Death Cure

The streets of Canterlot at night was quiet save for one lone unicorn trudging down a cobblestone street, her steps carefully measured to avoid the puddles of blood and bodies that littered the street. The distant cries and moans of the sick permeated the air with a ever present sense of despair. The Unicorn's coat was covered by a thick black cloak and hood, her face was covered by a raven shaped mask that filtered out the stench of the dead. The masked unicon's saddle bags clanked softly as she walked, the symbol of the Equestrian Health Organization adorned on either side. Those who weren't quite dead yet cowered in the darkness as the unicorn passed in the hopes she wouldn't see them. Those who weren't sick gave her a wide birth as she approached, ducking their heads down and hurried along. The unicorn ignored them and continued her slow walk down the street, her destination unkown.

Suddenly the unicorn stopped mid trot and tilted her head to the side, sensing something only she could feel. She looked around her, masked eyes scanning her surroundings and her before the dark lenses of her mask came to rest on to a bared wooden door adorned with a shield and bursting star. The unicorn pivoted her body and moved towards the door quickly, all while not taking her eyes off the door. Those nearby that still clung to life head a soft sniffing sound muted by the mask as if the unicorn could smell that death and a profit was soon approaching.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The unicorn paused, head tilted to the side and listened as the sounds of muffled movement and quiet whispers could be heard from the other side of the door. When the door didn't open she unicorn raised her hoof again.

Bang BANG BANG

The unicorn hammered on the door again and again, each knock getting louder and more forceful until the sound of a turning lock squealed and opened to reveal a haggard grey unicorn mare. She blanched at the sight of the masked unicorn, but held fast in the doorway in a last ditch effort to block the way. The masked unicorn studied the mare in front of her and took note that she was in good health, but seemed on the verge of collapse, her purple and white striped mane matted with dirt and grime.

"Step aside madam." The masked unicorn said softly, her voice surprisingly pleasant. The mare in front of her tried to hold fast, but soon relented and backed out of the doorframe, unable to keep eye contact with the soulless gaze of the masked unicorn. The masked mare stepped swiftly into the house and quickly closed the door behind her, sliding the lock back into place.

"How may I help you today, Doctor..?" The mare asked fear and disgust in her voice as she fidgeted in place, her eyes darting this way and that, refusing to look at the masked unicorn.

"Somnum." The masked unicorn said as she looked back at the mare behind her. "And you already know why I am here Mrs. Velvet." She said, a hard edge creeping into her voice. "So please, stop wasting time and take me to him."

Velvet stepped back in fright from the Doctor before her, panic etched across her face as she realized who stood before her.

"The Doctor of Death" She muttered to herself as she stood frozen in place. Somnum growled behind her mask at Velvet as she spun around and forced the unicorn to look into her masked eyes with her magic, a quiet rage filling the void between the two.

"You best watch your tongue my little pony."Somnum hissed. "Now be an good girl," She purred dangerously before smashing Velvet's head into the hard stone floor repeatedly. "AND. TAKE. ME. TO HIM. NOW!" She released her grip on Velvet's head and turned around with a snort seeing Velvet curl into a ball on the floor sobbing. "Fine then." She spat, giving the sobbing mare a kick in the ribs with her hind legs in a fit of anger before walking deeper into the dimly lit house. "I'll find him myself."