Death to Life

I wake up with a loud gasp. I had a terrible nightmare. I was back in Miami, surrounded by walkers. It felt so real... I never want to return to that hellish place. I try to sit up, but my arm is pinned down by something... furry. I slowly look to my left to see a still sleeping Rainbow Dash, breathing softly. Memories of the past day come back to me and I remember my new relationship with her. Sweat drips down my face and hands are shaking. I slowly pull my arm out from under Rainbow, who mumbles in her sleep.

I slowly make my way outside, only to get hit by a blast of cold winter night air. I make my way to the back of the barn where I find a tall ladder leading to the roof. I climb the ladder and make my way to the front of the roof. I sit down on the edge, holding on to a piece of wood jutting up from the top. I give out a sigh as I look up at the night sky. I think of the world that I once knew, all the good memories had made there, all the friends I knew, ...my family... Tears slowly form in my eyes as I think of my home being destroyed by those damned walkers. What really created them? Why did they have to come during my lifetime?

"Josh?" A southern voice comes from behind me. I turn around to see a tired Applejack with bedhead.

"Applejack? How'd you find me?" I ask, trying to push back the tears.

"Ah was just gettin' some water when I saw you through the window. Are you okay?" She asks as she approaches me and sits on the other side of the piece of wood.

"I... was just thinking of my home. I think I miss it... y'know, before shit hit the fan."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"I... just wish the whole end of the world thing had never happened... So many innocent people died. My friends... my family... It was terrible Applejack. Families were torn apart... some were actually literally torn apart by those damn walkers. I just... I'm so glad that Twilight accidently brought me here."

"Ah... Sugarcube, ya'll don't need to worry 'bout that any more. What matters is that you and Amber found your way here where it's safe."

"Yeah... I guess. I just hope I never have to go back. My life has really changed here. Amber is happier than I've ever seen here, and... I think I finally found love." I wrap and arm around Applejack and mess with her mane. "Thanks for being a good... friend." I say with a small smile. That makes my third new friend here.

"Aw shucks, it ain't nuthin." Applejack says as she carefully stands up. "Now ya'll get back to sleep. Don't want Rainbow thinking you left her alone."

With that, Applejack and I slowly make our way back down the ladder. Before I enter the barn, I give Applejack a friendly smile and a nod. I enter into the warm barn, relieved to be out of the cold, yet refreshing night air. I fall back to sleep next to Rainbow, who thankfully didn't wake up. This time, I don't wake up to a nightmare.

I wake up to Rainbow shifting her weight against me. This time when I open my eyes, I see small beams of light coming in through the roof. I open the top for the barn door and lean on the bottom half. Cold, refreshing air hits me and helps my senses awaken. Today is Christmas day, and I plan to spend it with my newly acquired girlfriend and my other friends.

Rainbow moans as she wake up, moving her legs around trying to find me.

"Ungh... Josh?" She mumbles as she rubs her eyes with a hoof. "Close the door... it's cold..." She says in a pitiful tone. She pulls a pile of hay over herself.

"Nah, It feels great today. I think I'm getting used to the cold." I say as I slip on my shoes. "I'll meet you in the house."

"House... what? Wait where are we?" She says as she sits up suddenly.

"Haha, relax, we're at Sweet Apple Acres. I think I smell breakfast. Hurry up and come join us." I say as I exit the barn.

I slowly open the front door to see Applejack at the oven making what looks like scrambled eggs. I sit down at the table and rest my head on my arms. I almost fall back to sleep when Applejack sits down next to me.

"Ya'll alright now? Still homesick?"

"Nah... I'm fine now. I do kinda miss the earth I knew before the apocalypse though."

A small mass lands in my lap while I'm not looking, and nearly gives me a mini heart attack. In my lap is Applebloom, giving me an excited smile.

"Josh! I'm so happy for you!" She yells.

"Um... for what?

"For getting together with Rainbow Dash!"

