Blood and Ash

“Run silver! Go!”

Gunshots echoed behind me. I didn't dare look back at the stairwell from which I fled. I feared what I'd if I did. I heard the all too familiar growls of trotters behind me. The crack of my fathers rifle wasn't far behind.

The weight of my stuffed saddle bags sapped my stamina. My legs burned from the hours spent on the road. I didn't stop. Down the hall. Around the corner. Down another hall. Everything seemed to look a like in the dark apartment building. Empty cans, broken glass, and crumpled paper crunched under my hooves as I galloped.

It had been four weeks after the end of the world. We figured that most of the infected would have left the cities by now. That it would be safe to head into ponyville to look for food. Big mistake.

We were in an apartment building that was supposed to have been cleared already. Some pony had spray painted “cleared” on the door. The other buildings we had went through that had been tagged had been clear.

Later I learned that it was a tactic to lull a pony into a false sense of security. Then when they died in the building that wasn't clear, you could take all their supplies. As much as I hate it, I can't deny the genius of the plan.

I opened the door to an apartment on the left. I knew I needed to get out of the hallway. I didn't want to think about what might happen if one heard me.

I screamed as a Reaper stared at me from inside the apartment. Its dead eyes glowed a daunting red, made brighter by the dimly lit hall. A clear sign of dark magic. A lot of it.

Reapers were more like animals then zombies. They had a little more magic to them, making them faster, stronger, and smarter than your average zombie. Your could tell the difference by there eyes. Cursed ones glowed an evil red. There was thought in them as well. Careful calculation you would have never associated with a corpse.

I still don't know all the different types of zombies. With dark magic as powerful as necromancy, it was nearly impossible to know.

The cursed one lunge at me. I lept out of the way. I crashed into the floor. I let out another scream as I felt something dig into my side. Glass. I hadn't payed the trash coated floors of the hall any attention. I mentally scolded myself for being so stupid.

Ignoring the pain, I got to my hoofs. No way I would give it another chance to take a bit out of me. No way I would end up like him. “Like it,” I thought. It was important not to think of them as ponies. Because they weren't.

I pulled my knife out of its scabbard on my foreleg with my magic. The knife shimmered in my silver aura as I slashed at the cursed one. The cursed one was faster than the trotters I was used to fighting. It stumbled back. The blade of my knife missed entirely. Before I could bring it back around with my magic, the zombie lept at me.

We crashed into the floor. The weight of the cursed one landing on top of me forced the air from my lungs. I winced as my head banged against the floor. I could feel more glass finding a home in my skin.

I raised my hoofs to block the cursed one from biting into me. It pushed against my forehooves with the force of a buffalo.

I could see my combat knife a few feet away. My salvation. I tried to grab it with my levitation. The spell failed. With a zombie on top of me and my chest and on fire,  I was too distracted keeping the zombies mouth away from me to concentrate on such a small object.

It wasn't hard for me to find an easier target to grab. The apartment door I had opened became shrouded in silver. I smiled. The doors hinges buckled from the force of my spell. The trotter poised to begin its meal. The door flew off its hinges and slammed into its backside. The trotter flew off me. The force of the blow made my forelegs throb. The zombie landed behind me. The door bounced farther down the hall. the wood splintered and cracked as it went.

My horn throbbed slightly. I couldn't count the number of spells I had casted in the past hour alone. The wilds where very demanding, both mentally and physically. It was starting to tax me.

I winced as more gunfire echoed through the hall. The rifle that had kept are farm free of everfree creatures now kept the resurrected at bay. I was glad we had it when the curse began to spread, but I always wished we had a gun for me as well. The enfield was effective, but we both couldn't use it at once.

The zombie winced as well, an action you would never get out of a trotter. I could see intelligence in those glowing eyes. The caution. The fear.

I grabbed my knife from the ground beside me, and grunted as I directed it downwards with a flick of my horn. The knife split the zombies skull, decimating its brain before it could get back up.

We learned quickly that it had to be the brain. All the zombie movies I use to like weren't as much of a waste of time as my father had thought. To bad I had never gotten my sister into them. Maybe then she would have been able to come with us on the supply run.

When I made my first kill, I had expected it to bleed. I understood now that the viol creatures had no heartbeat to move its blood. They were fueled by whatever dark magic had created them.

I got to my hoofs. The blood running down my side and back finally registered. I winced as the glass cut through my skin as I moved.

“Axios.” I thought to myself. It’s Greek for I am worth. A reminder that I could survive. That I belonged. That was the saddest part of it all. I was built for this world.

Crack!

At least better than most.

I took a breath, and charged in my dads direction. Toward the crack of his gun. The pain almost seemed to spur me on as I galoped. Down the trashed hall, around the corner, and into the stairwell.

Yes, I am a very smart pony. Open the door before seeing if its empty, run towards the gunfire, leave your knife in its scabbard when you go into a room. I was a model apocalypse survivor.

My dad, a large black stallion, stood at the top platform of the stairwell. When we got attacked down stairs, we were forced to flee upward. It seemed like every floor brought more of them down on us. When we got to the top platform, he took out the few that were there and told me to run. I hated having to run. I hated being useless in a fight.

He breathed heavily as his scoped rifle remained leveled down the stairs by his magic. I counted two dozen trotters lying on the platform below. I was too scared to ask how many bullets we had left.

“What are you doing here baby girl? I told you to go.” His eyes were trained on the stairs.

“I did, and then I came back.” I walked up beside him. He glanced over at me. His eyes snapped to the blood that was staining my black fur.

