Among The Trotting Dead

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5

Chapter 1

“Twilight are you almost done with your potion? Spike calls out from the bottom of the spiral staircase.

Twilight stares intensely at her work. She bites down on her tongue as she grinds up minerals in her pestle and mortar. “Almost Spike!” She calls out not looking up from her work. “I need to add a few more ingredients to the mix!” Using her magic, she gently adds the grounded-up minerals into a vile containing a corrosive substance. Filling it, she closes it with a cork and gives the mixture a shake.

“You know Ponyville’s science fair isn’t until next week!” Spike looks out the round shaped window by the front door. Watching the sun set behind the horizon he huffs out a sigh. “You can come back and work on it after the dance!” He fidgets with his bowtie. “I mean you’re not even ready!”

Twilight rolls her eyes. “Can’t wait to see a special some-pony?”

Spike blushes, kicking the bottom step. “Uh… sort of.”

Twilight giggles “I’m sure your ‘special some-pony’ will understand.” She watches the mixture sizzle. “Just a few more minutes…”

POP!!!

BANG!!!

Smoke fills her room. Her hears ring. Her head pounds from a head splitting headache. Her ears fold back as she lifts her head from her carpeted floor. She lazily looks around. Her mind lost in a dense fog. “Err!” A sharp sensation shoots through her neck. With a groan she rests her forehead on the floor and puts a hoof to the spot, trying to dull the searing pain.

“Twilight! Are you alright?” Spike calls out as he runs up the stairs.

Twilight lets out a sharp hiss. Gritting her teeth, she removes her hoof to find blood coating it. She stares at the crimson in disbelief. “I… ERK!” The glass fragments in her neck dig deeper into her. The acid on her skin reacts to her muscles’ movements. In a jolt she presses down hard onto the wound and gasps for air. It only makes it worse. “SPIKE!... GERK!” She forces herself to yell out before collapsing onto the floor, coughing up blood.

“Twilight! Twilight are you alright?” Spike runs into her room. “TWILIGHT!” He jumps back in horror at the sight of her lying in her own blood.

Twilight glares up at Spike, tears flow from her eyes. She extends a hoof begging for his help.

Spike scans over the burn and cuts on her neck. Seeing it bleeding at a consistent rate he quickly grabs a small blanket from her bed and gently wraps it around her neck. Finished with his impromptu first-aid, he gets up from the floor and runs to the stairs. “Hold on Twilight! I’m going to get some help!” He looks over his shoulders and sees Twilight turning over on her back, extending her hooves once more, her fearful eyes begging him to stay. He breaks his gaze and looks away. He cannot bear to see her in such a state. Tears fall from his eyes. “Just hold on…”

Twilight hears Spike run down the stairs, the front door slamming open as he dashes out into the cobblestone streets of their hometown. His frantic cries for help echoing back into her room from her open bedroom window.

As time passes, her surroundings begin to feel cold and foreign to her. Darkness creeps into her vision. Tears swell in her eyes. A million horrid thoughts race through her mind. Her breathing becomes heavier. Her blood soaks her fur. She exhales sharply before her mind and world go dark.

Piercing silence fills Twilight’s mind. Her ears ring sharply, aggravating her migraine. She gazes numbly at the plain white ceiling above her with bloodshot eyes. The sheets that lay over her are itchy and uncomfortable as they cling to her sweat soaked fur. With a moan she tries to sit up but her body is heavy. With a sigh, she turns her head and sees and empty IV to her right.

Confused she forces herself to sit up. Hissing, she painfully looks around from her perch. Seeing that she has awoken in one of the recovery rooms of Ponyville’s General Hospital, she stares at her lap, looking at the rough fibers of the sheet. “What?” She mumbles to herself. Rubbing her head, she grumbles as she runs a hoof along her neck. “Err!” She pulls away her hoof and gives a long sigh. “Oh…” She moans as she remembers her accident. “I’ve should’ve been more careful with that stupid potion.” She places a hoof back on her neck where her wound is. Feeling a bandage covering it, she hisses, slouching forward.

Her ears flicker at the silence. It was deafening. Twilight sighs, moving her gaze to her left towards the window. Clouds are overhead, blocking out the mid-afternoon sun. She huffs, moving her gaze the right. She stares at the I.V. system once again and follows the line connected to her right arm. Rubbing her eyes, she looks at the I.V. bottle and notices that its empty. The date on the bottle reads, September 12th, 1923.She rubs her head. “I been in the hospital for two weeks?” She touches her neck. ‘I… could’ve died…’ She looks back at the I.V. bottle. ‘Why is it empty?’ She stares at the door to her room with bewildered eyes. The door is shut for some reason.

She sees a hoof call button by her bed and presses it. No one comes. She presses it again. Still, no comes. “Nurse…!” Twilight chokes on her words. Her throat feels like a barren desert. She grits her teeth. “Nurse!” A coughing fit overcomes her. Taking back control, she stares at the door with tearful eyes. Still, no one comes. Twilight becomes worried. “Why is no one coming?” Nervous, she uses what strength she has and stands up. With a heavy sigh, she holds onto the I.V. stand and slips off the bed. Placing a hind hoof onto the cool tile floor, she lets gravity take over, allowing the limb to take all her weight. Her actions give her a short burst of Nirvana before gravity overtakes her, sending her crashing to the floor. Laying on the ground, completely frustrated with her situation, she yells out with a tired sigh. “Nurse…”

Still receiving no reply, Twilight lifts herself up off the floor and slowly makes her way to her recovery room’s restroom. Stepping into the small space, she gazes into the mirror hanging over the sink. She stares numbly at herself, her dark lavender mane frizzled and undone. Her bright purple eyes dull and tired. Her light purple fur coat unkept. As her friend Rarity would put it, ‘she’s a hot mess.' Grunting, she turns on the faucet. The pipes moan for several seconds, until water trickles out. A small burst of energy overcomes her while she laps up the water. Drinking for a good minute or so, she gasps for air, lifting her head from the sink, resting her head on its cold porcelain surface.

Stretching her back, she shuts off the faucet and walks to the entrance to her recovery room. Using her magic, she turns the knob and opens the door, but it’s stuck. Scared, she uses her body-weight on the door, it creaks, opening slowly as whatever is blocking it squeaks along the floor. With a gap big enough for her she slips through and steps into the hall. Looking at the medical gurney with confusion, she looks around at the corridor she stands in.

Wires hang from the exposed ceiling tiles. The tiled floor is coated with splintered wood, plaster, glass, and blood. Office and medical supplies lay scattered around her. Bullet holes, arrows and magic residues scar the walls. To her left the hall is bathed in darkness and to her right, the lights are on at the end of the hall, but just barely, they flicker haphazardly setting an eerie mood.

“What happened?” Tears come to Twilight’s eyes as she slowly walks up to a receptionist desk across from her. Dust covers its surface. Bullet holes scar its wood paneling exterior. Lifting herself up, Twilight peeks over the countertop. Her vision is greeted with papers and knick-knacks lying randomly about, covered in dust and soaking in blood. Seeing the blood, her body becomes tense as she follows the trail to the corpse of a mare. Her eyes staring back at her with milky-eyes, her skull caved in above the brow. Fear overwhelms Twilight’s soul. Jumping back, she falls to the floor with a violent thud. Her arms drag her away until she bumps up against a wall. “What the…” She glares at the dark hall to her left; a chill runs down her spine. Fearing the unknowns, she moves towards the lit part of the corridor.

Finding that the end of the hall is a ‘T’ section, she stands under the flickering light. Her legs tremble as she restudies her surroundings. On her right is a metal door and to her left is another hall leading to the cafeteria and the emergency exit.

The soft buzzing of the dying light bulbs overhead unnerves her. She looks back at the receptionist desk and stares at the mare. Shivers dance down her spine, imagining what awful pain the mare must’ve experienced. Pulling herself out of her fog, she tries the door’s handle. The latch turns with a solid click, but it doesn’t budge. “Locked?! No…” Twilight mumbles. She thinks about manipulating the locks with her magic, but a pulsating migraine dances in her head.

Eyeing the double doors to the cafeteria, she sighs and makes her way to them. Having made her way past the dangerous scatterings of debris, she examines the doors. Jammed through the handles is a two by four plank. “Why would they lock the doors so crudely?” Summing her magic, she pushes the plank through the handles. Grasping them with her hooves, she pulls them towards her. “Oh, dear sweet Celestia!” Twilight suffocates from the horrid smells assaulting her senses. Her body becomes stiff from the unholy amount of fear that washes over her soul.

Within the walls of the cafeteria, stands several ponies of all ages and races, showing different states of bodily harm and decay. Other bodies lay on the ground, their flesh torn from their bones. One of the dead, a young mare wearing a nurse cap turns her head to face Twilight. Her milky eyes staring into her fearful eyes.

Twilight’s eyes stay fixated on the mare. She knows this mare. She was one of her go to nurses. She was her friend. “Redheart?… It’s me Twilight… Redheart can you hear me?” Twilight speaks softly to the mare, a part of her mind ignoring the fact she’s a walking corpse.

Redheart tilts her head, trotting slowly towards Twilight. Moans of pain escaping her lips with each step she takes.

Twilight notices Redheart and several other ponies making their way to her. Their movements sending chills down her spine. They look sick. Lost. Dead. Feeling her stomach twist itself into knots, she backs away from the approaching group. “Please get away from me, all of you don’t look well… Oof!” She trips over her trembling limbs.

Redheart seizing the opportunity and lunges for her prey. Before she can sink her teeth into Twilight, Twilight rolls out of the way, causing her to crash onto the floor. Standing up quickly, Twilight makes a mad dash to the emergency exit. Seeing her meal getting away, Redheart lunges once again, this time she manages to tackle her to the ground. Twilight fights back as they roll across the floor until they come to the top of the stairs.

“Get off of me! What do you think you’re doing Redheart!” Twilight hisses, holding the mare back. Redheart’s only response is the snapping of her teeth just inches away from her snout. “Don’t you understand?” Twilight yells. “Ah!”

Both mares tumble down the first section of steps. Redheart falls head first, landing awkwardly on her neck. The force and her body weight snap her spinal cord, twisting her head around in an ungodly manner. Twilight falls on Redheart’s body, bouncing off and landing next to her. Twilight groans as she sits up, looking to her right, she gasps at the site of Redheart’s mangled body. Redheart’s eyes lay still for a short second before they dart over to the unicorn, her jaw snapping at her.

Twilight jumps in fear. Adrenaline coursing through her veins she bolts down the remaining steps, slamming herself against the metal double doors. They open violently, sending her tumbling onto the pavement of the parking lot structure.

Pain dances across her body. Stunned by the sudden jolt from her fall, Twilight gets up with a moan. Hearing the muffled moans of the dead coming down the stairs, forces her to jump to the doors in a panic. Tearing off her medical gown, she shuts the doors and quickly uses it to tie them shut. She manages to get a second knot tied before the doors jerk from the dead slamming themselves into them. She falls back onto the ground scrapping her hindquarters on the pavement.

Scared of the inevitable, she backs away and drags herself across the ground until she butts up against a tire of a putter-car.

Her body shakes violently, she dares not to open her eyes. But as the minute’s pass, all remained quiet. Getting a hold of her nerves, her eyes open and she stares at the doors. Her knot held firm, only allowing a small gap that the dead could fit their arms through.

Taking a shallow breath, Twilight studies her surroundings, making sure that the parking structure is void of the dead. Seeing none, she slowly gets up, her gaze falling back on the doors. The dead stare at her with crazied eyes. She looks at those eyes. They hold no soul. “What happened to them?” She moves further away from the doors. “They look sick… Was there a pandemic? But how?… No! MY FAMILY!” Twilight’s heart slams itself against her chest, thoughts of her family as one of them swims through her mind.

Thinking fast, she scans the few putter-wagons and putter-cars resting in the parking-lot, seeing if keys still remain within, but she finds none. The idea of hot-wiring one of them crosses her mind, but her brain is too racked with fatigue to do such a thing. Summoning what strength is left within her, she makes her way out of the parking structure and to the main road that leads to Ponyville’s town center.

Sunlight slams her vision as the brick and mortar dams lower into the ground as she ascends the incline. She holds up a hoof, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the natural light. Blinking several times, she lowers her hoof and opens her eyes once again. Her vision is greeted with a vast array of tall trees surrounding the hospital, swaying in the cool summer breeze. The breeze calms her as it sweeps over the valley. Letting out a tired sigh, she looks at the overgrown grass lots and grass banks down the main road running towards Ponyville. With a forced smile, she makes her way down the road.

Walking down the street, the parking structure fading behind her, the hospital itself comes into view. Twilight’s pace slows down as she scans over the destruction scaring the building. The longer she stares, the weaker her limbs become. Her stride falls as she collapses onto the grass field that spreads all around the hospital. “Oh, sweet Luna…” Her pupils shrink.

Military and medical equipment lay across the grassy lots, battered and broken. Several putter-wagons and cars of military and civilian makes, lay parked, some with broken windows, burnt interiors or covered in layers of dirt. Among the disarray of equipment and vehicles, tents of varying colors and sizes stand in several states of decay. The bodies of military, hospital and civilian ponies dot the landscape, laying in the positions of their final moments. Her own fears shake her. Her teeth rattle and her eyes water once again. A single tear rolls down her face for a third time this day. “I need to get out of here.” All this death is too much for her to bear. Looking over her shoulder at the road, it seems to her at least, like it’s inviting her to stand up and make a mad dash to her destination. She follows its advice, there is no sense in arguing with it.

Thirty minutes passed since she had left the hospital.

Twilight walks softly down the cobblestone road, the trees lining the road dancing in the breeze. The feeling around here is calm. She welcomes this. After seeing what she had seen, she didn’t know if she could witness more of it.

Nearing the small bridge that lead into town, Twilight breathes a sigh of relief, but soon she comes to a halt as the sight of a wreck comes into view. A large putter-wagon had crashed into several putter cars in the middle of the bridge, clogging the path. Pinned under its back tire is one of the dead, a teen colt. His front limbs slowly reaching out for something to grab.

Twilight stares at the colt. He looks like he’s in pain. She moves closer to him, but she stops and stands three feet away. The colt feeling her presence, turns his gaze to her, flailing his arms, his front hooves scratching the cobblestone road. Sadness overcomes her as she steps away. “Sweet Celestia…” She looks past the wreckage and sees her home in the distance.

Not seeing a safe and definite path over the heap, she looks down at the stream. The water flowing gently along its path towards the lake it’s connected to. With one quick glance at the colt, she jumps down the soft soil bank, walks over the algae covered rocks and climbs up the other side behind a glassware shop.

Taking a breath, she makes a mad dash towards her home.

Getting to the back door of her library home, she rummages through the rocks lining the overgrown garden and finds her hidden key. Key held firmly in her magic, she puts it through the lock, when all of a sudden, the door swings inwards from her touch. “It’s unlocked?” Nervous, she pushes the door gentility and slowly steps inside.

