Equestria Undead

“Ugh…..” My eyes cracked open, auto tuning to the silver spectrum there known for. I

sent a silent prayer to luna. Night vision. Night vision was good.

Then the pain finally registered. The ache in my chest and leg was nothing next to the burning radiating from my horn. I groaned as I tried to sit up. The pain in my head flared, sending me back to the floor.

“Silver!” Violet shouted. I heard hoofsteps off to my right.

“Fine.” I said, again trying to sit up. This time I got myself into a sitting position. I glanced around the damp cellar. “Where is everyone?”

“There asleep over there.” She said, pointing across the room, past the shelves of supplies. “Here, they said if you woke up to give you these.” Violet tapped a few glass bottles that had been sitting beside me, filled with a shimmering purple liquid. I read the label, “Hyporegenerative potion? Healing potions!” I Smiled.

After chugging down the healing potions, I felt a lot better. My rib was fully healed, and my leg was as good as it was going to get. It still felt strange to me, but it worked fine and didn’t hurt. My horn was still in pain, but it was more of an annoying headache and less of a mind splitting, soul fracturing pain.

It was clear that Violet had drank down some potions as well. He leg seemed good as new. The brace she was wearing was no where to be seen.

“I wonder what this means for my magic.” I said as I got a better look at the room. It was very well supplied. I had to wonder how no one had found it before us.

“No idea. Hope it’s back soon though, you shoot like shit with your mouth.”

“Gee, thanks.” I mutterd. “Hey, since when are you so chatty?” I asked.

“Since you saved our lives.” She said. “Besides, I don’t have the energy to be a dick right not, and if I had ever treated one of Daisys patients badly….Anyway, don’t get to used to this. I’m not going to suddenly like you because you decided to save yourself.”

“Whatever.” I muttered. My stomach grumbled, reminding me of the last time I had eaten. “Hey, can you pass me some food.”

“I guess.” She said, trotting  over to a box on the shelf. After going through it for a moment, she tossed me a can of beans.

I wraped it in my silver magic on impalse. The can burst open, blowing the beans all over the room and electing a shriek from Violet. I winced. Sparks flew from my horn.

“Watch the magic!” She snapped.

“Ahh fuck!” I snapped, grabbing my horn in my hoofs. It was a good thing the surface had no nerves. “Sorry, I didn’t think.” I said.

“What the hell was that?” She asked. “Your horn was lit up like harthswarming tree.”

“I have no idea.”

“What was that!” Rose appeared from behind the shelf, eyes wide open.

“I tossed her some food, and that bitch blew it up.” Violet said.

Rose looked over at me, “Y-you….blew it up?”

“What? No! I tried to levitate it, and it...I...Yea….maybe a little.”

“How did you..Why...-ugh, never mind. Just...try not to levitate anything else.”

“Unless it’s a zombies head.” Fang said sleepily from beyond the shelfs. “That would be amazing.”

“Yes! The silver cannon!” Violet said. “We won't even need guns!”

“How about, no.” I said.

“Ugh, fine. You're no fun.” Violet said, crossing her hoofs.

I rolled my eyes. “Hey,” I turned back to Rose. “when did it get dark?” I asked.

“About a half hour ago, why?”

“Because, this is a great time for us to get moving.” I said. I wanted to get the hell out of that hole in the ground. I had spent more then enough of my life hiding from undead in a cellar. I needed to find my sister, and figure out what to do about my horn.

“Hell yea! Night op!” Fang said, rushing into view. “When do we leave?

Rose popped open the manhole cover back at the road with her magic. After dealing with her complaints, we had finally convinced her that fang and my vision at night was way better then the corpses.

It was easy enough to get back to the street with my night vision. The house we were under wasn’t even a block from it. The others moved by moonlight. I was actually surprised how good fangs vision was at night. Griffins didn’t had magic night vision, but it was still way better then most ponies.

“It’s really dark down there.” Rose stated. “Did anyone bring flashlights, or-”

“We’re going in at night so that zombies won't see us. Shining a light around would give us away.” I said. “Might as well hand them menus.”

