Author's Note

Whoa, before you flip out that this is actually a thing again, let me explain.

No, I'm not going to upload on a regular basis for this like my other stories. I'm only rebooting this because sometimes I get bored of writing for the same story every day. So expect updates on this only on occasion. Heck, it could be another three months before I do another chapter.

We'll just have to see where it goes from here.

Incoming

"Oh my God, this feels amazing." I whisper to myself as the warm water flows over my body, washing away all of the muck and grime that had collected on my skin from that hellish battle. I couldn't be more thankful that it was all over, that I may never have to see another walker ever again.

Amber was pretty shaken up from it from what I could see, though I have yet to talk to her about it. Rainbow was definitely the one who took it the worst out of all of us. She wouldn't stop crying once we reached our room, saying that she thought I was going to shoot her and yadda yadda yadda. I had to explain to her that I had no intentions to shoot her, and was even willing to give myself up to make sure that didn't happen. Of course, I'd do that for any of my friends, but Rainbow was special to me, so I that just made it all that much easier to make my choice.

Rainbow is somewhere in our room while I shower, probably waiting to come in here. I offered to let her go first, but she said I could go. Not that I was complaining of course, but I was more than willing to let her get cleaned up first. She did offer to go in with me, but I declined. I don't think we're THAT close yet.

"Josh, you okay in there? Didn't drown did ya?" I hear from outside of the door. It is a miracle that I even heard her over the sound of the rushing water.

"I'm good! Better than ever actually!" I say as a smile creeps across my face. My mind starts to compare my situation now with my life back in Miami with the walkers. I gotta say, this is heaven to me compared to that hell. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if I had actually died in Miami and this was actually just heaven in disguise. Either way, I was extremely lucky to be here.

"Can I wash up now? I can't stand feeling all dirty like this. Especially with all the... ugh, blood." She says, her voice gagging near the end of her statement.

"Ugh, fine..." I say as I shut off the water, not really wanting to get out just yet. I step out of the shower, which is just barely big enough for me to stand in, and wrap myself in a towel. I use a second towel to dry off my hair, then proceed to slip on my clothes which are still filthy, but don't stick to me like they did before.

"I'm coming out now." I say as I drop the towels and open the door. I'm greeted by a blue face just inches from mine, and a gentle breeze created by two small wings. "Um, hey?"

"Well look better." Rainbow says with a smirk on her face.

"And you look horrible." I retort as I can her body which is covered in mud, blood, and God knows what else. It doesn't help that she smells like complete and utter shit.

"Gee thanks, you really know how to charm a mare." She says as she rolls her eyes. "Now, you gonna let me in or not?"

"Right, go on in then, you REALLY need a shower!" I receive a hoof to the shoulder from that one, though it was expected. I end up running back over towards the bed to escape her wrath. I laugh the entire way there. Rainbow just rolls her eyes and I catch a faint smile on her face before she disappears into the bathroom, the door closing behind her.

Well that couldn't have gone any better. I lay down on the bed, trying to get comfortable while I wait for Rainbow, though it is impossible with these clothes. I gotta get some new ones when we get back to Ponyville, or I may just go insane.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

Someone starts rapidly knocking on the door like they're about to knock it down if I don't open it this second. I groan as I try to sit up, my tried muscles screaming in protest. Eventually I find the strength to sit up, cracking my back in the process. I start to shuffle over to the door, getting somewhat annoyed that knocking has yet to stop. Seriously, if it's that important, couldn't they just call for me or something instead of, well, this.

"I'm coming! Hold up for a second, sheesh." I yell at the door. The knocking stops, and is replaced by the sound of hooves lightly stomping around outside. I finally reach the door, and place my hand on the handle, thinking about what could be so urgent as to drive someone to knock like that. I open the door to reveal Twilight, Amber, and the others, all with somewhat panicked looks on their faces. "Um, hey? What do you guys need?"

Twilight and the others just barge into the room, not even bothering to say hi. Rude.

"You haven't heard about it yet!?" Twilight says, panic and worry filling her voice as I close the door.

"Heard about what? Is there some big event or something coming up?"

"No! Look out the window Josh!" She yells as she points to the balcony. I eye the doors that lead to the balcony, giving Twilight a confused look. This only causes her to give me an annoyed look as she starts to drag me over to the balcony, literally. Her magic grasps my shirt and starts pulling me in the direction of the double doors.

"Remember how we discovered that those creatures were attracted to you and Amber?" Twilight asks as she looks up at me, the only sound present being the hum of her magic and the water from Rainbow's shower.

"Um, yeah? What about it?"

"Take a look!" She yells as she shoves the doors open, revealing a balcony with a telescope on it. I eye it curiously before stepping up to it, having to bend down to actually look into it. I start looking around Canterlot, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

"What am I looking for exactly?" I ask as I continue to look around. Twilight pushes be away from the lens and starts positioning the telescope until she finds what she is looking for. I look back into the telescope, and gasp at what I see, my heart skipping a beat.

"Apparently, they're still attracted to you, even when you're this far away! Josh, if they get here, they can and will infect everypony in Canterlot." She says quietly, with a tone of worry.

Out in the open plains, between Ponyville and Canterlot, is probably one of the most frightening things I've ever seen. Something that makes me wish I could just end it all. Was this the thing that Discord was trying to warn me about?

Heading straight for Canterlot, is a horde of hundreds of those walker ponies from the Everfree, and they do NOT look happy. And the only thing I can say, the only thing that my brain is able to process are two words, two words that I seem to be saying a lot since this all started eight months ago.

"Holy shit..."