“What-”

“It was nothing, dad. Just a zombie and some broken glass. Well.... Reaper.”

He sighed. “Can't let you out of my sight without getting in some kind of trouble can I?” He asked.

I thought for a moment, and shook my head. “Nope.”

He chuckled. “Come on, lets go. The food won’t find itself.” I nodded.

He lead the way back down the hall that I had just run down. After making sure there was nothing else in there with us, we went back into the hall, and into the nearest apartment. My dad, being the one with the gun, took point.

He took a few steps into the place, glancing around. “It looks-” the rest of his sentence was blocked out by my screams.

A runner charged him from the side, and tackled him to the ground. The gun clattered to the ground beside him.

I grabbed the gun in my magic and took aim. The two were rustling on the ground, one trying to get a bit to eat, the other holding on for dear life. The two were rolling around too much for me to get a clear shot. I was too afraid that I would hit my dad. I had hit much smaller targets than the runners head, but I wasn't thinking about that. I was barely thinking at all.

The struggle seemed to go on for hours, even though it only lasted a few seconds. I began all the ways I could help. I could use my knife. I could kick it off. I could beat it with a door. Shot it in the chest so that it flew away from him. My brain worked overtime. My body refused to respond.

I was as helpless as a god turned to stone. I could see my dads strength began to wain. He looked over at me and said a single word. Run.

My fathers strength finely failed. His forelegs couldn't hold back the zombie. It sunk its teeth into his foreleg. He wailed as the thing tore off a strip of flesh.

Living things bleed. Living things bleed a lot.

Instantly I knew it was over. He was infected. Cursed. I knew that I should run. Save myself. I just stood there, frozen by fear. Paralyzed.

After a moment, I snapped out of it. My mind flashed to my sister, alone at are small farmhouse. I had to get through this. For her. For him.

I levitated my dads...my rifle... over and took aim. I lined up the scope's crosshairs with his head, just as he had taught me to do. I had never thought I would need it for anything more than a timberwolf. Not until four weeks ago.

I wanted to pull the trigger. To spare him the indignity of resurrecting. I couldn't do it. I was a coward. A weakling. I wasn’t worthy. Not this time. Not here.

I slamed the door to the apartment with my magic, and sat down in the hall. I knew I should have been sad. Hell, I should have been on the floor in tears. I wasnt. I didn't know how I felt. I was numb. In shock.

I barely heard the screams as my father was torn to bits. The groans and growls of the zombie didn't register as it ate my Dad alive.

After a few minutes, I got up to leave. Standing down the hall was Dusk, My sister. Her white coat easily made her the brightest thing in the hall. I had no idea how I hadn't seen her sooner. She had seemed to appear out of know where.

“What….What are you….How did you….We left you at-”

“Shh...” She said. “It’s alright. Think.” She smiled at me.

“But you...you're not...you weren't...” I sighed and sat back down. “I’m having a nightmare, aren't it?”

My sister had the talent of dream walking. She could go into others dreams and give them a hoof is she wanted to. No pony knew about it but us. She had skill with magic in general, but my family was a little particular. We all had some ability that bolstered us at night

My Dad called it Lunas blessing, given to our family for his service to her after her return. I didn't know about all that, just that it came in handy.

She sat down beside me. “It’s not your fault you know. You were a kid.”

I wiped a tear off my face. “I still am.” My voice cracked. “I could have saved him.”

“No, you couldn't have.” She assured me. “It was 5 months ago. You need to let the past be the past. Its ok.”

I shook my head. “No its not!” I snapped. “I was there! I had the tools to keep him alive! The tools to keep him from rising again! I did nothing Dusk! I-I watched…”

There were tears running freely down my face now. I never let anypony see me break down like that. When I was awake, I didn't have time to break down. There was no time to reflect in my busy day protecting ponies. So my memories haunted me at night instead.

She pulled me into a hug. I quickly got it together and dried my tears. Even if I was dreaming, it was all still real. I had to be the strong one.

“Thanks.” I told her. I didn't believe what she said, but the sentiment was heartwarming.

“Your welcome.”

“Now if I ever catch you spying on my dreams again...

“I know I know. I just didn't want you to go through this alone.”

“I dont need your help Dusk. Stay out of it. Now how do we wake up?”

“Easy.” Next thing I knew I was looking down the barrel of my rifle, held in her pink magic.

“No Dusk, wait!-”

BANG!

I sat up, breathing heavily. My blankets were soaked in cold sweat. My room was nearly pitch black. I instantly knew that the sun was up.

You see, as I said, we both had Lunas blessing. My sister could dream walk, and I had night vision. Only problem was it didn't work in the dark. I could only see in the silver tint of night vision after the sun went down. Even my magic got stronger at night. My mind, more keen.

I looked around my room, still shaken up from my dream. Everything was where it belonged. My room wasn't much. Just a small bedroom with a mattress on the floor, a dresser, and a closet. It wasn't much, but it worked fine for me. I only slept in it after all.

I was still shaking as my sister stepped through my door. The light of her horn flooded the room. She stepped in and closed the door behind her. She knew I didn’t want others overhearing us talking about our abilities.

We didn't live alone in the house. Few ponies lived alone in canterbury. Most houses in the compound were shared among four or five ponies. I shared my house with Rose, the town doctor, and Rafe, as well as my sister.

I worked on the town guard with Rafe, but knew little about him. Most ponies didn't tend to share too much about their old lives, which I could respect. We lived and worked together, but where nothing more than acquaintances.

