Chapters Prologue: The patient zero
Prologue: The Patient Zero
(Richville, Northeast Equestria. 7 miles from Canterlot city)
Crystal Wishes happily walks at the edge of her hometown. It was now hearts and Hooves day and many parties are apparently held in her town. However, she doesn’t really participate or enjoy the occasions, for she is a mailmare and a miner of emeralds and diamonds. Crystal quietly hums as her destination comes into her view; happy grapes harvest farm. She had received a mail from a mare named Remedy Leaf to give her mail to a doctor who was staying with owner of the farm. Crystal happily accepts her new mission without even whining or complaining to her boss.
“What another beautiful day” Crystal Wishes beamed as she trots to her destination. She saw ponies in the distance, either trotting or cantering away from the farm which Crystal Wishes found weird; since when ponies ran away from a farm which always held parties?
“That’s weird” Crystal Wishes said to herself, observing the ponies. They seemed nervous or even spooked which is the expression Crystal only found during nightmare night.
As she near the farm. She approached a stallion which she observed earlier. She noticed not only the stallion looked scared, he is even shaking as well. “Um, hello?” she said to the stallion.
“Don't.go.there” said the stallion as he continues to mumble unintelligently “B-blood.death.everypony.d-d-dead”
“What?” Crystal didn't clearly understand the stallion “What's the matter, White Wheat?”. White Wheat, only ignored her.
“Blood.C-Chaos.Screams.N-No... Get me out of here....” then after that, that stallion runs away, screaming “UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHH!!!”
“H-Hey, wait!” White Wheat didn't pay attention to Crystal's begging. Instead, her ran away and a few ponies followed him. Crystal Wishes quickly become confused by White Wheat and the other ponies' behavior “What in the hay just happened?” then, she looks at the farm before she shrugs the thought of drunk stallions being a little... drunk. “Well, I can't blame them for how much punch did they drink” then with that, she continue to go towards her destination while avoiding the panicking ponies passing her.
...
She finally arrived to her destination. The gate of the farm was Infront of her, opened for visitors and those who wants to go and and join the party which was being held. However, one thing for sure bothering her in her mind.
The farm was silent.
Not only silent, but eerily silent. Its like nopony ever went inside the farm. Everything was completely silent. Crystal Wishes also went silent as she pass through the entrance gates.
“Hello?” she called out, waiting for a response. However, it never came “Hello? Anypony? Hello?” she was once again greeted by silence. Nopony seems to hear her or they just hide somewhere else, maybe there were a group of bandit changelings attacking the farm. However, it seems so impossible for there are no signs of destruction.
Except for the tables to where the party supposed to be held.
The tables were upturned or moved like somepony carelessly moved and leave it like that in a fit of panic, the gifts, the dishes, the kitchen utensils, and many other more items were scattered on the ground, and there are several red liquids splattered on random places, even producing bad odor which Crystal never smelled in her whole life.
She felt something under her right forehoof and she look down to what she just stepped; it was a blue party hat which stained by the same red liquid. She pick up the party hat with her right hoof, then she puts the party hat to her muzzle to smell the red stain.
The red stain smells like iron, which quickly Crystal Wishes quickly found out it was actually blood. She quickly put the party hat on a nearby table and quickly glanced at her surroundings; she was alone and no soul was around to hurt her.
But then she heard a groan “GURWAAAAAR!!”
“Eek!” She yelped I'm surprise and all of her four legs began to shake in horror. She turned tail and saw something which will spook her “AHHHHHH!!!” She turn to a different direction and galloped for her life.
As the pegasus' scream fades, several ponies came out of the farmhouse and swarms the party area; groaning and moaning can be heard as more of them came out.
(Happy grapes harvest farm, 1 hour before the first phase of the outbreak)
Farmer Grape Glory was happy.
He was going to held another party for both the locals and the tourists who had come to visit the town and his farm. Hr had his whole family preparing everything for the party, deployed guards for security, and called in his slave ponies to harvest the vineyard and other more fruits (He'll later give them their bits they deserve)
He was watching his family clean the farm from the porch when one of the guards called his name “Mr.Grapes!’
Farmer Grapes soon turn around to face a royal guard pegasus stallion (Only two are from Canterlot. The rest of the guards are wearing leather armor). The royal guard had a white coat (which is covered by his golden armor), and stripe blue and light blue mane and tail. Farmer Grape had known this stallion for a long time, for the royal guard had been serving him when he was free. “What is it, Sword Slasher?”
“Well, I saw a kitty, hiding under the porch behind the house” Said Sword Slasher “I was curious, but I just wanted to know if it's your kitty”
Farmer Grape just simply said two words ”Lead me”
...
Farmer Grape couldn't believe what kitty he had under the porch on the back section of his house.
It was the paradise kitty/ a species of cats and kitties which is now extinct when Discord ordered for it's destruction during his rule. It has blue, red, and green stripes on its skin which makes it more beautiful. He and Sword Slasher stare at it in awe.
“Such a beautiful kitty” Farmer Grapes compliments as Sword Slasher continued to stare at the kitty. Grapes turns to the royal guard pegasus stallion “Can you take it off?” he asked.
“Y-Yes sir” said Sword Slasher with a dreamy expression. Farmer Grapes guessed that the stallion was thinking about taking it and become his pet.