“What’s the problem, Rose, you ‘frad of the dark?” Fang asked.

“M-maybe a little.” she stammered.

“Well you should be.” I said, looking out into the darkness. “Scary things out in the dark.” I could see at least four dozen zombies around us, but most of them were out of earshot, thank Luna. the ones that weren't were easily taken out by a machete I had grabbed from the cellar. The thing was a piece of art, so say the least. More than strong enough not to brake in my magic.

“I’ll go down first. Fang, you last.” She nodded.

I dropped to the bottom of the sewer, and looked around. There aren't any zombies in ear shot, but there was definitely something farther down the tunnel.

“Clear.” I said quietly.

VIolet came down next, followed by Rose. Then Fang, closing the manhole behind her.

As they all made their way down, I was looking at an arrow spray painted on the side of the sewer. “They went that way.” I said pointing.

“Umm….Silver? We can’t see you pointing.” Violet said. “Just your eyes.”

“Oh... Right.”

Then, we were off. As it turned out, the thing I had seen down the the tunnel was a herd. Lucky for us, something had already taken care of it. We thought at first that the others had taken out, but, as fang had pointed out, we didn’t have any weapons that could make that many holes. The bodies were practically torn to pieces.

Rose grimaced as she walked through the stick gore. The rest of us were all pretty used to it. I looked back at Violet. She was as calm and collected as I hoped I was coming off as. IN reality, I was terrified. My magic was fucked, my sister was missing, and my flask was nearly emptied on a cut Rose got.

The tunnel was a lot more boring than I had thought it would be. After the dead herd, we didn’t even find one dead zombie. We did, however, find a can of spray paint, a few unfired shotgun shells, and a candy bar.

        “Silver, aren't you afraid that some zombies up ahead might see your eyes?” Violet asked. “I would rather not get eaten because you don’t own a pair of shades.”

        Violet picked up the candy bar and started munching on it, smiling dreamily in the sweet chocolatey bliss.

        “Actually, no. The trotters don’t notice them at all. I think they get them confused with the cursed ones eye glow.” I sighed. “I know the living do.”

        “You were limping.” Fang snapped.

        When I had first come to town, fang had shot me in the flank. It took my sister screaming for her to realize how much she fucked up. We never got along after that. I was limping because I had twisted my ankle on the way.

“Yea yea. Once I get close though, they realize I’m not one of them. That’s why I like to go around at night. So long as I keep my distance and stay quiet, they don’t bother me. Well, the normal ones don’t. If a cursed one sees me, it’ll have all the zombies in sight on me in no time.”

“How do they know?” Rose asked.

“Well, that’s easy. There a little sharper than the rest of the zombies. They can think.” Violet said.

After what seemed like hours of walking, and a good portion of my flask, (Or what was left of it), we reached a fork in the road...er...sewer. By this point, it was safe to assume that the spray paint we had found was Gambits, because there was no marker telling us where to go.

Rose lite up her horn to give the others some light.

“Well…” Fang stated. “This blows.”

“Which way do you think they went?” Violet asked.

“I….” Everyone looked at me hopefully. “Have no idea.” All their heads dropped

“I would say...left.” Rose said.

“Left?” I asked. “Why left?”

“It looks like someone was walking over there, look at the smudges in the grim.”

There were smudges in the grim. Very large smudges. Either the others were dragging their feet, or walkers had left the marks. No way they were dumb enough to leave a trail.

“Right.” Fang patted Rose’s shoulder and started walking down the right tunnel. “Thanks Rose.”

“What makes you think they went that way?” She asked.

“Rule of thumb. When the team gets separated, we always go right.” She said.

“Why didn’t you say that before?” Rose asked the griffin.

She shrugged. “Wanted to see what Silver would go with.”

“I’m telling you, they went left.” Rose stomped her hoof for emphasis, and slipped in the grim covering the floor.

“Sorry Rose, but your a doctor, not a tracker.” I said, following Fang down the right tunnel. Violet quickly followed. Rose sat wide eyed for a moment, killed her horn light, and followed.

        “All...That….Walking…” Violet said slowly.