The door creaks as it comes to its resting place. The sunlight shines through the open door, lighting up the interior, casting Twilight’s shadow onto the hard wood flooring. Her home had received the act of looting to its fullest. A good amount of her books were missing or torn up, same with her pictures. Her oak wood table in the middle of the library was scarred by axe and fire. Her kitchen from what she can see was cleaned of its food and utensils. A chill runs down her spine as she processes what she sees.

Swallowing a lump, she treks further into her home. “Spike! Shining!” She yells out. “Mom! Dad!” She rushes up the stairs. Entering her room, she shivers at the state that its in. Her bed is turned over, robbed of its sheets. Her desk is broken. Her closet’s doors were torn off their hinges. Random knickknacks lay scattered across the floor. Then there is a read stain by her desk… her blood.

Shaking away a chill she stumbles into Spike’s room. “SPIKE!” His room is in the same state as hers. Sobbing she darts out of his room and checks the rest of her home. Then again, and again, and again… Her legs give out forcing her to the floor with a thud.

Twilight stares at the hardwood floor with bloodshot eyes. She sobs a pain filled cry as she runs her hooves across it. “This can’t be real… It can’t be…” She keeps rubbing the floor, but as the seconds pass the pain in her chest becomes too much to bear. “No… No… NO! NO! NO!” She punches herself repeatedly over her head, trying desperately to rid her mind of the horror she’s seen.

But alas, she’s still in her ransacked home… Alone. Feeling a puling migraine course through her skull, she rests her head on the floor, giving in to her situation with a defeated sigh.

An hour or so passes.

The sun is at seven in the sky. The warm oranges and dark reds flooding into the main room of the library. Twilight lays still, sweat rolls off her body from the humid air. Blinking, she moves her gaze to two picture frames, one a photo of her family and the other a picture of her and her friends. She feels like they were speaking to her. Telling to move on. Rubbing her eyes, she stands up and makes her way out of her home and onto her front porch.

Sitting by the steps, she stares out over the desolate town. Several homes and shops were ransacked. Others were burned down or boarded up. A random number of putter-cars and putter-wagons laid abandoned in the cobblestone streets. Several forming a line out of the city towards the blocked bridge she had passed earlier.

The ones fleeing, never had a chance.

The clouds overhead slowly part, exposing the late evening sky to whoever wanted to see. The birds upon seeing the sky, chirp away, singing a night time melody. “Err…” Twilight ears twitch. “What right do they have to be so happy?” She spits as the birds fly overhead.

WHAM!!!

“Bro I got one!” A young pegasus colt calls out, holding a shovel his hooves.

Twilight looks at the colt, her vision blurring with each passing second. “Shining?”

The colt jumps back as she reaches out to him. “Rumble are you alright?” A young stallion comes up to his side.

Rumble glances up at the stallion. “Thunderlane, she spoke!”

“Bro, you know they don’t talk… Twilight, dear Luna you’re alive!” Thunderlane looks down at the mare and sees her eyes getting heavier. “Quick Rumble, hold onto my bag and call for Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. We’re getting out of here now.” Handing over his bag, he lifts her onto his back.

Her vision fades slowly until the world around her goes black.

Silence overwhelms Twilight once again. She feels the rough fabric of a couch poking her skin, her neck lays awkwardly on its arm rest. An old sheet that smells of age hugs her. Sitting up, she rubs her eyes and lets out a pained sigh. Looking around she finds herself in a home she’s unfamiliar with. The room is dark, except for the soft glow of candle light seeping through the gap under the door.

Pain pulses through her neck once more and with a groan she places her hoof on the spot, only to become confused when she feels a clean bandage has replaced her old one. Feeling its soft cotton fibers, she begins to wonder who’d patched her up, when the glow from outside her room begins to make its way to her. The door swings open with a moan. A figure of a pegasus mare with a prism colored mane and soft sky-blue fur stands in the doorway, holding a candle tray in her mouth. The mare smiles as she steps into the room, setting the candle on the coffee table. “You’re awake.” She sits down on the floor next to her.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight’s voice cracks as she holds her hooves over her mouth. “You’re alive…”

Rainbow Dash holds a hoof to her lips and pulls her into a hug. “Shhh,” Giving a squeeze, she ends the hug and goes to the window. Looking through the small slit through the wooden boards, she eyes the dark streets. Seeing nothing she sighs and closes the curtains. Twilight becomes confused by her actions. “Closing the curtains. The trotters are sensitive to light and sound. If we’re going to talk, we have to speak softly.” Rainbow Dash states, noticing her friend’s confusion.

Twilight raises a brow. “Trotters?” She combs over her bangs with a hoof. “Is that what you call the dead?”

“Yes…” Rainbow Dash sits on the floor, leaning against the couch. “It makes it easier to confront them… especially when they attack you.” She rubs the back of her neck.

Twilight messes with the sheet. “Have you… You know, killed any?” Thoughts of Redheart seep back into her mind.

Rainbow Dash rubs her brow. “Yes…” She stares back at her friend with tired eyes. “About five or eight... I lost count.” Twilight looks at her magenta eyes and not wanting her to worry more, smiles back. Rainbow Dash returns the gesture as she looks at her neck. “How’s it holding up?”

Twilight touches her neck. “Alright, thanks for changing it.”

Rainbow Dash smirks. “No problem, good thing we found those medical supplies today during our scavenging run… Not bad for my first time…” Feeling a kink in her back, she stretches her wings and flaps them several time before relaxing them. “How are you holding up?”

Twilight gives a sigh. “I feel like I woke up in a damn nightmare.” She lays her head in her hooves. Rainbow Dash only hums, the tone of it sounding to her at least, that she felt the same. Twilight feels relief that one of her friends is alive and well, if she’s alive, so were the others, she hopes. Feeling safe for the first time this day, she messes with her bangs some more and gives a soft sigh. “Rainbow Dash?”

“Mmm?” She hums, looking up at her friend.

“What happened to Ponyville?”

Rainbow Dash shifts uncomfortably. “It’s not just Ponyville, it's all of Equestria, the whole world if what I’ve seen is any indication.” She sits up and stares at her friend. “Even after a month, it still doesn’t seem real, you know.”

Twilight raises a brow at her friend’s statement. “A month?” She looks down at her hooves. “It’s been a month?”

Rainbow Dash feels pity for her friend. “Yes…”

“Food is ready… Oh hey Twilight, you’re awake.” Thunderlane smiles at the young mares. “Hope your head feels ok, my brother is sorry for hitting you over the head with a shovel.” He gives a sheepish grin. “Anyways, you should come before it gets cold.” He slips out of the doorway back to where he came from.

Rainbow Dash looks at the kitchen through the open door. Sitting at the table is Rumble and Scootaloo, waiting impatiently to eat as they stare at the blue flame of the portable kettle heating the pot above. “You hungry?” Twilight lifts her head and nods her head. Smiling, Rainbow Dash offers her a hoof and Twilight accepts.

As they step into the kitchen, Scootaloo and Rumble look at Twilight and wave at her with smiles. Twilight returns the gesture. Taking their seats, they take their bowls and see a good amount of honey baked beans. “So, I see you’ve brought out the beans.” Rainbow Dash smirks at the Thunderlane.

“Yep.” Thunderlane scoops out three spoonsful for him, his brother and Scootaloo. “I think we needed something other than junk food.” He gives her a sly wink, which earns him a roll of the eyes.

Twilight looks at her spoon and activates her horn. It glows, but only for a second. A migraine still lingers. Frowning she picks up her spoon with her hoof and takes a bite of her own. She hums in delight as her tongue enjoys the tastes and texture of the meal. Even though it was just plain old canned beans, it tastes like it came from a five-star restaurant in Canterlot. She begins shoving spoonful after spoonful at a steady pace. The group looks at the unicorn with amused smirks. Feeling their gaze, Twilight looks up, seeing their shit eating grins. “What?”

“Hungry?” Rainbow Dash snickers.

Twilight blushes as she glances down at her bowl and sees that half of her meal remains. With a sheepish grin, she sets down her spoon. “Uh… I guess.” She takes a large gulp from her water bottle. The warm liquid washing her mouth. “Thanks for the food… It’s been a while since I had a proper meal.” She sets down her bottle.

A chill runs up Rainbow Dash’s spine. “It has…” She plays with her meal.

Twilight begins to play with her own meal as well. “Yes… It has… I still can’t believe I was in the hospital for a whole month? If what I’ve seen today is any indication of the state of our country, nay the world, I should be dead!” Her words cut deep into Rainbow Dash’s emotions, causing her to flinch. “Rainbow Dash are you alright?” Concern washes over her heart.

Rainbow Dash feels her friend’s hoof on her shoulder. Taking a deep breath, she replies. “No Twilight, you’re right, you should be dead… But you’re alive, Thank Celesta! Thank Redheart!”

Twilight ears twitch. Confusion and dread flood her heart. “Thank… Redheart?”

“Yes, Redheart…” Rainbow Dash turns to face Twilight, placing her hooves on her shoulders. “Twilight during the panic, I and your older brother tried to get you out of the hospital, but the military… They were killing the dead, killing any pony who looked sick… Anyone who so happen to be near the infected… It was a mad house!”

Twilight couldn’t believe her words, the military killing civilians? They were supposed to protect. Had things really gotten that bad? “How was I not killed?”

“We locked you in your recovery room. Redheart and I had tried to wheel you out, but seeing the military down the hall near the exit… Killing ponies… It was her idea, Redheart told me she would stay and hide until the madness died down. She said she’d take care of you until she could get you out safely.” Tears begin to swell around her eyes. “So, we used a gurney to block your door, and we went our separate ways.” She starts to choke on her words. Twilight seeing her friend spiraling into a panic pulls her into a hug, which she accepts.

“For the longest time, we waited for Redheart to show up to Applejack’s farm, but she never came. Rainbow Dash tried going back to get you two, but after seeing the state of the hospital from the outside, she couldn’t bear to enter. She feared the worse.” Thunderlane takes a sip of his water “It means a lot to her, to us, that you’re alive.”

Twilight smiles as she holds her friend closer.

“Is Redheart alive?” Rainbow Dash mumbles. A lump forms in Twilight’s throat. Her hug loosens as the image of a mangled Redheart fills her mind. Rainbow Dash pulls away from the hug and looks at her friend straight in the eyes. “Please… Is she alive?” Twilight looks away and shakes her head. Rainbow Dash feels sick. “No… Damn it!” She yells in a fit of anger. She knocks her empty bowl on the floor and storms up the stairs.

“Rainbow Dash keep your voice down… Ah hell.” Thunderlane huffs as he lays his head in his hoof. Rumble and Scootaloo look at the stairs, then to him and Twilight with worrisome eyes. He can feel their emotions coming to a boil. “Why don’t the both of you go read your comic books in the living room.” The children nod their heads and leave the table without a word. The table becomes quite as Thunderlane and Twilight sit, staring at their meals. “She’s been through a lot.”

Twilight looks at the stallion. “How much death has she seen?”

Thunderlane hums as he stirs his beans. “Most of the weather crew, some of the Wonder Bolts… And her parents.”

Twilight looks at the top of the stairs, her heart aching. “Oh, Rainbow Dash…”

“And possibly Fluttershy.”

“What!” Twilight looks wide eyed at the stallion, her mind mulling over his words.

Thunderlane is quick to calm her. “She’s not one of them or dead… Or so we think. It’s just that during the panic we got separated. For several days we searched, almost lost some pony from our group… After that Applejack and your brother called off the search.”

Twilight wasn’t comfortable with his words. “My brother or Applejack wouldn’t’ve just given up like that!”

“No…” Thunderlane sighs. “We left care packages and notes in the Everfree forest and around town… We just did that today… We are hoping she finds them and makes her way to the orchard.” He takes a bite.

Twilight looks down in shame. “Sorry to jump to conclusions like that.”

“No worries… We have some hope she’s alive. Some of the care packages were taken. Well, it could be her or other survivors, but we like to think it’s her, you know.” Thunderlane leans back in his seat.

Twilight nods her head. She wasn’t comfortable with giving up the search for Fluttershy, but the care package system her friends implemented calms her. She knows that it would lead to some good. “You said you’re held up at Applejack’s orchard, and one of my brothers is still alive… Is Spike alive?” The stallion nods. “Who else of our friends and family made it there?”

“Well, besides Applejack and her family, there is us…” Thunderlane waves a hoof in a sweeping motion. He smiles, smugly in nature earning him a roll of the eyes from Twilight. “There is Soarin, Rarity, and her little sister Sweetie Belle. Lotus, Aloe, Copper, Jet Cloud. Sunny, Bolt and their three children. Summer Wind, Jiminy Jam, Willy Pete and Applejack’s neighbor Carrot Top. Dr. Hooves, Derpy, and her daughter Dinky. And finally, there is Marley and Zipper.”

Twilight smiles as he lists off the names of the ponies residing on the orchard. Her brothers were alive, most of her friends, some ponies she knew and some she didn’t. She feels proud of Applejack and her friends for bringing in so many who needed help. However, one pony was missing from that list, another friend of hers. “Where’s Pinkie? Is she lost like Fluttershy?”

Thunderlane shakes his head. “Naw, she fled with the Cakes to her parent’s farm. They plan on regrouping with us when this all blows over or whenever the government arrives. One thing I know, Celestia will solve this.”

Twilight frowns. If what she’d seen and what Rainbow Dash said was correct about the state of the world, the thought of the government stepping up and fixing the pandemic seems like a longshot… hopeless. “Do you really think that our government… Err… It feels wrong saying this about our diarchies… My teacher, but if our world is still in ruins after a month, I don’t think they’ll be coming anytime soon.” She sighs, leaning back in her chair.

It was Thunderlane’s turn to frown. “Twilight, you of all ponies should have faith, trust in our diarchies!”

“I do have trust, believe me! It’s just that… Celestia and Luna are the most powerful ponies on this earth.” Twilight shutters at her own thoughts. “They should’ve been able to solve this weeks ago, with some sort of spell… We wouldn’t be having this conversation if they did so, but look, we are here in some pony’s home, using it as shelter from the dead!”

Thunderlane looks down at his empty bowl. “You think they’re dead… Do you? What about the sun and the moon? They’re still moving.”

Twilight glares at the boarded-up window by the front door. “Their spirits are with the sun and the moon Thunderlane. They will still move even if our diarchies pass on.” She looks at her beans. “It just that they’re Alicorns, Thunderlane, they’re God like with how powerful their magic is. Something like this would’ve been solved within a week or two… I do not wish it to be so... But…”

“Maybe this sickness is taking longer to cure than our government thought.” Thunderlane sighs, getting up he picks up the bowls and begins walking to the sink. “Why don’t you go check on Rainbow Dash, we’ll be needing to hit the sack, busy day tomorrow.” He glances back staring into her eyes with his bright yellow eyes. Twilight nods a reply and stands up from her seat, making her way up the stairs.

Getting to the top of the steps, she peaks in the rooms, looking for the prism maned pony. Arriving at the last room, Twilight sees Rainbow Dash laying on a twin bed, belly down, her limbs sprawled out over the sides. Twilight walks up to the pegasus and sits in front of her. In the dim light, she sees her magenta color eyes staring sadly into space. “Rainbow Dash… How are you feeling?”

