The Trotting Dead 2 : Neon Nights

Ace’s tears had long since run dry, but still he stood in the weeping crowd, in as much pain as any of them. Hayseed Turnip Truck, Ol’ Salt, Promontory, and Mr. Breezy stood silent at his sides, their eyes glazed over. Ahead of them, Peachy, Flitter, Derpy, and Fluttershy took to the air to watch over the camp and cry apart from the rest of the group. Ginger, Hazel, Millie, Concerto, and Turf wailed close to the front of the group, with Dinky and Silver Spoon in their midst, solemn understanding in the fillies eyes.

It was Octavia, Vinyl, Candy Twirl, Rarity, and Apple Cobbler who stood solemnly directly before the crude crosses that would now represent the lost bodies of their Leader and their best Scavenger, having been unable to give them any better of a grave marker than this nowadays. Vinyl slid her sunglasses up once more to rest on her mane, revealing heavily bloodshot eyes and dark bags underneath them as Octavia and Rarity each rubbed away the last of their tears.

Turning around, Candy Twirl raised a hoof and pointed towards Shining Armor’s caravan, indicating that would be where they discussed the issues that so heavily permeated everypony’s thoughts simultaneously; who would lead them now?

***

Once Dinky and Silver Spoon had been sent off to play in Vinyl and Octavia’s tent, and everypony had regained some composure from the funeral, everypony gathered as a group of survivors dedicated to do just what they were named for.

“I know that everypony has had some thoughts of the new leadership in the Lakefront after Shining Armor’s… departure. We now hold an open meeting to move forward on this issue and choose a new Leader.” Candy Twirl called out to everypony, eliciting a few huffs and more sighs from the group.

Rarity trotted up next to Candy and removed her hood, showing run mascara across her face, a statement she had chosen for herself to show her grief from her salvaged makeup.

“Before he died in Fillydelphia, Shining Armor expressed his view that it should be Vinyl Scratch who carries us forward from here.” Rarity solemnly spoke, surveying everypony as she did.

“And does everypony think we should trust one of our newest members to lead? Not that Vinyl isn’t a strong Fighter or Scavenger, but it takes absolute strength and a focused mind to lead anypony these days, and I don’t think she’s settled into our lifestyle completely yet.” Mr. Breezy challenged everypony to side with or against him.

Vinyl herself trotted up now in response to Breezy’s statement, causing immediate silence as everypony waited to hear what she would say to this.

“Despite what Shining said, Breezy is right. I’m not ready to lead us yet. Not in every aspect at least. I’ll take leadership over Scavenging trips if you want me to, but I’m not going to lead day to day activities here. And I’m terrible at inventory and job distribution, so that’s another point against me.” Vinyl spoke her mind, easing her conscience a slight bit.

“We need a decisive leader. Even if we don’t like this sort of ponicratic Monarchy, we need someone who can represent us as a whole if we need that.” Lemon Hearts reared up on her back legs to be heard.

Apple Cobbler touched Vinyl’s haunches at this point, smiling at her as well, before trotting ahead of her, and pivoting to the group.

“I was Shining Armor’s protégé back in the Old Days. I can handle inventory and job rotation. But that’s about it.” Apple Cobbler swung her mane over her eyes as she sat back on her haunches, her part said.

Candy Twirl looked above the murmuring group, towards the skyline of Fillydelphia, her eyes narrowing slightly as she saw Shining Armor flash through her eyes yet again.

“I will lead our day to day activities. It was most of what I did before, and I know you all can trust me. And in time, we’ll have another true Leader. So let’s get to work.” Candy Twirl steadily told the group, who all saluted her for a moment before scattering towards their last assigned jobs and areas.

***

Vinyl tapped her hoof loudly against the wind chime Candy Twirl had put up outside her tent shortly after she retreated into her tent to organize everypony without distraction well over 2 months ago. Apple Cobbler nodded to her as she did, as she once again set about patrolling the camp in Shining Armor’s old chest plate as was her remembrance of him, a darker look in her eyes than any Trotter’s she saw.