        “Well, this sucks ass.” Fang stated bluntly.

        “No one ever listens to the smart pony.” Rose said, rolling her eyes.

        As it turned out, the tunnel that Fang had said they would be down, lead no where. We stood at the end of the tunnel, mostly bitching and moaning about the three hours we had just spent walking for nothing. So, we walked back.

Most of the way was Rose talking about how we should listen to her more. Luckily, we were able to drown her out pretty easily. Fang and Violet talked more about what some of the different towns are like these days, while I worked on my magic.

 Apparently, damaging my horn hadn’t extended my magic burnout any. I was back up to par. I levitated my knife as we walked, making sure to only channel in a little energy. The crack in my horn leaked a lot of extra power into my spells, so I had to be careful.

It wasn’t until we neared the fork again when I cut my magic, and the others cut there chater. We silently crept down the left tunnel. We had no idea why, but something had us on edge. It was almost as if we were afraid to speak, because the wrong person would hear it.

It didn’t take long before the boredom of walking settled in again though. Staring at the concrete and steel of the sewer got really old, really quick. Even with the odd maintenance hatch.

Fang walked up to me and pointed up ahead. It had to squint to see what she was pointing to. There was more bodys. I took my pistol in my mouth, signaling for Rose and Violet to stay.

These bodies were just as full of holes as the last ones we had found. I had to wonder what kind of gun could do that, and who had that kind of ammo to waste.

As we looked over the bodys, a maintenance hatch to the right slide open. Fang and I jumped and leveled our weapons at it. Standing in the door, was an iron clad buck, wearing night vision goggles. A massive weapon sat on his back. I knew immediately what kind of gun he had. And what kind of trouble we were in.

“Drop your gear, and go,” He said. “and you might live.”

“Pht, fat chance. You ain’t got the guts to mow us down fat ass. Jugjing buy the size of that gun, you are definitely compensating. Probably ugly to. That’s why you're hiding out down here all alone right?”

“I gave you a chance.”

“Great job Fang, piss off the guy with the tank gun!” I snapped.

“Well sorry for not-”

The minigun started to rotate, urging fang and I to move. Fang fired her pistol. We both winced as the sound of the high powered gun echoed around is. She cursed. So much for the big guns. At least the heavy round seemed to hurt him. The buck staggered for a moment.

I opened fire with my pistol. It wasn’t nearly as loud as Fangs. It still stung our ears. The rounds pinged easily of his armor. A crossbow bolt slammed into him and splintered. “Shit!” Violet cursed.

        I kept firing as I tried to come up with something. Anything. I winced as the minigun started firing. The buck swung the giant weapon towards me.

        “No!” A pink burst hit me in the side, sending me to the concret. I gasped as I heard a bullets soar over me. Another pink bolt slammed into the buck. If it hurt him at all, it didn’t show.

        “Where did that burst of courage come from?” I wonders.

        “Over here asshat!” Fang shoulder. She leveled her gun at him. The buck took the bait, swinging his gun away from me. “You had better have something good kid!” Silver shouted as she tried to distance herself from the gunman.

“Silver, now would be a good time to blow something up!” Violet shouted over the gunfire.

“Right!” I shouted, getting to my hoofs. I leveled my horn at him and fired.

A silver bolt of energy slammed into his chest. His armor bent under the pressure. To both our surprise, He slammed into the back wall of the maintenance room. He spasmed as energy arched through his body and armor. I feel to the ground, holding my horn. Warm blood seeped through it’s crake.

Fang ran over and pulled the door shut, putting all her weight into it.

“I swear, if this guy shots through this door!” She roared.

“That things steel. To low caliber to go through.” I said, getting to my hooves. I took a swig from my flask. Violet ran over to Fang.

“What can I do?” She asked.

“Ugh….Silver, you got anything?” Fang asked.

“Never thought I’d see the day you asked me for help.” Something banged against the door.

“Shut the fuck up cripple!” She roared.

I layed down on the cold floor, and brought out my rifle. I put the firing bit in my mouth, and held it in my hooves. I heared something bangin on the steel door.

