Dead Equestria

Something behind those words

Thunderlane and Amethyst Star left the house a few minutes ago and is currently looting a furniture shop for anything useful, but the main reason why they are in the shop is behind the barricaded entrance. Many of 'them' have found them and almost cornered them, but they narrowly reach the establishment, and they quickly barricaded the door using furnitures awaiting customers, only if the ponies outside want furnitures instead of the two ponies inside.

“Found anything” Amethyst had done searching for even a single food on the counter, only to find personal item of Price High, the clerk they put inside the bathroom. He was just like the others outside, and tried to attacked them, but Amesthsyt easily pushed him into the bathroom and barricade it with a sofa.

“Nothing other than price tags” seriously? What do you expect to find in a shop selling furnitures? he thought. He had been glancing at the barricaded entrance doors as it jerk a little. The door have a big chance to be open despite the blockade they made. They have to do something before they could get in.

Suddenly, he heard one of the windows shatter. Fearing one of 'them' manage to got inside the store, he look around, only to find a chair floating next to a broken window enveloped in purple magic. Amethyst approached the broken window before looking at him “Why are you just staring? We should go, now!” this snap him back from his daze and immediately followed Amethyst outside just in time for some the furnitures they used to block the entrance move.

After they went far away from the furniture store, the two continued to move on. There are no 'ponies' where they are currently in, but they still had to be wary of the surroundings. 'They' could be hiding in shadows.

“So, do you find somepony you know during your previous 'adventure'?”

“No, most of i met are those 'ponies'” Amethyst didn't even turn to look at him as she look around for any of 'them' “I don't recognize most of 'them' so they are probably the refugees” the refugees she was talking about are those ponies from the city of Maneponia, one of the cities affected by the outbreak.

“Do you think the outbreak has something to do with all what's going on?”

“I don't know, but there are possibilities it's connected to... Whatever is happening in Ponyville” Amethyst had not been thinking of the epidemic until now. She was too busy protecting her little sister, and herself from... 'them' “How about you, Wonderbolt?”

“I have no knowledge of it except i knew it's affecting a small town, and two cities. The academy recently shut down because of the epidemic” Amethyst lifted an eyebrow.

“Shut down? When?” she asked. She hadn't heard any news about Wonderbolts Academy being shut down.

“Just happened the previous day. The news probably didn't reach Ponyville” he said. He glance behind him just to be sure no one is silently following them. He decided to change the subject “We should our small group to a safest place. I don't think the house you choose won't last long”

“You're right” Amethyst agreed. She began to think of any place that could shelter them from a group of 'ponies'. Two places came into her mind. She smiled and looks back at her companion “How about the Castle of Friendship, or the School of Friendship? They are big enough for us to stay there even for one week”

“That's a great idea, Amethyst!” Thunderlane beamed.

“However, we have to make sure none of 'them' are inside those two establishments to ensure our safety. Dinky didn't even know how to defend themselves” Amethyst said “in the other hoof, Derpy could defend herself, but i'm not sure how, and she might probably be easily overwhelmed”

“Maybe we should check the Castle first. It's not like there are ponies who went to look for help. I even have doubts Twilight and the others are even there” Thunderlane remembered Roseluck, who went to the Castle to alert Princess Twilight and everyone inside the castle. If she did made it to the castle, there's a big chance they already fled to Canterlot.

“Let's discuss this when we get back to the house” Amethyst said. Thunderlane nodded and continued walking silently.

Their small journey didn't go smoothly. They need to hide behind houses every time there's a group of 'them' nearby. They are now currently hiding behind a house 2 blocks away from the house where the 2 members of their small group resides. There are still a few of 'them' walking around outside the house as if guarding it.

After some discussion, Amethyst rushed out of her hiding place followed by Thunderlane. They easily approach the front door and quickly knocking, hoping Derpy could hear them.

“Derpy, hurry!” Thunderlane yelled, attracting more of 'them' in the process. Derpy, however, open the door and allowed the two inside.

Before Amethyst could react, Dinky lunged at her, making her crash on the floor “How dare you leave me again! How dare you!”

“Dinky, calm down” Derpy said to the filly “Your sister just went outside to find food”

“Why can't we just reason with the ponies outside!?”

“Dinky, we'll talk about this later, please. Your sister is tired” Amethyst said calmly as she stood up “Derpy's right. I went out to find more food for us with some help from Thunderlane” Dinky continued to glare at her “Okay fine. Just fellow me upstairs and I'll tell you why. Just give me some time to put my saddlebag on the kitchen”

Meanwhile, Thunderlane quickly stood up and went for the nearest furniture to barricade the door. He turn around to see Amethyst enter the kitchen before going back to go upstairs followed by a grumpy-looking Dinky. He approached Derpy “What has gotten to Dinky?”

“She was surprised to find out you and Amethyst went outside, and she was not happy about it” Derpy explained while shyly gazing at him “D-Did you find your brother?”

“No, but me and Amethyst think he managed to got out of the house” he said, earning a sad smile from her.

