Some would have said that Swift was crazy to just waltz into Canterlot with no idea of where he should go first, but there was nopony around to tell him that, so that's what he did.

The streets of the once bustling city were empty. There wasn't a pony, dead, or alive in sight. A few wagons were scattered across the street, some knocked over and lying on their sides as if they had been pushed and had decided to just lie there.

Pieces of trash and old newspapers littered the streets, rustling and rolling in the light breeze. Other then the sounds of the litter rustling and the sound of Swift's hooves hitting the pavement, the city was eerily quiet, to quiet.

Although still mourning the loss of Maud, Swift couldn't help but feel at least a bit giddy at the thought of finally finding the cure to the infection. The problem was, something wasn't right, there should have been at least one zombie sighting, but since they had entered the city, there had been no sign of any. Something was very wrong indeed.

Vinyl suddenly broke the intensifying silence, ''Swift, I heard something.''

Stopping in his tracks, the swordstallion took a few quick glances around, checking the surrounding area for any sign of life, or death. When he saw nothing, he softly called back, ''Are you sure Vinyl? What did it sound like?''

The unicorn thought for a second, before pointing a hoof. ''It came from over there, it sounded like...'' The DJ tried to think of what was best to describe it with, when Scootaloo spoke up.

''Like a flash?''

''Yeah, like a flash.'' Vinyl nodded at the filly.

''A flash? Hrmm...'' Swift could only think of one reason for that, a unicorn had just cast a spell and was nearby, or had just disappeared. Unhooking himself from the wagon, Swift Blade began making his way towards the area Vinyl had pointed at. He slowly slid his blade from its sheath, ready for a possible sneak attack.

Quickly peeking into the alleyway, the stallion raked the area, seeing no signs of life, just some trash cans and some old boxes. He let out a little sigh, this couldn't be good. Stepping back, the stallion took another few quick glances around, but ended with the same result, nothing in sight.

Swift turned and began heading back, ''What ever it was is gone now!'' He called out, not feeling a need to be quiet.

''Your sure?'' Vinyl responded.

''Yeah, this alley is empty.''

Vinyl nodded, and hopped off the cart, levitating her bag beside her. Scootaloo followed close behind. ''We may need to continue on hoof, the roads look pretty crowded.''

Suddenly, Apple Jack, who hadn't said a word, suddenly spoke, jolting the three conversing ponies.

''Can y'all give me a hoof with Pinkie Pie? Ah don think she's fit to travel just yet.''

Nodding, the two adult ponies helped Apple Jack lift Pinkie and lower her to the ground. Pinkie didn't react to the contact the entire time, and barely moved when she touched the ground, she only let out a whimper, and went silent again.

Swift softly nudged the pink party pony with a hoof, trying to get her attention. ''Pinkie? Please, get up, we need to continue. Find the cure remember? Maybe we can use it to save Maud?''

Pinkie didn't respond, and Swift was beginning to wonder if the cheerful pony's mind had finally broken, when she suddenly stood up. ''Alright, heh...lets go...'' She weakly trailed off, filling the surrounding ponies hearts with sorrow.

If Pinkie wasn't happy, all nearby ponies were going to feel it, which was what was now happening.

Vinyl was the first to recover, and nudged Swift, ''C'mon, we can't stay here forever, lets get going.''

Nodding, the stallion motioned for the others to follow suit, and began unloading their supplies from the cart. ''Chances are we wont have time to come back to get our stuff, so we better take them with us now until we can find a base of operations.''

The other ponies began following suit, shoving things into their saddlebags at a frantic pace. Soon the cart was empty, and the ponies saddlebags so full they looked like they may burst.

''Alright.'' Swift stated. ''Lets go.''

The overweighed survivors slowly began heading down the crowded street, filing two by two through a gap between a wagon and building, and continuing on their way.

Scootaloo stayed close to Swift the entire time, and kept making quick glances at the surrounding area. She didn't know how she knew, but something was watching them, and she didn't like the feeling of being watched by an unseen being. What if it was some horrible monster, not yet infected, and stalking them, or maybe, the dead were getting smarter, and now we're waiting for the right moment to strike.

