"Ponies afflicted with the parasite named N3 show the following symptoms: Aggression, bloodshot eyes, and impaired movement. If you see anypony showing these symptoms stay away.”

“The parasite has currently been reported in every major city in Equestria, currently the only uninfected city is Canterlot. Once more, stay away from ponies who show aggression, bloodshot eyes, and impaired movement.”

“The number of victims is suspected to be anywhere between 1,000 and 5,000 in the past week.”

“Other countries have also reported the disease, Saddle Arabia has currently started working on a cure

“There are currently quarantine zones being set up to care for the infected. If you currently have a high fever, extreme pain in your chest and are vomiting blood, please relocate yourself to said quarantine zones.”

“The parasite has been reported worldwide, a pandemic alert has been issued.”

“The Royal Guard has been released to try and combat the infected! We advise everypony to stay inside, if you must leave your home, bring protection.”

“Martial Law has been declared Equestria-wide, please cooperate with the Equestrian Guard to assure your safety.

“There are current riots being reported in Manehatten, Las Pegasus, and Baltimare.”

"Cities all across Equestria are currently being bombed! We suspect that the bombing is a contingency plan to reduce the spread of the infection!”

“Canterlot has collapsed from the damage caused by the explosions, there are no survivors reported.”

“There has been no word from any of the Princesses since the bombings, we are unaware if they are alive.”

“Since the discovery of the parasite we estimate more than half of Equestria’s population has been killed by the infection.”

“Due to the extremity of the infection, all regular government functions have been suspended indefinitely.”

Twilight awoke with a loud gasp, with fear in her eyes she quickly looked around, looking and listening intently for any unwelcomed visitors. After a few seconds she started to calm. That dream again.. She thought. Ever since anything resembling civilization crumbled she's been having that recurring dream almost every night. The one thing that stuck with her were the news reports, it made everything seem to go much faster than it really did. After Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Big Mac and Applebloom escaped Ponyville, the explosions started. They could only watch as the bombs rained down on Ponyville, as the explosions erased what was left of the town.

Afterwards, they managed to find a still functioning town. They survived there for a month before particles started gathering there too.

“You alright Twilight?” Apple Bloom asked from somewhere in the darkness. Her voice echoed throughout the cave.

“Yeah, I'm alright sweetie, just go back to sleep. Alright?” Twilight asked as sweetly as she could.

“Okay Twi-” Applebloom whispered as she slowly drifted back to sleep.

Twilight waited until Applebloom’s breathing slowed, signaling she was asleep, to get up. She illuminated her horn and grabbed her spear. She looked over at Rainbow Dash and then at Apple Bloom making sure they were asleep, and then walked out.

Twilight slide down the rocks leading up to the cave. The moonlight reflected off her eyes as she made her way down. When she finally hit ground she was met with the now empty woods.

She illuminated her horn, making sure not to step onto any branches that would alert the infected. Twilight’s eyes glistened with tears as she walked through the empty forest. All signs of life except of her were gone, either fled or eaten by the infected. The only animals left were the birds.

Twilight headed towards a small village. As she entered she took note of the various craters. The bombs that Celestia and Luna shot traveled all across Equestria. It was one of the last defenses against the growing number of infected. It had succeeded in killing some of the infected, but nearly the same number of living fell as well.

She entered one of the houses and illuminated her horn. She quickly put her hoof up to her mouth to hold back a sob. All across the walls was blood. Smeared, as if a body was being dragged, it became more and more splattered the more she followed. It finally reached its climax in the corner of what used to be a living room. It was a filly. Her left side was completely gone, ribs exposed, with meat hanging off of them. Her left face was completely ripped apart, chunks of flesh missing. Her skull was exposed, bite marks visible on her jaw. She scanned the rest of her head and found a small crack on her head.

‘That explains why she didn't turn…’ She thought, a small tear formed in her left eye. She watched as more blood and ichor gently flowed from the filly’s devoured body. ‘It was recent too.’

As she fought back tears she heard a loud snap! She quickly swung her head around as she charged her horn, ready to fight any of the infected she encountered.

“Hey Twilight it's me!” Applebloom's voice whispered from around the corner.

“Applebloom!” Twilight growled. “Why the hell did you follow me!”

Applebloom turned the corner “I was wondering where you were going.. I'm sorry! Please don't be-” Applebloom's smile dropped as her eyes locked on the mangled filly behind Twilight. “Mad…..”

