Dead Equestria

It was morning when Thunderlane woke up on the floor of Pinkie Pie's bedroom, the latter sleeping on her bed. After his conversation with Windy yesterday, she decided to tell the group about her search for his group and give them aid, much to Spoiled's opposition. Rocky stood up for Windy though. He was given food. He also manages to have a get-to-know conversation from Kumiko, who was a tourist from Hoofpon. She was in the marketplace with her friends when it broke into chaos. She was separated from her friends but was saved by Paintheart, who was separated from her husband. They hid behind a bush, watching the chaos until everyone had ceased, then they got up and tried to find shelter all while avoiding the 'ones that lurk within the shadows'. They were soon rescued by Windy and her search and rescue party. Thunderlane hoped Amethyst is safe and got back home unharmed to Derpy and the others.

“Good morning, Pinkie Pie” he greeted the pink mare, who was sitting on her bed, gazing at them with the corners of her eye red because of tiny blood vessels, her flat mane disheveled, and her colors a little faded, giving her an eerie appearance. He got up and went out of the room and was not able to hear Pinkie as she starts to mutter something unintelligible. He went back to the lobby of the Sugarcube Corner. There, he saw the rest of the other survivors, sitting, talking, or even doing some chores. Kumiko was reading a book beside a mare, who is still asleep; the rich family was talking to each other in circles, and he saw Rocky, eating a cupcake with Blue Wings, who is smiling at Thunderlane.

Wait a minute.

Thunderlane did a double-check. He saw Rocky, munching his cupcake. No pony stood next to him. He began to think he's starting to see things.

“Mmm? Why are you staring at me?” he was staring for too long, Rocky noticed him and was now looking at him with a questioning look.

“Oh, nothing. I was just... um...”

Rocky was unconvinced. He approached Thunderlane with a look that says 'Don't lie to me' “If something is bothering you, you can talk to me privately”

“Nothing is bothering me” Thunderlane didn't want to press further and cause an argument so he leaves Rocky alone, who was calling his name.

“Thunderlane... Hey, Thunderlane!” He ignored him prompting Rocky to sigh in defeat “Fine... But if something's bothering you, tell me okay?” Thunderlane couldn't help but nod. He wasn't ready to make an enemy in the group. He decides to peek through the barricade of one of the windows now covered in wooden planks. He moves the curtains aside and took a peek.

What he saw a single eye, staring at him.

“YOU'LL SOON DIE!”

Thunderlane yelped and fall on his rump. That voice was awfully familiar.

“Hey sir, are you okay!?” one I was lifted by a mare since the voice I heard beside me is feminine. She looked familiar to me. Her coat is white, she has blue eyes staring at me with worry, and light cyan mane and tail. Thunderlane noticed she looked so young.

“Yes, I'm fine” he replied as he stood up “You looked familiar. Did I saw you elsewhere?”

“I guess you probably saw me and my sorry flank galloping on the street. Thanks to the wonderful leader of this group, I'm safe and no longer in danger, at least for now” she smiled warmly “I'm Sky Hope”

“I'm Thunderlane” Thunderlane introduced himself “It's nice to find out that a friend of mine rescued you”

Sky giggled “You're quite charming, Thunderlane. So, what is her name actually? I was starting to convince myself to call her Blue Angel” she said.

“Didn't Windy Breeze introduced herself to you when she found you?” Thunderlane asked.

“I have short term memory loss,” she said “But I don't want to hear any sympathy from anypony else. It makes me feel as if I'm worthless when somepony pitied me”

“I understand,” Thunderlane said.

“Thanks. Everypony would view that as weird” she said, “So, why did you freaked out when you tried to look outside through that window” she pointed at the fortified window behind him.

“Uh... I thought I just saw... a pony! Yes, a pony” he half-lied the Sky, however, she didn't seem convinced.