Derpy stood at Vinyl’s left, her mane held up on top of her head with thread in a loose bun to keep it out of her muzzle, her wings nicely preened. Rarity to her right had cut off most of her mane last month after she was nearly bitten by a Trotter her mane had blocked her from seeing immediately. Her once flowing locks of indigo now naturally spiked in a pattern reminiscent of a crashing wave around Rarity’s stark white horn, her cloak ever more frayed around her form as she refused to remove it.

There was a pained groan from within as the left flap of Candy Twirl’s tent swung outwards to view her visitors. Candy Twirl now wore Rarity’s unused glasses at all times and the pink of her mane had been long ago faded out to be replaced with a shimmery gray. Upon looking up at the centre parted blue mane of Vinyl, she sighed again and waved her inside with haste.

“Are we here yet again Vinyl?” Candy Twirl exhaustedly teased as she sat back on her haunches against the wall of pillows that littered a nearby bench, or bed as Candy Twirl would tell you.

Rarity and Derpy bowed to Candy Twirl, then laid at either side of Vinyl as the unicorn mare removed her sunglasses, to show once more red and strained magenta eyes.

“We can’t avoid this any longer Candy. I’ve been fair to you and Cobbler as we agreed at Shining’s burial, but I am still the pony he wanted to take command of the camp, and that time has come.” Vinyl narrowed her eyes as disappointment creased Candy Twirl’s lips.

“You think I don’t remember what was said then? It’s all I think about now Vinyl. It’s what helps me and Cobbler keep us alive, something you seem eager to abandon. Have you already forgotten Turf and Peachy?” Candy saw Vinyl shiver as she mentioned the names of the last 2 lost comrades.

“I haven’t forgotten. Peachy saved Silver after all. That’s on me. I never should have let Silver come along. And Turf is especially my fault. I asked her to help me find Neon, and we lost her to that damn sand pit on the Rambling Ridge. But they believed in the same cause most of us here do; We need to leave the Lakefront and, eventually, we have to deal with Neon. We’re too exposed here Candy.” Vinyl dropped to her back knees and clasped her front hooves, now begging Candy.

As Candy massaged her temples, a few tears slid down her muzzle. As she re-opened her eyes, she sighed, a sad smile on her lips.

“Even Cobbler told me this yesterday. I always thought we’d leave here, back before we lost Shining. Ever since he hasn’t been at my side though… I guess I just wanted to pretend I could keep the Lakefront alive in his memory.” Candy whimpered as her tears began to flow too.

Just as Vinyl prepared to speak again, Candy launched herself to her hooves and the sound of heaving reached Vinyl’s ears a few seconds later. Staggering back, Candy seemed strangely happier as she wiped her vomit off onto her right front hoof.

“Are you okay Twirl? Have you been malnourishing yourself?” Derpy spoke up, worry heavier in her eyes than the others.

“I’m fine Derpy. Really fine. In any case, that’s not the issue at hoof. I made a promise to myself that when I admitted to Vinyl that the Lakefront was just a Memoriam sham that I’d hoof over my control to her. So… I’ll keep true to that promise.” Candy smiled at Vinyl, as a smile also lit up the younger mare’s face.

***

“So you won her over did you dear?” Octavia teased as she gently slid her scissors through Millie’s mane.

“It seems like it. I was ready to believe Candy would never concede. Plus, Cobbler told me yesterday I’ve got her vote too. Looks like this is really about to happen.” Vinyl called over from her place at what was commonly now called the Neon Round Table.

Maps, ripped photos, and roughly hewn sketches lay across nearly all the wood of the Table, with Vinyl situated at the head of the Table. Rarity, Hayseed, Derpy, and Flitter stood to her left, while Promontory, Ace, Lemon Hearts and a currently empty place for Millie adorned her right side, with Fluttershy opposite Vinyl, her mane teased through one of Shining Armor’s spare helmets to keep her eyes free.

