Author's Note

I know there may be a lot of errors but I will be getting Microsoft word soon so I will be able to use spell check. I'd also like to thank my good friend MC-T for allowing me to use his OC Quantum Citrine.

The road to ponyville

Pain

That was all Shadow could feel as his mind was torn from the reality of what was happening. He could feel the infection eating away at him from the inside out but he couldn't scream in pain. Shadow stood overlooking Sunset Shimmer in an empty abyss. He watched as more people appeared out of the darkness to stand by her. His mother, his sister, Close Cut, Red June, and his father. They all raised their hands and pointed at him while whispering.

"Guilty!" They all whispered. Shadows father disappears." Guilty!" His mother disappears." Guilty!" His sister and Close Cut disappear." Guilty." Red June disappears. Shadow watches as Sunset Shimmers walks over to him. She leans in and whispers in his ear." GUILTY!" She disappears and Shadow feels whatever force keeping him from falling into the never-ending abyss disappear. Shadow yells as he tumbles through nothingness and back to earth where he falls back into his body with a sickening crack.

Shadow opens his eyes. He can see the ceiling of the hangar. He can smell the smoke from whichever building went up in flames during the panic. He can hear gunshots coming from outside the hangar doors. Shadow sits up and looks to the double doors that were now halfway closed. He sees someone's hand on the side getting ready to open it. Shadow falls back to the ground faking death. His hand finds his mothers knife on the ground and his hand closes around it. He hears the hangar door open and footsteps walking towards him. Shadow clenches his jaw as he hears movement next to him. Whoever this was, was looting the bodies! Shadow could hear him moving around him until he pauses and moves to him. He feels him take his 45. out of its holster.

"Nice!" A deep distorted voice says." Sorry friend, but you aren't going to be needing this anymore." Shadow feels a rough hand pat his cheek before going through his pockets. He pulls out his wallet and begins going through it. Shadow only kept a wallet because it made things feel normal, Like the end of the world never happened and he was on some kind of vacation. The only thing in the wallet was his picture of his family and more importantly his only picture of Sunset Shimmer." Dang dude!" He hears the man talking to what he thought was a dead body." Wish I could've met this chick before shit hit the fan." He chuckles. Shadow snaps and slams his fist into the mans face. Shadow feels his fist impact something rubbery and glass. Shadow throws himself over and jumps on top of the man. He brings his knife up to his throat. Now Shadow can see him clearly. The man is wearing a gas mask which explains the distorted voice. He is wearing what looks like scraps of metal and leather sewn together and there are bite marks, dents, and scratches along the arms and torso.

"You don't talk about her!" Shadow says in a raspy voice. He can clearly see how horrific he must look. His arms were covered in bite marks and scratches that had begun healing slightly.

"Oh my god!" The man yells before he feels the knife against his throat." oh thank god! I thought you might have turned!" He sighs.

"You should be worried that I haven't." Shadow says.

"Listen man how about I do you a favor and kill you now so you don't turn? does that sound good?" He says.

Shadow tears his mask off. He has light blue skin and hair that reminded Shadow of the setting sun. "how many are with you?!" Shadow growls a him.

"could be just me, or there could be twenty more outside." He chuckles." you'll find out soon enough." He says

Shadow looks up at the door way. Bright light could be seen through it meaning it was late in the morning. Shadow stands up, leaving the man on the ground, He picks up the picture the man had taken and walks to the hangar door. He looks at the sun which was barley crested over the mountains. That's when the realization hit him. He was bitten at least twenty times yet he wasn't dead or turned yet. He wondered how in Equestria that was possible when the realization hit him again but a lot harder giving him a migraine. He was immune! He couldn't believe it but it was the only logical explanation at this point." I'm coming for you Shimmer......and nobody in this god forsaken land is going to stop me!" He whispers before he feels someone hit him in the back of the head. Shadow stumbles forward and hits the ground hard. He feels another hit this one knocking him out.

Shadow wakes a short time later. He can't see anything but he can feel the heat of what sounds like a fire. Shadow tries to move but finds his hands and feet bound with some sort of cord.

"So you awake finally?" A voice asks. Shadow feels a pair of hands fiddling with the piece of cloth tied around his head . It lifts and Shadow is momentarily blinded by the fire light." What's your name?" It was the man from the hangar who was speaking. He had some kind of cloak on covering his leather barding. Shadow continues to struggle to get out of the bindings.