“As good as can be…” Rainbow Dash huffs. “I heard what you said about the Princesses.” She looks up at her friend. “Do you actually believe they’re dead?”

Again, Twilight rethinks her words, mulling over the thought. Deep down she didn’t want to think such a thing, but the way the world looks, she could only fear the worse. “I don’t want to, but what I’ve seen… the evidence is dragging down my hopes.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t reply for a while, only a hum is given letting Twilight know that she understands. The two of them sit in silence for a while before Rainbow Dash rolls on her back. “It’s getting late Twi. Let’s hit the hay and catch some Z’s.” Rainbow Dash sits up and stretches her wings. “Besides.” The pegasus chirps. “Tomorrow’s gonna be a busy day for the ponies back on the orchard.” She looks at her friend with a sly smirk.

Standing atop a hill overlooking Ponyville from afar is an orange furred earth pony mare. Her blonde mane flaps in the breeze. Her green eyes scanning the dark husks of the stores and homes of the once vibrant town.

“Whatcha looking for AJ?”

Applejack turns to face the pony speaking to her. It’s a pegasus stallion a head taller than her with a thinner frame. His sky gray-blue fur standing out in the moon lit night. “Looking for the safe house Soarin.” She turns her gaze back to the town.

Soarin gives a chuckle. “You know they boarded that thing up tight so no light can get out, right? It’s a well-built fortress.”

Applejack rolls her eyes. “I know, I’m just worried about them.” She kicks the ground with her front hoof. “I can’t lose another one of my friends…” She feels a cheek rub up against hers. She fights the affection for a couple of seconds, but eventually gives in and returns the love.

“They did this many times silly pony. They’ll return safe and sound I promise.” He looks out over the town and sees a light flicker in the distance.

Applejack sees it as well and lets out a sigh. “How is everyone?”

“Good, most are sleeping. Marley and Zipper are awake, they’re patrolling the fence with Shining.” Soarin lays his right wing over Applejack.

Applejack leans into his chest. “I feel awful for Shining… I know his loss is taking its toll on him.”

Soarin looks down at the mare and gives a sigh. “Do you think it will help if we go to the hospital to give her a proper goodbye?”

Applejack shutters at the thought. “I think seeing her rotting away will break him.” She pulls away from his embrace. “I believe that it will break Rainbow Dash, it will break me…” Soarin rubs her cheek.

“Well I feel that not knowing her fate, is weighing heavier on his heart, wouldn’t you agree. I bet it weighs on yours? “Applejack looks away and stares at the grass surrounding them. Her eyes close, causing a tear to roll down her cheek. “Let’s leave that thought for another time. For now, let’s get some sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow.” Soarin kisses her on the lips. She returns the gesture, their tongues tied.

Chapter 2

The winds blow softly through the Ponyville. The sun’s rays warm the land. It feels strange for Twilight, seeing her home town so quiet, so void of life. The distant sloshing of river water and the chirping of blue-jays eventually break her from her mindless haze. Tearing her gaze from an abandoned building she looks over at the home she had stayed in overnight and sees her friends packing up the remainder of their supplies in their saddlebags.

“Is your head ok?”

Twilight looks away from the ponies on the porch and sees Rumble and Scootaloo standing in front of her, gazing up at her with their big innocent eyes. “Well,” She touches the spot where shovel had met skull. “It’s just a small bump, I’ll be fine.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Rumble breathes a sigh of relief.

“So, are you ready to go to the orchard?” Scootaloo asks, as she adjusts her saddlebag.

Twilight lets out a chuckle. “Oh yes, I’m looking forward to seeing my friends… and family…”

“Well we better get a move on before a herd of trotters shows up out of the blue.” Rainbow Dash quips tossing a saddlebag to Twilight.

Catching the bag, Twilight throws it over her shoulder. “They move in herds?” She gives her friend a raised brow.

“Yeah, from what we’ve seen…” Rainbow Dash heads down the road, the rest of ponies follow her. “They usually follow a predictable pattern, well most of the time. They only break their formation if they hear a noise that piques their interest.” She sees the gears turning in Twilight’s head. “Knowing you, you’d like to stay and study them, but first we need to bring our haul back to the orchard.”

“And then eat breakfast!” Rumble and Scootaloo jump up n’ down, with large smiles.

“Oh yes… breakfast, pancakes with apples… again.” Rainbow Dash sighs. The group giggles at her plight. Rolling her eyes, she looks back at the group. “Come on fillies and colts, I can’t wait to see the look on Twilight’s brothers’ faces.”

Pancakes sizzle in pan iron skillets. A spatula enters one of the pans, lifting the pancake into the air and onto a cool porcelain plate.

Applejack smells the pancake and gives a satisfied hum. She pours more batter into the empty skillet and stands back watching the three other pans cook their respective pancakes.

“Shoot pumpkin, you’re reminding me of when I was your age, cooking breakfast for my seven siblings.” Her grandmother Granny Smith chuckles from the dining table. Her shaky hooves expertly cut up some sour green apples.

“Well I did learn from the best!” Applejack looks over her shoulder, giving her grandmother a smile.

Rarity looks up from her seat on the couch by the fireplace. “Do you need help Applejack?” She asks as she sets down a folded blanket.

“Naw Rarity, I can handle it, besides we don’t need you all covered in pancake batter.” Applejack chuckles, smirking to herself.

Lotus and Aloe who sit beside Rarity giggle.

Rarity rolls her eyes. “I’m not that hopeless when it comes to cooking…” Rarity smirks, a chuckle leaving her lips. “But, when it comes to love, that’s a whole other story.” Applejack’s cheeks go red with embarrassment. “Oh darling, when are you and Soarin going to make it official?” Lotus and Aloe peak into the kitchen along with Rarity, all three of them giving the earth pony sly smirks.

A droplet of sweat rolls down Applejack’s face. “Um…” She taps the rim of a skillet with the wooden spatula. “Soon, we’re waiting for the right time…” Applejack stares at the top left pancake, taking it off the skillet.

“The right time?” Aloe questions.

“WHAT?” Rarity drops a towel onto her lap, a dumbfounded expression on her face. “Sweetie, you better make it quick, it’s the bloody apocalypse!” She rubs her brow. “I think it’s the best time in the world to tie the knot! Don’t you think girls?”

“Oh, yes… very much so.” Lotus replies with a chuckle, her sister Aloe chuckles as well.

“Well… I…” Applejack looks away from her task and gives the three mares a harsh glare.

“Your grandmother isn’t getting any younger sugar cube!” Granny Smith looks at her granddaughter. “I’m hoping to add ‘Great’ onto my title before I die.” She chuckles along with Rarity, Aloe and Lotus.

Applejack’s cheeks blush, soon her embarrassment increases when one of the pancakes catches fire. “Aw, shoot!”

Two stallions carrying a heavy wooden crate full of canned goods enter the barn. “Damn this is heavy!” Jet Cloud, a pegasus stallion states through his clenched teeth. Setting it down, he runs a hoof through his glossy black mane “Hey Bolt?” Where does Applejack want these?” He calls out looking up at the rafters.

Bolt, a unicorn stallion, peaks his head over the edge of the rafters, his sharp yellow eyes staring at the two stallions. “She wants them in the basement with the other canned goods.” He disappears back into the depth of the rafters continuing with his task of rearranging several sacks of wheat. Copper, the stallion helping Jet Cloud sighs and grabs the braided-rope-handle in his mouth. Jet Cloud does the same. Lifting with a huff, they head down the stairs to the dark damp basement.

Entering the basement, the stallions see Willy Pete and Jiminy Jam sorting canned and jarred goods from newest to oldest.

“Look at the lucky ones here in the cool basement.” Jet Cloud huffs.

“That’s no way to speak to your elders.” Willy Pete laughs.

“Ha, ha…” Jet Cloud walks over to the stallions. “So, how’s it going?”

“Going well.” Willy Pete “Not hard work… Unless you ask Jiminy over there.” He points over at a thin earth pony in his early thirties. The stallion gales at the old stallion as he puts away a cart of canned peaches.

Copper rolls his eyes. “I’m going to check and see if breakfast is ready.”

“You barely worked!” Jet Cloud grumbles.

“That colt will eat us out of house and home.” Willy Pete shakes his head.

“I can’t help that I’m always hungry!” Copper shouts as he heads up the stairs.

“Oh, come on! You always win!”

Within a clubhouse built in the branches of an elder oak tree, several fillies, two colts and a drake play a game of cards.

“What?” Dinky shrugs. “You have to think quick on your hooves.” She giggles.

“Well I want a rematch!” Sweetie Belle states, picking up the cards with her magic.

Spike stares at the playing cards as Sweetie Belle shuffles them. The crisp sounds they make as they smack against one another is soothing to his ears.

Apple Bloom who sits across from him, notices his solemn mood. “You alright?”

“Uh…” Breaking his haze he looks at the earth pony. “Yeah…” Spike sighs. The other children look at one another with concerned gazes. Feeling uncomfortable, Spike gets up from the floor and walks out of the club house.

Worried for her friend, Apple Bloom flows after him. “Spike?” She asks, stepping onto the porch.

“What?” He huffs as he crosses his arms, leaning on the porch’s railing.

“What are you thinking about?” She sits next to him, copying his pose.

“Nothing…” He looks away, his eyes watch the grass dance with the wind.

Apple Bloom sighs. “I know it’s not nothing.” She too watches the grass. “Have you been thinking about Twilight again?” Spike feels a tight sensation radiating from his chest. She hears him fight back a sob. “I miss her too, you know… She was a very helpful pony.” Apple Bloom lays her head on Spike’s right shoulder.

He tenses up at her touch, blood rushes to his cheeks, reddening them. “Yeah… She was a very helpful pony… and a great sister.” He looks out towards the rows of apple trees, eyeing the fruits hanging from their limbs as they slowly mature. “I just wish I knew… If she’s…” He taps the railing.

“If she’s alive?” Apple Bloom asks looking up at him.

“Yeah…”

The others look at the two through the club house’s open door.

“Poor Spike.” Kepler sighs.

“Should we try to cheer him up?” Snowy asks.

Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell and Dinky look at one another. “No…” Scootaloo looks at the two. “Applebloom has it covered.”

Nearing the edge of Ponyville proper, Twilight looks back at the town and studies all of its apocalyptic glory. The Germanic style homes and shops now husks of their former selves.

“Sad isn’t it?” Thunderlane asks as he stands next Twilight, his gaze looking at the town as well.

Twilight stares at her library home in the distance. “It is…” She looks at the stallion. “I’m really looking forward to seeing a more welcoming sight.”

“Well then…” Thunderlane and Twilight look over at Rainbow Dash. “Let’s get a move on before all them numb-nuts eat all the pancakes!” She giggles as she trots at a steady pace towards the apple orchard, Scootaloo and Rumble keeping up with her. Thunderlane and Twilight smirk at one another and give chase.

Derpy sits on a dirt mound overlooking the orchard. Her lazy eyes staring blissfully at her surroundings. She takes a deep breath and fluffs her feathers. Standing up she stretches her neck and heads over to Applebloom’s clubhouse near the barn.

“Hello Derpy!” Carrot Top shouts from the porch.

“Hello Carrot!” Derpy waves. “Whatcha doing?”

“Playing cards.” Carrot holds up a hoof-full of cards. The ponies playing hold up theirs as well.

Derpy sees that Carrot Top is playing with Sunny and Summer Wind. “Who’s winning?”

“I am!” Sunny giggles.

“No, you’re not sis!” Summer Wind mumbles.

Carrot Top rolls her eyes. “What are you up to?”

“Checking on my daughter.” Derpy waves as she heads for the clubhouse.

Summer Wind looks up at watches the grey pegasus walk towards the clubhouse. “Carrot?”

“Yes?” Carrot looks at the pegasus.

“Not to be nosey or anything… But how is her daughter a unicorn?” Summer Winds places the five of clubs on the pile. “Her boyfriend is an earth pony.”

“Maybe her first boyfriend was a unicorn!” Sunny sighs. “Maybe it was a one-night stand?” She gives her sister a sly wink.

Carrot Top looks at Sunny with a raised brow. “No… It wasn’t… She married a unicorn. Married him too young. Had Dinky at fifteen.”

The sisters look at each other. “She looks older.” Summer Winds states.

“She does… but no, she’s only twenty-five.” Carrot states.

“Where’s the husband now?” Summer Winds tilts her head.

“Its obvious they separated!” Sunny sighs dramatically.

“Sort of…” Carrot Top stares at her cards. She remembers that day… Supporting her young friend through the turmoil she was facing.

Summer Wind sees the hurt in her eyes. “Oh… I see…” She eyes Derpy nearing the Clubhouse. “Was he?”

“Yes…” Carrot Top grumbles. “Gave him a black eye.” She sets down her card on the pile. “Wish I did more.” The sisters only nod and drop their line of questioning.

Getting to the clubhouse Derpy looks up and sees Spike and Applebloom sitting together on the porch, resting their heads against one another. She smirks. ‘Young love…’ Her smile leaves. ‘Young love indeed…’ She shakes her head. ‘Not my place to judge…’ She smiles. “Cloud watching, are we?”

Spike and Apple Bloom jerk. Seeing the young mare, they quickly sit up up. “Um, yeah… sort of…” Apple Bloom stutters with a blush.

“Yep, cloud watching.” Spike chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck.

Derpy giggles. “Don’t worry your secret is safe with me.” She gives a wink. Apple Bloom and Spike blush, giving the mare an awkward smile. “How’s my daughter and the rest of you guys doing? Are all of you playing nice?”

Spike chuckles. “Yeah, though Sweetie Belle is getting upset that Dinky keeps winning cards.”

Derpy giggles. “Well I’m sure…”

“What in tarnation is going on?”

Derpy, Spike and Apple Bloom look over towards the farmhouse and see Applejack and the rest of the ponies walking over to the gate. “What’s happening?” Apple Bloom asks.

“I don’t know, but let’s find out.” Derpy replies. “Come on children let’s go!”

-5 Minutes Earlier-

Soarin sits on the farmhouse’s roof. He stares out over the foothills surrounding the orchard. Studying Ponyville through a pair of binoculars, he scans over the haze features looking for anything unusual. Seeing nothing he sets down the binoculars and lets out a happy sigh. Crossing his arms behind his head, he lays down and gives his eyes a rest.

Over by the fence about a hundred yards from the gate, Big Macintosh looks over a pile of scrap metal and wood. His dull gaze jumping from one piece to another. “Hey Mac, I’m ready for the next piece whenever you are?” Shining Armor calls out looking at the large stallion.

Picking up a piece of plywood board with his mouth, he walks up to the fence and lays it against it. Igniting his horn, Shining Armor expertly lines up the piece in the correct position. Picking up an iron-hoof gauntlet, Big Macintosh pounds a rather large nail through the plywood board, securing it to the wood post of the fence.

Before he could go back to grab another piece, Big Macintosh stops in his tracks as he lays eyes on several figures in the distance walking along the gravel road to his orchard. Squinting, he can barely make out four recognizable figures in the early morning haze but a fifth one catches him for a loop. “Looks like they found a survivor on their scavenging trip?” He questions.

