Beating an Undead Pony

“It’s good to see ya’ll up and about.”

Twilight felt her head pounding like crazy. She tried to move only to find she had a long rope wrapped around her body, restricting her wings and keeping her from moving her forelegs. Rarity and Fluttershy were propped up against the wall next to her also tied up.

“Oh thank goodness your ok.” Fluttershy muttered.

“You had us worried to no end, Twilight.” Rarity added. Twilight observed her surroundings. She guessed that they were in the cellar of the pub given the barrels all around them. A stallion in a wide brimmed hat stood at the foot of a flight of stairs.

“As was Ah. Didn’t think Ah hit ya that hard.” The stallion said. Twilight quickly shook her head.

“What have you done? Where is everypony else?” She asked. The stallion motioned over to one of the larger barrels. Two mares were holding Pinkie over a barrel of cider, dunking her head in the barrel multiple times.

“Mmm. That’s pretty good.” Pinkie chirped.

“This isn’t working. She likes it.” One of the mares said to her companion.

“Just keep trying, she’s bound to get tired of it eventually.” Her companion rationalized.

“Are you kidding me? Cider’s delicious.” Pinkie replied. The stallion laid a hoof on his face before approaching the others.

“Well while your friend is being entertained perhaps Ah should let you in on the plan.” The stallion held up a hoof. “We’re going to give you a choice. Join us, or not. Simple as that. “

“And why, after tying us up and separating us from our friends would we do that?” Rarity argued. The Stallion stared at Rarity for half a minute before responding.

“Oh sorry little lady, just looking at your perty face thar.” The stallion turned his attention to Fluttershy and smiled. “Of course you’re a cute little thang yerself.” Fluttershy closed her eyes and tilted her head down.

“Please Mister. Let me and my friends go. We just wanted to help.” Fluttershy whimpered.

“Ya’ll are helpin’. Lot of good ponies that we want to be friends with. Of course we can’t exactly let ya’ll go now. Miss Jubilie wouldn’t like that one bit. That’s why Appleloosa isn’t a town anymore. Now thar part of us. At least the ones willing to be our friends.” Twilight gritted her teeth.

“That isn’t how friendship works! You can’t just force somepony into it! It’s something that has to be mutual between others!” Twilight argued. The stallion shrugged.

“Ah suppose the Princess of Friendship would have a pretty strong opinion. Too bad Miss. Jubiliee makes more sense to me.” The Stallion motioned over to the mares, which on cue dropped Pinkie onto the ground. “Ya’ll can have a place here. Herdin’, harvestin’, entertainin’, it’s all possible. But if ya ain’t willin’ to be friends, well we can’t let ya walk away.” The pair of mares started dragging Pinkie up the stairs.

“What are you doing with her!” Rarity cried. The stallion ignored her, instead trottin behind the cider barrels.

“She wouldn’t give us an answer. So she’s stayin’ until she does. Now as for ya’ll…” The stallion emerged from behind the barrels, holding a sharpened wooden pole in his forehooves. “I’m gonna have to ask for an answer. So what’s it gonna be?” he asked. Twilight gritted her teeth, letting her horn glowing quite brightly. Rarity’s expression didn’t change, continuing to just look at the stallion in discust.

He wouldn’t dare. She thought to herself. Fluttershy however, had her head lowered, as her panting started growing more and more rapid. The sensitive pegasus started muttering. The stallion put down the wooden pole, raising an eyebrow.

“Ya’ll have to speak up, little lady. A’m afraid Ah didn’t quite get all of that.” The stallion asked. Fluttershy raised her head, revealing angry eyes filled with tears.

“You. Won’t. Hurt. My. Friends!”

The stallion stumbled onto his back as Fluttershy’s cry rang throughout the cellar. Feeling rage surging through her body, Fluttershy forced herself to her forelegs, breathing as heavily as she could. Taking advantage of the distraction, Twilight looked over at Rarity, using her magic to untie the ropes around her friend.