“If everypony forgot our conversation, meet me upstairs” it was just then Thunderlane realized everyone in the room was staring at him. It felt awkward for him to become the center of attention of the group. They continued to stare at him for a few seconds before they all shifted their attention. He let out a sigh and went to find his friend, Windy. He found her in the kitchen, looking at a sack filled with something along with Cup Cake.

“There's still enough for everypony” Cup Cake said “unfortunately, all of these would not last long” Windy sighed.

“Let's just hope your cupcakes can satiate everypony” Cup Cake nodded.

“I'm glad we didn't lose you to those... things”

“It's our numbers the reason why we all survived this, not me” Windy looked away from the baker “You, Pinkie, and your entire family didn't panic during the chaos. Even without me, you guys can survive”

“But dear, you are still the reason why our bakery is now housing a large number of ponies who are either anxious about their safety or their family, or both” Cup Cake put a hoof to her should “Look dear, It's not bad to be proud of your success. You just have to not become too proud of yourself” Thunderlane quickly hid behind the large square table in the center of the room just as Cup Cake turn to his direction “I should go check on the babies before we start cooking” Windy gave her a nod before she went out of the kitchen. Windy stood there. She turned to look at the sack. Thunderlane decided to get out of his hiding place and spoke up casually.

“Good morning, Windy” Windy let out a yelp of surprise.

“Oh, Thunderlane, you scared me!” she gasped, “I thought some of 'them' managed to get inside and to make a snack out of me”

“Hehe, I always want to see that sheepish smile of yours, Windy. Didn't I told you how cute you are when you're surprised?” he approached her with a mischievous smile as she pondered.

“I don't remember that you said that to me. You only told me that I am cute when I got angry” she said “So, how are you? Did you somehow manage to sleep peacefully?”

“Yes. It's my first peaceful sleep ever since many ponies turned and try to hunt me down” he took note of the sack “So, do you know anything that's inside that sack?”

“Just flour” she gazed at the sack and gave it a weak buck “But Mrs. Cake is running out of eggs. We are either going to Sweet Apple Acres to take some chickens there or hopefully find a house that still has eggs in their refrigerator”

“I can't believe you easily accept the fact we have to trespass somepony's property, and still food from them” the only reason why he didn't say a thing to Amethyst when they went inside two houses with no permission is that they are in danger. Windy, who is a Wonderbolt like him but with a better personality and probably has more knowledge of what is right or bad has resorted to stealing.

“To be honest, I feel bad for taking foods some somepony's house but I just can't allow my group to starve. They are under my responsibility, and if I neglect them, then i...” Windy trailed off. Thunderlane could tell she was starting to become uncomfortable. He decided to change the subject.

“You don't have to explain to me if you don't want to,” he told her “, but do you have any plans to find a safe place?”

“Yes, we do plan to get out here. We can't stay in Sugarcube Corner for too long, and I doubt the barricades could withstand a herd of earth ponies” Windy told him.

“But have you thought any place that is possibly untouched by the crisis?” Windy became silent for a few seconds. She slowly opens her mouth and spoke in a whispered tone.

“To be honest, I haven't” she admitted “I just assumed that there are still places that are still safe for us to live, including the southern parts of Equestria, and we didn't receive any aid from Canterlot but with the sun and moon still rising and setting, I'm positive that the princesses are still safe”

“They won't easily lose. They aren't average, remember” Thunderlane started to think whether Windy is joking or she forgot all the princesses are alicorns. He just noticed Windy was grimacing as if she was in pain “Windy, are you okay?” he asked. He tried to approach her to see what's wrong with her but she waved him off.

“No, I'm fine,” she told him “I just got a mild headache” she fixed her posture and tried to look 'healthy' in front of him.

“Are you sure about that? I think you probably need some medicine, at least to make the headache go away and never come back to disturb you”

“Thanks for the offer, Thunderlane. But the Cakes only have medicine for fever” Thunderlane rolled his eyes

“I and Amethyst got some medicine, and she put 4 in 'my' saddlebag when we were going here” he explained.

