Among The Trotting Dead

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."