“Hurry up!” Violet shouted, helping Fang hold the door. Rose was standing down the hallway, frozen in place.

I pulled a few rounds from the bottom of my saddle bag, and slid them into a mag. I slammed the clip into the rifle.

“Open the door!” I Bellowed.

The two cleared the door, bracing themselves on either side of the frame to keep from getting shot.

The buck stepped forward and smiled. The motor on the minigun began to hum. “Should have dropped your gear and walked!” He screamed.

“No, you’ll burn.” I bit down on the firing bit.

CRACK

The buck screamed. The 303. round tore through his armor. Then, the spell kicked in. The buck screamed in horror as fire erupted from his chest. I chambered another round, and fired again. This time, the incendiary round got him in the belly. His armor grew red hot as his insides were cooked by the bullets.

Fang and Violet watched in stunned silence as the man was burned alive. I grabbed the minigun and the ammo feeder off of him with my magic before it could take to much damage, and closed the door. It did little to muffle the screams.

When they finally died down, Fang opened her mouth. “What the fuck was that.” She asked.

“I was saving those in case I ever ran into some timberwolves.” I said. “Had to hit em with those back on the farm to keep them away.”

“You just...burnt that guy. Like, alive.” Dusk said.

“I saved our lives.” I said, getting to my hoofs.I could feel blood running down my face from my horn.. “You ok back there Rosie?” I asked. She nodded once before walking over.

I took the mag of incendiary rounds out of my rifle, and replaced it with machined ones before returning it to my saddle bag. “Come on.” I said. “We should get going.”

        I scouted farther up the tunnel while the others hung back. I couldn't take the looks Rose kept giving me. I had never seen a look like that from her. It was like a “You actually just did that” look. I burnt a pony alive. I`m not sure what was worse, Rose being so distant,, or Violet and Fang finding it ìncretibley awesome.

        But the worst part by far, was that I was ok with it. I killed a pony in the most painful way possible, and I had no problem with that. In most of the books I read, when the hero killed someone like this they would feel bad about it. Was it bad that I didn’t? It’s not like I took pleasure in it, but still. Usually this is the point where somepony would be trying to convince themselves that they did what they had to.

        How could I go from not being able to kill an undead filly to not having any problem with killing some pony? Was it because I didn’t know him? Or because he threatened us? I pushed the thoughts away. I could figure it out later. I had to find my sister.

Fang, being the only one who can hold it, ended up taking the mini gun. Violet was still trying to figure out how that was mini. I tried to tell her about the larger ones they mounted on tanks, but she didn’t seem to get it.

Finally I saw the exit. An uncovered manhole with light streaming from it. The others must have seen it too, because in no time they were all standing by my side. Now, we just had to get past one little itty bitty problem. The herd of undead crowding under the latter.

“Well, this really screws with the plan doesn't it.” Fang said.

“Can’t we just kill them with that?” Violet asked, pointing at the minigun.

“No way” I said. “We only have 400 rounds for it, and theres at least 30 of them.”

“Only?” She asked.

“When a gun shots 50 rounds a second, 400 is nothing.” Fang said. I raised an eyebrow. “You're not the only on here who knows your guns, lightning rod.”

“Ok, now you're not even trying.” I said.

“That’s what you told Rivet last night.”

“You know what?”

“What? What are you gonna do Silv’. Burn me? Pop me? Let some foal take a bit out of me?”

“You shut the fuck-”

“Girls!” Rose shrieked.. “Those things are lookin at us.”

“Oh fuck me.” I muttered.

“Your not my type.” Fang started up the minigun.

To my surprise, Rose took out her gun and actually took aim with it. She looked over at me. Violet and Fang did the same.

I looked at the herd, which was now coming towards us. There were only a few runners.

“Violet, take the runners. Fang, Rose, crowed control.” I said, pulling out my own gun. I felt like if I gripped it to hard in my magic, the handle would snap.

The sewer erupted in gunfire as we laid the herd to waste. Violet and I easily took out the runners. Fangs minigun clicked four seconds in. In those four seconds, she had taken out nearly 10 of them.

