I've been collecting supplies for the first 2 months of the epidemic, but I found a whole load of letters.The letters I find today has one about the infected on it. However, its whats attached to the paper that makes it important. I begin to read the girly, cursive writing.
The first week of this is a nightmare.
Police beat up civilians looking for supplies. Pets once dear to their owners attacked them with wild speed and anger. I saw a stallion put a bullet in a filly once, but the kid was never infected...he was sick with something else before this began.
I agreed to meet up with a couple of my co-workers as this all began. We agreed to meet up at our work but infected were already there destroying the place. I think if you went back there's a large crater from someone committing suicide with explosives. We shielded our eyes when that happened.
I lost everyone I knew. I was about to give up on the 2nd week. However, I found this tape. It's on this flash drive taped to the bottom of this. When I get done writing this I plan to make for any location of civilization.
The laptop I found only has a little bit of battery life but its good enough to watch the video a couple of times. Trust me you'll need it.
Signed,
Lyra Heartstrings
P.S. Just got something on the radio. It's a small camp North of Canterlot. The best news was my BFF Bon Bon was who I heard on the radio
The others can use this. I'll check this out at the camera Lyra is talking about. I wonder if she's still out there.
The video starts off blurry. A stallion begins staring at the camera with a blank stare. The camera begins clearing up.
The stallion is muscular and broad. He has orange fur with a red tail and mane. His eyes are a light blue. A large bite mark is on his shoulder.
"It's not hard to see that my time is up," the stallion starts. "I'm bit by one of those monsters running around. However, even if I will die I'll tell you what I know about the disease."
The stallion raises a cup up and drinks something. He tosses the cup off camera. He leans back in, what looks like, a wooden chair.
"The disease changes you into these monsters. They do everything from shambling to running after anything that isn't infected. They have...well most have incredible in-pony strength. I've seen them pull apart flesh like they were clay in an art class.
"Yet, Something about it though can only be thought of by a few ponies. The disease, or virus, can change you based on who you are. The farm workers and diamond dogs change into these pale, wrinkly skin. I call them diggers cause they dig with incredible speed. A lot of ponies who live in the cities have this build up of acid and black smoke. I met a pony who called them polluters. A hot-headed survivor got bit and now is mainly docile unless you provoke him. I called him a rager.
The stallion sighs and lowers his head into his front hooves. He sniffs a little and sneezes loudly.
"It's how they live, where they live, and even their attitude when they were alive. If your watching this were you already figure this out then I'm sorry to say that I don't know what else to tell you.
"Just wait. In the past days, I've noticed something. These creatures cry out when their hit or attacked. They feel pain. I think their still more pony than what we think. I, um, I...I think that's it. Just...hmm..
" I will tell you this. Make sure you know who are your friends. I chose friends who got me bitten, and now I'm dead!" He yells bashing a piece of furniture off screen. "We're all just dead weight now in this time of age. Don't believe me, though... I'm just thinking... what do I even say to Buttermilk...if there is an afterlife. I hope this video helps. Good luck to you my fellow survivor."
The video ends as the stallion places his right hoof on the camera. The TV turns to static. I look around the room of my best friends and I know were awesome enough to survive this epidemic. I'm a hundred percent certain on that.
That's what I thought 2 years ago...
My legs feel heavy and rubbery. I've been walking for some time now and I think it's starting to get to me. I don't think I've ever walked this long.
I made my way through EverFree forest. As I enter the dark forest, It became unnerving. However, theirs a radio signal coming from the north. It's Morse. The signal talks of a settlement up North that will welcome friendly survivors. It's better than the west and its bandits. The bullet lost in my back says so.
I levitate my knife out in front of me. It has a compass on the bottom of the hilt, and that's its main feature for carrying around. I look down at it as it settles . I'm going east. Perfect. I will make it to, Ponyville then heads North. I have to think about going through Canterlot or not.
A loud rumble erupts behind me, breaking my concentration. A large pony with no fur or hair sprouts out from the ground. Its skin is completely pink and wrinkly. A tunneler, Is what I call them.
This infection pops out new crazy freaks all the time. These guys usually make their way around by digging holes in the ground. Other survivors tell me that these "tunnelers" were once earth ponies who were hard outdoor laborers. The chance of becoming one is more possible if the pony has an interest in gardening.
I levitate out my bat and ready it up as he charges. I swing and hit him with the metal bat. Blood flows out of its mouth. It gives out a loud scream of pain, but it still stands. I swing again and crack its head from the side.
