The Crystal Plague (A.K.A. The Residual Journals)

by RainerBlitz12

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Original Character, Adventure
Length: 2150

A maligniant strain of flu has overtaken Equestria. But Rainer doesn't know that until too late. What seems like a normal (albeit a little too quiet) day quickly turns into his worst nightmare, he has to do all he can to survive.

It is the year 2117. Almost two whole decades since the Crystal Empire suddenly decided to wake up and catch up with the rest of Equestria, and a malignant flu has caused everything to abruptly ground to a halt. The illness is spreading quickly, and there's nothing anypony can do to stop it.
After what seems a regular (albeit a strangely quiet) day turns into his worst nightmare, Rainer must do what he can to survive as the land of Equestria falls into anarchy and insanity...

NOTICE:
As of right now, certain incidents have halted the progress of these journals from being posted. We, as in Pegasi Inc, will resolve these problems as soon as possible. But until then, I will change the status of the journals to "Hiatus" until further notice. I personally apologize for the things that have been going on as of late.
Best,
Daniel Blue
Head Writer
Pegasi, Inc. Literary Division

Published 2015-08-11 22:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-10-31 22:54:42 UTC

ReadMeFirst.txt - Prologue

[Timestamp Undisclosed]

Let me tell you a little story.

A certain legend about the Crystal Empire tells of a dark stallion known as Sombra; a stallion whose specialty was crystal, and himself made up of nothing except of the pure evil that consumed his thoughts. It goes on to tell about how he rose up against Princess Cadence, and then knocking her off her throne when her beloved Shining Armor wasn't looking. He had taken the former princess' position as ruler of the Empire, and for a while it seemed that all was lost. With the royal couple put away and the whole of what used to be their realm in chains, thanks to a ruthless dictator in power, it didn't look like the Crystal Empire could ever be saved.

But then the Mane Six, sent by Her Highness Princess Celestia herself, arrived to give the Dark Lord a beating. They would not lose. How could they? It was the perfect assassination plan: Make their way in undetected, make their appearance in front of Sombra himself without causing much of a fuss, and then silently kill the guy so he would never see daylight again.
They pulled it off; the evil king had taken his last dirtnap. Or so it seemed.
Personally, I think this a bunch of bullcrap. I mean, this is way too perfect. It’s cliche; an overused coverup. It looks like something to hide the real truth...but what is it? What if King Sombra was never killed? What if he’s still alive, but he’s in hiding, plotting his next strike on the Empire, or even all of Equestria?

What happens if he comes back?

Of course, nopony really remembers (or even cared, for that matter) about what happened almost two decades ago, which is around the time when the defeat of Sombra was supposed to occur. All everypony cared about was that after that time, the Crystal Empire suddenly woke up after being dormant for many years, and (somehow) quickly became Equestria’s leader in innovation, leading the way to Equestria’s future. Of course nopony would remember about what happened before that, except only as a little filly’s bedtime story. Of course nopony would remember what Sombra could be capable of, such as landing Equestria in an epidemic that would wipe out almost (if not all) of it’s population. No. Pony. Remembers.

So, what would happen if Sombra came back?

Well, to make a long story short, we’re screwed. Screwed in the head.

Author's Note

Attention Viewers:
"ReadMeFirst.txt" was supposedly the last audio journal entry to be recorded with this mobile journal, but was moved to the beginning of the collection for some unknown reason. This audio file, along with the proceeding audio files have been preserved in their original order and format as tribute to one of the last ponies ever to survive the Crystal Plague epidemic, the worst one ever to befall the land of Equestria, and have also been converted into text format for the convenience of those who have requested the text-only version of the journals.

Text-Only files courtesy of Pegasi Inc.