The filly was broken from her thoughts by Vinyl, who had nudged her, ''Those getting to heavy for ya kid?'' The DJ asked, motioning at the filly's saddlebags. Although nowhere near as heavy as what the adults were carrying, it was a lot for a filly Scootaloo's age.

''No. I'm fine, why do you ask?''

''Your making this weird face'' Vinyl chuckled.

Scootaloo turned her head to the side, trying to hide her blush of embarrassment, ''Am not.'' She mumbled.

The DJ shook her head, chuckling again, before returning her gaze to the crowded street ahead. Vinyl wasn't sure what the filly was thinking, she had never had any siblings, so she could only guess that it was simply a matter of being tired.

Apple Jack walked next to Pinkie, making sure she didn't suddenly collapse, but also just to give her grieving friend some comfort. She knew just what Pinkie was going through, they were both without their families now.

The swordstallion watched the others, noting what was going on and running across their faces. As soon as they found a place to hole up, he would do his best to help them, in anyway he could. Turning back to the road, Swift sighed, his eyes scanning the area, still no signs of movement. This was beginning to creep him out.

He turned his head back to his friends, slowing his pace a bit, ''Hey Vinyl, you lived here right?''

''Yeah, why?'' She responded.

''Know any good places we coul-''

Swift was cut off by a loud crack, as something whizzed by his ear, clipping it. He felt blood begin to trickle from the small wound, and he flattened his ears, his instincts kicking in.

''Get down!'' He ordered.

The ponies scattered, as another loud crack broke the silence of the city.

Swift dove behind a wagon that had been flipped onto its side, he felt more blood leak from his ear, and wiped his face with a hoof. This was bad, something was shooting at them, and now they were separated.

''Swift! Over here!'' A mares voice hissed to his left, he turned his head to see Pinkie now crouched next to him, her mane still hanging flat.

''Pinkie! Did you see were the others went!?'' Swift hissed, wincing as another crack rang out, something hitting the wagon they were hiding behind.

''Yep, Apple Jack and Vinyl grabbed Scoots and hid in an alley.''

''Alright'' Swift nodded, drawing his longsword from its sheath. The blade gleamed in the half light, and he stared at the blade for a second, his reflection looking back at him, ''We need to find whatever is firing at us.''

''Okee dokee lokee'' The party pony nodded, her tone low and still filled with grief, but at least she had the will to fight.

As another gunshot split open the silence, Swift and Pinkie stuck their heads over the top of the wagon, searching for the source of the unknown shooter. Another bullet whizzed by Swift's head, forcing him to duck down again.

He turned to Pinkie, who was just ducking down, ''I saw Where those loud bangs are coming from!'' Pinkie exclaimed.

''Where!?''

''A rooftop two houses away.''

''Good eye Pinkie, lets regroup with the others and figure out how to take this sniper out!'' Swift grinned.

Pinkie shook her head, ''Are we going to hurt them? That would be mean...''

Realizing his mistake, Swift tried again. ''No no, I meant find a way to get him to stop shooting at us. We're not going to hurt them'' Mentally, Swift thought, ''Unless we have to.''

As more gunshots permeated the air, the two ponies began galloping towards the alley the others were hiding in, but just before they left the cover of the wagon a magical aura enveloped them, freezing them in their tracks.

''What the-'' Swift tried to move his head to see what had trapped him, but his head was frozen in place, the only parts of his body that he could move were his eyes and mouth. He turned his gaze to Pinkie, ''Pinkie! Are you okay!?''

''Yep, just frozen.'' The pink mare giggled slightly.

''Your lucky that you can't move, if you had run out there now, Trickshot might have shot you.'' A mares voice sounded from somewhere to his right side.

''What did you do to us?'' Swift tried to turn his head to look at the stranger, but remembered he couldn't, and resorted to useing his peripheral vision to try and find out what had froze them.

The being was a pony, that he could tell, a grass green one, but she stood taller than the average pony, and wore some sort of glasses on her face.

''Who are you?''

''And why are you attacking us?'' Pinkie added.

The pony got closer, and then stood in front of the two frozen ponies, revealing herself. ''My name is Dusky Novel.''

Swift felt his jaw drop, the tall green mare had a long horn of a unicorn on her head, but also the wings of a Pegasus on her sides. She was an Alicorn. She wore a pair of plain reading glasses, pushed up on her snout, and her cutie mark was a violet book, blood splattered across it. Her mane and tail matched her coats color, and had a style similar to Rainbow Dash's.