“I still say the Foal Mountains aren’t any sort of option til we root out Neon and check them peak to base.” Promontory spoke up, gesturing to the mountain range on the map as he did.

“Hollow Shades’d be ur best bet, but Fluttershy his said she dun’t feel its safe fer anypony til Neon’s dead too.” Hayseed added, stomping his hoof at the last picture of Hollow Shades from well over 8 months ago.

“Well where else is there for us that’s not open like here, but not too close to Neon?” Lemon asked, thoroughly exhausted from continually trying to plan where to move their camp.

“Vinyl, Derpy, Flitter and I happened across a well hidden farm ahead of where the tracks divide between Baltimare and Fillydelphia on our way here. It wasn’t cared for at the time, and we didn’t have the numbers to defend it back then, but I’d say it’s our best bet for a new camp until we deal with all nearby threats.” Rarity quickly sketched what she remembered of the farm with coal onto a blank piece of parchment for everypony else to see.

“I remember it. Dinky and Silver would be well off there in the Farmhouse, and there’s plenty of vantage points for archers there and in the Silo too. Plus, with cultivatable ground and ponies like Derpy and Hayseed who know their stuff, we have no fear for food right away.” Flitter chimed in her agreement.

“I’m not seeing any better options, and another herd from Fillydelphia could blow through any day now. The last one was small and we still nearly lost Ace to that. We won’t be so lucky next time I suspect. No offense Ace.” Millie called over as she shook her new mane free from the Lakefront’s only barber, happy she could run without her mane bouncing over her eyes anymore.

“None taken Millie. If Breezy and Ginger hadn’t come by, I’d be scrap meat by now. I know it’s Vinyl’s call in the end, but I’m all for this.” Ace called out, now sporting a lumberjack’s beard rather than just his old handlebar, nodding to Vinyl as he finished.

“All in favor of Crease Farm as our moving point?” Vinyl called out, raising her own hoof as she did so.

Everypony present, including a tiny hoof under Derpy’s from Dinky, a “two” hoofed one from Octavia and Silver, and both hoofs from Promontory for him and Chip were counted, and it was unponimous as everypony stood and prepared to call the rest of the Lakeside to vote with them now that they had a location in mind.

***

“Argchk!” Ol’ Salt choked as he heaved off his saddlebags onto a nearby stump, his energy spent, and his hooves creaking like an old rocking chair.

Hayseed trotted over to help his senior, while Derpy and Flitter flew down from above, Dinky and Silver Spoon on their backs. Octavia galloped forward to kiss her daughter just as Flitter and Derpy embraced Dinky.

Ace slid his cart carefully off of his back as Rarity flipped back her hood to once more examine Crease Farm. As Promontory too dropped his cart to the ground and slid free from the harness, Ginger, Hazel, and Concerto began carefully unloading everypony’s supplies from both carts, before keelhauling them to the pony whom they belonged too, or close to the Farmhouse’s front door.

Millie, Mr. Breezy, and Lemon Hearts then took the unclaimed luggage into the Farmhouse just as Vinyl and Apple Cobbler exited the building, Candy Twirl just a few trots behind them, all of their manes coated in black blood, and Vinyl’s sunglasses in need of a polish.

“Five were inside. Two Crawlers, a Broken Wing, and two Broken Horns. I took Crawlers, Candy handled the Wing, and Cobbler smashed up the Horns great. Other than that, the place is still clear as last time we rolled through.” Vinyl called over to Octavia and Rarity as she wiped her lenses clean, both of whom were trotting towards her as she then shook some caked blood out of her mane and lowered her sunglasses once more.