“What?” Shining Armor looks over his shoulder and sees the figures. “Well… would you look at that…” He looks over towards Soarin and sees him napping away the early morning. “Hey sleepy head, wake up!” He huffs.

Soarin jerks awake, his binoculars flying into the air. In a panic he quickly catches them. Startled and upset, he looks to his left and sees the stallion who woke him up. “What?” He hisses.

“Take a look ‘Mr. Lookout’!” Shining Armor points a hoof towards the silhouettes off the distance. “See if its Rainbow Dash and her crew of explores!”

Soarin looks at the figures and sees they are getting closer to the orchard. With a huff he looks through his binoculars and focuses in on them. “Yep, it sure is, its Dashie and her… Uh…” He lowers his Binoculars a bit.

Seeing his reaction both Shining Armor and Big Macintosh give him concern looks. “Is everything alright?”

Soarin shakes the haze from his mind and looks through the Binoculars again. ‘I must be seeing things?’ He questions. “Uh… Oh, sweet Luna…” He drops the binoculars, his wings extending out.

“What in tarnation is going on, what’s with all the yelling?” Applejack storms out of the farmhouse, pancake batter coating her chest and face. “You’re all sound like a damn dinner bell for them trotters?” She looks at her brother and Shining Armor. The other ponies drop their tasks and head over to the commotion.

“Soarin’s the problem. He’s acting strange.” Shining Armor states pointing at the pegasus.

Applejack looks over her shoulder and stares at the shaking stallion. “What’s gotten into you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” She huffs.

Soarin picks up the Binoculars from his lap. “Like hell I have!” He tosses them over to the group.

Shining Armor catches them in his magic.

“What do you think it is?” Spike asks walking up to his brother.

Shining looks down at the small dragon. “I’m not sure?” He gives Soarin a quick glance and sees him burying his face in his hooves. Feeling an uneasy feeling, he places the binoculars over his eyes.

“What do you see?” Rarity asks.

“Some pony is eager to get somewhere.” Rainbow Dash teases.

“That is an understatement!” Twilight giggles as they near the farmhouse. She sees the growing group of ponies by the gate in the morning haze. She can make out the shapes of a large stallion and small dragon. “Oh… If I didn’t have a crippling headache, I would teleport all of us there right now…” A bright ball of light floods their eyes.

Recovering from their temporally blindness, the group looks to see who or what blinded them. Shining Armor, Spike, Applejack, Rarity and Derpy stand in front of them, their eyes wide as saucers. Shining’s horn smoking from a haphazardly casted teleportation spell. “Shining! Spike!” Twilight chokes. Before she can say more, her brothers tackle her to the gravel road. Their arms gripping her tight. Overwhelmed with emotions, Twilight’s damn, which she had built overnight crumbles. “I thought I lost you!”

Shining Armor feels her tears falling on his chest. “Hush little sis… We’re here, we’re together once more.” Spike himself is overwhelmed with emotion, the only words leaving his lips are incoherent mumbles.

Twilight’s friends look at the scene with large smiles. They themselves getting overwhelmed with emotions. “Well shoot…” Applejack chokes as she removes her cowboy hat. “Looks like this calls for a celebration!”

“Hell yeah!” Rainbow Dash chuckles.

Twilight sits by the fire next to her brothers. She plays with the remaining pieces of pancake. The ponies of the orchard sit in the living room, eyeing her, studying her. Twilight knows some are questioning the story she told them. She senses some don’t even believe what she said.

Applejack stares at her friend. Her mind mulls over the story she told. Her spine tingles as she goes over the events over and over. “Damn…” She finally says. “It’s a miracle that you survived.”

“Shoot missy!” Willy Peete sputters. “A miracle is an understatement of a lifetime.” He takes off his fishermen hat. “Are you sure what you said is true?”

“Willy! Of course, she lived through it!” Bolt huffs.

“I just, it’s just a crazy story!” Willy Peete defends himself.

“No… it’s alright.” Twilight raises her hooves. “It’s true… all of it.” She looks at her bare plate. “I can’t even believe it myself.”

“Sorry for not coming for you…” Shining looks at the fire. He couldn’t bear to look at his sister.

“Don’t beat yourself up!” Twilight frowns at her brother. “I couldn’t imagine what you were going through. I don’t blame you…” She hugs Spike. “I know I couldn’t.”

Shining nods. “I get it…” He looks at his sister. “It a shame what happened to Redheart.” He looks back at the fire, watching the flames lick the scorched logs.

Rarity who grew up with Redheart as a filly, is taking it the worse. She looks into her cup of tea. “I remember when we would… Um… We would leave school and head to the local soda shop… We would order the largest malt…” She chuckles, wiping a tear. “We would see who could drink it the fastest… We would get the worse brain freezes...”

Her sister Sweetie Belle lays her head in her lap, watching her sister go through her emotions, unsure of what to do. All she can do is give her a hug.

The group nods, the ones who knew her, felt sorrow for the mare. While the ones who didn’t keep silent, allowing the others to morn a friend.

Not liking the mood, Granny Smith gets up from her rocking chair and heads down the hall to the closet under the stairs. “Enough with the downcast faces, today is a day to celebrate!” She pulls out a box full of cards and dice. “Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

-Seven Hours Later-

The ponies sit outside by a large bonfire. Granite stones surround the large fire pit, creating a foot-tall barrier. Tall enough to keep the winds from snuffing out the flames. The children sit around the fire, each roasting large plump marshmallows. “I knew grabbing those marshmallows would turn out to be a good idea.” Thunderlane chuckles.

“Mmm.” Marley hums, as he cuts up a small basket of berries he foraged in the Ponyville’s Mellow Creek forest earlier in the day. “A sweet tooth will rot your teeth, pal.”

Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes. “Your mind would change if you saw my friend, Pinkie. Her teeth are the whitest of pearly whites out there.”

Marley rolls his eyes as well. “Sure missy.”

Giving Rainbow Dash and Marley a quick glance, Twilight turns her attention to Applejack watching her help her sister with a marshmallow. “AJ?”

Applejack looks up from her task. “Yah sugar cube?” She quickly takes a bite out of her sister’s marshmallow, much to the dismay of her sister.

Twilight rubs her hoof along the soft grass they sat on. “I’m worried about Fluttershy.”

Applejack gives her friend a solemn look. “I’m worried too… It just them blasted trotters! They’ve taken over the Everfree forest… Almost lost Bolt trying to look for her in there.” She turns her gaze to fire. “I’m sure she’ll come here one day. Safe and sound… She wouldn’t have gone far.” She picks up a stick and pokes the fire, small embers float into the air as she moves a log.

Rarity watches the embers cool in the air. “I hope so… every day I worry for her.”

“Even though I never met the mare, I wish for her safety as well.” Sunny comments as she gives the group a smile. Applejack nods a thanks to the mare.

Twilight smiles as well, but it soon leaves her. “Have you heard from Pinkie Pie since the outbreak?” She looks at Applejack once again.

Applejack rubs her chin. “The last time we communicated was just a little over two weeks ago, just before the telephone lines went dark.” She looks at the fire consume the logs with calm fury.

Twilight picks up a stick with her magic. “How were things going at her farm when you last spoke?”

Applejack smiles. “Good as can be, but you know Pinkie. She was missing her friends, she really wanted to meet the ponies we took in. Wanted to throw them a party. She’s also scared for Fluttershy… scared for you…” Applejack picks up her cup of warm apple cider. “Pinkie being Pinkie.” She chuckles.

“Well when this is all over, I look forward to meeting her, she sounds like a lot of fun to hang out with.” Copper states with a smile. Bolt smacks him over the head. “Ow… what was that for?”

“Yeah, to hang out with? Ha, more like you wanting to get a chance to woo her.” Bolt chuckles. “You hopeless romantic.”

The group gives a chuckle at the stallion’s expense, even Marley and Zipper, two reserve and stern stallions, couldn’t help, but to let one slip.

Copper frowns. “I’m not hopeless…”

Rarity feeling bad for the stallion, leans to her left and places her lips to his ears. “Don’t worry darling I’ll tell you all about Pinkie, even give you some pointers.” She whispers giving him a wink, confirming her promise.

Finishing up with her marshmallow, Apple Bloom sticks another on her stick, but before she can place it over the flames a water droplet falls on her snout. Confused, she looks up at the sky and sees dark clouds rolling overhead. Soon several more begin to fall upon the land. “Aw man…” She stares at her marshmallow melting from the rain.

“Storm clouds?” Big Macintosh wonders.

“They could be natural clouds or the weather factory is decaying faster than expected.” Rainbow Dash states with worry.

“Was the weather factory in Cloudsdale heavily damaged during the outbreak?” Twilight asks, looking at her friend.

“From what I saw when I was trying to… get my p-parents out of the city… yes.” She looks at Twilight. “A large explosion rocked the city… I saw the smoke and lighting coming from the factory.”

“If that’s the case, these upcoming weeks are going to be one hell of a stormy ride.” Willy Peete states, standing up, studying the clouds.

“Well let’s wrap it up children, it’s time to call it a night.” Granny Smith states as she heads towards the farmhouse with help from Summer Wind. The group follows the elder mare’s lead. Big Macintosh and Soarin snuff out the flames, while the others pack up the snacks and drinks.

Twilight lays on her bed in one of the guest rooms of the farmhouse’s attic. Spike lays next to her, his cool scales absorbing her body heat, his snores filling the air. Shining Armor sleeps in his own bed at the other end of the room. His sheets only covering his waist. His pillow consumes his head.

Staring up at the ceiling, Twilight thinks about the events of the day. A smile adorns her lips. But thoughts about Fluttershy come to her mind. ‘Where could she be?’ A grunt leaves her as she rubs the base of her horn. With sigh she turns her attention back to the ceiling and begins to count the beams holding it up as she listens to the rains pound the roof. Counting the tenth beam, she returns her gaze to the first and counts them again, and again, and again, until sleep over takes her.

Applejack sits by her window, watching the storm roll across her orchard. The apple trees swaying with the violent winds. “Looks like we’ll be cleaning up tomorrow?” Applejack looks over her shoulder at Soarin who lays in her bed near the wall. “Maybe some fixing up to do if these winds keep it up.” He mumbles as he plays with a hacky sack.

Applejack rolls her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re becoming lazy?”

Soarin sighs. “I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” Applejack teases as she steps away from the window. “Lazy colt!”

“Hey!” Soarin whines.

“Lazy, lazy, lazy!” She jumps on the bed. Her bed’s springs launching them both into the air for a split second. Landing back onto the bed, she pins him down with her front hooves. A sly smile comes to her lips and she leans in, her snout touching his. “Lazy…” Her words are cut off as Soarin kisses her.

“Some pony is in a good mood?” He questions, laying his hooves across her neck, pulling her close.

She hums as she lays her head on his chest. “I’m glad that Twilight’s alive.” She plays with the feathers of his right wing. “Feels like a weight has lifted off my chest.”

Soarin smiles. “Now all that’s left to do is to find Fluttershy and then the group will be back together.”

Applejack hums a thought. “Wouldn’t that be nice.”

Rarity lays in her bed in the guest room next to Twilight’s. A gas lantern burns brightly as it sits on a stump turned nightstand beside her. In her magic is a romance novel. Reading the last paragraph of the current chapter, she sighs and turns the page to begin the next. She happens to glance up from the pages and at the bed across from her. Seeing that its empty she frowns and returns her attention back to the book.

Two minutes pass by when the door to her room finial opens with a slow creak. Looking up from her book, Rarity sees that its Rainbow Dash. She slowly closes the door, gently turning the knob, the metal latch making a dull thud as it slides into place.

“So, what took you so long?” Rarity asks, a sly smirk adoring her lips as she notices her friend’s flustered appearance.

Rainbow Dash goes stiff at her friend’s question. “I just put Scootaloo to bed, that’s all.”

“It took you almost two hours to put her to bed?” She giggles, closing her book.

Her cheeks blush. “Um… yeah… I mean no… I mean… Aw shoot…”

“So, darling…” Rarity hums, her sly smirk growing wider. “Give me the details. How was he?”

The morning air is thick with fog as the rays from the sun heats up the moist hills and valleys surrounding Ponyville. The ponies of the orchard sit in the living room and kitchen of the farmhouse, sipping their cups of coffee or freshly squeezed carrot juice. Thunderlane and Rainbow Dash stare out at the fog with frowns. “Looks like we’ll not be doing much chores today?” Scootaloo asks.

Rainbow Dash looks back at the filly. “Looks like it.” She looks out the window. “This fog is thick. I’ve never seen anything like it in my lifetime.”

“Well at least we’ll be able to still work in the barn.” Bolt states sitting by the fire.

Big Mac looks at the fog with a stern glare. “Let’s stay close to the farmhouse and the barn.” He looks over his shoulders. “Just in case any trotters happen to wander up to the orchard, it will be harder to spot them in this fog.” The group nods and returns to their drinks.

Twilight sits at the kitchen table. A cup of coffee floats in front of her lips. Sitting across from her is Applejack who holds a cup of carrot juice in her hooves. Looking through the kitchen’s window, Twilight watches the fog roll over the hills, through the orchard’s trees and the trees of the Everfree forest. “Applejack? Shining?”

“Yeah, sugar cube?” Applejack looks at her friend.

Shining Armor, who sits next to his sister, turns his head to his right and looks down at her. “Yeah?”

“I’m going to go search for Fluttershy in the Everfree forest.” She keeps her gaze on the forest. “I want some ponies in our group to join me.” Her brother is about to protest, but she raises a hoof to silence him. “I know you’re going to say it’s dangerous, I know that already, I know the forest is even more dangerous now since the outbreak, there’s no doubt that the dead will make it worse, but with that being said…” She gives her brother and friend a hopeful smile. “I had a thought the other night, thinking of where she could be… and I just might know where she is."

Chapter 3

Twilight stands by the gate to ‘Sweet Apple Acres’. Several yards from the orchard is the edge of the Everfree Forest – its dense brush and tower tree line fill her vision as she stares into its endless abyss. Never removing her gaze, she straps on her saddle bag.

Behind her, Shining Armor, Marley, Zipper, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Bolt are getting their own saddle bags on, as well as checking over their weapon of choice.

“Dang Nab it!” Twilight looks over her shoulder. “I can’t believe I total forgot about Zecora! She’s at Zecora’s!” Applejack growls, kicking a mound of dirt, left over by a gofer.

“Don’t beat yourself up about it.” Twilight gives Applejack a soft smile. “You had to worry about the others and making sure the orchard was safe.” She picks up the axe lying beside her. “We are in unusually stressful times…” She twirls the axe – her aura pulsing at it moves through it.

Applejack gives a smile as her acknowledgement as she watches her friend mess with the axe. “Worried you’ll have to use it?”

“Um…” She stares at the sharp edge of the axe. “Yes… I know their sick… Maybe fully gone… It just feels wrong that we have to think like this!” She holds the axe in her hooves.

“I feel the same way. They were once ponies who had a life before they became sick…” Applejack looks at the knife strapped to her left front hoof. “Now all they care about is killing other ponies…”

“How do you…” Twilight feels sick. “Kill them?”