Sword Slasher stopped Infront of porch and goes onto crouching position. He sighed in relief when he saw that the kitty was just staring at him with orange eyes instead of running away from him. He slowly reach out his hooves and successfully grabs the kitty “I got it, I got it!”
“That's great and don't be so loud mouth” Said Farmer Grapes.
Sword Slasher ignores the Farmer and quickly went out of the porch. The kitty which was on his hooves, suddenly jumped to his neck and licks it. The pegasus giggles and falls to the grassy ground, his wings unfold. “S-S-Stop it” he begged between laughs “It tickles!”
Farmer Grapes could only watched in amusement as the cat continues to lick the royal guard pegasus' neck “I think the cat likes you” he said to the royal guard.
Farmer Grapes decided to leave Sword Slasher and the kitty alone to their privacy. However, when he was about to leave, he heard a bloodcurdling scream.
“AHH! STOP STOP IT IT HURTS AHHHH!!” Farmer Grapes turn to face the two. To his shock, the kitty was chewing Sword Slasher's throat. Blood begin to come out of tje royal guard's mouth as he continues to squirm and scream in agony.
Sword Slasher turns to look at Farmer and gave him a miserable look “F-F-Farmer Grapes... H-Help me...” he begged, while the kitten continues to rip his throat and loosing more blood.
Farmer Grapes immediately acted; he quickly went to the royal guard's side and tries to yank the kitten out of the royal guard's throat. However, also ripping out some of the flesh, causing Sword Slasher to scream in pain.
“AHHHHH PLEASE MAKE IT QUICK AHH!” Said Sword Slasher.
“Darn'it!” yelled Farmer Grapes “I Didn't expect this kitty to be so strong!” He tried to pull the kitty attack from Sword Slasher's throat, to which only add more agonizing pain for the poor royal guard.
“Just use my sword!” Yelled Sword Slasher.
Farmer Grapes immediately let go of the kitty and went to the royal guard, seeing the sword which was in the leather sword holder. He pulled it out and went Infront of the royal guard, and quickly stabbed the kitty on the neck, decapitating it's head from the rest of its body.
How, even though the body fell, the head didn't. For the mouth was stuck on the mangled neck of the royal guard.
“T-Thank you, Farmer Grapes...” Said Sword Slasher while trying not to faint from the pain he received from the hostile creature.
“Don't thank me yet, buddy” he said, examining the head of the kitty he just ‘killed’ he puts the royal guard's sword down and puts his right hoof on the head of the now dead kitty. He felt blood clothing his hoof. However, he tried not to think about it and manages to pull out the head.
However, he felt a strike of pain on his right hoof. He looked to see that the Kitty's mouth was stuck on his mouth and was now tearing the skin.
“Agh!” he yelped in shock “How are you still alive!?” he then starts to punch the head of the kitty using his left hoof, falling to the ground in the process.
Meanwhile, Sword Slasher was also astonished to see the head was still alive while he put his left hoof to his ripped out neck and throat. He couldn't speak for it will hurt him more, and he only did what he could do as a royal guard; he picked up the sword with his mouth and swings it at the head of the kitty, slashing it into two. When he saw what he had done, he fell on his flank and began to cry.
Farmer Grapes just stared at the two parts of the Kitty's head. When he didn't saw any move, he finally accepted it is not alive. He looked to the direction of Sword Slasher and saw his wife and his children galloping towards him with worry. He gave them a weak smile before hearing a thud.
Author's Note
Characters in the Episode:
Crystal Wishes (Unknown fate)
Other Characters:
Richville Residents (Alive)
Unready
It was a good day for Thunderlane. He was in high spirits after performing stunts Infront of the ponies who came to watch the Wonderbolts. He was one of those Wonderbolts who are being cheered by their fans (he heard some of them went into mental breakdown while the show was about to start) and by their families. He also remember the face of his brother who was among the crowds, cheering for him with pride.
His happy thoughts was soon vanished when High Winds, a Wonderbolt member interrupts him.
“I better get going” Said High Winds “My Mom was hospitalized”
“Huh?” Thunderlane only just realized he was inside the locker room along with High Winds who shut her own locker. “Your mother?”
“Yep," Said High Winds “She was attacked by a crazy stallion who bit her neck like a wolf and takes a chunk of... She is in the hospital right now and is in the ER, I just need to check up on her” she turn tail to trot away, passing a Wonderbolt who just entered the locker room.
When High Winds is now gone, the Wonderbolt lift an eyebrow and stares at Thunderlane “Is there something wrong with her?”
“Just personal issues about her mother, Windy Breeze” Thunderlane replied.
“Ponies this days...” Said Windy with sarcasm “I heard a mass murder took place on several towns and Manhattan in northeast Equestria” She continue as she opens her own locker “I heard a whole town was massacred by their own family and friends and the others who survived became hostile to others”
“I found it weird” She added “Many of those whom witnessed the incident claims the suspects were killing their victims by chewing the with their own mouths, some claimed that the whole town of Richville was massacred, while some claims are about rebel changelings or even the possible end of Equestria or even the signs of a fallout going to happen”
“End of Equestria? Fallout? That's a crazy rumor I've heard sometimes” he said to her, mentioning the famous story book which earned so much popularity and respect which also brings up the rumors “Seriously, are there any zebras who are involved in this incident?”
