The Trotting Dead

RICK'S P.O.V

It's been about a week since we showed up in Ponyville. We've learned that there are other cities still intact throughout Equestria. They have a trade network via the trains. Food, medicine, ponies, you name it, they trade.

Well, only ponies who want to go, at least.

Me, Carl, and Michonne are settled in one of the abandoned neighborhoods along with the others. We get visits from some of the locals, questions, interviews.

I noticed one of our neighbors, Home Run. His daughter, Scootaloo always came out of the house in the morning with a fresh bruise or two.

"I think someone-- or... somepony should look into it." I suggested to Twilight.

"Yeah, I was thinking about that. I think it's best if you and Michonne look into it." Twilight suggested.

Twilight came up with a job for me and Michonne: Constables.

"I'll look into it. You have my word." I said.

"Good. I'd help, but I have to help get things set for the party tonight." Twilight said.

GLENN'S P.O.V

I was talking to one of the locals with Maggie.

"Wait, so what happened?" My wife asked the pony with the cowboy hat.

"We managed to take Chrysalis down, and Canterlot started repairs." The pony said.

"It seems like you've been through more than we have, Applejack." Maggie said.

"Now, that ain't true." A familiar voice said behind us.

"Come on, Beth, she has a point. We went through weak, simple-minded creeps, while they've taken down an entire army in half a day!" Maggie said to her centaur sister.

The centaurs still took me some getting-used-to. Equestria's population must be booming at this point with almost all of the human population now here as half horses.

"I have to admit, this world sure has it's stories." Hershel said.

"Amen." Shaun said from the back of the farm.

Shaun, Maggie's step-brother. Not that bad of a guy, actually.

SPIKE'S P.O.V

I was out hunting fabric and leather with Rarity, who seemed distant lately.

"If you're still angry at Twilight over the Boutique, I get it. Okay? I just... I think you need to let it go." I said.

"My parent's belongings were in there. Everything they had, gone because of a reckless tactic that did not need to be done." Rarity said.

"Rares, we would've died." I said, putting my claw on her shoulder.

Rarity didn't look at me or say anything until we found the spot, an old store with a few Trotters outside.

"What do we do?" I asked.

"I have an idea, see that tree?" Rarity asked, pointing her hoof at a lone tree.

"Yeah, why?" I asked.

"Can you burn it?" Rarity asked.

"Come on, that's a little too far, Twi--"

"I'm serious. Can. You. Burn it?" Rarity asked again.

I nodded.

"Go."

I took a breath and lit the tree. On que, the dead started shambling toward the tree. As soon as they were far enough from the door, Rarity galloped and I ran to the doors and entered. We were greeted by an empty building with no sign of materials anywhere.

"Celestia, DAMN IT!" Rarity screamed, trotting to the edges of the store, looking for any sign of supplies.

"Rarity, there's nothing here, let's just go." I said

"No, not until every inch of this place is searched..." Rarity muttered.

I noticed a side door and pointed it out. Rarity galloped and I had to leap out of the way as Rarity smashed the door down. I stayed outside the door, trying not to tempt Rarity all-the-more.

Then I heard a soft gasp.

"Rarity? You okay in there?" I called.

No response.

I took a breath and went inside to see Rarity glancing at what looked like a filthy sink, on the wall, the word HUSH scrapped into the walls about 6 times, I went closer to the sink, only to see a pair of filly-sized horseshoes sticking out.

I stepped back of the door, only to bump into something.

Or a Trotter.

I didn't hesitate, I pulled my knife and stabbed it in the eye. Rarity was right behind me and she quickly held me in an embrace.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have been so desperate..." Rarity started.

"What do you mean, babe?" I asked.

"I promised you that I would never want you out here again. I broke that... and now..." Rarity started choking her sobs back.

We stayed there for a few minutes before I tapped her back.

"Let's go, Rares." I said as I kissed her cheek.

CARL'S P.O.V

"You remember how to do this?" Hershel asked me.

"Yeah." I said as I was closing in on Sweet Apple Acres with Hershel and Beth.

"You know, when we first came here, we had no idea what had happened. We thought this was heaven, but then... we saw Applejack roaming around, and she brought us to Ponyville. I don't know how we wound up here, but here we are." Hershel said.

"Yeah, Eugene was wonderin' that, too. Said that it's odd that this is the afterlife." Beth said.

"Yeah, it's... weird. You know? What happens to people who die here, what happens to the ponies here?"

That was a sentence I never thought I'd say.

As we were about to go on the walkway, a local looked at me with an overreaction of wonder.

"Ignore 'em, they're just curious." Hershel said.

"Yeah, us too." I said as I waved to the pony.

By the time we made it down, the sun was about tree-level. We were near the farm when Applejack saw us and trotted toward us. She then stepped near me.

"You can sleep in one of the cabins we put together. This is Ponyville's only farm, now. We don't just produce apples-- there's soy, sorghum, and grain, just to name a few. That and the live stock add up to quite a food producion rate." She said.

"Sure, thanks." I said.

"Don't mention it. Hope you and your group like it here." Applejack said.

I hesitated.

"I think we're starting to."