Author's Note

Happy Easter! Here's a new chapter! If I'm lucky, I'll be able to get chapter 6 out one Tuesday, I've got a lot going on this week between Easter and School.

Also, Don't worry Lovecraftia, Silent Watch will be just fine....*Maniacal Laughter* *Lightning and Thunder Effect*

Chapter 5: Worse than the Paparazzi

Manehattan Stadium, Day One, 1:30pm

Things had been relatively quiet inside the commentator booth at Manehattan stadium. The 7 ponies inside had been trying to be patient as they waited for any update on the situation downstairs.

It turned out Thunderlane's injury was a bit worse than just a simple crash, his front right hoof was sprained. He was now sleeping on the couch.

The office was fairly big, it had two rooms, the back room had a few desks, a couch, a water cooler, and few other places to relax. The front room had the window that looked over the field and the desk where the commentators would sit at when events were held.

Spitfire was sitting on the floor next to the door, waiting to hear what would hopefully be the sound of the staff coming up the stairs. Misty Fly was next to the couch, keeping an eye on Thunderlane. Fluttershy was passed out in a chair next to the couch. Soarin and Fleetfoot were in the front room, watching the field for movement, but saw none, the field was barren.

Rainbow Dash was in the back room, pacing back and forth, very impatiently. It began to get of Misty's nerves.

"Can you stop pacing for like, 5 seconds crash." Misty said annoyed. Rainbow Dash gave her a death glare.

"I can't! We should be doing something, not just sitting up here like cowards, We're the Wonderbolts! we're supposed to go in first in times like these!" Rainbow Dash said, trying once again to hover into the air, only for her wings to not even move.

"While I like your enthusiasm crash, I'm pretty sure the staff can handle it, can be much longer." Spitfire said. Rainbow scoffed.

"It's been an hour and a half, things are probably much worse, and if we don't do something now, we're doomed!" Rainbow argued.

"She's gotta point Spitfire." Soarin said as he and Fleetfoot walked back into the room.

"Anything happening on the field?" Misty Fly asked. Soarin and Fleetfoot shook their heads no.

"I really think we should check downstairs, see if everything's alright." Fleetfoot suggested. Soarin and Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement.

"No, we should stay here until we hear something from the staff." Spitfire said.

"Really Spits? I didn't take you for a coward." Rainbow Dash said. Spitfire jumped up from her seated position.

"Did you see the horde of zombies? It's better to let the security and law enforcement handle it, we gotta show to perform." Spitfire argued. Soarin stepped forward.

"Spitfire, it's been too long, if they could handle it, it would've been handled by now, so just face it, they didn't handle it!" Soarin shouted. Spitfire was taken aback by Soarin's sudden outburst, as was the now awake Fluttershy.

"Is it over?" Fluttershy asked as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Sorry Fluttershy, we haven't heard anything in almost 2 hours." Rainbow Dash said.

"So, what do we do now?" Misty asked. Spitfire thought for a second before coming up with a plan.

"Okay, I have an idea. In my locker, I have a map of the city and the keys to the team van, if we could get my bag, then get to the parking garage, then we could drive out of here and get help." Spitfire explained.

"Who's gonna go get the map and keys?" Fleetfoot asked.

"I will." Rainbow Dash volunteered. Soarin and Misty also stepped forward.

"Okay, you three will get the stuff from the locker, it should be open. The rest of us will head over to the parking garage and meet you over there." Spitfire explained.

"We're gonna need some weapons to defend ourselves." Misty said. Soarin then walked back into the front room and returned with 3 bats.

"I think we can borrow these." Soarin said as he gave one each to Misty and Rainbow.

"Alright, you three head down to get the stuff, the rest of you, follow me out, I know a shortcut to the parking garage." Spitfire said. The others nodded. Fleetfoot assisted Thunderlane off the couch and onto his hooves. Fluttershy gave Dash a quick hug.

"Be safe." she whispered.