“Only one” Said Windy “The Zebra was injured and taken to Canterlot hospital”
“Poor guy” said Thunderlane.
“I really feel bad about him too” She said, blinking her eyes several times trying not to shed a tear for all she knew in her whole life, Wonderbolt with a weak heart will get the nickname ‘Crymaremie’. ugh, that kind of name is more worst than Rainbow Crash she thought. She decided to change the subject “Anyhow, Rainbow Dash was very angry with me for befriending a Shadowbolt”
“Well, that's kinda- what?” What she said caught Thunderlane off guard.
“Well,” she starts to talk about her situation with Rainbow Dash “A Shadowbolt member known as Shadow Trail wants to be friendly with us, so he choose to befriend me first" she noticed the look, Thunderlane is giving her “What? Isn't that bad to establish a relationship with Princess Luna's lunar stunt fliers?”
“Well, no.. but”
“No flanks, Thunderlane!” Windy Breeze snaps at him, causing him to flinch under her glare “You might have not remember how I love to make new friends!” with that, Windy Breeze slammed her locker and walks out of the room, not realizing she is still wearing her uniform.
“What did I just do to make her angry?” he said to nopony in particular. He looked at his empty locker, staring at it for few seconds before he starts to remove his uniform as he unzips the zipper.
...
After putting his uniform in his locker, Thunderlane went out and flew towards a group of ponies; two mares still wearing their uniforms while the rest are all naked (Well, being naked in the MLP world is not so much of a taboo). He already knew who the two mares are, especially the pegasus who is all light blue.
“Hey Blue Wings!” he shouted from a far, causing Blue Wings to flinch and giving Thunderlane an annoyed scowl.
“Thunderlane, don't scare me like that, Geez!” Said Blue Wings.
“Congratulations, Thunderlane” Said Spitfire in amusement “You get to startle the ‘Jumpy Wings’” She chuckled, earning a single glare from the annoyed blue mare.
“Not funny, Ma'am. Not very funny” Blue Wings chided.
“Well, I didn't try to startle her” he turns to face Blue Wings, the mare realizing she had overreacted “Sorry, Bluey”
“Apology accepted” Said Blue Wings.
“So, what are going to do now?” Windy asked
“Good question, Slow” the group turn around to look at Spitfire “I'll just give you guys a day off. since i gave High Winds a time to visit her mother, I'll just decide to give you guys a day to visit your family and friends, to check if they are safe and sound from the growing violence”
“Oh, thank you Ma'am” Said Misty Fly “I'm really worried for my father who is living in Cloudsdale”
“But, how about you, Ms.Spitifre” Asked Wave Chill “What are you going to do I'm your free time?”
“Well, I'm going to check on places where the mass murders took place” Said Spitfire “I don't have to worry about my family. Since the last attack we received from the sombrero guy, they always evacuate very early”, with that, The captain of the Wonderbolts turn tail, unfolds her wings, and flew away “May Celestia's sun guide you to safety" she said to the group of ponies before disappearing on the horizon.
...
After cleaning the academy. The Wonderbolts said their goodbyes and the group dissolves.
Thunderlane wasn't the only one going to Ponyville; He was going to his hometown along with Windy Breeze since she lives there and Blue Wings since her hometown Richville is under the state of calamity, she is forced to reside in Ponyville without her family until the chaos in Richville subsides.
They landed in the marketplace where they saw ponies strolling about the area, buying anything they can eat, or anything miscellaneous that caught their attention.
“We're here, home sweety home” Thunderlane chuckled as he looks around him.
“Um, you don't own the whole estate yet, Thunderlane” Blue Wings told him jokingly.
“Well, I consider this town was my home now since it's so nice to live here” he told Blue Wings.
“You'll love to live here, Bluey" Said Windy Breeze Cheerfully, then looking at the town drunk who was selling wine “Hi, Berryshine!” Windy waves her right hoof at the mare.
“Hi,” Berry Punch waves back at Windy Breeze “You brought another pony with you. What's her name?”
“She's-”
“I'm Blue Wings” Blue Wings interrupts Windy Breeze “Nice to meet you, er... Berry...”
“Berryshine!” Said Berry Punch. Berry Punch decides to brought out her punch and wines which she sells “You want wine or punch? It's all free”
“No, I'll just buy it” Blue Wings replied “How much is the punch?”
“20 bits!” Berry told her.
“Oh, I'll buy two punch later” Said Blue Wings as she passes by Berry Punch's stand along with Thunderlane and Windy Breeze “See ya later, Berryshine”
“You too, Blue Wings” Said Berry Punch, She gave a smile before turning to greet another passerby “Good Evening, Are you here to find- Oh my Celestia, what happened to you!?”
...
“I would say that the locals are also this helpful” Blue Wings admitted as Applejack gave her a saddlebag full of apples.
“Well, I had to say that the Apple family gives you triple of their blessings than everyone else in the town. So I'll tell you to stay away from them before they found you” Thunderlane advised the mare Infront of Applejack.
“Hey!” yelled Applejack, causing Blue Wings to cover her ears with front front hooves “There is nothin' wrong about givin' our blessings to such strangers like her!”
