Vinyl groaned from her spot on the cart, looking around at the area around them, she was beginning to get bored, and leaned over to Pinkie, ''Hey Pink's, could you pass me a couple hay fries?''

The party pony grinned and nodded, her cheerful personality had returned after Sweet Apple Aches was out of sight. ''Okee doky loky!'' She reached into one of the bags, and pulled out a small box, with a picture of the desired food on the front. ''Here you go!''

The DJ nodded her thanks and took the box from the pink mare with her magic, levitating it towards her muzzle. Her magic aura removed the boxes lid and lifted one of the fries out. Vinyl took a big bite out of the fry, munching on it with gusto, ''That's good.'' She murmured between chews.

Apple Jack muttered, ''Shouldn't y'all save those for when we stop for dinner...'' The farm pony stared out at the terrain around them, the Everfree on one side of them, plains with scarce tree's to the other.

Vinyl shrugged, ''Sorry AJ, you want one?'' The open box of hay fries hovered over to the mare, Apple Jack shook her head. The unicorn shrugged, and levitated the box over to Scootaloo. The normally energetic orange filly had been quiet for some time now.

The filly smiled faintly, and pulled a fry from the box, taking a bite from it. ''Thanks.'' She said softly.

The DJ hovered a fry over to the stallion pulling the cart, the fry in front of his face distracting him. ''You want one Swift? Your probably hungry after pulling us this far.''

Swift Blade looked back at the beautiful unicorn, and smiled, he was fine, but he wasn't going to say no to her. ''Thanks Vinyl.'' The fry moved closer to his muzzle, allowing him to take a bite out of it, he chewed on the tasty stick, smiling slightly. It was good.

He allowed Vinyl to levitate the rest of the hay fry into his mouth, he chomped down on it, swallowing the morsel. He was about to speak his thanks again when Pinkie interrupted him.

''Hey! Look over there!''

Swift stopped, bringing the cart to a stop as well, ''What!'' He started scanning the landscape for threats, but saw none.

''Right there, that spot over there.'' Pinkie pointed at a shady spot underneath a couple tree's. ''That would be the best spot to go camping!'

''You know, Pinkie may be right, its been a while since we've had a good nap.'' Vinyl added.

Swift nodded, ''Yeah, I guess we can stop.'' He began pulling the cart to the spot Pinkie had pointed out, grunting slightly.

They lay down their sleeping bags before them, circling the fire pit Swift had begun to construct. Pinkie moved from her bag to give the stallion a hoof in moving the rocks into position.

They spent a little while just sitting there, watching Vinyl try to light up the sticks Swift and Pinkie had piled into the circle of rocks. After a few tries, the white unicorn lit up the wood and got a nice little fire going.

Scootaloo leaned against Apple Jack, watching the fire with a small smile. Apple Jack smiled, and pet the young Pegasus's head, stroking it.

Swift and Vinyl just sat near each other, Swift didn't notice, but the DJ was slowly inching closer to him. The ponies were startled when Pinkie suddenly jumped in front of them, holding a bag of marshmallows. ''Anypony want some?'' She asked cheerfully.

Swift stared at the pink pony before him for a second, before nodding. ''Sure, pass a couple.''

Vinyl, although slightly creeped out by Pinkie's sudden appearance, nodded as well, and took a couple marshmallows. Pinkie then hoofed them two sharp sticks, and headed for Apple Jack and Scootaloo.

Swift shrugged, and stuck the while treats onto the stick, before raising it over the fire.

The DJ levitated her stick next to Swift's, watching them eagerly.

''You know...'' Vinyl suddenly broke the calm silence, ''I never did ask, when we were in the basement, who was that screaming coming from? I would assume it was Macintosh but...''

''What did happen to ma brother anyhow?'' Apple Jack added, shaking her head at Pinkie's offer.

Sighing, Swift stared at the ponies around him, before beginning, ''That wasn't Mac, he wouldn't have had reason to scream like that...I...I did...I don't know if it was desperation... or rage mixed with fear, either way, what happened after I let out that feral screech...well, I don't remember what happened. Its all blank until I woke up covered in blood.''

''What do you mean? I've never heard that ever happen to anypony before...'' Vinyl asked, slightly confused, and worried.

