friendship. I trust Discord.” The irony of that statement hadn’t escaped Fluttershy’s notice, but she meant every word. Discord may have been the spirit of chaos for eons but she had no doubt he was truly reformed. As if on cue a disembodied voice spoke up.

“How kind of you to believe in me.”

Random animal body parts started to roll past the thrones and towards Fluttershy. She backed away as the body parts started to merge together.

“Do you have to arrive in such a disgusting manner, Discord?” Rarity asked. Once his body was fully assembled, the ancient draconequus laughed.

“What? Too close to home?” Discord smirked, expecting a reaction from the Mane Six. When one did not come up, he spoke again. “But in all seriousness why am I always under suspicion? This is just like when those evil vines from the Everfree forest attacked.”

“But that was because of you.” Spike was quick to remind. Discord shrugged.

“Well even I am not perfect.” He replied.

Fluttershy looked up at Discord. “Um, Discord, you wouldn’t happen to know why the zombies are attacking?” She asked. The chamber fell silent as the yellow pegasus started to tap her hooves along the ground. Her unease was very apparent, though Twilight couldn’t tell if the Fluttershy was trying to hide it or not. “ Also you couldn’t by chance um, cure everypony who’s turned? Maybe bring some back to life?” Tears started swelling up in Fluttershy’s eyes. Rainbow Dash slumped back in her throne. She knew Fluttershy was talking about Angel. Some how she expected Discord wasn’t going to give her an answer she wanted to hear.

“Fluttershy. I’m an omnipotent being with limitless power whose life span has lasted eons, and will no doubt last many more to come. But I’m not a miracle worker.” Discord explained. He gently tussled her mane. “The dead remain dead.” Fluttershy collapsed to the floor. The others quickly ran over to Fluttershy’s side. Rainbow Dash and Rarity helped Fluttershy sit up.

“It’s ok, dear. It will be alright.” Rarity reassured. Of course Rarity wasn’t as certain of that herself, but she wouldn’t dare say that out loud. She turned to Discord. “You didn’t have to say it so bluntly.” Discord’s eyes widened. With a snap of his fingers, a book materialized in Discord’s hands. He started turning the pages.

“Oh? Was it not Fluttershy who learned some times being too kind can actually keeping a friend from doing what they need to do? It may seem cruel but sometimes it is the kindest thing to do.” Discord continued to look through the book. Twilight recognized it as the same one the Mane Six had been keeping the lessons they had been learning over the past few months.

“You are reading our journal again?” Twilight snapped, snatching the book with her magic. Discord raised an eyebrow.

“You were certainly glad I did last time. Made you stronger. Didn’t it?” Discord let out a little laugh. Rainbow Dash scoffed.

“If you’re telling us to use our new powers…” Rainbow Dash’s body released a flash of cyan colored light. The light dissipated, revealing Rainbow Dash had taken on her Friendship form, her mane and tail having grown, as well as adding the rainbow colors to her wings. “Then you should straight up say it.” Discord shook his head before responding.

“Now where’s the fun in that?”

“Ah suppose giving it a try couldn’t hurt.” Applejack said. Twilight motioned to the rest of the Mane Six, who gathered in a circle around the room. Spike stepped back, noticing the Cake Twins were now sitting in Pinkie’s throne. Twilight took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

“Ok everypony. Lets do this.” Twilight opened her eyes as she felt the power flowing inside her. Herself, Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy were engulfed in light before taking on their Friendship forms as well. Like Rainbow Dash, their manes and tails grew longer, all with new highlights, yellow for Twilight, red for Applejack, yellow and green for Fluttershy, and blue and yellow for Pinkie. Discord took up Pinkie’s fallen bag of popcorn.

“I’m going to enjoy this.” Discord leaned against the wall and watched the Mane Six as a multi-colored burst of energy through the stain glass windows, which he knew would travel all across Equestria. He smiled as the rainbow resided and the Mane Six reverted to their original forms. Applejack was the first to break the silence.

“Well? Did it work?” The farm pony asked. Discord shrugged before snapping his fingers, teleporting himself, the Mane Six, and Spike onto the balcony outside. The group looked over the railing at the town below. Twilight’s heart sank at the sight of the zombie ponies wandering around unhindered.

“Oh come on! That works on a demonic centaur but not a bunch of zombies!” Rainbow Dash snapped. And then, without warning, Discord pointed at a zombie unicorn, snapped his fingers, and the zombie exploded in a burst of blood and gore. Even after seeing Twilight do something similar a few hours before, seeing an entire pony’s body explode in such a way instead of just their head was absolutely revolting.

“Of all the horrible ways you could possibly put one of those put a pony out of their misery does it have to be the most disgusting and violent way!” Rarity grabbed Discord’s face, and pulled him down to her eye level. “Don’t you dare do that to another pony. Understand!” Discord teleported out of Rarity’s grip, reappearing overhead, holding his hand to his chest.

“You wound me, ‘darling’.” Discord reached into his chest, pulling his still beating heart out. Fluttershy had to hold her hooves over her eyes. Spike leaned against the railing, vomiting into the streets below. Discord put his heart back into his chest, much to the others relief. “I wouldn’t dream harming my precious little ponies. The undead ones well no guarantee.” Discord snapped his fingers again, and another zombie pony erupted into a shower of blood.

“Discord!” Twilight roared, her wings extending up in rage.

“Oh come on its fun. You should try it, princess. In the mean time I’ll be doing my favorite hobby.” The ancient draconequus gave another huge grin. Pinkie held a hoof to her chin in thought before speaking up.

“Eavesdropping on us?” She chirped. Discord blushed.

“Ok you got me.” Discord turned to Fluttershy. “We’re still on for tea time on Tuesday of course right?” Slowly Fluttershy looked up and nodded. “Good. I’ll see you all then.” And then in a flash of light, Discord was gone.