It was midnight, and almost all was silent. The wind blew through the town, creating a melody that could send shivers down the spines of anybody who was about. In the dark interior of a fashion boutique, two individuals were trying to stay awake, telling each other tales.

"So what's been happening," asked Screw. "I don't remember anything after I lost touch with you."

"I've traveled, before I met those gang members." Dusk shifted in his spot. "I started my journey after Octavia got killed. She was so lovely, I met her at one of her performances at the palace theatre. Boy could she play. We moved to Canterlot, with the money from my folk's will, and we married a year later. She still played, and one day we went to the local theatre. It was a good show, but the hour after that left a scar in my soul, and it will never leave me. While we were heading home, a group of muggers came and tried to rob us, but Tavi wouldn't do it, and they stabbed her, nearly emptying her insides on the street. That's where I got my scar. I killed one of them before they escaped, and the Thunderbike she gave me before that has been with me ever since. She never did approve of my smoking. I bought my revolver, and hunted down every one of those bastards, one bullet for each of them."

Screw nodded, and stared out of the window. "Well, my mom abandoned me when I was two, and my dad struggled to pay his debts before... this, and then my travels. I try to be nice, but you know my temper Some story eh? Wait... what's that?"

He pointed out of the window, and Dusk spotted a dark figure moving in the shadows. He aimed his gun, anticipating an attack, but then the movement stopped. The entire world was still, and not one single thing moved. Waiting, watching, and listening, Dusk spotted a movement on the ground, and fired. The bullet didn't seem to do anything, but the thing hurried away, and Dusk searched around for it. The rustling noises stopped, and he sighed. Just then, the sound of running reached is ears, and he turned around, shining his light on the source. When he saw it, he loosened up. It was Golden Heart, and he raised his hands in alarm.

"Hey, it's me, it's me! They're all right, but there's some zombies all over the school. They had gone there to find more room, but now there's at least two dozen zombies, and they don't have any form of defense! I tried shooting some, but my sniper jammed. Please, follow me, they're completely surrounded!"

Dusk and Screw nodded, and followed him to the school. The night was slightly foggy, and the trees stood still in the dead, damp air. The chilly temperature was rapidly making Dusk and Screw shiver, but they finally arrived near their destination. The school stood, but it was in ruins. Half of the building was completely gone, and infected roamed around the exterior. The bell was cracked and rusted, and the side of the house that was destroyed showed a door into the next room, most likely sealing off Golden Heart's girlfriend. Screw saw several infected heading for the door, and fired his gun, hitting it straight in the back of the head.

"That's no way to get ahead in life, am I right? Right? Okay fine."

Dusk rolled his eyes, and they walked to the door, weapons ready. Golden was holding his M21 like a club, ready to bludgeon anything in his way. They trolled through the dark, dusty hallway, and the cracked walls gave them senses of severe claustrophobia. They reached a door at the end of the hallway, and it swung on rusty hinges, revealing a well lit room. It was the main classroom, and in the middle there sat a woman, carefully bathing wounds on a still man. She looked up, and smiled when she saw Golden's face.

"I'm glad you're safe. He's still breathing, but just barely. His skin is pallid and... oddly enough, it's starting to smell more than usual. I just hope he's not turning. If he turns, then we have no means of ever bringing him back, and he's our best hope of finding a cure to this infection."

Dusk looked around as Golden and Caramel talked. There was a faded photograph on the floor, and he picked it up. It depicted a woman, in her thirties at least, and in usual teacher's clothing. She had a big smile, and her eyes seemed to mirror that. A bit of writing on the bottom said Miss Cheerilee, and he felt as if he knew the name. He set the picture down, and turned to Screw, Golden and Caramel.

"How long has he been this way?"

"At least... four days, why?"

"Then he's not far from turning. He may have but seconds, so get away as fast as you can, there's nothing you can do from here. Look at his skin, he's almost done. I'll make sure... what the fuck!?"

The man had sat up, and now grabbed at Caramel's wrists, causing her to roll backwards to get away. Dusk and Screw looked for their weapons, but they had left them by the door, a rather foolish move. The now infected man gazed at them hungrily, eyes dull and lifeless, mouth agape in a silent scream. Dusk tried to throw in a quick strike to the forehead, but it threw him off balance when he hit air, as the man had moved quickly. He was now on all fours, crawling as if he were an insect. He slowly moved towards Screw, but he managed to kick the daemonic creature's head, sending it crawling away, but he went after Dusk, who had to jump on its back to try and stop it. He bashed its head with a rock, and a loud cry escaped the thing's mouth. Screw brushed his clothes off, and made a high whistling sound.