“Why didn't you tell me about that in the previous day?” she gave him a serious look.

“Well, I forgot to tell you. It had been a rough day before I got here” he reasoned.

“It's been a rough day for all of us,” she said “So, back to the discussion about safe areas” Thunderlane knew what she was about to ask so he answered her question before it could come out of her mouth.

“I think School of Friendship is still safe,” he said “Me and Amethyst discussed going there and take shelter”

“I think I can help you with that plan,” she said “As I said earlier, I'm also planning to get the hay out of here”

“Thanks, Windy” Thunderlane said.

“Don't mention it” she smiled “Are you hungry? There are some food on the food display counter”

“What's in the main menu?” he asked.

“Cupcakes, some muffins, funnel cakes, pies, and a few hot-crossed buns,” she said “If you're not hungry, go take a rest, or spend your time talking to others and get to know more of them” she suggested “I'm going to help Mrs. Cake, while Mr. Cake is taking care of their foals”

“Sure, I'll probably be doing that” he nodded. He was about to leave when something came into his mind. He looks back at her “When the crisis is over, I promise you that we will be eating under the tree during our lunch break in the Academy”

Windy giggled “Yeah, sure” she smirked “be sure not to buy a blueberry cheesecake. I'll eat them before you do”

“Thanks for telling me” Thunderlane playfully rolled his eyes. He went out of the kitchen, not noticing a ghostly apparition wearing a tattered familiar flight suit, appearing beside Windy with a deep frown in the corner of his eyes. He walked past Rocky, who stared at him without saying a word. He went to the top floor once again, this time to another room. He silently opens the door, revealing Mr. Cake playing with his foals. Mr. Cake sat on the bed of his and Cup Cake's bed, his back facing him as he played with the foals. Thunderlane observed them for a few seconds before silently closing the door.

“aren't you so glad to see them in peace-” Thunderlane glanced and yelped to see a deceased's face close to his muzzle “-while you forget your dead friend you leave in your house 2 days ago?”

“... W-Why won't you just leave me alone?” he tried to glare at the ghost of Blue Wings, whose stomach is torn apart, exposing the ribcage and everything inside.

“Oh, I just came here to torment you for your sins” she moved her head closer to him “Does that answer your question, foolish Wonderbolt?” she waited for a response, but Thunderlane was silent. He was just shaking, leaning on the door, she could hear his breathing. She grinned evilly “If you are going to apologize, it's no use since I'm dead. I'll just have to kill you to satisfy myself”

Before he could react, Thunderlane felt Blue's hooves already squeezing his neck. He began to choke as Blue pressed more strength into his neck. He opened his mouth to say something but all he could make out is the sound of a choking pony.

“What you feel now is what I felt when you just watched me die” Blue told him “Now, what're your last words?” he could hear someone crunch and everything went black.

Thunderlane began to regain consciousness. He hears someone calling him. He opened his eyes.

“Oh, thank Celestia you're okay!” a worried face of Windy Breeze dominates his vision.

“W-Windy...?”

“Thunderlane stay with me,” she said “Ooh, why does it have to come to this?” she turned at him and yelled “Why do you have to kill yourself? What's wrong with you!?”

Thunderlane thought he misheard what she said. He remembers Blue tried to strangle him but why would Windy say such a thing?

“You looked confused” Rocky walk up to him beside Windy “Don't tell me you didn't know what you did to yourself”

“Are you dumb? He is just pretending not to remember that he tried to kill himself!” shouted Spoiled, earning a look of horror from her family, and several glares from several survivors, including Rocky and Paintheart.

“I tried to kill myself!?” Thunderlane tried to sit up but is stopped by Windy, who seems a little surprised by his reaction.

“Don't move too much” she told him “so, you don't know you almost tried to choke yourself. Luckily, you didn't break your trachea”

“W-What really happened, Windy?”

