Light Up the Darkness

     Four years ago, there were seven billion ponies in the world. In less than five days, that number drastically dropped. A deadly virus killed 86% of those it infected, but I always thought of them as the lucky ones. For the ones it didn’t kill, turned into those monsters. However this fate didn’t befall me. I was one of the very few immunes. I often find myself wondering if this was a blessing, or a curse. I’ve done so much over these past years. I’ve become something else, something different. I first noticed it after I killed Dashie. The poor mare didn’t want to die, but I had no choice. It wasn’t her anymore. Just like how Pinkie Pie didn’t want to die, Rarity didn’t want to die, and Applejack didn’t want to die. I don’t want to die, and there is no way in hell I’m ending up like them; not tonight.

     “Twilight!” yelled Fluttershy, “Go get you guns and go upstairs! Now!” Twilight quickly turned, and did so, with Spike following close behind her. Fluttershy turned away from the window and darted into the living room. She had to get to the electrical panel. It was her only hope. The yellow Pegasus looked next to the gun cabinet and reached a hoof out to a metal box. Quickly, she opened it and began flicking switch after switch, illuminating the whole neighborhood. However, just as quickly as they were turned on, they were beginning to turn off. The infected ponies were shattering every one of them. “Damn it!” she yelled. The yellow furred mare then reached her hoof out to one last switch. She prayed that she’d never have to use it, but she didn’t have a choice. Without hesitation, she flicked the large, red, lever and ducked. There was a loud bang, then another, and another; each getting closer and closer. Flashes of light filled the room with each bang. On the last explosion, the whole house shook. It was surly the loudest. Fluttershy had an intense ringing in her ears, as she stood to her hooves.

     The pony walked over to the nearest window and peered through the small slit. There were dead ponies everywhere, fire covering many of the plants, and a bit of rock and dirt scattered by the blasts. The flames from the explosions illuminated the yard, but it wasn’t enough to keep the creatures at bay. For on the other side of the street, were hundreds more of the infected ponies gathering to resume their assault.

     Fluttershy turned to the gun cabinet and swung the doors open. She took two M-4s and strapped them over her shoulder. Then she took a G-36 and grasped it in her hooves. Just as she turned back to face the door, there was a loud scream, followed by several gun shots. It was Twilight. The mare had a fearful look on her face; she hoped for the best, but was assuming the worst. “No!” Spike yelled. Fluttershy then turned and darted up the stairs, but just as she did this several infected ponies broke the front door down with a single blow. They had ripped the door frame clean out of the wall. “Jesus!” screamed Fluttershy, before she turned and began firing into the group. One after another, the ponies would fall to the floor, but they were each soon replaced by another. All Fluttershy could do was slow them, not stop them. So the yellow furred Pegasus turned back to the top of the staircase and made a run for Twilight and Spike’s room. Each thud of her hoof seemed to echo in her mind. It seemed to let her know that she was still alive, but the thunder of the infected’s hooves seemed to be growing closer. She didn’t want to look back; she didn’t want to risk it.

     The yellow mare reached the top of the staircase and sharply turned in the direction of the room. She ran as fast as she could and shot into their room. Fluttershy instantly closed the door behind her and looked around. She saw a large book case next to the door and quickly pushed it in front of it. She prayed to god it would hold, and it seemed to. She could hear the infected beating against the door, but the shelf was too heavy. “Thank god I didn’t buy the cheap one,” she thought to herself.

     The pony then turned away from the door and began to examine her surroundings. There was glass all over the floor and a few pieces of splintered wood too. Her eyes slowly followed it to the source to see the metal that once covered the window bent; bent enough for something to fit through. Blood dripped from the glass in the windowsill, and a small patch of purple fur was caught on the metal. Then she saw it. On the floor was a long, fresh, streak of blood that led to the closet. With much bravery, Fluttershy trotted over to the door and slowly opened it. She had her finger on the trigger if she needed to use it. However this wasn’t the case. Inside the closet was Spike, who was holding Twilight in his arms. Her leg looked pretty bad. Blood was still dripping from the open flesh. She’d need a doctor. Spike just looked up at her with tears in his eyes, and his gun drawn, but quickly lowered it. He was scared for Twilight, he didn’t know what he’d do if he lost her. “Are you ok?” Fluttershy asked quietly. The tall dragon just nodded to her.