JournalOne.txt - MO 10/26/2117 10:25:15 PM

MO 10/26/2117 10:25:15 PM

I dunno if it’s just me, but Cloudsdale seemed awfully quiet this morning. There wasn’t much of the usual hustle and bustle you’d expect living up here in Cloudsdale. Not that it was always like this; when I was a little colt, my mom told me Cloudsdale used to be a much smaller town, though back then it was still in charge of the weather within the Canterlot/Ponyville sector of Equestria. It was only until when she, along with a bunch of other pegasi, convinced Spitfire, the head of the Wonderbolts (that was their name a long time ago; now they’re better known as the Equestrian Air Force, but you could still call them by their old name. It wouldn’t matter, anyway) to move the Headquarters closer to Cloudsdale when everypony started flooding in to live in the same city as the ‘Bolts. And then Princess Twilight Sparkle called her over to that shiny treehouse of hers and I haven’t seen her since.

But I’m getting a little off-topic. Anyway, after I got to the Wonderbolts’ Academy (or the EQAF Academy, take your pick) and the morning head count, the instructor announced (rather tiredly) that two more recruits had called in sick, and would not be here until next week or so. She then went on to ramble about a few other things, and our assignments for the day. Wow, I thought. I don’t know what’s going on, but ponies have been dropping off like flies ever since last week! I chuckled in my head. Was the instructor too harsh on them or something, is that why they wanna drop out?

The instructor was done rambling about whatever, and dismissed us to do our “chores”, as I called them. A light blue stallion with a darker blue mane caught up to me and murmured to me, like he was passing along some forbidden secret to me. “Do you think it’s the Crystal Craze?”

“ ‘The Crystal Craze?’ ”, I asked. “What the hay is that?”

“What, are you living under a rock, Rainer?”, He hissed. “It was all over the news for the past couple weeks. How do you miss that?”

“Well, why would you expect me to know that kind of stuff, Rumble!”, I shot back. “You know I don’t watch the news!”

There was a brief moment between us for a moment before Rumble had his final word.

“Well,” He said. “You should. You need to know what’s going on, dude.” He started to walk off to do his own thing. I opened my mouth to call out a “See you later, man!”, but then I caught him being confronted by the instructor, who looked really, really ticked off for some reason; something nopony ever sees...unless that pony is never setting hoof back in the Academy again. Since Rumble was my best friend (and also happens to be my neighbor), I had to get a little closer, but not enough to be noticed, to see what he’s in for.

But I know he shouldn’t be in for anything. Rumble’s a star student! A guy at the top of his class! What could he have done to get the instructor this mad?

“You!”, The instructor fumed. She gets to a point where she’s literally breathing in Rumble’s face. “What do you know about the upcoming Changeling invasion?”

Whoa. I know Changelings are something to be worried about, but those things are extinct! The Mane Six wiped them out a while back. It’s hard to see them coming back again.

Meanwhile, Rumble has cowered back in absolute fear of the mare. “I...I don’t know anything about that, ma’am, sir,” He says quietly.
The instructor is silent. Then her face falls and she sniffles. She’s suddenly on the verge of tears when she blurts, “What? Oh my Celestia, I am so sorry! I know I’m feeling funny, it’s just that I’m - ” She collapses and abruptly breaks into a fit of coughing. She starts retching. Rumble, who’s more horrified than disgusted, backs off, and murmurs, “I think I better go now…” before running off.

Meanwhile, the instructor starts vomiting this black...stuff all over the floor where my best friend was just a minute ago.

I decide it’s also time for me to leave. Something is seriously wrong with that mare.
The rest of the day went on as normal, thankfully. I got home safe and sound (though the flight home was also very disturbingly quiet), and right now, I’m chilling at home, watching a bit of TV before I go off to bed. Hmm, y’know, maybe I should watch the news for once, and find out what’s going on…

[Journal Saved. MO 10/26/2117 11:45:28 PM]

JournalThree.txt - TU 10/27/2117 12:01:55 PM

TU 10/27/2117 12:01:55 PM

That’s it. I can’t be here.

From what I’ve heard on EQNN, the news channel, Cloudsdale just got put on the infected cities list. That...that confirms Rumble has the Plague, right? Well, anyway, I’m out. I don’t wanna get sick.

I’m packing the last of my stuff now; I’m gonna upload the telecast I’ve been watching on this entry, so I know what to look out for...or so I can tell if I have the Craze myself. Not a pretty thought.