"I'm assuming this is yours." He holds up a backpack with a crosshair insignia on it." since it has the same insignia as your shirt on it." He says.

"Why did you tie me up?!" Shadow growls at him.

"I didn't want to risk you turning but it seems like that isn't going to happen......are you immune?" He asks raising an eyebrow.

"Was it also necessary to knock me out?!" Shadow asks feeling the throbbing pain on the back of his head.

"That wasn't me." He says.

"Then who was it?" Shadow raises an eyebrow.

The man points behind him .

"Cause I can see behind me!" Shadow rolls his eyes.

The man takes out Shadows knife and walks over to him." I'm going to cut you out, but if you try anything....." He shows him the knife." I will gut you with your own blade!" He hisses before slicing the cords on shadows hands and feet.

Shadow sits up and rubs his wrists.

"I'm Quantum by the way, Quantum Citrine." Quantum holds out his hand. Shadow raises an eyebrow and shakes his hand.

"Who's was that knocked me out again?" Shadow asks standing up and moving to sit next to Quantum.

Quantum points past him at another man......or what Shadow thought was another man. They were wearing a read face wrap with a pair of dark goggles over where the persons eyes should be showing. They were wearing what looked like a dirty shredded cloak over their shoulders that went down to the persons waist. Under that they were wearing what looked like a black padded armor of some kind.

"And you are?" Shadow asks. The person makes no sign they even heard Shadow. Propped up next to them on the log they were sitting on was a crossbow." Hello?" He waves a hand in front of their face. The person grabs his hand in a strong grip. Quantum chuckles as Shadow struggles to get out the persons grip.

"Cut your crap Sonata you're scaring the kid!" He says throwing a rock at the person.

"You know me Quantum this is the only entertainment I can get these days!" The person says through the wrap. The person lets go of Shadows hand and takes off their goggles revealing shinning violet eyes. As Shadow sits back down they unwrap the red bandanna from around their head. When they are finished Shadow can now see it is a girl with light blue hair with darker highlights here and there. Her skin is an even lighter blue. She leans over and holds out a petite hand to Shadow.

"I'm Sonata Dusk." She says as Shadow shakes her hand." And you are?"

"Shadow Bolt." He says looking at the fire. Shadow hears a growl from behind him and turns to see and infected woman stumbling around. He stands up and starts backing away while getting into a fighting stance.

"Don't worry about her man..." Quantum says as he fiddles with Shadows gun.

"What do you....." Shadow is cut off by Quantum.

"They aren't going to try and eat another infected dude." He says reloading the gun.

"Whaa?" Shadow says but Sonata cuts him off.

"You were bitten so many times they just consider you to be another one of them Shadow. In other words you are invisible to them until you clean off all the saliva and blood." She says cleaning off one of her crossbow bolts.

Shadow sits back down as the infected woman begins stumbling off in the opposite direction. "If they cant see me.....why aren't they attacking you?" Shadow asks.

"Well I'll put it this way. You are kind of a gurdian angel to us. When we are near you they can't see us either. And no we don't know why so dont ask." Qauntum says as he adjusts a log in the fire with a stick.

"Is that my gun?!" Shadow asks seeing it in Quantums holster.

"Oh yeah here." Quantum takes it out and holds it out to him. Shadow Takes it and slides it into his holster.

"And i'd like my knife back." Shadow says seeing it clipped to his shoulder.

"I dont know what you mean." Quantum says grinning.

Shadow moves towards quantum but before he gets to him he hears a click and feels the cold barrel of Sonatas gun presses against his head. Shadow stops and holds up his hands.

"You'll get your knife in the morning." Sonata whispers. Shadow feels her grab his gun from its holster.

"Let me go!" Shadow says turning.

"Not while we are surrounded by infected." Quantum says sliding his sawed off shotgun from its holster.

"Fine......." Shadow says sitting on the ground and leaning back against the stump he was sitting on." I'll see you both in the morning.....if we survive the night." He says falling asleep.

Shadow is standing in emtyness again. Everyone is standing in front of him smiling. Sunset shimmer steps towards him but a dark figure looms up behind her. Shadow watches helplessly as Sunset Shimmer is torn in half. The figure moves by each of them doing the same until only Shadow is left standing rigid in front of the creature. He can feel its breath on his face. The creature moves to his ear and whispers to him.

"YOU DID THIS TO THEM.....NOW LIVE WITH IT!" It says.