Fang ditched the minigun and ran up the side. Her claws made quick work of the trotters. After a few more seconds, my own gun clicked. I sighed to myself as I pulled my machete and flask from their homes in my vest. After a swig, I was charging.

Thanks to my dark coat, the zombies had a very hard time seeing me in the low light. I easily moved through the sewer, hacking and slashing anything that Was in range. Violet and Rose were being careful not to shoot anywhere near my horn glow, for fear of hitting me. That was fine.

Once the area was clear, I looked at my machete in aw. “This thing is incredible.” I said.

Rose was still standing where she was, staring at me in amazement. Violet was nearly jumping up and down after all the excitement. Fang nodded at me. I returned the gesture.

“Well, that was easy.” I said as I galoped back to the others. Anyone have any 45. rounds? I’m out.”

Rose looked at me with a confused look on her face. Fang looked at the pistol in my vest with disgust. “No, sorry.” Violet said. “If you need a gun though-”

“You keep it. I can use my machine when we get outside anyway. I would probably end up breaking the gun with my magic.”

“I’m not sure you should be using your magic so much.” Rose said carefully. “If you overuse it before your horn heals a little bit, it could have some horrible long term effects.”

“Being killed has short term effects one my health Rose, it’s one or the other.” She glanced at the ground. “Thanks though.”

There weren't many zombies around when we got topside. As it turned out, the others came out in some kind of public park. Fang said it was near the center of ponyville. There were a few buildings in the distance, but nothing interesting. Mostly just trees and park benches.

My horn was starting to throb again. I thought I was straining it. I really should have been listening to Rose more.

“It’s nice to be able to see again.” Violet said, looking around.

“Hey, I think I got something.” Fang said. “Theres someone in that tree over there.” She said pointing. All I could see was some kind of tree with...windows? Man, that is strange. Who lives in a tree?

“Is it them?” I asked.

“No idea. I’ve only seen one so far. Just a silhouette.”

“Lets go say hey.” Violet said.

“Anything to get out of here.” Rose said.

A few dead undead and several knocks latter, we were standing at the front door of the “Golden oak library.”

“Who the hell puts a library in a tree?” Fang asked.

“It’s common with earth ponies to grow houses. Or it was a few hundred years ago.” Violet said. I raised an eyebrow at her. “I did go to school you know.”

“Man, it has been so long since I knocked on a door.” I said. “It’s kind of surreal.”

“Tell me about it. Usually I would have kicked in the door by now.” Fang said. I rolled my eyes.

        I squinted as the light from the house hit us. A zebra stood in the open doorway. After looking us over, she said, “Come, it is not safe out here. Come inside, where there's less to fear.”

        Once we were all inside, the zebra closed and locked the door behind us. She had a lot of heavy duty looks on that door. Inside the tree, you would swear the pages had turned up a nasty storm. Books, plants, test tubes, pestles, and potions laid everywhere. It was clearly some kind of lab.

        I had never met a zebra before. Strips, strange cutie mark, odd speech. Not all that different from a pony.

        “What are you doing in town?” The zebra asked. “You could have been gunned down.”

        “Why did you let us in here?” Fang asked. “You don’t even know us.”

        “you decided to knock, instead of forcing the lock.”

        “Umm...OK…”

        “So what brings you to this place. Surely it’s bad for your race?”

        “We’re looking for my friends.” I said. “We got separated scaving.”

        “So you have lost your friends? Then your search may be at it’s end. If you seek a filly and bucks, then you have had a great run of luck.

        “You saw them?” I put my hoofs on her shoulders. “Did you see where they were going?”

        “Hold you horses, little pony. You should stay inside, where it is cozy. When the sun is on display, then you may be on your way.”

        “If you know where my sister is I have a right to know. I have to find her.”

        “Silver.” Rose put a hoof on my shoulder. “It’s not safe to be outside right now. We should wait until we have the light on our side.”

        “I work better in the dark.” I said.

        “You may see well in the dark my dear, but it’s the red eyed reaper, you must fear.”

        “Red eyed...are there a lot of those around here?” I asked.

        “The like to stalk the grounds at night, they wish to break in and start a fight.”

