Undead Raiser

In the middle of the devastated city of Cloudsdale, Brutus and his marked zombies advanced toward the hangar, followed by Requiem and a reluctant Rainbow Dash, who was still disgusted by what had just witnessed. The presence of the marked undementia zombie that used to be Spitfire gave her another reason to hate Brutus and his methods. Controlling the soul of the one who was her friend was just despicable to her. Despite her anger, however, she putted that aside and followed the group in the hope to find Twilight and the others.

Arrived inside the hangar, they found multiple metallic carriages that were used to transfer the refugees. There was no Royal Guard or member of the Wonderbolt left in that place. The place was deserted.

Or at least that was what seemed to Brutus until a whisper got his attention. He turned around and saw what remains of the refugees, with six pegasi Royal Guards glaring at them while the rest was cowering in fear in a corner. Rainbow couldn't help but feel very sad for them. Earth-ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi, who were just hiding by the horde of zombies infesting the city. Entire families who lost their home and hope of salvation.

"We have no time for them," Requiem said coldly. "We have a urgent matter to attend."

"And leave those ponies to their fate!?" Rainbow blurted. "What kind of monsters you are!?"

"I don't care about your Loyalty ethics," Brutus retorted. "We can't save every pony that you meet. Besides, there's so much little you can do with it." He turned to the refugees. "In the case you were wondering about the situation, yes, the city is now compromised. I suggest you to take one of the carriages and go away"

"What?" One of the Royal Guards said surprised.

"Why we should trust a monster a like you?" Another one said disgusted. "You have zombified Spitfire and destroyed this city. It's your fault!"

"And why are Rainbow Dash and that unicorn following him!?" One of the refugees said shocked.

Rainbow shook her head. "It's not what you think!"

"She's our hostage." Brutus claimed calmly, causing the refugees to gasp.

Rainbow turned toward Brutus in shocked surprise. "What!?"

Brutus body was suddenly engulfed in black flames. As the flames were dissipating, his appearance assumed his monstrous bipedal form. Before anyone could react, He already turned his clawed hand into a barrel gun and pointed it on Rainbow's head. "If any of you dares to stand in my way, I will destroy the Element of Loyalty as you know it."

The refugees stopped talking and stepped toward one of the carriages in silence while giving to the trio only glares of scorn. Rainbow trembled a little but glared at Brutus, feeling her nerves and patience being tested by him.

"Move." Brutus ordered to her, indicating another empty carriage.

Rainbow narrowed her eyes and marched reluctantly toward the carriage. She would had flew away at high speed, but she wasn't able to fly because of his injures.

Brutus turned toward his army of zombies and, indicating the other carriages, ordered the pegasi ones, including the marked Spitfire to prepare them for the travel. He then entered inside his own carriage along with Rainbow and Requiem, and closed the metallic doors.

The rest of his army of zombies entered into the other carriages and closed their own door as well. Brutus was now in possession of a fleet of improvised air cargos transporting his army. They took their flew, flying away from Cloudsdale, headed toward Canterlot, guided by the marked zombie Spitfire and the other marked undead pegasi.

As for the carriage of the refugees, it took another direction, driven by the six pegasi Royal Guards, probably headed toward whatever place they retain safe from the madness that they had just witnessed, far away from Brutus' army.

Looking from the window, Rainbow Dash gave a final look to what remains of Cloudsdale getting far away from her sight, and then looked down. She was alone with Brutus and Requiem, and that alone gave her a bad vibe. But that wasn't just for their action, but for what she saw in the visions that Requiem had instilled in her mind. She knew what Brutus really is and what was capable of. The stench of the undeads doesn't even help her situation.

Rainbow reluctantly lifted his head toward Brutus and was about to open her mouth. He already noticed that and made his talk for first.

"If you want to confront me, you better have a better speech." Brutus said bluntly.

"Brutus... Or maybe is should call you Walken Jaeger," Rainbow said coldly. "Are really doing all this junk for the sake of revenge?"