''As far as I know, I'm the only pony that this happens to...'' Swift mumbled sadly, turning his marshmallows over the fire, trying not to burn them.

''This has happened before...?''

''Yes, although, not like how I awoke this time. When it happened before, I was watching one of my best friends get attacked by a couple of bullies... then nothing. When I came to, I found myself sitting next to their bruised and battered bodies. I don't know what I did, but witness's including my friend, told me I had screamed, and thrown myself at the foals, nearly beating them to death with nothing but my old wooden sword. I was suspended from school after that, and ponies were afraid of me after that. My friend told me I wasn't quite the same when I was beating those bullies, I was enjoying it, and I hardly seemed sane, and there was something... something about my eyes she told me...they were...bleeding or something, and dark, like I had been possessed or something...that was years ago. It hasn't happened again, until now.''

''What the hay could have happened to ya, and just how bad was it when you woke up this time?!'' Apple Jack shouted.

''We could hear it...from the next room...'' Vinyl answered for the stallion. ''When we went in there, that ass hole of a brother had been torn to pieces.''

''WHAT DID HE DO TO DESERVE DEATH!?'' Apple Jack bellowed, tears welling in her eyes.

Swift suddenly glared at the farmer, his eyes bordering on rage. ''He knocked me and Vinyl out, tortured Vinyl, and planned to rape her, then do the same to Scootaloo. That's why he didn't deserve life...I'm sorry AJ.''

Apple Jack's eyes widened, and she seemed to deflate, ''Oh, oh shit, Big Mac, why...?''

The little orange filly, who had been silent until this point, suddenly spoke up, ''Apple Jack, that jerk may not be here now, and the rest of your family may be dead, but remember this, we're your family now. Right guys?''

Pinkie shook her head enthusiastically, ''Scootaloo's right, we are family now Apple Jack, all of us. We're one big family.''

Slowly, the farm pony nodded. ''Y'all...Y'all are right, we are a family.'' She let a few tears fall from her eyes, before wiping them with a hoof. Pinkie ran up to her friend and gave her a big hug, the two embracing was heartwarming for all to see.

Suddenly, Vinyl groaned, ''Ah damn it, my marshmallows...'' While they had all been occupied with the conversation, the white unicorn had burnt her treats, causing them to turn a charred black. She held them up to her face. They smoked slightly, and didn't look to appetising.

Swift tapped her on the shoulder, and held out his marshmallow, it was still a white color, as if he hadn't even put it over the fire. ''Here.'' He smiled, pulling one of the white treats off his stick, offering it to the DJ. She levitated it out of his hoof, popping it into her mouth. It may have not been much to look at, but it was very creamy. She chewed and swallowed with gusto.

Swift smiled, and swallowed his own marshmallow. ''Yeah, we are family now, and I swear that we will get through this, there will be a cure.'' He stood up, and headed over to the wagon, grabbing a few bottles of water, he passed them around, keeping one for himself. He uncapped it and held it high.

''To finding a cure!''

''To finding a cure.'' The others repeated, raising their own bottles, before taking big drinks. They all laughed, and began telling each other jokes, until they felt tired, and began to lie down on their sleeping bags. After a few minutes, they were all fast asleep.

Swift's eyes flickered open, and he slowly raised his head, looking around, everypony was still there this time, thank Celestia. He stood up, he had little idea how much time had passed. It could have been hours, could have been minutes, either way, he felt the need to answer natures call, and began heading towards the nearby woods.

Finishing up, the stallion noticed a small pond, ''Perfect.'' He said to nopony in particular. He slowly dipped a foreleg in to test the water. It was slightly cold to the touch, but he didn't mind. He slowly put one hoof in front of the other until he stood up to his neck in the water, that was about as deep as it could go.

''Ahh.'' He sighed, feeling the water almost wash any pains he bared away. He knew it wouldn't last, some pain could never be washed away, but for now this would do.

He soaked himself for a few minutes, when a sound interrupted him. Swift quickly tried to get to his sword, which lay on the bank of the pond, but tripped on a root under the water and fell.

Swift quickly tried to scramble to his hooves, gazing forward as another sound. The crunch of a twig, rang out in the silence.

The swordstallion let out a sigh of relief, as Vinyl stepped into view, ''Oh, its just you Vinyl. You scared the crap out of me.''

