Equestrian Infection

Chapters

The Outbreak
Recollection and Reunion
The Feral Forest
The Ashlands

The Outbreak

Part 1: The Outbreak

By: Twisted Ink

"I don't know Twilight, I think I should stay," Spike argued as Twilight pushed him towards the door. "The train doesn't even leave until three..."

"If Princess Celestia wanted to see you, then there's no reason you shouldn't go. I just find it a bit odd she wouldn't say what for though. Oh well, you'll find out soon enough, just make sure to write! You've got everything right? Extra clothes, toothbrush, your blanket?" Twilight said, counting off on her hand.

"Y-yeah," Spike blushed at the last one; "I've got everything. I'll see you in a few days then, I guess. Bye Twilight!" He waved, walking out the door.

"Have fun Spike!" Twilight called out, waving as she shut it behind him

She walked through her castle, looking into the halls as she passed, wondering what she could take care of while Spike was away.

I could... No, already reorganized the library and cleaned it, polished the chairs in the map room, my clothes are clean... Hmm... All my friends are busy with their own things today too...

"I suppose I could lie down and re-read The Magnificent Magical Marvels of Equestria again... Maybe take a well-deserved nap even," she pondered aloud, stretching her wings and yawning.

She levitated the book from her library and floated it alongside her as she went into her bedroom, lying down and beginning to leaf through it.

Ahh... The floating islands of Pegathopolis... Nopony knows how they work, but I'll crack your secrets one day... She thought to herself, flying in place as she caressed the well-packed dirt of one of the islands.

She flew around them, her long pink shirt billowing in her breeze as she did, the air caressing her jeans as she examined the floating bit of land.

"Twilight," she heard from the direction of the island.

She looked over, seeing the dirt part in the shape of a mouth, "Did you just say my name?"

"Twilight, please, it's important!" The island begged.

"I uh... What?" She asked, rubbing the back of her neck out of confusion.

"Please wake up!" It urged her, floating closer.

She closed her eyes in disbelief, "Well fuck..." she whispered as she realized what was happening. When she next opened her eyes, she was sitting up in bed in the same clothes, her book on her lap and Rainbow Dash with her hands on her shoulders, shaking her. "I-I'm up! For the love of Celestia, s-stop."

Rainbow stopped and sighed, "About damn time! We need to get moving though."

She shook her head, waking herself up and getting to her feet, setting the book aside, "Why? What's happened? Has there been an attack?"

Rainbow stepped down from the bed, fixing her grey shirt in the process, "Did you seriously sleep through the earthquake that just rocked Ponyville?"

"Earthquake?!" She asked, astonished.

Did I really...? No, she's just messing with me...

"Come on Rainbow, stop fucking around and tell me why you're really here," she demanded, slightly grumpy.

"There was an explosion on the south side of the town that rocked the city, I'm not fucking around this time."

"What could've blown up?"

"The train did on its way to Canterlot; apparently there were no survivors... Yet ponies were seen running from the flames. It was super weird and I figured having the local Princess there checking it out would ease people's worries."

"I suppose so, but wh- What time is it?"

"It's 3:05, why does that matter?"

Twilight's coat ran pale purple, a very noticeable color difference for the alicorn, her knees shaking as well. All around her the world spun, he stomach churning as she felt a sickness composed of dread rising.

"Twilight, are you ok? You look like you did when Discord got to us..." Rainbow put an arm around her friend, helping support her.

"No... S-survivors?" She asked quietly.

"No, unless what I heard was wrong. Why? Wait, Spike was supposed to leave today... wasn’t he?" She asked, hoping for a no.

Twilight nodded slowly, "We need to go, now. I need to see it..."

Rainbow nodded, "I'm sure he'll be f-fine, he's a dragon after all..."

Twilight stayed silent, grabbing a dark blue jacket from her closet and rushing out. Rainbow sped after her, wasting no time in catching up to her fear stricken friend.

"Twilight," Rainbow tried to say, flying next to Twilight who had tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. "It'll be ok, I promise..."

She shook her head, flying faster through the day made dark by the tower of smoke slowly rising in the distance. They kept going towards it, zipping between buildings and over the crowds of ponies on their way to check things out as well. With her tears trailing behind her, Twilight saw the flaming crater slowly come into view.

The tracks were ruined on both sides of the massive hole. Pieces of the train were tossed about, a majority of them in the bottom of the flaming pit it had created. Ponies were standing near, looking from a safe distance as if it were going to explode again. Twilight and Rainbow landed closer to the flames than anypony else, gazing into them at the wrecked train below. Rainbow put an arm around Twilight, holding her close.

"He..." she began before breaking down against her friend.

"I'm here for you Twilight... All your friends are..." Rainbow assured her quietly, wrapping her other arm around her and holding her in a tight hug, letting Twilight sob against her.

Twilight wiped her eyes, pulling away slowly and looking into the flames again when something caught her eye on the other side.

"Rainbow, th-there's somepony over there lying down... Maybe two actually... Y-you don't think it could be..." She rushed off without waiting for an answer. "SPIKE!"

Rainbow rubbed her own shoulder awkwardly, feeling even sorrier for Twilight before following her once more.

On the other side of the flames they saw a brown earth pony with a darker brown mane hunched over a grey pegasus with blonde hair, looking to be giving her mouth to mouth. They exchanged glances and nodded, moving over to help.

"Here, let me take it from here," Twilight told him, moving another step closer before stopping dead in her tracks.

The pony rose to his feet slowly, turning to face them. The first thing they noticed were his hands, the fingertips covered in red. His mouth and his shirt were similar, both his bared teeth and lips soaked in the liquid too. On the ground the mare lie still, her eyes as wide open as the hole in her throat, the ground around her blood-soaked.

"Wh-what the hell..." Rainbow whispered, taking a step back.

"T-Turner," Twilight cautiously said his name. "Wh-what are you doing?"

He snarled quietly, his head twitching every so often. Twilight took another step back and looked at Rainbow.

"We need to get hel-" she began before getting tackled to the ground by Rainbow a second before Time Turner had the chance to.

Rainbow got to her feet, balling her hands into fists, "If you wanna get her you're gonna have to take me first!"

The bloody Doctor rose again, turning towards her, his hands arched with the intent to claw. Rainbow went in to strike before getting knocked down by a gust of wind from behind her. Twilight watched the grey mare that caused it rise to her feet and immediately fly off faster than she'd seen anypony do before. She tried to stop her with a spell, but nothing worked or came from her horn, causing her to panic internally. It didn't last long as she slammed into a member of the crowd who had been watching the train burn, the impact knocking the other observers back, and beginning to tear the unlucky victim apart.

Twilight grabbed Rainbow and pulled her to her feet while Time Turner ran off, picking out his own victim too.

"Twilight, she... she was..." Rainbow stammered, visibly shaking.

"I know... Let's get back to the castle and quick. We need to find a way to contact Celestia!" She explained in a rush.

Rainbow stopped herself before she could say What about Spike? and just nodded, following her friend through the sky and over the panicking and fleeing crowd. They reached the castle within seconds, still hearing the screams off in the distance.

"We need to work quickly; we're looking for a spell book that contains teleportation spells. That'd be our best bet," she told Rainbow, sprinting into the library and throwing books off her shelf.

Rainbow walked in, looking on a shelf safe from Twilight's tossing, when not long into her search a nearby book began vibrating. "Uh, Twilight, this one’s shaking..."

"Shaking?" Twilight asked, half paying attention, "I really don't have time for these jokes..."

Rainbow rolled her eyes and opened the moving book, reading what she saw, Hey Princess, what's up?

"Twilight, the book wants to know what's up... Do you have a pen?"

She nodded and quickly tossed her one from her own pocket. Rainbow began writing back, the words above disappearing as she did.

Princess Twilight is a bit busy, this is Rainbow Dash. Who is this?

Her friend Sunset Shimmer. And I know a Rainbow Dash too! Not you... but... well... you.

Rainbow shook her head and began writing again.

Alright, you were one of Celestia's prized pupils once, how did you get messages to her?

I did it either by hand, or messenger. Twilight got lucky with her assistant Spike honestly... How is he? It has been a while since I've seen the cute little puppy.

Uhm... He's... Ok. He's as good as he can be, Rainbow wrote, bottling her own sadness, but things in Ponyville are really screwy right now.

How screwy we talking?

Train blew up, one pony ripping out another’s throat, then them getting up and attacking another one...

Uh... Do you guys need a hand?

Twilight snatched the book from Rainbow and began writing, No, we should be fine. I've just gotta get a message to Celestia and all should be good.

"Why did you do that?" Rainbow asked in an annoyed tone.

"Because, we don't know what's going on. If things come down to it, I'll reconsider it, but for now no." Twilight said, grabbing her Cutie Mark adorned satchel and draping it over herself, setting the book into the open pocket.

Rainbow grumbled quietly, crossing her arms and turning away, "I mean, it wouldn't hurt to have an extra unicorn..."

"You can meet her another time Rainbow, I promise that. Besides, another unicorn wouldn't do much. My magics been dead since we saw Time Turner... Something strong is keeping me from casting it."

"Then why did we come here looking for a spell?!" Rainbow asked in disbelief.

"I-I don't know, ok? I don't fucking know!” Twilight said, lowering herself to the ground slowly.

"Hey, Twi', I'm sorry... Let's just get this figured out, alright?"

She nodded and stood up again, reaching into her satchel and pulling out another one, "Stop leaving your stuff here and we have a deal," she told her, handing her the satchel with a teary eyed smile.

"There's the Twilight I know!" She cheered, walking out of the library and to the front door of the castle.

She nodded quickly and followed, "Now let's get out there, find our friends and go get help!"

She opened the door, a light blue stallion right on the other side, drenched in blood and facing them. She immediately shut the doors again, turning and facing Rainbow as they heard the pony slam into the doors.

"Any other doors outta here?"

"I've got windows, so maybe we could fly?" Twilight suggested.

Rainbow shook her head, "We both saw what the other..." she struggled for a term to use, "Fucked up Pegasus did... Even I can't go that fast."

"There's only one out there, maybe we can push through then?"

"I think we might have to fight our way out Twilight..." she nodded towards the door where some more banging could be heard. “Just give me something to use and I can."

Twilight nodded, running down to her room and coming back with a blue metal bat, "I'm hoping this is the last of your stuff, Rainbow," she scolded in a joking tone.

She grabbed it and smiled at Twilight, "It's probably not but whatever, just open the door and let me at them."

"Are you sure? There might be another way without hurting them..."

"Twilight, Time Turner ripped out a mare's throat... She got up and attacked another pony! Listen to those screams outside! Everypony is in trouble and they're getting fewer and fewer in number. Those things, whatever they are, they grow with each one they get!"

"Fine, fine... I just... Do whatever you need," she told her, grabbing the handle of the shaking door, trying to ignore the cries for help coming from the panicked city outside.

Rainbow got her bat ready to swing as Twilight twisted the knob, letting in...

"Rarity?" Twilight called out in confusion.

Rainbow swung hard, Rarity ducking just in time, "RAINBOW!" She shrieked, dropping to the ground.

"Rarity, what are you... Those things were out there..." Rainbow began.

"They chased after some poor stallion who tried to slip past them... I don't know how far he made it but it was far enough away from here. You lot opened the door right in time," she explained, standing up and fixing her satchel and yellow skirt, setting her large knife aside as she did.

"Why do you have that?" Rainbow asked, pointing at the clean knife.

"The same reason you have a bat and she has... nothing?"

"I've got a book!" Twilight defended, holding up the diary from her bag. "It's heavy enough to do some damage I guess."

Rarity and Rainbow exchanged glance before laughing quietly, "A book? To defend yourself? We've got your back Twi'!" Rainbow jested, getting a growl from Twilight.

"All joking aside, can either of you two fill me in on what you know?" Rarity asked, looking at them both.

A quick explanation later, leaving out Spike’s fate for now as Twilight and Rainbow quietly agreed upon, Rarity sat there frightened.

"I'm certainly glad I grabbed this then... I thought there was just a riot or something at first, but from what I saw getting here backed up by what you told me... Well, it's quite alarming."

"Yeah, but for now, we just gotta go find the other three and get to Celestia..." Rainbow told her.

"Well, Pinkie would probably be at Sugarcube Corner, setting up a party for these things knowing her. Applejack lives far enough away that she probably hasn't been affected yet... Of course with this being a school day, Applebloom probably filled her in... I hate to think Fluttershy is out here with those things, so hopefully she's locked up at home..." Rarity assumed aloud.

"Well," Twilight said, holding her book in one hand, "Let's get going to Sugarcube Corner then and find Pinkie Pie..."

The other two nodded, Rainbow leading the way outside, "We'll need to be quick though, the day is already half over..."

"I'd never be able to deal with these things at night..." Rarity said with a shiver.

"Please, you won't deal with them in the day at fear of ruining your outfit," Rainbow jested.

"Hmph, let's see you wear something slightly braggable and then we'll talk."

Rainbow growled, looking around before moving into a nearby alleyway, "Where's Sugarcube Corner from here?"

"Uhm, I think it’s closer to town hall in the center..." Twilight said as she thought.

"Looks like we have a hell of a long way to go then..." Rainbow said, peeking around a corner. "Doesn't look like anypony is left over here... Alive or dead," she said, pointing at the blood streaking along the ground ahead of them.

"This started nearby, it makes sense that everypony would've fled deeper into town... And with the living ones going, the dead ones would follow..."

"How long until we have a more even spread then?" Rarity asked, letting her guard down some as they walked out into the open.

"Well, once they start getting caught up, some people will hide and some will come back... So tomorrow at the latest..." A loud shriek overthrew the screams in the distance, "Ten minutes at the earliest?" Twilight told them with a nervous laugh.

"Well, let's pick up the pace then," Rainbow told them, beginning to jog. "You know, seeing Time Turner like that was a bit weird..."

"I'd hope so; it's not every day you see someone go feral like that..." Twilight said, trying to keep up.

"No, not even that... He was one of the closest ones to that explosion when it happened. He was the one that told me what happened and said we needed to get help..."

"Probably just a coincidence honestly... Of course there's always the possibili-"

Twilight was cut off as they were about to exit another alleyway, nearly running directly into another mare. Rainbow immediately brought out her bat, ready to strike.

"No please don't!" Cheerilee yelled out.

"Sorry, she's in a bat habit," Rarity told her.

"I'm not saving you if anything happens," Rainbow told her, wiping the smirk off her face. "Where are you going and why the rush?"

"Shh! Not here, follow me!" Cheerilee told them, darting into the nearest house.

They followed her in, finding the place empty as Cheerilee made sure the door was shut and the windows had the curtains pulled.

"We should be safe here, for now. Just keep your voices low." She explained quietly, sitting on a sofa in the dark room.

"How'd you know the place was empty?" Twilight asked in worry.

"Let's just say the occupant was the reason I was running..." she told them, catching her breath.

"It's a good thing you found us and not one of the things out there... What did you call them Twilight? Feral?" Rarity asked, sitting across from Cheerilee.

Twilight nodded, looking to Cheerilee, "Is everything ok?"

She shook her head no, "I... I don't know... First there was the explosion, then the incident at school... Now this..."

Rarity perked up, "What happened there? Is Sweetie Belle ok?"

"When the explosion happened, my students ran outside to satisfy their curiosity. On the way out though, somepony ran by screaming and scratched one of my students pretty badly... I brought them back in and did my best to help while we waited on the nurse to come over... Your sister and her two friends wanted to help, thought they'd get medical Cutie Marks... That stopped though when the injured student bit Applebloom though and began attacking other students. Twist got scratched, Silver Spoon got bit too, and I’m not sure who all got it though... So many of them got injured, luckily not as bad, so I sent them home. I restrained the injured student the best I could while everyone fled, but when I realized what they'd become I ran too... I tried to be a good teacher and protect my students, b-but I couldn't do it... They got hurt because of me... My fault, all my fault... My fault... My fault..." Cheerilee continued, rocking in place.

"What about Sweetie Belle?" Rarity asked, angrily shaking the crazed teacher, her knife pointed at her neck.

Cheerilee snapped out of it enough to talk, "Her and Scootaloo helped Applebloom home... That's all I know."

Rarity sighed, setting her knife down and sitting aside, "Thank goodness... They're safe all the way out there on the farm... I'm just glad Applebloom only got bit."

All three of them jumped up immediately, "We need to get to Sweet Apple Acres now!" Twilight screamed, running for the door.

"My fault... Worthless teacher... Students hurt..." Cheerilee went back to whispering as they ran out. "No way out..."

"Is she going to be ok?" Rainbow asked as they ran towards the farm.

"I hope so," Rarity said, balling her fists and stopping in place, "I left my knife! I'm going back, it's an antique!"

The other two stopped, irritated as they followed Rarity back. Rarity went back into the house alone, stopping in place at the sight. Cheerilee lie on the couch, the knife to her throat as she whispered on and on.

"I'm a failure..." she whispered before sliding it across in one quick motion.

Rarity lunged to stop her, not making it in time as blood sprayed out a bit, speckling her skirt and shirt. She froze in place, her hand outstretched for the knife still. After a few seconds, she took a breath and reached into her satchel, pulling a handkerchief out and wiping her face off. She then pulled the knife from Cheerilee gently, wiping the handle and her own hands off too. She turned, walking out of the house and shutting the door behind her.

"Took you long enough," Rainbow said, barely glancing at Rarity. "Now let’s go!"

Twilight rushed to her side, "Rarity is that...?"

She nodded silently, "C-can we just go get my sister?"

Rainbow looked back, realizing Rarity's appearance had changed. She looked at Twilight and received a nod, already assuming what happened.

"She snapped... So quickly... And just ended it..." Rarity stammered out, stumbling as she walked. "W-we're stronger than that, right?"

"Of course we are Rare," Rainbow assured her, “Now let's go; we're losing enough time as it is..."

She nodded, swallowing slowly and wiping her knife against her skirt, throwing the ruined handkerchief away. She stowed it in the side of her satchel for easy access and began running in the direction they had been.

As they ran, the screams grew louder and louder, leaving them unsure if they were getting closer to them or if the screams were coming towards them. After a while more of running through the seemingly empty town, they slowed down and began walking again, staying close to buildings just in case.

"Pinkie Pie is super close to us now; the Town Hall is maybe a block away. Do we still go straight for AJ or get Pinkie while we're nearby?" Twilight asked them quietly.

"We might have to come back through... Getting to AJ with 4 of us would just be a lot harder, especially with Pinkie. She'll just attract the Ferals to us a lot more." Rainbow explained.

"Yes, but what if we're too late on our return?" Rarity asked.

"If we go get her now we might be too late for any of them at Sweet Apple Acres," Rainbow said, hoping to scare Rarity into siding with her.

She swallowed, balling her hands into fists, "Sweetie Belle is strong enough to last another minute or two, plus Applejack is there. Let's go get Pinkie Pie."

Twilight nodded and took point, moving quickly but carefully across the street, ducking next to Town Hall. She stopped, listening for any sounds among the quiet evening.

"Do you girls hear that?" She asked the others.

"I don't hear anything," Rarity said.

Rainbow nodded, realizing what Twilight meant, "Exactly... Nothing. Where did the screaming and yelling go?"

"I think things are about to get worse... If nopony is screaming, those things are going to start wandering through the town looking for more people..." Twilight said, peeking around the corner. "Sugarcube Corner is right down here, let's go!"

Twilight broke into a dead sprint, Rainbow and Rarity only inches behind. She threw open the doors to the pastry shop, rushing into the darkness with the other two. They slammed the door shut, keeping their backs against it just in case.

"Why's it so dark?" Rarity asked, unable to see much in the blackened pastry shop.

"They might be closed... but even then, it wouldn't be this early..." Twilight said.

They felt their way around, finding the staircase leading to Pinkie's room. Rainbow took lead, her bat ready as they stepped into the hallway. She moved towards Pinkie's door, trying the handle.

"It's locked..."

"Well then... Knock on it!" Rarity ordered her.

Rainbow tapped the door with her knuckles, getting no response. She shrugged and began walking away when Rarity grabbed her by the shoulder and pointed at the door. Rainbow sighed and rolled her eyes, banging on the door.

"Pinkie, open up!"

"You're not one of the ponies who threw the party downstairs are you?" Pinkie asked in a cheerful tone from the other side.

"What party?" Twilight asked, "It was pitch black downstairs."

"Well, some ponies ran in screaming, other ponies running after them and trying to give them hugs, but they had really sharp teeth that hurt. They even gave Mr. and Mrs. Cake hugs!"

They exchanged terrified glances, Rainbow making a biting motion and pointing at the door with a shrug. Rarity shook her head and pushed Rainbow away.

"Pinkie dear, you didn't get bit too did you...?" Rarity asked worriedly.

"Nope! But everything went dark for a bit when I watched them give their hugs. When I woke up, I was here in my room!"

"Could you let us in maybe?" Rainbow asked irritated.

"Okie dokie lokie!" She said, pulling the door open.

The first thing they saw was her blood covered pink dress, various now-red candies decorating the odd choice of wear. Her face was clean and her hands seemed normal and her hair was at its poofiest. They stayed outside, looking through the door frame at her, unsure whether to enter it not.

"Pinkie... You're covered in..." Twilight began.

"Jam! Duh. It must've been some party because when I came to it was all over me... Those ponies were covered in it too!" Pinkie bounced in place happily, a flicker going through her eyes for a split second.

Rainbow pulled Twilight close to her, whispering in her ear, "She can't be serious right? Even she knows what blood and death are, right?"

Rarity moved over too, getting in on the partial huddle, "I daresay I'm getting worried... Cheerilee snapped like a twig, Pinkie is already... Pinkie Pie..."

"Let's just take it from here, and assume she's not more of a nut than usual..." Twilight said with a nod.