Bloody pieces of meat flys out of the creature's head. Pink entrails slowly leak out with bone in it. The muscle walls of its head start spraying blood. The blood stops and goes with the creatures heart. The tunneler raises his hoof up to cover his wound. It bleeds out on the ground.
The infection is far beyond normal. It first began in major cities, like where I'm from. The infection first starts out as a zombie-like virus. Ponies who attract it will run madly through the streets to eat anything that moves. It somehow slowly develops into this.
It adjusts itself to who the pony is like. Where they live, what their body is like, and ,in some rare occasions, the way they think and how they feel. I've seen ponies a little disturbed by this. Insane by the thought that they will become a familiar shell of their former self.
Though, I Got to admit, this is what I love. My life two years ago is a cashier at a supermarket. That dead end job in Fillydelphia is nothing I wish on no pony. This is my calling. Why even fix it if you can. Yes, ponies dying in huge masses is bad, but this is better to understand. Survival is my calling. My cutie mark of a campfire can show it. So why to stop your calling.
I must be half way through the EverFree forest by now. It takes awhile to just simply avoid all the poisonjoke. I know touching it is bad but I wonder if a machete can do good work on them. I rather no test it since I only have a knife, and one chance to not die from a deformity.
I'm getting closer to Ponyville. I can feel it. I just- what's that?
I slowly hear voices coming towards me. No, actually. I'm getting closer to them. I throw my leaf covering on and began looking for whoever.
Looks like a small camp up ahead. I barely poke out of the bushes and observe the camp. Several ponies walk around. A teal mare with a rainbow mane, a white mare with a blue mane, a yellow mare with a pink mane, and one young mare that's orange with a purple mane. They all look familiar.
My back began to get wet. My bullet wound is starting to bleed badly again. Guess "The amazing surgeon isn't good at himself up in a 24-hour super mark-
The snapping sensation under my leg made my heart sink. "Hello?" The rainbow mare calls out raising a sawed off double barrel off her holster.
Shit. Now the surgeon is an excellent twig snapper. I need to run.
I bolt back the way I came. "Stop you, son of a bitch," I hear the rainbow pony call out. I just ran. I look behind me. The teal mare is directly behind me. Theirs no chance, she's gonna be on top of me soon.
I felt teeth digging into my left leg. She flips me forward, smashing my back onto the solid ground. "Do you really think you can get away from me?" the mare praises.
"Yeah, I," I pant, "I actually did," I answer with another set of painting.
"Ain't nobody faster than me, so that begs the question. Why are you spying on our camp?" she asks gripping the shotgun in her hooves. Despite threatening me with a gun, she's very cute.
Her body screams athletic structure. Muscular body and a gleam of determination in her eyes meant she's all too eager to toss any sorry ass to the ground and proceeded to slam that ass to a wall. The steady aim of her gun is her set of fighting skills.
She's wearing a holster for one small gun and one rifle-size gun, most likely for the sawed-off, she's using. Wearing a tight shirt that holds her perfect form, adds on to the athleticism. A black leather jacket and jeans. It's quite smart for armor, well any armor without making your own set. The unzip jacket hides most of the holster around her shirt.
The final glimpse of her body shows wings poking out the back of her jacket. No doubt a pegasus.
"I didn't try to spy. I'm looking," I pant again, "for a camp. It's up north near Canterlot," I explain
"You too, huh," She responds.
"Your heading there. You and your friends?" I ask.
"Yeah. However, I still don't know your not some creep spying on us?"
"I guess you can't believe me, but why did you admit you guys were heading North."
"Cause if I'm wrong then I'm holding a promise I made."
"What?" I swear I didn't hear her right.
"Well if you're telling the truth I want you to come with us. If not I can't let you go in case your some kind of bandit. So it's a stand still," she says.
"But why not...just kill me?" I wonder.
"Because then we won't have something to bargain with." The mare grabs my hoof and yanks me off the ground. She pushes me forward with the shotgun digging into my back. "Names Rainbow Dash by the way."
"I, uh," I couldn't speak.
"So what's your name?" She asks.
"Me?"
"Yes, dip shit."
"Red Stream. You sure the other ponies don't mind me being here?"
"Nah. I'm very loyal to them. They know they can trust me."
"Loyal?" I question.
"Yap."
Holy shit. I know who she is. "Oh, My Celestia! You're the element of loyalty, Rainbow Dash."
"I knew this awesome look would get me noticed. Although it took you long enough," she complains.
"So everyone else is-"
"Most of the...The other elements."
"Where are the rest?" I ask
"You'll meet...most of them," she responds.