“What are you doing here anyway?” Violet asked. “It doesn't seem very safe.”

“I need the herbs from the everfree, to work on my chemistry.” She said. “There is a room upstairs you may take, but I must tell your leader the stakes.”

        “Oh, right.” Rose said. “Come on guys, lets go get some rest.”

        Violet went with Rose up the stairs. Fang looked back at me. “Make sure they don’t get into things.” I said.

        “Great. The best fighter here, babysitting.” She sighed and followed the others up the stairs.

        As it turns out, the zebras name was Zecora. She was working on some kind of cure for the necromancy, but had come up with nothing. Apparently, the kind of magic used in the spell, was difficult, if even possible, to counter with potions.

        Zecora and I sat in the kitchen, drinking tea. I had tried to turn it down, as it’s such a rare commodity. She wouldn’t have any of it. Apparently she used to do her work in the everfree, but after the dead started rising, it became too dangerous for her to stay.

“So I see your horn is hurt.” She said over her cup. “Magic, I can teach you to better exert.”

        “You can help me with my magic?” I asked. I was really excited. I might not have used my magic much, but I wasn’t much good without it. Even after just lifting my weapons in the tunnel, and the tea cup, I could feel my body tiring.

        She nodded. “Despite lacking the parts, I am quite familiar with the arcane arts. I can help with your spells, but you must listen, and listen well.”

        “Where do we start?”

        I spent a few hours training with zecora. It was a hole new method of spell casting. She also gave me a lot of books on the subject, as well as some potions to help with burnouts.

        By morning, I could lift things without worrying about breaking them. Zecora said so long as I could keep my mind clear, I could have no problem with magic. I just couldn’t let my emotions get too out of control. If I tried casting magic using my feelings like I used to, I wouldn’t be able to control it.

I also got some healing potions from Zecora, and a bottle of whisky. All it cost us was the location of the supply cellar we had found, and me staying there until morning.

 My head hurt slightly as my eyes shifted back into the regular spectrum. I thanked Zecora for everything, and went to wake the others.

“There it is.” Fang said, pointing to the cottage down the path.

“Are you sure?” Violet asked.

“I know this town better than almost anyone. There’s only one cottage on the edge of the everfree. Zecora said they were here.”

We were looking down the path leading up to the little cottage ahead.

“Why here?”

“It’s as away from the city you can be while still being in it. A good place to go and wait for us.”

“But how would we have known if not for Zecora?” Rose asked. “If they didn’t meet her,

“We’ve been here before.” Fang said. “Shortly after Gambit and I meet, we ended up here. Little yellow pony helped us get back on our feet. I can’t remember her name though…”

“Fluttershy.” I said absent mindedly.

“Yea, that’s it. How did you know that?” Fang asked.

“I’ve been here before.” I said. Fangs eyes shot up. “Come on, lets go check on the others.”

We all walked across the bridge and to the door. I stopped in front of it.

After a few seconds, Rose asked, “Silv, is something wrong?”

“Yea, come on silver. You waiting for an invite?” Fang asked.

“I’m good.” I said, opening the door. It was dark inside. I stepped in.

        “Don’t. Move.” I felt a cool tube against the side of my head. A gun barrel.

“Fuck me with a fog horn.” I muttered.

“Oh, hey silver.”

“Hey Gambit.” I said. He spit his gun into the holster. I turned to him and surprised him with a hug.

“Your one hard fuck to find Gambit.” Fang said, hoof bumping...Claw bumping….Fist bumping….You know what I mean. They hoof/claw bumped. He nodded to Violet and Rose.

“What took you all so long?” He asked, leading is upstairs. Fang followed us up. Violet and Rose looked at each other for a moment, before following.

“Wheres Dusk? Is she ok?”

“Your sisters fine. Don’t worry, we took good care of her.” He said.

        “Thank Luna.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Hey was there anyone here when you got here?” I asked.

        “No, it was clear. A few corpses in the closet upstairs. We throw them outside to help get ride of the smell. Why?”

        “Just...wondering. So, everythings ok?”