“Applejack, you're scaring Blue Wings” Windy Breeze told the angry Apple farmer.
Applejack turns to face Blue Wings, who was cowering Infront of her “Oh, sorry” Applejack apologized “Ah guess my voice is too loud”
“V-Very...” Blue Wings replied in a fragile tone “I-It's fine, M-M-M-Miss Applejack” She turn tail and began to leave. She is soon followed by her friends.
Applejack glares at Thunderlane and Windy Breeze as they leave along with the newcomer “Ah won't let those varmints leave unpunished!” She snapped, not realizing her little sister had just arrived.
Meanwhile, Thunderlane and Windy finally said their goodbyes before they depart, Thunderlane decides to take Blue Wings with him and live with her in his house along with his little brother.
After he made Blue Wings guard the house, he went to school and waits for his little brother to exit the school.
Finally, after several minutes of waiting, the bell rang and the students began to leave the town.
That's when he noticed something out of place.
He could see Silver Spoon, walking among the crowd. However, the part which bothers him is her friend, Diamond Tiara wasn't walking beside her and is not also among the crowd. He knew that the two fillies are always together and rarely depart from each other during the day and in evening. He decided to be approach the mare, However only to be stomped on the hoof by a grumpy-looking earth pony filly. The filly has tomato red coat, and yellow blonde mane and tail, she also has a paper tomato sitting on the left of her right ear.
“Don't bother her” She told Thunderlane “She's not in a mood to talk to wimpy pegasus like you” With that, she pass by the pegasus, leaving a “Hmph!
Seems she's on bad mood too he told his consciousness Tch! Kids this days... He then turn to face the school again, waiting for his little brother to came out.
That is until he caught the sight of his little brother, talking to a pegasus filly named Scootaloo. He sighed and walked towards his little brother.
He can hear his little brother and Scootaloo, talking about Rainbow Dash “Is that true, Scootaloo?” Asked his little brother.
“Yep” Said Scootaloo, putting her right hoof on her chest with pride “You might not believe it, Rumble. But Rainbow Dash did do another sonic rainboom!”
Thunderlane chuckles, getting the two fillies' attention “Talking about Rainbow again, Scootaloo?” he asked. He turn to his little brother, Rumble “Come here” he said “Let's go home”
“Okay” Rumble replied. He faces Scootaloo “Let's just talk about it tomorrow”
“Okay!” Scootaloo replied.
Thunderlane watch as Scootaloo leaves. He looks at his little brother, Rumble and said “Come on, you can ride my back”
...
“So, how's school, Rumble” Thunderlane Asked his little brother as they, and Blur Wings ate their dinner.
“It's really... weird” Said Rumble “Kinda reminds me of Cozy Glow's insanity and the dark sombrero 's attempt to take over Equestria and make all of us as his slaves, but this one is more weird and strange than those” Rumble drinks his Apple cider, putting it back on the table to continue “A pegasus mare went inside the school and attacked Diamond Tiara”
Blue Wings almost vomit her dinner from her mouth when something unbelievable went through her ears “What did you just said?” She asked the the colt in disbelief “A pegasus, attacking a filly? B-But how?”
“Well, I can't tell you how” Said Rumble “I even vomited when I saw the wound on her neck, to which miss Cherilee forced us to leave until Diamond Tiara is taken to the hospital” Rumble managed to put his right forehoof on his muzzle, remembering Diamond Tiara's expression as she tries to stop the bleeding from her wound.
Thunderlane became curious of who did it. He thinks inside his mind, thinking any of the pegasus he knew who might be the ones who did it The only pony i could think is Stormlight, but she's on vacation along with her daredevil friend he thought. After he finally gave up on thinking any pegasus who possibly done that gruesome crime to the Filthy Rich's Daughter. He ask his little brother “Do you know the pegasus?”
“Well,” Rumble started “She's a young mare. But I didn't see her before”
Probably a passerby who is probably drunk his thoughts caused him to glance at Blue Wings, who was not paying attention to him and continues to stare at the foal with wide eyes and her mouth wide open. He then tells the two to eat their dinner. Rumble immediately recovered and continues to eat his food while Blue Wings seems to eat with her fixed expression, still not believing what she just heard.
...
After several minutes of eating. The trio are now famished, especially Blue Wings, who never had the chance to ate her remaining food.
“I'm famished” Said Blue Wings, she looks at Thunderlane and Rumble before turning to stare down at her plate, laying on her plate was the remains of an apple pie, and strawberry funnel cakes. She glanced at the two ponies who looks at her, giving them a sheepish smile before she stand up and walks to the direction of the staircase. However, she paused and turn her head to look at Thunderlane “You wouldn't mind if i sleep in your parents' bedroom?” She asked, her forced smile turning neutral.
Thunderlane nodded in response “Go on” he said. Blue Wings gave him a weak smile before she turn to walk to the second floor.
“Brother,” Thunderlane heard his brother calling him. He felt something pulling his tail and look down to see Rumble, pulling his tail with puppy eyes. Thunderlane sighed “Okay, okay. You can help her go to sleep”
Thunderlane giggles “Thanks brother” Rumble canters to the stairs and towards the bedroom where the blue mare is, leaving Thunderlane alone in the living room to wash the plates. He sighed which followed by a smile as he picks up the plates, one by one using his wings. After successfully putting the plates on the sink. He turn on the faucet and began to hum.