“Please, ma’am, A’m just followin’ an ideal. If ya’ll heard Miss. Jubiliee last night maybe ya’d understand.” The stallion stammered, dragging himself along the floor away from Fluttershy, leaving a stream of urine in his wake.

“No. No I wouldn’t.” Fluttershy let her forelegs land on the ground as Twilight magically untied her. The stallion backed up against the wall, with Fluttershy staring him right in the face, mere inches from his muzzle.

“Um, Fluttershy? I think you got him.” Twilight chimmed in. Fluttershy didn’t notice, instead continuing to stare at the stallion. Finally the stallion collapsed to the ground crying in fear.

“Fluttershy! Surely that is enough?” Rarity asked. Fluttershy blinked, feling like she had just come out of a trance. She looked down at the terrified stallion.

“Too much?” Fluttershy muttered. She had used her “Stare” power before, but it had always been on animals to get them to behave. Seeing a pony scared out of their wits was something new to her. Fluttershy would have expected this feeling to be horrific, but she wasn’t feeling it. Instead, she felt satified. “Twilight? Rarity?” Rarity gently placed a hoof on Fluttershy’s chest.

“It’s ok. You didn’t hurt anypony.” Rarity explained in a gentle tone. Twilight approached the crying stallion.

“Stay back! Just leave me alone!” he cried. Twilight felt a trickle down her spine.

“We need to find the others.” She turned to Rarity and Fluttershy. Rarity had regained her composure, but Fluttershy was still looking down, lost in thought.

“Absolutely. No pony should stay in this dreadful place any longer than we already have.” Rarity replied.

“Young man, would you please come down from there?”

Spike looked down from the rooftop he managed to climb up to. Two chubby mares and one thin one were standing below, the thin one taking off her bonnet and waving at him.

“We won’t get anywhere if ya ain’t even willin’ to talk.” The mare said.

“Why the heck should I?” Spike cried back. He looked over at the makeshift fence. A pair of zombie ponies walked right into the path of the wooden poles, continuing to reach towards the town despite being impaled. “Ugh. Could you at least stab them in the head? At least then they won’t keep coming at me.” The mares looked at the fence. The number of zombie ponies on the poles was making the fence creak.

“Could you get that?” One of the mares asked her companions. The middle one nodded, put her bonnet back on and trotted towards the fence, leaving the two chubby ones behind, looking away from Spike, instead at their companion.

Now’s my chance. Spike lept off the roof, feeling his feet sting as he landed. Ignoring the pain Spike bolted past the two other mares before bumping into another pony. “Stay back or I’ll…” Spike stopped. This pony he recognized, the Sheriff of Appleloosa, Silverstar.

“You thar. You’re one of Applejack’s friends. What are ya doing here? Cherry didn’t mention any newcomers.” Silverstar asked. Spike took a step back. He remembered what Jubilee had said before about about Appleloosans that apparently did join her. But Spike thought she was lying. Seeing somepony, the sheriff of all ponies, standing before him along side these crazy ponies was just unnerving.

“Why are you with these ponies? After what they did.” Spike uttered in surprise. Silverstar looked away, letting out a sigh of shame.

“They killed alota mah ponies. Ah had no choice but to go along.” Silverstar motioned for Spike to follow him as he made his way towards a large building. Spike hesitated, thinking Silverstar might be leading him into a trap. Still he figured if he could out run a pair of mares he might be able to out run Silverstar.

I hope.

Spike started after Silverstar, his heart beating faster and faster with each step.

“Does anypony know yer here?” Silverstar stopped at the building’s railed porch. He looked down at Spike, who simply nodded. His ears perked up at the sound of hooves tapping against wood. Before Spike could stop him, Silverstar grabbed a burlap sack off the porch, and forced it over Spike’s head, scooping him up and tying up the sack. “Just stay inside. Trust me.” He whispered. Silverstar tossed the sack over his shoulder as Jubiliee emerged from the building with a very big smile on her face.