Shadow jerks awake. His heart is racing as the images fade away. Shadow takes in his surroundings. The sun hasn't crested over the mountains but there is enough light to see his surroundings. The herd of infected had wandered away by now and Shadow could now see the compound clearly. The cafeteria had burned down but the fire had already extiguished itself. One whole section of the cinder block and sand bag wall had fallen and the entire perimeter gate was down. Shadow stood up and checked to make sure Sonata and Quantum were soundly alseep before sliping away. Shadow walked quietly towards the barracks. He slowly pushes open the door and walks in. There is one infected boy inside and he turns and grabs at Shadow but Shadow doges it. He grabs the boy by the throat and starts slamming his head into the wall. He takes out all of his anger and rage on the boy until his head resembles a pile of gelatin that his mother used to make for desert before the fall of equestria. He lets the dead boy falls to the floor with a thud splattering brain matter around his room. Shadow walks to his bed and looks under it. He pulls out two backpacks. The first he dumps onto the bed. Bullets scatter over the sheets and a 44. revolver with an ivory handle and three apples engraved on it falls out. Shadow picks it up before tossing it over his should against the wall on the opposite side of the room. No need for weapons he had no ammo for. He goes through the bullets and packs all those that fit his 45 caliber. Shadow finds one bullet for the 44 magnum. He turns to retrieve it and finds Sonata leaning against the wall with her crossbow slung over her shoulder and the revolver in hand.

"Rough night?" She asks handing him the revolver.

"yeah....." he says putting up his hand." just keep that. Here." He tosses he the bullet.

"thanks." she says loading it.

Shadow turns back to the bed and slings his backpack with the ammunition over his shoulder. He reaches for the second bag but hesitates. He turns it so the front is facing him. There is a picture of a red and yellow sun sewn into the front. He picks it up and slings it over his other shoulder. He turns and walks out of the room with Sonata right on his tail.

"So....." She says.

"so what?" Shadow asks without turning around.

"Where are you going now?" She asks.

" I dont know.......to find my friends.....if they survived." He says as they arrive back at the camp outside of the fence of the compound on the edge of the woods.

"Well you are welcome to tag along with us if you want." She says happily.

"Sorry but I need to know if shes dead...." Shadow says setting down the back packs and transfering the ammo to the sun insignia one.

"who?" Sonata asks as Shadow takes out a picture from the backpack of him and Sunset Shimmer." oh.....her." She says.

"yeah." He says as Quantum sits up.

" listen man we could use someone like you besides even if you are immune you wont last a minute out there without some kind of armor." Quantum says throwing Shadow his knife, gun, and backpack.

"Did you see which way the bus was headed?" Shadow asks quantum.

"It was headed north east when i saw it.....but you really should stick with us man!" He says.

"yeah we can help you! we have horses to carry our stuff and everything." Sonata says picking up her head wrap. She starts tieing it around her face.

"You have horses?! how many?" Shadow asks.

"Three why?" Quantum asks.

"Can I.....borrow one?" Shadow asks.

"Dude just listen to my offer!" Quantum says grabbing Shadows arm.

"Okay what?!" Shadow snaps.

"How about we all head norht east until we hit ponyville? If they kept heading in that direction thats the likliest place they would've stopped to rest. If we find them great! If we dont.......we have to assume they are long gone." He says putting his cloaks hood on since his gas mask was broken." Deal?" He holds his hand out to Shadow.

Shadow thinks for a moment before shaking his hand.

"Great now we need to get you some kind of armor." He says circling Shadow like a shark." what do you think Sonata?"

"He's gotta have a hood thats a neccesity." She says.

"Since when did surviving turn into a fashion show?" Shadow asks raising his eyebrow as sonata starts going through a bag of clothing.

"You'd be surprised Shadow......When you are dressed right people will think twice before trying to kill or rob you out here." Quantum says." you just need minimal coverage so if you get shotit wont kill you....we dont really need anything bite proof." He says as sonata throws him a bag of what looks like scrap leather.

"we need to show off his arms at least i mean..." she tears off his shirt sleeve." Look at those bite scars! Aint noone gonnna mess with someone who was bitten."

"I wonder if he can turn someone if he bites them?" Quantum says as he opens Shadows back pack and pulls out a hoodie with a crosshair on the back.

"we'll see about that later." She says taking the hoodie and drawing a machete strapped to her belt. She slices off the sleeves and hands it to shadow.

"uhhh?" Shadow says looking at it.