"One: I don't use that name anymore and you better not mentioning my past," Brutus replied. "And two: Vengeance wasn't my only objective. When I have settled the score with the cabal of the Reverse Tree and partially saved Equestria, I will have what-"

"A tranquil life, huh," Rainbow anticipated. "To the point that you don't care about who is about to get hurt as long you can take it back."

"I told you. I have no time for morality." Brutus said. "I am legitimated to do whatever I can to kill those bastard with every means and reverse this horror."

"And you want to use my friends, and our elements for that, right?" Rainbow looked at Requiem. "Speaking of that, did you said you have something to reveal once you have met me?"

"Come to think about that," Brutus turned to Requiem. "You better tell me exactly how they can reverse this horror."

"The Elements can purify the plague," Requiem informed. "However, they need the Dark Henge, a fountain containing the very essence of Equestria's magic. What they have to do is use the Elements on it to spread an equally powerful aura capable of purify the plague."

"What?" Rainbow is confused.

"That's it?" Brutus asked incredulous, but then narrowed his eyes. "I'm sorry if I don't buy it, but there's a catch in this plan?"

"I will explain that later, but first," Requiem looked outside the window, seeing Canterlot in the distance. "We have almost arrived."

Rainbow looked out of the windows as well and saw a Canterlot being wrapped by trails of smoke. Screams and chilling moans could be heard as the carriage was getting closer to the landing point. That made her fear the worse.

"What the heck is happening there? Wasn't Celestia supposed to have erected a barrier?!" Rainbow asked worried.

"We'll see that after our landing," Brutus said.

"I hope that Twilight and the others are fine." Rainbow thought during the moment the carriage got closer to it's destination.

The carriages, the marked Spitfire and the other undead pegasi landed on the grass. The metallic doors opened shut and Brutus, Requiem and Rainbow Dash went out of the cart and witnessed the horde of zombies amassing one on another in their attempt to crush the gates.

Rainbow take a few steps back nervously. That scene reminded the horde that chased her during her escape from the infested Ponyville and the other one from the chaos that happened in Cloudsdale. She felt powerless and intimidated by that sight. Brutus and Requiem, on other hands, were just annoyed to see that since that was just another obstacle.

Brutus grinned in anticipation. "Come out boys!"

Under his order, his marked undeads went out from the other carriages at a very frightening speed. That caught the attention of the horde of the zombie nearby the gates and were about to going after them, guided by their hunger. Brutus took a look at the marked Spitfire and gestured to the horde.

"Show them what a break through is all about." Brutus ordered.

"No, wait!" Rainbow shouted.

It was too late. The marked Spitfire covered herself with her huge wings formed by fleshed pony faces protruding on their backsides, with their mouth being stuck in a scream, and unleashed a ultra-sonic scream the horde and crushes the gate, liberating the path toward the town. Brutus turned to Requiem and Rainbow, who was completely astonished by that display of destruction.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go." Brutus suggested.

But before Brutus and his group could enter, some pony approached them, standing in their way. I was the once snobby noble Blueblood, now being nothing more but a zombie with three horns, claws on his hooves and plant-like snakes replacing his tail. He was accompanied by other ponies of the high society being reduced into zombies of his caliber, including Jet Set and Upper Crust. Rainbow Dash recognized with horror one of them being Fancy Pants, having his horn being deformed and a bloodstained mane.

"No way... you too?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"It's too late for them. They are all Undementias. Ergo equally insane." Requiem said coldly.

"At least we know how to make use of our newfound powers and our mutation," Blueblood said. "This city is ours and I won't allow anyone to deny our legitimate rule."

"What rule?! I doubt that Celestia would had allowed that!" Rainbow pointed out.

"Celestia is actually fatally wounded by an unknown creature," Blueblood replied.

"A unknown creature?" Brutus said perplexed.

"You are lying!" Rainbow shouted. "Celestia isn't the type to be struck down this easily!"

"Why should I lie to you?" Blueblood said nonchalantly. "I was in the castle during the infestation. I saw that with my very own eyes."