“Howdy, Madam. Ya’ll lookin’ much cheerier then A’h last saw ya.” Silverstar noted, tipping his hat. Jubilee smiled back as she removed Silverstar’s hat with her mouth, then tussled his mane with a free hoof.

“Oh A’ve never been happier, Sheriff. A pony A’h love very much has joined us a couple hours ago. Ahhh. Applejack.” Jubiliee closed her eyes, lost in her happy thoughts. Silverstar nodded in response, putting his hat back on.

“Ah remember you promised to let me know when newcomers arrive.” Silverstar noted. “After all, ya wanted me to make sure they are no threat to the town.” Jubiliee couldn’t help but giggle.

“That’s what Ah like about ya, Sheriff Friendly. Ya always have other ponies concerns above yer own.” Jubiliee looked up into the night sky. “Yer right of course. Applejack did come with friends. Mah boys are convincing some of them now to join us. Sadly two of them refused.” She looked back at Silverstar and shrugged. “We have no choice. We have to find em and take care of em. Ya understand don’t ya?” Silverstar didn’t answer right away. Jubiliee raised an eyebrow. “Sheriff Friendly?”

“It’s Silverstar.”

“Sheriff.”

“Yes Ah understand.”

“Good. Anyway, Ah’ll see ya in the mornin’. We all have a lot of work tomorra.” Jubiliee ordered. Jubiliee skipped back into the building humming the whole way. Once she was inside Silverstar took a huge breath and opened the sack, giving Spike some air.

“Did ya get all that?” Silverstar asked. Spike didn’t answer right away, instead taking several breaths. “Sorry. Ah didn’t know if she knew about ya. But Ah take it yer one of the friends who refused.”

“You could say that. Really thought why would any of us want to join that nut.” Spike replied. He couldn’t believe that Silverstar was looking guilty at Spike’s words. “Come on!” Silverstar shoved a hoof in Spike’s mouth to keep him from talking.

“Keep yer voice down! Ya want Jubiliee or any other pony to hear ya?” The Sherriff pony snapped. Spike pushed Silverstar’s hoof away.

“I need to find them.” Spike said to himself. Silverstar stroked his chin.

“Well Ah do know a few places where ya can look. But Ah can’t leave mah ponies here either. If yer able to find yer friends take us with ya.” Silverstar reached into the brim of his hat, giving Spike a piece of paper. On it was a map of Dodge Junction with some buildings circled in red.

“Alright. You can do this, Spike.” The young dragon muttered to himself. Wait, why should I bring these ponies with? They joined Jubiliee. Spike stared twirling his claws as he continued to ponder what to do. However many ponies from Appleloosa were still alive didn’t change the fact they had joined the ponies of Dodge Junction in their weird ‘stabbing ponies on poles ideas’.

“Just let me know when yer ready and Ah’ll get my ponies so we can get out of ere’.” Silverstar reminded. Spike watched Silverstar trot away, afraid to trust him.

“He’s not a bad pony. They are. What would Twilight do?” Spike asked himself. A loud wizzing sound caught his attention. Looking up into the sky, he sawy a purple streak of magical energy flying upwards into the air. “Twilight!” he cried.

“Is that all you got? Come on!” Rainbow Dash kicked into the dirt with her hindlegs as hard as she could. Four Dodge Junction mares had brought Rainbow Dash to the edge of Dodge Junction, tied each of her legs to a length of rope and was trying to pull in all four directions. Rainbow Dash continued to kick and resist their grip.

“If you were willin’ to be our friend we wouldn’t have to do this.” One of the ponies said, trying to hide their exhaustion. Rainbow Dash had been resisting for the past hour, and her legs were starting to hurt.

Good thing I still have my wings. Rainbow Dash flapped her wings as hard as she could, starting to levitate in the air.

“Pull!”

The four ponies tugged at the ropes around Rainbow Dash as hard as they could, pulling her back down to the ground. “Will somepony hurry this up? We aren’t getting’ anywhere.” Rainbow Dash looked up. A fifth pony was approaching with one of the sharpened wooden poles in his mouth.