"I can hear everything you're saying, you dumbasses know that right?" Pinkie asked, her tone hatefully monotone.

They turned back, coming face to face with Pinkie, except it wasn't her. Her hair hung straight down, her mouth turned into a grimace with her overall color seemingly darker. She stood there facing them, a large pink gun in one hand with a large modified chamber.

Rainbow shook her head in disbelief, "Not doing this shit again, I'll go get mauled instead," she declared, walking back the way they came.

Rarity grabbed her, pulling her back towards them, "No you don't! Now Pinkie dear..." she began.

"Pinkamena, get it right or leave. See the hair? I care about myself, Pinkie doesn't," she snarled, stepping toward them and raising the gun slowly.

"Alright Pinkamena, tell us what happened here... Mainly how Pinkie escaped..."

"WE, thank you, escaped because of me. I shoved those things back... I grabbed the gun the Cakes kept behind the counter, fired off a few rounds at them all, and ran. I don't know if they hit, I don't care... We made it, the end. Now you're here."

"Pinkie doesn't see that that way though..."

"You think she would admit that? Hell, normally I'm dormant as fuck inside her, but it screwed with her bad enough to call me out this far."

"Well, what's up with the gun? It doesn't look normal..." Twilight realized aloud.

"Good eye; when we got up here I messed with it using what she had around here and made it more suitable for her. As much party shit as she has in her endless pockets, fireworks are in good number compared to actual bullets so, now it launches those. Small ones at least. Call it my Party Pistol if you will."

"Alright, can we go? My sister might be in trouble!" Rarity said, motioning towards the door.

"Why the rush Rarity?" Pinkie asked delightfully.

"Just come on," Rainbow said with a sigh, grabbing Pinkie by the hand and pulling her along.

Twilight set her hand on her face, growling in irritation, "Even in a crisis, I still deal with everyone's shenanigans."

Except now... There's one less source of them... She sniffled, holding back a tear. It's ok Twilight; he wouldn't want you to dwell on him... Just keep going, for Spike!

She raised her head with a determined smile, "Let's do this!"

"Yeah, hey, egghead, let's go," Rainbow said, already going down the stairs.

Twilight blushed and rushed after them. As they descended, Rarity sighed in disgust.

"I can barely see where I'm going... Is there any light down here?" She said, the dark lower floor of the bakery proving difficult to navigate.

"There's a switch right her- What the?!" She exclaimed when the second her hand found a light switch, another hand fell atop hers, stopping her from flipping it.

Pinkamena's voice drew over her ear slowly, "It's best you don't see down here... The floors are scarlet, I'm not sure if there are bodies down there to call a source though..."

Rainbow nodded in the dark, making her way along the wall and to the door, "Let's just go..."

They walked out, Pinkie back into control and suddenly adorned with her satchel.

Rarity looked at her quizzically, "When did you... Never mind..."

"Let's get moving," Twilight said, moving in the direction of Applejack's farm. "Just watch your tails and stay quie-"

Twilight was cut off as she was brought to the ground by an unknown assailant. She held her book up in front of her face, defending herself the best she could. Rainbow moved quickly the second she saw the green blur hit into her friend. She lifted her bat, watching the unicorn claw at the book at a rapid pace. It shrieked while it did, its tattered clothes billowing in the wind it was kicking up.

Rainbow swung, sending the bat directly into the feral mare's face, knocking her off Twilight and onto her back. She screeched out, arching her back and moving her claws underneath her to get up. Rainbow brought the bat down again, directly in the center of her face. She kept slamming down repeatedly; long after the head was crushed in. Blood splattered across her as she spoke quietly.

"Stay... the... hell... off... my... friends!" She called out, finally lifting the now bloody bat onto her shoulder and standing in place, breathing heavily.

They all stood, save for Twilight, watching Rainbow Dash in fear. When she finished, none of them said a word and followed her as she continued on her way towards Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity looked at Twilight, widening her eyes and nodding towards Rainbow. Twilight shrugged, nodding towards Pinkie who was skipping happily, unscathed by the events.

They continued moving in silence, ducking into alleys anytime they heard a sound. The occasional pony would hide behind their curtains, unsure whether the four bloody wanderers were out for more blood or for another purpose. They saw the moving curtains, trying the doors and windows, looking for solace or aid but to no avail.

"Figures nopony would let us in..." Rainbow grumbled.

"Well, with what's happening, would you?" Twilight asked, giving Rainbow a mocking tone.

"Well, no... But..." She stammered, looking for a reason.

"We could always bust in..." Pinkamena suggested with a chuckle.

"You go back where you belong and hush!" Rarity scolded, smacking her shoulder.

They kept moving, the path to the farm just ahead now, fencing on either side as the apple tree fields began.

"We made it... Not much longer now, but it's all out in the open," Twilight said, sitting on a fence and opening her book.

Ponyville is falling apart. Ponies are feral, killing and infecting one another. Dubbed the bad ones Ferals for now. Pegasi are the worst, and quickest. Unicorns seem sneaky, had a close call with one and well... Rainbow took care of that. Haven't experienced much with earth ponies, but I can only imagine they'd be stronger. Hoping that's all there is though.

Pinkie is safe, split between her and Pinkamena though... Not sure if you've dealt with that other side of hers or not. Rarity's good too. Getting AJ now and then Fluttershy. Stay on your toes; we may end up needing you. No promises though. Twilight out.

"Writing a novel, Twilight?" Rainbow asked.

"Updating Sunset, sorry. Let's go get AJ," she told them, standing up.

"Actually, here comes Applejack now!" Pinkie squealed, pointing at the silhouette coming towards them from the path.

"Why's she walking so weird?" Rainbow asked, noticing the slow pace of their faraway friend.

"I'm not sure... Maybe she's- APPLEJACK!" Twilight screamed, watching her fall to the ground.

"Well, duh she's Applejack!" Pinkie giggled, unaware of the situation as the other 3 raced down the path to the fallen mare.

Rainbow got there first, lifting Applejack up into a sitting position before immediately pulling away, her hands and arms now red.

"AJ, what the hell?!" She said, looking at herself in a horrified gaze. "Are you hurt?"

The orange earth pony shook her head, keeping her gaze away from the others, "Not physically..."

"What do you mean by that?" Rarity asked, taking a step back.

Applejack reached down next to her, grabbing an axe with fresh blood on it and tossing it towards them, "Y'all can assume I suppose..."

Twilight moved over, setting her hand on Applejack's shoulder, "Come on, let's get somewhere safe and talk about this."

AJ nodded, climbing to her feet, her red t-shirt still showing faint traces of the original green color, her jeans covered in the same shade of red as well. As if to form a trio, the axe at her side was adorned with the color as well, from handle to end. She grabbed it and put it into the bag on her back, keeping the handle out enough to quickly get to. She walked past all of them, including Pinkie who finally came over, and kept moving towards town. Rainbow flew up next to her, looking at her.

"Uh, Applejack, where are you going?" Rainbow asked.

Applejack stopped in place, realizing she had no clue, "Sorry, my head is just a bit muddled right now... Lead the way girls."

Where's everypony else...? Twilight wondered, avoiding what she thought might be the answer.

Rainbow led them forward, noticing a few ponies aimlessly roaming ahead of them.

"About time we saw some more... I was starting to worry..." She whispered aloud.

"At least it means they're still in Ponyville, but I think it's best we get Fluttershy and get out of town quickly. They're only going to grow in number from here. We've been lucky thus far to see so few... That'll change if we stick around..." Twilight explained to the group. "Just look for an unlocked door so we can rest for a bit and fill Applejack in."

The group moved down a side street to avoid the Ferals that were ahead. They began trying every door they came to, finding a majority of them locked. Twilight found one that wasn't and pushed it open, immediately facing the back of one of the creatures they were trying to avoid. She quickly shut the door again, hearing it snarl and cry out quietly against the door. She shook her head at the others, holding up four of her fingers to dissuade Rainbow from trying to clear the house out.

The more she thinks are there, the less cocky she'll be about it...

Finally they heard Applejack yell out, followed by the splintering of wood. They looked over, watching her break down a door with her axe.

"I like her style..." Pinkamena told Twilight quietly.

"Can you hush?" She growled back.

"Huh, what'd I do?" Pinkie asked in response.

Twilight sighed angrily, going over to her friend who had just passed through the now empty doorframe, the rest of the group close behind her. Applejack was already in the process of scooting a nearby bookcase towards the vacant doorframe. Twilight and Rainbow moved over, giving her a hand and blocking off the fresh hole.

"Now will you tell us what the hay happened instead of being Miss Silent Doorbreaker?" Rainbow asked with her irritation apparent.

Applejack glared at Rainbow, beginning to raise her axe only to have Twilight stop her immediately. “Now is not the time to kill her… Maybe later though,” she suggested, shooting a glare at the hostile pegasus.

"Why the hell would it matter anyway? Wouldn't be the first head ah've split today..." Applejack whispered, setting the axe aside.

Twilight carefully stepped back, "O-one more time?"

"It all started earlier today... Ah had been out in the orchard bucking trees and pickin' apples as usual when ah saw Applebloom bein' carried by Scoots and Sweetie, looked like she'd been bitten on her upper arm so naturally I helped get her inside. Big Mac and Granny took a look at her and ah left the five of them alone to go get some medical supplies..." Applejack paused, looking at the axe in her hands.

"Go on..." Rarity said, obviously curious.

"This axe has been around since Granny Smith was a young mare... It's the family Appleaxe... It wasn't often we had a dead or dying tree, but when we did we'd use it... It's always nothing short of being as sharp as possible for that reason..." Applejack continued, entranced by the weapon.

Rainbow snapped her fingers, "Hellooooo?"

"Yeah, tick her off a bit more... I'd love to see some more bloodshed around here," Pinkamena snickered. "I'll be sure to tie your severed head to my belt when she kills ya."

Applejack ignored them, "When ah came back, Granny was torn to pieces and the other four turned to me, death in their eyes and blood on their mouths... Ah cut down two Apples today... As well as two others..."

Behind them came the thud of Rarity falling down, followed by Rainbow stumbling and catching herself, "Y-you... Scootaloo is..."

AJ only nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Applejack, are you ok?" Twilight asked.

She nodded, setting the axe on the floor, "They were already dead... I just made sure they weren't used like puppets anymore... I suggest we all save our grieving for later and focus on finding Fluttershy and getting out of here."

"Duh! Then we can throw a party when we find her!" Pinkie cheered, firing off a firework round into the ceiling.

The firework snapped when it hit, sending small flares in all directions, igniting the wood above them.

"Oopsie!" Pinkie giggled as it began to spread.

"PINKIE! YOU IDIOT!" Rainbow yelled, rushing towards the bookcase and beginning to clear their way out.

The others gave her a hand, stumbling out into the street. They turned back towards the house, watching the window slowly begin to flicker yellow from the fire within. Twilight sighed, turning and making her way further on down the street.

"Dear, where are you going?" Rarity asked, concerned for her.

"I’m going to find Fluttershy. We don't have time to roast marshmallows..." she said angrily.

Pinkie slowly hid her bag of marshmallows as she rushed over, "Let's go get her then! There’s nothing fun about a friend being left out."

They all followed Twilight, continuing their alley ducking and swift moving, avoiding any Ferals they saw roaming about.

"Twilight," Rainbow whispered as they hid once more.

"What?" She replied, stopping in the alley next to a door.

"Are these things really this stupid or are they just screwing with us? Something smart enough to infect others like it has shouldn’t be this dumb acting…"

"How the hell am I supposed to know?! Why don’t you go ask one?"

"You're smart though. You probably already have a checklist made about these things!"

"N-no I don't!" She began raising her voice, a deep blush appearing on her cheeks.

"You so do! Don't lie to me."

"Ya did have some kinda paper you were lookin' at a few seconds ago..." Applejack cut in.

"Ok. Maybe I made one on the way here, but is that a problem with any of you?"

Rarity shook her head, taking a step back and bumping into something. "Sorry Pinkie," she whispered, stepping a few feet ahead.

Pinkie popped up in her face, causing her to let out a small shriek, "For what Rarity? Ohh who's that?" Pinkie asked, pointing behind her.

Rarity shook her head, already putting together that if she hadn't bumped into Pinkie she bumped into somebody else. She peeked back, the grey Feral just standing there staring at them. Its clothes looked shredded, blood covering both those and their mouth. The hands were lazily arched like the others, ready to strike. The worst part of its appearance was the chunk of flesh missing from its left shoulder, the ripped flesh dangling from the wound, a small trickle of blood leaking from it.

"Back away slowly; maybe it doesn't realize we're food..." Rarity told the rest.

They kept backing away, the Feral just watching them as they did. After a few more feet of distance were created, they turned to run. Twilight went first, immediately cut off by a sickly green burst of magic, followed by a maroon unicorn appearing in front of her.

"IT TELEPORTED?!" She shrieked out loud, finding her own magic still failing.

Rainbow unfurled her wings, getting ready to fly over them when she saw the pegasus floating quietly above them. "This was a fucking ambush..."

Twilight readied her book, watching as more joined on either side, "We... We have to fight them..."

The others nodded, knowing the odds were stacked heavily against them. "Let's do what we can... If we can kill enough of them we might be able to force our way through," Pinkamena told them, making sure the gun was ready.

Applejack handed her axe to Rainbow, trying to push the door next to them open. "Use that, I'll see if I can't get this door open."

"We need all of us fighting or else there's definitely no chance," Pinkamena snarled.

"There are about twenty of them on either side, it won't work!" Applejack told her.

"Farm girl can count higher than apple? Surprised me... We can take them though." Pinkamena mocked.

"Ah don't have time for your psychotic ass, ah'm gonna get us out of here without losing any of us," Applejack growled back.

"Over my dead body you're going to try that," Pinkamena warned, aiming her gun at Applejack.

Applejack took back her axe, moving towards the straight-maned mare, "Is that a threat?"

"Hey... We kinda don't have time for this," Rainbow awkwardly interjected, pointing all around them.

It's like they're waiting for us to make the first move... Twilight realized in her head.

"Why don't we uhm, let Twilight decide, quickly I might add," Rarity suggested.

She snapped from her thoughts, the other four staring at her, "Uh... If we fight there's a big chance we'll die."

"Of course," Pinkamena said, rolling her eyes.

"If you try to get that door open there's a strong chance it’s barred or something; it's also metal so your axe wouldn't work..."

"Yer takin' her side?"

"I'm taking neither side!" Twilight shouted back.

"Quiet down Twilight, they're getting impatient," Rarity warned, the Ferals closing in around them tighter.

"Do those firework bullets explode on impact or do they pierce?" Twilight asked Pinkamena.

She already knew the idea, putting the muzzle to the keyhole and pulling the trigger, leaving a clean hole in the door where she'd had the gun. "There's your answer."

The grey Feral began screaming not long after the first, beginning a steady walk towards them.

"Applejack, kick the fuck out of that door!" Pinkamena commanded, shooting around the doorknob a few more times before turning towards the approaching creatures.

They closed in quicker when Applejack began kicking. Twilight swung the book at the nearest one, knocking it back a bit before it lunged at her. Rainbow swung the bat, knocking it away.

"A fucking book..." she grumbled as she pulled Rarity over to help her defend that side.

Pinkamena began firing into the crowd on her side, aiming high and low, working to hit the closest ones hard in an effort to get the rest to back away. She laughed quietly the whole time, her bloodlust growing bit by bit as they fell in front of her. As her laughter grew, the panic on Rainbow's side did too. She kept swinging, trying to kill them as Rarity slashed at any that got too close.

Twilight moved over next to Applejack, "Any way this can go a bit quicker?" She asked nervously.

"You tell me smarty pants," she growled, kicking the door below the knob again.

Twilight looked it over, seeing the beat area around the door knob, the hole still glowing red. She looked over the hinges, seeing if they could be loosened at all.

Wait... I can see the hinges… Maybe the door...

She grabbed the knob, shoving Applejack aside, and pulled the door open.

AJ looked away embarrassed, "Don't tell the others..."

"Let's go! Everypony through!" Twilight shouted, holding the door open for the other four before going in and slamming it shut behind her.

She slid to the ground on the other side, immediately getting up when she heard the shrieks and banging from the other side. She looked around, her eyes adjusting, the area slowly coming into view. They had made it into a theater, the projector above still running a blank white image, helping light the room.

"It was a fire door...? So why was it locked?" Rarity asked aloud.

Twilight and Applejack exchanged glances before Twilight spoke up, "Doesn't matter now. Let’s get going. Fluttershy isn't far from here, and with night coming quick, we're almost out of light. It'll be a lot more dangerous getting out once the sun goes down."

"Then why wouldn't we stay here until day? Or at Fluttershy's cottage for Celestia's sake?!" Rainbow asked loudly.

"Keep your voice down!" Twilight reprimanded, "Besides, the quicker we get out the quicker we're safe..."

“Safe from what? These things can just as easily get to wherever we do if not quicker than us. You’ve seen how fast those pegasi are, we can’t even hear the fucking unicorns’ teleporting, and if the earth ponies follow suit, we’re fucked if they get us!” Rainbow tried to argue, sitting in one of the theater chairs.

“Which is precisely why we need to get outta’ this town as quickly as we can. If we’re lucky, they won’t be anywhere else and we can get the princesses to help!” Applejack added, standing over her.

“Something of this caliber would’ve raised an alert from them immediately! Canterlot isn’t that far away, surely the explosion alone would’ve been seen or felt from there by somepony!” Rarity yelled at Applejack.

“Maybe they know what's going on and they’ve left us for dead…” Pinkamena grumbled with her back to the group.

“They wouldn’t do that…” Twilight told her, taking a step in her direction.

Pinkamena turned to face her, her own arms crossed, “Wouldn’t they? I mean, come on, your magic doesn’t work when this starts? Does yours work?” She asked, pointing at Rarity.

Rarity focused, unable to call anything forth, “I never even thought about it…”

“Who would have the power to stop the magic of other unicorns? An entire city would take a powerful pony… Maybe even two…” Pinkamena continued, “Open your eyes Twilight, something weird is going on aside from the undead attacking us. Train explodes; magic stops working for you all; ponies are getting physically altered? Fishy as could be.”

“L-look, let’s just focus on getting out of here before jumping to conclusions…” Twilight demanded, starting to shake. “Then we can find out what’s going on.”

“C’mon then, Fluttershy’s house isn’t too much farther from here. Let’s check the lobby and get out of here if it’s safe,” Applejack suggested, walking out of the screening room.

The view through the front windows showed them an empty street in the evening light. She peeked right and left the best she could, seeing the emptiness continue on both sides. She could see the path to the cottage on the left end of the road, a beacon amidst it all.

"It's completely clear..." she said cautiously.

"Everywhere else we’ve been to had something though... This is getting weirder," Rarity pondered aloud.

"Maybe they all went to go have fun somewhere else. I hear there are great places to grab a bite on the other side of town!" Pinkie joked, back to her usually giggling self.

"Well... Wherever they are, it's not here so we might be good for now," Twilight told them.

Rainbow walked in from the screening room, "They're completely gone from the alley. I looked through the hole and even opened the door..."

"Maybe something or someone lured them away," Twilight suggested, "Instead of waiting on them to return, let's get moving."

Twilight opened the doors and ran out, jogging down the street. She looked back and saw the others, especially Rainbow Dash, catching up quickly. Not too far off in the distance, the familiar shrieking of their previous pursuers could be heard, seeming to find new prey to hunt. They ignored it, continuing on their way as the path left the city a bit, curving to the bridge in front of Fluttershy's cottage.

Pinkamena stopped at the bridge, refusing to take a step onto it, "Somethings wrong..." she called to the others who were already past it.

"No shit, a lot of things are kinda wrong today," Rainbow replied, stopping in her tracks, "Now come on. Let's get her and go."

Pinkamena sighed and forced herself forward, meeting with the group at the base of the steps to the animal caretaker's cottage. She stood back, letting the others start the ascent. Twilight reached the top first, seeing the door cracked open.

"You're really going to ignore the deranged mare with two personalities when she tells you something seems off? To her of all people?" Pinkamena tried to argue, "I'm telling you, we shouldn't go in there. I can feel the evil radiating off this fucking place."

Twilight looked at the others, wondering what to do until Rainbow Dash shoved her aside, "Weapons ready, we're going in."

"Are you sure? I mean, Pinki-… Pinkamena here has a good point dear," Rarity told her. "Her door is open, what if she's... You know..."

"I'd rather kill her mahself than risk leaving her for dead," Applejack countered, "Open it Rainbow."

"The blood is on your hands," Pinkamena warned them, her mane immediately poofing back up, "We're already at Fluttershy's?! This calls for a party!"

Twilight and Rarity frowned at each other, questioning if they were doing the right thing. Rainbow and Applejack shoved the door open, rushing inside with the other 3 close behind. Twilight shut the door behind them, unprepared for the sight ahead.

The floor was covered in numerous rustic stains, fur and feathers atop all of it. Furniture was upturned and cages were torn open, all of it with Fluttershy sitting in the middle. Her pink tank-top was adorned with splotches of scarlet, her pants had been shredded from the knees down, with no visible damage to the leg underneath. In her arms rested her rabbit Angel, snarling and clawing at the ceiling while she cradled him. His fur was missing in spots and foam coated the corners of his mouth as well as the same scarlet color from Fluttershy's shirt.

"I-is he one of them?" Rarity whispered to Twilight.

"He almost looks rabid... If it weren't for the fur and blood, there'd be no way to tell it one or the other," she whispered back. "Should we go?" She asked the group silently.

"O-oh... Hello everypony... What brings you here?" Fluttershy asked, looking up at them. "Sorry about Angel, he's being a cranky bunny and won't go to sleep..."

"I'm sorry Fluttershy," Pinkamena said aloud, walking towards her briskly, her knee-high black boots making every step audible.