"I don't know about you Dusk, but at least admit that that there, was a real bitch. A zombitch, one might say."

"Your apparent lack of respect for the dead is... disturbing, but clever pun. Now, where the hell have they gone?"

They looked outside, and saw them standing in the yard, looking at the ground. Dusk and Screw headed outside to the colder wind, and the fog was steadily getting thicker. Golden and Caramel were huddled close together, trying to find warmth, but the heartless wind kept blowing. Screw decided they should get back to their homes, and offered a hand. "You two need to get back to your homes, you couldn't have done anything, and it wasn't your faults."

"But we still have to find medicine..."

Screw and Dusk handed their flasks to them. "Take these, and just get out of the town, unless you're dead set on staying."

The two nodded, and ran off to their home. Screw looked at the ruins of the school, thinking of his childhood. It seemed a lifetime ago, but teen years. He looked at Screw, nodded his head, and they returned to the boutique. Upon their return, the smell of food reached them, and they saw the others were awake.

"Where have you been!" Rarity fumed. "We woke up and saw you were gone, and we assumed the worst! I have a mind to smack you for not even leaving a note, a sign, anything!"

Dusk and Screw were able to calm her down with their explanation. Twilight and Rarity looked at each other, and they rolled their eyes, giving up with the conversation. Screw managed a small smile, and ate his food in silence. He noticed Spike watching him, and he motioned for the boy to come near, expecting a verbal attack or something similar.

"Hello, my name is Dusk, this is Screw Driver. Do you wish to say something?"

Spike coughed, and straightened his hoodie. "I just noticed you've been with us since that weird cabin place, and I was wondering if you were on good terms with us, or if you plan something. And I was also wondering... why did you help us? You could have easily done what the others did, but you chose not to."

Dusk was surprised by this question, but looked at the boy. "I hope I'm on good enough terms, otherwise I could understand their glances at me. And I helped you because I saw a group who could end this infernal age of living death, destruction, and misery. Most of all, I can't stand seeing a woman abused and not do anything about it."

Spike nodded, and went to eat his food and talk with the others. Dusk smiled again, and looked at Screw. It had been years since they'd seen a child's face, at least a friendly one, and it brought them a sliver of hope. If they survived, youths would be the future of Equestria, and it was important that Spike be alive to see that day.

Dusk rose, setting his bowl on the table. "If you will all excuse me, I need a smoke."

He ignored the patronizing sounds from Rarity, opened the door, and inhaled. Fresh air was a calming thing after fights, talks, eating and the like, so he lit up a smoke and looked towards Canterlot. If he was right, Chrysalis would be there, waiting for any survivors, and he would be expecting her. At the very least, he should expect traps of a most devilish kind.

Screw popped his head out of the door, and stood beside his friend. "Dusk? Have you ever wondered where we'd be if this hadn't happened? I know it's a stupid question, but... I can't help but ask it."

Dusk closed his eyes, breathing in the air, the smell of dust, flowers and death carried on its back. "I don't know. We probably would've stayed the same,except no infected or killing would be involved. I wish it could go back too, Screw, but it's just not happening. I wonder if Octavia could've offered any words of comfort right now."

Screw looked at the ground in thought. "She might just have done that. What now? We need to go to Canterlot without dying, and then we need to get back to Princess Celestia."

"We also need to inform her of the Griffon's defeat, if it hasn't happened already."

Screw nodded, and they looked towards the tall, broken city of Canterlot. It was a long way away, and there could still be dangers around, but for now, the two just smoked, enjoying the thought of possible victory. Once their cigarettes had died, they retreated inside, and Scew looked back over his shoulder. And he saw, startlingly, a shape of a bird in the sun's glare. And that bird, to him, symbolized freedom. Freedom from infections, misery, or war, and it gave him hope.

Author's Note

What will happen next? Find out next time, on The Wasted Land.

Sorry for taking so long, family and holiday business, you see. I'll work extra hard on the next few chapters to make up for it.

BTW, name of chapter inspired by Akira Yamoaka - Silent Scream