“Hey Ah remember ya. Yer one of Applejack’s friends aren’t ya?”

Rainbow Dash had heard that friendly voice before. Even with a messier mane, and grime and dust covering much of his body, she could recognize a pretty colt like Braeburn anywhere.

“Hold it ladies. We don’t need to hurt this one.” Braeburn argued. The four other mares exchanged glances before the one holding the ropes around Rainbow Dash’s right foreleg spoke up.

“Sorry to say this Brae, but she won’t be our friend. We have to put her down.” She explained.

“Surely ya understand that. Now could you please finish er off?” the mare on Rainbow Dash’s right hindleg side asked. Braeburn started to sweat as he looked back and forth from the wooden pole in his hooves to Rainbow Dash.

“Don’t you dare!” Rainbow Dash cried. She pulled bucked back, kicking the two mares behind her in their faces.

“Brae give us a hoof already!”

Braeburn dropped the pole and backed away. Ah can’t do this. What is wrong with me?

Yeah, keep them distracted. Rainbow Dash thought to herself. Continuing to flap her wings, Rainbow Dash pulled the two remaining mares forward. Feeling her leg joints weakening, Rainbow Dash had to reach forward with her mouth, biting down on the fallen pole.

“No don’t touch that!” One of the mares exclaimed, letting go of her rope. Rainbow Dash swung the pole with all her remaining strength, with the intent on smacking the mare as she lept forward. Instead, she landed chest first on the pointed end.

“Whoa nelly!” Braeburn whinnied. Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened as the mare stopped breathing and lowered her head. “Dash did you just kill somepony?”

Rainbow Dash dropped the pole, letting the mare drop to the ground. Her blood started pooling around her body, cuing the three remaining mares to back away slowly.

“T-that wasn’t what I was trying to do. I swear.” Rainbow Dash stuttered. The three mares bolted back into the town quivering the whole town. Rainbow Dash looked back at Braeburn, who likewise was also shaking at the sight of the dead mare. “Come on! They’ve been doing the exact same thing to how many other ponies?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“That doesn’t make it any easier to watch.” Braeburn muttered. Rainbow Dash looked at the dead mare. It wasn’t the same as killing a zombie pony. Those creatures weren’t alive. Come on. You can take it. Daring Do has killed ponies. If she can I can. Right? “Braeburn, where are my friends?” Braeburn blinked.

“Ah didn’t even know ya’ll were here until now. Ya’ll here to help? Sheriff Silverstar sent out a possy to look for help.” He asked. Rainbow Dash scratched her mane.

“Guess it’s a good thing we arrived then.” Rainbow Dash hovered in the air. “Come with me, were getting the others out of here.”

“Quick question. How ya plan to find em?” Braeburn asked. Before Rainbow Dash could respond, a burst of magical energy shot into the air, forming a big purple star in the night sky.

“That’s how.”

Jubiliee stroked Applejack’s face. She didn’t like the fact Applejack was furious at her, but was still hopeful she would eventually grow to love her back. She gently pressed her lips against Applejack’s.

“Applejack…” Jubiliee muttered. She flinched at the sound of a loud booming noise outside. “I’ll check on it, darling.” Applejack grtted her teeth.

Only Rarity deserves to say that.

Jubiliee opened her bedroom window in time to see the purple star appear in the sky. “Hm. Such a shame.” Jubiliee picked up the mane pins on her nightstand. “Don’t you worry Applejack. Ah’ll take care of this.” Once Jubiliee had finished tying up her hair she trotted for the bedroom door. Before she could exit, she heard heavy breathing coming from Applejack. “Is somethin’ wrong, love?” Applejack narrowed her eyes at her captor.

“If mah friends don’t kill ya…. Ah will.” Applejack groaned. By now she had more injuries than just her broken legs, several cuts across her body had been made the more she resisted Jubiliee.

“Don’t say such thangs. I love ya. And ya’ll will love me. Trust me. I’ll be back soon.” Jubiliee reassured. Applejack closed her eyes as Jubiliee left the room.

