Saddle Row, Manehattan, Day Zero, 11:50am

Applejack felt overwhelmed as she walked down the sidewalk through Saddle Row. No matter how many times she came back to Manehattan, she always felt so "out of her element" being in such a big city where everypony moves so fast, and most citizens weren't the friendliest.

But, despite all her uncomfortable feelings towards the city, she was there for her friends. Rainbow Dash was taking part in a Wonderbolts show in Manehattan that weekend, and all of her close friends got tickets for the show, considering it would be Rainbow Dash's first time performing in Manehattan with the Wonderbolts.

Applejack looked over her shoulder at the ponies accompanying her to Rarity's boutique. Applebloom and Scootaloo were idly chatting a few feet behind her, and her brother Big Mac was practically connected with his marefriend Sugar Belle at the hip. She loved how cute they looked.

They were heading to the boutique to see if Rarity and Sweetie Bell wanted to get some lunch with them before the Wonderbolts show. Fluttershy had gone with Rainbow Dash to practice at Manehattan Stadium, and Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Starlight, and Spike had gone to the Manehattan Museum of Modern Art. They had all agreed to meet back at the stadium for the show at 4pm.

"Are we there yet?" Applebloom asked walking up next to Applejack.

"Just a bit further Sugarcube, it's that building over there." Applejack said, pointing at the building that held "Rarity For You."

"I can't wait to see Rarity For You, I still haven't been there yet." Applebloom said excitedly.

Eventually, the group made it to Rarity for You, and stepped inside. There were a few ponies browsing the boutique's varied collection of clothes. Rarity was standing behind the checkout counter, while Sweetie Bell stood over by one of the displays admiring it.

Rarity finished ringing the customer up, when she noticed Applejack and the others.

"Looks like business is going well Sugarcube." Applejack said.

"Darlings, I didn't expect to see you all until the show, what brings you all in?" Rarity asked, walking around the counter.

"We were gonna go grab some food before the show, and we were wondering if you and Sweetie wanted to join us." Applejack explained. Rarity sighed and gave a sad look.

"Oh I'd love to darling, but right now, I'm down 2 employees, myself and Blue Bobbin are the only ones in right now, and Coco Pommel doesn't come in until 12:30. But I'm sure Sweetie would love to accompany you to lunch." Rarity said.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were now all over by the display, talking and laughing.

"Applejack, I was wondering if we could stay in here for a few more minutes, I'd like to browse some of the dresses if that's okay." Sugar Belle asked.

"Of course, we have pretty much all afternoon." Applejack said. Sugar Belle smiled and pulled Big Mac over to a wall of dresses.

"Your brother certainly has good tastes in mares." Rarity said jokingly. Applejack gave her a slight bump on the shoulder and chuckled.

"I can't wait for the Wonderbolts show tonight, Rainbow Dash is gonna be awesome!" Scootaloo could be heard saying.

Just then, a cloud-like mist of red aura passed seemingly through the boutique.

Several customers, who were unicorns, suddenly dropped the merchandise they were inspecting, Especially Sugar Belle, who tried to use her magic to pick the dress back up, but couldn't.

"What's wrong Sugar Belle?" Rarity asked as she walked over to her and Big Mac.

"I.....I..I don't know, I can't use my magic." Sugar Belle said.

"I don't think any of them can." Applejack said, pointing at the other customers who tried to use their magic. Rarity tried to pick up the dress with her magic, but found herself unable to as well.

"What in tarnation?" Big Mac said.

Several of the customers began to leave, leaving the store empty of customers. Suddenly, the sound of a loud crunch came from just outside the boutique. Applejack walked over to the door and peered through the window, she could see several ponies running away from the boutique, and the form of a pegasus mare laying on the sidewalk, with a puddle of blood forming around her.

Applejack jumped back from the door in shock, startling Rarity.

"What is it?" Rarity asked.

"Get the girls away from the window, and call an ambulance, there's a pegasus laying in a puddle of blood outside." Applejack explained.