        “Well, not everything.” His eyes settled on my horn.

        “It’s fine.”

        “Mhm.You sure about that?”

        “Yea, just a flesh wound.” I smiled.

        “Hows your magic?”

        “It… doesn't work to well. I feel like everything I touch will shatter in my grasp. I can use this machete I found fine, but I’m afraid of breaking my guns when I hold them.”

        “If you want, I can show you how to hold it with your hoof. It’s not far from how you would shot at the range, but prop the gun in between the joint instead of on the wall.”

        “Yea, that would be great. We found a supply cache on the way here, so we’re set for the trip to Filly.”

        “Saves us the trouble then. Once everyone’s rested, we can get the hell out of dodge.”

        “Yea.”

        I sat outback, bathed in sweat. I let the shovel drop from my arcane grip. I carefully lifted the two bodys into the hole, before getting back to work. My horn bleed, and my eyes watered. I didn’t stop. There deaths were my fault, it was the least I could do.

        I can’t say why I did it, other then that I had to. I guess I thought it was the right thing to do. I had never meet Fluttershy, but she had helped Fang and Gambit. That was enough for me. I didn’t know Rhythm too long, but he was nice enough. So, I dug.

        I didn’t care that it was dark. I didn’t care if any undead tried to take a bit out of me. I would bash their heads in with the shovel and get back to work. Buy the time I had the hole dug, half my flask was in me.

        “Silver? Silver, are you ok?” Rose was standing behind me, holding cannedapples and a bottle of water.

        “I’m fine Rose.” I said. “I’ll eat in a bit.”

        “We’re leaving at noon. You should get some rest.”

        I took a drink from my flask. “I can take care of myself Rose. Go get some sleep.”

        “You’re scaring everyone. You’ve been out here for hours. Please, come inside.”

        “You want me to come in, leave. You want to help, shovels in the shed.”

        I turned back to the hole and continued filling it in. A second shovel pierced into the dirt pile, and started shoveling.

“So, why the digging?” Rose asked.

“I knew the colt. Came into town for food shortly after shit hit the fan, got him killed.”

“Oh…” She stopped shoveling for a moment and looked at the ground. “And the girl?”

“She helped out Gambit and Fang back before she died.”

“Wait, what? Gambit said he hadn’t been here since before the brake.”

        “But Fang said….” I sighed. “I’ll talk to her later. Get to the bottom of this.”

        We continued in silence until the hole was filled in.

        “Well, that was fun. What do you say you get something to eat and get some rest, hm?”

        “Yea.” I looked at her and smiled. “Yea, ok. Thanks.” I picked up the food and water she had left by the back door.

        “You can share the bed with your sister.” I nodded.

        I stepped into the bedroom, quietly closing the door behind me. I dropped my vest and saddle bags beside the door. Someone had put blankets over the windows to block out the light.

        A bandage was wrapped tightly around my horn. Rose had insisted on getting it covered up and stopping the bleeding, so I let her do her doctor thing.  It helped put her at ease, so I didn’t mind.

        ‘Boud time you showed up.” Dusk huffed from under the covers on the bed. “I missed you.”

        “I missed you to. LIsten Dusk, about the sewer-”

        “It’s ok sis, it wasn’t to bad.” She sat up, and looked around. “Where are you?”

        I climbed into bed beside her. “Here.” She threw her arms around me, smiling. Tears ran down her face. “I was worried about you. I didn’t know where you were, or if you were ok.” I returned her embrace.

        “I was worried about you to.” I said. “I didn’t even want to think about what I would have done if something had happened to you.”

        “Did anything bad happen?” She asked.

        “No, noth-” I sighed inwardly. “Yes Dusk, something bad happened.”

        “Is everyone ok?” She asked

        “No Dusk.” Now tears were running down my face. “My horn is broken. I can’t do magic very well.”

        Dusk gasped and looked up at my horn, lighting her own. “Oh no.” She whisperd. “Does it...Does it hurt?” She asked. I nodded.

        She throw her hooves around me even tighter. “I’m so sorry Silver.” She wept.