"And that gives you the right to take over this city and hurt innocent ponies!?" Rainbow said disgusted.

"We have no time to reason with mind-illed ponies," Requiem interrupted and then turned to Brutus. "Brutus, you know what to do."

Brutus pointed at Blueblood and his group while turning his hand into his barrel gun. "Attack them now!"

Invoke by his command, the army of marked zombies rushed toward the zombified upper class ponies with a elevated ferocity. The undead Fancy tried to use his magic, but has his horn being immediately destroyed by Brutus shooting at it.

"Don't even try," Brutus warned.

The Undementias Jet Set and Upper Crust, managed to decimate most of the marked undeads, but were then overwhelmed by two marked unicorn Flailers, who hoovered them in the air and slammed their bodies to the ground violently, causing their backs to crack. The two Undementias screamed in pain as the Flailers roared ferociously.

Requiem approached the zombified duo, glowed his horn with a dark aura and incinerated them with a dark ray. "Rest in piece, you pathetic fools."

In the middle of this carnage, Brutus was confronting Blueblood. The crazed unicorn glowed his three horns and shot a ball of destructive energy. Brutus dodged the blow, which ended up exploding into a pillar of white energy that destroyed the left wall of the entrance. As Brutus was looking at the result, Blueblood teleported in front of him to make a surprise attack. Brutus already noticed that and grasped his face with his claws.

"Wrong move." Brutus declared as he engulfed Blueblood's head with a black flaming aura, causing him to scream in pain. His voice slowly lose his strength until it became silenced. Brutus released him from his grasp, revealing his mark being implanted on Blueblood's head. The newfound marked undead roared ferociously.

Rainbow Dash watched the slaughter from behind a wall, witnessing the acts that Brutus was putting into practice as he was gaining upper hand on the upper class Undementias, which majority were decimated, devoured or disintegrated by Requiem.

At this point, Brutus turned his attention toward the last Undementia of the group. That one being the wounded Fancy Pants, who didn't show any fear at all. The unicorn looked very calm and composed, showing determination and dignity despite his own bleeding, destroyed horn. Fancy looked at Brutus, showing no fear.

"You look like a tough guy who was prepared for this," Brutus commented. "Sorry, but you must be destroyed."

"I don't care," Fancy said. "Since I had devoured my sweet Fleur because of my newfound hunger, I know I was condemned. To be honest, I never agreed with Blueblood's idea to exploit Celestia absence to take over the city. And in this moment, I will use this opportunity to protect the city by monsters like you! Even without my horn!"

"And that's the problem," Brutus said as he shot a bullet in his head, finishing him for good and leaving him falling lifelessly on the ground. "You can't."

Rainbow Dash angrily approached Brutus but was then halted by Requiem. "We have no time for pointless mourning. We have to find Twilight and the others before the cabal does first. Got it?"

Rainbow gritted her teeth for a moment and was about to burst, but decided to contain herself and nodded reluctantly.

"Let's go." Requiem said calmly.

Rainbow, Brutus and his army followed suit, marching through out the wrecked town, including the now marked Blueblood. Most of the houses were barricade, with intimidated ponies peering through the planks. A few buildings were on fire and corpses were filling the streets. That reminded Brutus of what had transpired in his former hometown, Stardust Marble.

During their march, a few Lesser zombies came out of the alleys. Brutus didn't needed to send his minions this time, so he turned his hoof into his sword and took care of them with multiple swings. As body pieces were flying and crimson liquid was raining, Brutus resumed his march, headed toward the castle.

Rainbow followed the group with a sense of nausea biting her stomach and her head. Despite the fact that she hadn't done nothing wrong, she felt an accomplish into this. To make things worst, the demise of Fancy being delivered by Brutus gave her a display of his cruelty.

She knows there was nothing that can be done for Fancy, but that made her wonder if Brutus would hurt her friends or not. That is something she cannot say. Brutus noticed that and approached the cyan pegasus with a calm visage.

"You don't have to worry about Twilight and the others," Brutus said. "They will be fine... If they cooperate with us of course."