The DJ giggled, ''Sorry, I noticed you were gone, and I saw you heading into the woods, so I followed you here, but I can see your just having a soak, I'll leave you alone.'' She turned to leave, but Swift's voice halted her.

''Hey, since your already here, why don't you join me?'' He smiled and waved a hoof invitingly at the mare.

She stared at him for a few seconds, before slowly nodding her head, and trotting to the edge of the pond, she gingerly lowered her sunglasses to the ground, along with her magic spear, before stepping into the pond with Swift.

They sat for a few awkward moments, trying to think of something to say, when Swift finally broke the tense silence. ''Um...Vinyl, remember when I asked you about you having a special somepony?''

''Yeah?''

''I wanted to know what you thought of me...'' He stared down at the water, looking back at his reflection staring up at him. Always beating around the bush, he just wasn't any good with mares. ''Buck up!'' He growled to himself in his mind.

''Well...'' Vinyl said after a few seconds. ''When I first met you, I thought you were a pretty cool pony, you were always giving us hope, and the way you fight, its awesome, but when I saw you fight Big Mac to protect me, and you fought so hard, just to keep me and Scootaloo safe, I thought you would make a great hero someday, which sounds kinda lame, but its the truth.''

Swift turned to her, ''Of course I fought that hard to protect you, that's what I've been trying to do since I first met you, your a beautiful mare, and I want to make sure you survive.''

Vinyl's red eyes teared up slightly, and she shook her head, ''Sorry...you remind me of Tavi...the way you want to protect me. Its...Its really sweet...''

Swift took her chin and turned her head to face him, ''Can I...be your protector?''

Vinyl stared into his eyes, moving a strand of wet electric blue mane out of her face, she smiled at him. ''Yeah...you can be my protector.''

The swordstallion's lips suddenly met with hers, slightly shocking the mare, but she quickly melted into the kiss, their lips locked and moving passionately. Swift broke the kiss and pulled back, ''Vinyl, I love you, will you be my special somepony...?''

The DJ nodded her head slowly, ''Yeah. I will, cause I think, no, I know, I love you too.''

They finished their soak and grabbed their things, glancing at each other awkwardly every few seconds, before heading back to the others. They found them all awake, and beginning breakfast.

''Oh, hey guys!'' Pinkie waved cheerfully, turning back to the food she was preparing.

Apple Jack stared at them curiously, ''Where did y'all go?'' she sounded slightly suspicious.

''We went for a soak!'' Swift said quickly. ''And nothing else!'' He added quickly.

It wasn't a lie. Apple Jack could tell that much, although the stallion seemed to be leaving something out. She decided to let it slide, ''Oh right then, join us, we should head out after breakfast.''

The stallion and mare nodded, and plopped themselves down next to Scootaloo, who was staring at them with the same suspicion as Apple Jack.

''Where did you two go?'' the Pegasus filly asked.

''Into the woods for a quick dip in a pond.'' Vinyl grinned nervously.

''Oh, why didn't you bring me along!''

''Sorry kiddo.'' Swift ruffled the filly's purple mane, ''Maybe next time.''

Pinkie suddenly bounced in front of them, handing them their breakfast, daisy sandwiches. Swift took a bite from the sandwich, and leaned into Vinyl's ear range, ''Should we tell them yet?''

''No, lets tell them at a later time.'' She whispered back.

The rest of breakfast was spent in silence, just munching on their sandwiches, then they packed up, stomped out the campfire, and set out. Apple Jack pulling the cart this time, while the others sat in the wagon, keeping an eye out, so far however, there had been no sign of any zombies.

They traveled for a long time, until the cart stopped abruptly. A low noise was slowly approaching. They waited a few seconds, and slowly, in the distance, a horde, larger than thirty, appeared over a hill, and they were heading in their direction.

''Damn it...'' Vinyl muttered, already standing up, readying herself, her horn lighting up.

''Now hold it there y'all!'' Apple Jack quickly shouted, trying to be louder than the horde so she could be heard. ''Maybe we can go round them varmints.''

The moaning noise grew louder, signaling that they only had so much time before the herd was upon them. Swift suddenly leapt from the cart, landing next to Apple Jack. ''Quick, help me get tied up too! We'll go faster with two ponies pulling the wagon!''