Applejack frowns. “You go for the head… Several good whacks to the side or back of the skull.”

“And the neck!” Zipper states. “It’s a messy affair, but it has to be done.” He holsters his machete over his back.

Macintosh walks up to the group. “So, are you ready?”

Applejack smiles at her brother and gives him a hug. “Yes,” She pushes a against his shoulder playfully. “We’ll be fine. If I remember, her home is not that deep into the forest.” She looks over his shoulders and watches Jiminy Jam and Willy Pete working over by the barn. “Dose the group know what to do?”

Macintosh smiles. “E-yep.” He frowns however. “Though the kids want to come along.”

“Just keep their spirts up.” Rarity hums. “We’ll be back home in no time.”

Entering into the Everfree, the group unholster their weapons and slowly trek into the dark maw of the forest. The trees create a dense blanket leaves, branches and vines so thick, that the light above barely cast its glow upon the forest floor. It didn’t help that the dense fog surrounding Ponyville adds to the darkness. “Why does your friend live in this forest?” Marley eyes the unnatural twisting trees.

“She likes the unusual the unknowns.” Twilight keeps her eyes on the dark patches through the trees.

“Now I know why the ponies of Ponyville never ventured into this place!” Zipper bites down on his shotgun’s mouth trigger piece. “Well except your friend.”

Twilight nods and looks up at Rainbow Dash flying above them through the branches.

Landing on a girthy branch Rainbow Dash squints her eyes, focusing on the jumbled horizon of the forest floor. Not seeing much to her left she looks to her right and sees three trotters stumbling about. A chill runs up her spine as she notices one of them is a small filly. Swallowing a lump, she looks over her shoulders at the ponies below and lifts a hoof.

Seeing her gesture, the group stops their climb. “What?” Bolt whispers.

Rainbow Dash extends three feathers on her left wing and moves her front hooves in a trotting motion. The group looks at one another with concerned glares before slowly climbing the remainder of the incline. At the summit, they look down the hill and watch the trotters failing to get themselves over several large protruding roots from an overly large oak tree. Twilight looks up at the pegasus. “Do you see Zecora’s house?” She whispers.

Rainbow Dash rips her gaze from the trotters and looks through the mass of trees. Not seeing anything through the dimly lit forest, she looks down at the group and shakes her head.

Grunting, Marley looks at the trotters with an angry glare. Raising his left arm, he cranks back the string of his hoof-mounted mini-crossbow with the cocking-crank and places a bolt in the groove of the flight-slide with his mouth. “Don’t worry folks, I got this.” He slides down the hill towards the trotters.

Twilight is about to stop him, when her brother lays a hoof on her shoulder. “He’s got this.”

She watches as he nears the trotters, who are unaware of his presence. Quickly he aims his mini-crossbow at the closest dead and fires, the bolt fly’s through the air and strikes the back of the trotter’s jaw, jamming itself through the underside of its brain. The dead goes down with a heavy thud which alerts the other two. Without panic, he quickly loads another bolt and takes aim, this time the bolt fly’s through the other trotter’s open mouth and lodges itself in the back of its throat. The trotter falls forward snapping its neck as its head makes contact against a large rock. The filly trotter is the slowest of the dead, her hooves fail at propelling her forward, she slips and sinks further into the mud. With a frown, Marley pulls out his machete with his mouth and jams it into the side of its head.

The group slides down the hill and walk up to Marley as he removes his blade from the trotter’s skull.

Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack stare at the filly’s lifeless corpse laying in the mud. Her pain-filled eyes stare back at her. They look away, tears form around their eyes as they think about their own sisters. The stallions on the other hand, look away from the filly and keep their eyes on their surroundings. For Twilight, looking at the filly brings back the memory of the teen colt trotter stuck under the putter-wagon. ‘How many children turned?’ She thinks to herself. With a shutter, she steps away from the filly and gets back on the trail. The group follows after her.

Macintosh sits on the porch watching the kids play a game of hoof-ball. Sunlight, Copper and Thunderlane acting as the referees. “Go Dinky!” Derpy cheers from the other end of the porch by a metal table. Macintosh look over at the mare and sees that she sits next to Dr. Hooves and Carrot Top who are playing a game of UNO.

He chuckles at her mannerisms and turns his gaze back to the game. Seeing his little sister Applebloom score a goal with a back-hoof kick, he smiles and stomps his hoof against the porch.

“I go down the latter?”

Hearing Jet Cloud from inside the farmhouse, Macintosh looks through the screen door.

“No, you go up!” His grandmother chastises the young stallion

“Oh…” He mumbles.

Lotus and Aloe giggle at his flat eared expression. Willy Pete, Jiminy Jam roll their eyes.

Laughing Macintosh steps off the porch and makes his way to the side of the house. “Soarin?” He looks up at the roof.

Soarin peaks his head over the edge with an upset look on his face. His wings and fur coat damp from the fog. “Yeah?”

“Wanna switch? I’ll take over.”

The pegasus gives a happy chuckle. “Thank Celestia!” He flaps his wings and lands next to the large earth pony, handing him his binoculars. “I need to warm up and dry my wings.” Big Macintosh gives a chuckle as he takes the binoculars. Before he can add a joke onto his friend’s statement, a figure in the fog near the road catches his attention. Soarin seeing his expression turns around and catches a glimpse of the figure. “Who’s that?” Soarin takes a defensive stance.

“I don’t know?” Big Macintosh replies as he stares at the figure. The figure stands a good two-hundred-yards from the farmhouse. It wears a brown cloke, in its mouth is a two and a half feet-long-thin-sword. “Alert the group.”

“And tell them what?” Soarin keeps his gaze on the figure.

“That we have a stalker…”

The air is thicker. Dense even. The group feels their fur stand on end. They shiver as they look around. The tree in this part of the forest are thicker in girth. Taller than the skyscrapers in Manehattan. Walking past one of these trees, the group stares at one of these trees, eyeing its roots weaving madly across the forest floor.

Nearing a ‘T’ section on the dirt path, Twilight stares through the dim, looking for Zecora’s home. A flicker shines through the dark. “I found her home!” She shouts.

“Keep your voice down!” Zipper growls.

Twilight glares at the stallion.

“Hey you two no need to start bickering!” Bolt huffs.

“Yes, no bickering!” Rainbow Dash states as she heads towards the flicker light.

Twilight and Zipper nod and follow the group.

Nearing the light, the mound of dark comes into focus. A single story domed-home shows itself. Dread falls upon the group as the home’s features come into focus. Soot and ask scar the outer shell. The windows are shattered. The roof is partially caved in. The front door hangs precariously from the top hinge. Only a lonely candle graces their presence with its warm glow.

“Well shit, you think your friends are still alive?” Zipper asks, looking at Twilight and her friends.

They feel a pain course through their chests as they step into the home.

The interior of the home is worse for wear. In the living-room and kitchen, the wood floors are caked in mud and broken glass. Burn marks and gashes scar the plaster walls. Several pieces of furniture are burned or broken. Unbroken jars and bottles dot the floor. Looking further into the home, they can see one of the three doors to one of the back rooms is wide open, it’s a bedroom, the bed within is robbed of its sheets and the cotton stuffing has oozed out onto the floor. The doors to the other two rooms are closed.

With a defeated sigh, Twilight shuts off her flashlight, allowing the dying candle light to fill the space once more.

Anger rises in Rainbow Dash as she takes in the sight. “Damn it!” She hisses, kicking a bottle across the floor with her hoof.

Rarity walks into the small kitchen and up to the sink. Looking into it, she stares at the layers of dust and grime that clung to its porcelain shell. “Looks like it’s been this way since the outbreak.”

Bolt looks at the candle by the window. “But what about the candle?”

“It could’ve been lit by anyone.” Shining Armor sighs. “Just look at the amount of wax that has melted already, whoever lit it, left long ago.”

Bolt huffs “But the rains should’ve killed the flame.” He looks at the dying flame dance with the soft breeze blowing through the window.

“Well let’s keep a lookout then.” Marley huffs, looking out the door.

Applejack sighs as she walks towards the back rooms, she looks into the opened bedroom. Her eyes gazing at the mold growing on its mattress. “They’re not here…” She looks back and sees the hurt in Twilight’s eyes. “No…”

“Twilight?” The unicorn looks over at her. Applejack can see the tears forming around her eyes. “Twilight… We’ll keep looking…” One of the doors squeaks open. The group looks at each other, their spines tingling. Slowly, Applejack walks up to the door. “AH!” The door violently swings open, slamming against the wall with a loud thud.

A figure jumps from the darkness and tackles her to the floor. Turning her attention to her attacker, she sees a zebra mare sitting on her stomach, pinning her hind legs with hers. The mare’s right hoof is raised over her head, a knife is tied to it. With a primal scream the mare brings down the knife. Thinking fast, Applejack blocks the mare’s hoof with hers, the knife hovering inches from her neck.

Shining Armor, Bolt and Twilight quickly ignite their horns and grab the mare with their magic. The mare panics and fights back, but their aural strength overwhelms her. With a grunt, they pin her to the ground. The mare screams out in fear and anger. Free from her attacker, Applejack scoots away from the zebra and holds a hoof to her neck. “Damn…” She checks for a cut, but finds none.

Rarity stares at the struggling mare and looks over her disheveled appearance. “It can’t be Zecora? Can it?” She slowly walks up to the zebra and moves her tattered oily mane from her eyes. The mare cowers from her touch and lets out a hissing moan. Tears come to Rarity as she sees the bruises and scabs dotting the mare’s face and body. Her starved form showing her ribs and pelvis. Sitting next to her, Rarity begins stroking the top of her brow. “It’s ok Zecora, it’s me Rarity, do you remember?”

The mare lets out a sob as her wild eyes stare at the white unicorn hovering above her. “Rarity?” Her cyan eyes tremble.

Rarity smiles. “Yes… Do you remember? I’m your friend? I would always come over for tea.” She smiles as she keeps up her affection. “I always loved the teas you made.”

“Tea? Friend?” The mare looks around at the ponies standing around her. “Friends?”

Seeing that Rarity is making progress, Rainbow Dash sits next to them and begins untying the knife from Zecora’s hoof. “Yes, we’re your friends, I’m Rainbow Dash…” She removes the knife and sets it down behind her. “That’s Twilight, Applejack, Shining Armor, Bolt, Zipper and Marley.” She points at each pony. Each member of the group gives a smile.

Zecora stares at each pony, her mind going over their names and faces. Blinking, she returns her gaze back to Rarity. “Rarity?” She tries to lift her arms to lay her hooves on Rarity’s cheeks, but seeing that several magical auras are trapping her limbs, she begins to panic. Not wanting to lose her progress, Rarity holds up a hoof, nodding to the unicorns to kill their magic. Twilight replies with a nod and deactivates her horn; her purple aura dissipates freeing Zecora’s arms. Her brother and Bolt are uncomfortable with it, but a glare from Twilight makes them comply.

Finally free, Zecora sits up and places her hooves on Rarity’s cheeks. “Rarity?” She moans, running her hooves along her cheeks.

Rarity smiles. “Yes dear, its me.”

A sob leaves Zecora’s lips as she turns her attention to Rainbow Dash, she runs her hooves across the pegasus’s cheeks. “Rainbow Dash?” Rainbow Dash smiles and gives a nod.

Whipping her head around to face Twilight, she reaches out her hooves and cries. Seeing the fear in the mare’s eyes, Twilight quickly makes her way to her and takes her seat beside Rainbow Dash. Zecora rubs her cheeks and smiles. “Twilight?” She looks over at Applejack. Quickly the earth pony takes a seat next to Rarity. “Applejack?” Both mares nod their heads.

Zecora gives the four mares a large smile, but as quickly as the loving gesture comes, it leaves as a torrent of sobs slip pass her lips. Tears fall from her eyes as a sense of dread takes hold. She clutches onto Rarity as her body shakes, her sobs are loud and short as she struggles to catch her breath.

Feeling her body temperature spike, Rarity quickly takes out her canteen from her saddlebag and pours some of the cool water onto Zecora’s back. “Shh… It’s ok… Your safe…”

“Tell her to keep her voice down!” Zipper hisses, looking out one of the windows, keeping an eye out for trotters. “She’s ringing the damn dinner bell!”

Rarity gives the stallion a harsh glare. “Clearly she’s been through hell!” She strokes Zecora’s back, trying to calm the mare. “Cut her some slack!” Marley gives her a scowl before returning his eyes to the forest.

Sighing at the two, Twilight looks over at her brother. “My magic is still a little weak to perform major spells, but I know a spell that could help relax her.” She points at his horn. “Could I borrow some magic?”

Shining Armor nods and activates his horn. A ball of blue aura floats around the tip of his horn. Lowering his head, he touches her horn with his, allowing his aura to flow into her. “Is that enough for your spell?” He looks down at her with a smile.

“Yes, thanks.” She activates her horn and walks up to Zecora, her horn glowing bright with her purple aura. Tilting her head, she touches Zecora’s forehead with the tip of her horn. Zecora’s body shivers from the amount of aura coursing through her body, her eyes close, her sobs dying down to a whimper.

Silence fills the room as Zecora falls into a deep sleep. The group watches her chest rise and fall with her shallow breaths. “I think this will be the best sleep she’ll have in a long time.” Applejack comments standing up.

Shining Armor picks up Zecora with his magic, placing her on his back. Taking out some rope from his saddlebag, Twilight gently secures her to him. “Is that to tight?”

“No.” Shining Armor replies, moving his limbs, checking her work.

“I say let’s get going, we don’t want to be here when the trotters show up.” Zipper states heading out of the house.

“Are you sure they heard her?” Rarity asks.

“I don’t want to take any chances…”

“EEERRRAAAHHH!”

Ear piercing screams echo through the forest. The group goes numb as they look out the windows. “What was that?” Twilight asks, her ears swiveling to locate the source of the sound.

“A galloper!” Shining Armor hisses.

“A what?” Twilight feels her chest get heavy.

“A galloper!” Shining Armor shouts, galloping out of the house.

“What makes it different from the trotters I’ve seen?”

“Imagine a trotter, but it’s pissed off!” He looks back at his sister.

“Very, pissed off!” Marley growls, pumping his shotgun.

The group races through the forest, jumping over roots and ducking under low hanging branches. Behind them are five gallopers, their crazed milky-yellow eyes glaring at them as they chase after the next meals.

Twilight looks back at the monsters. Their fur is coarse and patchy, their skin is pale. Their teeth an unnatural yellow and black. Their mouths oozing with foam.

“EEERRRAAAHHH!”

Her ears fold against her skull, their screams sound like hell itself.

Nearing the edge of the forest on the backside of the orchard Applejack breathes a sigh of relief. “Guys! We’re home!”

“Great!” Zipper looks over at Twilight. “TWILIGHT!”

She looks over at the stallion. “Yeah!”

“I need you to unzip my left-side pouch of my saddle-bag and pull out a pipe-bomb!” He points towards the spot with a nod of his head. Twilight didn’t press on the why or how a single bomb would kill all five of them. Igniting her horn, she unzips the pouch and pulls out the pipe-bomb. Studying it, she sees it’s a twelve-inch iron-pipe with both ends capped and a red plastic button on one end. “Pretty nifty isn’t it?”