“You tried to choke yourself,” she said in a solemn tone “luckily, Pinkie saw you the grip of your hooves on your neck is too strong and even with Mr. Cake's strength. You stopped moving after and... and we thought you died!” she wrapped her hooves and her wings around his neck “Don't you ever try that again!” Thunderlane returned the hug and closed his eyes. Spoiled rolled her eyes and walked away, no one seemed her except for Caramel, who frowned at her.

After a few minutes, Windy broke a hug and is wiping her tears with one hoof “Do your neck feel sore? I think my hug is too tight for you”

“No, I'm okay, Windy” he stood up. He lifted one hoof to his neck. He immediately regretted it. Once his hoof made contact with his neck, pain erupted from it as if it was burning. His trip but is immediately supported by Windy, who gave him a worried look.

“Don't let your curiosity get the better of you”

“Yeah, I know” as he fixed his posture, he noticed Windy, looking away from him with a grimace “What's wrong?”

“Oh, nothing,” she said “I was just thinking of Blue Wings” she looked back at him with sorrow “We have shared a few moments in the academy like when I trained her, and when I was at the cafeteria talking to her”

“Why suddenly bring her up?” Thunderlane felt his inner self boil. He couldn't help but feel hatred for Blue because she literally tried to take his life, but he also knew she wasn't really the real her.

“I just wanted to talk about it. She became friends with me only for one day” she looked away once again “I could only help her soul rests peacefully. To be harmed by several ponies for no reason? It's worse than watching your friend take away by her own family” she said. Thunderlane couldn't help but agree: one day, he was just trying to sleep with his little brother and a friend. Suddenly, he came outside to see one of his neighbors and his friend being attacked, then it escalated quickly into an Invasion scenario, where he had to abandon two lives before being left by someone who managed to escape with him.

His neighbor, Blue Wings, Rumble, Roseluck.

It started first with Blue, who suddenly went all crazy and is murdered in a grotesque way; he didn't know what to make out of his neighbor, she probably died or joined 'them' or worse. Both Rumble and Roseluck managed to get out of the house. Are they safe? Are they in good condition? Will he able to accept if one of them had passed away or turned into a mad pony like most of the ponies wandering out in the streets?

No, he has no reason to think that- his thoughts are interrupted by Windy.

“Are you okay? You look a little dazed” Thunderlane blinked.

“Oh, I was just thinking of something,” he said. Windy gave him a look as if she wanted to ask him but decided not to. On the other hand, he wanted to tell her what really happened to him, but will she believe him? She'll probably call him crazy if he tells her.

He looked down at the ponies below outside Sugarcube Corner as they roam around like mindless animals. A few minutes earlier, both he and Windy were silent until she offered him to get a view of the whole town. This was just common to him since he's a pegasus but he obliged her offer. The window they used to get out of the bakery was not barricaded, to which he questioned Windy; she told him that there were fewer pegasi among 'them' and even if there are still some, she hasn't seen them use their wings.

“Such a great view, right?” Instead of looking down at their former neighbors below, Windy had her eyes on the cheerful blue vibrant sky, with many stray clouds present. It was not a surprise to both of them since the pegasi stopped their jobs to either attack the innocent or go out of town to not get caught in the chaos.

He looks at Windy's face. There were no signs of sadness or fear but instead, he saw genuine happiness. It seemed like Windy tried to hold up her sanity by staying positive.

“Yeah,” he said, also staring at the sky.

“You can forget all of your problems here for as long as you want. I went up here every day to get rid of my stress here so I could think property for the group” she said “after all, wasn't so easy to become a leader” to her surprise, her friend pat her. Thunderlane found her cute with that solemn smile. He didn't hesitate to pat her like what a master does to his loyal dog.

“This is why we became friends in the first face,” he said “You faced so many hardships yet you remain positive” Windy turn to him and smiled.