When suddenly, heard something, something very loud, to which Thunderlane almost drop the first plate he was holding (again, by using his wings). He then hear the sound of hoofsteps behind him.
“What the hay was that!?” he turn to see both Blue Wings and Rumble, standing with the stairs behind them. Their hooves were shaking in fear.
“I'll go take a peek” Thunderlane replies. He went to the closest window and slowly opens the window to reveal...
“Nothing's wrong with the outside world. But that scream does bother me too” he told the two. He exits the kitchen and went to stop Infront of the front door of his house before facing Blue Wings “Take Rumble to his bedroom and take good care of him while I'm gone” he told the mare.
Blue Wings nodded in agreement. Without saying anything, She and Rumble went up to the second floor. Thunderlane smiled as he saw that the mare obeys him. He turn tail and silently opens the door, not wanting to wake his neighbors who are maybe not bothered by the noise of a scream.
“Now, I'll just find to where that scream came from and find out what happened there” he told himself but as he exits the house.
Author's Note
Episodes mentioned:
The end of the beginning (1&2)
Characters in the Episode:
Thunderlane (Alive)
Other Characters:
Unnamed Wonderbolts fan (Mentioned in flashback, Zombified)
Places:
Wonderbolts Academy
Dead Ponyville
Thunderlane walks on dark, chilling, empty streets of Ponyville. The temperature of the town at night gave him extreme shivers sending down to his hooves. However, he managed to ignore it despite the urges to come back to hide in his house and lie to his little brother and his friend.
“Brr... I wish I had my Wonderbolt jacket with me” he groaned to himself. He looks around saw nothing in particular except in Screwloose's house, where a silhouette of a mare can be seen from the window, walking around inside the dark room. Thunderlane had the feeling that the pony inside the house could be Screwloose herself... Or Berryshine, due to that the fact that the shape of the pony walks like if it's drunk.
However, he pay no attention to it despite he knew, Screwloose's disorder doesn't really bothers her anymore and she isn't acting like a dog. He just simply walk by the house and leaves it like the other houses.
The only pony he would expect to meet in the middle of the night is Stormlight, who would guard her friend's house (much to his shock that the mare was actually brave, despite she's shy). However, he knew she went on vacation with her friend.
As he walks by Roseluck's flower shop, heard the scream again, but more clear and closer. He turn to glance at the building where Roseluck sell her products and where she lives. Thunderlane didn't hesitate to gallop towards the front door of the flower shop and knocks on the door “Hello?” he called out, hoping for somepony to reply.
Only to be bombarded by screams of a mare who lives in the flower shop.
“NO, STOP IT! PLEASE DON'T EAT ME, DON'T EAT ME! AHHHHHHHH!!!”
Thunderlane clearly heard the words from the yelling, screams, and sounds of a struggle taking place inside the building. Thunderlane began to bang on the front door, saying “Roseluck, what the hay is going on there?”
“...OH, CELESTIA SOMEPONY HELP.... ME....”
Thunderlane winced at the sound of vomiting and the sound of a splash. He also heard a groan as well which seemed very... hostile to his ears. Nevertheless, he had to help Roseluck and take her to the hospital, hoping that the visiting hour didn't end yet. He hope that the hospital staff are too busy to pay attention into the schedule of the hospital.
When the door wasn't unlocked and the scream continued. Thunderlane decided what to do “I'm sorry” he said “I'll come in and take you to the hospital” Thunderlane walked backwards, then prepares to do what he will with his wings unfolded.
Thunderlane flew right towards the front door and successfully go it loose, allowing him to enter the flower shop. As he enters the shop, he found nothing out of the ordinary. The scream he heard before stopped and is replaced by the sound of ripping... flesh which is followed by gurgling sounds of a mare.
“ghkk...Ahh.....Oh- gah! Ah..ahh...gah...”
*Rip* *Rip* *Munch*
“R-Roseluck?”Thunderlane felt uneasy as he went inside the living room and towards the kitchen was where the sound was produced “Roseluck? Are you okay? can you say something?”
“...H-Help....me...” He heard Roseluck. He immediately went inside and saw something which will hunt and change his life forever.
In the kitchen is Daisy and an unknown pegasus mare, sitting and munching on the body of the dying Roseluck. Daisy chews the mare's abdomen while the pegasus eats the neck. Thunderroar froze at the sight of cannibalism, even taking a step back away from the trio, even felt the urge to vomit at the sight.
“W-What the ha- Mmph!” Thunderlane immediately cover his muzzle using one of his forehoofs, green liquid slowly coming out of his mouth. He continues make distance away from trio until he fell on his flank.
*Thud!*
Oh my Celestia! Thunderlane screamed in his mind. Daisy an the pegasus stopped munching on Roseluck's dying body and they look up at Thunderlane. They stand up and immediately canter towards him. However, he acted quickly and gallops out of the flower shop as fast as he could, knocking some furnitures and flower vases as he gallops.
“What the hay is going on with you two!?” he yelled at the two mares as they made their way to shop section of Roseluck's house. Due to the broken vases, the two trip and fell, breaking more of the vases and other furnitures near them, giving time for Thunderlane to ran away as soon as possible.