“You see Applebloom?! This was recently too! This poor filly was devoured by those things! She either wandered off or she was LIVING HERE and was killed! YOU could've been killed Applebloom!” Twilight unloaded her anger out on the now crying filly. Her voice was reaching screaming levels as Applebloom looked down in shame and shock.

“Well I- well I-” Applebloom cried, her vocal cords strained from her various sobs.

A bolt of lightning zoomed past both of their heads and crashed into wall behind Applebloom, leaving behind a large burn mark. Their heads zipped towards where the bolt came from, they were met by four unicorns with horns charged to kill.

Twilight dropped her spear and jumped to a now screaming Applebloom. As she did one of the unicorns shot a bolt at Applebloom. Twilight wrapped her hooves and wings around Applebloom and took the full force of the blast. She was flung forward and dropped Applebloom. Mid air she turned herself around and shot her own blast at one of the unicorn. They shot a bolt at the same time and they collided with a sparkle of electricity and flame. Twilight dodged another one of their bolts and hid behind the corner with Applebloom, who still was screaming. She glanced around the bloodied room for anything she could use to defend herself, she didn't feel comfortable taking on three at once with just magic. Her eyes fastened on a knife.

“Applebloom!” She whispered “Get that knife for me, i'll cover you!”

Before Applebloom could move there was a loud crash followed by a sickening crunch. Wood and furniture flew everywhere as they turned the corner to find Rainbow Dash glaring at the three standing unicorns. Rainbow’s front hoof covered in blood and viscera. Underneath it was the fourth unicorn’s head, it was completely crushed.

Twilight could only stare at her marefriend as she slowly moved towards the unicorns.

The other unicorns could only gasp as Rainbow slowly picked up Twilight’s forgotten spear. Rainbow looked at them, relaying her options, before thrusting the spear into the unicorn in the middle’s neck. As he choked on his own blood they both charged their horns.

Twilight snapped out of her gaze and quickly shot a bolt, hoping to block one of the incoming bolts. As she hoped she managed to block one of them, while Rainbow dodged the other, Twilight rushed the one on the left and dug her horn into his leg. As he fell to the ground Twilight grasped him in his magic and pinned him against the wall. All the while Rainbow slowly backed up the remaining unicorn into the corner with the devoured filly. In a flash Rainbow broke the jaw of the unicorn with a punch as fast as lightning. She then dug her hoof into his nose. He dropped to the ground and Rainbow delivered punch after punch into his throat. As she punched she heard the sickening cracks of his throat rupturing and him slowly choking on his blood and closed windpipe. She only stopped once the gurgling stopped.

Rainbow turned to the last living unicorn, her eyes cutting into his soul.

“Rainbow! Stop! He doesn't need to die!” Twilight tried plead with her friend.

“They were attacking you! If I didn't come who knows what would've happened! I can't lose you guys!” Rainbow said with a firey glance, then soon after keeping her gaze at the captive pony.

“*sigh* Listen, there are barely any ponies left! Do you really think that killing is going to help Equestria?!”

“Dammit Twi, Equestria is gone! There's no hope for us to come back! At most there's a few thousand of us left, we can't just come back from that!” Rainbow’s voice hinted a bit of malice as she slowly walked towards the magic entrapped unicorn.

“Alright I know it seems grim for us but that doesn't mean we give up and start taking every life we can! We're some of the last ponies left… We shouldn't make that number any less! How about we take him captive, and if he tries anything, THEN we kill him!”

Rainbow Dash looked back and forth between Twilight and the unicorn, pondering her options, “Fine.. But if he tries to escape at ALL I'll kill him. At least make sure he can't move easily.”

“Here Rainbow put it in your saddlebag,” Applebloom whispered, holding back more tears. She handed Rainbow Dash the same knife she was going to give Twilight.

“Thanks kiddo,” Rainbow gave her a smile before driving the knife into the unicorn’s last three legs.

Before he could scream Twilight cauterized his wounds with a burst of fire from her horn, this caused him to let out a blood curdling sound before passing out.

Twilight raised the unicorn into the air and started walking out the door with the others. As she walked into the street her eyes widened as she saw in the distance, a large cloud of green particles overtaking the town.

Author's Note

Hey there, and thank you for reading my story!

I am extremely happy to have worked on this story, as in my opinion, it's one of my best!

I really tried to go for a specific meaning in the titles of my chapters and also inside the chapters as well. I hope you can find out the meaning behind the story!

Updates will be made every few days!