"Most of them?" I question.
Rainbow Dash didn't respond. She bites her lip in silence. She lowers the gun away from my back. The short walk feels like a mile. "You better hope that bandage isn't a bite mark. I rather not turn my newest fan into a puddle."
"It's a bullet wound," I respond.
Rainbow Dash raises her gun back up on my back. We step into the clearing. Four tents are set up neatly, and have exotic patterns sewn on to them. A small fire is in the middle burning pieces of cloth, that are beautiful in an array of colors.
The White mare approaches us. The filly and the yellow mare take cover in the tents.
"Dashy. What on earth do you think you're doing? Do you even know this pony?" The white mare asks. I already know this mare. Her name is Rarity, she's a tailor for Ponyville and Canterlot.
Rarity is a unicorn with a well-kept body. Her fur is cleaner than any other pony I've seen, since the incident. While not muscular, her body looks soft and well sculpted. Even in the end of times she clearly wants the form of elegance.
"He's fine Rarity. He knows us like we're celebrities. This is a first time thing for me Rare. Don't ruin it." Dash begs.
"What about me?" the orange filly screams out from a blue tent that has a flower pattern on all sides. The filly barely sticks her head out.
"Never, forgotten Scoots. You're still in my heart sister." Dash reassures.
The filly makes a satisfying hmph as she jerks her head up a bit. Showing me who's the real biggest fan, I guess.
"I really mean no harm Rarity. In fact Dash-" I stop as a quick jab struck me on the side. "I'm...heading North if you don't want me here."
"My apologies darling," she apologizes, "but we can't trust a whole lot of ponies, especially these days."
"I understand. Please, Rainbow Dash is telling the truth. I did hear a lot from you before the infection," I explain.
"So you know all of us?" she asks.
"Well I didn't recognize you guys at first, but yeah. Like the mare in the tent is obviously Fluttershy." Fluttershy ducks back into the tent before I can even make eye contact.
"And if you've actually been following us?"
"No, I haven't. Yet, you probably don't believe me."
"Oh, Dear," Rarity sighs.
"Wait, Rare," Dash speaks up, "If we don't want to kill him if he's telling the truth and not let him go cause he could be someone we trust. Why not have him around."
"I don't know..." Rarity responds.
"We said we'll help as many survivors as we can. We promised Twilight."
"But we don't know where she even is and...and..." Rarity sighs again, "I suppose so. Just don't let him trot off."
"I never really asked to come along, but thanks." I gave in. If Dash is correct we all plan to head North.
"No problem. If you need rest use the purple one with stars on it." Rarity points to the one directly behind her, "Before you rest, what's your name?"
"Red Stream, and thank you, again."
I huddle up into the sleeping bag. It's very nice and squishy against me. Yet I can't sleep.
I hear voices coming to the tent. They were whispers then became average voice volume. "I just don't know if I can. A bullet is something I've never treated before," A mysterious voice protests.
"Oh, come on. This can be a whole new opportunity. What if he dressed it badly and you are saving his life," another voice tries to reasoning. I didn't dress the wound badly, it's just too much to handle.
"I just don't know-"
" you're the element of kindness. It is your job to be nice and help others. So, how about you help that pony."
"Alright... but that's really more like the element of gene-," She says in a whisper.
"Great!" the second voice screams.
"EEP!"
I jump out of my skin from the crashing noise on the tent. A pony figure nearly smashes through the tent door. "Uh... Whoops," the second voice says apologetically.
The zipper on the tent opens up. Fluttershy slowly pokes her head in, and waves shyly to me. "Scootaloo, please go back to sleep... If you wouldn't mind?" Fluttershy whispers. She gets all the way into the tent, brandishing a small box with gold, metallic corners. "Hi there, Red Stream. My name is Fluttershy, and I was wondering if I could... looks at your shoulder?" She asks smiling nervously.
"Sure," I agree to her help. She places the box next to me and pops it open with her hoof. It's filled with needles, some medical tools, gauze, and vials of different liquids. She removes my shirt and some of the bandages around my gaping wound. She grabs a small pole and begins to lower it into the bullet hole. It slightly hurt and I couldn't shake the question, "Do you know what you're doing?"
"Hmmhmm," She answers.
"Really? I never knew you were a doctor or nurse," I happily breath.
"Oh, goodness no," my heart sinks. "I-I mean, I just apply the same means on how I treat animals to ponies. That's ok...right?" Before I can answer, I guess, she gasps as a little thump comes from the bullet wound. "This may hurt a little, so I'm sorry if I cause you discomfort." She grabs a pair of pliers and unfolds them.
