Twilight breathed in as she knelt on top of the carriage and scouted out her route. There were fifteen of the beastly men roaming through the square, and that did not count the one she had shoved her cane through. It was the first kill she had made of this life, and was still confused from waking up near Gilbert. He had claimed that other hunters had spawned there too, but she still didn’t know why.

She glanced back down, pulling out her own pistol as she looked at the dead man. He had shot her the life before with the rifle in his hands, but when she had considered taking the gun, she had somehow known it would be weaker. That did not stop her from taking its three bullets and putting it into her own gun. Maybe once I have more ammo, I’ll find a place to practice this, because right now I’m scared to even try my instincts on it.

The leather holster made only the slightest of sounds as Twilight put the gun back, and jumped off the carriage. She had her route, and if all went well, she wouldn’t need to fight any of these men. With a small bend of her knees, she was ready.

She came to the square, running at a dead sprint. The two men she had watched earlier were coming back towards the alley, and one rose its torch as it yelled, notifying the others. She had noticed before though that they were slow, and that whatever disease had crawled into their brain made them give up chase after a certain stretch of road usually. All I have to do is get past this square, and I bet I’m home free.

A quick side step got her past the one with a pitchfork, though it was close. She swallowed hard, looking into the man’s wild eyes. His clothes were a mess, and she honestly felt bad for them. They looked like some sort of disease had befallen them, and a tightness in her chest grew as she wondered if it were perhaps the same as the one that got Gilbert. But if that’s the case, and there are so many, than-

Bang!

Twilight glanced up to the rifleman on top of the carriage, and froze as she saw the small, metal ball that was coming for her. Her horn glowed as every tendon of her body screamed at her to move. Instead of just watching the hunter before her though, she moved with him, and tumbled to the side. Her heart was beating in her chest, but she could see the bullet smash into the ground. “Ha!”

And that’s when the dog came around the carriage, and lunged for her thigh. Her eyes widened as things seemed to slow, but it was too late, and she was by no means prepared to do the roll again. Her eyes shut as the dog’s jaw clamped over her thigh, and blood poured out of the room. It almost immediately let go though, and while it hurt like a knife going through the chest, Twilight forced herself not to blackout. This world wanted her dead, so she would need to get used to being hurt.

She jumped back, spinning herself around so she could dive into another roll. Even those hurt though, as the cloak Twilight wore was not enough to soften slamming her shoulder into the rough stairs. At the top, one of the men with a cutlass was waiting for her, and she slammed a foot down, before whipping the cane forwards, and cutting through the infected’s chest. He only stepped back, but it was enough to give Twilight room, and she quickly dove out of the way of two, simultaneous cracks of rifles.

Once back on her feet, she could feel tears streaming down her face as she stood, and looked to the last two in her way. The rifleman was reloading his gun, while the other was like the rest, weapon raised and charging at her. She balled her free hand, and ran. Around the first, and than just running more, and more. She had to get out of there, because there simply was too many.

Her sprint ended when she hit a metal fence, and was flung over it by sheer momentum. The cobblestone was hard on her back, and she grit her teeth. She could feel where every stone dug into her, but it wasn’t quite enough. Her back was intact, she was still breathing, even with how labored, and she really hoped that she would never have to get back through that damned gauntlet again. “Knowing my luck here though, I bet I will.”

She limped for the next set of stairs. Sure, she could bother the knocking giant, but even she could recognize that as a danger. Instead, she simply kept going up, hoping that this was the way to go. She was only halfway up though when her ear twitched, and Twilight heard a soft, simple melody. A look over left her exposed though, and she soon heard the excited running of a dog.

She gripped her cane with both hands, the leather protecting her from the razor edge, and scowled as she thrust. It’s momentum didn’t help its chance for survival as Twilight impaled it to the ground, the mare panting as she stared at it. It looked like a dog, maybe, but still malformed, just like the men. “Is this how far reaching this plague is?”

Twilight didn’t know though, and doubted she would get an answer anytime soon. “Not unless I find this healing church place at least.” A chill ran up her spine as she considered that. What if the church was gone? What if killing these beasts was exposing her to a sickness that she herself would succumb to? “All the better reason to move quickly than, and find the thing that possesses the princess.”

Still, there was the pretty music, and with how much Twilight was hurting at this point, what with her whole body feeling like one large bruise, and her leg having been ripped open, she thought it might be nice to go rest.

When she followed the sound though, she found a gate, locked by a mechanism she could see on the other side. Twilight blinked. She was tired. Not physically, not entirely at least, but mentally she was already done with this place. In what had to be about an hour of consciousness, she had been killed multiple times, killed another person, and now was possibly dying.

A gate was not going to stop her from the pretty music.

Fire split through Twilight’s mind as she reached out towards the lever with her magic. It felt like she was trying to lift several Ursa Majors, instead of one rusted lever, and she could see spots filling her vision. If this killed her though, she was fine with that. At least she would feel like she was trying to be productive while it happened, and that the agony she was in was worth something. I only hope that at some point during all of this, I may find rest.

As a tear fell down her face, and thoughts of home crossed her mind, the lever finally moved, and came towards her. She blinked as she almost fell back from the magic suddenly stopping, and watched as the gate opened. Twilight then lifted a hand, and put it to the side of her horn with a smile. “It’s good to know you’re still working, old friend.”

“Mother, is that you?”

Twilight paused. This voice had sounded like a young girl’s, but she also sounded scared, desperate, but hopeful to know that her mom may be home. Looking back at the square, and the dead dog, the purple mare doubted it. Still, she should at least identify herself to the little one. “I’m sorry, but my name is Twilight Sparkle, and I have no children.”

“Oh.” This time, Twilight knew exactly where the voice came from, and walked to the window to hear more. “Well, if you’re like daddy, and hunting tonight, do you think you could go look for her? She left a long time ago for daddy, and I’m beginning to get scared.”

Twilight’s breath caught as the mention of another hunter. Was she not the only one? Or did her dad just call himself one? If that were the case, it was all too likely that he succumbed to her own folly, and had died at the hand of a neighbor’s hand. She wasn’t about to tell a little girl that though. “Um, sure. I don’t know what she looks like though.”

“She wears a beautiful red brooch, one that shines as bright as any of her candles. Other than that… well, she has nice brown hair, and, um…”

A smile split Twilight’s muzzle as she heard her whimper, more out of the fact that something cute could still be here. “The brooch should be enough for me to find her. I only hope your father is there as well, so you all can be safe together in there.”

“I hope so too, though daddy likes going out to hunt the beasts, especially with Grandpa Henryk. Oh, but when you do find him, please, use this.” Small, dainty hands reached through the bars, and within them, a small music box that must have been playing the song Twilight had heard before. “It helps daddy remember who we are, but mommy forgot it. That was silly of her, but maybe it will help you talk to him if you find him.”

Twilight slipped the box into her pocket, not even noticing as it seemingly vanished into the much smaller container. She then reached out, and tentatively squeezed the girl’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll find them, I promise.”

“Thank you. I know they’ll be safe with a unicorn looking after them.”

A tear fell down Twilight’s face as she pulled her hand, and began walking away. Finally, something she could do to make someone’s life better here. It was a welcome change, but she also knew she had to move quick. This should help me move past the pain though, which is a plus.

She then opened her eyes to the sound of wings flapping, and a crow’s beak aimed straight for her face.

Author's Note

This one I'll be more patient on, but I wanted to show off my renewed vigor. Anyways, this time, the choices are more clear cut with: Go for the bridge, or go for the sewers by the little girl?

Also, this is not victory for Twilight, purely because she became bird food.