Rose on the other hand was one of my closest friends. Despite being a little naive we got along well. She would give me gossip I didn't care for, I would tell her about work, and we would pretend to care about what the other was saying. We both knew the other couldn’t care less, but it was still nice to have some pony to talk with.

Dusk walked over and sat down beside me on my bed. After a moment of silence, she asked, “It was Dad wasn't it Sis? Your nightmare?”

“I dont want to talk about it, Dusk.” I stared down at the floor. I couldn't stand any pony seeing me break down, but dusk was the one I wanted least to see. I had to be strong for her. For the town. They couldn't see me at my worst. Not ever.

I was glad she didnt know that it was dad. She probably knew how far back it was by how I looked. Or she was saying it so I didnt know that she knew how dad died. I didnt want her to.

“Silver, I-”

“Please Dusk, can you just drop it?” I looked over at her. “Please?”

“Ok silver.”

I walked over to my dresser and pulled out the only clothing I owned. A tan bullet proof vest. It had been given to me when I became a town guard months ago. I found it more useful for keeping all my things then actually protecting me. Even if i was shot at it wouldn't help much. What I needed was a good set of barding.

Stuffed in its various pockets where extra mags for the enfield, some pain killers, bandages, and hoofcuffs. We didn’t have a lot of trouble with crime in town, but we were all still required to carry them. I also pulled out my knife, and strapped it to my leg.

I levitated my rifle out from beside my bed. My beautiful scooped Lee-Enfield rifle, loaded with 10 deadly 303. rounds. Some said it was a little overkill, but I didn't care. Better overkill then underkill.They didn't make guns like this anymore. Then again, they don't make guns at all now. Who was they anyway...

We made our way to the downstairs of the house. All the furniture still sat in the same place as it had when we moved in. The living room had a couch, a lazy boy chair, and a love seat, all sat around a TV. We still sat there sometimes, but the town had no power to spare on stuff like TVs. I knew a spell that could do it, but it wasnt worth the effort.

We always had food in the house, but we never ate there. There was usually fresh-ish stuff in the square. I would take a salad over a 6 month can of beans any day.

The house was quiet. As always, it was only me and dusk in the morning. Rose would be at her clinic working, and Rafe works the morning shift at the wall.

The wall was just that, a wall made out off tree trunks and scrap metal to keep out unwanted visitors, both living and dead. There had been multiple occasions when we had bandits try to get into the town. Most times I was working, so they didn't last long. Once the survivors got back and told the rest about my uncanny accuracy in total darkness, they weren't too eager to return.

“Going to the dance tonight?” Dusk asked as we walked out the door. Every other week, the town would hold a kind of party to celebrate our continued existence. They named it the survivors festival, although no one actually called it that. No pony wanted to celebrate the fact that we hadn't died yet.

“No, the general only gave me three days off, I'm not wasting my last one partying.” The general, the real leader of the town, had given me a few days off to get ready for my test. If I pasted, I would get a spot on the scav team as there scout. My night eyes and skill with a rifle pretty much gave me the spot, but I still wanted to be ready.

I say that the general was the real leader of the town because unlike the so-called Mayor, he actually took action when something happened. I was never a fan of democracy. I say let whoever takes charge take charge. So long as they know what they're doing, I couldn't care less.

I had never really been happy being on security detail. Sure, it was nice to help everypony, but I felt my talents were being wasted sitting up in a sniper tower in the dead of night. My black coat, quiet steps, and skill with a gun meant I was the perfect scout. Even my flank, graced with the picture of an eye, agreed.

“If you say so.” She sighed. Dusk saw right through me. I never went to the dances in town, always making up one excuse or another. In all honesty, I found the idea of partying in the square while ponies outside our walls fought for their lives was cruel.

We went outside and made our way through town. Our “town” was actually a farming village, complete with about 14 houses split between everyone. There was only 36 ponies in town, which left a few buildings in the center of town available. They had been made into a bar, a clinic, a restaurant, and town hall.

The town, despite having few buildings, was massive. From one side to the other was a 15 minute walk. There was no shortage of extra space between the spaced out buildings. In between the houses was trees, trees, and trees. everypony tended to stick to the dirt paths that lead everywhere

Some ponies found different uses for the emptiness of the town, almost weakly. When I say ponies, I mean Star Burst. Last week she made an outdoor bowling alley, the week before, a theater. This week, it was a race track.

There were permanent set ups as well. A shooting range, an arena for practicing hoof to hoof fighting, the pavilion where the festival was held.

Then there was the best part about our town. An 8 foot wooden and scrap metal wall around the perimeter. Sections of the wall where already there when the founders got there, but there was always something being added to it. We were all glad there was so many trees in town. We always had shade and never had to venture outside to get wood.

We made our way to the center of town, which consisted of The bar,  clinic,  restaurant, and town hall.

We approached a single story building. “Its Better Then Nothing” was spray painted above the door. Its better then nothing was the towns restaurant. The name came from back when all we had was scavenged food, which Ginger would always say was, “better than nothing”.

The second I stepped inside, my stomach rumbled. The smell of food filled my nostrils. I could smell some kind of meat cooking, as well as some kind of soup. All the walls inside had been taken down to make room for tables, save for the kitchen. The room was lit by various mage lights casted around the room, giving the place a blue tint.

A mage light was a magical ball of light. Dusk had learned the spell long before the world ended, so she taught it to a few other unicorns in town. She was kind of a wiz when it came to magic.