"How badly?" I must know. I think some sort of animal is howling at the moon, but Fluttershy didn't react to it, so I thought nothing of it.
"It will probably sting a bit," she answers. She slowly spreads the wound open and lowers the small pliers. She ooo's as she grabs the bullet. She is right. This fucking hurts.
"Guys!" Rainbow Dash bursts in. Fluttershy jumps up and quickly yanks the bullet.
"AHH DAMN IT!" I curse in pain.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" She apologizes.
"Enough time has passed for those things to eat the bait. I heard a tunneler howl, so there gonna be on us soon," Dash explains. "Sorry about the outburst on you Red."
"It's fine," I forgave her.
"We'll hurry this and get you out," Fluttershy says, dropping the small little round.
Author's Note
This was once a story I made back in the first time I wrote stuff. Its been way to long and I need to get back into this. I hope you all enjoy this, and if there is anything weird with the grammar, I wish to know about it, but I rather you guys don't make a big argument. I still a bit new to writing, and while I did review it, I don't have any pre readers to catch these things so I want to know about them but I don't want you guys to think so negetavily on them. So thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed it.
Chapter 2: The Observer 1
A familiar place can always be a home. This is how I feel for my school's football field. Honestly, I can't seem to remember why.
My favorite place is under the benches or bleachers. They were the best thing to a... um, roof I have. Despite the "others". They'll come up here sometimes with no under...understanding.
Now a group of cattle is moving in here. I guess they felt the same. Not like the "others" who really can't think anymore.
The "others" who live here are a vast variety bunch. Notably, the big pink one who's sleeping in the shed. How is he like that? I think he has a fetish with animals or...no... that's not it, I think. It is not like I can ask. He's one of the "others" that eat the younglings of mares, the "other's" mares. I have eaten a couple younglings too, yet I have the dignity to slowly enjoy it.
Anyway, I always have similar urges to feast on the corpses of cattle. So I guess I'm not so different. I always enjoy the blood of mature cattle, the stallions, and mares. I can go attack the cattle there, but that little filly is staring up at me.
I think she knows me, but I don't know her. I can't really tell what she looks like. I just know she's so little cause of the shape of her...mass I think, I can't remember the word. Plus, my vision is always better in the dark.
The others were out and about eating food left by a different group of cattle. We usually eat cattle but were always hungry. I, myself, always like the taste of meat. The rats and cats that won't leave me alone are all so good. I do sometimes have that sweet brown stuff. I love it melting between my teeth.
I look back at the filly. She's still staring at me. If she does know me then I'm....having some kind of feeling. My name is....Is....I can never remember the life I use to live before I was bitten. Yet, she stares at me like I'm a...a...mascot...no...a...aww, shit.
I began to drift in and out of sleep. Never fully gone out due to the filly. It's so unnerving. That solid black mass that contrasts with a completely white world. Why the fuck can't you stare off somewhere else?
she sneaks away from her members and walks up the bleachers. I didn't want her to be near me, she makes me feel like a target for the cattle down there.
She left me alone after that. Why does she have a keen interest in me? I don't know what I look like, but in the first two months of my infection, I ate my tongue cause it tastes so good. Can they see my tongue missing, or I must be good looking? The mares always enjoy "presenting" themselves to me if they ever felt the need.
My eyes aren't good either. My vision is only good at night. The night is colorful, and it doesn't burn my eyes as bad. Some can see quite well, but I know I can't.
Night is starting to set in. I like to watch the moon rise. It makes me feel...what is it...Holy? I can't say for sure, but the howling of the others will bring doom to the cattle. Now it's night.
The colors of the world came back as the moon rises. I don't seem to be the only one benefiting from the night. The giant being in the shed begins to cry and weep.
The group debates on whether or not to check it out, I think. One stallion volunteers. I think the look on his face means he might have made a mistake.
He's dark blue, has a black mane and tail, brown eyes, and a cutie mark of a quill. The little filly hugs him before he goes. She looks exactly like him except with some white hairs that streak down her mane and tale. My question is: why?
Why will you check something out that has the possibility of killing you? Why are they...they....hugging? I pity those lost souls, but it is also our food. I always think that way till they die then I feel nothing for their corpses.
The stallion heads over, despite the cattle wanting him to stay, I think.
The stallion withdraws a bat from his belt and walks to the steel doors. He knocks softly. The pink thing knocks softly.
I went closer but stop short of earshot. I don't dare to disturb the universe.