     Then suddenly, there was a loud screech and a purple furred pony jumped onto Fluttershy’s back. It instantly sank its teeth into her shoulder as it pulled her to the ground. Fluttershy screamed in pain, as she tried to get the infected pony off of her, but it was no use; she couldn’t reach it. After a moment, Spike finally got his bearings and fired one shot at the pony. It took out a chunk of flesh at the top of its spine instantly killing it.

     As the yellow Pegasus stood, she heard a noise. It was the sound of wood cracking, and the sound was coming from the wall. Fluttershy looked to Twilight and quickly moved next to her. “Twilight? We need you to do something.” The crunching of boards was beginning to grow louder and louder. Twilight, who was barely awake, looked up at her and asked “What is it?” “Teleport us out of here. That wall isn’t going to hold much longer.” The purple unicorn looked dazed, almost drunk. “Come on Twi. You have to,” encouraged Spike. “I-I’ll try,” she said in a weak voice. The unicorn’s horn glowed, but it almost instantly faded. Fluttershy quickly looked back to the wall to see a small hole beginning to form. “Come on Twi,” said a scared Fluttershy. Twilight looked up at Spike, as if it gave her strength to know she was saving him, and then she looked to Fluttershy and knew she had to do it. She wasn’t just saving herself; she was saving the ones she loved.

     The purple unicorn’s horn began to glow once more, but this time its light encompassed the entire room, and in a brilliant flash of light, they were gone. The infected ponies burst through the wall, seconds after they had left, to see an empty room.

     The three reappeared in a bright flash of light, just outside of Twilight’s truck. There were infected ponies everywhere. “Oh god!” screamed Fluttershy, as she raised her gun. When the Pegasus began shooting, Twilight began to feel light headed and quickly hit the ground. Spike instantly ran to her side and lifted the purple unicorn off of the ground. “Get her in the back seat! I’ll cover you!” shouted Fluttershy. The yellow furred mare was taking down infected after infected. Blood was covering the street. “Come on!” she yelled as she took down another two ponies “Come get me you basterds!”

     Spike laid Twilight in the back seat of the truck, and softly stroked her mane. “It’ll be ok,” he said with tears in his eyes. However his moment of reassurance with Twilight was short lived, for he knew they had to escape. So the tall dragon quickly closed the door and made his way to the driver’s side door. He opened it and jumped inside. “Let’s go!” called Spike, to an enraged Fluttershy. “Come on!” he called again. Fluttershy just continued firing into the horde, when suddenly a pony ran up behind her. Spike quickly grasped his gun and shot a round through its skull. Blood went flying across Fluttershy’s back, along with the M-4s she was still carrying. The warm liquid alerted her to what Spike was saying, for when it hit her she instantly snapped out of her daze. “Let’s go!” he yelled. Fluttershy quickly started running for the truck. The yellow furred Pegasus opened the passenger’s side door and slid into the vehicle. The infected pony’s blood smeared across the seats when she did so. Just as she was closing the door, a small white blur darted into the truck. It was Angel. Fluttershy couldn’t believe they’d almost left him behind. Spike on the other hand, didn’t waist anytime thinking. Once he saw that Fluttershy was inside, he slammed his foot down onto the gas pedal and sped off.

     The night was silent, the only noise was emanating from the truck’s engine as they drove. It was, yet another, pitch black night.

     After several minutes of driving, Spike felt compelled to tell Fluttershy something. “I’m sorry… That plan with the flares has always worked. I don’t-“ Fluttershy cut him off there and began “It’s ok Spike. You couldn’t have possibly known.” The tall dragon sighed and replied “I know, but I still feel responsible. I mean, now where are we supposed to go?” Fluttershy looked over to him and answered “We could try for the safety zone.”