"When did she change shoes?!" Rainbow asked aloud.

"It's Pinkie, stop questionin'- WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YA DOIN!?" Applejack yelled as Pinkamena pointed the gun right between Fluttershy's eyes at point-blank range, causing her to freeze in place, staring at the gun.

"What needs done. If she's not infected then I'm not a lunatic. You see that fucking thing she's holding don't you?" She tried to explain.

"W-we don't know that!" Twilight screamed moving towards the two psychopaths.

Pinkamena looked at Twilight, a tear forming in her eye, "No chances," she told her, pulling the trigger.

Click

"What?" Pinkamena asked at the lack of gunshot.

Click

Click Click

Click Click Click click click

She checked the gun again, spinning the massive cylinder on it, "Empty... right..." She laughed quietly, walking a few steps away. "Check her while I reload and if she's even at risk of turning, I'm stopping it."

Twilight looked the still-frozen Fluttershy over, avoiding Angel's bite as she did. "She's clean."

"Twilight, what's going on?" Fluttershy whispered.

"A lot... Mainly ponies coming back from death and attacking those who aren't like them.

"I know a-about those... One tried to get in and Angel fought him off by biting him. But then he started biting the other animals and then they all started fighting so I sent them out back. They're still there while I calm Angel down," she explained, rubbing the rabbit's stomach.

The group exchanged horrified glances, unsure what to do.

"F-Fluttershy dear... You need to put Angel down an-" Rarity began.

"No! I-I won't put him down!" She retaliated, clutching him closer, causing him to snarl at the group. "See? He only attacks those monsters and he wants to attack you! Y-you're all no different from them are you!?" Her voice rose, more anger seeping into it with each syllable. "Why don't you all go away!?"

Pinkamena snapped the cylinder back into the gun and pointed it at Fluttershy, "Ok, I'm killing her! We only need one crazy one here."

Fluttershy snapped her head in Pinkamena's direction, locking eyes with her, staring deep into her twisted soul, "You're not killing anyone but yourself."

Pinkamena found herself unable to look away or pull the trigger. Her eyes remained locked as her hands slowly turned, the gun now pointing at the underside of her mouth, "Wh-what the hell are you doing?" She stammered, fear encasing her.

"I'm not doing a thing..." Fluttershy told her, a smirk appearing on her face. "It's all you now..."

"Someone fucking stop her!" Pinkamena pleaded, her finger beginning to hug the trigger, "NOW!"

Twilight reacted first, doing the only thing she could think of and throwing her book at Fluttershy, nailing her in the side of the head. She recoiled, breaking her gaze with Pinkamena who fell to the ground panting. She turned towards the group, looking at them all.

"You're all monsters... Inside and out... You're all NO DIFFERENT THAN THEM!" She screeched at them, turning and sprinting out the back of her house, Angel still in her arms.

They rushed to the collapsed Pinkamena who looked up and smiled weakly, "I-I think I'm gonna hide away for a bit..." Her hair immediately poofed up before they could say anything, Pinkie obviously back in control.

"Come on, we gotta get after that poor girl. There's no telling what she's got herself into," Applejack reminded them.

"That wasn't Fluttershy... I don't know what that was but it felt wrong... And seeing her do that to Pinkamena... We need to subdue her somehow," Twilight told them.

"If anyone can catch up to her it's me, so let's go," Rainbow told them, following the way Fluttershy went.

Rarity helped Pinkie to her feet, following after Rainbow and the others, stashing her knife in her bag as she did.

Just in case I fail to avoid eye contact...

They ran outside where Rainbow had stopped right outside the doorway to the fenced-in field behind the cottage. Above, the sky was darkening, clouds covering the sky as the sun began to set. Ahead of them, only a few yards away, stood Fluttershy facing them.

"What's she doing?" Rainbow asked.

"She wants us to come to her... I say we oblige," Rarity suggested, taking a step forward.

A deer slowly came into view next to Fluttershy, followed by a few more, each in the same state as Angel. Twilight moved next to her, readying her book. As if to compliment, a few beavers joined Fluttershy as well. Rainbow and Applejack stepped up, wolves and geese following their lead. Lastly came Pinkie, followed by a bear on the opposite side.

"She has an army...?" Rainbow asked in disbelief.

"I guess... I really don't want to kill any animals though..." Twilight whispered in reply.

"We don't have much of a choice sug'" Applejack informed her.

"Maybe if we can take out Fluttershy, the animals will stop?" Rarity asked, pulling her knife out again.

"They won't let us get to her without a fight! There'd be no fun in that," Pinkie told them, bouncing in place.

"They have a bear! We have small weapons... AND A BOOK!" Rainbow quietly yelled at Twilight.

"Must you keep reminding me? At least I didn't try to punch them to death!" Twilight countered.

"There's no time to bicker y'all, it's huntin' season," Applejack said with a smile.

The others looked at her in disgust, "I hope you get bitten for saying that," Rainbow told her.

"Fuck off," she replied, moving towards the opposing animals. "Which one of y'all wants to be first?" She asked, putting the axe over her shoulder.

One of the deer volunteered, lowering its head and snarling, charging at the orange apple-farmer. Applejack raised her axe high, piercing the head of the deer before its antlers could pierce her. The axe sunk in with a sickening crunch, splattering her with blood.

She put her foot on the dead deer's face, pulling the axe from it, "That's one of y'all... Anyone else?"

Fluttershy stepped back, waving her hand forward, causing the rest of the animals to charge. Applejack led the charge for their side, swinging her axe at the first creature to reach her. The goose's head was taken clean off as the others moved in. Twilight did her best, batting back lunging beavers and trying to smash them while Rainbow swung at a flock of geese attacking her. Every hit she thought connected only ended with the goose leaning its head all the way back, moving with the bat unscathed.

"Fucking... Stop it you damn hell birds!" She growled angrily, swinging downward on one, causing it to honk loudly and back up.

Rarity dealt with the deer, sidestepping their charges the best she could. She nearly tripped on one dodge, throwing out her knife-wielding hand for balance. The blade stabbed directly into the charging stag, slicing its side open as it continued moving, collapsing to the ground dead after it finished.

"Wh-who else wants some?" Rarity asked, trying to be intimidating as she pointed the blood-dripping knife at her attackers.

Pinkie went directly for Fluttershy, bouncing off the approaching wolves and making a clean dash at her insane friend. As she leapt, her mane was pulled back, forcing her flat onto her back.

"Oww... What'd ya do that for?" She asked the bear looking down at her.

It simply roared in response, raising its claw at her. She quickly fired once, causing it to drop its arm, the paw now singed and slightly wounded. She took the small break she had and stood up, turning and facing it.

"Party time! How about we start with some dancing?" She asked aloud, grabbing its paw with her right hand, temporarily holstering her gun.

She spun the bear clockwise and on the third revolution she brought her left fist as hard as she could into the unsuspecting jaw. The bear opened its mouth to groan in pain as it recovered, giving Pinkie enough time to pull the gun from her hip and plant the barrel in it. Her free hand held the underside of its chin as she performed a front flip, keeping her hands tight on the bear's face. She fired off as many shots as she could down its throat, forcing random holes to blow out of it. On the descent, she brought the head all the way back, the neck audibly snapping as she let go and landed on her boots, her mane now flat. She turned, walking again towards Fluttershy.

Rarity faced the last two stags, stabbing one of them as it went by. She tackled the other, bringing it down beneath her as she began repeatedly stabbing it. Twilight knocked another beaver off, stopping it repeatedly until it stopped moving. She grabbed the last one as it lunged, slamming it to the ground over and over. Rainbow threw down her bat, grabbing one of the last 3 geese by its neck and swinging it at the others, beating them to death and beyond. Applejack meanwhile took on the wolves Pinkie left behind, swinging her axe like a golf club at the trio, sinking the blade into one and sending it flying. She looked at the other two as they began backing off, running after them as they tried to flee.

Rainbow looked at the mass of feathers and blood in her hands and threw it down, grabbing her bat, "I need more blood..." she whispered aloud, seeing Rarity nearby.

Rarity pulled her knife out of the deer, standing and moving towards Rainbow, "Kill..." she whispered.

Twilight saw Rainbow's back to her and made her move, "Let's see how good of a weapon a book is when it's 4 inches in your skull," she called out.

Applejack watched them all approach one another, releasing the headless wolf from her grip, "Ah can send them somewhere better," she whispered, readying her axe.

Pinkamena approached Fluttershy, firing her gun at the pegasus' feet, "Dance for me puppet," she called out, continuing to shoot.

Fluttershy smirked without a word, taking another step back and watching behind Pinkamena as her plan unfolded. Pinkamena noticed her distraction, using that as enough to close the gap. She reached out, grabbing Fluttershy by the neck and squeezing, her gun pressed to her temple.

"Go ahead... Kill me... You're already too late to save your friends. What's one less to another psychopath?" Fluttershy growled, feeling her air cut off.

Pinkamena held tight, keeping her gaze from Fluttershy's eyes as she flipped the pistol in her hands, nailing the deranged mare in her temple with the butt of it. The second she fell unconscious, the bloodthirsty ponies behind her dropped, their weapons falling one second before they could cause harm to the others. Angel immediately began hopping off, trying to escape but found himself held by the ears.

"I bet you caused this, didn't you?" Pinkamena asked with a chuckle. "I can practically feel the evil coming off of you. What's up with that little cottontail? Why don't we cage you up somewhere nice inside?" She walked across the bloody battlefield, going to find a small cage for their prisoner.

Fluttershy woke up in her house, unable to move her arms or legs. She looked around, finding herself in a chair with all her friends staring at her. The state of her house caused her to gasp, followed by the intense pain of her growing headache.

"Where... What are you all doing?" She asked, still disoriented.

Twilight stepped forward, looking into her eyes, "She seems normal."

"Yeah? She seemed normal when we walked in. Then she about made me shoot myself," Pinkamena reminded her.

Rainbow looked around, "How can we be sure she's her?"

Rarity walked up close, pressing her nose to Fluttershy's and whispering, "Boo!"

Fluttershy screamed and recoiled hard enough to knock her chair back.

"She's Fluttershy alright," Applejack declared, "But what was causin' her to be so evil?"

"Angel was," both Twilight and Pinkamena said simultaneously.

"From what Pinkamena said about holding Angel," Twilight continued, "He had enough of an influence over Fluttershy to make her act like she was infected without being, sort of an indirect infection, as well as amplify her abilities beyond that of normal, hence why the stare was so effective. That, coupled with how close they are, only helped to work both ways. Angel acted as an amplifier for her abilities with animals and other things; all the while he was corrupting her.

His amplification and infection worked together, causing Fluttershy to be able to go as far as influencing us into wanting to kill each other. It didn't work on Pinkamena for reason of mental instability, no offense, and Pinkie already getting affected. What she did to that bear was bad, and not her. When Pinkamena knocked out Fluttershy, Angel became nothing but an infected rabbit. Which is why we kept him locked in the cage now," she explained.

"Why exactly didn't we kill him?" Rainbow asked, sitting on the overturned sofa.

"K-kill Angel?!" Fluttershy stammered, tears welling in her eyes.

"Because, if we can get him on our side, Fluttershy might become a ton more useful," Twilight told her.

"I left him in the bedroom, go grab him and let's get to work," Pinkamena told Twilight.

She nodded, walking upstairs into the room where Angel was. On the bed sat an open and empty cage, forcing Twilight to shut the door behind her.

"I don't want to hurt you... Just come out and it'll be ok," she pleaded quietly.

Angel hopped from under the bed, looking up at her, holding his paws out. Twilight bent down, smiling at him and picking up the corrupted rabbit gently. He immediately sunk his teeth into her left palm, causing her to begin to yelp. She closed her mouth tight, throwing him into the cage and locking it as tightly as she could. Angel snarled at her, hitting at the door.

"Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck," she quickly forced out, "It's fine. You don't know how it's spread. He's a rabbit too, so it won't even affect you!" She beggingly assured herself.

She immediately flung open the bedside drawers, looking for and finding a pink pair of gloves. She slipped them on quickly, forcing the bitten hand into her pocket and grabbing the cage.

Please Celestia, don't let this be it.

"Here's the little fella," she told the others, handing it to Pinkamena.

"What took so long?" She asked.

"Nothing?" Twilight asked in false confusion.

"Alright. Now Angel, I have a proposition," she began, looking in the cage, "You work WITH us and you live, or you choose not to and I blow off that head right here and now. Your choice. Oh, and before I forget," she said, pulling a padlock out of her bag and snapping it to the cage door, "Double locked to be safe. Now, what's your choice?"

Angel shook his head yes quickly, knowing the threat was real.

Rarity bent down, cutting Fluttershy from her chair and pulling her to her feet, "Go grab your shoulder bag dear, I'm going to make a quick modification."

Fluttershy scurried away, returning quickly with the butterfly adorned bag over her shoulder, "Here you go... Just be careful."

"It will only take a second!" Rarity pulled a needle and thread from her bag and cut the bag's strap in a clean line, letting it fall to the floor. From there she fed one end through the handle atop Angel's cage and proceeded to sew the strap back together. "There! Now this cage will be a bit easier to carry."

"O-oh! Thank you Rarity, tell her thank you Angel," she whispered to the undead rabbit in the cage dangling against her hip.

Angel snarled in response, refusing to look at any of them.

"It really doesn't bother you that he's... You know... Dead?" Applejack asked.

She shook her head, "I know that it should but for some reason it j-just doesn't seem that big of a deal. He's still the same old Angel either way and that's what counts!"

Rainbow Dash sighed audibly, "Can we get going? I'd like to leave this hell hole eventually! It's already night time too so the quicker the better."

"Are you insane?" Pinkamena asked, "They'll be almost impossible to defend against at night. We're better off waiting until dawn."

"As if!" Rainbow retorted, "We could slip by easier in the dark. The chances of us getting spotted go down immensely."

Twilight felt her stomach churn, a tingling sensation spreading from her bitten palm, "W-we need to go now," she told them, moving towards the door.

Pinkamena scoffed, her hair poofing once more as Pinkie looked around, "Anyone else keep blacking out?"

Twilight threw the door open, the tingling in her stomach intensifying, "Follow me!"

She ran outside, making a mad dash for the other end of town, heading towards the large crater where her trusted assistant was cremated. She didn't look back, not caring if her friends were with her, only caring that she made it to the Princess in time to be helped.

The others watched her go, staring in fear and worry. The undead townsponies gathered behind her as she ran, doing their best to catch her as they sprinted along. The group looked at each other and nodded, joining the chase. Rainbow bent down, grabbing a rock and tossing it up, hitting it with her bat towards the crowd.

"Hey uglies, come and get it!" She called out, taunting them.

Half the group turned, sprinting and flying towards them. They were barely visible in the darkness, save for the dim red glow in their eyes. A unicorn teleported right in front of her, immediately receiving a bat to the temple. They continued running, knocking back the attackers as they ran after their friend, quickly leaving them behind.

"Why is she running like this?" Rarity asked aloud, doing her best to keep pace.

"Ah don't know but we're sure gonna find out!" Applejack told them angrily.

"Did anyone else notice she had on my gloves?" Fluttershy asked, being swiftly ignored.

They finally caught up with her as she reached the outskirts of town, running a path parallel to the train tracks that were now to their right. They passed the last house, Twilight beaming in excitement as she fought off the tingling turning to pain.

"We're home free!" She screamed, running past the still smoking crater.

Behind them the city seemed to howl in the night, fires lighting it in some places while street lights continued in others. Ahead of them was the path to Canterlot and maybe a way to get help.

Maybe even a cure...

"Let's do thi-" she began to cheer before getting thrown back a few feet.

The others had no time to react, facing the same fate and landing next to her.

"N-now what in the hell was that?" Applejack asked aloud.

Twilight lied there, already knowing what kept them back. "It's an invisible barrier only capable of being done by the Royal Guard... Mainly only for when there are riots or a threat that needs contained..."

The others exchanged glances, immediately looking forward towards the sound of footsteps.

Ahead of them stood a grey pegasus wearing a white uniform, adorned with medals, almost invisible in the darkness. "Right you are Princess Sparkle. Now all of you at your feet to be checked," he commanded them in a raspy voice.

They stood, keeping a few feet away from the strange guard in front of them.

"Who are you? As a part of the Royal Order over Canterlot I have a right to bypass these barriers as well as a right to know what is going on," Twilight said, confident in her knowledge of her power and status.

"Well, since you're deciding to be difficult, I guess I'll address the first one," he said, stepping to the side and revealing another, much less confident looking, unicorn soldier behind him.

This one had a brown coat as well as a more disheveled looking grey uniform. He worked to stay close to the one in charge, practically shaking.

"I am Commander Bloc, and this poor excuse for a soldier is Lieutenant Kade, we are members of Celestia's Black Suns, and how he ever made it that high is beyond me. For your third question, we know what's going on. You don't get to. This is now deemed a black site. Ponyville is closed off to all with no information being released to the public whether in or outside the quarantine. As for the second one, you don't. You stay unless we find you're not infected or carrying the infection! Now. Step forward and please leave the rabbit behind, I'd rather not have to use my gun right now," he said, reaching for the Famas strapped to his back. "Get up here and scan them Kade, now!" He barked, causing the unicorn to leap.

He moved forward, doing a nervous half wave at them before closing his eyes and focusing, his magic first enclosing Twilight. She panicked, fidgeting around as she began to glow. Soon she was let down, the process moving through all of her friends one by one. After he finished, he fell down exhausted, panting quickly.

"He's never failed to tell apart carriers versus infected in any diseases known to our kind," Bloc told them, kicking Kade in the side, "Get your ass up and tell me what you found."

Kade stood slowly, looking between the group and his Commander, "1 infected and 5 carriers."

Twilight's stomach dropped, looking at her friends in shock, "One of us is..." she said in a false surprise.

They all backed away from one another in fear.

"Well, talk about a party killer," Bloc said with a laugh, "Now get up here so Kade can brand your hands. Try to run and I will shoot," he directed, clicking his safety off. "Right hands only through the barrier."

They walked up, each of them shaking and nervously looking back and forth at their friends. Twilight slipped the glove off her right hand, letting it fall to the ground as Rainbow watched. Rainbow's eyes went wide as she put her hand through. Kade began marking their hands with a black sun, mimicking Celestia's Cutie Mark, starting with Rainbow and beginning to move down the line, going to Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and ending with Twilight.

The second Rainbow was stamped, she retracted her hand and walked towards Twilight. The others watched her go, all equally confused. Twilight turned last, everything seeming to slow down as she watched her friend approach her and grab her left wrist. She fought back and tried to pull her right hand out to use it, finding it in Kade's grasp as he tried to mark her. She swung at Rainbow with her left hand, trying to shake off her grip. Rainbow kept fighting, eventually grabbing the back of Twilight's neck and holding her against the barrier.

Twilight cried in pain as the repulsive force of the shield kept rocking through her body all the while Rainbow was yanking the glove off of her. The second it was off, Rainbow gasped. The bite on her palm was red, spreading out along her hand and disappearing as it trailed down her wrist. Twilight took the split second Rainbow was surprised to knock an elbow into her nose, knocking her back. She yanked her right hand back as it was branded, pulling Kade's hand through as well and immediately lunging down, biting his wrist gently.

Bloc yelled at her to get off, firing into the air a few times. She let go, taking a step back, "I'm the infected one... Thank that fucking rabbit for that. But now I believe you have an infected soldier Commander Bloc."

He looked at Kade, immediately planting a boot to his back and forcing him into the quarantine, "Yeah? Guess he's your problem now you fucking freak." He turned, walking away from them.

Kade immediately backed away from Twilight, only to get tugged back, "Don't try to get away. I brought you in here to give us answers and I didn't even break your skin so you're not infected."

Rainbow smacked Twilight in the back of your head, "But you are! Why didn't you tell us! We would have amputated it or something!"

"She hasn't turned yet, so maybe she's stronger than the others. Didn't you say that one mare turned in seconds?" Pinkamena asked, the gun in her hand.

"Yeah, she did... But maybe being an alicorn helps?" Twilight asked.

Pinkamena holstered the gun again, "When you turn, I won't kill you... but I won't keep you around either." Her mane immediately poofed when the awkward topic came to light.

"But... maybe I won't turn... I couldn't bare one of you having to kill me..." she whispered to herself, trying to ignore the growing pain within.

"I'll kill you for that elbow you gave me..." Rainbow jested. "But we're all carriers of this shit so there's no way out."

"Hold on a second. Are we all just gonna ignore the situation? Twilight's gonna turn into one of them things we've been fighting. Friend or not, this isn't good and we need to deal with it soon," Applejack told them, trying to knock some sense into them.

Rainbow nodded in agreement, "Look... Just... When it comes to it, I will deal with it. Ok?"

Twilight looked at Rainbow, hurt but understanding, "Can I just get some answers... Before it happens?"

Kade looked at the mares around him, swallowing hard, "W-well... It's been a classified project for a long while now... The part of the castle that deals with the morale has been experimenting with enchanting certain mixtures, trying to use them on the populace in a way to keep citizen happiness up regardless. For the most part, its worked but... There have been a few instances where some side effects have occurred. We had a couple train cars come back rabid and well, undead, as well as some other outcomes. The undead one here is sorta our group's specialty. But we always prepped a quarantine team to stop the train mid-trip and clean things up. This time, something weird happened and well... We couldn't contain what happened, especially this quickly out the gate..."

"Did the Princesses know?" Twilight asked quietly.

"What does that matter dear?" Rarity asked.

"Did Celestia and Luna fucking know?" She asked again angrily.

He sighed quietly, "I'll be killed for this by my superiors but yes... In fact, they ordered the train that went up to be specifically tested... They had a very weird interest in it."