Not me though. My spells where close to useless. I could do levitation, of course. I could summon a door, which was less useful than it sounded. I could turn invisible, so long as it was night time and I moved painfully slow.

I had also teleported once, but after it left me unconscious for three hours. I had been too afraid to try it again. Dusk said it was normal for some pony not gifted in magic to teleport to be drained after, and that it would get better. Thinking about doing it again made me nauseous.

I learned most of my magic by helping Dusk practise, save for the invisibility. That happened in ponyville after...the apartment building. My rifle was out and a bunch of trotters were coming around the corner. Next thing I knew I faded into the darkness of the ally. I threw up after. I never knew that a spell could make you sick. Although it could have just been nerve.

It was more like a cafe than a restaurant. We walked past the tables, nodding to the ponies as we passed, to the bar. Dusk and I each grabbed a stool. Behind the bar was Ginger, a dark green unicorn wearing an Apron. Her ginger hair hung over her eyes.

Immediately, Ginger pulled out two coffee cups from below the bar and sat them down in front of us. She filled mine with coffee, And Dusks with pear juice she made using pears from a tree outback.

I smiled as I lifted my coffee to my lips and took a drink. One of the few thing we weren't short on was coffee. Some pony who had lived in one of the farm houses before the end had grown coffee beans. There was enough left from his storage and fields to last us years.

The warm liquid ran down my throat, kick starting my brain. “Thanks Ginger.” I said, setting the cup down.

“I know how you scouts love your coffee.” She shot me a wink. “How about some food then? We have carrot soup with wild onions and dandelion roots, and dandelion and canned spinach salad.

“I'll have the salad, along with whatever meat you have cooking back there.” I glanced over at Dusk, who had at some point take out a book. “She'll take the soup.”

At first most ponies starved themselves instead of eating meat. Now there were ponies who might narrow their eyes at you, but nothing more. We've all eaten it to survive. Many ponies disliked it, but I knew I needed the protein.

Ginger nodded and disappeared through a door into the kitchen.

I poked dusk with a hoof to get her attention. “What are you reading?”

“It’s a spell book.” I wasn't surprised at that. What surprised me was that she was reading it at the metaphorical table.

“Can’t wait until after breakfast?”? I asked.

“It’s nearly lunch time.” She said. “And no, it cant. I found this really powerful fire spell that can cook a pony inside out. If we could use this balefire stuff in bullets, then we wouldn't have to worry about the bodys spreading the...whatever it is.”

I grabbed the book in my magic and read the tittle. “Dark Arts, Volume one.” I grunted and sat it down beside me, away from my sister. “What have I told you about dark magic?” I asked.

“Its not dangerous Silver, i'ts safe. I'm good at it, and its really really interesting.” She pleaded.

“No dusk. Its dangerous, addictive, and corruptive. You're not going to be studying it.”

“But Silver-”

“No.”

Dusk didn't have a chance to come up with another excuse, as the door to the kitchen got wrapped in a yellow glow. It swung open. Two trays floated out, followed shortly by Ginger. She sat both our trays down on the table.

The food looked pretty good, but after 6 months, you just go sick of pears and canned food. Still, I couldn't complain. We ate far better than most.

Gunshots echoed in the distance, most likely the guards responding to a few zombies that walked too close to the wall. Still, I figured I should go make sure everything was alright. Not many of the guards had ever fought a special zombie, and I didn't know how they might respond.

Ginger grabbed my hoof before I was half a foot of the stool. She shook her head. "No you don't missy. You're not wasting your day off running to the wall every time you hear gunfire. Now sit down and eat, you look like shit."

She was right, I looked horrible. My black coat was matted and unbrushed, and my Silver mane and tail were unkempt and knotted.

I did as she said, making no effort to hide my distaste. I knew I could trust the other guards, but I still felt like it was my job to make sure everything was going smoothly.

I took another sip of my coffee, then got started on my salad. It wasn't bad for what it was, but I still would have killed for some dressing.

Dusk ate her soup quickly. It was obvious she wasn't eating it quickly because she loved it. She was upset with me for taking her book away. I sighed as she got up from her chair and left for the door, without so much as a "see you later." I hoped that she might be out picking dandelions for salads and stews, but I doubted it. She never did her job when she was in a bad mode.

I had managed to turn what could have been a good day into my sister running off to probably practice some dark magic that had once been outlawed. For good reason, I should add.

Yay.

"What's with Dusk?"

Huh? My friend Rivet was sitting beside me, on the stool where Dusk had been. I was so lost in thought, I hadn't even noticed him sit down. That's saying something, you can hear the guy walking up from a mile away.

Rivet was a tall green pegasus, with a blowtorch for a cutie mark. Well...taller to me. Most ponies where tall to me...Anyway, his job, when he wasn't looking over old tech he found with the scavengers, was keeping all the techie stuff in town running. He would be one of the ponies grading me when I took my test. I was to be graded by all current members of the team.

"I took away her dark spell book." I answered.

"Ah. Never understood her fascination with magic. Maybe its a unicorn thing."

"No, it's a Dusk thing. She's just too good at magic for her own good. She ran out of spell books weeks ago, and now all she's left with is this dribble." I pointed at the spell book on the counter.

Ginger walked up to Rivet and poured him a coffee. He nodded to her and she went back into the kitchen.

"With the gun fire, I figured you'd be at the wall. Glad to see you decided to stay and not eat your food."

I looked down at my half full bowl of salad. I wasn't hungry anymore. I told him so.

"Alright, so lets go. You have plans with Rose at the clinic, right? I'll walk you down."