“Derpy and Hazel are off investigating the soil and planting any seeds that’ll take right away. Hayseed and Promontory are off scouting the forest, and Ol’ Salt and Breezy elected to head to the base of Mt. Baltimare. Anything we missed, other than the ponies that we can see are unloading?” Rarity twitched her eyebrow knowingly at Vinyl, enticing a nervous smile from Vinyl.

“Silver and Dinky?” Vinyl looked to her wife for an answer.

“Ginger’s watching them while Flitter moves her equipment off to the barn. She says Flitter’s the only pony that would know what goes where aside from her.” Octavia grimaced as she put weight wrong on her back hoof, which had been sprained 2 weeks back after a rockslide by Rambling Rock Ridge.

Just as Vinyl prepared to offer her opinion on Flitter’s skill as well, the Pegasus in question flew over in alarm and landed hard enough to leave dirt skids, a look of fear on her face.

“Vinyl! We have a big problem with the Barn!” Flitter heaved, folding her wings to her side as she did.

“What is it? Trotter?! Is anypony bit?!?” Vinyl panicked as Flitter shook her head in denial.

“Could be worse than any of that. There’s somepony already in there.” Flitter almost whispered as Vinyl whipped her glasses off her head and galloped at full speed toward the barn, Rarity drawing her blade right behind her, and Derpy flying in behind them.

***

“Ragghugh!” A harnessed Trotter with a slowly dissolving back leg and an over swollen tongue growled at Flitter and Derpy as they stood a bit back from it, each grasping a spear and ready to use it.

“I would not worry about him you two. He can no longer even eat food. Much experimentation he did take. Anypony for cake?” Zecora piped up from stirring a nearby cauldron, into which she dropped a few peach shaded leaves a moment later, which sizzled away instantly.

“I can’t believe you’re still alive Zecora. How did you make it out of the Everfree Forest? Even Fluttershy’s animals didn’t make it out.” Rarity sat with her back legs crossed, a tea cup set in front of her for the inevitable drink Zecora would offer, parlay still a part of their exchanges.

“The answer is simple. At the beginning, I stayed within the Forest, to taunt them from within, much like a pimple.” Zecora called back as she ladled her concoction into a tea pot and brought it over to where Rarity sat, setting it lightly on the piece of roofing she had fashioned into a table.

“You mean you fought all the Trotters in the Forest on your own until you came here? Without anypony else?” Vinyl asked her hooves folded in deep thought as she studied Zecora.

Zecora had done away with all but her golden neck bands, and now wore what from afar appeared to be a thick silk scarf around her. Up close though, it was in actuality the spine of some foreign creature Zecora had fashioned into her own personal bandolier for various herbs, with the occasional tribal looking weapon, ending in a vary frayed tail that Zecora seemed fully able to direct away from knocking anything of hers over.

“That is very true Vinyl Scratch. It was only in the past 9 months that I made haste without heed for my past. The forest is still my first home, but had I stayed, it would also be the end to my tome.” Zecora took a long draw from her potion, seeming to relax instantly as the liquid passed her lips.

“And we’re the first ones to find you here? That I doubt very much.” Flitter asked aloud, at last moving away from the Racked Trotter, Derpy right after her, almost on her stifles it looked.

“No, you are the second to come round. A pony of much hate did pass, and it is with him I still do find myself most confound.” Zecora spat as she remembered the pony who also hid his eyes with glasses, though these had been mirrored pegasustiors.

“Wait. Him? You don’t think… I mean this place is a day east from the Lakefront. There’s a good chance-” Derpy began, only for Vinyl to gallop over and stare deep into Zecora’s eyes, immense longing for the answer she needed clear in her features.

“His name Zecora. Did he tell you it? Or did he make you an offer of any kind?” Vinyl demanded, shaking from horn to hoof as she waited.

“He was quite a sight, and did inspire much fright. His name he said was Neon of Lights. An offer he did make to join his camp, but he had less guidance than a dying lamp.” Zecora looked between each of the ponies as their expressions flitted between shock, happiness, and anger at her answer.