“I have to go back” he said to himself, still galloping “I have to tell the two-”
He never got to finish what he was saying when a mare came burst out of her door and bumps Thunderlane, they both fall to the ground in the process.
When Thunderlane finally got to stand on his four hooves, he turn to angrily face the mare “Watch where you're going-!” like the first one, he never got to finish what he saying when he spot that the mare who is a unicorn stares at him with shrinked, dead fish eyes, she also had a wound like Daisy and the unknown pegasus had, and like the two, the mare groaned.
“Oh, hay no!” he yelled at the mare as she begin to shamble towards him. Thunderlane turn tail and gallops away from her, yelling to himself “Just what the hay happened to everypony!?”
He heard bangings from a few houses, some of the doors are successfully broke by one to five ponies and chasing him, either by running or shambling towards him, all of them had their own injuries, However most of them had wounds to their necks, They all groan at him with the lust of killing him in a very horrible way.
Thunderlane began to think what did he do to make them angry. However, he knew he didn't do anything to make them mad. Then, he spotted his destination and tries to gallop more faster.
Finally, he was now Infront of the door. He didn't notice that the door was broken as he simply opens it and swiftly closed it.
He pant as he looked at the front door. He was stunned to why the while town wants to kill him so suddenly. He looks around the living room and saw nothing unusual. Now, he had to take Blue Wings and Rumble out of the house and out of the dangers of the outside world from those mad ponies who are either trying to make him their dinner or just trying to kill him.
He didn't say anything when he went to the second floor and opens the door of Rumble's bedroom “Rumble, Blue Wings let's go-” he stopped yelling, for he is yelling at nopony. The bedroom is devoid of its users. However, the bedroom is now only a messy room. Furnitures not in their spot, miscellaneous items either toppled on top of the study table or either on the floor.
The bed was even more worse than the rest, not only it's cover and pillow are messed up, but it's also caked in red liquid.
“No,” was the only word, Thunderlane released from his mouth before he quickly bucked the door behind him and went to the bedroom of his parents “Blue Wings? Rumble!?” He began to panic when he heard not only one groan from inside the bedroom, but two. The one is clearly feminine. However, he the other one is too raspy which made it hard to know if it's coming from a mare or a stallion... Or a foal.
He didn't had to think anytime soon and quickly throw himself against the door, opening it without making it fall to the floor. What he saw in the bedroom will give him the most grief.
Blue Wings, still wearing her Wonderbolt Uniform shambles around the room along with Nurse Redheart, both groaning or moaning, both had dead eyes, and both had different wounds which are both covered in blood and are both located on their necks. However, Rumble is no where to be seen. But the sight of Blue Wings made Thunderlane both grief for the Wonderbolt and a little angry at Nurse Redheart.
When the door opened, the door made a noise, causing the two mares to glance at Thunderlane's location. Redheart is the first one to groan and canter towards the pegasus stallion. She pinned Thunderlane to the wall behind him and attempts to bite his throat. However, Thunderlane decided to put his hoof on Redheart's forehead “I don't know what had gotten to you, Ms.Redheart” he said before he bucked her with his hind legs miraculously “But I will never forgive you for what you've done to my friend!”
Despite that the buck is powerful. The strength of the pegasus buck are no match for the earth pony strength and Redheart only fell to the floor 3 inches from Thunderlane. He heard a groan and was Blue Wings, advancing towards him, only for to bump to door with her right side, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground. Thunderlane wanted to help the mare. However, an image of him being eaten by his own friend made him stop.
“Haystack...” he groaned, one tear fell out of his right eye. He heard the front door of his house and sounds of loud groans and moans are heard. He went to investigate, only to see a stallion advancing towards him. He immediately turn tail and went for his parent's bedroom while he heard the sound of something crashed onto the wall behind him. He reluctantly shoved Blue Wings to the ground with hesitation. He looks around his parent's bedroom. When didn't spot Rumble, he unfold his wings and quickly went to the nearest window.
...
...
...
He was confused to why everything just suddenly went to black. He was just trying to escape the two mare who all turn mad. When suddenly, he felt a strong pain in his head, and the next thing he knew is he woke up in a void.
It seems strange he thought Everything was good and peaceful in the evening... And now, Ponyville has just gone... mad?
...
...
“Wake up!”
“Huh?” Thunderlane heard a feminine voice, probably calling out to her “Was that...”
“Thunderlane, in the name of Celestia please wake up!” said the voice “Derpy, are you he isn't bitten when you found him!?”
“Um, no” replied the other feminine voice which came from a mare named Derpy Hooves. Thunderlane knew about the mare for a long time, mostly because of her eyes “I found being cornered by the ‘zomponies’ and... I helped him”
Zomponies? He thought to himself the term which he never heard in his entire life.
“Guys...” he heard another voice. this time masculine “I think I saw his hoof twitch”
Thunderlane swore he heard a gasp “Do you think he'll turn into a monster and eat us like cakes and-”
“Oh Shut up, Pinkie” Yelled another voice “Look, we got Caramel with us. He could just... Bash this pegasus' head before he could even get to us!”