"Don't put it on yet we still need to put some armor undernieth." Quantum says taking out leather scraps from the bag. He hand them to Sonata who begins stitching them together. An hour later Quantum had Shadow wear thick leather padding along his torso and shoulders. Over the armor Shadow wore his sleevless hoodie. Quantum tied a strip of leather around his upper left arm and strapped Shadows knife to it. Sonata had made Shadow a holster that strapped around his sholder for easier access.

"You look good......lets get going." Quantum says.

"The horses are just past the woods in a clearing." Sonata says as they begin gathering thier equipment and walking towards the woods.

Shadow picks up his and Sunset Shimmers bag and follows them into the woods. They walk for five minutes until they arrive in clearing where three horses stood tied to trees. Quantum walks over to a large brown horse and pats its side. Sonata does the same with a white stallion. Shadow walks slowly to a rugged looking black mustang.

"Thats the one you can use." Quantum says ." You do know how to ride right?" Quantum asks raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah i took lessons when i was 9." Shadow says tieing his equipment to the horses saddle.

"Lets move out." Sonata says climbing onto her white stallions back.

"Make sure you put that hood up Shadow." Quantum says as he does the same.

"Alright....so is there anything to the north east of here?" Shadow asks pulling himself on top of the horses back.

"Well theres ponyville....but that place has been abandoned for years. I suppose we can make a stop in New ponyville....." Quantum says as they start moving into the woods at a steady gallop.

"I'm not sure thats a good idea Quantum....I mean all the slavers hang out around New ponyville....and i heard that a big group of them moved into the ponyville ruins." Sonata says ushering her stallion to keep up with Quantums.

"Uh can i interupt? What do you mean by slavers?" Shadow asks ushering his mustang to catch up with them.

"They are how they sound they catch people and sell them as slaves." Quantum says as they exit the forest and entering the plains.

"You don't think that......They got to her do you?" Shadow asks galloping beside him.

"We can ask around the tavern in New ponyville ok? just try not to be noticed." Sonata says.

"Why?" Shadow asks as they ride past an old water tower.

"Because the slavers are always on the look out for something......exotic." She says turning a bit red. Quantum raises an eyebrow.

"Exotic?" Quantum asks." There is nothing exotic about him!" He says looking at shadow.

"Well you dont see someone in good of shape as him these days, and his color isnt faded at all, hes well fed, And he has some.....muscles." She sighs staring at Shadow.

"Uhhh thanks....i guess." Shadow says feeling uncomfortable as she stares.

"I have muscles too." Quantum mutters as he picks up the pace.

They come to the top of a hill overlooking a large valley. Below them they can see what looks like the ruins of what seemed like a once bustling town and closer to them perched into the side of a hill was several structures that looked like they were made of rusty sheet metal and cinder blocks.

"Is that New ponyville?" Shadow asks watching a pair of large gates open in front of the structures near them.

"Yep.....remember don't let it slip you're from that military base or they will have you in a collar faster than you can say wonderbolts." Sonata says as they begin riding towards the small town.

"Whatever....."Shadow says ushering on his mustang.

"And don't talk to anyone. I mean it don't say a word." Quantum says as they get closer to the town.

"Alright i get it!" Shadow says putting his hood up as they come to the front gate.

"State your buisness!" A gruff voice yells from a tower at the top of the wall.

"It's just us Ripper!" Quantum calls up to the man in the tower.

"Who's the new guy?" Ripper asks pulling the lever opening the gate.

"Just uhhhhh...." Quantum tries to think.

"He's a slave! We picked him up from a couple of slavers out near that old military base!" Sonata says with smile.

"You'd better watch out Quantum looks like Sonatas getting ready to replace ya." Ripper says with a chuckle as they pass through the gate.

"Yeah I'm starting to think so!" Quantum growls at Sonata who giggles.

"Ok lets go to the tavern and ask around." Sonata says climbing off her stallion.

"Whatever...." Quantum mumbles.

"What am i supposed to do?" Shadow asks getting off of his mustang and following Quantum and Sonata to a large building made mainly from old sheet metal.

"Sit at the bar and don't talk to anyone!" Quantum says as they walk into the building. The inside seemed to have the same effect as the outside. People were crowded around old wooden tables sitting on anything they could from buckets to office chairs. Everything looked very out of place. The trio walks up to the bar but only Shadow sits down. The bartender walks over to serve them.

"What'll you two be havin?" The gruff man asks as he cleans a glass with a filthy rag.