"Thanks." I stood up. there was a few more ponies in the restaurant now, but not many. I grabbed the spell book and put it in one of the pockets in my vest.

The best part about our town was that there was no currency. So long as you did your job, you got the commodities. Some things you have to trade for, like weapons and drugs. Other than that, everything was free. Bullets and drugs where the most recognized form of money in the new world. After all, you couldn't escape reality or protect yourself with gold coins.

Unlike in most places, where ponies of authority are vilified, most security ponies were viewed as celebrities, just under the scavengers and the ponies at the clinic. We saw famous ponies as those who could do a job others couldn't, or wouldn't. I was even above some of them. There were multiple occasions where I had saved some ponies life from a trotter who had managed to get past the wall, or somepony who had died inside it. Nearly all of the ponies in the placed either waived or nodded at me. I nodded back.

Outside, the town had finally woken. Ponies walked around left and right, all doing there jobs. Some carried water bucks to others homes, some gathered plants that popped up in the town to use as food. a few guards were standing outside town hall checking their weapons.

I should clarify, I wasn't use to seeing many living ponies, so my definition of busy was about 12 or 14 ponies in the same area.

"So," Rivet asked as we made our way towards the nearby clinic. "The dance is-"

"Sorry Rivet."

"But-"

"I told you, I'm not going out with you until you stop being so secretive."

"You know me pretty well."

I stopped and looked at him. "Rivet, where are you from?"

"I don't see how that-"

"How did you end up here?"

"Well that's not really-"

"What's your last name?"

"I'm not sure I-"

"My point exactly. When you open up, so will I." I totted away, leaving him standing in the grass trying to figure out how i had turned that around on him.

I really had no idea why rivet wouldn't talk about himself. He didn't seem like the type to be a criminal. Its not like I was asking him if he had ever killed some pony before. Just a bunch of simple questions, that ended up being dodged.

I walked into the clinic, which was a single story building, much like the restaurant, but set up much differently. The front room was a kind of waiting room, set up with a simple coffee table and a half dozen chairs. Beyond that was a registration desk, with a small purple filly sitting behind it.

We had a tendency to give the fillies and colts simple jobs that most ponies could do, but that were still important. Eventually they would be trained to do the more important jobs in the area they had been placed, pending we lasted that long.

“Hi Ms. Silver Light, Rose is in the back fixing up VIolet leg.” Daisy said cheerfully from behind the desk. I didn't know Daisy all that well, but she sure knew me. She had been obsessed with me since I killed a snake that had bitten her a month before.

“Dear celestia," I rolled my eyes.  "What did she do this time?”

“She tried to make a shot with her crossbow while jumping from a tree to the ground. She may have fell and broken her leg, but she made the shot. Hit an apple off a post at 100 feet.”

“Not bad, other then the falling part.” I said, walking past her. Behind the desk there was a door,  leading into the emergency room. Thanks to our small population, we rarely ever had need for more than the one. When we did, we would open up what was once the kitchen in the house.

The back room consisted of a bed, a few shelves, drawers, and cabinets for supplies, a fridge to keep stuff cold, and a counter. On the bed was a violet filly. A pink pony with a first aid kit was turning the fillies left forehoof left and right.

“Hey Rose.” I said as I walked in. “Hi Violet. I hear you made a pretty good shot.”

The filly perked up. “Yea, it was great." She giggled. "I hit that apple mid free fall. It was the coolest thing ever! Well...maybe not as cool as that time you killed that Reaper that tackled you off your shooting platform… That was probably about 20% cooler then my move.” Great, the fame was spreading.

“Still, very nice shot.”

Violet blushed. “Thanks.”

“Hey, don’t encourage her!” Rose snapped. “You're not helping me keep her out of my clinic!”

I walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a sling,  and a splint. I sat them down on the bed beside rose and let her get to work.

“Hey, I'm a sharp shooter. You cant blame for for liking a good shot.”

“I dont care about her aim silver, she broke her foreleg.”

“A leg will heal. A bite wont. Being able to make a shot in any instance is worth an injury or two.”

“Killing an apple with an arrow is worth a busted arm?” She asked.

Violet watched us argue in silence while Rose fitted her with the splint and sling.

I sighed. “I should have known you wouldn't understand. You've never been out

there on your own. Hell, you’ve never even killed one.”

“No, but i’ve treated more wounds then you have.” She muttered.

“Ok, then you tell me what's worse. Breaking an arm learning to fight, or getting into a fight against a trotter and losing.”

“You can't fight with a broken leg.”

She uses a battle saddle. You know, those rigs so that none unicorns can use large guns with a firing bit? She doesn't need a leg to shot, just run when shooting fails. If you're good enough, then it wont.”

A battle saddle was, as I said, for none magical ponies. It attached to their chest, and let them mount a weapon on either side of there bodys. Then all you had to do to shot was bite down on a firing bit. I had tried using on once, but my attempt was met with...mixed results.

“Goddess you're so superior.” She muttered.

“Dear Luna, you're so stubborn.”

“There, you're ready to go.” Rose told Violet as she finished. “No walking on it, and no trick shots.” The filly nodded eagerly and dashed out the door.

“Why must you encourage them?” She asked as she reorganized the counter behind her.

“Because if I don’t, they’ll grow up weak and afraid. If they can make a game out of survival, I say we let them.”

“Not if it means them getting hurt.”

“Either they see what works in here now, or they learn what works out there later. Outside that wall, if you try something that doesn't work, you die. In here, you get some bumps and bruises.”