“Well, that's good news, but the problem is when did he went”

“Then i'll just have to find him” she was right. He didn't know where Rumble is and it was much more difficult when half of the population of Ponyville wants to eat you, but that didn't make him stop.

“That's what i said to Amethyst when i tried to search for Time Turner” she said “I was at work when it started. I don't know what went wrong and why everypony suddenly start screaming and panicking when I found somepony eating somepony...” she trailed off, becoming hesitant to continue her story “...I was worried Time Turner is in danger and i tried looking for him, but one of 'them' grabbed me. I was just lucky, Amethyst is nearby”

“She brought me here, and told me you and Dinky are also here too” she then gaze at the stairs “I was as worried as Dinky. I was also hoping you guys will find Doctor”

“We all have things we have to worry about, and that includes our own friends and family” Thunderlane said “I'm very sorry to hear that. But I'm sure Time is okay”

“I hope so. He usually spends the time studying in his house early in the morning” She went to the kitchen, leaving Thunderlane standing by the entrance. He decided to follow the pegasus since he has a saddlebag filled with food and some other stuff. He put it on the table before deciding to go to the playroom on the second floor. Inside he went and sat down to read a book to busy himself. It was a story book about a filly who has to live after a tragic event that cost the life of her entire family. This reminds him one of his friends.

Several years earlier. He was a cadet at that time. He went inside the common room where he spotted Windy, sitting on one of the chairs, and looking idly at a picture she felt on her hooves. Curious, he approach her “Hey, Windy”

“Hi, Thunderlane” Windy's voice was tinged with sadness, her expression was slightly gloomy, she didn't even broke her gaze from the picture “Are you here to skip classes again?”

“Uh...i..i guess so...” Thunderlane chuckled nervously, scratching his nape with his hoof. He didn't notice her frown.

“Didn't you know you are about to break one of rules? You'll be kicked out”

“Yeah, i know, i know. I didn't get too much sleep after the tornado incident” Thunderlane stifled to glare out of irritation. His expression soften when she still look down in the dumps “Why do you look so unhappy today?”

Windy let out sigh, and shown him the picture. It was a pegasus mare he didn't recognize “Who is this mare?”

“That's my mother” she said.

“That's your mother!?” Thunderlane gasped “But i thought your mother is-!”

“I never said Duty Right is my real mother” she deadpanned before pointing her hoof at the picture “This is my biological mother, Cheery Feathers”

“She looks attractive” Thunderlane commented, looking at the picture of Windy's mother.

“She and the rest of the family live in Hoofshores, a small town located on the cozy, tropical seaside of Hoofbuck Island in the Fillyphine archipelago. The town doesn't exist anymore. A wall of water took away everything in its path, including the whole population. I was the only survivor”

Thunderlane felt like a spear hit his heart “I-I'm so sorry to hear that” to loose your entire family is too much. Thunderlane finally realized Windy was actually silently grieving for her mother.

“It happened long ago, and i was just a little filly when it happened. To me, i was just very lucky not to witness the tragedy, I would be traumatized if i did see it with my own eyes” she let out a chuckle, smiling sadly at her friend “It's still fresh till now, and it still hurts my heart. What's worse is I didn't even had the chance to talk to my mother, let alone my father, my brother, my sister, and even my entire family” Thunderlane could see the dam is about to break, evidenced by the tears, threatening to fall out of her eyes. He decided to do what parents do to comfort their foal. Hug. As soon as they embrace, Windy burst into tears and sobbed loudly “I didn't even had the chance to say how I feel and my thanks for bringing me into this world” the doors behind them open, hinting someone had heard her, but the pair ignored them.

The flashback ended. Thunderlane decided to put the book back to its shelf before gazing at the town through the window. It was broad daylight, and Ponyville still look like an beautiful average town. Everything looked normal, but the peaceful scenery was already broken. Below him are the hostile residents of the town, wandering aimlessly on the streets, most of them covered in blood and their neck chewed. It felt sad to see them in that state, but what could he do to help them? They're the ones trying to eat him and his friends, even Rumble. He wondered what happened to Windy, he was concerned of her, he didn't want her to get hurt.

The next hours had been uneventful. Amethyst took a nap for the whole afternoon. Derpy sit idly on the kitchen, while Thunderlane took care of Dinky, though he didn't even have to do anything other than fetch her some food and water from the kitchen. Sometimes, he and the filly would nuzzle each other playfully, chase each other, and reading stories to each other. It made him forget Rumble, Windy, and Blue for a while, forgot dangers lurking outside their safe house, forget the fact their lives are still in danger.Thunderlane and Amethyst Star left the house a few minutes ago and is currently looting a furniture shop for anything useful, but the main reason why they are in the shop is behind the barricaded entrance. Many of 'them' have found them and almost cornered them, but they narrowly reach the establishment, and they quickly barricaded the door using furnitures awaiting customers, only if the ponies outside want furnitures instead of the two ponies inside.