Twilight felt something in her mind snap, just an instant before Rainbow realized what that meant, "They... They used Spike as a test subject?" Rainbow asked aloud as Twilight sat there, shivering in anger.

"Whatever you want to believe. I don't know the details about it..." Kade told them uncaringly.

"Wait... Sp-Spike is..." Fluttershy whimpered as she realized what that meant.

Twilight shrieked aloud, her cry mimicking that of the undead as she lunged at Kade, grabbing his throat with her left hand, the other balled into a fist and being repeatedly rammed into his face. "THEY TOOK MY CLOSEST FRIEND FROM ME FOR SOME STUPID LITTLE EXPERIMENT?!" She screamed as blood splattered across her face and fist. Kade's heart stopped long before Twilight's fist did.

The others turned away, not about to stop her in what they felt was a justified act. When they finally heard the wet slams stop and Twilight's huffing turn into crying, they turned back. Rainbow was the first to console her as the others joined hesitantly. She looked up at them, giving them a weak bloody smile.

"You... you know... Today has been g-g-great... First Spike dies... Then the town gets overrun with an infection... Then I get infected... Then the Royal fucking Guard is barricading the place... and to top it all off, I realized that I was a total idiot for thinking that because I was in a rank equal to that, or damn near it, of Celestia and Luna, that it would actually fucking mean something and they wouldn't use my friends or I for their twisted acts. But, hey, fuck me right? FUCK. ME. Just... All of you... Go hide in the castle and try to figure a way out... Rainbow, can you knock me out? I don't want to be awake when it happens..."

"Sug', you sure you're not overreactin' a bit here?" Applejack asked, a tear coming to her eye.

"It's been growing inside me since I was bitten... I feel a deep pain and a lust for blood slowly beginning to consume me and drown out my conscious self... Please... Don't make me continue to suffer..."

"At least allow us our goodbyes..." Fluttershy pleaded, tears flowing down her eyes.

"Haven't I?" She asked, looking at the ground.

"Why the hell should we let you live?" Pinkamena growled, a tear in her eyes. "Why can't I just pop one in you now? Instead of later?"

"Could you live with that on your consciousnesses?"

"A hell of a lot more than letting you suffer..."

"Please... Let Rainbow do this..."

"Let's go girls..." Rarity told the others with a sniffle. "Goodbye... T-Twilight..." They ran off, save for Rainbow, not looking back.

"Goodbye... All of you..." she knelt to the ground, clutching her stomach. "Now... Can we do this before it becomes too much?"

"Alright Twi'," Rainbow began, raising her bat. "Kinda fitting... It ends how it began... Us two... I'll miss you kiddo..."

"We'll meet again someday... Don't worry," she told her, tears streaming from both their eyes.

"Yeah... We will... I can't wait for the day... Goodbye Twilight..."

"Goodbye Rainbow..." she said before the bat struck her, sending her to the ground unconscious. Rainbow took a last look before running off towards the others.

Off deep in the city, a group of survivors sat around a lit fireplace, the smoke blending in with the night. They had the shades drawn and the door barricaded as they huddled together. One of them sat apart from the rest.

"Where were you when it all began?" One asked the group, curious and wishing the silence gone.

"I was shopping at the time... My husband was near the initial attack and well..." she trailed off, her flowing tears telling the rest of her tale.

"How about you?" Another asked the first one.

"I was taking my daughter here out to lunch. Glad I did too, after what happened at the school," he told them quietly, clutching her close.

"What about him?" Another asked, pointing at the loner in the corner. "He's not made a peep since coming here."

The darkened stranger looked up at the group, his eyes examining them all quickly. He stayed still, wearing dark jeans and a navy blue hoodie with the hood up, nearly invisible without the firelight. He rose to his feet, moving a bit closer.

"Me? I was on that goddamn train where this all began..." He told them quietly.

End Part 1

Recollection and Reunion

Equestrian Infection

Part 2: Recollection and Reunion

By: Twisted Ink

She plunged her claw like fingers into the throat of her frightened prey. He let out a final gargle as the air and life left through the newly sliced hole in his trachea. She leaned down, biting into his shoulder and ripping the flesh clean off, swallowing it almost whole. The infected part of her worked at instinct while she remained sane in her mind. She was a watcher to her own terror, unable to stop the blood-lusting beast she had quickly become.

What am I doing...? Why can't I fight this...? Is this how the others are, just trapped and forced to watch it all?

With another victim turned, she soared into the sky, letting out a primal cry as she scanned for her next. Around her the city was burning in some parts, blood-soaked and corpse-ridden in others but in an overall ruin. It had only been two days since the infection, one since she turned, but already things were hell-bound.

She let out another cry as she dove for her prey.

The previous night

The stranger looked at the group as they scooted away.

"You're one of them, aren't you?" The father asked, shielding his daughter.

He smirked, most of his face concealed by his hood, "No. If I was I wouldn't be here, or if I was you all would have died."

"Then who are you?" The widow asked.

The mysterious stranger threw back his hood, revealing his face, "Names don't really matter when death is trying to break down your door. But I'm a dragon to say the least," Spike told them, his face still charred from the train. "We're a resilient species, hence why I'm here. I could've survived two more of those in a row before actually feeling something. Hell, lying unconscious in that fireball was actually comfortable for me..."

"When did you wake up?" The little filly asked.

"Not too long ago... When I did I saw some Royal Guard near, but they had guns so I ran the other way and hid in here. Then you all showed up..."

"Did you encounter any of the infected?" The other stallion asked.

"One... Had to fight it off..." he explained, retracting his hands into his sleeves.

"What's in the bag?" She asked, pointing at the backpack on him, a handle sticking out.

"This? Honestly, if it weren't for my friend Twilight putting every enchantment she could onto our things, I wouldn't have my bag here. What's in it is a different story though," he told them, drawing a small sword from his bag. "Pretty neat huh? It was hung above the fireplace. Guess they thought it was decorative, you know? It's pretty sharp too, nice clean blade, everything. We dragons have an eye for metals and gems, so it was easy to tell this could be helpful."

"Then how did you fight off the infected?"

He showed them his claws, his purple scales stained red.

They all stared, shifting around awkwardly, "Look. It's not that I don't trust you," the dad began.

"Yeah, I get it. You have a daughter to protect, but I'm not some savage, thank you. I'll be fine here and so will you."

"I wasn't giving you a choice. Your hands are blood soaked and you were where this started. You've probably infected us all by just being here," he angrily continued, his daughter beginning to cry. The others stared on in surprise.

Spike let out a low growl, "You really wanna throw me out?"

"I've got a better solution if you try to stay..." he responded, pulling a gun from his pocket and aiming it at the dragon.

The widow scooted closer to the other stallion, "Is this necessary? He's not a threat! He could even help us!"

He turned and pointed the gun at her, "Would you like to go with him?"

Spike took his chance and stepped forward, the gun going back at him and firing without hesitation, the bullet embedding in his shoulder, "You're lucky I have scales..." He hissed as he reached up, pulling the bullet out and tossing it to the ground. "Good luck to the rest of you." Spike turned, smashing a window open with his fist and climbing out.

He walked the dead and dimly lit streets, keeping his eyes constantly going back and forth, watching all sides as he looked for another house with any sign of life. The castle he once called home towered over the town, standing high amidst it all. He almost stayed there initially, but the empty halls led him to assume the fate of his only true family and friends. From there, he decided to move through the town, doing his best to outlast the quarantine they were now in.

"Leave it to Spike to be where the trouble started... Still seems super fishy that it was your train, the one selected by the Princesses themselves," he whispered aloud to himself.

Off to his right he saw the dim glow of light inside of a small house. Making sure he was alone, he quickly knocked on the door. It creaked open under the force of his fist, showing him an empty room with nothing but a dying candle. He stepped in, looking around for anyone living or dead. The door shut behind him and he spun, claws at the ready and now faced with nothing but the darkness in front of him.

The flickering candlelight curved near the door, barely catching his eye. Spike reached his claw forward towards the void in front of him. The second it touched something solid, a dark grey hand emerged and closed around his wrist, followed by a set of wings throwing him back. He stayed on the ground in a daze, the mare staring down at him. He stared back, noticing how her long brown mane was accented by the silenced pistol aimed at his face.

"H-hey! I'm clean! I'm good!" He pleaded, staring into her hazel eyes.

"Stand," she commanded in a gentle voice, moving the gun away.

He did so, taking a step back from her, "Where did you come from?"

She looked back at the door, "Right there."

Not too much of a talker...

She wore jeans that had obviously been dyed black, as well as a grey jacket a few shades lighter than her coat. She unfurled her wings once more, the feathers black as night, wrapping them in front of her and shielding her from view.

"That's... kinda cool," he told her with a soft chuckle.

She nodded, opening the door, "Now leave."

He stared at her dumbfounded, "There's no way I could hide here, just for the night?"

She sighed and shut it again, "One night. Then you leave."

He sat on the ground, looking around, "Never seen you around town before... Got a name?"

She propped herself against the wall, the pistol still in her hand, "Silent."

"Oh. Ok..." he said in defeat, turning towards the candle.

"No, I'm Silent."

"Silent...? Anything more?"

"No."

"Ok. Mysterious name for the mysterious mare I suppose..."

She stood still, staring at him without blinking. He kept looking around, trying to ignore her gaze, feeling her eyes drilling into his scales. He finally turned, staring back at her.

"You've been shot," she told him.

He put his palm over the hole in his hoodie, "Yeah? So?"

"They don't shoot," she said pointing towards the door, "Uninfected do. Why were you shot?"

"The group I hid with thought I might have been infected... Well one did, but he was going mad," Spike nervously explained, "I uh... Might have been on the train that caused this."

She rushed up close, a blur to Spike until she was in his face, "You survived the explosion?"

"Yeah... Lucky me I guess..."

She stepped back to her initial spot, holstering the pistol, "Your kind are tough, right?"

"Born and raised!" He told her proudly.

She nodded, saying no more.

"So what about you? What's your story?"

"I'm Silent. No more," she told him.

Silent turned her head, staring at the door before diving towards Spike, blowing out the candle as she unfurled her wings. Spike peeked around, seeing the silhouettes of a small group of infected move by, their eyes glowing as they did. One looked in, locking eyes with Spike. It opened its mouth to cry, but before it could, Silent had shot it between the eyes before Spike could blink, leaving it dead and unnoticed by the others of the group. After a few more seconds, she folded her wings back up and sat in the darkness.

"How... How did you know they were coming?" Spike whispered.

"Eyes."

"Ok. I think I get the meaning..." he said, taking on a dumbfounded look. "But you're not afraid I could be infected too?"

She shook her head no, "Eyes," she whispered again.

"Yeah, I get it. You have good eyes," Spike said, rolling his.

"No. I don't see the infection in you. It's visible in the eyes," she explained.

He nodded, pretending to understand, "Whatever you say Silent. So... What exactly is your talent?"

"Hiding. Being silent."

"You'd win at hide and seek, that's for sure," he jested laughing audibly.

She flinched at the mention of the game and glared at him.

"Struck a nerve huh?" He asked, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry about that."

She nodded, rising to her feet, "Come this way." She made her way to the back of the house quickly, leaving Spike behind.

Spike stood, following her into the darkness, "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safer," She pushed open the back door, moving into the night and spreading her wings.

Spike put his hand on her shoulder, "Hold on, haven't you seen the Fliers?" Spike asked, referring to the infected pegasi that patrolled the skies.

She nodded, shaking him off and speeding into the sky. Spike sighed, running and making sure not to lose sight of her. She flew from rooftop to rooftop and led him to a house just south of Sugarcube Corner, one with boarded up windows and what seemed like a reinforced door.

Silent banged on the door, waiting for the shifting of locks. When the door finally cracked open, still held by a small chain, a young stallion peeked out.

"Another survivor?" He asked, looking at the two of them. "Thank you Miss. Are you joining us this time?"

Silent shook her head, turning to walk away.

"Wait. Hold on, I'm not going to hold out with some random ponies... I'm sticking with you!" Spike said, following after her.

She spun, putting her hand on his chest and shaking her head.

He knocked it away, "I'm going with you. Like it or not."

"Please stay. Find acceptance in times like these," she whispered.

"What?" Spike asked seconds before she knocked him in the temple with her pistol, rendering him unconscious.

She lifted him, bringing him back to the waiting stallion. She set him at the doorstep, waiting until the periwinkle stallion opened the door, revealing a few others behind him. They looked at her, their eyes filled with gratitude and mouths agape in surprise.

"You!" One cried happily.

"Please... Speak to us... Your name... Anything..." Another begged.

The stallion at the door moved close to Silent, whispering to her, "Would it kill you to say one word to them? They've done nothing but ask about you since you dropped each of them off. At least your name, Silent?"

"They're not like us, Oddity..." she whispered back out of earshot of the others, scanning the area as she did. “Take Spike. Make him happy. He is one of us."

"An outcast within acceptance, I know. Same as always, since we were young. When you're sure there are no more, please come back. I can't bear knowing my big sister is at risk."

"It's not over yet, brother, but thank you," she whispered before spreading her wings, blending her form with the night as she took off back in the direction she came from.

We’re all going to die in this town... she thought to herself as she moved.

Oddity gazed down at the dragon, tugging him into the house slowly before locking the door once more. The others helped carry Spike into a backroom, laying him down on one of their makeshift cots, leaving him there.

"Alright. Let's all get some rest, dawn is approaching. Tomorrow night it's the same drill as tonight," Oddity told them all, shutting off the dim lights and moving into a vacant bedding, the others following.

My head... he thought to himself through the headache.

Spike rose up, shaking himself out of his grogginess. He stood quickly, immediately remembering the moments prior to him being knocked out.

"You're awake!" Oddity exclaimed, moving from his chair at the other end of the room. "I was starting to get worried Silent hit you too hard, haha!"

"Where is she?" Spike asked, taking in the new surroundings.

On either side of him, sheets and pillows adorned the ground. He saw a few lamps, he assumed magically powered, glowing in the sunset leaking through the curtains.

"I wish I could answer you..." Oddity replied with a frown, "But she's always been all over the place without telling anyone where exactly."

"You know her?" Spike asked, sitting on the ground.

"Yeah, she's actually my sister funny enough," he awkwardly chuckled, his horn sparking before he sighed in defeat. "Keep forgetting about that..."

Spike stared at Oddity as he dragged over a chair, expecting a punchline, "But..."

"Yeah, not much resemblance. I was always the odd one out when it came to the family though, or at least from what she told me."

"What about your parents?"

"They're no longer with us... Ever since I was a colt actually."

"What happened?"

"That's going to have to wait a bit. I want your story first off. Who are you?"

"I'm Spike, loyal assistant to Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Oddity immediately slammed the door and locked it, "She wasn't in on it was she?"

"In on what?" Spike asked, feeling worried.

"We have this outbreak, along with the train incident and the barricade around the town all together. It's obvious that the Princesses are behind it. Trust Silent and I over everyone else when we say royalty has a hand in this," he said, lowering his head.

"What do you mean by that?" Spike asked, scooting back a bit. He's not another one of those psycho skeptics right?

"What I mean is... This wouldn't be the first secret project gone wrong... First time they had to hurry and do a quick clean up... At least, this is to a scale they can't hide from the public. They're going to make up a lie though."

Spike smacked his thighs and stood, "Well, I have a peanut allergy so I'm going to leave this nuthouse! Thanks for keeping me during the day, and good luck!"

Oddity sighed and closed his eyes, letting Spike walk to the door and open it. Before he could make it through, it slammed and his chair pulled up behind him. Oddity opened his eyes again and took a deep breath.

"Sit back down and hear me out. I know what I'm saying is a bit crazy but I can tell you for sure Canterlot is a fucked up little place. You know they never cleaned up one project that went loose. They only managed to contain and execute half of those involved. A mare and a stallion, a married couple to be precise. Their two kids escaped though, safe from harms way in a small town. That was us. Now sit your scaley ass down before I tell the others you're trying to kill us all."

Spike sat down, staring at Oddity intently, "Go on then. Tell me what you can and bring some sense to this all."

"We were dubbed The Magic Within, another one of the Royal Black Projects..." Oddity began, telling Spike his tale.

A world away, during Spike's slumber

Rainbow and Applejack stood in the gymnasium of Canterlot high, glaring at one another, forehead to forehead.

"Ah won and you cheated," Applejack accused.

"As if! You're just mad that I'm better at basketball than you!" Rainbow retorted.

"More like better at fouling!"

"You want fouled? I'll show you a foul when I snap that arm of yours!"

"U-uhm... Can we not fight this time?" Fluttershy asked, fixing her referee shirt.

"Yeah, it's obviously Miss Doesn't-Make-A-Call-All-Game's fault!" Rainbow threw out.

"She does have a point sug', you were a bit quiet..." Applejack reminded her.

"Then don't ask me to referee... This happens every time!" She quietly told them.

"Can you all hush! Sunset over here is worried about Twilight and you're not doing anything to help that!" Rarity reprimanded the arguing trio.

"What about Pinkie? She up and ditched us all!" Rainbow yelled.

"She had a bake sale to get to. I really can't blame her honestly. Whenever you two challenge one another, I want to disappear too," Sunset told them with a blank expression. "Besides, last I heard things were getting a bit zombie-esque over there," she said, scanning over the last passage before shutting the book again. "How do you stay on your toes when you're not being told shit?"

"Have you tried writing to her?" Rarity asked, offering a pen.

"Only a dozen times. But I don't know... I'm worried something bad happened to her. It's been over a day since she last wrote to me..." Sunset said, pulling her jacket tighter around her.

"Ah say give it a few more hours, and then go through," AJ suggested.

"I guess you're right... I was a little homesick anyways. Might be fun to see the old place, ya know?" She said, a small smile appearing.

"Take pictures of the castle!!" Rarity squealed.

"Yeah, and tell me if I'm a chump over there so I can come whoop my own ass into shape!" Rainbow demanded.

"Tell me I said hi," Fluttershy whispered.

"Bring me an apple. Ah'm curious if they taste any different over there, or if there are any magic variations of 'em."

Off in the distance they heard a voice screaming, "TELL ME TO WRITE MORE!"

Sunset sighed and chuckles, "Fucking Pinkie Pie... But yeah, I'll even leave you all the book so that when I find Twilight and sort it all out, we can still touch base. Doubt these cross through the portal too," she said, holding her phone up."

"I'll even lend you a machete to take with you!" Fluttershy cheered.

They all stared at her in surprise, caught off guard by her offer.

"I-It's for gardening... Plus I might need one..." she explained.

"Well, whatever is on the other side, I know I'll be set!" Sunset told them happily, holding the book close to her.

As if waiting for the silence, it began vibrating.

"Looks like you'll be prepared for the chance any guys over there aren't interested in you too," Rainbow jested, Applejack laughing along.

Sunset blushed a bit, "Shut up! It's someone writing back!"

She waited for the vibrating to stop, the book pulsating purple to indicate the waiting message. Sunset opened it, ready for news from her friend, only to immediately drop it on the ground in horror.

Rarity looked over, holding a hand to her chest, "I-I..."

The other three ran over, looking at the book too, Fluttershy immediately fainting. On the two pages in front of them, red was splattered across. The same shade had been used to write kill and feast everywhere among it. In the center, as if a beacon in the darkness, one word stood out, help...

"Th-that's her writing... I recognize it... All of it is her... G-get Fluttershy up, I need that machete... I'm going in tonight," Sunset said, scribbling into onto the page and closing the book up.

"The Magic Within?" Spike asked.

"Our parents were unique. My mother was a pegasus with the speed you saw Silent have. Dad was a psychic, but also a unicorn, so he had both. Of course, the Royal Family discovered this and wanted to see what they could engineer out of them. See, their idea was if they could harness my father's psychic abilities and my mother's agility and keen sense of awareness, they could transfer those abilities to their entire guard. Think about it, earth guards have strength, pegasi guards have the skies, yet the unicorns have the magic. With those abilities, they could have an army with unstoppable abilities in any form," he explained calmly.

"So where do you and Silent come in?"

"I was just getting there. Their initial test was a generation pass out of curiosity of how the abilities would transfer if they could. Silent was messed with, her genes altered so she would be a female pegasus... Of course, somewhere along the line things went a little weird and she got the discolored wings. Our father saw what she could potentially do with her abilities, thanks to his powers, and named her Hide Seek, after the childhood game of course. She took on Silent after our escape, deeming Hide Seek too childish for her.

Me on the other hand... I was altered to the male unicorn you see now, two years after Silent. My name was a bit of a joke because our father saw me having no abilities... So I was the odd one out in a way. Most of my childhood was spent underneath the castle, held against our wills and constantly tested on. Then one day, we formed a plan. Mom and dad told Silent and I to hide behind her wings in the darkness the next time they came, then they would distract them while we escaped and we would all meet on the other side...

Of course... Silent being older knew what they meant. When the magic started flying, we ran out of there and escaped. Yet, instead of waiting, Silent and I continued on our way. I tried to stop her but she just kept going, dragging me along. I was only 13 at the time... I still realized what had happened though... Silent never spoke much after that day... Even then only to me until you came along. I lived a near normal life here with her since though..."

Spike sat silent, so many conflicting thoughts running through his mind, "Wait... but from what you said there's a chance Luna doesn't know what's going on..."

"It's possible since she was on the moon for a millennium she didn't, but now that she's back I feel like there was an accept it or go back scenario. Even a rumor or two floated around that the initial reason she rose up was due to a disagreement about the underground projects... Still... she hasn't done anything to stop it so she is as much at fault."

"How did they cover up your parents' death though?"

"I remember the headline clearly... Local Canterlot Couple Killed Trying to Assassinate Princess Celestia, all bullshit too."

"Where did your powers come from? Didn't your dad see you having none?"

"They say trauma can affect a child severely... And being my age, I guess something that bad unlocked what hid beneath..."