Twilight gives the stallion a perplexed look. “What do you want me to do with it?”

“Glad you asked… Hey Shining, your sis is going to throw her first pipe!” He chuckles.

“Save the jokes for later Zip!” Shining spits.

“Fine…” He moans. “So, what I need you to do is press that red button and throw it off into the forest to your right!” Without hesitation, Twilight presses the button and throws it as hard as her magic allows her to.

She watches as the pipe-bomb disappears into the brush of the forest. “Now what?”

“Now we teleport! Shining, Bolt, Rarity, you can teleport the group to the farmhouse!” They nod their heads and activate their horns, combining their magic. In a flash, the majority of the group vanishes. Zipper and Twilight are the only ones left, running from the gallopers.

“What do we do?” Twilight gives the stallion a harsh glare.

“Teleport us halfway to the farmhouse and I’ll push the button on this!” He pulls out a small square cube with an antenna on the face and a button on its top.

Twilight growls. “I don’t know if I have enough to get us there… Its only been two days since I woke up in the hospital!” She activates her horn. “Damn it!” A bright white light engulfs them.

Zipper and Twilight appear from a ball of bright white light. Crashing onto the soft dirt fields of the orchard, they quickly get up and hide behind an apple tree.

Seeing the gallopers two-hundred yards away, Zipper curses under his breath and ducks behind the tree and presses the red button. Distant crackling and explosions echo across the land. The gallopers stop in their tracks and swivel their heads towards the source of the noise. Screeching to the sky, they rush into the forest.

Watching them disappear into the forest, Twilight lays her head against the apple tree with a heavy sigh. “Let’s never do that again…” Zipper chuckles as he offers her a hoof.

The children stare at Zecora lying in a bed from the doorway. Sadness washes over them as soak up her disheveled appearance.

“Come children it’s time for bed.” Derpy calls out. Carrot Top and Sunlight stand behind her, giving the children soft smiles. The children frown and slowly obey their elders. Spike and Applebloom on the other hand, look to their siblings, begging them to stay. Twilight and Applejack wave a goodnight and motion them to head for bed. Defeated, they slowly trek towards their rooms.

“Did you get a good look at this figure?” Shining Armor asks Macintosh.

“Naw… He sits down on the floor by the corner. “Soarin tried to fly over to the figure, but it slipped away into Ponyville’s Forest Park.”

Rarity who sits next to Dr. Hooves by Zecora’s bedside looks at the stallions. “Maybe we can ask Zecora if she knows who the figure might be?”

“I don’t know sugar cube? She might not be in the right state of mind to be remembering things.” Applejack sighs leaning against the wall. “She might struggle to tell us what happened to her.” She sets her hat on the nightstand. “Even if she remembers what happened, I doubt she would know this stranger.”

Twilight sits on the end of the bed. “Even so, we still need to ask her what happened to her at least.” He runs a hoof through her mane. “Clearly trotters didn’t do this to her.”

“If that’s true…” Rainbow Dash jumps down from the window bench. “Then we might have a group of bandits on the loose.”

The group bows their heads in thought. “Looks like the fence is on top of the list of priorities.” Shining sighs. Macintosh nods in agreement.

“Sorry for changing the subject, but our friend should be just fine.” Dr. Hooves picks up his leather bag of mismatched scavenged medical supplies, throwing it over his shoulders. “I placed some cream on her scabs and bruises, they should heal within the week. When it comes to her eating, we should give her small portions until she gets some of her weight back.” He heads out of the room. “I also gave her something to wake her up from her magically induced coma.” He gives Twilight a friendly frown before making his way down the stairs.

With a heavy sigh, the group walks over to Zecora’s bed.

“I’ll wait here until she wakes up.” Twilight comments

“Same, Rarity? Applejack? What say you?” Rainbow Dash asks looking at the ponies in question.

“Of course darling, I want to be here to hear her story, if she feels up to it.”

A heaviness leaves Zecora as she takes a long breath. Shivers dance through her body as consciousness comes back to her. Feeling the warmth of soft sheets consuming her body, her mind begins to wander. She feels off, like she isn’t supposed to be here. Nervous, she sits up. “Ah…” She hisses, bringing a hoof to her brow.

“Zecora’s awake.”

Freezing in fear, she begins to cower under her sheets.

“Did your sleep spell wipe her memory Twilight?”

“No… It shouldn’t’ve?”

‘Twilight?’ Zecora thinks. Her heart rate slows to a steady pace as she works herself up to open her eyes. Slowly she opens them, the candle light that surrounds her causes her to squint them. She groans as she allows them to adjust to the soft yellows and oranges that color the room.

Four figures sit around her bed, soft smiles sit across their faces. Their fur colors dulled out by the candle light. A pulsing migraine flows across her skull. With a tired sigh, she rubs the back of her head. Her eyes studying the figures. “Twilight? Applejack? Rarity? Rainbow Dash?” Her eyes bounce from mare to mare. She feels her heart getting heavy. “I wasn’t dreaming…” She finally takes her eyes off the mares and looks at her room, its plain, two paintings of environments hang on the wall. A window is to her left, a dresser hugs the left-hand corner and a nightstand is to her right.

“How are you feeling?” Applejack asks patting the mare’s left hoof.

Zecora takes her friend’s hoof in hers and rubs it. “I feel… ok…” She lets go and tries to sit herself up. Rainbow Dash helps her, placing some pillows to brace her back and neck.

“We’re just glad we found you when we did.” Twilight sighs. “You have a long recovery ahead of you.”

Zecora looks down at her chest and sees the slight outline of her ribs under her skin. She shutters, running a hoof through her mane. A chill runs up her spine as she feels her mane is no longer oily and dusty.

“Derpy and I gave you a bath. I hope you don’t mind?” Rarity smiles.

Zecora shakes her head. “No… Thank you…” She settles back into the pillows and gives a sigh. “I’m just glad my friends are alive… most of them… Where is Pinkie?”

“She’s with her family and the Cakes on her parents’ farm.” Twilight smiles crossing her arms, resting them on the bed. Zecora smiles and stares at the patterns of the sheet. Though, as the seconds pass by however, her smile turns into a frown.

“Zecora… Not to bring up painful memories… But, do you know what happened to Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash asks, her magenta eyes looking into the zebra’s soul for answers. Zecora holds back the urge to let out a sob. Swallowing the lump that forms in her throat, she curls up and shutters a sigh. “Zecora?”

“I remember every horrible detail… I remember it all…”

Chapter 4

Fluttershy runs around her room in a panic. Quickly packing her personal belongings and several snacks into her saddlebag, she stands up and scans over her room. Most of her knickknacks and pictures no longer embrace her desk or cupboards.

BOOM!!!

Her room shakes – the light fixture above her head flickers haphazardly. Trembling, she puts on her saddlebag and heads for her door.

BOOM!

Fluttershy stumbles – her body trembles in fear as she dashes to the window over by her nightstand. The glow of several fires raging out of control through her hometown of Ponyville fills her vision. Their hot flames consume the timber of the surrounding homes. Ponies of all ages run in a panic or cause chaos for the hell of it. Within the crowds she sees several dead stumbling about, pegging off ponies to drunk on fear to notice them.

“Angel Bunny… It’s time to go!” She looks over her shoulder, looking for the bunny rabbit. Not hearing a response, she stumbles out of her room and down the stairs.

Getting to the living room, she looks around the small space, eyeing the couch, the sofa and rocking chair. She looks into the kitchen eyeing the cupboards and kitchen table. Seeing a white cotton ball shaped tail poking out from under the coffee table, she slowly walks up to it. “Angel Bunny?” She bends down on shaking limbs. “It’s… It’s time to go!” The bunny looks at her with his black beady eyes. She can see the fear in them. Extending one of her wings, the rabbit quickly climbs onto her back and into her saddlebag.

Looking around her home, she studies the empty bird and animal cages dotting the living room. A heavy weight falls over her heart. She dwells on her past. Four long years she called this place home. She was seventeen when she bought this place, starting her career as a veterinarian in Ponyville. And now, she has to abandon it, run from it. A tear rolls down her cheek. “Let’s go…”

Stepping outside, the loud screams, roaring fires, and death fill Fluttershy’s ears. It's deafening. Folding her ears against her head, she timidly worms her way through the town trying to get to Applejack’s orchard. Hiding behind a building, she peaks down the main street.

The street is full of putter cars and putter wagons trying to make their escape through the crowds. Some of the vehicles are wrecked, crashed into buildings or each other. Dead stumble about or trot at a brisk pace towards their victims. Ponies run or fly to safety, some board up their homes, some cause havoc. Law and order wholly abandoned at this point.

“HELP!” A small colt calls out.

Fluttershy whips her head to the right and sees a brown colored earth pony colt next to his mother laying on the ground, holding a broken sharp stick in her mouth. A trotter slowly walks up to the duo, its maw drooling with infected saliva.

Feeling a chill run up her spine, she swallows a lump in her throat and runs to the family. Seeing her coming up to them the colt’s eyes light up with glee, but soon, fear quickly overwhelms him once again as he witnesses the trotter jump onto his mother. The sharp end of his mother’s stick jams itself into its chest. The slick wet sounds of its flesh and chest bones breaking send chills down their spines.

Seeing the mare struggling, Fluttershy thinks fast and picks up a broken two-by-four and whacks the trotter’s back. It doesn’t flinch, its attention remaining on the colt’s mother. Panicking that she will witness her first death so up close and personal, Fluttershy brings the two-by-four down hard on the trotter’s skull. The trotter goes limp for a split second allowing the mare to push it off and scoot away.

“Thank you…” The mare looks at the canary-colored pegasus. “Uh…?”

“Fluttershy! My name’s Fluttershy!” She replies offering the mare a hoof, but she panics as she sees a trotter stumbling out of the Everfree forest behind them. “Oh… no!” she quivers. The mare and son see it as well. Hearing the downed trotter, she hit lifting itself off the ground they panic and huddle up close to one another. “Oh no…”

The mare looks at Fluttershy with wide eyes. “Where do we go?!”

Fluttershy keeps her eyes on the dead, fear overwhelms her, causing her legs to tense up. Sweat rolls down her cheeks. Seeing his owner faltering, Angle Bunny gives her a solid smack on the back of her head. “WHA?!”

“Fluttershy! Where do we go?!” The mare asks again.

Finally snapped out of her haze, she looks at the mare. “I’m heading to my friend’s place… Follow me!” She leads the way, but before they can leave the alley, several more trotters stumble into the alleyway. The trio stares in horror at the once living ponies. Their skin and fur color are paler than usual, their eyes are a milky-yellow. They look recently turned from how fresh their wounds are. Fluttershy stares in horror – watching the blood oozing from their injuries.

“Fluttershy!”

The trio looks over their shoulders and sees a zebra mare standing at the edge of the forest with a traditional zebra whacking stick in her mouth. “Zecora!?” Fluttershy asks in wonder.

“Fluttershy the route out of the town is filled with danger, you and your company follow me!” She whacks at a trotter, sending it to the ground with a thud. Without hesitation they follow Zecora into the forest.

Zecora peers out her window, her right hoof supports one-half of its curtains. Fluttershy sits by the mare and her son in front of the fireplace. The colt shivers as he stares at the flames with his wide medium-vermillion eyes. His mother strokes his back as she messes with her scarf. Hearing the distant screams of fear and death, Zecora closes her window and shuts her curtains. “We must stay quite tonight, in case any of the dead or bandits come.” She walks over to the trio and sits next to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy gives the zebra a soft smile. “Thank you Zecora…” Zecora nods as she sits beside Fluttershy. “Why aren’t you at Applejack’s?”

“She offered, but I declined.” Zecora lays her head in her hooves as she sits close by the fire. “I feel safe in the Everfree forest.” She sighs. “And besides, this is my home.” She gives a smirk.

Fluttershy messes with her long pink mane. “Are you sure?” Zecora nods. “How long do you think we have to wait until we can leave for the orchard?” She sighs.

Zecora looks at the timid pegasus. “Not sure…” She eyes mother and son. “I say a week to be on the safe side.” She watches the colt shiver. “I can give him something to calm his nerves if you would like?”

The mare looks at the zebra. “Yes, that would be wonderful.”

As Zecora gets up and heads for the kitchen in her small abode, Fluttershy looks at mother and son. “Not to sound rude, but I never got your name?”

The mare giggles. “No need to feel like that. My name is Love Tap and this is my son Button Mash.” She scratches his ears, which calms him a little.

Fluttershy smiles at the two, but soon her smile fades. “Where is your husband?” She taps her hooves. “I mean I don’t want to intrude… if you are divorced… or um…”

Love Tap sighs and stares at the fire. “Don’t be ashamed…” She lays her son’s head against her chest, covering his ears. “I’m not divorced… My husband… He was… He gave us time to escape our home…” She kisses the top of her son’s head. Still being able to hear her words, Button Mash begins to cry, his hot tears wetting his mother’s fur. Love Tap tightens her embrace. “SHHH… It’s alright… Deep breaths.”

Hearing the colt’s cries, Zecora walks over to the group and sits by mother and son. Placing a cup on the floor, she removes the cork from a bottle and pours its contents into the container. “This will calm his fears.” She states, handing her the cup.

Love Tap takes the cup and eyes the blue liquid inside. With a heavy sigh, she offers it to her son. At first Button Mash shakes his head, but after some convincing from his mother, he takes a few sips. Within minutes of consuming the drink, his body goes numb and his mind slows, sleep overcoming him. As the colt sleeps soundly in his mother’s lap, the mares watch the child dream the night away.

“I want to thank you for saving us.” Love Tap states giving Fluttershy a loving smile.

Fluttershy nods her head and returns the smile. “I… I’m glad I helped.”

“So, your friend… Applejack was it?” Love Tap asks. Fluttershy nods. “Is her orchard a safe place?”

Fluttershy hugs Angle Bunny. “She lives about a mile outside out town… It has to be.” Fluttershy looks at the fire, watching its flames dance about. Zecora and Love Tap look at the fire as well.

ERRRAAHHHH!

They look at the window, their spines tingling from the horrendous sound echoing across the land. Looking at the bottle, Zecora sighs. “I was going to take some tonight, but I think it is not wise to do so.” The other mares nod. “I think we should try to get some sleep.” She gets up. “This week is going to be a trying season.”

Silence fills the humid air. Distant chips of crickets’ dance in her ears. Laying under the heavy sheets, Fluttershy stares up at the ceiling. The small rickety fan slowly spins. Across from her sleeps Love Tap and Button Mash. The small bed barely holds both of them.

Rubbing her forehead, she turns her gaze to the clock at reads the time through the darkness. Three in the morning – She groans and turns over, bring her pet rabbit closer to her. Her mind swims with the things she saw early in the night. Ponies killing ponies… She shivers. Feeling a tear roll down her cheek, she buries her head in her pillow to hide her woes form the sleeping ponies next to her.