Ponies don’t do what you did.

Jubiliee pushed her way past a large group of ponies that were gathered in the town’s square. Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie were starring down the group of ponies. The Cake Twins were poking their heads out of Pinkie’s saddlebags.

“Young ladies, have ya made yer decision?” Jubiliee asked. Rarity was the first one to speak up.

“Not at all.” Rarity stepped forward. “You act proper and pretend everything you are doing is normal. It is not!” Rarity noted. Jubiliee took a deep breath.

“It seems it’s time Ah need to explain mah self to ya.” Jubiliee replied. Fluttershy raised a hoof.

“Please don’t.” She squeaked. Twilight took a step forward.

“Sorry Fluttershy, but I want to hear this.” Twilight said. Jubiliee’s eyes moved from Twilight’s horn to her wings before continuing.

“Very well your majesty. As you have seen, the dead are walkin’ around eatin’ livin’ ponies. We all have heard what Princess Luna has said in our dreams. Equestria is fallin’ apart.

“Hasn’t it only been two days?” Pinkie chimed in. Jubiliee ignored her and continued.

“And if it’s fallin apart we need to make the most of what we had. We need to cling to our friends. Ah don’t want to see friends go away. And if they don’t want to be friends then so be it. Not every pony in Appleloosa was unwilling to be friends. And that’s why they are still here. See for yourself. Sheriff!” Jubiliee looked very confident with herself as Silverstar emerged from the crowd.

“Hey it’s you. Didn’t think I’d be seeing you here.” Pinkie pointed out. Silverstar sighed.

“Neither did Ah.”

“See? Sheriff Friendly here decided to join us. It’s why everypony is here.” Jubiliee explained. Twilight extended her wings.

“Is it? Is it because they are actually friends with you? Or is it because their afraid you’ll kill them? Extending friendship to others isn’t meant to be a life or death thing. You can’t decide it yourself. It’s something shared between others, not decided by one pony.” Twilight argued. The ponies in the crowd started to talk among themselves. Pinkie poked Twilight in the ribs.

“Keep it up. You’re doing great.” Pinkie whispered. “They’re loving it.”

“I am not.” Jubiliee said, stomping her forehoof. Twilight continued.

“We won’t force you to go with us to Ponyville. You still can though. You don’t have to listen to Cherry Jubiliee about any of this.” The talk among the ponies in the crowd continued.

“No! No! They are mah friends! Ya ain’t taken any of em from me!” Jubiliee cried.

“Not. Friends!"

“Twilight. Friend.”

Pinkie looked back at the Cake Twins. “I’m so proud of you.” Pinkie said, holding back the tears of joy. Silverstar looked to the ground before approaching Twilight’s group.

“Sheriff. What are ya doin’?” Jubiliee asked through gritted teeth. The sheriff smacked Jubiliee in the face with his tail.

“Somethin’ ah should have done a long time ago.” Silverstar replied. Braeburn emerged from the crowd.

“Me too.” Braeburn added with defiance. Jubiliee felt somepony tapping on her shoulder.

“What!”

Before she could react in any other way, Jubiliee found herself on the ground. Rainbow Dash was standing proud over her.

“That was for my friends.” She boasted. Rainbow Dash turned to the rest of the crowd. “And what about the rest of you?” One by one the ponies in the crowd walked away from Jubiliee.

“Don’t leave me!” Jubiliee begged. “Ah need ponies! Ah need Applejack!” Jubiliee begged.

“What did you do to her?” Rainbow Dash demanded. A scream rang out from the back of the crowd. A large amount of zombie ponies were piling onto ponies.

“Rainbow, where are they coming from?” Twilight asked. Rainbow Dash flew up into the air to get a better view. The fence at the edge of town had finally collapsed from the weight of all the zombie ponies and now more were making their way towards the town.

“Incoming!” She cried. The crowd of ponies started to scatter.

“No! Stay together!” Twilight screamed, blasting a zombie pony in the head with a blast of magical energy. Braeburn was the first to stop running.