"Damn... So why did Silent talk to me?"

"You're like us in a way. We are weirdos hiding in society for fake acceptance... You're a dragon, a hated species mostly, finding acceptance with people not like you. She saw you as someone relatable..."

Spike sighed, standing and peeking behind a curtain, seeing the moon rising, "I should get going... I need to find Twilight, or her corpse..."

"Please stay... We have enough supplies for everyone for at least 2 weeks..."

"I'm going back out there... We all have someone we need to make sure is safe, don't we?"

"I know but I can't just abandon everyone here," Oddity explained, looking at the shut door behind him.

"Yeah, it's good of you to do this much anyways. You seem like the only safe house nearby," Spike admitted, moving towards the door. "And before I go, I'll tell you this. Twilight had nothing to do with this and is probably out there trying to stop it now," Spike said with a smile.

"I hope you're right Spike... Good luck finding her. If you see Silent, tell her Oddity misses her..." he said, a tear rolling down his cheek.

Spike nodded, turning and getting hit with the door flying open. One of the survivors stood there, panting rapidly.

"We... we saw something bad... It was... It was an alicorn... An infected one! She shredded a survivor right outside the window. She flew off to the north immediately but still, she's out there and it's bad!"

"That's where Silent is! Wait... Alicorn?" Oddity said as he made the connection.

Spike's heart sunk low as he heard the news, "N-no! I won't let her suffer like that!" He roared loudly, scrambling towards the door.

The others watched in silence as he bounded out into the darkness. He sprinted north, hopping over the corpse in the street as he followed what there was of a blood trail.

"TWILIGHT!" He screamed, hoping some part of her heard him.

He kept going blindly, hearing a mare scream off in the distance. He knew he was already too late to save whoever it was, but he hoped they'd stall Twilight long enough for him to get there.

She turned, her mouth dripping with fresh blood as she heard the scream. She narrowed her eyes and leapt to a roof, staring in the direction of her pursuer. She waited until the second he came into view to strike.

Spike looked up just in time, his reflexes kicking in as he spun out of her way. She landed and immediately did a 180 spin, preparing to pounce again. Spike balled his fists, ready this time. When she snarled and pounced, he sidestepped her and sent his fist into her jaw.

"Twilight!" He roared, watching her crumple into the ground. "Don't make me do this..."

She rolled onto her front, shaking her head from the blow. She soared back to the rooftops, moving across them while she watched Spike. Inside her, something was reawakened.

Where am I...? She asked, viewing through her feral eyes. Her body continued on its way, still out of her control.

"Come down here and face me!" Spike shouted again.

"Spike!" She squeaked out quietly, faltering in her movements and tripping, crashing down the rooftop.

Her feral form recovered when she hit the ground, immediately wrenching back control.

Did I...? She asked herself. No. I'm going to fight this... Now that I see there's hope, I'm not giving in again!

She dove again at Spike, expecting his dodge and turning into him. She flipped off him and immediately rose, facing him as he stood, still partially dazed. Twilight arched her claws, ready to tear into the dragon.

Spike began to reach back for his shortsword before deciding against it. I still have to try to pull her out of there...

Twilight shrieked and rushed forward, slashing at him. He quickly knocked her hand away. She swung again, beginning to rapidly slash and close in on him. He kept deflecting her blows, mirroring each swipe the best he could in an effort to protect himself. Finally he grabbed her right wrist and twisted her around, wrapping his other arm around her neck from behind.

"You've got to be in there somewhere! I don't want your blood on my hands dammit," he cried to her, tears forming in the corner of his eyes as the thought ran through his mind.

I'm here! I'm right here! She tried to force herself to scream, fighting for control of her body. She struggled against the animalistic desires increased exponentially by the infection that had driven her to the state she was in.

Her physical form reared its head back, drilling it into Spike's neck and forcing him to let go. He collapsed onto his rear, gasping for air as he clutched his throat, still keeping an eye on her. She stayed still, watching intently as he rose again.

I am taking back control whether or not you like it! I won't let you hurt Spike! She growled at herself, focusing all the will she had left into reclaiming herself.

Spike drew the sword slowly, standing in a readied position as he slowly regained his breathing, "If I can't have Twilight back... You're sure as hell not going to have her..." He took a look around the area, shivering at what he saw.

All around them a large ring of Ferals of all kinds had gathered and enclosed them, all seeming to watch the duel. Twilight stood still as he took in the surroundings, waiting. Finally, she snarled aloud, bearing her claws once more and unfurling her wings.

No... Spike... Please...

Spike rushed forward, Twilight sprinting with an ear piercing shriek as she met him halfway as he swung at her with the sword. She immediately put her hand in the way, the blade hitting her palm and stopping instantly. She gripped it tightly, twisting her wrist quick and snapping the blade in half, letting the part in her hand drop.

Spike stared at the broken sword in his hand in astonishment, "Not cool Twilight!" He growled, pocketing it and swinging at her.

She dodged, punching him in the stomach and dropping him onto his back with ease. She crouched down, straddling his chest as she stared down, toying with her prey.

Spike stared into the soulless abyss that were her eyes and accepted his fate and accepted his friend being gone for good.

She opened her mouth, revealing her blood-covered teeth in a horrifying grin as she raised her claw.

STOP! she screamed internally, doing all she could to hold the killing blow back.

Spike saw her hesitate, still tense in preparation for the final slash. "At least it's you killing me... The mare who raised me from an egg to today... Funny isn't it? Even now, I can't help but think of all the good times we had with our friends and just with each other, I wish you could recall them too..."

A tear rolled down Twilight's cheek as she forced her hand a few more inches forward.

I do remember them Spike... Please... Don't do this! she shrieked at herself, starting to sob.

Twilight's body swung her hand down, right into the ground next to his throat. She tucked her head, slamming her eyes shut before rearing up and screeching into the sky.

"NO!" She howled aloud, letting anyone within range hear her. She rolled off of him, curled up in a fetal position and shivering as she whispered quietly, "Don't hurt him... Please don't hurt him... Don't make me hurt him..."

Spike stood slowly, staring at his infected friend intently, "T-Twilight?" He croaked out quietly.

She raised her head and looked at him before looking back down, "Run away Spike... Please... I'm dangerous."

"No damnit! I came here to save you, not leave you to this. Even then, you're back, you're you... There's hope now!" Spike said, gazing at the ring of Ferals around them once more, making sure none tried anything.

"I may be me now, but for how long? Even if I get this under control, my body has been warped, my magics probably been fucked with... I taste blood for fuck's sake Spike! I... I ate ponies... you don't go back from that shit! Just look at me!" She lamented, standing and facing him

He looked at her, scanning over her form. Her jeans were shredded in various places, holes and rips up to the thigh were apparent. Her shirt was shredded down the middle, blood splattered over it on both sides as well as along what little was showing of her body. Her skin and grey bra were both visible and blood covered. Somehow she had managed to keep her satchel on and intact through it all.

"Personally, you're kinda hot. So maybe this is a good look for ya, you know?" Spike jested, fixing his bag on his back.

Twilight growled at him, stepping forward before stopping, her eyes beginning to water as she broke into a smile and hugged him tightly, "Thank you Spike... Even in the times like these you still know how to make me laugh... Now, tell me you have a plan?"

"I have a plan," Spike replied immediately.

"Really?!" Twilight asked excitedly.

"No. Not really. My initial thought was Zecora might know but she's in the Everfree, probably overran by them, and even then we are still surrounded," Spike reminded her, grabbing his broken sword.

Twilight reached towards her bag to grab her book, but decided against it as a new idea came to mind.

"Spike," she whispered.

"Yeah Twilight?" He whispered back, watching the unmoving horde.

"I'm going to try something, and if things go wrong, end me. Don't hesitate, just end me," she told him, readying her claws.

"Alright Twilight, but I doubt I'll have to... As for them, any idea why they're not moving?"

"They did this to the girls and I earlier... None of them did anything until we attacked them. It's weird. But even then they had us blocked in and basically forced us to, kinda like this. But even then, they were here when you and I were fighting so maybe there's something else."

"How many are there would you say?"

"Around 20, bit too much to fight off."

"Is it possible your princesshood transcended into zombiehood?" Spike asked with a chuckle.

"Funny. As if they care about titles. But then again, maybe me being an alicorn signifies some sort of power to them, hence them letting me have you..."

"If you're confident enough in that, shouldn't they let you walk right out?"

"Me? Maybe. You? There's no chance. You're food. Either I have you or they do is how they look at it. We have no choice but to fight our way through."

"Didn't you just say there were too many to fight?"

"Too many to fight and live... There's never too many to just fight..." Twilight said in a solemn tone, walking out towards the nearest Feral.

They spread apart, making a path for her. She nodded and waved Spike over, only to have them close it off instantly.

She chuckled quietly and grumbled to herself, "Why the fuck not..." She closed her eyes, focusing her mind on calling forth the Feral side of her.

In one swift motion, Twilight let out a shriek and grabbed the nearest Feral, clawing across it's throat and throwing it to the ground. The others reacted instantly, moving in on Spike and Twilight without a moment's hesitation. Spike swung his broken sword wildly, keeping them at bay as he and Twilight began shredding any of them she could get her claws on. As more approached, they both backed up against each other. She continued to claw at any that got close, noticing a few Pegasi Ferals had moved into the air.

Spike let out a roar of desperation, breathing fire at a few as he did and igniting them. They assaulted harder, keeping the two back to back. Twilight pushed back another one, angrily shouting as she did.

"Why don't you just kill us already?!" She screamed at the attacking Ferals, her own mind still balanced between Feral and sane.

"They're just fucking with us... They're watching their prey squirm before they savor the thrill of the kill... It's animalistic..." Spike told her quietly, still keeping them away.

"We saw this before... They've got a pack mentality," Twilight whispered back to him.

One charged forward, knocking the sword from his hands and screeching in his face. He closed his eyes, bracing for whatever was to come next. He felt blood splatter across his face and reopened them, seeing the Feral stagger in front of him, two new holes on either side of its head.

Spike knew what to do and spun, bringing both of them to the ground. He covered Twilight with his own form, ensuring her safety before his as he listened to the bodies around them dropping. He waited for a few seconds of silence before looking up, seeing no more standing or flying. He rose to his feet, pulling Twilight along. Before she could speak, a Pegasus had sped up to her, pressing a pistol to her forehead.

They stared at one another, each observing the other for the first move before Spike spoke up.

"Uh... Twilight, meet the mare who just saved us. Silent, meet Twilight, the Princess of Friendship if that still even applies."

"She's one of them," Silent said, keeping both her eyes and aim locked.

"I am... But I'm not. See? I'm not attacking you. I'm helping Spike. I killed them. Isn't that enough proof?" Twilight tried to reason.

"I heard your screech. You're infected and it still lies dormant, whether or not you've repressed it. It's affected you physically too."

Spike grabbed the pistol, pulling it away from Twilight's head with little resistance from Silent, "She's good. Trust me. She's better to us... uh... alive? Are you alive or dead? Or undead?" Spike asked, losing his train of thought.

"For fuck's sake Spike, of all the times to do this, now?"

"Sorry, I just wanna get my terms down for when we find the others."

"Others?" Silent asked.

"The other 5 friends of ours... Who should be at the castle. Speaking of which..." Twilight reached into her bag, pulling out the blood-soaked and vibrating book. She opened it and sighed at the words inside, "Looks like I did some writing while I was gone, and Sunset took that as her cue to come through..."

"So odds are they're at the castle, barricaded and safe?" Spike asked. "Because if that's the case we need to get you to Zecora. She'd probably understand this stuff better than you or I and be able to help with it."

"The forests should be clear of the Ferals, and we can clear what isn't," Silent informed them.

"Ferals aren't what I'm afraid of... I've got a story for you all, and I want a story from you about that train ride..." Twilight told them.

"Wait, you said we. You're coming with us?" Spike asked Silent, ignoring Twilight.

She nodded and looked around, "I'll be able to help more out here with you than hiding somewhere and waiting for what few survivors are left. Most don't make the run to my brother anyways..."

"Well... Ok... Can we head to your hideout one last time just to get situated before we head out? I kinda need to find something to replace this," he said, motioning towards the useless blade.

She smiled at Spike and nodded, moving away quickly and beckoning them to follow.

Twilight looked at Spike and smirked, "Aww."

"She's a friend I met out here, shut up. Let's go."

Sunset stood in front of the statue that housed her portal home, her five friends behind her. Night had fallen long ago and the air had turned cold, the moon high above them.

"Now are ya' sure about this?" Applejack asked her.

"Yes. They need help and I know the area... I'll come out wherever the portal is and work from there. You have the book and I will be in touch eventually," Sunset told them, attaching Fluttershy's machete and sheath to her belt. "Don't stay up all night worrying; you all have lives to worry about here. Just trust in me, ok?"

"If you need help, I'll definitely stay up, so call on me and I'll come through to kick some ass!" Rainbow told her.

"Could you um, clean off any b-blood that might get on it? I never really u-use it but still..." Fluttershy asked, shivering from the cold.

"And, not to sound like a savage, but any decent clothing you can scavenge... I wouldn't mind seeing their styles," Rarity asked, a faint blush appearing.

The others stared at her in confusion, "What? They don't need them if they're dead! Sorry for using logic here, hmph!"

Pinkie bounced forward and gave Sunset a tight hug. As Sunset hugged back, Pinkie's mane fell around her. She heard a new voice in her ear coming from Pinkie.

"If you go through, there is no return until you bring both the Sun and Moon crashing down to the Earth. Yours and everyone's salvation relies on it. If you fail, the same tragedy will fall here, but no survivors will remain. We will survive as long as you do so do not fear for us. Inform the others that the survival of two dimensions relies on the 9 of you. Farewell Sunset," Pinkie whispered.

Sunset let go as Pinkie pulled away, smiling cheerfully, "Bye Sunset!!"

She looked at the others in confusion, "Did anyone else...?"

They looked at one another and shook their head.

"Right... Well I'll be back everyone. Wish me luck!" She said, stepping through the portal.

On the other side, the other five sat around the table that housed their magic map, looking at one another.

"Are we fucked?" Rainbow asked.

"I've got no idea how we could get out. The only way to fight magic is with magic. Unfortunately, our strongest magician has gone to the dead side," Pinkamena told them, twirling the gun on her finger.

"At least we have the place barricaded. We literally turned a castle into a fortress," Applejack told them.

"It's more of a castle with locked windows and a few bookcases in front of the door..." Fluttershy countered, ducking beneath the table every time the gun pointed her way.

"Well, I could give it a shot but I'm maybe a fraction of the power Twilight has..." Rarity told them.

"It's alright Rare, thanks for the offer but I doubt even Twilight would have the power to combat it alone. Maybe two Twilight's would, but then again they'd be up against the magic of the Royal Guard and the Princesses..." Applejack informed them.

"If we still had a working Twilight, then maybe we could take her somewhere Pinkie knows about..." Pinkamena jested.

"As much fun as a hundred Twilights shouting about books would be... No thanks..." Rainbow told them, shivering at the memories.

"So, ah know you're aware of Pinkie but is she aware of you?" Applejack inquired.

"She is, but denies it and lies to herself about it. Kinda her coping mechanism for most things..."

"That's actually a bit fucked up..." Rarity commented.

Before any of them could continue, they heard a loud crash from an adjoining room. They exchanged glances and ran to the door, weapons at the ready, save for Fluttershy who hid under the table. Rainbow opened the door cautiously, moving in with her bat.

In the center of the room sat Sunset Shimmer, shattered glass surrounded her while the empty mirror frame still stood. Behind the mirror remnants, the device keeping the portal open had exhausted what was left in it and was now spewing smoke. Sunset looked up at the others, her horn back once more.

"How do I get home?" She asked, tears welling up in her eyes.

End Part 2

The Feral Forest

Equestrian Infection

Part 3: The Feral Forest

By: Twisted Ink

Sunset told her tale to the other 5, sitting around the table that doubled as a map of Equestria. With hell outside, they'd managed to barricade themselves in for two days so far, waiting for an end or a solution to what was going on. When she finished, they all told their tale in return, leaving off at the end with leaving Twilight.

"So both Twilight and Spike?" Sunset asked, still in shock about both the news and the shattered portal she had come from.

Rarity nodded, "Unfortunately so. There's no way out either."

"Have you tried digging underneath it?" Sunset asked with a shrug.

Rainbow gave her a dumbfounded look, "Yeah, we totally had time to dig a tunnel under a magical dome with all these undead fuckers running around."

"No need to be h-harsh Rainbow, she's just trying to help," Fluttershy told her, the corrupted rabbit Angel nodded in agreement from his cage.

Sunset set her purse and machete sheathe on the table, the butterfly adorned handle noticeably catching Fluttershy's eye, "Yeah, your counterpart lent it to me just in case one of us needed it. If you want it, I could always grab one of the books scattered around until I find something else."

Rainbow glared at her, memories of Twilight flashing through her mind and causing her eyes to water, "Use the fucking machete and leave her books alone, I mean it."

Sunset lowered herself a bit in her seat, "S-sorry?"

"It's fine sug', it's just that's what Twi' used when she... Was... You know..." Applejack told her, looking away.

"I get that and I'm deeply sorry... What's her deal though?" She asked, pointing across from her.

Across the table, Pinkamena remained silent, her boots propped up on the table. She stared expression-less at Sunset, as if looking for something. Sunset met her eyes, feeling the cold gaze pierce her soul. They stayed like that for a few seconds before Sunset forced herself away.

"Wh-what the hell do you want?" She demanded from the silent mare.

Pinkamena took in a sharp breath and looked away suddenly, "Sorry, I'm not sure what happened there... Nothing against you... I just shut down I guess."

"That's a first..." Rainbow muttered under her breath.

Pinkamena glared at her and sighed quietly.

"Wait... That voice... Pinkie had it right before I left... She told me something really weird..."

"What was it sug'?" Applejack asked.

"Something about the 9 of us... Things happening over there like here... We have to bring the Sun and Moon crashing down..."

The others looked to Pinkamena who shrugged, "Hell if I know... I mean, I'd like to point out there are only 6 of us now... Even then, the Sun and Moon are obviously Celestia and Luna... Well, guess I did know a tiny bit. Whoops!"

"Bits of Pinkie seem to still leak through, hmm?" Rarity asked.

"Well, time to time. They're mainly easy to repress. But either way, that doesn't matter. What matters is whatever Sunset here was told seems very weird. Even if the other two were still around, we would only have 8, so where the hell would we get a ninth?"

"If anyone would know it would have to be Zecora," Fluttershy told them.

"Why haven't we gone to see her yet exactly? Knowing her, she could've made a cure within the first hour!" Rainbow told them.

"Now don't go overestimatin' what she does. I'm sure if a cure were that easy this wouldn't be a problem in the first place. Besides, she lives in the Everfree Forest, there's no telling what could be in there now, dead or alive!" Applejack warned.

"Then it's settled. We go see Zecora tomorrow at dusk," Sunset told them.

"And why exactly do you think you're calling the shots?" Pinkamena growled.

"Not like you were anyways, so back off!" Rainbow retorted.

"I mean, she is the first person to make a decision... All we've seem to do is bicker anyways..." Fluttershy told Pinkamena quietly.

"Well, fine," she said in defeat, "We'll go see her tomorrow at... sunset, right Sunset?" She said with a giggle. After a few seconds she shook her head, "What the hell is wrong with me? I'm receding for a bit..."

As Pinkie took control once more, the others glanced over at Sunset, "So what's the plan then?" Applejack asked.

"Well, we go at dusk since they're in larger numbers in the city at night from what you've said. That way, we won't have to deal with them getting to the forest, or while we're in it," She said with an obvious lack of confidence.

Luckily, it went unnoticed as the others stayed silent, nothing to disagree with in the matter.

"So did Pinkamena shoot anyone this time?" Pinkie asked cheerfully.

A quick jog took the trio back to the empty house where Spike and Silent had met. Once there, they relaxed in a back room, Spike now with a large carving knife scavenged from the kitchen. He stared his undead friend in the eyes, as if prompting her to speak.

Twilight tried to avoid his eye contact but gave after a few seconds, "What?! Take a fucking picture already!" She yelled at him.

Spike blinked a few times before looking around, "Sorry, I spaced out for a bit. Long day, you know?"

Twilight gave Spike a look of disbelief and raised her arms questioningly, "I wouldn't know because you haven't told me!"

"Oh..."

"I'm quite curious as well," Silent spoke up.

"I was actually waiting for Twilight to tell me her story but fine then. It started out simple for me, Twilight rushed me out, fuck you for that because look where we are now, and I got on the train. Everything was fine at the start as we waited to depart, but the air was a bit heavier than usual. Otherwise, I tried to take a nap to pass the time.

The reason I say tried is because the person next to me starts this coughing fit as the train starts going, and it was bad! It quickly got worse when I saw blood in their hands. After I moved a row up, others on board had the same thing start up. Patient zero behind me lets out this massive screech and lunges at someone else.

Within two minutes of leaving the station, all hell had broken loose. I cowere- I mean, bravely hid a few rows up as they all went at it. Then, over the intercom comes Celestia's voice. Containment procedure 42686 and next thing I knew there was an explosion. I woke up later that night nearly a mile from the crater. Eventually found my way to this place and met up with her. Not much else there."

"That's all that happened?" Twilight asked to be sure.

"Well, one observation I had was that I'd never seen the train so dead before!" He added with a goofy smile.

Silent let out a slight giggle as Twilight held up a middle finger, "I'm being serious Spike..."

"And I'm being Spike, Serious. But really, I'm done. Your turn!"

After a few minutes her side had been shared, leaving Spike with a confused look on his face, "So they think you're dead, Sunset is probably here, and Angel hasn't changed a bit?"

"Sounds about right," Twilight agreed.

"Still, makes more sense than when I heard Celestia say that though..."