"Hello?" the stallion calls out.
"Yes?" The pink thing calls out.
"Are you um, well?" The stallion asks.
"Are you? You surely can't ask a question if you can't answer the same for yourself."
"What?!"
"We were doomed to similar fates in the next. I will prove that much."
The steel doors flew from their hinges, and at the field. The stallion flew back in a violent motion. He rolls across the ground, leaving a red smear as he glides across the blades. He stops short of the camp.
The stallion's face is now a crater. His right eye is burst like a grape and is barely being held inside his socket. The limbs are in huge knots with bones sticking out, and are even falling out of the open wounds.
The pink one stretches out. He trots on all fours and spins two tails behind him. One with a large eye, that resembles a large ruby, and the other that splits apart into a large mouth, a tongue with white hairs on it moves across his lips. His front is one large smooth pink surface, and he has large red muscles that stretch across his body. Which makes me wonder if he has no skin.
The camp's cattle were in disbelief over the carnage. They all drew guns, blades, and clubs. The fillies and colts all take cover behind their fellow cattle. Both the cattle and the Pink One stare each other down. A subtle growl erupts from the Pink One then he charges.
The cattle scatter, evading the charge. With blades and bats at the ready, the cattle charge back catching the Pink One off guard. The Pink one swipes a large claw knocking everypony down but hooks the last cattle, an earth stallion, in the mouth.
The Pink One pushes his claws through his cheek and lifts him upwards. He whips his mouth around and bites him hard in his upper body, tearing his upper skull from the rest of his body. As his skull hits the ground, The Pink One devours his catch.
The cattle open fire on the devourer. He charges the large group and launches on top of an earth mare. She screams for help, but The Pink One grabs her head with his mouth and rips it off only to swallow it whole.
Another earth stallion crawls on the ground to get away but is struck by The Pink One's eye tail. The Pink One turns around and subtly bites the stallions upper back. He releases him to let him bleed out.
A scream echoes across the field. It's the filly who's been chasing me since the afternoon. A mare speaks to her and she takes off to a portable bathroom. Falls onto the ground on her way, she gets up with a small cut on her neck. She continues to the portable and hides there. The Pink One notices her but ignores her.
The Pink One turns around and readies himself for another jump. He lands on the hind legs of a unicorn stallion. The Pink One eagerly raises his right claw, but the stallion shoots out a magical sphere. His claw is cut off with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. The Pink One writhes in pain and jumps back. The stallions rear legs are swollen and broken. He lays there breathing like a dog.
The Pink One rears his mouth up and howls. The cattle begin to shoot the large monster. The Pink One bleeds profusely. A loud howl rings in the air. The cattle stop firing.
The ground slowly rumbles. Trees shake, and branches break. The ground rumbles so loud that it's practically a rock slide. Then it stops. The air is silent, all except The Pink One breathing heavily.
The forest howls loudly around the cattle. One by one the horde rushes out. The cattle open fire on the horde with little to no effect. The first one that made bites down on the muzzle of a stallion holding a shotgun.
The cattle is now all gone, all something or so of them. Being a feast for the hundreds of others that rush the crowd. All except one. The little filly in the portable toilet.
The Pink Thing puts his only paw left on top of the blue building. The top of the blue toilet collapses. A loud scream erupts out of the hole in the roof. The filly bashes the door out hitting The Pink Thing in the stomach. The Pink Giant collapses with the toilet following it down.
The horde stop eating to spy upon their new meal. The filly runs past the entire horde before the whole group can respond to her. She manages to run all the way to the entrance and into the hooves of a strange stallion. "Daddy, please help me!" she screams. The stallion holds her tighter. The filly looks up in complete horror.
The stallion's jaw dislocates from his skull and hangs down stiffly. the bottom splits into two sections and stretch across to his left and right side of his head. The filly is frozen as if she accepts her fate. The stallion sinks his two appendages into her neck and moves back in forth. The filly's head slowly falls off her shoulders.
A small group of the horde takes their chance at the fallen head. One mare thing locks lips with the filly and pulls back to a gooey tongue that flaps and spews blood. A stallion nips on the filly's right eye then takes a massive bite to rip off her eye with a small cord still linking to her head. The last mare in the pile slowly nibbles away at the filly's forehead until she makes a crown of flesh on top of the filly's head. The head is gone in seconds.
The bodies of the cattle are gone. They were once alive an hour ago and now they're gone. However, some of the things are still hungry and rush off into the tree line again. I have to see what they're seeking for. After all I'm hungry as well.