“Thanks” but her smile turned into a frown “But they are all in the past. What's happening today is a lot worse than losing your entire family to the sea, strike by a bolt of lightning, and finding out a painful secret” she looked down below, watching the ponies below “I'm no different than you. It's easier to say that you like hate somepony, but it's hard to do it in reality”

“You... won't hate me if I just watched you suffer, do you?” Thunderlane was hesitant. He didn't want to make his friend even sadder. He put gently grab Windy's hoof “Forget what I said”

“No, it's okay,” Windy said “Everypony makes mistakes. We couldn't avoid some of them if we didn't make the wrong choice” she was right, everyone makes mistakes, but some of them can be avoided. He smiled at her before looking at the sky.

“Thanks for comforting me” he closed his eyes for a moment. Maybe he should clear his mind of the horror he experienced in the past two days, maybe he should go relaxing for a while with his friends. Yeah, he had to rest his mind so he wouldn't start seeing things.

“Would you like to eat one slice of blueberry cheesecake?”

“Sure, why no-” he slowly opened his eyes upon hearing the offer. His eyes widened.

It wasn't a slice of cake that lay on the small plate which was held by Windy's wing, instead, it was a mound of flesh, one blue eyeball staring at him. He glances at his friend.

Windy stared at him with no hint of life in her eyes.

Her light cyanish gray became pale, most of the hair of her mane and tail are gone, revealing the skin and the dock of her tail, dried blood coated her blue uniform now tattered with age, one of her eyes are now missing, revealing the eye sockets, even a part of her right cheek is missing, revealing the premolar and molar teeth, her flight goggles are now broken. She smiled at him.

“We will be together forever”

Thunderlane stared at his friend. He shook his head as he tried to convince himself that this isn't real “N-No, this isn't real, this isn't real!” he said to himself. He cowered on the roof and shut his eyes.

“Brother, how did you join the Wonderbolts?” he heard another voice. It made it hard for him to resist closing his eyes. What he saw was the bloody face of a colt.

“AHH!” he jumped into the air. He fell on his rump. He whimpered.

“Thunderlane, speak to me!” he yelped and glanced. Beside him was Windy. She was the same Windy he had ever met, unlike the one he saw just seconds ago. She was concerned and very worried about him “You were just staring at me and you suddenly freaked out. What happened?” he looked at her, many thoughts running into his mind. He then feels something wet on his eyes. He hugged her while restraining from letting a single tear come out. He wished Rumble is beside him. Windy was caught off guard but solemnly accepted the hug. She doesn't understand what was going on with her friend but she is still heartbroken to see him suffer. Then, she heard the moans getting loudly “Let's go back inside”

2 hours later.

Roswell sat leaning against the wall, reading a book. He couldn't do anything other than sleep, wake up, eat, take a bath, and read some ingredient books. He is very bored but at least that loud mouth mare isn't talking. Ever since she and her family arrived, she would always startup arguments. She was lucky that he hadn't slapped her yet if not for Rocky. He gave a short glance at the said mare before going back to his book. She is still talking with her husband, which is good.

“You are just pretending to read the book” he looked up at the mare approached her.

“Why would you care? Does it matter to you? ” he said.

“...Not really, but I found one book which isn't about baking” she reached out her hoof to her brown mane and pulled out a green book. He casually accepts the offer.

“Thanks” he looks at the title of the book “History of the DragonLands. This sounds interesting”

Kumiko smiled “I did not want to see you bored like everypony else. So, I decided to look for anything to keep yourself more occupied”

“Meh, I still liked to read History of the Wonderbolts, but this should at least satisfy me. Thank you”

“No problem” she went back to the kitchen. She decided to help Mrs. Cake since she thought Windy was too busy. Roswell began to think whenever the black-grey stallion is just a friend or a love interest of their leader. The stallion didn't seem to have any feelings, but judging by how their leader acts, she is most likely secretly has a crush on him. He let out a quiet chuckle. He had seen so many dates, he already knew how it will end.