Twilight nodded sadly, so Spike reached over and rubbed her shoulder compassionately. She tried to force a smile but turned away instead.

Silent looked around awkwardly, not wanting to hinder or advance the situation for fear of worsening it, "So, when shall we see the zebra?"

Spike checked out the window, seeing the moon still approaching its peak, "I say we go now while we can, it should be easy enough to get there from here."

"Alright, then lead the way Spike," Twilight told him, beckoning towards the door.

"Me? Why can't you? They won't attack you on sight!" He countered.

"Well... Fine, just don't fall behind," she said with a huff.

Spike looked over at Silent who simply shrugged, not offering anything more on the matter.

Twilight crept across the street slowly, checking in either direction for any Ferals close enough to spot them through the darkness. She beckoned them over, moving further along once they had gotten to her safely. As she peeked past the next house, she saw a unicorn Feral creeping towards her. She motioned for Spike and Silent to hide and turned to face it. It glared into her eyes, keeping them locked as it moved in close, sniffing her horn and the sides of her face. Finally, the light-brown inspector turned to walk off.

Huh, I guess Spike was right...

Twilight took another step forward, the Feral instantly snapping its gaze towards her and screeching. She acted quick and side-stepped the creatures sudden lunge. She turned as it went by and rammed into it with her shoulder, causing it to crumple to the ground.

Wow, where did that come from...?

She spread her claws and lunged at it, quickly slicing through its throat and decapitating it. She looked at her bloody hands and wiped them on her jeans, turning back towards her hidden friends, "We're good! Let's go quick though just in case."

As they jogged the last bit of distance to the forest, Spike put his hand on Twilight's shoulder, "That was badass Twilight! Who would've thought you'd be worth more dead than alive?"

She sighed in disapproval, "You really know how to make someone feel good about their situation, you know that right?"

He chuckled softly, "Really though, where did those moves come from?"

"They were instinct really... I'm not too sure though. Anyways, here we are. From this point on, we can't split up or we will get lost. I think I know the general direction to get us on the path to her hut, so let's go," She commanded, moving into the forest.

"Is it really as bad as she says?" Silent asked Spike as she stared at the ominous tree-line ahead of her.

"Eh, depends on if you know what you're doing. Deadly plants, sea monsters with good senses of style, manticores, and even timberwolves... Along with probably a few surprises! So just stay close and we should be fine," Spike assured her.

She nodded and they stepped forward, moving through the foliage to catch up to Twilight.

After about an hour of navigating through, Spike threw his hands up, "Twilight, do you even know where we're going?!"

"Yes I do thank you! As to why we haven't gotten there yet is beyond me. It feels as if we're walking in circles..."

Silent pulled out her pistol and shot it to her left. The bullet whizzed through the forest, coming back from the other side and grazing her arm before embedding itself in a tree. "We are going in circles... Literally."

"What the hell is causing it? It can't be another unicorn... Right?" Spike asked her.

"Well, there might be one thing... But even then it's just a legend, so I doubt it really exists," she said, setting her palm on her chin in thought.

"Look at yourself Twilight, are you really doubting something exists?" Spike reminded her, pointing at her faded and blood-stained body.

"It's called a Relapse, for obvious reasons, and it entraps anything it can in an endless loop until they die... Then it feeds. No-one knows what it looks like, but some tales say it has to stay in the area it's affecting or else it won't work."

"So we're looking for something that might not even be here, and we don't even know what it looks like? Right... Well..." Spike trailed off with a lack of ideas.

"One last thing I recall is that apparently it hates light, hence it living in here, and if anyone has a light source it'll get rid of it somehow..."

"Well, if we had a light source then we wouldn't be standing in the dark talking about this, would we?"

"Well, smartass, I'd like to remind you that YOU ARE A DRAGON!" She yelled into his face.

He looked at the ground and kicked his foot, "Right... I kinda forgot about that..."

"Do you two always fight as such?" Silent asked them.

"We live together, it happens a lot more than we care to admit," Twilight explained, now holding a large stick. "Burn this for me Spike."

He let out a small flame, igniting the end Twilight held. Within milliseconds a grey mass flew past their eyes, knocking the stick to the ground and putting it out. She picked up another stick and nodded, handing it to Spike. He lit this one too, but this time when the mass flew by, Twilight lunged instantly and tackled it to the ground, holding it in her arms.

"I got it! Get over here quick and help," she said, signs of struggle apparent in her voice.

Spike took his makeshift torch over to her, watching her struggle with the grey blob that was no bigger than Twilight's head. Spike simply stared at the two as they wrestled, putting his arm out as Silent tried to intervene, "Look at it, it looks harmless."

She got a good look at it while Twilight held it still. The small grey blob had nothing but two small, black eyes that resembled dots as well as a mouth that lacked teeth of any kind. It moved to Twilight's arm, gnawing on it the best it could. She stared at it, watching it bite in vain, "A little help please?"

"Well, maybe it's hungry?" Spike wondered, pulling half of a bar of chocolate from his backpack, "I was savin' this for later, but maybe you want it, little guy?"

It let go of Twilight's arm, bouncing nervously towards the outstretched treat. It looked up at Spike, seeing the light in his hand and cowering back a bit. He looked up at it then back down at the blob with an idea. He reached back into his bag and pulled a pair of sunglasses from it, handing Silent the torch as he crept closer. The Relapse hesitated long enough for Spike to slip the sunglasses onto it, the arms sinking into the goo-like structure of its face but the lenses covering its eyes perfectly. He stepped back, offering the chocolate once more. It bounced happily, moving closer to the light and taking it from Spike's hand, swallowing it whole.

"This is weird..." Silent said aloud.

Twilight nodded in agreement, "It really is, but at least we found what's causing this I hope..."

"Are you the one making this place a maze?" Spike asked, the Relapse bouncing in response. "Ok, is there any way we can go through?"

It wiggled for a moment, frowning as if in thought before leaping over Spike and into his backpack, peeking out through the top and letting out a small squeak.

"So, I'm going to guess that's a yes and that it wants to come with us?" Twilight asked.

The Relapse squeaked once more, affirming Twilight's idea. They exchanged glances and began moving forward once more, accepting what just happened. Silent gave a confused look and moved close to Twilight.

"Why are we taking it with us?" She whispered.

"Well, knowing what it can do, it might be helpful... Plus if we upset it there's a chance it might not let us go forward anymore. How's your arm by the way?" Twilight whispered back.

Silent gazed at the small wound, a bit of blood traveling down her arm, "Just a graze, so I will be fine. I've dealt with a lot worse."

"If you're sure... Zecora might have something to dress it with so that way it doesn't get worse," she informed her, receiving a nod in return.

They moved forward, the Relapse quickly falling asleep in Spike's bag. After a few minutes of walking, they reached the path leading to the zebra's hut. Twilight looked at Spike and took point, leading them along the path in the right direction.

"How far back do you think that barrier goes?" Spike asked, shattering the silence.

"Hopefully far enough... It's really strange that we haven't run into anything else aside from that thing in your bag too. After what happened with Fluttershy though, I wouldn't be surprised if all the animals started acting weird," she explained with worry in her voice.

Her worry was quickly replaced with excitement when the hut came into view. She began to sprint up to it, immediately feeling Spike's claw on her shoulder.

"Wait a sec Twilight, let us go first so that way Zecora doesn't bust your head in on sight," he told her, stepping ahead and motioning for Silent to follow.

Spike looked back and made sure Twilight had listened before pushing open the door and making his way in.

"Zecora?" Spike called out, his eyes adjusting to the drastic change in lighting. He stepped back against Silent, who had yet to take in the severity of the situation.

Scattered around them were corpses of earth ponies hung everywhere, nearly all of them showing signs of the infection. Silent gripped his arm tightly, terror striking her barely a second later. Blood-red had become the natural color of the floor, as well as the color splattered across the walls, with claw marks complimenting it here and there. In the center sat her signature cauldron, the fire underneath it in its last embers before death. The witchdoctor was nowhere to be seen amidst it all.

"I think I'm gonna be sick..." Spike said, gripping his stomach.

Silent stepped past him, looking over the bodies in an effort to find out what happened. "Spike... Come here and look at this."

"I don't think I want to," he said as he reluctantly shuffled forward, gazing at the body before Silent.

"Here," she said, moving her hand along the cadavers back, "There are nubs where the wings used to be... As if they were removed. Same over here," she said, moving quickly to another, "This one had its horn removed..."

"So she's been dismembering unicorns and pegasi? Talk about racism," he tried to jest in an effort to calm himself.

"Unfortunately no, there seem to be lacerations where major muscles in the arms and legs are, as if they were removed in part as well," Silent explained, turning a corpse and looking at the horrified gaze upon its face.

"I was dismembering them for reasons well, they are not much but beasts from hell," they heard from the back, a curtain shuffling as Zecora stepped forward from behind it.

Silent stepped back to Spike and put a hand on her pistol, "Is... Is she rhyming?"

"It's her thing... Really fucking annoying at times but whatever, she can be very helpful," Spike whispered back, drawing his knife.

"Please, no need for force, unless you are infected of course. Take a seat and hear my story, one of much glory," she said, grabbing a stool and sitting.

Spike nodded to Silent and put away his knife, "Fine, but unless it's about a cure or something I won't pay much attention."

"A cure of sorts indeed, taken from the monsters who can no longer feed," she said with a smirk, stirring her cauldron and pouring its contents into four small bowls.

"That's great! Maybe you can help Twilight then!" Silent said excitedly.

Zecora dropped her ladle into the pot, stumbling back, "Twilight is... oh dear... This is something Celestia should fear..."

"Did you say Celestia?" Spike asked, reaching back for his knife once more.

"It was merely a-an expression Spike, so tell your fears to take a hike," she quickly shot back, passing them two of the four bowls. "Now is she with you? Or is she out there in this city-zoo?"

"With us... Right outside actually," Spike told her, taking a sip from his bowl.

"Then please have her come in, she is always welcome in my den," Zecora said, setting her bowl aside.

Spike nodded and walked off, returning quickly, "Just, try not to freak out... Come on Twilight."

Twilight walked in slowly, standing before Zecora who merely nodded, "I see you have retained your normal sense, now take a seat and don't be so tense," she held out a fourth bowl to Twilight who immediately took a drink.

"You took that well..." Twilight said cautiously. "But seeing the state of your home, I'm guessing you've been trying to find a cure?"

Zecora chuckled softly, "I simply took the areas most infected, brewed them together and into myself injected."

Silent choked on her soup in surprise, "I-injected? You injected the infection?!"

"No, no, you do not understand. What I did was carefully planned. Through my special brew I took away the sick, and took the concoction to give myself a little kick!" She explained as she stood, appearing behind them in a blur. "It gave me the speed of their wings, muscles and horn, only one of which I adorn." Zecora finished by appearing on the other side once more in the sickly green flash they'd seen many times prior.

"You harvested them to give yourself powers?!" Twilight asked in astonishment. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Well, I did get permission from the Princess if I must confess," Zecora said, a devious smirk appearing on her face as she held up a bottle containing a clear liquid with a rainbow shimmer. "Using a simple potion this plan was set in motion. With this through the barrier I can pass, as well as take anything attached to my mass."

"You're working with them...?" Silent asked, climbing to her feet quickly, only to fall back down with a hand to her head.

"You ok?" Spike asked, putting an arm around her before feeling himself start to weaken. "T-Twilight... I just realized, she had your bowl ready before she knew you were here... The little things are k-kinda funny, ya know?" He choked out before collapsing atop Silent.

Twilight moved towards Zecora, only to collapse seconds later as well, everything around her going dark.

Within seconds she opened her eyes once more, finding herself in the center of town. Ahead of her stood her pristine castle, shining in the moonlight; behind her stood the rest of Ponyville, untouched by the hell that had consumed it only moments prior. Twilight shook her head, trying to rid herself of the grogginess that was consuming her. She gazed down, seeing her attire the same as before, ripped and blood-stained. Her coat was still the faint remnants of what had once been beautiful purple, her hair taking on a similar color.

"Right... A dream... But why does it feel so weird?" She asked aloud.

"Because I took the first opportunity I could to speak with you," came a voice from behind the castle's front door.

"Is that... Princess Luna?" Twilight asked aloud, taking on a fighting stance.

The door opened slowly, Luna walking through the darkness that dwelled within. She had a gentle look upon her, her starry dress seeming to sway even in the absence of wind. Her dark blue coat was nearly matched by the absence of light still behind her. Once the door closed, she took a few steps closer to Twilight.

"Calm yourself Sparkle, I come not to fight you but to strike a deal with you," she cooed, taking another step forward.

"Tough shit," Twilight growled, firing a blast of magic at the Lunar Goddess.

Luna dissipated into the night, reassembling a few inches closer, "Here in the dream realm you can't harm me and I can't harm you, so we stand on equal ground."

"Equal ground my ass! You better be coming here to beg for mercy! After all you and Celestia have done-"

"THAT'S WHERE THOUEST IS MOST WRONG!" Luna bellowed in anger, stepping forward and seizing Twilight by the throat. "If you dare think I had anything to do with any of this you should think again! I was trapped on the moon for a thousand years. When I returned she had already begun these projects and told me to either accept them or be executed on the grounds of treason. I want her dead just as much as you... Once I saw what she tried to use your dragon-friend Spike for, the friend of her most idolized pupil, I knew something had to be done. Seeing what's happened to you now, I only wish I had acted quicker."

"F-fine... What's your deal then?" Twilight asked, hesitantly accepting her words as truth as she was let go.

"I will aid you in slaying my sister as well as cure you of what has happened... In exchange, I wish for the kingdom to become my own," Luna explained, crossing her arms. "Even now, she prepares to cover everything up with a Solar Flare... As for what that is, I have no idea... I've only heard it in passing but maybe someone else who was once close to her would know more. But for now. You need to get your friends and escape the town, at best you have maybe a few hours."

"At worst?" Twilight asked, fear slowly consuming her.

"I'll be the last face you ever see... Now go, get the potion Zecora holds and find your friends. Only one of you need to consume it while the others need to lock hands. Then, you will be able to cross the barrier. From there, I will aid you in entering the castle and finishing the deed."

"If it sees my friends and I survive, then a deal it is," she said, extending her hand.

Luna pushed her hand away and pulled her into a hug, "Thank you so much dear Twilight... Now, be gone from here."

Twilight snapped awake suddenly, finding herself lying on the ground. Across from her was Silent, still unconscious with a glowing metal collar around her neck, holding her to the wall. Twilight tried to crawl forward, immediately finding out she was in a similar position. She tugged on it hard, unable to make it budge from the dirt wall it extended into.

"Awake already my dear?" She heard from above her.

Zecora stood above, looking into the pit at them. "What are you doing this for?!" Twilight cried out.

"Everything I have harvested prior has been common ponies... But you three are special... I figure I'll let you pass the infection to her, then to your friend Spike. From there, I kill all three of you and see myself grow stronger!"

"You're insane..." And not rhyming for once...

"Insane? Please, what I'm doing would allow me to tear down anyone in my way..."

Twilight tried to teleport up to the zebra, immediately receiving a shock to her throat, forcing her to the ground once more. Spreading her wings resulted in the same consequence, leaving her on the ground helpless.

Zecora appeared in front of her, pressing the neck of a bottle to her open mouth and forcing her to drink from it, "This brew will release you from your civilized inhibitions and allow the virus to consume you once more. You will watch helplessly as you kill the very people you care for!"

Twilight coughed and sputtered as she regained control of her body, "N-no... I fought it off once... I can do it again and again..."

Zecora teleported back to the top once more, "I guess we will see if that rings true..."

Twilight felt panic settling in, looking over at Silent, "Please wake up..." she whispered loudly. "Silent, please!!"

Silent stirred a bit, her wings starting to flutter in her sleep, immediately delivering a shock to her, "Ahh!" She cried out in pain, stirred from her forced slumber.

"Silent, please listen!"

"T-Twilight?" She muttered weakly.

"I'm about to go out of it again... Do whatever you can to survive and stop her. I should be able to regain control again but it may take a while. She has Spike as well as that barrier crossing potion, both of which we need," Twilight continue, closing her eyes tightly.

"As you say Twilight," Silent said, watching the alicorn struggle to contain herself. "Where is she keeping Spike?"

Twilight kept her gaze low for a few more seconds before reacting and lunging at Silent, stopping just short due to her restraint. Silent instinctively reached for her gun, finding the holster empty. Twilight lunged again, the chains keeping her held starting to creak. Zecora sat on the edge, her legs dangling as she watched in amusement. Twilight finally broke her restraints, immediately diving at her pray with a screech. Silent dodged with ease, keeping her eyes locked on the red gaze of her attacker. She slashed at Silent, now only inches away but hit the chain holding her, rendering them both finally free of all but their collars.

She had confidence she could outlast Twilight for hours but knew she only had minutes until Zecora intervened. She quickly examined the steep dirt walls, seeing them a little more than double her height. Twilight knocked her from her thought as she brought her to the ground. Silent struggled against the sharp claws, sending her fist into Twilight's throat, causing her to let go and roll off her.

"Sorry..." she whispered, standing underneath Zecora and staying prepared as Twilight rose once more.

Once Twilight stood, Silent sprinted at her and leapt into the air. She landed one foot on her head, immediately pushing off for another leap and nearly clearing the wall of the pit cleanly. As she pulled herself the rest of the way out, Zecora scrambled to her feet and ran into the woods, dropping something as she did. Silent rushed over, finding a small key lying in the grass. As she looked back at the snarling princess, she reached around her own collar, finding a small lock. She stuck the key in and felt it release, falling off her neck and onto the ground. Snatching it and pocketing the key, she spread her wings and flew into the same direction as their captor had, intent on capturing her.

Zecora sprinted quickly, weaving through the trees and brush with ease as she tried to find her way back home. Silent closed in quick, flying cautiously to avoid a head-on collision, the collar open in one hand as the other outstretched towards the zebra. In one final burst of effort, Silent closed the distance and tackled her to the ground, slapping the collar around her neck and locking it.

Zecora struggled against her, trying to teleport away but being zapped in response. Silent gripped the collar and pulled Zecora as she flew high into the air above the Everfree Forest. Zecora watched as the city she once called home lie in panic and ruin, smiling as she was forced to look.

"What part of this is funny to you?" Silent asked angrily.

"The part where you think I give a fuck," Zecora mused.

"You're lucky I don't drop you now..."

"Oh? Then why don't you? Still some use for me I see?"

"Cut the rhyming shit now and tell me where Spike and our stuff is..."

"Such harsh words that were undeserved, but why would I tell you anything?"

"Maybe because we'll spare you that way instead of parading you around as a snack for the undead," Silent threatened, another hand moving around Zecora's throat and gripping. "Are we on even terms?"

Zecora pondered for a moment before reluctantly nodding, "Fine. Everything is in my hut, as anypony with sense would guess. Seeing as you've interest in going after Celestia I can only assume you'll want the potion as well, which sits behind my pot."

"Smart zebra," Silent mused back, releasing her grip on her throat and holding the collar tighter.

"Now, take me back down and let me go."

"Nah."

"Excuse me?!" Zecora said, starting to thrash a bit. "We had an agreement!"

"See... Now this is what I find funny..."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

Silent leaned down, pressing her lips to Zecora's ear and whispering, "Oh, just that you thought I gave a fuck..." Then she let go of her entirely, watching as Zecora wailed out her last breath before plummeting to her death.

After a few seconds, Silent flew down slowly, her fight finally over. Retracing her steps, she came back to Twilight who was now unconscious in the bit, vomit covering the ground next to her. Silent unlatched her collar and hoisted her over her shoulder, moving in the direction Zecora had fled. After a few minutes she came across the hut where her prizes were supposed to be.

She stepped through the door, finding Spike still asleep where he had initially sat. She set Twilight down before looking around, recovering her guns and Twilight's bag. She grabbed the potion from where Zecora had said, setting it with their things before going back to Spike and crouching next to him.

"You're kinda cute when you're asleep..." she whispered, receiving a loud snore in response.

She lightly tapped his face with her hand, doing her best to wake him, "H-huh?" He said, immediately going for where he'd kept his knife. "There goes my second weapon of the apocalypse..." he groaned softly.

"Thought you'd be happy to be alive, " she told him.

He looked around and shook his head, "I can't remember much... Was Zecora dealt with?"

"Obviously. Are you ok?"

"Slight headache, missing weapon, and two cute mares around me. So I'd say I'm better than normal," he said with a chuckle, blushing softly.

"And our little friend?" Silent asked, a slight blush fading as quickly as it appeared.

"H-hey, I was drugged, of course it wa- oh. Right. Lapse... Uh, ignore that last comment please," he said, his face rose-red now as he checked his backpack. "Still sound asleep."

"A-alright," Silent said, suppressing a giggle. "And she had some interesting knives over there if you're still on that blade kick," she pointed over by the back wall.

Spike went over quickly, coming back with a medium sized bowie knife as well as a sheathe for it, closing his hand in the grip, "This will do perfectly."

"Can you carry her?" Silent asked, lifting Twilight.

"I suppose, if you take Lapse instead," repeating the name he'd chosen for the small creature.

"Good. Then let's get going. I guess we should head by the castle where she said the others were..." Silent told him, putting her arms in the backpack.

"You lead the way," Spike told her, motioning towards the door with Twilight.

Silent stepped out into the woods once more, feeling as if things had finally taken a turn for the better. As they followed the path, she saw Ponyville come into view, only a few more minutes away. She turned to tell Spike, an arrow whizzing by the side of her face and embedding itself in a nearby tree.

She pulled Spike to the ground in an instant, "What the hell was that?!" He asked frantically.

She held a finger to her lips trying to look around them. Another arrow flew above them, hitting next to the first. Silent took off the backpack and opened it, Lapse stirring from its sleep.

