Iron Heart & Swift Chp.1: Ponyville (Edited)
Equestria. Once it was a land of peace, harmony and friendship. That all changed dramatically in an instant. Until the outbreak began, it turned most of the population into nothing but flesh eating, decomposing monsters called “Trotters” that made more like them through simply biting. They came by the hundreds, swarming the land faster than any plague or army. Nopony could stop them, the Equestrian Special Forces, the princesses, not even the Elements of Harmony could stop these things. Many ran and hid, but a few survived the onslaught. With little supplies in this post-apocalyptic landscape, the groups of survivors now constantly fight, scavenge, and run to live in this world. Now, here’s the stories of many in this world as they try to survive…. the Trotting Dead.
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Several weeks have based since the main outbreak and now the once colorful Equestria has turned into a bleak wasteland. Neither the sun or the moon shined, instead, dark grey clouds were hovering in the skies. The grass was pale, nearly colorless, and dry enough to crunch under hoofsteps. Trees and other plants were dying and now an uncountable number of Trotters were up and about, searching for anything they could rip apart and devour. When Equestria was overrun, those who survived learned a few things about these walking corpses. One thing is that they’re attracted to any loud noises so when it came to travel, you had to do so quietly. For most this meant traveling light. Like two such ponies who were traveling on what was once the main road to Ponyville.
One of the two ponies was a young stallion, around sixteen years of age. His fur was grey in color and was matted with dried mud and dried blood and was covered in small scratches from previous encounters with Trotters. His overgrown and matted mane and tail were black with streaks of silver and had some hair stuck together in places. His eyes shone a silvery blue and burned with determination along with a large amount of fear. His cutie mark was a heart that was covered by an iron shell. A rugged burlap sack was tied around his side and carried his supplies which consisted of a canteen of water, three cans of beans, a lantern with oil cans and a first aid kit. It also carried his weapon, a large and rusted monkey wrench that was stained with the blood of slain Trotters.
The other pony was a smaller colt who was about six years old. His fur was a silvery gold-like color and it was matted with mostly dried mud, although small scratches covered his body. His mane and tail were caramel in color and were overgrown and wildly spiked. His eyes were a bright green and full of fear. His back, left hoof was bandaged up to the ankle, dried blood staining it. The colt sat on his older brother’s back and kept a keen eye out for any Trotters that were nearby.
“Iron, how much longer ‘till we get to Ponyville?” The younger of the two asked curiously, his young voice high and squeaky.
“Not much longer I think. That road map we passed a while back said it was close.” The older colt replied, his voice was deeper and more bold. “How’s your hoof feeling?”
“It still hurts.” The younger colt replied as he stared at his wound.
“Well don’t worry little scout. We’re almost there and they should have some resources.” The older colt said with a smile on his face.
“O-okay Iron.” The younger one said as he rubbed his hoof. They were almost to Ponyville when a familiar sound came to their ears. The sound of groaning.
“Shit. Swift, get off me and get in a chariot, now.” Iron ordered. The younger colt obediently hopped off of his back and ran to a nearby chariot, opened the doors and hopped inside before closing them. Iron drew his wrench and slowly approached the groaning. As it grew louder and louder, Iron felt his stomach begin to churn at the rancid and sickening smell of rotting flesh. He peered through a pair of bushes and then saw it. A lone Trotter.
Whatever skin it had left was pale and sickly. Greyed flesh hung onto the corpse’s bones and the very sight and smell made the pony gag. Its head was partially decayed, revealing a bloodied skull along with an empty eye socket and a missing jaw. Its stomach was ripped open, revealing it's organs which were swarming with flies. The stumps of what were wings revealed that this thing was once a pegasus.
Iron could only stare in despair at the creature for before it was turned, it had been a pony with feelings, who had felt happiness, and had an intact body. Now, it was just a corpse that shuffled around, looking for its next meal. He let out a deep sigh before slowly approaching the Trotter, making sure not to make too much noise. As he got closer and closer, the smell of its decaying body kept getting stronger. When he was right behind it, he raised the wrench high above his head and brought it down, hard, letting a loud *thud* ring through his ears. Darkened blood flew through the air, staining both Iron and his wrench. The corpse then fell to the ground, its head smashed in like an eggshell, blood and bits of brain matter flowing onto the grass. He then walked back to the chariot and knocked on the door three times.
“Okay Swift. It’s safe to come out now.” Iron said as his little brother crawled out of his hiding place.
“T-thank you big bro.” Swift said as he hurried back to Iron’s side. The older colt smiled as they continued onwards. They walked another two miles before they finally saw a glimmer of hope. A torn and worn out sign that said “Welcome To Ponyville.”
“W-We made it!” The younger colt said happily as he quickly limped forward and towards the town.
“Swift, don’t go too far!” Iron yelled as he quickly walked behind him. He couldn’t believe it. After several weeks of travel, after all those Trotters to dodge, they had finally made it to civilization. For once in their lives, they could relax. However, when Iron caught up to his brother, the older colt saw a look of horror glued onto Swift's face. He looked forward and felt his heart sink to his hooves. Chariots were wrecked and shattered everywhere, corpses of half-eaten ponies were laying in the streets, the smell was burning the colts’ nostrils, and most of the buildings were boarded up tight.
“No…. no this… this can’t be right. Ponyville was… was supposed to be safe.” Iron said as he felt his sinking heart hit rock bottom.
“Iron…. w-we’re gonna die aren’t we?” Swift asked as he slowly started to devolve into tears. Iron knew that one day, he’d go and so would his brother… but he remembered the promise he'd made to his mom and dad. The promise to protect his little brother, no matter what happened.
“No.” Iron said boldly. “We’re going to survive. C’mon, let’s see if anypony’s still alive.” He said as he bent down, allowing his little brother onto his back before taking his first hoofsteps into Ponyville. It seemed like whatever happened, it happened hard. Even though the streets were deserted, the two kept their eyes wide open in case any Trotters were up and about.
“Hey Iron, there’s a building that isn’t boarded up.” Swift said as he pointed to the distance. Iron followed his hoof and saw a small house, dark green in color with black shingling.
“Alright. We’ll start there.” The older colt said as he began walking that way. But then, the worst thing possible happened. A VERY loud ringing of a large bell began, making the colts’ eyes widen in fear. “HOLD ON SWIFT!” Iron exclaimed as he hightailed it towards the building just as loud roars from different Trotters echoed from around the town. Iron felt like his heart was going to leap out of his chest as he heard the roars knowing that although they were slow, Trotters would catch up very quickly. He turned his head and saw what could’ve been dozens of Trotters coming through the streets, moaning and snarling as they chased the two. Luckily, he leaped through the open doorway and quickly staggered back to his hooves. He slammed the door and, using all of his strength, grabbed a loaded bookshelf and pulled it down onto the door. The snarling of Trotters as they banged on the door frightened Iron and made Swift run behind a couch. The older colt drew his wrench, ready to fight if he had to. But then the sound of gunshots echoed from outside and gained their attention, their snarls and moans growing weaker until they were no longer audible.
“Are they gone?” Asked Swift as he slowly peered from behind the couch.
“Yeah. They should be gone now little bro.” Iron said as he sat down. He relaxed a bit as his brother sat beside him. Iron watched as little tear droplets turned into small rivers on his little brother’s cheeks.
“I m-miss momma and p-pappa.” The young colt sobbed as tears flowed down his face. Iron sighed as he wrapped his hoof around Swift and pulled him into his chest fur.
“I do too buddy… I do too.”