A pegasus mare tripped on her own hoof and fell to the ground. Fear gripped her, as well as the pain she felt on her nape as blood continues to flow out. She noticed a paper on the ground. It was crumbled but looked more recent. Perhaps somebody dropped it? She picked it up. A smile began to slowly appear, breaking her hopeless mind. She had found hope in this letter.

The letter was actually meant for somepony else who was told to go to the School of Friendship! She felt like crying, finding out that some survivors are still sane despite the madness.

“Come here. I will end your pain swiftly, I promise!” the voice sends terror to the mare. He's coming! She had to hide!

Nearby, a young changeling bust opens the door of a house where he hid for two days. He had seen what happened. His stay in Ponyville took only seven days. All the blood and gore he saw left him traumatized and in shock, he didn't trust anypony. But he finally decided not to be alone for too long or else, he'll lose himself to insanity.

“Hello!?” he shouted in a very young voice “Is anypony there? I-I need help!”

Windy stared at a group photo which was shot at the practice area in the Wonderbolts Academy. The alignment was sorted by their ranks: the ponies with the highest authority were flying while the ones with 'less' authority either stand or sit. She was among those who sat on the ground with a smile. Several voices echoed inside her mind.

“This hotel is very beautiful”

“Oh my Celestia, she splashed Soarin' in soup!”

“I-I forgive you”

“It's nice meeting you, Windy”

“So, this is where we meet again?”

“A Samurai? As in those ponies who are hired to-”

“Be safe”

“So you're here to become a Wonderbolt?”

“My name is Misty Fly, remember me?”

“You're worst enemy is the dizzitron. Trust me, Lightning Dust failed to pass that test twenty-five times before she could-”

“So, you are the new trainee?”
“Good luck”
“Name's Rainbow Dash”
“Let me see your war face, trainee!”
“Thanks for deciding to eat with me. I don't find the mess hall a good place to ea-”
“How's life in-”
“Welcome to Pony-”
“My name is-
“YuO ShOuLD bUilD yOUr Ownshkaksodiwudchneospzdoewioxoxlwkwjxicebnejdxucucyuskeodoxdooekdfkfkuchhdbdbebenenendndcn die already!”

She snapped her out of thoughts. She was disturbed by the voice of somepony she knew begging her to die with such malice and hatred. She decided to ignore it pass it off as imagination.

“HII!?” she suddenly dropped the group photo off her hooves. She was shocked to see some faces of the ponies in the picture, including her own are now smudged in blood-red paint. She blinked, hoping that it was just her mind, playing with her, but it was still there. She still decided to ignore it, hoping it would go away. She closed her eyes.

“What are you doing?” she snapped open her eyes and almost jumped when she heard someone talking behind her.

“Oh, it's just you”

“Yep, the one and only Pinkiamena Diane Pie” Pinkie declared in a gloomy monotone voice. Windy sighed.

“Still no sign of Princess Twilight and the others?” she asked.

“Yes, I couldn't find them. I don't think my Pinkie Sense is still working” Pinkie told her.

“Don't worry. I bet your friends are alright” Windy gave her a smile of comfort and sympathy while stroking her head “I bet Rainbow is already kicking some flanks”

“But she didn't attack us when we pranked her, right?” Windy rolled her eyes.

“Rainbow is a stronger mare than in the past” Windy assured her.

“I hope”

Thunderlane found himself in the bathroom, staring at the mirror. He decided to check his wing injury since he hadn't felt any pain. He spread his right wing slowly unwrapped the bandage using his other wing, carefully not to pull a feather. Once the bandage is out of the way, he could now take a look at the bite wound which made him unable to fly.

The skin and Feathers surrounding the bite wounds were discolored, some feather has fallen after removing the bandage. He felt nervous about himself. Just what kind of infection did he receive from a pony bite?