"Do your thing," she whispered, receiving a cheerful smile as it wiggled, its body darkening.

She passed it off to Spike, wrapping her wings around herself to help hide as she leapt into the nearest tree. Another arrow hit below her as she went up, causing her to immediately retaliate with two rounds in the direction.

The foliage rustled around them, a sinister laugh echoing through the trees, "Did you really think a simple fall could kill me?" Her voice was distorted, a cruel mix of Feral and normal, as if the two were vying for dominance. "I have their strength, their speed, and their magic... I am unstoppable..." Zecora appeared in front of Silent in the tree, her arrow pulled back to fire, "But you can be stopped."

She had been damaged badly from the fall, her legs malformed and obviously broken with bone jutting out at the knees. A branch had gone through her right arm and out the other side, still in place through the teleporting. One of her eyes had been gouged out, the empty cavity now inches from Silent's own eye, profusely bleeding down her face. The collar around her neck was continuously sparking, sending jolts of electricity through her body.

Silent shoved forward, the arrow flying above her right shoulder as she took them both to the ground, Zecora teleporting them elsewhere as they fell. When they landed she swung, each punch quickly dodged and countered. Their endless dodging continued until Zecora teleported behind her, hitting her in the back of the head. Silent fell, rolling to her back and staring up at the zebra. She moved her gun up, only to have the arm pinned to the ground by a black and white striped foot.

"Last words?" Zecora asked, her head twitching gently.

One shot at this...

Silent immediately fired away from Zecora, the bullet traveling through the looped forest and lodging into the back of the shoulder.

"Hmm, fair enough. An unusual shot but not a lot to be remembered by though."

Zecora suddenly staggered and let go, the arrow weakly leaving the bow and landing harmlessly on Silent's body. Then she noticed the purple claw that forced its way through Zecora's chest, holding remnants of her heart in it, the blood spraying down onto Silent who turned away and covered her face.

"I have their power too... But at least I don't use it like you," Twilight whispered, pulling her arm from inside her and kicking her to the ground.

"Y-you..." Zecora stammered, staring up at her assailant.

"Jeez, still kickin'... Whatever I've got must be pretty damn good then?" Twilight said, locking eyes with her prey.

Twilight, with a Feral blood-lust in her eyes, put her foot on Zecora's throat. She continued applying more and more pressure until she had completely separated the two, finally killing the determined zebra for good.

She extended her clean arm to Silent, helping her up. "She teleported you two a bit away... You're lucky I woke up because Spike was barely able to keep up with you."

Spike sprinted up to them, panting softly, "C-can we just go? I get it, I suck. Now let's leave this dumb forest."

Silent opened the backpack, Lapse already back asleep, "We should be good... Let's hurry though."

"When we find them, I'll tell you all about my meeting with Luna as well," Twilight mentioned, quickly walking towards town, the glow of the moon nearing its peak in the sky, barely seen through the clouds. "Stay close though, I can barely see two feet ahead of me."

Silent and Spike exchanged horrified glances before rushing after her.

With the sun finally out of view and the moon beginning in its ascent, the six refugees sat on a balcony overlooking the town. They gazed over the destruction, seeing Ferals roaming and people trying to either fight or flee. Far outside the city they could see the occasional guard walking around the barrier, shooting at anypony that got remotely close to the edge.

"Never imagined homecoming would be this bad..." Sunset whispered, gripping on the railing around them.

"I never imagined this is where we'd end up, so I know how you feel," Rarity told her.

Sunset looked over at her, "That's not..." Not worth it; tensions are high here, don't let them get to you.

A small cardinal landed near Fluttershy, chirping rapidly to her. She listened intently, the others watching in confusion as they waited for an explanation or translation.

After a few moments, Fluttershy looked at the others, "Tweeters here says there's a clear path to Zecora's if we leave soon..."

"Didn't we agree on tomorrow?" Rainbow asked, looking out towards the forest.

"We did, but still, wouldn't it be better to see her now rather than later? After all, you saw what happened to me not long after this started," Fluttershy reminded her, patting Angel's cage on her bag.

Rarity spoke up, setting a hand on Rainbow's shoulder, "I think she has a point. Let's gather up what we can and go. Worst case scenario, we have to come back and try again, right?"

Rainbow shrugged her off, "Or we all die... or turn... So I'd say it could be a lot worse than coming back."

"Buck up sug', we'll make it outta here with Zecora's help for sure. Besides, sittin' around here all day isn't doin' much for us anyways," Applejack tried.

Rainbow sighed and turned towards them, "Well, what did the bird say? Which way do we go?"

The bird chirped a few times, Fluttershy chirped as well, "She said for us to follow her, she has a bird's-eye view," she said with a giggle.

"Fuck off..." Rainbow told her, pushing past and going back inside.

The others followed, leaving Pinkamena and Sunset behind.

Sunset leaned on the edge of the balcony, sighing quietly, "So, it seems like you're more dominant than Pinkie..."

Pinkamena leaned on the railing next to her, "Yeah... Especially with Twilight gone... She's trying not to give up but it's rough on her. She's all about her friends and everyone having a good time. With a friend dead and noone happy, what's she to do?"

"Moral support?" Sunset chuckled sarcastically.

"Don't tempt her... Last thing we need is to lose our only competent person with a gun," Pinkamena laughed back. "You should've seen when she burnt down a house..."

"Do you think she's still out there somewhere or do you think she's been taken care of?" Sunset asked, getting quieter as she spoke more.

"I hope the latter, for her sake..."

"I want to find her... Just for closure, ya know?"

"Yeah kid, I hear ya. A bit of closure would do us all good, but even then it'd do a lot of damage before then."

"I guess that's true... I feel bad for not coming through sooner. I might've been able to help," Sunset choked out her words, wiping a tear.

Pinkamena rolled her eyes and put an arm around her, "A lot of things a lot of people could've done differently... Why did you come through anyways? Was it when she stopped responding?"

"No... She wrote in the book in blood... Kill, die, etc. Just everywhere... But there was one word apart from the rest."

"Which was...?"

"Help."

Pinkamena gripped both the railing and Sunset tighter, "You came through because you think there's a chance didn't you?"

"Wouldn't you?"

"I... Yeah, I guess. I try to be a hardass to everyone but I really do care regardless of what they think... And don't tell anyone about that or I'll accidentally fire your way next time, got it?"

Sunset nodded with a smirk, "Yeah, I hear ya..."

"If you want though, after we go see Zecora, how about we try to find her just to see? If not, we can at least get our closure..."

"You think the others would agree?"

"Even if they don't, you and I can go. You're a smart girl, and I'm good with a gun, what better team is there?"

Sunset turned and hugged her tightly, keeping her in her hold as she rested her head on Pinkamena's shoulder, "Thank you..."

"Yeah, sure, now let go..."

Rainbow walked out onto the balcony, seeing the two embracing, "So, uh, you two a thing or...?" Her attitude changed when Pinkamena pointed her gun at her, still in the embrace. "I-I mean, let's get going... The night's about half over now," she explained, looking up at the rising moon.

Sunset let go, going past Rainbow and down the stairs, Pinkamena close at her heels.

They followed Tweeters through various homes and alleyways, moving across half the city in safety as they made their way towards the forest. Once they reached the edge of the city, Tweeters flew off to let them go the rest of the way alone. Fluttershy took point, knowing the area better than any of the others, leading them towards the path that barely stuck out of the treeline.

Fluttershy stopped, seeing a faint red glow in the darkness, “There’s one right in front of us," she whispered to the others.

"Where? All I can see are..." Rainbow began. Their eyes. Just their eyes.

"They're comin' closer, what do we do?" Applejack whispered, readying her axe.

"What do we normally do?" Rarity asked with a hidden smirk.

"We fucking fight!" Pinkamena roared as she fired at the eyes, drowning her voice out.

A black blur flew in front of them, small flashes coming as it shot back, popping each firework before it could reach them.

Sunset drew the machete, charging forward towards the mass and swinging. Something else swung back, deflecting each swipe before kicking her back. She sat on the ground winded, struggling to her feet as she saw the shapes back away.

"G-get them," she choked out to the others.

Pinkamena helped her up as Rarity moved in towards the eyes, drawing her knife. It backstepped each swipe, countering with a few of its own before Rainbow joined, swinging her bat in a fit of rage.

Twilight watched the silhouettes attack her, doing all she could to protect herself. Spike and Silent stood apart, Spike dodging a heavy blade that was effortlessly swung. Silent was struggling in her fight, but managed to stay standing.

Fluttershy tapped Angel's cage, "Let's do our thing Angel," she whispered softly, feeling his energy enter her once more.

She felt braver, stronger, and much more agile as she charged at the pegasus' silhouette, dodging each shot fired and swinging her fists rapidly. She landed a few punches, doing nothing more than stunning it and staggering the shots.

Silent reloaded quickly in a panic, suddenly getting knocked to the ground. Spike watched her fall, immediately seizing the weapon that was being swung at him and throwing it behind his assailant. As they ran to retrieve it, he lunged towards Silent, letting out a roar and sending a green flame between the two. Silent saw the yellow pegasus with the red glow in her eyes for a brief second before the fire went out. She immediately flew into the sky, leaving her pistols behind, the Feral pegasus on her tail.

Spike watched, almost recognizing the attacker. His thoughts were interrupted by something nearly taking off his head.

Pinkamena watched the air battle, firing rounds into the sky at the two, hoping to bring them back down. Sunset ran to the one Applejack had been on, slicing at the top of him but missing. She saw it let out another blast of fire, moving out of the way. Her machete took it all, glowing red hot and dimly illuminating her face.

"Sunset...?" She heard it whisper.

"S-Spike?!" She choked out, astonished.

"Oh shit... IT'S US! STOP FIGHTING!" He cried out to the war going on around them.

"Spike?!" He heard Rainbow call out.

"Rainbow?!" Twilight cried, dodging another swing.

Silent and Fluttershy stopped, the latter regaining control as they lowered to the ground. They awkwardly avoided eye contact.

"S-sorry..." Fluttershy whispered.

"Me too..." Silent whispered back before walking back to Spike and Twilight.

The two groups reformed, facing one another where the battle began. Spike let out a flame on the ground nearby, illuminating the area enough for everyone to see one another. The six couldn't tear their eyes off Twilight while Twilight and Spike stared at Sunset. Silent looked at them all awkwardly, unsure how to react.

"I missed you all so much..." Twilight whispered, taking a step forward.

The other six stepped back instantly, keeping watch on her.

"You died...," Rainbow whispered, "You both died..."

"She died, I just got knocked out," Spike said with a cocky smile.

Applejack cut him off, "I don't give a damn what happened to y'all... This is still weird."

Fluttershy swallowed, stepping closer to Twilight, "Y-you're still you right?"

"Yeah, maybe a bit stronger and faster... But as far as anyone's concerned, I'm me," Twilight said with confidence.

Fluttershy lunged forward, hugging her tightly, "Then that's all that matters."

The others joined in, Spike as well, holding on for a few seconds before pulling away.

Pinkamena shot a smirk towards Twilight, "You should've just let me shoot ya... With as pale as you are I'll have trouble telling you apart from Rarity."

"Hmph, I daresay I'm a fine shade of white thank you!" Rarity scoffed, turning away.

After a few minutes of story sharing, from Spike and Twilight's adventure to Sunset coming through the portal, they finally settled down. The moon was about tree-fourths of the way across the sky, dawn only hours away.

"Hey, Twilight..." Spike began as they finished bringing everyone up to speed. "You mentioned meeting Luna?"

Silent perked up quickly, "What was said?! Does she know we're coming for them?"

"She expected it actually... Even made a deal with her..."

"YOU WHAT?!" She heard from all directions.

"A-after everything her and her sister did over the years?" Silent stammered, Spike putting his arm around her in comfort.

"After they caused this?!" Sunset held an arm out behind her. "I haven't been to Ponyville in a long time, but even I know this isn't normal."

"There's one thing you're all forgetting, she's only been back a few years at most... She told me it was either accept what was happening or be executed... But she wants to help us take down Celestia in exchange for one thing, " Twilight rushed out to ease the crowd's anger.

"Just what the fuck could she want?" Rainbow demanded.

"The kingdom... To start to make things right and to fix the damage Celestia has caused. She warned me about something Celestia said about calling in a Solar Flare though. Would you know anything about that Sunset?"

Sunset fell to her knees, her face turning white as she struggled to breathe, "S-Solar Flare? We have until dawn to get out of the barrier Twilight..."

"What?! Why?" Silent demanded, "What the hell is this? You traded her the kingdom of Equestria?"

"Shut the fuck up and listen," Sunset told her, regaining her composure. "We'll deal with Luna later but for now we need to find a way out... Celestia plans to wipe this town out at dawn. In one brief moment, everything and everyone inside the magic around the town will be turned to ash. Everyone you knew and loved will be dead, and so will we. "

End Part 3

The Ashlands

Equestrian Infection

Part 4: The Ashlands

By: Twisted Ink

Sunset Shimmer briskly walked down the hall, moving as fast as she could. "Fuck, I'm fucking late... She's gonna kill me for thissss!"

She reached the door to the meeting with the representatives from Trottingham, finding it cracked open. She listened closely, waiting for the opportune silence during which she could enter. Instead, what reached her ears made her gasp and back away from the door in horror.

"Our options are wearing thin... We can't keep this a secret forever. Either war will break out or there will be a revolt!" She heard one of the foreign voices say, slamming their fist on the table.

"The Canterlot Black Sun Brigade has it all under control, I assure you. What we've done in your country is by no means in conflict with any treaty or agreement. The people have no way to properly rise..." Celestia told them, a calm tone covering her aggressiveness.

"Yes, we get that but if they find out what's happening, and that we are all involved and allowing it, it'll end terribly for us all..." Another voice, this one female.

"If that happens, I shall do as I normally do," Celestia said, her voice unwavering and firm.

"So another town off the map of the world, hmm? What good is this even doing for any of us?" The male asked with a distraught tone.

"Unfortunately the Solar Flare would be the only way. It's only trace is a cloud of ash as well as a scorch mark... A true mystery to all who don't know what it is," she explained with a chuckle, "Be glad we're not at war!"

Is she finding this funny? Maybe I should go in and see if they keep it up.

"As for what it's doing for us," Celestia continued, "It's helping us do better medicating, extending life, enhancing abilities... These live test subjects, even though they're unaware until things either go wrong or finish going right, are perfect for this."

Live... Test... Subjects?

"Now, my student should be here any second, so I ask we keep this meeting under the guise we spoke of around her, relations between our countries. She has a lot she could learn from this."

Sunset entered immediately, horror written on her face, and sat down next to her mentor quickly, "Sorry I'm late... again."

A day later

Sunset leaned down to examine a sunflower, checking the petals and stem for any damage. Once satisfied, she stood again, looking throughout the garden at all the foliage.

"They all seem in great condition, so the gardeners haven't been slacking," she told Celestia who stood near her in a pale yellow dress.

"Well, that's delightful to hear. These flowers all get transplanted around Canterlot monthly, helping it retain something of a natural elegance," Celestia told her. "I always know I can count on my staff to do right."

"If that's the case, then why bring me here to make sure?"

"Well," Celestia said, motioning for Sunset to follow her among the blooming colors, "You look like you've had something on your mind since the meeting yesterday..."

"Nah, it's nothing," Sunset tried to dismiss.

"You know you can come to me about anything correct?" Celestia consoled her, setting a hand on her shoulder.

"I know... I mean... I guess."

"Then please, allow me to help ease your worries my dear Sunset."

"What's a Solar Flare?"

Celestia stopped in her tracks and sighed, her hand falling from Sunset's shoulder, "I should have known it wasn't luck you walked in right as we finished talking..."

"I-I'm really sorry Princess, please don't think I meant to eavesdrop..." Sunset stammered, trying to create an excuse. "I'll do anything, just don't banish me!"

"Banish you? Heavens no, I wouldn't think of such a thing! Besides, being my student, you have a right for any knowledge you feel you deserve," Celestia told her with a smile, walking once more.

"Then...?"

"Oh, right. Well, at dawn when the Sun starts to rise and it's at its brightest and most brilliant incandescence, I can call forth its energy and intertwine my magic with the flames it holds close. From there, using a special encasing spell, I am able to call the mixture down and eradicate any area I choose. Due to the magic needed as well as the time frame, I'm only able to do it once every other day. Whenever I use it, I normally retire for the rest of the day. Why do you think we've never had a formal, long-lasting war?"

Sunset shivered at the description, "Have you ever used it for good?"

"Do you classify using it to end a war and save countless beings everywhere good?"

"How many innocents were killed?"

"Wh-what...? Do you really think I wo-"

"Answer the damn question!" Sunset growled, her arms crossed as she stared down the Goddess of the Sun.

"I will have you remember your position in regards to my own, you simpleton," Celestia growled back. When she saw Sunset was determined to stand her ground, she caved, "Two towns were wiped away. Completely gone. But it ended our first, and only, large-scale war and saved so many everywhere."

"Is that the only time it has ever been used?"

"Yes. I assure you that's the truth," Celestia told her, her eyes flickering as she spoke.

Sunset bit her tongue to keep from calling the Princess out on the lie, "Fine... As you say Princess. I think I'm going to retire for the evening." She turned without awaiting a response, walking back to her room.

"Why didn't you tell anyone? Expose her?" Twilight asked in disbelief.

"Well, my word against a Princess'; would you have believed me?" Sunset told her as they sat back in the castle once more, the night continuing along its path.

Twilight thought for a moment then shook her head, "Good point. How much longer did you study under her before you... you know?"

"Demon-bitch, right. Uhm, about a week actually. That conversation was actually part of the reason I sought to escape. Having nowhere to go, both in my life and in the world where I lived, I left to another. Now here we are."

"Some story. Glad it killed another half an hour before we died," Rainbow groaned, falling back on a couch in the castle library.

Applejack shushed her, "Well, how hard will it be to find a way out?"

"Not hard at all!" Spike told them, grabbing his backpack off the floor. "We've got something in here that will let us walk right out, thanks to Zecora."

He pulled out the Lapse first, the small creature still passed out asleep, followed by some food and the salvaged bottle. He handed it to Twilight, repacking the food and leaving the small creature out in case it decided to wake up.

"What is that?" Rarity asked, bending down close to it.

It opened its eyes slowly, letting out a small yawn before noticing the creature face to face with it. It immediately lunged, clinging to her face happily. As Fluttershy tried to help Rarity, the others grouped up closer, letting the shenanigans go on without hindering them.

"So what's it do?" Pinkamena asked, pointing at the clear liquid.

"With it, we can cross freely. Whoever drinks it can take anyone or thing with them as long as they are connected in some way," Silent explained.

"Then let's go now!" Rainbow told them, grabbing her bat.

"Can we really just leave everyone behind though? It's not like we can come back for them..." Twilight asked.

"Sug', ah feel as bad about it as you do, but if we don't leave soon, it's not going to just be them who've died... Even then, if we don't get out alive, this kinda things just gonna keep happenin'," Applejack explained to her.

Fluttershy walked over, holding Lapse in her arms while an annoyed looking Rarity stood silently behind her, "I feel bad for the animals, but from what I heard from Tweeter, most of them have been able to freely pass through the barrier. They just haven't been able to come back through. He also told me it seemed that we were one of the only groups left... Aside from one more at least..."

"Oddity!" Silent said in a gasp, "I-I almost forgot my own brother. We need to go now, Spike!"

"Oh shit, you're right. Twilight, you need to get going too. Meet me where the tracks go through the barrier," he told her, quickly grabbing both Lapse and his backpack, rushing out alongside Silent.

"Spike, wait!" She tried to yell after them. "That's where... We got stopped last time... Damnit!"

"We can take 'em if they're still there, right?" Rainbow told her, patting her back sternly.

"Yeah, I guess."

Sunset looked around, "You mean those dickheads who branded your hands?"

Rarity nodded, "That's also where we had some rising tensions... And Twilight kinda lost her calm for a bit."

Twilight looked away, "We all know I had more than enough reason to kill him. So no more on that, please?"

"Fine, but let's get going before we run out of time," Applejack said, grabbing her bag and axe.

The others nodded, readying up and heading out the door.

Silent shot down an airborne Feral, jumping over the corpse as she and Spike sprinted through the streets, throwing stealth to the wind. Spike stabbed and sliced anything that got close, whether they were chasing him or just in his way. As they passed by the house they initially met at, Silent took point.

"Are we sure we're doing the right thing?" Spike called ahead as they went.

"What do you mean?" Silent asked back, taking a few sharp turns.

Spike kept running after her, "If we save them they'll have nowhere to go... They've lost everything and everyone."

"My brother is in there damnit! I'd rather see them alive and lost than burning in hell."

Spike kept quiet, unable to dispute the point anymore. They rushed towards the house, stopping as they got near. The door had been busted in, letting the duo wander in with ease. On the ground was the splintered wood, along with scuff marks and blood splatters among the ground, leading to the back. Silent gripped her guns hard, terror flowing through her like a river. Spike put a hand on her shoulder before moving past her and entering the backroom.

"Hey, anyone here?" Spike asked as he opened the door.

He dropped his knife and pulled the door shut instantly. Silent watched him, immediately moving forward and shoving past him. He tried to stop her but she shrugged him off, opening the door wide.

Inside lay a pile of corpses, a puddle of blood formed beneath them. She could see the countless faces of the people she had helped find sanctuary amidst the chaos staring at her, their bodies fresh to death's hold. Their expressions were twisted as if wondering why they had died, but among them her brother was not found.

The top mare convulsed and let out a cough, "K-kill me..." came the low, watery cry. "For the love of everything... Please..."

"What happened?" Silent asked, coming close to the pile.

"They c-came and sc..." she trailed off, consciousness leaving her.