“I Don't think i could agree with that, Sparkler” said the masculine voice, belonging a stallion named Caramel “I'm just a farmer, not an executioner of our own ponykind”
Thunderlane had decided eavesdropping is enough. He slowly open his eyes, hearing another gasp, which i followed by Caramel's own gasp.
“Speak to us” he commands Thunderlane as the the pegasus struggles to wake up “I'll say it one more time; Speak to us please!”
“Alright, alright” Said Thunderlane. He looks at Caramel and glances at the other ponies.
Most of the ponies are mares, while there are only two stallions. He knew all of this ponies and their names are soon being called out in his mind.
Caramel, Stormfeather, Sparkler, Pinkie Pie, and Derpy
Caramel held a kitchen knife in his mouth, whilst Sparkler levitates a broom, Derpy had her muzzle covered with her forehooves, while Pinkie Pie covers her eyes. The last but not least, Stormfeather puts in a terrified expression in his face.
The group of ponies all sigh in relief when he responds to Caramel, who drops his weapon to the ground
*Clank*
“Boy, I'm glad i didn't turn into a ‘murderer’” Said Caramel.
“W-Where am i?” Asked Thunderlane.
“Well, you are in my house” Said Derpy, who was now smiling “boy, I thought you were going to jump on us like the others” Sheepishly smiled at him.
He did know what happened to him and how did he got inside Derpy's house. He began to think everything. From waking up to trying to get out of his house. Then, something click out of his mind.
Blue Wings and Rumble are inside the house, waiting for him to come back “Rumble...”
“What did you said?”Asked Caramel.
Thunderlane shot up from the bed he was lying on, startling Caramel as he look around in search for Rumble and Blue Wings “Rumble, Blue Wings where are they?‘ He asked Caramel.
“I'm guessing, Blue Wings is the Wonderbolt living in your house?” Sparkler went in the conversation between the two stallions “I'm afraid she
“What in the hay is a Zompony” Thunderlane asked in confusion. Hearing the term which he didn't know confuse him “And why are you using that term on my friend?”
The whole house went silent by the question the stallion gave them. That is until Sparkler decides to answer “Well, zomponies are...” She hesitated, however decides to continue “...Those who are living corpses who hunt the living”
“Um, excuse me?”
“Trust me, Thunderlane” she said to the stallion, who was in disbelief of hearing that the dead rise up “If you want to see ‘them’” she points her right hoof at Stormfeather's location, the stallion looking out from a window which seems to be the only one unbarricaded “just look through the window and you'll see what's going on”
Thunderlane did what Sparkler said; he walk towards the window and Stormfeather, who was looking at him solemnly.
“I won't do what Sparkler told you if I were you” He told Thunderlane “Be ready to see what she want to see, for the things you will about to see will be traumatic”
Thunderlane gave him a confused but worried expression “How worse is it outside?”
“More than anything you can imagine” Stormfeather replied.
Thunderlane became nervous. He had no idea what he is about to see. he tried imagine the incident at night; the screams, Roseluck's apparent death from the hooves of a friend and of a stranger, going back to his house with a group of insane ponies following after him, and arriving to his destination to see the hospital nurse and Blue Wings also turned against him, then everything suddenly went black, and finding himself inside Derpy's house. Everything to him was very all a sudden. and now, he's going to look at the view of the town from the window Infront of him. Despite Stormfeather's warnings and his nervousness, he decided to take a look outside.
And he saw it.
His eyes shrink, his mouth fell open, and his expression turns into fear at the sight of what seems to be his neighbors, munching on a body of a pony which is too mangled to recognize. His neighbors didn't hear his gasp as they continue to rip the flesh out of the very mangled pony and eats without hesitation. He noticed they are very different in appearance; they all have different wounds, almost all look like bite marks, the eyes have almost rolled back into their heads, and the sides of their sclera turned reddish, a few of his neighbors are also bloody, while very few are badly mutilated. He could even see three of them chasing a pony from the distance.
“What in the hay...” that was the only words he could make out as he continue to look in disbelief.
“It's deadly serious outside" Said Sparkler “However, I managed to wake up in the middle of the night thanks to Roseluck, poor pony” she muttered
“That's the same for me and we bump into each other” Said Stormfeather “We later saw a group of zomponies trying to get inside your house and I decide to flew into the second floor while carrying Sparkler, and I saw the Wonderbolt and the Nurse munching your right wing”
“H-Huh?” Thunderlane decided to take a glance of his right wings, only to find out it was tied by a bandage.
“Don't move it. I bet it would hurt you really bad” Said Derpy “It was so huge that I had to go to the sugarcabe corner to wake up Pinkie. Boy, it was so risky” she added, glancing at Sparkler.
“Hey, I didn't even suggest that!” Chastised Sparkler “It was you who suggested to go and went to sugarcube corner to get Pinkie!”
Speaking of Pinkie Pie. Thunderlane, who has recovered from astonishment glanced at Pinkie, whose hair is not in it's normal appearance, her mane and tail are both straight and looked like the pink color is a little fade which reminds him of her when he saw her in the marketplace (he also found out her sadness is infectious when Daisy's flowers die and balloons suddenly flatten with no air in them which upsets a stallion). He always wonder why she always like that when she falls into depression.