“Theyre kids Silver.”

“Those kids are going to be more equipped to survive in this world than any pony our age. They will find means of survival that we can't even fathom. They can't lead the next generation of ponies if there undead.”

Rose sighed. “Agree to disagree?” She asked.

I giggled. It always amazed me how fast our arguments could be defused. Usually by her. She never let her pride or stubbornness get in the way of our...Interesting friendship. Most of the time. “Of course. So, any other pending patents today?”

She shook her head. “Only Trixi with the flu. She might be Great and Powerful, but she seems more prone to sickness than any of us.”

“Ha, Great and Powerful. Last week she nearly had a stroke at Gingers when she found a spider under the table.”

“Some ponies just aren't built for the new world.” She said. Wow, she was one to talk. As hard as it was, I managed to keep my mouth shut.

“So, did you hear? Vinyl scratch is living in a settlement up north.” I really didn't care about what some pre reincarnation musician was up to these days, but I still half listened to all the bits and pieces of gossip she had collected in her work. In out town if you want gossip, you don't go to a barber, you go the clinic. Mainly because we don't have a barber.

Once she was done ranting about her collective gossip, I decided I should go practise shooting. Most ponies went to the shooting range to train, but the ponies who used weapons for their jobs practised at the wall. It was good for keeping the dead away, and for practise.

My heart sank as I neared the giant wooden and scrap metal structure. Sitting on the wall was Fang. Fang was a griffin, put on the scav team for her accuracy in flight. Although she was good in a fight, She wasn't all that pleasant to be around.

I walked up the steps onto the walkway on the wall, when she noticed me. “Well, hey there silver fright. Good idea coming to practise before your test. You’ll need it.”

Fang was a bitch to everypony, but even more to me. I dont know if its my skill with a rifle, my upbeat attitude, or just the way I look, but she picked on me more than anypony. When I first got to town, there was no rivet to stand up for me, and no pony I knew I could talk to. After a week of dealing with her crap, I punched her right in the jaw. Everypony stared at me in awe. After that, Fang dialed down her bullying to slightly annoying insults. Those I could deal with.

“Blow me.” I said, levitating my rifle out and setting it on the wall. There where a few dozen trotters outside, ranging from to 25 to 1000 feet.

“Didn't know you had anything to blow. I’ll say, i'm not surprised. Is that how you and Rose spend your time when your at her clinic?”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“I dont have to.”

Fang took her fang guns out of the holsters on her chest, and began firing towards the trotters. She used a pair of amazing MKV1 revolvers, loaded with 6 455. rounds. They were nice, but the range was a little too limited for my liking. Plus if I tried firing on of the mouth models, I would need my jaw wired back together.

I slowed my breathing as I rested the stock of the gun against my shoulder. Even with my magic, I still liked to have my hoof on the barrel. It helped my aim, and put less pressure on my shoulder when I fired.

Then I started lining up shots. One trotter. Two. Five. Eleven. In three minutes, I burned through Three mags. I didn't care though. It was the crappy homemade scrap metal bullets Ammo Press made. They weren't nearly as good as a proper machined 303. round. I kept those rounds in a different pocket in my vest, for rainy days.

“Not bad light bright, for a pony.” Fang said as she slide more rounds into her revolver.

“Better then you could do.” I replied.

“Ha, right. Im brave enough to get up close with the things, you just sit back and hid behind your scope. I bet you’ve never even seen one up close.”

My mind flashed back to the day in the apartment building. The cursed one i had killed, and the runner that had taken my father. I forced the images out of my head, and got back to shooting. I shot a lot worse after that.

I was running low on cheap rounds, so I put my rifle away and made my way off the wall.

“Yo Silver!” Fang shouted when i got to the ground. I looked up at her, but didn't respond. “You learn to fight up close, get a nice side arm, we might have room for you on the team.” Did she just complement me? “Of course, you would have to get the glow sticks out of your eyes.” Oh, there it was.

I learned early that my eyes had a tendency to creep others out at night. When my night vision clicked on, the world turned this silvery tint. Not that green crap you get with all the other spells and gadgets ponies use. My eyes gain a silver glow as well, which can both creep ponies out, and give me away when I'm hiding.

I made my way back home to get ready for the following day. By the time I got there, it was nearly four. I had no idea where all the time had went. I guessed I had been at the range a little longer then I accounted for.

The sky had been blocked out by cloud cover, giving the town a dull gray feel. Even if it rained, which I figured it would, the party would still go on. They held it under the pavilion anyway, so no pony would get too wet.

Rose was there, helping Dusk get ready for the dance. Dusk didn't like wearing clothes, but if you found the right outfit on the right occasion she would wear it. I honestly never understood the point of wearing anything other than for protection, but to each her own.

“Hey Silver.” Rose and Dusk said as I came into Rose`s room.

“Are you coming to the festival tonight?” Rose asked.

“Nope.” I replied.  “I got plans.”

I went into my room and put my stuff back where it all belonged, and put the book I took from Dusk under my mattress. I sighed trying to find something to do for the next few hours. Nothing came to me. Having nothing better to do, I figured I could brush up on the few spells i knew.

I went through my spells list. levitation, door summoning, and invisibility. the last one of course, didn't work properly. Instead of being a black coated pony, I was a silhouette of a pony. Because no one would notice that.

I felt a little dizzy after doing the invisibility spell, and my horn hurt a bit.  If the moon had been up, all the spells would have worked perfectly, and u would have hardly tapped my mana. In the day, anything more than a levitation spell left me dazed.