"Nothing for us Dusty." Quantum says." Just give this guy wild pegasus till he passes out and put it on my tab." Quantum says. Quantum and Sonata walk away into the bar leaving Shadow alone. Accross the bar two girls sat watching Shadow.

"What do you think?" The girl with light green skin and red hair says to the other girl.

"I don't know.....are those bite scars?!" The girl with light blue skin and violet hair says seeing Shadows uncovered arms.

"You dont think he's......immune?" The green girl asks.

"Why don't you talk to him if you wanna know so badly strawberry?" The violet haired girl says.

"No! you do it Night Shade you are better at talking than me!" Strawberry says.

"Fine!" Night Shade stands up and walks towards Shadow cautiously. She sits down on the stool next to him." Hey." she says with a smile.

Shadow hears someone sit down next to him but he doesn't look to see who. He hears someone say hey but he ignores them.

"I'm Night Shade and you are......." She says. Shadow simply ignores her and downs his drink.

"Alright then....... Hey dusty buy this guy as many drinks as he want on me!" She yells at the bartender.

"Don't......" Shadow says. He mentally slaps himself.

"So you do speak!" She says settling in.

"Just leave me alone." He mutters.

"Why would I do that?" She asks pulling his hood back to reveal his strikingly bright orage hair. It stood out liike a beacon in the dingy, dull and simply colorless bar. Shadow throws his hood back up but the damage is done. Everyone in the bar has gone quiet and he can feel them staring at him." Wow! How on earth did you manage to maintain that?!" She asks. Shadow grabs her by the front of her leather barding and pulls her in close.

"You are never to tell anyone who I am!" Shadow growls.

"What are you gonna do if i decide to let it slip?" She grins.

"I'm going to turn you!" Shadow says with a grin.

Night Shade feels a bolt of fear run up her spine adn she gulps as Dusty the bartender slams a gun down on the table.

"Is there a problem here?" He asks.

"Yeah is there?!" A heavy voice says from behind Shadow. Shadow turns to see a large man with blonde hair and white skin walking towards him." You threatening my girl?!"

Shadow stands up." I don't want any trouble...." He says but the man grabs him by his hoodie lifts him up and slams him into the bar. Shadow spits out blood and grins at him.

"What the hell are you grinning at?!" He asks as the girl grabs his arm and trys to pull him away.

"Let it go Bulk!" She says. He pushes her away.

Shadow looks at Bulks arm that is holding him down. He slams his palm into it breaking his grip. Shadow grabs his arm ann bites down on it tearing out a chunk of flesh.

"AHHH YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Bulk howls as he stumbles away.

Shadow stands up and walks furiously towards him. He swipes his feet out from under him, grabs him by the neck and slams him down to the ground. Bulk lies on the ground groaning. Shadow hears a click behind him. He turns to see Dusty pointing a gun at him.....A small 32. caliber pistol. Shadow rushes him and slams him against the back wall smashing bottles and glasses.

"Where did you get this?!" Shadow growls as he holds up the gun.

"I don't know! I swear!" He whimpers.

Shadow bares his teeth and growls. He moves to his throat but Dusty yells.

"Okay okay I'll tell you!" He whimpers." They passed through here a few days ago! They were really taken care of and their color was almost as bright as yours! That red chick was a hard ass but that guy kept him under control. And just about every scum in this place was hitting on bacon hair!" He says. Shadow takes out his picturs of Sunset Shimmer leaving bloody finger prints on it.

"Is this her?!" Shadow growls.

"Yeah she's the one they were tryin ta take home!" He whimpers seeing Shadows expression.

"Where did they go?!" Shadow yells slaming him against the wall again.

"a-a-a couple of slavers offered to resupply them in the ponyville ruins!" He says.

"What-are-they-gonna-do-to-them?!" Shadow asks his every word shaking with anger.

"What do you think? they're slavers!" He says as Shadow lets him fall to the ground.

Shadow turns and takes off his hood as he walks out of the bar. Shadow hears footsteps behind him and turns to see the Night Shade walking towards him.

"Listen! I can help you!" She says trying to catch up.

"No." Shadow says.

"I can help you infiltrate the slavers!" She says making Shadow stop. Quantum and Sonata run past Night Shade start yelling at Shadow but he quiets them with a hand.

"How?" He asks Night Shade.

She chuckles." I'll explain when we get to old ponyville." She says with a grin.