"You told her!?" I yell at Applejack who gives me a smug little smile.

"She dragged it outta me." AJ says with a shrug.

Rainbow enters with a stumble. She's obviously still pretty tired. She sits on the other side of me and leans her head against my shoulder. She gives out a relieved sigh and closes her eyes.

"Awww ain't that cute." Applejack says with a giggle. In response, I take her hat and put it on my head. "Hey! that's mah hat! Give it!" AJ reaches up to try to grab her hat back.

"Nope not until I decide you're forgiven!" I say with a chuckle as I pull my head away from her hoof.

Eventually, The entire Apple family is gathered around the table, as well as Amber, Rainbow, and myself. Applejack's granny compliments me on getting together with Rainbow, who just blushes and tries to hide behind her mane. Amber is hesitant to accept the fact that I'm going out with Rainbow. I was able to convince her that she wasn't just some mindless animal. Thankfully, Amber now respects my decision, and is even happy about it!

Once we finish eating, Rainbow and I head out to walk around town and look at all the different decorations. I decide to start up a conversation to pass the time until we get into town.

"So... you seem a lot happier today than you have been in a long time."

"Well yeah, I finally got the one thing I've wanted for the past two months!" She says as she pushes up against my legs.

"Yeah, I just hope that everyone else will accept us. I don't want them to think that it's weird that we're together, and I just know that if Pinkie finds out, the whole town will know in a matter of minutes."

"Hah yeah. Don't want anyone to think I've gone all soft on them."

"Oh yeah. When you're around me, you look soft as a marshmallow. I'm the toughest guy in town!" I say, trying to mess with her ego.

"Oh, I am SO much tougher than you!"

"Yeah? did you survive for six months after the end of the world? Hell, I doubt you would survive highschool!"

"What's highschool?"

"Seriously? You guys don't have highschool here? How do you learn anything then?"

"We usually just learn the basics when we're fillies. Then we study whatever our cutie marks tell us our destiny is."

When I first got here, I asked Twilight what the weird tattoos on everyone's butts were. Yes, I actually called them butt tattoos, and I still do. Anyway, she explained that when a pony discovers their true talent in life, they get a small mark that symbolizes said talent. Rainbow has a cloud with a red, yellow, and blue lightning bolt that I guess represents her love for speed.

"I guess that just means that I'm smarter than you." I say with a smirk.

"You are not!"

"Oh yeah? What's the square root of 144?"

"Uh... twenty?"

"My point exactly" I say as I nudge her with my foot. "It's twelve by the way."

"Oh... I knew that!"

"Sure you did. I bet you-" I'm cut off when we approach the center of town. There are a tons of ponies gathered around what looks like a machine meant to dig up large amounts of dirt. "What the hell is going on?"

I see Twilight near the front of crowd. I run up to her, only to see a decent sized whole with a white object on the bottom.

"Twilight... what the hell is this?" I say pointing at the hole.

"We don't know! We were trying to set up a really big tree in the center of town, but when we dug the hole, we hit something metal. It kinda looks like a sign." Twilight explains.

"Let me see this." I say as I slide down the edge of the steep hole, It's about seven feet deep. When I reach the bottom, I see a small bit of white sticking out of the dirt. The hole is only about four feet wide, so I don't have much room the pull the object out. I grab the object and pull. What I pull out surprises me. Attached to the rusty, square white plate, is a long metal pole, about five feet tall, I stand the pole up and turn it around to get a better look at the white plate.

"What is it!?" Twilight yells from the top of the hole.

But I don't respond. I can't after reading what's on the what I now realize is a sign.

On the sign are words that make my heart stop, and my stomach jump into my throat. I've seen alot of shocking shit since arriving here, but this definitely takes the cake.

My heartbeat is so rapid, I can feel it beating against my ribs. I re-read the sign over and over again.

The sign reads, "Speed Limit: 45 Miami, Florida"