Angle Bunny awakens form her cries. His whiskers twitch as he looks up watching his owner fight back her fears. Giving a small squeak he scoots up close to his owner and buries his head under her chin. Feeling his loving gesture Fluttershy gives him a hug. “Thank you, Angel…”

COUGH!!!

Sitting up she sees Love Tap sitting up, coughing into her inner elbow. Sucking in air violently, she rolls out of bed and stumbles to the bathroom.

BLERGH!!!

Hearing her vomit, Flutterhsy gets up and nervously makes her way to the bathroom. “What wrong with mom?” Buttom Mash timidly asks from the bed. Fluttershy looks back at the colt giving him a reasuring smile. Buttom Mash leans back and puts the covers closer to his face.

“Fluttershy, what is the matter?” Zecora asks stepping into the room.

“I… I think she’s sick,” Fluttershy replies looking at her friend with concern as she points to the bathroom. Both mares peak into the room and see Love Tap clutching the pony-styled-toilet. Her head buried in its oval shaped bowl. Sweat coats her fur – her eyes bloodshot. “Love Tap, are you alright?” Fluttershy asks as she steps up to her.

Love Tap lifts her head from the bowl and looks back at her with heavy eyes. “No…” She rests her head against the brim of the toilet. “I feel so hot…”

“Hot?” Zecora asks. Love Tap doesn’t answer. “You need to tell us, were you bit?”

She can feel their gazes. It feels like they’re piercing her skull. Breathing in deeply, Love Tap lays herself against the wall. With a grunt, she removes her scarf. Sizeable scratches scar her neck. The blood around it is dry, but the wounds are still moist. “Yes… I’ve been scratched by one of the trotters by its teeth.” She shivers. “It happened as my son and I fled our… home…”

“Oh no, what do we do?” Fluttershy eyes widen.

Zecora frowns and heads into her kitchen.

“Mom? What’s wrong?” Button Mash stands just outside the bathroom door. Fluttershy looks at his mother who gives her a nod and a tired sigh. With a nod of her own, Fluttershy steps to the side allowing the colt to enter. Seeing his mother on the floor is a disheveled state causes his body to tense up and go numb. “Mom…” He shivers. “Are… you?”

“Infected… Yes… I am…” Love Tap replies with a sigh as she sits up. She sees tears are rolling down her son’s cheeks. “Don’t you cry… Mommy needs you to be strong!” Button Mash swallows a lump forming in his throat and gives her a nod as he steps up closer to her. “NO!” She puts a hoof up. She sees the hurt in her son’s eyes. “I don’t want you to get sick… We have to be careful.”

Button Mash’s lips quiver. “But we were in the same bed!”

“I know…” She fights back her own tears. “And that was a foolish thing to do.” She bites her tongue. “You could’ve gotten sick.” Seeing the colt emotion boiling to the surface, Fluttershy lays a hoof over his shoulders and brings him into a hug. Love Tap smiles at Fluttershy and gives her a small smile.

“Here,” Zecora enters the room. “I have something that will dull the pain and help with the fever.” She bends down next to the mare and offers her a cup of the medicine.

“Will it cure her?” Button Mash asks as he eyes the bottle of medicine.

Zecora looks at the colt. “It will help her until we can safely get her to the hospital.” She looks at Fluttershy. “Or Applejack’s orchard.” Fluttershy nods running her hoof through his mane.

“We should get you to bed, let the medicine take effect.” Zecora helps the mare up and leads her back into the guest room.

Getting into her bed, Love Tap lays her head on the pillow. “Sweetie you sleep with Fluttershy.”

“Why?!” Button Mash asks in a panic.

“You know why…” She coughs. “You might get sick.” She looks at Fluttershy’s bed. “We will be in the same room…!” She feels something wrap around her left hind leg. The trio look at Zecora with mixed emotions.

Tying off the rope to the bedpost, she looks at the trio. “The corpses of the infected comeback to life...” She stares at her knot. “I’m sorry if this seems morbid, but we have to be safe, just in case you turn.” Love Tap nods her head in understanding. Fluttershy nods in reluctant agreement as she helps Button Mash into bed.

One Hour Later

Fluttershy keeps her eyes on Love Tap – watching the mare sleep her night in painfilled slumber. She wonders what is going to happen her, too her son, Zecora… herself. She thinks about the sickness, how it infects, how it kills… the dead. She shivers. The only thing she knows about it is from her friends’ knowledge and from the news. The sickness spread by a bite from an infected pony or another intelligent being – never an animal. Many in the press had theories as to how the illness kills, whether it was the fever, or the heart giving out that did the trick. But all knew, however the virus killed, the corpses of the infected come back to life.

Feeling hot tears on her chest, she looks down at Button Mash and sees that he’s crying in his sleep. ‘Probably a nightmare?’ She thinks to herself. ‘Of his father…’ She looks at Love Tap. ‘And his mother…’ She thinks about her how mother and father, her brother. She lets out a tired shutter. She remembers the last call before the phone lines went dead. They were heading to Canterlot.

Her thoughts of her family cause her to think about her friends.

She thinks of Applejack. She knows the stoic and humble earth pony is proud of her family. She wonders how she’s holding up not being able to know every fate of each of her family members.

She thinks of Rainbow Dash. Earlier in the day, before the chaos broke out, she had helped her get Scootaloo to Applejack’s orchard after Scootaloo’s parents got sick. She knows that Rainbow Dash wants to bring her parents to the farm. She breathes out a shallow sigh, whishing Rainbow Dash will be safe on her trip.

She thinks of Pinkie Pie. She hopes that her travel to her parent’s farm is a safe one. A lot can happen during a five-hour drive. The threat of danger is higher now than ever, with the given circumstances.

She thinks of Rarity. She knows Rarity and her sister Sweetie Belle are close to their parents. The panic caused the trains lines to shut down, trapping her parents in Canterlot. She just hopes that they’re alright.

Lastly, she thinks of Twilight. Twilight has been in a coma for over a week now. She remembers seeing the bandage on her neck. The glass beaker holding potion couldn’t retain the amount of force being released from the chemical reaction. The image of the glass fragments the doctor showed them, flashing back into her mind, sends chills down her spine. She just prays that Shining and Applejack can get her out the hospital in time.

Letting out another sigh, she holds Button Mash close to her and falls to sleep.

“I can hold the rag on my head…” Love Tap moans through her cough.

Fluttershy looks down at the sickly mare. “It’s alright, I use to do this for a living…” She smirks. “Granted it was animals… But it’s the same concept.” She giggles at her own thought. Love Tap joins in on the laughs until another wave of coughs silences her joy.

Button Mash sits on the other bed, eyeing them both as he periportally looks out the window eyeing the dense grove of trees in the dim forest. The occasional rays of light shining through, kissing the ground before fading away. “Sweetheart, why don’t you go play in the living room?” Love Tap states, eyeing the fear in her son’s eyes.

Button Mash lets out a groan. “But I want to be with you!”

“I’m right here, I won’t be going anywhere.” She retorts.

“Come, child, I need to forage for some roots around my home.” Zecora comes into the room looking at the colt with a smile. “Come let’s go.” Button Mash gives a sigh and follows after the zebra.

Watching the pair leave, eying the door as it shuts behind them, Fluttershy returns to taking care of Love Tap. Feeling her brow, she frowns, the fever that racks her body is still going strong. “Darn…”

“Fluttershy?” Love Tap asks.

“Yes?” Fluttershy dips the cloth in an ice-water residing in a metal bucket next to the bedside.

“Could you make me some cinnamon, nutmeg tea?”

“It’s going to have to be a cold tea.” Fluttershy states.

“I’m fine with that…” Love Tap buries her face covering her coughs. “My throat is so sore…”

Fluttershy nods and heads into the kitchen. Walking up to a cupboard she takes out a small pot and sets it on the metal grate in the fire place. Filling up a large cup with water from the sink, she pours the water into the pot and lights a fire. Sitting back, she watches the flames grow over the small amount of sticks. Seeing that it needs more fuel, she gets up. “I’ll be outside for a bit.”

“I’ll will be fine!” Love Tap responds with a weak shout.

Fluttershy giggles. “Don’t you go anywhere!”

“I can’t” Love Tap groans playfully through her coughing.

Exiting the home, cool humid air washes over her. Fluttershy flaps her wings and heads over to the side of the house. Seeing a large pile of logs, she walks over to them. Looking around the yard she finds a small old cart. Smiling, she picks up several small sticks and cut logs and throws them into it.

“The fire needs more fuel?” Zecora walks up to Fluttershy with a basket full of beats and spicy roots.

Fluttershy looks over her shoulder. “Um… yes.” She sees Button Mash has a basket full of berries. “It looks like you guys came back with a lot?”

Button Mash nods his head.

“Yes. Yes, we did.” Zecora smiles.

Fluttershy nods. “Well I think we should head inside.” She smiles at Button Mash. “You want to help me make your mother some tea?” Button Mash nods his head vigorously and runs inside. Giggling at the colt, they head inside. “Uh…?” Fluttershy stops in her tracks as she looks into the forest. She sees a dark silhouette far into the distance. “Do you see that?”

Zecora looks at where she’s pointing. “What do you see?”

Fluttershy feels her spine tingle. “I don’t know?”

Zecora scans the horizon, looking through the trees and their thick branches. “If its one of the dead, we must head inside and keep our voices low.” Fluttershy nods as she hulls the cart into the house.

The silhouette watching Fluttershy and Zecora ducks behind the tree. He shivers before peaking behind his cover once more. Seeing Fluttershy taking the cart back outside to the side of the house, he keeps his eyes on her studying her movements. ‘She’ll be perfect for Father…’ He takes notes on her bright blue eyes and the flirty way she walked.’ Slipping away he treks into the forest, towards the small meadow in the heart of the forest.

Dodging low hanging branches and protruding roots, he squeezes through the thicket and appears into the meadow. The sun above casts its warm glow upon the colorful flowers and the soft wispy grass. Enjoying the warmth, he makes his way over to a large tent in the center of the meadow by a stream.

“Moon Dust you’re back?” A stallion keeping watch by the tent states. “What did you see? Is the forest clear of demons?”

“Yes, but I have some news for Father.” Moon Dust smiles.

“What do you mean, news?” The stallion removes his hood from his head.

“Others are in the forest.”

“How many?” The stallion gives him a raised brow.

“Three.” Moon Dust smiles. “Two mares and a colt.”

The stallion nods and opens the tent’s door. “Father! Moon Dust is back!”

A stallion wearing a white robe who’s surrounded by several others, numbering twenty-five, turns around and looks at the stallions by the entrance. He waves to Moon Dust, who follows his commands. Nearing Father, Moon Dust bows. “Moon Dust, my child. Did you spot any demons?”

“No Father, but I did find others.”

The other ponies murmur among themselves.

“Who are these ponies?”

“I did not make contact, but from where I was, I could see two mares and a colt.”

The children talk among themselves.

“What do they look like?” Father smiles at the children.

Two mares, with flowers in their braided manes, dressed in similar white robes to his look at one another with flat expressions.

“Well the colt, is an earth pony, with brown fur and dark brown mane and one of the mares, well she’s a pegasus, with canary fur and a long straight pink colored mane.” Moon dancer looks at the mares wearing white robes. “I believe they’ll make a great addition to our family!”

Father smiles at his words but it soon fades. “What about the other mare?”

Moon Dust expressions sours. “She’s a zebra, Father…”

The group gasps.

“A witch?!” A stallion growls

“What if she finds us?!” A filly cries.

“Will she turn us into demons?!” A colt asks his mother.

“Why is one here in Equestria?!” A mare begins to panic.

Father’s face frowns at this news. He looks down at the ground and pulls out a torn and battered leather-bound notebook.

“That poor colt and mare! The zebra is controlling them!” A mare sobs.

One of the mares in white leans her head close to Father’s ears. “What do we do?”

Father looks at the mare. “We must save them from the wicked ways of the zebra, Blossom.” He kisses her on the forehead, before pulling away to address the group. “Moon Dust, Victor, Quill Wind, Muller and Ratchet!” The stallions stand up and bow. “Go and save the mare and the colt.”

“What do we do if the Zebra fights back?” Victor asks.

“Do to her what you wish.” Father hums. “I have foreseen and told you of the rise of the demons by their hooves. I trust that you can give a punishment worthy enough for such a crime.” He gives them a stern glare. “Now go!”

The stallions bow once more before running off into the forest.

“What do you want us to do my love?” Blossom asks.

Father looks at his flock. “Prepare camp for our new arrivals.”

……….

“Is she oaky?” Button Mash looks into the bedroom, eyeing his mother sleeping the day away.

Fluttershy stands next to him. Watching Love Tap shiver in her sleep, she sighs and lays a wing over him. “She’s oaky for now.” She guides him away from the bedroom and shuts the door.

Button Mash looks up at Fluttershy. “She’s not going to get better?” Fluttershy feels her body go numb at his tone of voice. She looks down at the colt trying to form words. Button Mash sighs as he sits by the fire. “I’m not dumb…” He watches the flames dance about with sad eyes.

Fluttershy sighs and sits down next to him.

They stay silent for a while, letting the soft sounds of the crackling fire and the sounds of Zecora cooking dance in their ears.

Angle bunny who sits on the couch watches his owner from afar, his wisker twitching all the while.

“We’ll do our best…” Fluttershy begins. “To make it as comfortable as we can.” She mumbles. Button Mash looks up at the timid mare, his young eyes staring into hers. She gives him a small smile before bringing him into a hug with her left wing. “Button, I have something I need to tell you…”

KNOCK!!!

KNCOK!!!

Fluttershy and Button Mash stare at the door with wide eyes.

Angel Bunny lifts his head and stands alert, his black beady eyes glaring at the door.

Zecora shivers and slowly steps out from the kitchen. “Fluttershy.” She whispers. Fluttershy looks over her shoulder while keeping Button Mash in a protective grip. Zecora puts a hoof to her lips and nods as she nears one of the windows. Fluttershy nod and slowly makes her way to a candle by dining area and puts it out.

By the window, Zecora puts out the candle and slowly opens the curtains. She peers out looking in the direction of her porch. Seeing nothing, she scans the surrounding area…

CRASH!!!

Glass fragments go flying as a rock flies into the home barely missing Zecora. She hisses as several fragments of glass pierce her skin. Fluttershy and Button Mash duck for cover as several more rocks break through the remaining windows. Button Mash cries as he scoots closer to Fluttershy, nearly dodging a rock as it skips past him.

A pegasus burst through one of the windows. His long brown leather robe flopping about as he nears the front door. Throwing it open several more ponies pour into the home. “Grab her and the little one!” One of them shouts. Three of the stallions rush up to them. Fluttershy panics and jumps out of the way of the first two but the third stallion pins her down before tying her limbs.

Seeing his owner in trouble, Angle Bunny leaps from under the couch and jumps onto the aggressor’s face. The pegasus panics and whips his head about, trying to pry off the rabbit.

“Hold still Quill!” One of the stallions’ huffs before he back kicks the rabbit off his comrade’s face

Angle Bunny goes flying, crashing into the wall by the door. “Angle!” Fluttershy cries. Anger boils in her as she squirms, kicking her limbs in each and every possible direction. The stallion on top of her grunts as he tries to keep her limbs still.