"Please... Stay with me, I need to find my brother," Silent pleaded, shaking her.

"Someone checked us f-for the disease... No one h-had it but some carry... they carried it... like me... So they sh-shot us, left us for dead, and took a-anyone clean..." the mare let out another cough, giving Silent a tearful look as blood ran from the corner of her mouth. "I h-helped you... Return the f-favor."

"Who though? Who took them?!" Silent cried, tears rolling down her cheeks as she shook the mare wildly, continuing long after she had gone.

Spike came in after the exchange was over, wrapping his arms around her tightly, "It's ok Silent, he's still out there somewhere. We just have to find him."

"He could be anywhere Spike..." she said, releasing the body and relaxing in his hold.

"Look at her hand, that's where they are."

Silent gazed down, feeling fury erupt as her eyes met the black Suns branded on the hands in the pile, as if mocking them all.

"You know..." Rainbow began as they walked along the streets, "I've seen our town go to shit super quickly a lot of times... This time feels weird though."

"It feels more... permanent," Rarity added, staring at the darkened sky.

Sunset sighed and leaned her head back, seeing a few Pegasi perched above them on the edge of the rooftops, "Careful, we've got eyes on us from above. You got them if they try to swoop in Pinkamena?"

"What remains for this place is death... Not for everyone, but for most. The ties that once held us here have been severed, leaving us to a chosen fate. What faces us once the deed is done?" Pinkamena asked in an emotionless tone, staring forward.

"You ok there sug'?" Applejack asked.

Pinkamena stopped, her eyelids fluttering before she collapsed. The others rushed, checking on her quickly.

"I-is she turning?!" Fluttershy asked in a panic.

"She wasn't bitten. If she was we would've known it..." Twilight said, her fingers at her head like a gun.

"Yeah... She's not one to let the group suffer," Rainbow added, hoisting the fallen mare on her shoulder.

"She had the same tone as my Pinkie did when I left..." Sunset muttered half to herself.

"Let's get moving, we don't have the time for this," Rainbow said, shoving forward.

The others followed, nearing the edge of town. Ahead of them a single Unicorn shambled out into the street with its claws at the ready. As if on cue, it was joined by three more on either side teleporting in. A few Feral Earth Ponies stumbled out of some nearby buildings towards them while the Pegasi flew down from the rooftops, finishing the entrapment. They could see the smoldering crater where they were to meet ahead, but the sight was blocked off as more Unicorns joined the fray.

"Everyone have one last fight in them?" Twilight asked, a dark smirk coming across her face.

Sunset unsheathed the machete, stepping forward, "First... Last... What's it matter anymore?"

"What's left to lose...?" Fluttershy asked, Angel grasping the shoulder of her shirt where he sat.

"Nothing," Rainbow said, setting Pinkamena on the ground next to them, her bat was dented and bloodied, but ready.

"But each oth-" Rarity was cut off as a Pegasus tackled her to the ground.

"Can't wait for us to finish?" Applejack asked, swinging into it with her axe like a golf club.

They all separated immediately as the creatures charged. Rarity took on the Earth Ferals first, slicing at them offensively rather than defensively as before. Fluttershy allowed Angel's power to flow through her, using her new agility to tackle the Pegasus Ferals, leading them on a chase through the sky.

Sunset and Rainbow stuck close to the unconscious Pinkamena, taking on anything that got close. Twilight and Applejack charged forward, Twilight's claws quickly starting to tear through flesh as the Appleaxe followed suit close-by.

Fluttershy led her pursuers through tight turns, catching a few of them as they hit walls and smashed through windows. With those she couldn't shake she flew down close enough to her friends for them to be able to take out one or two on each pass. The infected kept flowing in from all sides, entering the fight almost as quickly as the others were killed. They kept fighting at full force as the sun began to peek over the horizon.

"We're running out of time!" Twilight called out.

"Let's make a break for it!" Rainbow tossed out, caving in the head of a nearby mare.

"We'll never make it through," Sunset told her as the horde kept growing.

"Y'all got somethin' better?" Applejack called out.

"We fight until the end. I would rather have all of us go down together than screw us over through cowardice," Twilight ordered.

Rainbow sighed, "Seriously?!"

"Yes! For fuck's sake, just agree for once!" Sunset growled.

Fatigue began hitting the group quickly, each swing, slice and turn getting slower and slower with the undead numbers finally decreasing. Twilight and Applejack retreated back to the other three while Fluttershy kept flying. As her speed began decreasing, so did her lead on the Ferals in pursuit. The head of the pack reached out, grabbing her shoe and gripping tightly. It immediately went into a nose dive, pulling her down with it. She fought without result, her body giving in as she plunged. The Feral let her go before pulling up, causing her to crumple to the ground in pain, slipping into unconsciousness. The same Ferals that brought her down shrieked as they descended, ready to scoop up their prey and feast.

Rainbow immediately stopped fighting, taking to the sky over the attackers to save her fallen friend. The second she flew above the Ferals she felt her wing get snatched by a reaching hand. Rainbow struggled, tears of terror welling in her eyes as she watched Fluttershy's life countdown. She was torn away as teeth dug into her wing, drawing blood with ease as they pulled her down towards the crowd. Time slowed down for her as she heard Twilight scream her name. Rainbow watched as they fell limp to the ground around Fluttershy, Silent and Spike running in from the alleyway. Sunset pushed forward, quickly cutting through with all she had and grabbing Rainbow, immediately slicing through the base of the bitten wing.

She heard herself shriek, her ears ringing from the sound alone. Sunset acted quick and shoved the handle of the machete in Rainbow's mouth, taking the bat from her and helping to finish off what remained. Rainbow bit down hard as she lied there facing Pinkamena, her senses returning as the pain began numbing her. With the ground growing warm from blood, she saw her friends turn and crowd around her before everything went dark.

"This is going to shit fast!!" Spike told them, Fluttershy over his shoulder.

"Had you not shown up I don't think we would've made it out of this alive," Twilight said as she ripped off what remained of her shirt, leaving nothing but her blood-stained bra covering her top. "I need your belt."

"Hey, look, I get you're grateful but now isn't the time for this," Spike tried to joke as he tossed it to her.

"Not the time," she growled back, wrapping it around the base of the severed wing, trying to cut off the blood flow as she wrapped her shirt around the open wound. "This will have to do until we get out of here and I can seal it with magic."

"What in the fresh hell were you thinkin' Sunset?" Applejack asked, moving towards her.

Rarity stepped in front of her, "She was the only one thinking right. Had she not done that we would've had one more to kill by now, so back off."

"We don't have time for this... Applejack, grab Pinkie, I'll grab Rainbow. Tell the others to come on so we can get out of here," Twilight told Silent.

She turned away without a word, causing Spike to speak up, "Celestia's Black Sun people got to them... Almost every single one was branded, shot, and tossed in a pile. Those who weren't were taken, including her brother."

"Good thing we're heading to the castle anyways," she said, putting a hand on Silent's shoulder. "We'll save him, I promise. Just keep with it until then ok?"

"Thank you..." she said, hugging Twilight.

"Hey, we've got maybe 10 minutes to get out of here," Sunset said, motioning at the rising sun, nearly halfway above the horizon.

After a minute to settle, they began sprinting over the countless fallen Ferals, moving at their quickest towards the edge of town. Five more minutes later, they'd reached the barrier where they had been branded prior. The other side was completely clear, showing no opposition. Twilight pulled out the potion and downed it with no struggle, leaving very little left in the bottle.

"Everyone hold hands and go forward," she commanded, putting the nearly empty bottle in her bag. "No telling how long this lasts, so no chances."

All at once, every conscious member, with their unconscious ones held close, locked hands and held on tightly. They stepped forward, step by step, entering the barrier and moving to the other side. Almost immediately they fell to the ground in joy, setting down Rainbow, Pinkamena, and Fluttershy. Twilight rushed over, embracing Spike and looking to the sky to cheer.

She stopped as she saw countless Pegasi descending around them, each in the same uniform they'd seen on the guards before. The group huddled together once more, their backs to the barrier with the others in front of them.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to burn with the rest of them. We've extracted everyone clean and put them up somewhere nice for the time being. In every quarantine I've led, nopony has been left behind to tell the tale as they saw fit and this is certainly no exception," the closest one said, lifting his hat, revealing himself to be the same one they'd ran into before.

"Bloc..." Twilight whispered, "Don't do this..."

"I'm the Commander here Princess, not you. It's amazing to see your new look... Maybe we'll keep you to study, hand you over to that Zebra helping us."

"She isn't helping anyone now... Not with her head and body in two different places," Spike called out.

Bloc stepped back and readied his gun, aiming it forward, "You're too dangerous to keep around, so go back before I make a mess."

"You think yer so tough don't ya?" Applejack moved to Twilight's side, a few of the soldiers behind Bloc raised their guns.

"Hold on, let them have their moment. It'll be their last anyways," he chuckled.

"How about you fuck off you homicidal pricks? Do you think for one second we can't take you on? We're outside now, we are on equal levels. We have magic, you're all Pegasi and you'll lose every god damned time!" Rarity huffed, her knife levitating next to her.

"Each of you will watch one another fall before you can get a single shot off... We'll see to it," Sunset said, her machete spinning in the air, encased in her magical aura.

"But first, tell me where my brother is..." Silent said, her pistols drawn.

"I remember you... You and him got out a long time back, but he's back where he belongs with those other hold outs. Infected or not, I'm sure you remember how secluded your cell was? No risk of anything down there," Bloc growled. "Be a shame if all he had was a pile of ash he called a sister."

"Girls, Spike, stand down. This is my fight," Twilight said, motioning them back. "Me and you. One on one, no magic, no weapons, nothing. I win, we go free..."

"I accept. Besides, you're some weak little Alicorn who can't do shit. You Princesses are all talk, but never any bite. Even then, if I win I'll put a bullet in each of you while the others watch, then I'll let you burn. If you win, my men will just shoot you anyways. So, let's do this." He tossed his gun to a soldier behind him, taking off his white coat and revealing a black sleeveless shirt beneath.

"You can't be serious..." Spike began, taking her bag from her.

"I am... Just, be ready for anything, ok?" Twilight said as everyone stepped back, giving the two some room.

"We've got about three minutes until this starts so why don't you die quick?" Bloc said, swinging immediately.

Twilight dipped down, getting behind him and planting a foot into his back, kicking him closer to the barrier, "Yeah, hard to get hit when you swing like a bitch."

He growled and took another step forward, swinging once more. She tried to do the same move, immediately receiving an elbow to the face. Twilight crawled back as everyone watched, the barrier even closer.

I'll do what must be done... They can carry on without me now. I believe in them.

She stuck her tongue out as she got up, taunting Bloc into another swing. They stopped for a moment as a brilliant shine came from the sky, Celestia's cutie mark appearing over the center of the quarantine, shining in a radiance reminiscent of her mane.

Bloc recovered quick, knocking Twilight to the ground. She looked up, the barrier right behind Bloc who stood over her. She took a deep breath, looking over at her friends who remained clueless until she lunged. She slammed into Bloc, intent on throwing them both through the barrier, but unfortunately for Twilight he stood his ground and threw her back down. He straddled her, staring down as he slammed a fist into the side of her face, followed by a few more.

"Hey dickhead," Spike called out, facing the Commander who was on his friend. "Let's fucking do this."

Bloc began to laugh until Spike sprinted forward, catching him off guard and sending them both through the other side. Spike held tight as the others watched, Twilight still dazed. As she recovered she saw Spike keeping Bloc pinned within the quarantine, and immediately panicked.

"SPIKE. NOO!!" She wailed at the top of her lungs as she rushed forward, immediately thrown back by the magical force. "Nononono how did you... Spike, it's not too late!" She looked around frantically for her bag, finding both it and the now empty bottle tossed to the ground.

Spike looked up, the radiant Sun immediately turning stark black, "I love you Twilight... Thank you for everything..." he choked out. "Go kick Celestia's ass!"

As Twilight lunged and screamed again, the Sun pulsated, sending down a pillar of magical fire that quickly engulfed everything within the dome. The sky became solid ash as it was all contained within, building up more and more. A tear rolled down Spike's cheek as he stared at them, the flames instantly engulfing him and leaving nothing behind. Almost as quickly as it began, it ended and the fire was gone. The barrier shimmered and them shattered, sending ash in all directions and blotting out the sky above as it began slowly raining down.

Twilight sat there crying silently, the soldiers behind them readying their weapons, "We all know what happens next," one said, aiming at Twilight.

She turned, her eyes glowing bright red as she snarled, "WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS YOU'RE ALL GOING TO HELL!" She screamed out at the top of her lungs, her words going to all ends of the Ashlands.

Before they could react, she moved in a blur and seized one in her grasp, tearing his wings off and flinging him as far as she could with her green and purple magic. The next was instantly decapitated and tossed away. She seized another with her magic, forcing his own gun in his mouth and making him pull the trigger. This caused the final two to begin to flee for their lives. She pulled them back as well, bringing them to her feet. She continued letting her rage control her as she stomped one’s head in with ease. The last one she lifted, staring him in the eyes.

"WHERE?" She demanded.

"Castle d-d-dungeon... Please don-" he was cut off as she bit into his throat, tearing away and swallowing before dropping the corpse to her feet. She followed, collapsing to the ground next to it.

The others stared with tears on their cheeks, in both shock and awe, unable to look away.

Is it done? Twilight heard from the void ahead of her.

"Is what?" She replied to nothing.

Back of the castle. Get here by dusk. Stay cautious, stay silent.

She tried to yell back but found herself unable.

Twilight woke from the nightmare not long after, refusing to open her eyes.

Just a bad dream... It's all just a bad dream...

She failed to reassure herself as she felt the warm ash falling on her back, the layer below her cool to the touch. She opened her eyes, her friends sitting around her, all now awake and alert. Rainbow clutched her wing, a blue nub now there thanks to Sunset's magic and quick thinking. Rarity sat there, her knees clutched to her chest with her blood-stained knife in one hand. Fluttershy clutched Angel, silently sobbing into his fur as he patted her in reassurance. Silent stared at the ground without expression, clutching her guns and Spike's backpack tightly, Lapse peeking out silently. Pinkamena sat there, spinning her barrel constantly. Her mane occasionally poofed and let Pinkie take a look around, only to retreat in fear of reality. Applejack sat there, drawing a finger through the ash, her hat next to her with a small layer atop it.

Sunset sat at her feet, staring down at her, "How ya doin'?"

Twilight sat up, knocking herself clean, "I... I'm not sure..."

"Your infection has calmed down, so at least you're you..."

Twilight nodded, looking at her body, "Yeah, regardless though I remember everything I did."

"Don't beat yourself up Twi', you did what you had to. Had you not, well, we wouldn't be here."

"It got Spike killed... Had I just used my magic then and there we'd be-"

Sunset cut her off, "We'd all be dead. They'd have shot you the second your horn lit up."

"Why didn't he just take him through and come back...? He didn't h-have to die..."

"Didn't you say you pulled one through? Obviously they can open the barrier as they see fit, so it wouldn't have solved anything. He did what he felt he had to... Do you think he'd want you to dwell on it or to finish the job?"

"You're right. We've come this far, we've been too broken," she stood looking around her at her friends, "We have suffered too much to stop here. I think it's time we finished this once and for all."

"We only stopped because your lazy ass wouldn't wake up," Pinkamena told her with a smirk. "Let's go find Luna and do this. I don't think it needs said, but Canterlot will definitely be on lockdown after this. From what we can see, the ash has spread that far if not further."

"Where is she?" Silent asked, petting Lapse softly.

"The back of the castle... Only thing we need now is a plan," Twilight said, her hand on her chin.

"Ya really think this isn't enough to make people not question us? Mainly you for that matter?" Applejack asked, beckoning to the sky.

"She has a point dear. Once everypony sees this, they'll panic and either evacuate or flee. Worst case scenario? The town's cluttered with people in a frenzy," Rarity explained.

"I hope it's a ghost town... That way Angel and I won't have to worry." Fluttershy said, drying her eyes.

"Best way to guess is to just find out," Pinkamena told them, holstering her pistol.

Twilight grabbed the tattered and bloodied Commander's coat from the ash it was in and slipped it on to everyone's surprise, "Then let's go. They need to know we're coming. They need to know to fear us."

After half a day’s walk, they found Fluttershy's hopes to be rewarded. As they stalked through the streets towards the castle, they saw neither citizen nor guard outside. The only signs of life came from the shutting curtains as they passed. A lone guard stood outside the gate, cleaning ashes from his helmet.

"Princess Twilight? You... you survived... What happened down there?" He asked innocently.

"Let us through, now," Twilight demanded.

"The Princess gave specific orders that no one was to be let through... Es-especially you for some reason."

Sunset stepped forward and sent her blade through his chest, stopping his heart in one go. She chucked his body into nearby hedges and pushed forward, "We have no time for this."

The others followed in agreement, making their way to the Royal Gardens that were behind the regal structure. Inside a gazebo stood Luna, leaning against a fountain and tapping her foot impatiently. She moved their way when she saw them, her blue dress flowing through the breeze.

"You're just in time. I've a plan for this that you should hear," she told them quietly.

Celestia leaned back in her chair, the table in front of her with representatives from three different parts of Equestria, with Luna sitting on the opposite side from her. The meeting room was large, curtains drawn on either side as well as a fireplace behind Celestia that remained unlit.

"What in the name of Tartarus happened?!" Asked a stallion from Las Pegasus.

"Seriously Celestia, what if our town is next?" Asked Manehattan.

"I can assure you for now that it isn't," she said, propping her feet on the table.

"How can you be so casual about this? An entire town was obliterated..." Vanhoover's mare said in an empty tone.

"Trust me. My sister and I have it under control."

"And what's your take on this exactly Princess Luna?" Manehattan turned towards her.

"M-me? Well, I daresay we are sending our best to investigate and once the problem is identified then we will deal with it accordingly," Luna explained.

"What of the fallen Princess? Will there be an announcement?"

"In due time there will be. Do not worry. As for Twilight, it is an unfortunate loss and in time we will deal with it as well," Celestia said, now sitting straight up in her chair.

"The sky of ash needs addressed as well..." Vanhoover said. "We've had reports of it spreading to the very outskirts of our town nearly a hundred miles west!"

"The ash, according to our scientists who have been looking into this since it started, will rain down for around a week at most. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do but hope for the best," Luna assured them calmly. "If you'll excuse me," Luna said, briskly leaving the room.

"Sister... Where are you going?" Celestia asked, quickly giving up. "In a week's time, all will be taken care of, I swear this to you all."

"Even the treacherous Princess that saw a whole town vaporized in response to something she caused?" Came a new voice.

Celestia growled softly, "Show yourself..."

A gust of wind flew through the room, scattering papers everywhere, as Silent retracted her wings, revealing both her and Twilight within the fireplace. Twilight walked out, her horn ceasing to glow and revealing her friends scattered along the walls of the room. Celestia sighed, leaning back in her chair as the representatives sat silent.

"Princess Twilight!? What's the meaning of this? What's wrong with you?!" Las Pegasus asked.

"She caused it all. She did this to me and tried to erase all evidence of it ever happening!" Twilight explained. "She's done it countless times before and she will continue to unless she is dealt with, which is why we are here. We survived that blast and barely escaped..." she said, motioning to Celestia who sat silently sipping her tea.

"If you've come to kill me, I wish you luck. Once my sister returns you will be dealt with," Celestia told her, standing up.

"Can't use your magic after that can you?" Rainbow asked, brandishing her bat.

"So you knew? What cowardice... You strike when I am at my weakest... Nopony out there will believe your word against mine in the end. You'll be labeled traitors and be hung tomorrow if you try anything."

"No, they'll believe us and Luna..." Sunset growled.

"My sister would rather die than see me dead!" Celestia growled, kicking her chair across the room.

As if on cue Luna entered with a dark blue sword at her side, looking right at her sister, "You really think they set this up on their own? After everything you've done you need to be eradicated. You are a menace to Equestria and all beings in existence!"

Twilight pulled Sunset's machete from her bag and moved towards Celestia, "You will accept your fate and hand the kingdom over to your sister."

Celestia had a confused look on her face as she backed away, "You're being deceived! She's the one in co-" Her mouth was instantly covered by Luna's magic, cutting her off.

"She's told enough lies today, finish her," Luna commanded.

Twilight nodded, forcefully bending Celestia over the table. She grabbed her hair, exposing the back of her neck as she raised the machete. Celestia thrashed and screamed in fear, each sound nothing but a muffle. She stared her sister in the eyes, pure terror and hate visible behind the tears. Luna returned the gaze with a sadistic smile.

"Long live Equestria," Twilight whispered before bringing the blade down, slicing cleanly through the neck of the once-ruler of Equestria.

Twilight looked down at her deed, nodding her head in acceptance. She turned back towards Silent, who stood motionless, encased in Luna's dark blue aura.

"S-Silent?" Twilight whispered in confusion.

Twilight turned back, each of her friends constricted and silenced by the magic with the three representatives dead on the ground. Before she knew it, Luna was in front of her, plunging the sword through her chest. She stared up at the twisted look, the Royal Guard busting through the door behind Luna during the act.

"You've done nicely... Thank you for permanently silencing my sister before she could oust me," Luna whispered before turning towards the door and yelling, "Guards! Take these degenerates into custody and put them into the dungeon to be executed for assisting in the assassination of my sister," she said, pulling her sword from Twilight and kicking her to the ground, "As well as the assassination of the three representatives. The one here at my feet was the culprit, but has been dealt with. I will tend to both her and my sister's corpses. Inform the citizens immediately that the threat is over but unfortunately, I am now the head of the Royal Family."

Twilight lied there, her mind silent in disbelief as blood began leaking from the corner of her mouth. Seconds later, she felt her last breath of life leave her lips, everything going dark.

End Part 4