However, he don't want to bother the depressed Pinkie. Since the release of a story named Party's Cupcakes , Everypony even the brave Iree Heaven had been spooked and a few started to avoid either Pinkie or the sugarcube corner since the story was actually based on her, the building, and her friend, Rainbow Dash. Thunderlane himself only gets nervous when meeting Pinkie. Surely, he doesn't show it to the party pony. Showing it only means she will become upset of you, take you to the bakery she lives and where she works, and cut open your-
Thunderlane quickly cut off the gruesome part and quickly stopped thinking of Pinkie and decides to look at the others.
“...We have no idea when will the princesses send royal guards to the town” Said Sparkler “But if they do arrived, they will only make things worse and they will even join them, then they will altogether show us who's meal!”
“Woah, calm down, Ames” Said Caramel.
“No!” Sparkler snapped, causing all of the ponies around her to jump in shock “Calm down? That's very impossible when you are in a town which is devouring itself one by one” she paused to cough before shouting once again “And what did Princess Twilight Sparkle do? Nothing, she did nothing to save us now. She's maybe in shock like the others to see our neighborhood going mad like the changeling invasion!”
“Ames, you don't have to say all of those... complains” calmly said Caramel “Look you're not the only complaining nor having a rough time” he then tells her how he wants to see Sassaflash, how Derpy wants to get her daughter, Dinkie Doo out of the ravaging town, how Pinkie Pie wants to reunite with the other Main Six members, how Stormfeather wants to get out with a friend, and how Thunderlane wants to find his love one, much to the stallion's dismay. Caramel, then continues to talk to Sparkler “I made you the leader here because you're the best organizer before, and an organizer must know what the ponies feel, and she needs to be calm and collected. Those are the traits you need, Sparkler” When he saw Sparkler ignored him, he decides to continue “Look, I'm very worried about Sassaflash, and the others have to deal with their own problems while you have nothing to worry about. Only escaping is your problem”
“Humph!” Sparkler only express her scornful doubt and went upstairs (probably going to sit next Derby's daughter in the bedroom). Thunderlane quickly went neutral and turn to glance at the others.
Like he expected, most of the survivors are still angry and emotionally affected by Sparkler except for another pegasus mare which he didn't noticed in the entire situation. The mare was sitting on her haunches, looking down at the table Infront of her. Despite Sparkler's breakdown, this mare didn't seem to notice the whole situation, even caramel didn't notice the mare when he was explaining everypony's different situations.
Thunderlane already knew who the mare is. He went to the kitchen and stand beside the depressed mare “Thundersky?”
“Mm...?” The mare known as Thundersky slowly turn her head to see the face of Thunderlane. “Oh,” She sighed in relief when she saw the stallion she was watching in every Wonderbolts airshow “Glad to see you personally, Thunderlane” she gave him a sneak smile, before turning back to place her head on the table like a sleepy mare.
“Are you okay, Thundersky?” Asked Thunderlane. He is very worried for a mare like her to be like that since he knew how mares do when they are depressed, or either hiding their true emotions “You don't seem to be receiving recovery from that amount of sadness you have”
“Yeah,” Thundersky lifts her head 2 inches away from the table “You got the feeling of being alone....right?”
“Um...yeah, i sometimes felt needing a pony beside me” Thunderlane was telling the truth. He really thinks about rescuing his little brother and put him beside him when they escape the town together, if it's going to happen.
“I got split apart from my family” Said Thundersky “We were attacked by a bunch of Zomponies and I couldn't get to my family, so I had to go to the other direction and that's how I got here...Derpy and the others yanked me in” One tear went out of Thundersky's left eye as her voice become a little shaky and fragile “I couldn't just leave them behind to those Zomponies...t-they will perish if... I leave them behind...” She stand up and walks pass Thunderlane “If you need me” she said “I'm going to the bathroom”
“Um... Okay” said Thunderlane. He decided to go up to the second floor, leaving the others which were all in the first floor. He couldn't imagine how Thundersky feel when it gets to her family. She deeply love her father, her mother, and her brother, and sister and now, she's all alone, already succumbed to the depression just like Pinkie Pie. Thunderlane went inside Derpy's bedroom and and looks out of the window which was covered by the curtain, he looked out and saw a mare, running towards the open entrance of a door. She was terrified as she looks behind her to see three mares shambling towards her. Thunderlane felt the urge to go out of the house to save her. However, there are too many of ‘them’ and she's the only one outside who is sane.
Thunderlane watched as she went inside the house, almost forgetting how door work. He thought about her family, her friends. Did they survive? Did they got out of the town? Did they went to a nearest evacuation center? He knew those thoughts are also inside the mare's mind. But for now, she had to think about surviving on her own first.
After the mare had closed the door, with the zomponies crowding around the door, trying to get in. Thunderlane thinks about his little brother. Is he alright? Is he safe? Is he living along with somepony else? Those questions are left unanswered for he knows his little brother wasn't with him, he wasn't sure if he's little brother has able to enter a house without any of those undead who are all waiting for a living pony to fall to the trap and eat them.
After those brief thoughts, Thunderlane decided to rest, before telling the others he had to leave and save his little brother.
Author's Note
Episodes mentioned:
Yakity-Sax
Characters in the episode:
Thunderlane (Alive)
Other Characters:
Berry Punch (Mentioned, Unknown fate)
Places:
Ponyville (Overrun)