''Your...Your an...'' Swift stuttered, not believing what he was seeing. He had never heard of any other alicorn's. He had met Celestia, Luna, Twilight Sparkle, and Candace, as well as her foal, but they had never mentioned any other alicorn's, and nopony had mentioned the existence of a sixth.

''An Alicorn, yeah, I am, and you two need to let us know you mean no harm.'' Dusky said, her wings unfurling and then folding back against her body.

''We don't, and never did! We were just marching along minding our business when you started shooting loud noises at us and turning us into icebergs!'' Pinkie exclaimed.

''Heh, yeah, sorry about that, we had to make sure you were friendly, so any signs of aggression might make us change our minds.''

''Change your minds? About what?'' Swift asked suspiciously.

''About letting you join our group.'' The Alicorn chuckled like it was obvious.

''Just why did you have to shoot at us then?'' Swift growled, slightly annoyed.

''To get your attention'' Another voice added in.

A gray earth pony stepped in Swift and Pinkie's sight, followed by Vinyl, Apple Jack, and Scootaloo, and gave them a little grin, ''Sorry about that, we had to separate you so we could talk to you, if we just came out of nowhere, we were afraid you might attack us.'' The stallion chuckled nervously.

''Then why did you shoot Swift's ear?'' Pinkie asked, she would have tilted her head if she could move.

''Oh that wasn't Night's'' Dusky smiled nervously. ''It was Trickshot's idea.''

''Who?'' Swift and Pinkie asked at the same time.

''Me, sorry bout that, had to let you ponies know what we can do.'' Another male voice answered for Dusky.

Undoing the freezing spell, Dusky allowed the two ponies freedom of movement again. Vinyl rushed up to Swift and wrapped him in her forelegs, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. Swift felt himself blush, and gave her a quick hug back, before turning his attention to the stallion who had just joined the one Dusky had called ''Nights''

The new stallion had a coat that seemed like it couldn't decide to be blue or gray, so it chose both. His mane and tail were a darker shade of gray. His eyes were a gleaming red, similar to Vinyl's. His cutie mark, the crosshairs of a scope rested on his flank. A pony sniper rifle was slung through a belt around his waist, marking him as the sniper.

Nights on the other hand, was a plain shade of gray, but his mane was a deep blue. His eyes were a beautiful purple, which matched his cutie mark, some sort of dragon. He wore a long black trench coat, which somehow left his mark uncovered.

''There's only three of ya, are there anymore of y'all?'' Apple Jack interrupted Swift's thoughts.

''Yeah, there's more of us, we're holed up in a large mansion not to far from here'' Nights grinned.

''And your welcome to join us, if you want to.'' Dusky added.

''What do you think?'' Vinyl nudged Swift. ''Should we trust them?''

''Better if you do'' The stallion Swift assumed was ''Trickshot'' said gruffly. ''You've got a filly with you, and she's gotta be exhausted, with all that stuff your making her carry.''

''I'm fine sir, I can handle myself.'' Scootaloo challenged. The sniper chuckled. ''If you say so.''

''You know what, yeah, we'll go with you, at least for now, we could use a good place to stay.'' Swift smiled.

''Good, then lets-''

Dusky Novel was cut off by a sound they hadn't noticed until now, a sound that was getting louder by the second.

''What is that?'' Scootaloo glanced around, her wings flapping nervously.

Dusky suddenly leapt off the ground, her large wings spreading wide as she took flight, she began to hover above the buildings, searching the area.

She let out a little gasp and flew back down.

''What did you see?'' Vinyl asked the question they were all thinking.

''There's a large horde coming this way, and their coming from every direction.'' The Alicorn shivered.

''Shit, the gun shots must have attracted them...'' Nights groaned.

Swift felt the blood drain from his face, ''Oh buck...''

''We need ta get outta dodge!'' Apple Jack shouted.

Trickshot suddenly reached towards Scootaloo and plucked the saddlebags right off the filly's back. ''Come on, follow us, we best get going, don't want to get eaten!'' He swung the bags onto his back and began quickly heading towards an alley.

The rest began following close behind, following as fast as they could, Scootaloo now riding her scooter which Pinkie had produced for her from thin air.