"You too." Rainbow whispered back. She then turned back to Misty and Soarin, who were now moving the table from in front of the door.

They opened the door and saw that the stairwell was empty. Soarin went out first, then Misty, and finally Dash.

The three of them moved quickly and quietly down the stairs until they got to the door to the main floor.

"Moment of truth." Soarin said as he slowly opened the door a crack and peeked out. He had to stifle back a gasp.

There were several zombies wandering around the entrance. Some were wearing the staff uniforms, and there were a few devouring a corpse over by the entrance. The gate that had been dropped was now pretty much destroyed, allowing more of the infected to climb through.

"Sweet Celestia." Misty muttered upon seeing the the state of the entrance area.

"Looks like we're on our own." Rainbow Dash said. Soarin closed the door carefully and turned to the other two.

"Okay, so we head out the door, take a right, go back to the field, and get to the girls locker room, we get Spitfire's stuff and we escape like a bat out of tartarus, okay?" Soarin explained to the girls. They both nodded and Soarin turned back to the door.

"One.....two.....three." Soarin counted before opening the door and heading for the field with the other 2 close behind. They attracted some attention from the roaming ones who began to slowly follow them. They turned a corner and saw one blocking the way, so Soarin swung his bat as he passed him, hearing a loud crack as he fell to the ground.

"Nice one Clipper." Misty complimented.

"Thanks." Soarin said.

They finally made it to one of the archways that led to the field and ran through it. The field was still empty, aside from the obstacle course that was still up. They rushed down to where the team would rest until being called in and came across the doors leading to the locker rooms. They quickly entered the one with the symbol of a mare on it.

As soon as they entered, they stopped to catch their breath.

"I don't....think....I've ever.....ran that fast......in my life." Misty said, panting.

"Now let's just get Spitfire's stuff and get outta here." Rainbow Dash said as she started to walk over to where the lockers were. Rainbow immediately recognized Spitfire's and opened it, grabbed the bag and started to head out, but she and Soarin noticed Misty opening and rummaging around in Fleetfoot's.

"Uh Misty, what are you doing?" Soarin asked.

"I know Fleetfoot, she doesn't usually travel without packing heat." Misty said before pulling a small pistol out of Fleetfoot's locker. It was very small, and thus easily concealable.

"Alright, now you're talkin'" Rainbow Dash said as they left the locker room. The reemerged onto the field, although this time, not as barren. The infected from inside had followed them onto the field.

"This way." Soarin said, as he started to lead the other two towards the side of the stadium where the parking garage was located. They managed to outrun several infected, though some had to be put down by either Soarin and Dash with their bats, or Misty with Fleet's gun.

Eventually, they made it to the interior of the stadium and followed the signs that led them to the Garage. They entered the garage and saw the others waiting by the van. It was a big van, it was blue with a yellow lighting bolt going down both sides.

"About time, did you get the stuff?" Spitfire asked. Rainbow responded by tossing her the bag. Spitfire took the keys out and unlocked the van.

"Everypony get in." Spitfire said as she ran around to the driver seat and got in. The others quickly followed, all getting in quickly, as the infected began to enter the garage. Spitfire started the van and started to drive down to the exit of the garage.

"Is that my gun?" Fleetfoot asked Misty angrily.

"Yeah." Misty responded nonchalantly

"Give me that." Fleetfoot said as she snatched the gun form Misty.

"Soarin, look at the map, we need to figure out where to go." Spitfire said to Soarin, who was in the passenger seat next to her. Soarin opened up the backpack, pulled out and unfolded the map. He looked it over to find a place.

"There's a gun store nearby, judging by what we saw getting you're stuff, we're gonna need weapons." Soarin suggested.

"Sounds like a good plan to me." Rainbow said. Misty and Fleetfoot nodded their heads. Spitfire sighed.

"Okay, show me the way." Spitfire said as she drove the van onto the street. It was strangely empty, apart from a few infected roaming around.

"Straight ahead and take a right." Soarin said as he started to give directions to Spitfire.