“Yeah. Ah think Ah see what ya doin’. Come on everypony!” Braeburn called out to the townsponies. One by one they started kicking zombie ponies in the head. Rarity backed into a wall to avoid getting kicked by accident.

“Pinkie! Not you too!” Rarity screamed. Pinkie looked down. A zombie pony was nawing on her right boot. Thinking fast, Pinkie tied a balloon around the zombie pony’s neck, making it fly off into the sky. Pinkie looked at Rarity’s terrified expression.

“Oh don’t worry about me. It didn’t get through my boots.” Pinkie pulled her boot off, revealing no bite marks. Rarity took a huge breath as Pinkie wrapped a foreleg around her fetlock. “Good thing I was wearing this outfit after all.” Pinkie notted.

“Ah yes. Truly an outfit can save a pony’s life.” Rarity replied.

Spike turned a corner, running as fast as he could.

Hold on, Twilight I’m coming. Spike saw Town Square in the distance, and the large number of zombie ponies reaching the crowd of ponies.

“There’s some justice.” Spike took a step forward right as a zombie pony trotted towards him. “Whoa!” He screamed. Spike swiped his claws against a zombie pony’s throat. Meat started to spill out on top of him as he backed away. Not hindered by the bones in its neck exposed, the zombie pony trotted forward. Spike looked at his claws again. His sharp claws.

“Only one way to find out.” Spike muttered. Leaping out of the way as the zombie pony started snapping it’s jaws in his direction, Spike jabbed his claws into the back of the zombie pony’s skull. What am I doing? Spike pressed his weight down harder on the zombie pony, forcing it to the ground. Spike pulled his claws out of the holes in the zombie pony’s head, finding bits of brain stuck in his claws.

“Gah! What the heck is wrong with me!” Spike exclaimed. Another snarl caught his attention. Spike spun around in time to see another zombie pony with no forelegs trying to crawl along the ground. Spike’s heart raced as it got closer and closer, before giving him a wide berth.

Why didn’t want me. Wait why should I care? That’s a good thing. Spike wiped some of the blood off his face. The blood maybe? Spike’s thoughts were quick to change at the sight of Jubiliee trying to sneak into a building. You.

Jubiliee took the pins out of her mane as she made her way down the hall. Her mind was racing thinking of all the ponies outside. The townsponies she considered friends had just left her. “At least I still have Applejack.” She said to herself. Opening the door to her bedroom, Jubiliee smiled at the sight of Applejack lying on her bed.

Ah’m warning ya. Stay back.” Applejack muttered. Jubiliee jumped onto Applejack’s chest, pinning her broken legs.

“You have nothin’ to fear from me. Ah care about ya too much.” Jubiliee replied, forcing another kiss on Applejack. Slowly she moved her hooves across Applejack’s body, making her shiver. “Even if all of Equestria refuses to be mah friend, Ah still have you.”

“Ah. Am. Not. Yer. Friend.”

Jubiliee didn’t respond, instead started planting gentle kisses along Applejack’s body.

“What in the name of Celestia!” Spike had to shut his eyes and force his claws over his face at the sight of Jubiliee sticking her muzzle between Applejack’s hindlegs.

“Spike. Don’t look.” Applejack weakly uttered.

“What is she doing…” Spike started to ask, before he heard Jubiliee scream in pain. Against Applejack’s order, and his better judgement, Spike opened his eyes. Jubiliee had fallen off the bed, holding neck as blood seeped out. Applejack was panting heavily with a muzzle covered in blood. Jubiliee’s blood.

“Please. Applejack. Help me.” Jubiliee begged. Applejack’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Help you? After what ya just did! Not a chance!” Applejack roared. Spike stepped around Jubiliee towards Applejack.

“Applejack. Was she doing what I think she was?” Spike asked. Applejack lowered her head back onto her pillow and nodded.

“Spike. Get me out of ere’.” Applejack shut her eyes and started to cry. “Ah just want to go home.”