"I don't need that being said by you, Walken," Rainbow said coldly.

"Don't call me Walken." Brutus retorted. "Besides, if what Blueblood said was true about Celestia being wounded, that would explain the barrier being inactive."

"And you believe at what he said?" Rainbow said incredulous.

"Something must have happened to her." Brutus assumed. "Otherwise Canterlot wouldn't had been reduced into a wreck."

"You better save the talk for later, guys." Requiem said, pointing his hoof forward. "There is the castle."

The group reached the once majestic way leading to Canterlot Castle, now being wrecked by the whole infestation. The statues adorning the pathway were destroyed. There was a trail of blood and debris leading to the entrance. The way, however, was clear, without any zombie being around, which was a suspicious factor to Brutus.

"I don't like this," Brutus said unconvinced. "That must be a trap realized by some pony."

"How can you tell that?" Rainbow asked.

"The Lesser and the Flailers are too blinded by their hunger and are not a very organized group," Brutus said calmly. "Also, I am not perceiving any Undementias being behind the door. It must be something else."

"Something else like what?" Rainbow asked.

"That is what we are going to discover," Brutus replied. "However it goes, I advise you to prepare yourself for the worst part."

"We should hope that the cabal didn't had arrived before us." Requiem said.

That being said, Brutus approached the gates and slam opened them with a kick. The group entered into the entrance hall, followed by the marked zombies. There are two exits and a staircase on two sides at the very end of the hall, with two stained-glasses depicting the sun and the moon respectively. Brutus scanned his surrounding with a

"Follow me," Brutus said.

"Wait a second," Rainbow halted. "You expect Twilight and my other friends to collaborate with you, but I don't think they would do so or react very well upon seeing your appearance and your... army of undeads. Seriously, how do you intend to explain yourself?"

"We'll talk about it later," Brutus replied, narrowing his eyes. "We have to find the other Elements first. Until then, you better follow me without even complaining."

Rainbow was about to retort but then froze up, having noticed. Her eyes widened and she pointed her hoof upwards. "Watch out!"

Brutus looked u and saw two large, dark fireballs resembling small meteors falling down in his direction at very elevated speed. Not having the time to order his marked zombies to create a barrier, he, Rainbow and Requiem leaped away from their trajectory, leaving both Spitfire and Blueblood being exposed to their impact with them.

The meteors crashed upon them, bursting in fiery explosions that disintegrated both of them, along with most of the other marked zombies. Two craters were formed on the floor in their place. The three ponies rose up looked at the devastated scenario, not knowing what happened or how that happened. Rainbow Dash in particular was literally startled the sheer destructive power that had been displayed in that moment.

Brutus, on other hand, was left speechless. He looked dismayed upon seeing his what had transpired. Most of his marked zombies were decimated by the explosion caused by the meteor. That wasn't a problem to him since he has plenty of them. What really bothered him was the marked Spitfire and Blueblood were both disintegrated as well.

"Damn it! They were my ace cards!" Brutus thought.

"W-what was that!?" Rainbow asked bewildered.

Requiem looked up and his eyes widened. "Look up!"

Brutus turned upwards and looked at the source of that attack, being a very bizarre creature hoovering above them. It was a humanoid demonic figure with silver eyes, two ram horns, very long claws and spike instead of the feet. He slowly descended in front of the group, hoovering above the ground, and turned his gates on Brutus.

The undead pony looked very dumbfounded by that, not expecting a creature like that at all. Brutus could feel a very tremendous power, coming from the demon. That sensation was so familiar it was giving him a very upsetting impression, accompanied by a disturbing sense of deja vu.

"That's doesn't look like a equestrian creature at all. His powers are not from this world... Could that be...!"

"The hell?" Brutus said incredulous.

"Desolated to have destroyed your strongest pieces," He said. "But I won't allow you to proceed. Not because of some master wish, but because fighting you is my aspiration, you damned soul."

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Brutus said furiously.

"My name is Florios, and you will pay for the death of Dagon!"