I would have to remember to show off my spells at my test. I sat down on my bed and put my hoof to my horn. It was hot from the intensity of the spells. Maybe I would show them off near the end of my test.

After that, I bided my time strip cleaning my rifle. It may not sound like fun, but it was an activity I had grown to enjoy. Maybe it was just the difference between firing a well taken care of gun and a neglected one. I think you know which is easier to work with.

By the time I disassembled and reassembled my gun a few times, It was about 8. I figured I would go spend sometime at the bar and relax before I went to bed. I needed something to put my mind at ease.

The bar was a small building, consisting of two booths, a table, and the actual bar. I sat down at the bar and orders a beer from moonshine. It was the hoof made stuff he made in the back, not the good stuff you would find outside. It had an acidic aftertaste and was way too strong the be real beer, but it was what we had.

After about 10 minutes, a orange earth pony stallion sat down beside me. He ordered a whiskey.

I knew the pony of course. His name was Gambit. His name fit shockingly well with his slot machine cutie mark. He was the leader of the scav team, famous for having co founded the town and set up the scav team in the first place. If not for him, most of the ponies I knew would be dead. I would still be at that damned farm.

“No party?” He asked.

I shook my head. “Im not the party type.” I replied.

He nodded. “It makes sense. Most of those ponies weren't out there on there own. They hid until one of us found them. Your one of the few ponies who has had to fight to survive. hiding behind a wall isn't cause for celebration.”

I nodded. it wasn't often that Gambit spoke much. When he did, you knew that it was from the heart, and most often, brutally honest.

“It’s like there lying to themselves. They still act as if we’re in the old world. It’s going to get them all killed.” I muttered. I usually would never have voiced my opinion, but I knew Gambit was trustworthy. He had survived on his own fair longer than I had. The beer didn't hurt either.

“They create their own reality, and they hide. When something happens, and it will happen, I'm leaving most of the ponies here behind. They’ll get you killed.”

“That's a little cold, don't you think." I asked.

“Would you risk your life to protect most of the deluded ponies in this settlement? Your sisters?” My silence was answer enough. “That's what I thought. When shit hits the fan, I take who can fight, and I leave.”

“Good plan I guess. Its hard being on your own.”

He nodded.

I took a drink of my beer. “I can't believe how some of the ponies in this place act. Rose got mad at me because I was encouraging a filly to practise shooting scenarios. She doesn't get that a bump on the head in here is death out there.”

He nodded again. “Yea. They fear a busted bone or a cut, when it teaches us what not to do. Out there you don't learn what not to do. You know, or you die. Thats why I want you on my team, you have what it takes. You don't run from the truth, you except it.”

“Well I don't know about all that...I just shot shit.” I blushed. “Wow, this beer is strong” I thought. “I don’t blush.”

Gambit chuckled. “You do more than that. You see how ponies treat you around here. You give ponies hope. And hope, is a very powerful thing.”

I returned home around 10. I tossed my gun on the floor beside my bed, to tired to bother putting it away properly. I fell into my bed, still in my vest.

I can’t say when i feel asleep, but i know it hadn't taken long. it was cold out, but the homemade beer in my belly helped keep me warm.

I burst out of bed. I wasn’t sure how much time had past. An hour, maybe two. Screams and gunfire pounded against my ear drumbs. I was glad that I had left my gun at my bedside. Not as glad as I was about the world being lite in a bright silver tint.

My thoughts drifted involuntarily to my unarmed sister, somewhere out there among the fear and gunfire. I knew what i had to do. What i had always done. Protect my sister.

I won't lie to you. I was scared to death. We had been breached a few times, but this sounded like chaos. anarchy.

I grabbed my gun in my magic as I charged down stairs. I swapped out the mag for my good quality ammo as I went.

I galloped out the door, and into the night. The smell of rot and gunpowder made me nauseous. I could see fire in the distance. Likely caused by some idiot with molotov cocktails.

I heard a rustle behind me. Immediately I realized my mistake. I hadn't checked my flanks. I turned towards the sound.

It was a runner. Strips of flesh hung from Its body. its face was covered in the blood of its last meal. without a thought, it charged me.

It closed the distance before i could take aim. He...It was to close for me to shot. I slamed the but of my gun into its head, forcing it back a few feet.

It charged again. This time I was too slow. It slammed into me like a freight train. We both fell to the dirt below.  My gun flew from my magical grip, landing a few feet away. I struggled to catch my breath.

The zombie was on top of me now. I used my hoofs to keep its head away from me. That happend to me a lot. I could see the knife on my forehoof, but I would have to move them to get it.

My mind flashed to my dad in the same situation. I forced it out of my mind. I was better now. I was worthy.

I tilted my head forward, leveling my horn to its head. I stopped fighting it. With my arms no long blocking it, its mouth went straight for my face. I groaned as it impaled itself on my horn. The nerves in my horn screamed as it was forced into the head of the pony. No, not a pony. Zombie. Monster.

I pulled my horn from its skull. The pain lessened. I rolled onto my side, and pushed the thing off me. I got to my hooves, letting out another groan. My side and horn hurt. I was already getting tired.

I had to be more careful. I had to be better.

“Axious..” I muttered as I got to my feet.

I galoped towards town square, shooting anything that got to close. So far, I hadn't seen any living ponies, just a mess of zombies.

The square was a war zone. A few guard ponies were standing around the pavilion, protecting the ponies inside. There was only about 11 of them, none of which were Dusk.