Swiftly, Apple Jack moved to the swordstallion's side, helping tie himself to the harness. They then began galloping as fast as they could, pulling the wagon behind them. They quickly moved around the horde at a safe distance, avoiding the attention of all but one zombie, and earth pony mare.

She looked gray, but judging how far away she was, it was possible that it was just the rot. Swift motioned for them to keep going, and they continued on, ignoring the single zombie following them.

The survivors camped around a small fire, they knew a bigger one might attract the horde. Even though they had traveled for quite some time, and made lots of ground, Apple Jack and Swift thought it was best to be cautious. At least for now.

Swift was keeping an eye out, munching on a apple as he did. Scootaloo suddenly was next to him, looking at him curiously. ''Hey Swift. how's the watch?'' She grinned a bit.

''All good, hopefully it will stay that way.'' Swift took another bite from his apple, chewing on it, before swallowing. ''What's up kid?''

Scootaloo shuffled her hooves in the dirt nervously, before asking him ''What's going on with you and Vinyl? It was pretty weird when both of you just disappeared into the woods separately, then came back together, are you two going out?'' She gave the stallion a sly grin, causing him to sigh.

''Let me guess, if I don't tell the truth, your gonna just keep bugging me about it''

She nodded.

''Alright, here's the truth. Yes. She is my special somepony now, and I'm gonna do whatever it takes to protect her.'' Swift Blade stared off distantly, ''Like I couldn't do for my friends or family.''

Scootaloo looked at him curiously, ''What happened to your family, I know what happened in Ponyville, but what about your family?''

Sighing, the swordstallion ruffled her mane, ''They died a long time ago, before all of this.'' His smile faded and his eyes teared up. ''I just hope that...their in a better place.''

The little orange filly suddenly wrapped her hooves around him, giving him a comforting hug. She looked up at him, and he saw her eyes were full of tears too. ''I know how you feel, I lost my family before this too, I've been an orphan for several years now, living in a house by myself, with nopony to help teach me to fly.''

Swift stared down at the filly, wrapping his own hooves around her. ''I'm so sorry Scootaloo.'' tears streamed down his eyes, he knew the pain, but she was so young, it was much to soon for her to feel such pain. ''I'm so sorry...''

Scootaloo gazed up at him, her tears falling freely now, ''Rainbow Dash, and my friends, were what was keeping me going. I loved them all, but now their all gone, taken from me, by them.'' she didn't need to tell Swift who, they all knew who they were. ''If it weren't for you guys, I might not have made it.''

Swift Blade let go of the filly, and gave her a smile, wiping away tears from his face. ''Kid, just remember, we are family, we all are, and if you want, I can be like, your big brother. I may not be a Pegasus, but I can try right?''

The orange filly stepped back, and grinned at him, wiping her own tears away. ''Yeah, that would be cool, I would like that.''

Suddenly, Pinkie popped up in front of them, smiling cheerfully. ''GROUP HUG!'' She cheered.

From where they sat, chatting and munching on apples and hay fries, Vinyl and Apple Jack stood up and crossed over to them, with a ''Why not?'' From Apple Jack.

Suddenly, Pinkie had them all wrapped in her hooves, giving the group a big squeeze.

Even though they felt like they were being crushed, the other ponies joined in the hug, squeezing each other tightly. It was another happy moment for the survivors, and gave everypony a blissful sleep when they went to bed.

Pinkie Pie awoke with a start, and rubbed her eyes, ridding them of sleep. Her tail was twitching, something was wrong. She quickly bounced to her hooves, looking around. She let out a little gasp.

A gray earth pony, wearing a long dark blue dress, stood a hoofsteps away.

Her mane and tail were straight and boring in comparison with Pinkies, and were a dark purple. The mare was in fact, lifeless when it came to bright colors, but her usual boring attitude, which was equally lifeless, was filled with life.

The mare growled, and began slowly advancing on the sleeping ponies.

Pinkie screamed. ''MAUD!''

Author's Note

That was a long chapter, and more focused on the drama and pasts of the characters. and what's this? Maud Pie has shown up, but is she dead, or alive?

That's up to you, if she's undead, or alive, its your vote!

Thank you for all the support on this story so far!