Rarity nearly fainted upon hearing this, but quickly regained her composure as she walked over to the phone behind the desk and attempted to dial the number. But when she picked up the receiver, there was no noise, not even a dial up tone.

"I think the phone is broken." Rarity said as she put the receiver down.

Suddenly, the door to the boutique opened and an earth pony wandered in, only, something was off about this pony. They seemed "out of it", and his coat looked very dull and shaggy, and his eyes looked glazed over and emotionless.

Blue Bobbin approached the earth pony stallion and attempted to talk to them.

"Hello sir, may I help you find anyth-" was all Blue Bobbin was able to say before the customer lunged at her and began to bite at her face and neck.

Big Mac immediately jumped into action, rushing over to the stallion and kicking him off of Bobbin. The dead-eyed earth pony stood back up and started to trudge towards Big Mac. Bobbin scrambled to her hooves and sprinted into the back room.

Applejack rushed over to the CMC and ushered them behind the counter.

"What's happening?!" Sweetie Bell cried out in fear.

"I don't know, but stay back here until it's safe, okay?" Applejack asked with a serious expression. The trio nodded and Rarity joined them behind the counter. Rarity went over to a filing cabinet and began rummaging around in it as Big Mac kept trying to fight off the crazy stallion.

Suddenly, more dead-eyed ponies walked into the boutique through the open door.

"There's more of them!" Sugar Belle shouted as she also moved behind the counter. Rarity finally finished rummaging through the cabinet and pulled out a revolver hoofgun.

"What in tarnation do ya have that for!?" Applejack shouted, throwing herself in front of the CMC.

"This is Manehattan Darling, I'm always prepared." Rarity said before walking out from behind the counter, aiming the gun, and shooting the stallion trying to get Big Mac directly in the head, killing it dead.

"Big Mac, I'll cover you, get to the door and barricade it with something." Rarity said before shooting another dead-eyed pony, this time, hitting it in the shoulder, which it barely flinched from. Rarity then deduced that these things must be put down with headshots only.

"Typical." Rarity thought as she shot another.

Eventually, Rarity manged to put down each crazy pony in the boutique, and Big Mac was able to make it to the door and close it, and barricading it by pushing a table in front of it. He looked out of the window and saw chaos in the street. Saddle Row was overrun by the crazy ponies, and the ponies not yet crazy were being eaten by the crazy ones. Big Mac stumbled away from the door to check on the others.

"Is everypony alright?" Rarity asked as she put the gun down and checked on the ponies hiding behind the counter.

"I think we're all good, just a bit shaken, what in tartarus was that all about?" Applejack asked as she looked over Applebloom and the other girls. Big Mac moved behind the counter and embraced Sugar Belle, who was on the verge of tears.

"What happened to those ponies to make them do that?" Sugar Belle asked.

"I'm not sure, but I have a hunch that it has somethin' to do with that red aura that passed through here earlier." Applejack deduced.

"Well, considering what just happened, I think we should hold up in here for a while, at least until the police and the military sort this out, if we barricade this place up, we should be safe." Rarity said as she reloaded the revolver.

"Do you have any more of those?" Big Mac asked.

"Sorry Darling, only one." Rarity said.

Sweetie Bell then let out a scream and pointed to the back of the store. The other followed her pointed hoof and saw Blue Bobbin slowly moving towards them, with the same dead eyes, darkened coat, and groans that the others had. The bites on her face looked already swollen, and festering.

Rarity raised the gun again, this time with regretful tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry about this Miss Bobbin." Rarity said quietly before shooting her dead.

After Blue Bobbin fell to the floor dead, Rarity turned to the others and let out a sigh.

"Well, let's get this place locked down." She said.

Author's Note

This story will be split into 3 subplots, this one following Rarity and Applejack, one following Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and the Wonderbolts, and one Following Twilight, Starlight, and Pinkie Pie. Also, don't expect updates to be as frequent as today, I am a very busy person.