Three zombies, all unicorns, suddenly blocked the alleyway's end. Before the others could react, Trickshot had his sniper out, he took only a second to have the scope up to his eye and his hoof ready to push the small lever. ''Boom.'' He grinned, and the barrel of the gun exploded in a quick flash, another loud bang ringing from the weapon. The unicorn to the far left suddenly had a hole through its head, and fell back, hitting the ground.

The second zombie fell a second later as a second bang rang out, the third one however, was stopped when an arrow pierced its eye. The unicorn stood there for a second, stumbling a bit, before collapsing. Swift turned to see Nights now holding a pony crossbow he had produced from his trench coat.

''Wow, you two are great shots.'' Swift complimented.

''Thanks, now lets move!'' Nights exclaimed.

Galloping again, the group began making their way to the mansion, and safety, but the alleys and streets were getting more and more crowded as zombies began to fill the streets and converge from all directions, they were forced to head through the less zombie infested streets. Any zombie that got to close was met by Swift's blade, Trickshot's bullets, or Apple Jack's hammer.

They finally stopped in the middle of a street, panting heavily for breath. ''We have to keep moving!'' Nights shouted.

''The filly can't run as long as us Nights!'' Trickshot almost growled.

''We have a big problem guys!'' Pinkie suddenly exclaimed, breaking the two stallions away from approaching argument.

The ponies all turned to see the that they were now trapped, the street they now were on was being swarmed from all directions, and there were to many to fight their way through. ''Buck! Now what!'' Vinyl swore.

''Dusky! Any spells that can get us out of here?!'' Swift turned to the tall mare, who shook her head.

''Not that I know of, but I can use my special talent to deal with this.'' The Alicorn suddenly turned to face down the street, and began to speak:

''The survivors and their new friends came to a street, but the undead now blocked every exit, and there was no escape, however, suddenly a building to the side of one of the streets, which had been damaged during the beginning, now was standing due to a single pillar of wood, and would be accessible through a large hole in the wall.''

''What...'' Apple Jack was cut off when suddenly a large hole in one of the buildings materialized out of nowhere. Through the hole a pillar of wood was visible, just as Dusky had said.

''What in tarnation just happened?'' The farmer gasped.

''I'll explain later, now-''

''Quick! AJ, Nights, Trickshot, help me weaken that beam!'' Swift interrupted the Alicorn, and began galloping straight for the building. The others didn't question it, they just followed.

The four ponies began bucking the beam, taking turns as fast as they could. They could hear the horde drawing closer, making them pick up the speed of their bucking. After many chips and cracks, the beam looked ready to topple and bring the house down.

''Alright! Get out!'' Swift ordered, dashing through the hole, followed by the others.

A Pegasus zombie lunged at the group still standing in the streets, but was met with a blast from Vinyl's spear before it could get to close. Two unicorns had tried to sneak up on them ,their moans going undetected until they were almost on top of the group, but Pinkie and Dusky acted fast and the two monsters suddenly were on the ground, no longer moving.

Pinkie pulled the cleaver from the corpses head with a muffled grunt, as she gripped the now dripping blade in her teeth. Dusky and Vinyl were now blasting zombies with their magic left and right, trying to slow their advances, but there were just to many.

''Vinyl! Get ready to blast the beam!'' Swift suddenly screamed. As he galloped towards them, followed by Apple Jack, Nights, and Trickshot. Catching onto his plan, the DJ charged up her horn, and aimed for the wooden poll.

''Wait for it...wait for it...'' Scootaloo muttered to Vinyl's left.

''NOW!'' Swift screamed.

The magic lanced out from the unicorns horn, connecting with the poll, where the two forces clashed for a second, before the wood gave, and Vinyl's magic cut through it. The house suddenly shook, before leaning to one side and collapsing onto the street, crushing the advancing horde at the end of the street beneath it.

''Now! Over the rubble! Hurry!'' Swift ordered, and the group began galloping as fast as they could, scrabbling over the rubble of the building as fast as they could.

Author's Note

OC's have been inserted, but its still not to late to have yours inserted, there's still time!

I just want to thank all the people who added their OC's already, I hope I did them justice.

Also, go check out my new YouTube channel, Swift Blade, for mlp fanfic readings!