“MOMMY!” Button Mash cries as one of the stallions pins him to the ground.

“Quite the little one before his cries attract the demons!” One of the stallions, and blue furred unicorn huffs.

One of their captors an earth pony stallion takes out a rag and gags the colt. Throwing him over the back of one of the stallions, he steps up to his comrade and helps him finish tying up Fluttershy.

Zecora looks on helplessly as she watches them drag them out of her home. Glaring at the stallion above her, she moves her free hind hoof and kicks him in the nether region. The stallion crumples allowing her to stand up. “Unhand my friends!... !” Blue aura surrounds her and sends her face first against the hardwood floor.

The unicorn of the group smirks menacingly at her. “They will no longer be your slaves, zebra!” Zecora looks up at the stallion tears pouring form her eyes from her pain. Laughing the unicorn slams her face against the floor once more.

“Moon Dust! Victor and Quill Wind are heading back to Sanctuary.” Ratchet glares at the Zebra. “You should go with them.”

Moon Dust looks at his comrade. “Will you be able to handle her?”

Ratchet smirks. “Oh, I’ll be able to…” He places a hoof on her back and pins her hard to the ground. Zecora moans at the pressure on her spine and chest.

“What do you have in mind?” Moon Dust nods his head at Zecora.

“Oh, Muller and I have some ideas.” Ratchet runs his hoof along her back towards her hindquarters. Zecora feels her body go numb at she feels him close to her vagina.

“Just be careful, Father says they’re known to use dark magic.”

“Oh, we will.” Ratchet pins her head against the floor. “Now go, Father will be waiting for you.”

Moon Dust nods and leaves the home, running past Muller. Muller watches Moon Dust, Victor and Quill Wind disappear into the forest with Father’s prizes. “So, what do you want to do to her first?”

Ratchet leans and smells Zecora’s mane. “I say let’s take her for a spin…” Zecora looks up at the stallion with wide eyes.

Muller laughs. “Father did say do as we please.”

“Especially since Father put himself in charge of when we stallions can mate with the mares of our group… I have a lot of sexual tension.” He nibbles on Zecora’s ear. She groans as she tries to escape. “Tonight’s going to be fun...”

Zecora hangs her head as she stares into her cup of tea. Twilight, Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash stare at the mare. Their own minds swimming with their own thoughts on the story she told.

“Um…” Rainbow Dash swallows the lump in her throat. “What happened to your captors?”

Zecora looks up at the prism maned mare. “Button Mash’s mother is what…” She sips her tea. “Fluttershy had locked the door from the inside as she shut it. After a week into my… Punishment. One of the stallions forced the door open.” She lets a small giggle slip pass her lips. “Her corpse stuck her teeth into his neck.” She laughs at the memory.

Twilight and her friends look at one another.

“I had to fight off Love Tap… Had to kill her. I killed the one she bit…” Her body shakes. “It… It… Felt…”

“Good?” Rarity asks running a hoof through her Zecora’s mane. The zebra nods. Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash look at the two with wide eyes. Rarity sighs, “Zecora… Do you know where they took Fluttershy and Button Mash?”

Zecora stares at her tea.

Rainbow Dash feels her brow begin to perspire. “Zecora?” She rubs her friend’s shoulder, “Please?”

Zecora stares at her own reflection. She sees her own worn soulless eyes staring back at her. “Some place called Sanctuary…”

Chapter 5

Crisp morning air washes into the farmhouse through the open door. The flimsy screen-door still latched to the doorframe shakes a bit from the winds. Twilight shivers from the cold breeze and warm dense air washing over her body – making her fur stand on end. Picking up several cups of coffee with her magic, she walks up to the kitchen’s archway and hands a cup to Rarity and Applejack before handing out the rest to Shining Armor, Willy Pete and Sunny.

Zecora and Derpy sit by the fire. A large blanket covers Zecora in warmth and comfort as Derpy feeds her a bowl of tomato bean soup. Her eyes watch as the spoon scoops up a good amount of the meal. With a hum, Derpy puts the spoon up to her mouth which she graciously accepts.

“Shit!”

Rarity and Twilight look at Applejack with wide eyes. With all the years they known her, they never heard her curse. “What?!”

“I said shit!” Applejack growls. “Why didn’t we look harder?!”

Twilight frowns. “We didn’t know! You didn’t know!” She rubs her horn – its tip sparking from a small discharge of magic. “We can’t blame ourselves for something we had no control over!”

“We did and we did nothing!” Applejack shouts.

“Darling!” Rarity growls. “We don’t need another hothead!” She points out the kitchen window.

Several yards from the farmhouse, Rainbow Dash is showing an old dying apple tree whose boss – her strikes swift and sound. “FUCK!” Her voice is filled with pain as she sends chunks of decaying bark flying all around her.

The children watch the irate mare unleash her fury from the comfort of the farmhouse window by the fireplace. Scootaloo looks at her idol with terrified eyes. Hearing Rainbow Dash spew several more colorful expletives, Summer Wind gently guides the children away from the window towards their room “Let’s go play some games, shall we?”

Applejack looks away from the mare and sighs. “I know…” She winces when she hears Rainbow Dash break into a torrent of sobs. “Thunderlane?”

Thunderlane sighs as he stands up from the floor next to the couch. “I’ll calm her down…” He leaves the house, the screen door squealing as it shuts close.

Macintosh stares at Rainbow Dash from the kitchen window with solemn eyes. “I’ve been thinking.” He watches Thunderlane sit next to her, draping a wings over her back.

Applejack looks at her brother. “Thinking of what?”

Macintosh pulls out a small glass bottle of whiskey and spikes his coffee. “What Zecora told you?” He sips his drink. “And the pony who was stalking us yesterday.” He looks at Zecora. “Our stalker was wearing a brown robe, like her captors.”

The group looks at one another thinking over his words.

“You don’t think?” Sunny feels her throat tighten. “That pony is with them?!” Bolt comforts his wife as she begins to shiver.

Macintosh looks out the window once more. “I’m not sure, I hope I’m wrong and it’s just some random survivor just checking us out…”

Shining Armor rubs the base of his horn. “If it’s not, we better prepare ourselves… I’m not comfortable with a cult, with rape tendencies somewhere around our home.”

“We have children!” Sunny cries. “What do they do to children?"

Marley looks at the mare and Zecora and frowns. “Nothing good, if we go by what they did to her.” He nods his head at Zecora.

Sunny sobs. “Will you watch what you say!” Bolt growls. Marley frowns at the stallion, rolling his eyes he walks up to the front door grabs his shotgun and heads out of the house.

Twilight sighs as she rubs her eyes. “We’ll just have to be vigilant.” She looks at the group. “We need to keep track of every pony on the farm. We see strangers, we treat them as if they can do us harm.” Applejack and Willy Pete look at her with reserved expressions but nod in agreement. “The children will have to stay close to the house. No wandering off.”

“I agree with that.” Bolt chimes in.

“I second that.” Derpy gives the group a smile.

Twilight returns the gesture as she looks down the hall. She sees Spike and Applebloom looking at her. Not wanting them to worry she gives them a smile and a nod…

“WHERE THE FUCK IS FLUTTERSHY YOU SICKO!”

The group jerks at the tone in Rainbow Dash’s voice. Macintosh, Soarin, Aloe and Jiminy Jam look out the window and see a pony wearing a brown robe with a hoodie, standing by the gate. “That’s the pony we saw yesterday!” Soarin shouts as he bolts out the door.

Shivering, Twilight chases after the pegasus, followed by the rest of the group. Hearing their elders running out of the house the children lead by Applebloom and Spike head towards the windows. Opening them, they watch as the group approaches the stranger. Granny Smith walks up to Zecora, all the while keeping her eyes on the children. Zecora remains on the floor, her ears swivel, focusing in on the commotion taking place outside. Her eyes’ gaze however stay on the fireplace – watching its flames consume the logs within.

The stranger stares at the irate pegasus as Marley and Thunderlane hold her back. He raises his brow at her accusation. Finding it charming he gives her a playful smirk, before turning his attention to the approaching group of ponies coming from the farmhouse.

Closing the distance between the stranger, Twilight notices that he’s an earth pony. His fur is light grey. His mane is short and black. What catches her attention however, is his eyes – their bright green color pierces her soul, causing her to shiver a bit. “Who are you?” Twilight asks as she stands a few feet from the stallion.

“The same could be asked of you?” The stallion hums.

“We asked you first mister!” Applejack frowns as she nears the stallion.

The stallion hums as he looks over Applejack. “I’m just a stranger that’s been watching your group from afar for some time now.”

“What are your intentions?” Soarin asks.

“Nothing of ill intent if that’s what you’re wondering about…”

“LAIR!” Rainbow Dash spits. “You’re wearing those robes those ponies from Sanctuary wear!”

The stallion smiles. “Ah, you know of Sanctuary.” His smile leaves as he looks at the farmhouse. “But from the zebra you harbor… A tainted view no less.”

“Members from your group raped her!” Sunny shouts.

The stallion sighs. “Father told them to punish her for her wicked ways.” He looks at the pegasus. “As how they punished her, it was their choice. One that got them killed.”

Marley glares at the stallion. “You knew of their deaths?”

The stallion nods. “One that she did not kill ran back to Sanctuary. Blood coated his fur. We saw he had the bite of a demon. Before we executed him, he told us what happened.” The stallion looks to his right and sees the edge of the Everfree forest. “His actions lead to his death.”

The group is uneasy by his tone. From the sounds of it, he disagreed with his comrade’s actions, they even executed him. But that could have been for the bite. Or maybe, just maybe… Still, his group kidnapped Fluttershy and Button Mash – even raped Zecora mercilessly.

Twilight is perplexed by the name given to the dead. “Why do you call them demons?”

The stallion smiles at her. “Because,” His smile leaves. “The gods are displeased with our sinful lives that they forfeited their protection over us and allowed the zebras to use their dark magic to send the demons upon the world!”

“That’s a load of bullshit!” Macintosh spits.

“I was once blinded like you until Father told us the truth, told us of what he as foreseen! He predicted this long before the demons came!” The stallion growls.

Rarity huffs as she studies the stallion. “Who is this ‘father’ you speak of?”

The stallion calms as he looks at Rarity. “Just the wisest of ponies who ever lived.” He smiles. “He told us the way we can rid the word of these demons. Told us we must live like our ancient ancestors once did. It’s the way the gods intended us to live.”

Twilight shivers as she mulls over his words. Something in the back of her mind crawls its way to the surface. She rubs her head as she remembers old memories of herself sitting in history class in university. Her eyes go wide. “No…” She glares at the stallion. “What do you mean by how our ancestors use to live?” Deep down she has a sneaky suspicion as to what his answer will be.

The stallion smiles at her. “I can tell you already know the answer to that question.” He smirks. “I can tell you’re a smart mare.”

“Twilight you know what he’s talking about?” Derpy wonders.

Twilight keeps her eyes on the stallion. “Yes…” She grits her teeth. “Thousands of years ago we ponies lived barbaric ways…”

“I wouldn’t call it barbaric.” The stallion huffs. “It’s natural!”

Twilight growls. “I don’t call living under a system of an alpha stallion and an alpha mare who controls when ponies can eat, drink, sleep and mate, not barbaric!”

The stallion smirks. “Its no different form the way we live now. We just call it by different names.”

The group looks at one another concerned by Twilight’s and the stallion’s words.

Gritting his teeth Shining steps up to the stallion. “Again!” He shouts. “What is the real reason you are here, why have you’ve been stalking us?!”

The stallion puffs out his chest. “To see if you will join and submit to our clan.” He gives them a seller’s smile. “Father knows what is best for us, he can feed you, house you, and give you the affection you deserve.” The group talks among themselves, contemplating on what his words mean. Jet Cloud on the other hand keeps to himself as he looks at the stallion, his expression unclear.

“We’ll never join you!” Twilight growls.

Copper stands next to Twilight. “If you haven’t noticed, we like our freedoms.”

The stallion frowns. “Freedom is dangerous.”

“We can handle it!” Soarin huffs. “Besides the way you live doesn’t sound like it would be worthwhile.”

The stallion smirks as he looks at Rainbow Dash. “Your friend Fluttershy thinks otherwise…”

“YOU BITCH!” Rainbow Dash shouts as she lunges at the stallion. But before she can land a blow on the stallion an arrow flies from out of nowhere and cuts along her right shoulder – impaling itself into the dirt near Jiminy Jam’s hooves. “AH!!!”

“DASH!” Derpy and Thunderlane rush to her side.

Rainbow Dash looks at her wound and sees that’s its bleeding at a constant rate. Panicking, Derpy places her front hooves on the would to slow the bleeding. With teary eyes, Rainbow Dash glares at the stallion.

The group looks around searching for the pony who fired the arrow. Marley glares at the Everfree forest to his left and sees a small speck of brown through the dense trees. Growling, he pulls out his hoof-shotgun.

“I wouldn’t do that.” The stallion huffs.

“Why not?!” Marley growls. The stallion gives him a glare that tells him that others are out there, ready to strike him down.

“Father said you might be violent…” The stallion sighs. “It’s a shame, Fluttershy spoke highly of you…” He glares at the group. “Since you showed hostility, I can only come to the conclusion the zebra is controlling your emotions…” He stares at the farmhouse and sees the children staring at them with wide eyes. Taking a deep breath, he looks at the group with a flat scowl. “We’ll forget her,” He points at Rainbow Dash. “little outburst, for now…” He messes with his robe. “Since you rejected my first offer, I have another for you.”

Twilight glares at the stallion. “What’s your offer?”

Marley, Zipper, Shining and Macintosh brandish their weapons.

Noticing their tense stances, the stallion holds up a hoof. “You give up the zebra to us. Allow us to give her the punishment she deserves and we’ll leave you be.” He sees Twilight is about to interrupt and he holds up a hoof once again, silencing her. “Or join us, summit yourselves to Father’s guidance!”

The group looks at one another each trying to read each other’s thoughts. “What if we refuse?” Applejack walks up to the stallion – She puffs out her chest. Trying to intimidate him.

“You’ll have seventy-two hours to find out.” The stallion bows before walking away from the farmhouse. “I hope you make the right decision!” He looks back at the group. “For Fluttershy’s sake.”

Watching the stallion disappear behind the foothills surrounding the orchard the group feels their spines shiver as they look at their surroundings. It now feels like they’re being watched from all sides. Even being within the farmhouse didn’t feel safe anymore. Feeling like she going to puke, Applejack looks at Twilight who’s staring at the spot where the stallion’s silhouette was last seen. “Twilight?”

Twilight jerks from her voice and whips her head to look at the earth pony. Her eyes are wide and full of fear. “What?” She softly asks.

“What are we going to do?”

Twilight looks over Applejack’s shoulder and sees the rest of the group looking at her and each other for some answer to their new threat that’s so close to home. Taking a shallow breath, she watches Derpy patch up Rainbow Dash’s shoulder. “We have to prepare ourselves…”

“For a fight!” Marley growls.

Twilight nods. “Yes… A fight…”