        “Me too.” I said. I layed back, hugging my sister close. “Dusk, I’m really scared.” I was openly crying now. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

        “It’s ok. She said. “We can figure it out tomorrow.” All I could do was nod. “Come on sis. You need to rest.”

When I woke up, Dusk was gone. After putting on my vest and bags, I headed down stairs. The group was all gathered in the living room. Vi and Dusk were exchanging stories in the corner. Rose was going through all our medical supplies. Everyone else was talking around the coffee table. Someone must have put all the furniture back in place.

“Morning everyone.” I said, sitting down on the sofa beside Rivet.

Rivet stared at me for a moment, before snapping out of his daze. “Sorry silver. I heard you had hurt your horn, but I didn’t expect-”

“It’s nothing, really. My magic still works. Even if it is a little harder to handle. Now, what are we talking about?”

“Silver, can we talk for a second?” He asked.

I raised my eyebrows. “Ugh, yea sure.” I stood up, and he followed me out into the hall.

“So, what-”

“Are you ok?” He asked urgently.

“Huh? Yea, I’m fine.”

“Your sure? Nothing broken beyond repair, no bits, no bullet holes?”

“No, just the horn crake. And even then, so long as nothings distracting me, I can use magic.”

“Good, good. Now, what in celestia's name were you thinking?” He asked sternly. “Something could have happened. Something did happen. You could have been killed Silver. Turned. Hurt more then you already are. You shouldn’t have done that. We’re a group. We stay together.”

“You...were worried about me?” I asked. “That’s so sweet. Still though, you don’t have to worry. I can handle myself out there. It’s not my first rodeo.”

“I know, I just…” He looked down.

“Just what?” I asked.

“Nothing.” He shook his head. “Lets get back to the others.”

I looked at him for a moment longer. “Yea. Yea, ok.

        We sat back down on the couch. “So, what are we doing.” I asked.

“Planning the trip to Fillydelphia.” Gambit said. “Now that we have enough food we’ve run into the problem of ammo and water.”

“Theres this little town a quarter the way there where we can stack up on water.” I said. “My dad did business with a store there. Theres also an EUP armory in town hall.”

“Unless it’d been cleared.” Gambit said.

“Doubt it.” Rivet said. “Those things are nearly impossible to breach without clearance.”

“How do you know?” Fang asked.

“I did some work with them after the break. You can;t get into those armories without authorisation.”

“So we blow it open then?” I asked.

“You could waste every grenade you can find, Still won’t make a dent..” Rivet said. “It’s made out of some metal called mithril.”

“Then we make one ourselves.” Fang said. “You can build good bombs, right? No problem.”

“Ha, good luck.” Everyone turned towards Dusk, surprised at the sudden outburst. Violet looked at her dumbfounded. Everyones jaws were on the floor.

        “You know about this metal Dusk.”

        “Yea. I read about it in one of my books. Nightmare moon stool it from the stars when she planned to overthrow Celestia. The stuff absorbs and contains all energy applied to it. Only Lunas magic could affect it.”

        The room went silent again. “Well, so much for more guns and ammo.” Fang said.

        “If you need supplies, we have a supply cache.” Dusk said casually. My eyes shot up. It had been so long, I had forgotten about it. We had buried all our extra guns and ammo, as well as a few days worth of food out behind our house old house when we left. It was so we would have gear in case we ever went back.

        “Holy fuck.” I said. “I can’t believe I forgot...We have some supplies buried outside our old farm, in case we were ever down shit creek.”

        “You’ve got to be shitting me!” Fang snapped. “You couldn’t have said anything sooner!”

        “It’s not much. Three or four guns, a few ammo boxes, some food we canned from the harvest.”

        “That’s great news.” Rose said from the corner. “Right?

        “That depends.” Rivet said. “How fares your farm from here?”

        “6, 8 hours tops.” I said.

        “Heres the plan. We go to the farm, arm up, then head to that town. Search it, see about the armory, then we head for Filly.”

“Odds are the EUP already cleared it out anyway.” Gambit said. “Still worth a look, Could be some good loot.” He said.

“Great. So, when do we leave?” I asked.

“Now.”