[Journal Saved. TU 10/26/2117 12:25:38 AM]
[Downloading Telecast from PVIS-1147...100%]

[Telecast start time: MO 11/26/2117 11:00:00 PM]

“This is Ink Blot, reporting from EQNN. We have just gotten word that 3 more cities have been placed on the infected cities watchlist, and also informed us to tell you the symptoms to look out for, so to prevent you or your loved ones from falling ill with the Crystal Plague.

Infected Cities Watchlist:

Canterbury

Fillydelphia

Haliflanks

Trottingham

And this just in:

Detrot

Manehattan

Cloudsdale

The Crystal Plague originates from the Crystal Empire, and starts out with flu-like symptoms, but laters progresses to more severe signs such as schizophrenia, migraines, and vomiting blood. The disease is considered to be highly contagious; do not approach those who appear or are sick with this strain of flu. There is currently no known cure for this disease. Celestia has closed Equestrian borders, and several cities have even quarantined themselves off in an effort to limit the spread of the Plague, but it seems that new cities are being infected every week. We can only pray that somepony will save us all and this will all be over soon.

This is Ink Blot with EQNN, signing off.”

[Telecast end time: MO 10/26/2117 11:30:00 PM]

TU 10/27/2117 1:05:23 AM

All right, about time this thing was done downloading! I need to get out of here NOW before my situation gets worse, and Cloudsdale might get full of sick, and possibly crazy, ponies.

I’m a little sleepy, but I think I can take a flight to Canterlot, cause according to the newscast, that place hasn’t been infected yet. I know a friend of mine who lives there, Lyra Heartstrings, can let me stay for a while, and help me get myself together. If I don’t fall asleep on the way there.

That said, I’d better get going. See you tomorrow.

[Journal Saved. TU 10/27/2117 1:17:01 PM]

Author's Note

The cities mentioned in this audio file [Converted to text in this format] are from the Equestrian Map image the Deviant Kampzvono's "A Map of Equestria", which you can view by clicking here.

JournalTwo.txt - MO 10/26/2117 11:07:34 PM

MO 10/26/2117 11:07:34 PM

I’m starting to regret a little about what I did earlier tonight. I can’t believe what I’m seeing right now.

Apparently, pretty much half of Equestria had been taken over by this flu, which I realized was what Rumble was talking about earlier today. The Crystal Craze.

Ponies are rioting all over the place. They’re angry because the hospitals are overwhelmed and can take them in, and the bodies of the dead litter the streets. What’s worse, the newsmare said there wasn’t any known cure to this weird strain of flu, and strongly advised against being near those who are infected, as the Equestrian Department of Health believed it was a lot more contagious than your average cold. Ugh.
Not something you’d wanna hear everyday. Or want to hear, really.
The phone is ringing; this journal has got to wait. Be right back.

[Journal Saved. MO 10/26/2117 11:15:04 PM]

MO 10/26/2117 11:24:06 PM

Um...this is new. Rumble said he wasn't going to be at the Academy tomorrow; he thinks he’s caught the flu.

Since I had watched the (rather depressing) newscast, I had to ask, “Do you think it’s the Crystal Craze?”

Rumble sniffled. “What? Naw, bro,” He assured me. “I’m pretty sure this is a garden-variety flu. I mean, Cloudsdale isn’t on the infected cities list, so what are the chances I would be sick with that?” He laughs nervously.

I didn’t say anything. But I know for sure he was just fine this morning, I thought.

“Anyway,” Rumble continues, voice strained. “I gotta go. My head is killing me right now...and I suddenly feel like puking. Bye!”

But he doesn’t hang up. I heard the phone drop, and then hoofsteps that trail off some distance before retching noises are heard.

I had hung up by then. I had a bad feeling that my neighbor isn’t really sick with some “garden-variety” flu, but rather something more...sinister.

I’ve decided to keep staring at the TV, which is still on the news channel, until the dreadful feeling goes away.

There’s a strong hunch that tells me something big is going to happen, and when it does, I’m gonna have to be somewhere else. Somewhere far away.

[Journal Saved. MO 10/26/2117 11:43:21 PM]