Off to my left, I noticed rafe trying to fight of a trio of zombies. He wasn't doing too well. I could see a burning house a few hundred feet to my right. The windows glowed with the flames.

Some idiot in the square had tossed a molotov at a small herd. All it had done was turn them into a walking wall of fire. It looked like moonshine.

I made my way through the square to the clinic. It seemed most likely.

My rifle bucked against my shoulder as I fired shot after shot into the trotters. There was at least 40 of them in the square alone. More kept flooding in, but I had no idea from where.

I killed one of the trotters rafe was fighting, but couldn't help any more than that. My shot had attracted unwanted attention. I burned through a clip of good bullets just getting to the clinic. “This is going to be a long night.” I thought. “I hope.”

I opened the front door to the clinic. “Dusk!”

A pair of red eyes stared at me from the would be darkness. Thank luna for night vision. Then I noticed something. It hasn't attacked yet. Oh shit.

The reaper charged, using the chairs and table in the clinic as cover. I fired madly, hitting it in in the chest and shoulder. It didn't even flinch.

It slammed into me, forcing me from the doorway. I leveled my rifle at it's head and pulled the trigger.

Click.

Fuck

The cursed one charged with impossible speed. I darted right, narrowly avoiding its strike. It stopped for a moment, watching me. it was thinking.

I pulled my knife from its sheath on my leg, and held it in front of me. The creature regarded me for a moment longer before the attack came.

Something slammed into my side, and brought me to the ground. I really needed to stay on my hooves.

The thing that had tackled me got to its hoofs. Another cursed one. Had they planned this? Could they plan an ambush?

I got to my hooves as well, wincing.  I had twisted an ankle when the cursed one ran into me. My adrenaline dulled the pain.

I forced my knife blade deep into its skill with my magic. They might have brains, but they weren't smart by any means. Neither was I. The second one charged.

I had no time to recover my knife. No time to reload my rifle. I was out of options. I wish i had a spell to get me out of it. Or a side arm, as fang had suggested. Time slowed down as I watched my would be killer come at me.

A thin black blur slammed into its head. A small purple blur followed, landing a few feet to my left.

Violet ran over to me, and picked up my rifle in her mouth “Are you alright?” She asked through the gun. I took it in my magic.

“I am now.” I replied. More screams and gunfire. Smoke was starting to fill the air as buildings began to burn. I could hear the crackle of burning wood. “Talk later, lets go.”

“Good idea.”

“Have you seen Dusk?” I asked as we moved away from the clinic. I slammed a new mag into my rifle. “Last mag Silver." I thought. "Make it count.”

“No.” She replied. “Sorry.”

I nodded. To Rivets then. “This way!” I shouted, breaking into a run towards his house.

His house wasn't far from the square. Two minutes and 3 bullets later, we were there. There was about 14 trotters gathered around his house. Outfront, Rivet, Gambit, and Fang stood around the door, keeping the trotters back. They were all covered in blood from fighting. I could only imagine how I looked.

I galoped in, firing at the zombies nearest to the house. Gambit and Fang kept the Trotters of me,  Gambit with his machine pistol in his mouth, Fang with her pistols. Rivet kept the closer trotters at bay with his shotgun battle saddle.

Violet stayed at my heels, putting a cross bow bolt in anything that got to close.

The moment I got near my friends, (and Fang) I felt safer. The five of us defending that house, all of us keeping each other alive. Now that was friendship.

I wasnt even there a second when a scream came from my left. I looked over to see Rivet pinned against the wall, a purple filly trying to tear into his flesh. Daisy. I raised my rifle.

My mind flashed to my father, being torn to bits in the apartment.

Click.

Well fuck me with sideways with Celestias horn.

I pulled my knife out and positioned it above the filly. A flick of my horn was all it would take.

I tried to kill it, but my horn wouldn't work. My magic fizzled out. The knife fell to the ground. my emotions were conflicting with each other, and effecting my magic.

I knew I had to kill it to save my friend. But it was daisey. A filly I had known. I had worked with.

I had thought of it as a pony. You never think of it as a pony.

The world slowed to a crawl as I tried to interpret the situation. The screams and gunfire faded. My thoughts turned sluggish. I pulled at her with my magic, pulling her off of rivet. She squirmed in my silver aura.

I heard a small snap behind me. Not a second later, a bolt smashed into her skull and silenced her. I dropped her and looked back. Violet was standing there, tears ran down her face. She averted my gaze, and ran inside the house.

Time speed back up as fang and gambit cleared out the remaining zombies. I just stood there in shock. My friend had nearly been killed. I did nothing. Even worse. I watched.

“Ph, thanks for the save Night Light.” Fang said, not even looking at me. I didn't respond.

After a minute, Rivet got to his feet and walked over. he put a hoof on my shoulder. “Are you ok? Silver?”

I shook my head and sat down. “I just watched.” I barely whispered.

“No pony expected you to stab a filly.” He said softly. he sat down beside me and began stroking my main.

“I just watched.” i said a little louder. “I watched it nearly kill you. I made a filly shot best friend in the face. because I’m a coward.”

“Silver, its not-”

“Yes it is!” I snapped, getting to my hoofs. “Its all my fault! i fucked up, and violet has to live with it!”

“Silver, think about dusk. She’s in my house right now. Do you want her to see you like this?”

I didn't want any pony to see me like that. I put my gun away and grabbed my knife. “Lets go inside.” i said to the ground.

“What if I’m not worthy?” I thought to myself. “What if I can’t do this?”